WEEk of auguSt 23, 2023 FLIER INSIDE
Spirit of ‘45 Veterans from ‘Greatest Generation,’ others honored at annual event — INSIDE pINEISlaND-EaglE.com
VolumE 47, NumbEr 16
Beacon of Hope receives $500,000 grant from the Florida Disaster Fund By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced on Aug. 11 that $6.9 million will be awarded through the Florida Disaster Fund to support recovery from Hurricane Ian. The Beacon of Hope on Pine Island, which began as a direct response to the long-term recovery after Hurricane Charley (2005), has been awarded $500,000 to continue work in supporting Pine Island. While the executive board of the Beacon of Hope on Pine Island is still waiting to determine the exact guide-
lines to appropriate funds received for the organization, board member Elsie Stearns said it was an honor to be chosen. “It’s confirmation that the Beacon has worked hard to build a reputation for placing funds where they are needed,” Stearns said. The organization is constantly evolving to work with partners such as Samaritan Health and Wellness and the United Way, to bring in new programs which will meet
community needs. This decision confirms what the Beacon stands for, Stearns said, adding that the next step may be putting together a task force, although it’s too soon to say exactly. “Our board, our staff and volunteers have always believed that we’re there to support the island — to give the island what it needs on many different levels and in many different aspects,” Stearns said. Many of the Beacon board members and staff were See BEACON GRANT, page 11
GPIA talks about island’s long-term recovery with Greater Pine Island Chamber By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Advanced Life Support coming to islands M/PIFCD taking necessary final steps to provide life-saving services By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District Chief Ben Mickuleit said the idea of Advanced Life Support capabilities on Pine Island began around 2019, when the department started sending students to school for paramedics to initiate the process. A financial plan had to be enacted as the education, equipment and proper licensing would increase the department’s budget. “We’re finally at a stage where we received our Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity. That is the final step in order to get a state license, and we just received county approval for our department to have Advanced Life Support,” Mickuleit said. Advanced Life Support is having the same capability as an ambulance, with the exception of transporting patients, he explained. The ability to carry the same medications, and the same equipment, with the ability to perform the same assessments and procedures on site in the field. The reason obtaining ALS was so vital to Mickuleit,
he said, is that all fire stations on the island are strategically located to allow for record response time. “The community is essentially getting quicker Advanced Life Support treatment, by the fire department. That can be crucial, as many times seconds count in an emergency — not only in cardiac arrest but in diagnosis. If our crew has determined it’s a heart attack, our crew can start the ALS care with medication or whatever else needs to be done and we can launch a helicopter if needed and contact the hospital with an EKG, preparing the physicians ahead of time. It’s all about time management and time savings,” Mickuleit said. Mickuleit said he would like to recognize the support of the Pine Island Board of Fire Commissioners, See ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT, page 11 A Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District fire truck crossing the Matlacha Bridge. FILE PHOTO
The Greater Pine Island Alliance met with the Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce last week at Salty Girls Island Café to give a presentation on its role in the island’s long-term recovery from Hurricane Ian. GPIA founder and co-chair Aaron Barreda began the meeting by explaining the intention and origin of the group as a central island hub in an attempt not to duplicate efforts put forth by both islanders and island organizations. “We all have a lot that we can do for each other and we have areas that we specialize in, and by creating a cooperative body, that reduces the duplication of effort and it creates more efficiency,” Barreda said. It was recommended early on that a long-term recovery group needed to be established, and by December 2022, the GPIA was recognized by the state and attorney general as such. By Jan. 16, 2023, the GPIA received its federal EIN designation as an official non-profit organization. Barreda credits both Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane as well as Florida Sen. Marco Rubio for being instrumental in the official formation of the organization. Barreda sees the mission of the GPIA to be a coordinating body that brings people and organizations together to help in island long-term recovery, which he said will be at least 5 years, explaining that the GPIA is also here for disaster preparedness. “We’re always looking toward the next event — whatever it is — but we have to have a goal that focuses on future recovery,” Barreda said. The first goal, he said, is for the GPIA to be the go-to organization for disaster recovery. With this in place, there is already a coalition of team and volunteers ready to respond to recovery needs. The second goal is to secure financial and material resources necessary for the island. The third goal is to procure a network of support of recovery for residents. The biggest focus at this point is unmet needs, Barreda said. These needs have varied from people simply needing rent money to needing mold remediation in their home.
See GPIA, page 11
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