WEEk of SEptEmbEr 25, 2024 FLIER INSIDE
Then & Now All of Southwest Florida continues to rebuild and renew after Hurricane Ian — INSIDE pINEISlaND-EaglE.com
VolumE 48, NumbEr 21
Islander writes a book about Hurricane Ian ‘The Visit’ is the first published by retired teacher By PAULETTE LeBLANC
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Katharine Adams is a wife, mother, grandmother and retired teacher/librarian. “The Visit,” a two-part book written just after Hurricane Ian, is her first published book to date. “The book was written in two stages. A fable that personifies the ocean and coastline, characterizing them as compassionate for the residents, who seem unconcerned that Storm is coming. The character, Storm arrives with vicious laughing winds, while, Ocean and Coastline are unable to remain in their places,” Adams said. As a school media specialist, Adams had the opportu-
nity to create all kinds of curriculum. Her interest in writing has been rooted in historical stories, and turning those into something digestible for children has always held her interest, she said. Adams admits she loves the idea of writing about someone Kathy Adams who should be well known, but, for whatever reason, is not. “I do love expressing myself in the written word, if it has purpose,” Adams said.
When Hurricane Ian landed in September 2022, Adams was teaching at a private middle school in Southwest Florida. In the coming weeks after the hurricane subsided, she followed news of the storm from home, along with her students, many of whom were Pine Island residents. “My students were coming back and forth through Matlacha on their way to school and home every day and several of them were now dealing with anxiety— seeing the only home they’d ever known destroyed by the storm. It was there every day and they couldn’t get away from it and they were having trouble dealing with it. As part of the curriculum that spring, I assigned a creative writing See ‘THE VISIT,’ page 14
Elks hold groundbreaking for new lodge Special to The Eagle
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Local artist completes mural for Island Bikeworks By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
t. James City resident and local artist Ashley Johnson has lived on Pine Island since she and her husband sold everything, bought a motor home and moved here to be near his parents shortly after Hurricane Ian. Although coming here was supposed to have been temporary, they have decided to stay. Johnson, who was asked to do a mural on the wall of Island Bikeworks at its new location, said she has been into art for the whole of her life. “My mother’s an artist, and I grew up with a family friend who was a mural artist. I entered the graphic design world where I was self-taught,” Johnson said. While growing up, Johnson said artistic expression was always a creative outlet for her. Although she admits the drawing medium is not one of her gifts, she said she always liked to doodle and was often found drawing on the walls, or somewhere she should not be drawing. Shortly after taking a job at Tarpon Lodge, Johnson said she began "playing around" on canvases and also painted her family’s shrimp buggy. It did not
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take long for folks to begin to ask about her availability as an artist and she soon agreed to paint the Barnhill’s freezer at Barnhill Seafood Market & More in Matlacha. “That’s when it really kind of took off. I painted that and I painted several inside murals — it’s been just crazy. I’m so thankful — it’s humbling really,” Johnson said Before painting the mural on the wall of Island Bikeworks, owner Judd Payne said although Johnson would have preferred a sketch of what they’d had in mind, they just told her what they’d wanted. “We told her the elements of what we would like. We told her it would be nice to represent a bike path, See MURAL, page 14 Island artist Ashley Johnson in front of the mural she painted at Island Bikeworks. PHOTO SUBMITTED BY JUDD PAYNE AND ASHLEY JOHNSON
Officials said Thursday that Greater Pine Island Elks Lodge members finally saw groundbreaking begin on their vacant, weed-covered property. When Hurricane Ian damaged much of the Greater Pine Island Elks Lodge nearly two years ago, the immediate vows to rebuild were a testament to the unwavering determination of the Elks. Possessing a prime piece of land in the heart of the island, their resilience was a beacon of hope for the community. For decades the building at 5630 Pine Island Road was more than just a social hub for the Greater Pine Island community. It was a place where memories were made and bonds were strengthened. Its absence was keenly felt, but its return is eagerly anticipated. With a hefty membership roll of 450, the lodge knew members’ unique access to that mid-island “clubhouse” with its bar and dining services kept the organization so healthy in an era when other fraternal and service clubs were shrinking and shutting down. So, the decision to rebuild after the Sept, 28, 2022, hurricane damaged nearly everything was easy. The work? That was to take a lot more than anyone imagined. There were many challenges, but the Elks Lodge members remained undeterred. Just ask the building committee chairman. “I knew it was going to be tough,” said PER Bob Hoogstra, “I didn’t know it would be this tough.” If all goes well, the lodge could open in late February or early March, approaching the 2 1/2-year anniversary of Hurricane Ian. The anticipation for the grand opening, marked by a week-long series of celebrations, is palpable and fills us with excitement. Embarking on the rebuilding of a 5,000-square-foot structure was daunting from the start. Those who have tackled much smaller home remodels know how it goes. Still, Hoogstra said the job could have been done in six to eight months had permitting gone smoothly. See GROUNDBREAKING, page 10
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