INSIDE: Legal Notices CITY LEGALS FICTITIOUS NAMES AUCTIONS MISCELLANEOUS
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Wednesday, October 1, 2025
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‘Accessory dwelling units’ may get another look
Among possible Affordable Housing Advisory Committee’s incentive recommendations for domiciles By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
Accessory dwelling units are among the incentive recommendations from the Affordable Housing Advisory Committee, which will meet Thursday. The Affordable Housing Advisory Committee is required to meet annually provide recommendations for incentives. There are eight incentive strategies adopted through the 2024 Local Housing Assistance Plan.
“I think we have a real opportunity to offer another type of housing, an actual outside unit on the property. To have that generational flexibility with housing options, for me, makes sense.”
— Councilmember Jennifer Nelson-Lastra, liaison There are currently 11 recommendations, some of which are mandatory. Councilmember Jennifer Nelson-Lastra,
the council liaison to the committee, said she is passionate about the incentive — accessory dwelling units. She said they are
News of Note Waste Pro Summer Pickup hours end
Waste Pro summer pickup hours ended Tuesday and the regular pickup time of 6 a.m. began this morning. Trash collection services provided by the city vendor run Monday through Friday. Residents can check their area’s trash day online. Garbage, recycling, yard waste, and bulk waste are collected on the same day. Bins — tan for household waste and a green bin for recyclables — should be at the road’s edge, with wheels and handles facing the house. Residents are reminded: When your garbage bin is full, extra garbage should be placed in plastic bags next to the cart. Extra recycling should be set out in a clearly labeled cardboard box. The city provides collection of residential horticulture waste, including trimmed branches and limbs from trees and shrubs, grass clippings, fallen fruit, leaves, weeds, and palm fronds. For more information visit wasteprousa.com/capecoral/
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talking about an additional dwelling unit on someone’s property to offer another option for housing. The incentive is for the “allowance of affordable accessory residential units in residential zones.” According to the Affordable Housing Advisory Commission agenda material, the city currently permits guests/staff quarters in one zoning designation – residential estate, which is a parcel of at least 40,000
See HOUSING, page 2
Cape club mourns loss of ‘vibrant’ member
By CJ HADDAD
cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com
Oasis Middle school artist awww’s voters Dominic Maldonado’s sketch of his pup Coco earns on-line recognition By MEGHAN BRADBURY
A
news@breezenewspapers.com
sixth grade student from Oasis Middle School has been recognized as “Artist of the Week” through Artsonia.com for his “Half Draw” effort. Dominic Maldonado’s piece received more than 1,300 online votes through Artsonia, which features more than 125 million pieces of student art. Maldonado said he feels good and amazed about being recognized as Artist of the Week. “I never drew something that good,” he said about surprising himself. His dog, Coco, inspired the drawing. Oasis Middle School art teacher April Gibson said Artsonia is an artwork website where student’s pieces can be uploaded. She said it’s a great way for parents, and family members, to see the artwork digitally before bringing it home. The website is also used for education purposes.
The students can “sign in and complete artist statements and titles. It wraps in some writing standards into it as well,” Gibson said. The website is free to use, which she said is a huge win for teachers. Artist of the Week was developed 20 years ago to encourage teachers to submit student artwork to Artsonia, as well as engage schools and communities to vote and recognize creative students. Each week there are 12 submissions from four age groups — prek-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12 that are randomly selected for public voting. The winning school receives $100 gift certificate from Blick Art Materials, and the student See ARTIST, page 4
Oasis Middle School art teacher April Gibson and sixth grade student Dominic Maldonado. PHOTO PROVIDED
The Cape Coral Garden Club is remembering one of its own. Deborah “Debbie” Cooper-Heimann, 73, was fatally injured in a traffic crash Sunday while walking her dog. Police officials said she was walking with a flashlight the area of Tower Drive and Santa Rosa Court when she was struck by a work van just before 9 p.m. The driver, Rodrigo Coutinho Pereira, 27, has been charged with DUI manslaughter, DUI, DUI property damage, and Debbie driving with a suspended license caus- Cooper-Heimann ing death or serious injury. Cooper-Heimann was quite an involved member of the Garden Club of Cape Coral, which she was a part of since 2016. Garden Club President Sylvia Swartz said members of the group are “absolutely devastated” and described CooperHeimann as a “vibrant personality.” “It’s a great personal loss for me, and also a huge loss for the club,” she said. “I just don’t know what we’re going to do without her.” Cooper-Heimann was involved in “everything” at the club, opening up her garden for members on garden tours, gen-
See LOSS, page 4