WEEk of octobEr 2, 2024 FLIER INSIDE
Special visitors PAWS for Reading Program brings therapy dogs to island school — INSIDE pINEISlaND-EaglE.com
VolumE 48, NumbEr 22
Tow Boat US goes pink for breast cancer awareness By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Charlotte Harbor Tow Boat US owner Kyle Potts said he is actually a Pine Island resident who operates out of Jug Creek Marina, Burnt Store Marina and Pineland Marina as well as Fisherman’s Village in Punta Gorda. “We are part of the largest marine response network in the nation. We service recreational boaters for marine towing and on the water services like breakdowns and fuel and oil deliveries, groundings and battery jumps and things of that sort,” Potts said. In addition to covering all of Charlotte Harbor, Potts said they also cover a portion of the Myakka River, for
anyone in need of assistance. A few years ago, he said, an initiative was begun by corporate headquarters to bring awareness to Breast Cancer, which he said, currently affects 1 in 8 women. “We are actually one of five Tow Boat US companies in the nation who have done a pink boat campaign, so we’ve actually wrapped one of our response boats — Tow Boat US Commander is the name of the boat — we’ve wrapped it with Breast Cancer pink, with the ribbons and done a whole pink boat initiative for the month of October,” Potts said. See GONE PINK, page 7 Charlotte Harbor Tow Boat’s pink boat. PROVIDED
Centennial Bank teams up with Cape Coral Animal Shelter
Post Ian transplant joins family business By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
By PAULETTE LeBLANC
hen Bill Johnson and his wife, artist Ashley Johnson, came to Pine Island, to be near his parents after Hurricane Ian, they had no idea they would end up making the island their home. Bill’s parents, Shirley and James Driggers, have been Pine Islanders, he said, for 30 years. Driggers owns a shrimp boat and business, the Miz Shirley, which got tossed up on the land on Fort Myers Beach during Hurricane Ian. According to Johnson, their home on Pine Island was also destroyed. “We contacted a friend of ours that had a motor home and within three weeks, we moved here,” Johnson said. Before news of Hurricane Ian brought them to Pine Island, Johnson was planning to retire from Sherwin Williams, where he’d driven a truck. Now, he sells shrimp on Pine Island to
W
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
See FAMILY BUSINESS, page 14
The Miz Shirley, above, was tossed up on shore on Fort Myers Beach by Hurricane Ian but is now back on the water. At left are the family members behind Miz Shirley Inc., from left, James Driggers, Shirley Driggers and Bill Johnson. PHOTOS SUBMITTED BY BILL JOHNSON
Centennial Bank Pine Island Branch Manager Elsie Stearns thought raising money for a local animal shelter and taking donations for the needs of these life companions was something that really fell in line with the goals of Centennial Bank’s dedication and commitment to community outreach. “Community outreach is something Centennial Bank is always striving for,” Stearns said. Former Centennial Bank Fort Myers Branch Manager Jennifer Miller, who is an avid volunteer for the Cape Coral Animal Shelter, reached out to Stearns in particular because of her inclination toward community outreach projects. Cape Coral Animal Shelter Executive Director Liz McCauly, a Pine Islander, friend and former neighbor of Stearns, could not have been happier to hear that Stearns would be collecting donations as well as items necessary at the shelter, right at her Pine Island bank branch. Stearns, in turn, was overjoyed to lend a hand, with the idea that McCauly was a resident of Pine Island. “It’s just a good fit — everyone loves animals, and we thought we could help our little four-pawed friends,” Stearns said. Stearns has a photo of pet adoption options at the branch and said each branch employee has taken a photo of a pet, which they have learned about and “virtually pre-adopted” in the interest of fun and support. On Friday, Oct. 18, from 9-11 a.m., Centennial Bank Pine Island branch is hosting a Pet Day, where some animals, who are ready to be adopted, will be brought into the branch. Among the items on the animal shelter's wish list are: ■ Canned kitten paste (poultry) ■ Clumping – dust Free litter See CENTENNIAL BANK, page 8
Athlete of the Week.........17 Fishing Column.................8 SJCCA Schedule.............11 insidetoday Dolphin Tales.....................6 Local Tides......................10 Worship Directory.............6 Classifieds & Obituaries