WEEk of octobEr 9, 2024 FLIER INSIDE
Educational aid Kiwanis Club gives world atlases to fourth grade students at PIE — INSIDE pINEISlaND-EaglE.com
VolumE 48, NumbEr 23
GPICA discusses post-hurricane help for islanders By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Last Tuesday, Oct. 1, the Greater Pine Island Civic Association had its monthly general meeting, via Zoom, providing an update on how islanders were doing posthurricane Helene. Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane was asked to attend and give an overview of how the hurricane is impacting the county and what resources Pine Islanders have available. Greater Pine Island Alliance co-founder Aaron Barreda as well as Executive Director Erin LollarLambert were also asked to give a presentation. According to Ruane, Hurricane Helene created a lot more flooding issues throughout Lee County. Reimbursement from this storm is going to be challenging, he said.
Additional storm-related information is provided inside today’s Eagle “There are so many thresholds that we have to meet — whether it’s roads, whether it’s parks, whether it’s debris. Our worst fear is that we’re going to be paying for everything, probably with no opportunity for reimbursement,” Ruane said. Hurricane Helene was enough of a flood event to wreak havoc, but not enough to see any real reimbursement, he said. Help from FEMA is stretched from having gone through multiple states after Helene, and considering that, Lee County is doing very well. “We’re fortunate to be in the place we are and I’m grateful that our area has the resiliency to take care of this
without a lot of help from state or federal — not to say we’re not gonna go for funding, it’s just gonna be a lot more challenging from a priority point of view,” Ruane said. Barreda said not only county but also state officials are checking in with the GPIA to make sure Pine Island’s needs are met. “There are volunteer organizations that are active in disasters. We are here for preparedness, response and recovery … we coordinated with the American Red Cross to make sure supplies could come,” Barreda said When talking about emergency response or disaster recovery before a storm, state EOC stands up, Barreda said. One of those functions is volunteer coordination See GPICA, page 19
‘Adopt a Dolphin’ wall sculpture auction Sunday at Tarpon Lodge Fourth annual fundraiser for Greater Pine Island Chamber
Hurricane Helene floods much of Pine Island By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
As CW Fudge Factory owner William Tidball surveyed the scene in Matlacha, he couldn’t help but compare Pine Island’s post-Helene conditions to something out of science fiction. “We flooded. We did a lot during Hurricane Ian recovery to mitigate our losses, but we’re wet again. It’s Ground Hog Day. William and Carlos are hamsters on a wheel, who cannot get off of it,” Tidball said, half joking. Tidball was quick to include all of the island, saying it seems everyone who went through Hurricane Ian two years ago is likely experiencing the same deja vu as he and partner Carlos Gomez. He did say that he felt
there was more storm surge from Hurricane Helene than Hurricane Ian. “It caught me off guard, because I thought it’s so far off the coast, we’re not gonna feel it. It felt like more water than Ian because my house flooded. It’s another day of closing my eyes and saying to myself, ‘What can I live without that got wet? It’s gone, let it go.’ Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would be spending the 2-year anniversary of Ian, living it
The Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce is hosting its fourth annual wall sculpture auction, “Adopt a Dolphin,” Sunday, Oct. 13, from 4-7 p.m. The event will be held at the Tarpon Lodge, in the shade at Island House. This lovely outdoor setting will set the tone for a wonderful fun casual time. The bar will be open and a lighter fare menu offered if you would like. Bob Mueller will provide some entertainment. Starting at 4 p.m. there will be time to see and enjoy the 22 dolphin on display. Make sure you arrive early, as a free Wicked Dolphin cocktail will be available as well as free door prizes being given away before 5 p.m. Thanks to Matlacha on Shoreview for a two-night stay giveaway, valued at over $500, and a Wicked Dolphin gift basket. At 5 p.m., island resident auctioneer Isacc Holeva will take the microphone and start things rolling. The chamber thanks the 20 island businesses that See ‘ADOPT A DOLPHIN,’ page 20
See HURRICANE HELENE, page 14 Storm surge from Hurricane Helene flooded Matlacha.
One of the dolphins created for the auction. PHOTO PROVIDED
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