WEEk of octobEr 23, 2024 FLIER INSIDE
SJCCA update Volunteers pitch in to help clean up after the hurricanes, and more — INSIDE pINEISlaND-EaglE.com
VolumE 48, NumbEr 25
Early voting underway across Lee County By CJ HADDAD
cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com
Early Voting for the 2024 General Election started Monday. Registered voters in Lee County began casting their ballots on Oct. 21, with the Early Voting period running through Nov. 2. There are 12 locations throughout the county where individuals can vote, as well as drop off their vote-bymail ballot. Locations will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Lee County Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle
said he and his staff are ready for the Early Voting period and have ensured equipment is ready to handle the turnout. “We thoroughly test all 232 tabulators and electronic poll pads that will be used in the election,” Doyle said. “We also conduct a state-mandated public Logic and Accuracy Test of the voting equipment and voting system to ensure they're tabulating and counting votes accurately.” Voting locations include: ■ Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library – 921 Southwest 39th Terrace, Cape Coral
■ Lee County Elections Cape Coral Branch Office – 1039 Southeast 9th Ave. ■ Northwest Regional Library – 519 Chiquita Blvd. N., Cape Coral ■ North Fort Myers Recreation Center – 2000 N. Recreation Parkway ■ Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers 4224 Renaissance Preserve Way,, Fort Myers ■ Lakes Regional Library - 15290 Bass Road, Fort Myers
See EARLY VOTING, page 14
United Way, Collaboratory relaunch SWFL Emergency Relief Fund By CJ HADDAD
cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com
Chamber president: ‘We have storm fatigue setting in on Pine Island’ By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
he recent and seemingly ongoing post-hurricane cleanup is taking its toll on islanders in every Pine Island community, said Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce Board President and Bokeelia Custom Apparel, Island Brew Promotions owner Dave Conner, who had 4 feet of flood water in his own house. Hurricanes Helene and Milton have rightly caused some consternation among the chamber board members for Pine Island business owners, most of whom were still trying to come back from 2022’s Hurricane Ian when Helene and Milton blew through town. “We had a meeting with the secretary of commerce of the state of Florida,” Conner said, voicing his personal concern over businesses in Matlacha. The fact that many buildings in Matlacha are categorized historical, Conner said, seems to be causing a
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large issue in that rebuilding them in any other way could be legally prohibited. Building owners are tired of re-building just to be blown down by another storm, Conner said. Many Pine Islanders were still without power or water as of mid-October, Conner explained, leaving businesses, such as Blue Dog Bar and Grill, who are ready to have a post-storm opening, with their hands tied. He surmises that although many restaurants are likely to come back, many of the Matlacha retail businesses may have been hit too hard to return. “Matlacha is the gateway to everything on the island. You can’t get that fixed and cleaned up and the See STORM FATIGUE, page 9 What’s left of the Bokeelia Pier, across from Capt’n Cons, after Hurricane Milton. PAULETTE LEBLANC
In the wake of Hurricane Milton, a pair of local nonprofits have teamed up to provide relief for those impacted by the storm that blew through Southwest Florida nearly two weeks ago. As the clean-up and recovery from Hurricane Milton moves forward in earnest over the next several days and weeks, United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades is working to ensure all those in need of assistance are supported. Financial donations and volunteers are needed to support the region’s recovery. United Way’s 211 helpline is still operating 24 hours a day, providing free information and referral services to anyone in Southwest Florida in the wake of the storm. Community Resource Specialists provide real-time information and support. United Way, along with Collaboratory, has relaunched the “SWFL Emergency Relief Fund.” This easy-to-use portal for monetary donations is active at UnitedWayLee.org/Donate. “As a community foundation, we collect the funds and then provide them to our non-profit partners who perform the direct service, the majority going to the United Way,” said Dawn Belamarich, Collaboratory president and CEO. “This is what we’re here for. As a community foundation, as a regional convener, our job is to raise funds and partner with organizations that are doing direct service work. It’s an honor to do so, and that's what we're here for.” Donors can select “Disaster Relief” to contribute to the fund. Those who donate directly support survivors of Hurricane Milton, with 100% of the funds supporting individuals affected by Hurricane Milton. “We launched the fund hoping that donations would come in, especially from outside of the area or people who were not affected, but that doesn’t always happen,” said See EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND, page 16
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