WEEk of octobEr 30, 2024 FLIER INSIDE
‘School Spirit’ Legion presents T-shirts to Pine Island Elementary students and staff — INSIDE pINEISlaND-EaglE.com
VolumE 48, NumbEr 26
Beacon of Hope director Buthman retiring By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
Beacon of Hope Program Director Nancy Buthman said she has been thinking about retirement for about year. In looking back on her six years at the Beacon, the highlight of her career has likely been being able to help those who have needed help. Fellow Beacon of Hope board member Elsie Stearns pointed out that as a nurse practitioner, Buthman has an undeniable passion for the medical needs of those on Pine island. “Many members of our Beacon Bites program are
seniors. I go out and assess them to see what their needs really are,” Buthman said. This gift and specialized training is something Buthman has consistently brought to the table in her time with the Beacon, Stearns said. In addition, Buthman also ran the transportation program, Stearns added. Buthman talked about the learning program at the Beacon,
from the Music Program on Monday night, where anyone can learn to play any instrument, to the ESOL program, which has been enormously vital to the Spanish-speaking community on Pine Island. “As difficult as it’s been in the past few years, with the storms, Nancy has been able to keep up with her work at the Beacon. Now she’s going to focus on family, with her seven adult children,” Stearns said. Buthman’s last day is Nov. 8, Stearns said, adding that there will be a celebration in the Center of Excellence at
Blue Dog Bar and Grill re-opens after hurricanes
Volunteering to feed workers at Tarpon Lodge
By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
n Friday, Oct. 18, Tarpon Lodge employee Ashley Johnson, along with her husband, “the shrimp guy,” Billy Johnson, with donations from Miz Shirley, cleaned and cooked shrimp for staff and any workers or vendors who were on the premises at Tarpon Lodge, such as electricians, air conditioning technicians and anyone else who might be hungry, said Johnson, adding that Tarpon Lodge owner Rob Wells donated tea and drinks. “I know they were working so hard to repair damages and we wanted to give Chef Craig a break because he has been cooking lunch for everyone. We, meaning, myself, my husband Billy, Kelsey Stimer from Island Dough and Tarpon’s own Chef Craig, set up an assembly line to feed everyone. What we had left over, Billy, Kelsey and I drove out to St. James City and delivered to anyone we saw working on homes until we ran out,” Johnson said. Wells could not have been more grateful for the gesture displayed by Stimer and the Johnsons toward those readying Tarpon for re-opening. “It was so thoughtful of Ashley, Billy and Kelsey to come out and cook some food for all the employees that have been working so hard to get the Tarpon Lodge back open again,” Said Wells.
See BUTHMAN, page 15
Nancy Buthman
O
PHOTO SUBMITTED BY ASHLEY JOHNSON
Workers helping to repair damage caused by Hurricane Milton at the Tarpon Lodge at Pineland were treated to a special meal on Oct. 18.
Blue Dog Bar and Grill owner John Lynch was looking forward to how hectic the restaurant was likely to get upon reopening after being shut down for three days short of a month due to hurricanes Helene and Milton. He said the same great service and food should be expected as they are on the menu along with fresh stone crab claws he picked up from Barnhill Seafood Market. “We are ready to go,” Lynch said. With 47 employees, who mostly live on Pine Island, combined with crabbers, shrimpers and fishermen, whose catch often ends up on his menu, Lynch admitted he feels he’s doing his part in helping the wheels of the train to keep moving for the good of everyone involved and feels grateful to be a part of something he sees as an overall bigger picture. “When you cast a wide net, you feel the ripple effect. When we’re open, it helps Stone crab claws. many others on the island,” Lynch said. Many people these days are trying to get by, living paycheck to paycheck, he said, citing that to the best of his knowledge, restaurants and the hospitality industry are the single largest employer of single mothers. Not being open is too stressful for his employees who are counting on their jobs, he added. “If it’s stressful for them, it will be stressful for us,” Lynch said. See BLUE DOG BAR AND GRILL, page 14
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