WEEk of NoVEmbEr 11, 2024 FLIER INSIDE
Little Pine Island Bridge work continues — INSIDE pINEISlaND-EaglE.com
VolumE 48, NumbEr 28
Labor of love: Islander awarded judgement on behalf of ailing wife By PAULETTE LeBLANC
Promise made — promise kept
A Pine Islander known for his public service recently won a battle much closer to home — a $150,000 judgement on behalf of his ailing wife. Michael Dreikorn alleged that his wife, Darlene Soler, did not receive proper treatment while in respite care provided by Hope Hospice and Community Services, Inc. after falling and breaking her arm. In October, pursuant to an arbitration decision and award dated Aug. 19, a final judgement of $150,000 was awarded on Soler’s behalf, according to records filed with the Lee County Clerk of Courts. Hope Hospice said it could not comment. “In the interest of patient privacy, Hope Hospice chooses not to discuss the care of a patient and the organization remains committed to its mission of providing quality care to the communities we serve,” Hospice said in a statement.
When Matlacha fire commissioner Michael Dreikorn decided to make a bid for the District 1 seat on the Lee County Commission, he also made a promise to his then-girlfriend, Darlene Soler, that he would take her down to the Caribbean if he lost the race in 2018. He fulfilled that promise in a big way— despite Soler’s declining health, the couple now find themselves enjoying sunsets in Puerto Rico where they currently reside. Soler had been diagnosed with Huntington’s disease in 2016 after Darlene Soler Dreikorn’s noticed what he thought might be a mental health issue. The unexpected illness changed their life path. “At that time we’d been together 13, maybe even 15
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
years. She went to see a psychiatrist, who referred her to a neurologist. He took one look at her and — the disease manifests, not only in behavior, but you start to look a little different, you have jerking movements in your body, your eyes start to wander a little bit. He took a look at her and said, we have to do a DNA test,“ Dreikorn said. The DNA test was to assess whether she carried the gene for Huntington’s disease. Her mother had died of the disease and there is a 50% chance of inheriting it from a parent, he said. Months went by with no change in her behavior. When Dreikorn asked about it, Soler conSee DREIKORN, page 19
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Chamber ‘Adopt a Dolphin’ wall sculpture auction Sunday at Tarpon Lodge
Beacon of Hope’s 15th annual Holiday House Dec. 6-8 By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com
This year’s Holiday House fundraiser event is going to be at the Historic Tarpon Lodge, once again. This three-day event will take place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 6-8. It is $15 per person (free for kids) and includes appetizers and musical entertainment. There will also be a cash bar.
According to Beacon board member Elsie Stearns, it promises to be a wonderful night out, where guests can stroll the lodge grounds and do some holiday shopping, while supporting Pine Islands Beacon of Hope. Santa and Mrs. Claus are roles filled again by EV and wife, Margie Goodwyn, Stearns said. “Santa and Mrs. Claus will be at the event every day and available for
photo-ops,” Stearns said. There will be live music each night, she said, with singers and steel drum music, a wine sampling, which will be available for purchase and an array of new vendors. The tree-top auction and raffle table will be available, filled with donations from each Holiday House vendor which are then raffles off to a lucky winner. See HOLIDAY HOUSE, page 20
The Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce hosting its fourth annual wall sculpture auction, “Adopt a Dolphin,” this Sunday, Nov. 17, from 4-7 p.m. The event will be held at the Tarpon Lodge, in the shade at Island House, at 13771 Waterfront Drive, in Pineland. This lovely outdoor setting will set the tone for a fun casual time. The bar will be open and a lighter fare menu offered. Bob Mueller will provide some entertainment. Starting at 4 p.m. there will be time to see and enjoy the 22 dolphin sculptures on display. Make sure to arrive early, as the chamber will have a free Wicked Dolphin cocktail for you to enjoy as well as free door prizes being given away before 5 p.m. Thanks to Matlacha on Shoreview for providing 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 have sponsored wall sculptures. Each business sponsored a blank template of the dolphin and then organized a local artist to produce the masterpiece. Prior to the event, the dolphin can be viewed on See CHAMBER AUCTION, page 20
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