WEEk of NoVEmbEr 27, 2024 FLIER INSIDE
Replanting pines Calusa Land Trust working to restore island’s namesake trees — INSIDE pINEISlaND-EaglE.com
VolumE 48, NumbEr 30
SJCCA plans concert in the park fundraiser Dec. 7 Special event to feature Deb and the Dynamics By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewapapers.com
If you missed Deb and the Dynamics the last time they played at the St. James City Civic Center, don’t worry, because they plan to play there again next weekend for the St. James City Civic Association's 60th anniversary party. The celebration will be held from 2-5 p.m. on the SJCCA grounds. Ticket are $25 prepaid and $30 at the door. Visit sjccapi.org to purchase tickets in advance. Board president Cena Hamby said she wants everyone
to bring golf carts, lawn chairs and an appetite for vendor foods. Ticket prices for the concert in the park are to cover the expense of a much needed new septic system. “We found out we needed a new septic system after Tropical Storm Debbie (Aug. 5) exposed a huge hole. We started a Gofundme and the island donated $6,600. We wrestled with permitting and the Department of Health and finally got a septic system we could afford,” Hamby Said. The building flooded twice recently, she said. All refrigeration was lost, and the gas range was damaged, as well as the women’s restroom. Hamby said she’s afraid to ask what might come next, for fear that something else will need repairs or replacement. See CONCERT, page 16
PHOTO PROVIDED
Deb and the Dynamics will be performing at SJCCA concert in the park fundraiser.
Celebrating Pine Islanders: GPIWA issues notice of water Stephen Cucura rate increase By PAULETTE LeBLANC
pleblanc@breezenewapapers.com
By MIKES MAILLAKAKIS
ruitScapes owner Stephen Cucura says he would describe himself simply as a farmer. When he first came to Pine Island in 1999, because of the climate for growing fruit, he gave mangoes as the reason, although he had never heard of Pine Island before that. “I was looking for a spot where I could grow my fruit, buffered from the cold and I found Pine Island,” Cucura said. The original idea, he said, was to be a papaya farmer, although that idea did not work out for him. After a friend encouraged him to go into the agriculture arena and to look for other things to grow, his friend showed him how easy it was to grow papaya and Cucura thought he would just make a large papaya farm, as he had not seen anyone do that and thought he might be the first to make it work. “I bought my first property on Pine Island and once people found out I had farm land on Pine Island, I had other friends that told me I should grow mangoes, because that’s what grows best out here. At the time I wasn’t interested in mangoes and I wanted to try other stuff — obscure fruits like lychee, so I started a lychee farm. After my papaya venture failed, I went to lychee and that was successful,” Cucura said. After a time, he said he met a family out here who grew tropical fruit trees and began working for them part-time at their business - Treehouse Nursery. It wasn’t long before it turned into a full-time job for Cucura and then he simply bought the business, now known as
Special to The Eagle
F
See STEPHEN CUCURA, page 16
insidetoday
Due to unprecedented inflation over the last four years caused by COVID-19 lockdowns, supply chain issues and insurance increases due to the increased hurricane activity these past few years, the GPIWA Board of Directors, after reviewing the 2024 GPIWA rate study, voted to support a 15% rate increase for the calendar year 2025. This rate increase would take effect sometime during the first quarter of 2025 dependent on approval by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners. There were no rate increases in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 as the Association was hoping the inflation seen in those years was momentary and would reverse itself. This has not been the case, and the increased cost of electricity, insurance and other expenses require an adjustment to GPIWA’s rates. This was not an easy decision to make as the Association Board Members did not want to contribute to more inflation, but the Association could no longer absorb the increased expenses. The real dollar cost of the 15% water rate increase to our membership is dependent on how much water is used. As an example, a residential household that uses 5,000 gallons/month is now paying $41.10 per month. As an example, a residential household that uses 2,000 gallons/month is now paying $27.42 per month. With the 15% increase, they would pay $31.53 per month for an increase of $4.11 per month. The General Manager has set aside the hours of 4-6 p.m., on Monday, Dec. 2, in the GPIWA Board Room located at 5281 Pine Island Road to provide a review of the rate study with any members who would like to discuss this rate increase for 2025. Please visit www.pineislandwater.com under the “More” tab, then “Rate Study” to see the recommended new fee structure. PHOTO PROVIDED
FruitScapes owner Stephen Cucura with a jackfruit.
Athletes of the Week.......17 Bridge Beat......................15 Calusa Waterkeeper..........9
Cat of the Week.................8 Dolphin Tales.....................6 From the Firehouse..........6
Mikes Maillakakis, PE, is the general manager of the Greater Pine Island Water Association.
Mahjongg Scores............15 SJCCA Update.................10 Sketchers Schedule........11
Classifieds & Obituaries