The Lee County Department of Community Development will open a weekly remote permit office at the Pine Island Public Library, 10701 Russell Road, Bokeelia, to allow residents to obtain permits for repairs to existing buildings damaged by Hurricane Ian.

The remote permit office will be open weekly from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each Wednesday starting Jan. 4 through Jan. 18.

The "emergency" phase of the Pine Island agriculture debris removal will be ending within a few weeks.

Update 9-28-22, 5 am: Lights blinking, power & water will be off soon. Ian is about 100 miles off shore, to the south and just upgraded to cat 4, but moving faster at 10 mph.. Gusts right now about 50mph. It looks as if Pine Island and SW Florida will see the eye.

Pine Islander's received a shock when Lee County Electric Co-op sent out electricity bills reflecting, on average a 30% increase, seemingly overnight. Of course, a huge shock and burden on those with fixed incomes, but an equally unpleasant surprise for the 60% Pine Islanders who didn't vote for this. Two hundred dollar bills became $300, $300 became $450, etc.

Melanie Ann Martina (Mel) Meo, 64, peacefully passed away in the morning of April 20, 2022 at her home in Bokeelia.

LEE COUNTY, SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
RESOLUTION

Whereas, Greater Pine Island includes Pine Island - the largest island on Florida's west coast – and the islands of Little Pine Island and Matlacha, in Lee County. Pine Island has been settled continuously dating back to the Calusa Indians who created one of their most important settlements here, and;

Most days during Florida's season, traffic is backed up all the way to Pine Center to the west and to Burnt Store Rd. even down Veteran's Pkwy to the east, Monday through Friday from about 10am to 4pm. The average wait was 45 minutes to as much as over an hour for cars to get through Matlacha both in east or west directions.