Key island organizations have emerged in the past half century
As we look back on 50 years of the Pine Island Eagle, there are many important stories to take into consideration.
After Hurricane Charley in 2004, the start-up of the Beacon of HOPE was the beginning of a great many things on Pine Island. It includes the display of affection Pine Islanders have for one another. Many times this comes through with community related Beacon activities and programs.
Original Beacon of HOPE programs, for instance, such as the GED and the ESOL programs, which have been handed down from teachers like Mary Lou Martin, or the Beacon Bites program, which is a senior focused meals on wheels, have endured the test of time and lasted many years. The Beacon Buggy vehicle, which helps people to get to their doctor or any off-island medically related appointment was funded by donation and is driven by volunteers.
Many stories over the years point to the fact that people have continuously given donations and funds to the Beacon, many people have worked on the Beacon board toward something greater than themselves, many islanders look to the Beacon for help or even basic sustenance.
Long-time, Beacon of HOPE board member Elsie Stearns, who often uses the local bank marquee at Centennial Bank as a PSA to islanders, said within days of Hurricane Charley having hit Pine Island, the PILTRO (Pine Island Long Term Recovery Group) was formed by clergy and other Pine Island leaders. From that, the Beacon of HOPE was born, she said.
“After the storm they (the PILTRO group) provided everything from shelter to food-whatever the island needed,” Stearns said.
Not long after Pine Islanders began dealing with the calamities of Hurricane Charley, she said, they realized there was a financial crises. It did not take long for the Beacon of HOPE board to realize they could not possibly service every need on the island and they partnered with and became the 13th United Way House in Lee County. The institute, she said, would find established grassroots organizations of a community and partner, just as they did with the Beacon.
This partnership, Stearns said, was critical, opening many doors and agencies that would now come out to Pine Island. In a relatively short time, the building was purchased which would become home to the Attic Thrift Store, the Center of Excellence classroom and the Health Center.
“In my experience of 50 years on Pine Island-on the 20-year mark, that’s when people realize you’re the real deal and you’re going to be around for a while. I think the Beacon is an anchor for the community,” Stearns said.
In addition to the Beacon of HOPE, Pine Island and Matlacha have many wonderful island-focused organizations, such as the Matlacha Hookers, which began in 1998, with 21 women, according to current Madame Tammey Lynch. A main focus for the Matlacha Hookers is the yearly scholarship program, she said. The scholarships are for anybody looking to continue their education. One needs only apply and meet certain criteria to be awarded. Scholarships are given out in June.
Currently, she said, the focus is on finding new ways to raise money.
“We’ve done meat raffles. We do the Roper Romp. We’re trying to find fun activities-fun ways to raise money for the island,” Lynch said.
In her opinion, some of the most important work carried out by the Matlacha Hookers is included in the work they do with Pine Island Elementary School students. Since the school is a main hub on the island, the kids that go through there are likely to have ties in some way to almost everyone on the island.
“We make sure they all have backpacks, school supplies, we also help with their activities, like Spring Fest-we volunteer for that every year and we do the Derby and the School Drive for the kids,” Lynch said.
The school drive includes getting in touch with local businesses to ask them to donate school supplies. The principal, she said, will meet with teachers and ask what’s needed. After the Hookers get a list from the school, they put the list out and collect school supplies from all the businesses from which they’ve previously asked for donations. The supplies are sorted, she said, and at the school’s open house the items are given to the kids who need them.
“We give them supplies for when they are at home, and for them to bring to school. We do this every year. It’s nice and discreet,” Lynch said.
One of the most far reaching and progressive Pine Island organizations began with one of the worst situations imaginable, The Bobby Holloway Junior Memorial Fund. Holloway’s mother Ernestine Squires said when her 11-year-old son, Bobby, passed in 1997, Go Fund Me did not yet exist.
“We didn’t have the money for a funeral. We were very heavily involved with the Little League-I was on the board, my husband, Bobby, coached while little Bobby played and the same went through the football field-the Storms-same thing, we were very involved,” Squires said.
A fund was set up for the Holloways at a Pine Island bank and the funds provided made it possible to bury Bobby, and even included a headstone, Squires said. In the end, she went on, there was a little more than 2 thousand dollars left.
“We obviously could not take that money for ourselves so we gave half of it to the Little League and half of it to the football field,” Squires said, adding that she and her husband knew there was a need there and they could not stand to hold onto money when they knew there were kids on the teams who needed things such as shoes, cleats, bats or uniforms.
The inclination of little Bobby to always look out for other kids began a road to philanthropy, via a legacy, which, once started, became a fire his parents could not put out. The Bobby Holloway Junior Memorial Fishing Tournament was the first and most natural of these to begin, Squires admitted.
“Bobby’s dad was a fireman and a boat captain and I was at Pineland Marina-it was a natural thing to have this fishing tournament. We thought it would be one and done but it was a huge success,” Squires said, admitting that as time went on, they only saw more needs and more kids.
It wasn’t long until the death of Bobby Holloway led to a 501(C)(3) organization that would grow into funding that meets the needs of islanders as well as grants and scholarships. Last year, in 2025, $64,000 was awarded for colleges and trade schools.
“I’m very blessed that my son’s legacy has been created and I’m so thankful people continue to support us year after year after year,” Squires said.
Environmental concern is nothing new on Pine Island, by any means. Acquiring and caring for the land is often taken on by the all-volunteer organization, the Calusa Land Trust.
CLT president Robert Ballard said in his opinion, the most important work done by the CLT is the preservation of both of the natural and the historical parts of Pine Island. In the beginning, the most critical action was to save some of the mangrove shoreline, he said, whereas now, it may be more on saving the natural uplands.
“We’re not trying to buy palm fronds, we’re just trying to find pines that are still there and save those,” Ballard said.
Stearns said the Eagle has served her family for the whole of her life on Pine Island.
“We came, we had kids and grandkids and we’re all right here,” she said of herself and husband, Scott Stearns.
Local organizations, which continue to thrive, such as the Pine Island Food Pantry are continuously grateful for support from the Eagle, through stories and announcements.
“The Eagle supports The Pine Island Food Pantry by consistently publicizing our charter and fundraisers which raises awareness on the island and increases overall donations. Thank you,” Pine Island Food Pantry treasurer Diane Gleason said.
Publisher, Ray Eckenrode credits the Eagle with real influence in its ability to serve locals.
“The Eagle’s longevity provides a perfect example of the true power of community newspapers. The connection to the community and support from it has been just amazing,” Eckenrode said.
To reach PAULETTE LeBLANC / pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com, please email