Matlacha Hookers summer school supply drive ends Saturday
By Staff | Jul 30, 2021
The Matlacha Hookers’ annual summer school supply drive comes to a close this Saturday, July 31. Teachers will be back in class at Pine Island Elementary on Aug. 2 with students set to start Aug. 10
The group recently held a “Fill The Trailer” event at Ragged Ass Saloon to help with the supply drive.
Here are the items that PIE teachers have asked for: large size backpacks with no wheels, headphones for grades K-1 and earbuds for 3-5, pencil boxes, scissors (blunt tip only), #2 pencils, erasers (both cap and large pink rectangles), whiteboard markers (erasable and fine tip), expo markers dry eraser, glue sticks, colored pencils, pens (black, blue and red), marbled composition books, spiral notebooks (one subject, wide rule), pocket folders with middle brad in all colors, 3-ring binders (both 1-inch and 2-inch), Crayola markers (washable). Crayola crayons, Scotch tape, yellow highlighters, 3×5
Matlacha Hookers hosting ‘Fill the Trailer’ school supply drive for P.I.E. this Saturday
By Staff | Jul 21, 2021
The Matlacha Hookers, in partnership with Pine Island Auto Repair and the Ragged Ass Saloon, are holding a “Fill the Trailer” event Saturday, July 24, at the Ragged Ass Saloon beginning at 10 a.m. Items can be dropped off all day.
“Let’s fill the trailer and provide all of our P.I.E. students with the tools they need to excel,” said Madam DJ Ruscik.
These are the items requested by the P.I.E. teachers: large size backpacks with no wheels, headphones for grades K-1 and earbuds for 3-5, pencil boxes, scissors (blunt tip only), #2 pencils, erasers (both cap and large pink rectangles), whiteboard markers (erasable and fine tip), expo markers dry eraser, glue sticks, colored pencils, pens (black, blue and red), marbled composition books, spiral notebooks (one subject, wide rule), pocket folders with middle brad in all colors, 3 ring binders (both 1 inch and 2
Pastor Grueser says farewell to Pine Island after 14 years
By PAULETTE LeBLANC - | Jul 7, 2021
Pastor Heidi Grueser with Charli Su’, Koral and Gracie K. Grueser. Photo provided
Pastor Heidi Grueser of Pine Island Community Church wants everyone to know that everything will continue that as normal at PICC. The non-denominational church, she said, is completely community oriented.
“It doesn’t have any hierarchy,” said Grueser, “it’s run by a board of directors. It started with a couple of people and it grew and grew.”
The building was purchased in 2010, and they decided to rent out the bays after the community continued to donate large items, such as furniture, to the church. Members began having yard sales in an attempt to raise money when it occurred to Grueser that they could open the bay doors and offer the community a thrift store.
PIE students make blessing bags to help those in need
By Special to The Eagle - | Feb 10, 2021
Jennifer Cann’s second-grade class at Pine Island Elementary pulled together to create 76 blessing bags for those in need. PHOTO PROVIDED
Principal Tom Millins of Pine Island Elementary School said “what makes PIE amazing is our teachers’ ability to teach lessons both in and out of the classroom. One such example is a class project/initiative from Ms. Jennifer Cann’s second-grade classroom.”
“Over the Christmas holiday I saw on Facebook that someone was making blessing bags and keeping them in their cars until they saw a homeless person in need of food or other necessities,” Ms. Cann said. “This project really touched me and I felt this would be a great service project for my students. I talked to the class about this and they were super excited to start collecting items for our blessing bags. The kids got right to work and their generosity was amazing.