Page 1 The Sun Bay Paper The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum has unveiled an exclusive, limited-edition Parrot Head Bobbleead. This unique release is a testament to Jimmy Buff ett’s musical legacy and a direct contribution to his charity, the Singing for Change Foundation. Fans now can be among the fi rst to preorder this special item, featuring an iconic parrot adorned in a Hawaiian shirt and strumming a guitar. Jimmy Buff ett, a legendary singer-songwriter, left a lasting mark on the music industry. His passing on September 1, 2023, at age 76, was a profound loss. Throughout his illustrious career, Buff ett graced The American Sand Sculpting Championship is making a highly anticipated return to Fort Myers Beach this November. The FMB Chamber of Commerce has confi rmed the event will take place from November 21 to 24, reigniting a beloved tradition that ranks as the largest sand sculpting contest in Florida. Typically, the event draws about 50,000 spectators over its 10day schedule. Jacki Liszak, President of the FMB Chamber of Commerce, shared her excitement about the championship’s return. “The return of the American Sand Sculpting Championship to Fort Myers Beach is a huge win for the entire community,” she said. The championship was last held in 2019 and had been a regular fi xture on the beach’s calendar until disruptions caused by COVID-19 and Hurricane Ian. The event’s comeback marks a signifi cant post-pandemic cultural resurgence and symbolizes the community’s recovery from Hurricane Ian, which devastated the area on September 28, 2022. “Overcoming the challenges of two years of COVID and two years of impact from Hurricane Ian has been a tremendous feat. However, with teamwork from all of the May 3, 2024 Volume 9 Issue 16 From Island to Bay, News on the Level production@sunbaypaper.com www.sunbaypaper.com Right... All Along Digital Version FMB Revives Celebrated Sand Sculpting Championship Fort Myers Beach offi cials and community activists have successfully secured a role in the redevelopment of the town’s iconic pier, which was destroyed by Hurricane Ian. Key fi gures in this eff ort include Town Councilor Karen Woodson, Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane, and activists like Alan Shanofsky, chair of the Let’s Go FMB! Pier Committee. Shanofsky refl ected on the pier’s signifi cance, stating, “Generations of my family have fi shed off that pier.” The community felt the loss deeply, but now, reconstruction plans are taking shape, promising not only to restore but also to improve the beloved landmark. At their latest Tuesday meeting last month, Lee County Commissioners approved a signifi cant funding allocation of $1,176,914.23 to Stantec Consulting Services. This marks the beginning of a design process aimed at rebuilding the pier. “My phone’s blown up. We’re very excited for the next phase of the process, which is the public input process that Stantec will be shepherding,” Shanofsky shared, highlighting the community’s enthusiasm for being involved in the planning. Stantec’s mandate is to create a design that pays homage to the historic structure while enhancing its resilience against future storms. During a public comment session last month at the Lee County Board of Commissioners meeting, Woodson outlined the community’s preferences for the new pier. She emphasized the importance of maintaining the pier’s Reel Deal FMB Nets Over $1M for Pier Revival Do parents have the right to make a mistake? That’s the question at hand when we talk about medication and surgery for gender dysphoria in children. But it’s not an issue that begins when kids enter puberty. Parents start making high-stakes medical decisions, ones that have lifelong consequences, virtually the moment their children are born. One of the fi rst, in fact, is whether to allow a simple shot of vitamin K. The bacteria in your lower intestines make the vitamin, a nutrient essential for blood clotting, but newborns don’t have much of the good bacteria. Breast milk can give some vitamin K but not always enough, so doctors give babies a quick injection of it in the fi rst six hours of life. Without that shot, a baby can have dangerous, even deadly brain bleeds up until six months of age. It’s the most harmless, onetime medical intervention -- a shot of a vitamin that already occurs naturally in the body -- but after one study in the 1990s found a link between vitamin K and childhood cancer (results, mind you, never found again despite decades of trying), it became fashionable among the anti-vax set to decline the shot. Despite hue and cry from doctors about the terrible, preventable aftereff ects, Parents Need And Have The Right To Make Mistakes Cont. pg 19 Cont. on pg 16 Cont on pg 6 Cont. pg 19 Celebrate Jimmy Buff ett With a Special Edition Bobblehead Unfortunately, this is it! Probably for the next 2-3 years!
May 3, 2024 The Sun Bay Paper Page 2 Lee County Utilities Will be Temporarily Converting its Disinfectant Process from Chloramines to Free Chlorine Residual In a proactive move to ensure water quality and safety, Lee County water utilities will undertake temporary conversions from chloramines to free chlorine residual in their disinfection processes from May 1 through May 21, 2024.. While this transition primarily aims at maintenance, pathogen control, regulatory compliance, and emergency response, its implications ripple across various sectors of the community, including home dialysis patients and aquarium enthusiasts. One of our co-workers asked me WHY? So we did some digging! Water utilities may temporarily convert their disinfectant process from chloramines to free chlorine residual for several reasons: Maintenance and System Flushing: Switching to free chlorine residual allows water utilities to perform maintenance activities such as cleaning and fl ushing the distribution system. Free chlorine is more eff ective at removing bio-fi lms and disinfecting pipelines, which can accumulate over time and compromise water quality. This process helps ensure the overall integrity and cleanliness of the distribution system. Pathogen Control: Free chlorine residual is a stronger disinfectant compared to chloramines. Utilities may switch to free chlorine to address specifi c concerns related to microbial contamination or potential outbreaks of waterborne pathogens. The temporary use of free chlorine can provide an extra layer of protection against pathogens, particularly during periods of increased risk or uncertainty. Compliance with Regulations: Water quality regulations may require periodic adjustments to disinfection processes to maintain compliance standards in response to directives from health authorities. Emergency Situations: In response to emergencies such as natural disasters or incidents of contamination, utilities may temporarily switch to free chlorine residual to rapidly disinfect the water supply and ensure its safety. Free chlorine can act more quickly than chloramines in neutralizing pathogens and contaminants, making it a preferred option during emergency situations. Addressing Taste and Odor Issues: Occasionally, water utilities may receive complaints from customers regarding taste and odor issues in the water supply. Switching to free chlorine residual can help address these concerns by providing a diff erent disinfection profi le that may result in improved taste and odor characteristics. It’s important to note that the switch from chloramines to free chlorine residual is temporary and is carefully planned and executed by water utility professionals to minimize any potential impacts on water quality and public health. For individuals reliant on home dialysis, the quality of water used in the dialysis process is paramount to their health and well-being. Chloramines, a combination of chlorine and ammonia, are commonly used in water treatment due to their longer-lasting disinfectant properties and reduced taste and odor concerns. However, when water utilities shift to free chlorine residual, home dialysis patients need to take precautions and should contact an equipment supplier so the proper fi ltering equipment may be installed. Aquariums are delicate ecosystems where water quality plays a vital role in the health and longevity of aquatic life. The transition from chloramines to free chlorine residual can aff ect aquarium environments in several ways and Tropical fi sh or aquatic animal owners should contact a local tropical fi sh store for appropriate pretreatment of water before adding water to tanks. While the temporary switch from chloramines to free chlorine residual by water utilities serves important purposes in safeguarding public health and water infrastructure, it necessitates awareness and proactive measures from certain segments of the community, including home dialysis patients and aquarium owners. By understanding the implications of this transition and taking appropriate steps to address them, individuals can uphold the quality and integrity of their water-dependent activities and ensure the well-being of those under their care, be it aquatic life or their own health.
Page 3 May 3, 2024 The FMB Chamber of Commerce held its annual meeting and awards ceremony on April 28th at the Diamondhead Beach Resort. The Hawaiian Luau-themed event marked a signifi cant occasion as the community celebrated both 2022 and 2023 award recipients, a combined celebration prompted by the interruptions caused by Hurricane Ian. The ceremony recognized various individuals, businesses, and organizations for their exceptional FMB community contributions. Among the highlights were the Ambassador of the Year awards, which went to Barry Frank and Lisa Chambers for their dedicated volunteerism and active participation in chamber functions. Mayor Dan Allers and the late Mitch Pacyna were honored as Citizens of the Year and celebrated for their impactful leadership and positive roles within the community. The Civic Award recognized the FMB Community Foundation and FMB Woman’s Club for creating signifi cant impact locally. Ed & Kim Ryan from Beach Talk Radio and the Beach Baptist Church received the Commitment to Community award for their leadership and dedication. Environmental eff orts were also spotlighted, with Tunaskin and Keep Lee County Beautiful receiving the Environmental Award for their initiatives to protect local ecosystems. The Friends of the Beach award was given to Tom Houghton of La Ola and again to Beach Talk Radio’s Ed & Kim Ryan for their significant contributions to the quality of island life. The Town of FMB was recognized with the Outstanding Service Award for its contributions to public welfare. Special Recognition was awarded to the King Family Foundation and FMB Strong for their exceptional service in specifi c community-improvement eff orts. The evening celebrated FMB’s remarkable resilience and unity and reaffi rmed the community’s commitment to recovery and progress following Hurricane Ian’s challenges. Richard Luthmann The Sun Bay Paper FMB Chamber of Commerce Celebrates Resilience With Dual Year Awards Ceremony
May 3, 2024 The Sun Bay Paper Page 4 Letters to The Editor Editorial To the Editor, Love your paper, found you while visiting my folks in Naples, my dad drives up to the Cigar shop on the corner of Bonita Beach Road to get it. You really should consider expanding into Naples, most of the people in his area are conservative, he actually picks up 6 papers to give his friends. But not being down here very often, how do I get a subscription?! Gibson Haynes Ex. Ed. note: Thanks for your email, always nice to hear words of praise. You can read our digital version online at www.sunbaypaper.com To the Editor, This ongoing struggle about what to do about design options for the Fort Myers Beach Pier is over. I understand wanting to preserve the original pier’s historical integrity and authenticity but unless they design it exactly the same it won’t. I think we have missed an opportunity to improve the pier. Loretta Segolsis Unity at Last: Trump and DeSantis Align to Challenge And Defeat the OBiden Agenda Former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis have forged a strategic alliance, a move that will signifi cantly impact the outcome of the November elections. This rekindled collaboration, a major development in Republican politics, sees the two most infl uential fi gures within the party joining forces to counter what they perceive as detrimental policies by the Biden administration, which many believe pose an existential threat to the American way of life. The partnership was sealed during a private meeting in Miami on Sunday, orchestrated by real estate mogul Steve Witkoff . This meeting, lasting several hours, was the fi rst face-to-face interaction between Trump and DeSantis since the latter suspended his presidential campaign in January—the discussion aimed to unify their eff orts and focus on a collective strategy for the upcoming electoral battles. This reunion is particularly signifi cant considering the backdrop of their prior political rivalry. After DeSantis announced his presidential bid, tensions escalated, given Trump’s previous endorsement in the 2018 gubernatorial race. The rift had deepened, with Trump’s camp feeling betrayed and DeSantis earning the nickname “DeSanctimonious.” However, these past grievances seem to have been overshadowed by mutual recognition of the more signifi cant political stakes involved and the left’s brazen actions to “fundamentally change America.” The implications of this alliance extend beyond mere political reconciliation. A staunch DeSantis donor, Tom Frederick, expressed optimism about the union, stating that it “could signifi cantly infl uence the outcome” of the elections. Frederick praised DeSantis for his leadership in Florida, highlighting his role in propelling the state towards progress and prosperity and off ering a model of governance that contrasts sharply with the current federal administration. The strategic importance of the Trump-DeSantis alliance is further underscored by the Biden campaign’s attempts to court the ‘Never-Trump’ GOP faction, particularly those who backed former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley. Biden’s team has been highlighting Trump’s divisive tactics within the party, indicating a readiness to embrace disenchanted conservative voters. This makes the Trump-DeSantis partnership a reconciliation within the GOP and a countermove against Democratic strategies aimed at fracturing the Republican voter base. There is also a buzz about the potential for DeSantis to assume a more prominent position in a future Trump administration, possibly as Vice President. This speculation is fueled by their joint appearance and mutual endorsements, despite constitutional challenges that might arise from both leaders residing in the same state. According to the Twelfth Amendment, however, electors must vote for at least one candidate who is not an inhabitant of their state, potentially complicating a joint ticket from Florida. But DeSantis’ highest and best use may be as the Attorney General. He has the talent, instincts, and tenacity to clean house at the DOJ in the next Trump Administration. His fi rst phone call should be to our own J. Gary DiLaura - the only man in America who can save the FBI by returning it to the “golden years” under J. Edgar Hoover. The Trump-DeSantis meeting has mended fences and set the stage for a united Republican front. This partnership could prove pivotal in rallying the GOP base, securing fi nancial and grassroots support, and presenting a unifi ed challenge to the Biden administration’s policies, which many Republicans view as a direct threat to fundamental American values. As election day approaches, the nation’s eyes will be on how this alliance unfolds and translates into vote-netting strategies. The reunion of these two powerful fi gures signifi es a potentially transformative moment for the Republican Party, aiming to consolidate conservative support and articulate a clear alternative to the current administration. The Trump-DeSantis pact may well be the key to a signifi cant Republican victory in November as they strive to derail the continuation of policies that jeopardize the very fabric of American society. Richard Luthmann Editor in Chief Dear Editor, Something to share with all! Just in case you were confused about why the price of everything keeps going up and have mistakenly concluded it was infl ation, well: 2023 profi ts by companies: Heinz Kraft: $8.926 billion Exxon Mobil: $36 billion JP Morgan: $49.6 billion Delta Airlines: $4.6 billion Amazon: $30.4 billion Apple Inc: $97 billion Tesla: $13.6 billion Verizon: $78.4 billion Albertsons: $21.9 billion Walmart: $147.5 billion Target: $26.9 billion Nike: $22.3 billion Blue Cross & Shield: $7.5 billion What does this have to do with anything? Starbucks made $24.56 billion in profi ts for 2023. a 25% increase from ‘22..... Which means it could give each of its 400,000 employees an $11,000 raise and would still have $20 billion in profi t. But instead workers rely on tips. Corporate profi ts are driving infl ation. Sally ‘Dotty Lewis Quote of the Week If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room - Confucius Copyright © SBP Media LLC and Sun Bay Paper All rights reserved. This newspaper or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher.
Page 5 The Sun Bay Paper May 3, 2024 An Ill Wind Blowing Those gusty hand dryers installed in public bathrooms are supposed to reduce exposure to microbial menaces, such as disease-causing bacteria that may be lurking on, well, just about everything else. But maybe not. In a report published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology a few years ago, researchers collected samples of bacterial colonies on plates. A typical bathroom air sample averaged less than one colony, while those positioned under a hand dryer for 30 seconds averaged 18 to 60 colonies per plate. The researchers couldn’t determine whether the dryers were actually harboring bacteria or simply sucking it up and then blowing a concentrated amount back out. The dryer nozzles harbored only minimal bacteria levels. They deduced that bacteria in public bathrooms was likely originating from nearby lidless toilets, which can release fecal particles when flushed. So even if you thoroughly wash your hands, you may end up just blowing new microbes on them. Grab a paper towel next time. Body of Knowledge Cognitive neuroscientists estimate humans are conscious of only about 5% of their cognitive activity, leaving most decisions, actions, emotions and behaviors to brain activity operating beyond our awareness. Get Me That, Stat! In American adults 18 and older, the prevalence of diagnosed arthritis is 21.5% in women and 16.1% in men, according to the 2022 National Health Interview Survey. Food for Thought Ammonium sulfate is an inorganic salt most commonly used as a lawn and soil fertilizer, but it’s also sometimes added to wine, sausage casings and baked products because it regulates acidity. The FDA generally recognizes it as safe. Best Medicine Did you hear about the veterinarian who is also a taxidermist? The sign outside his office reads: “Either way, you get your dog back.” Observation “If you ever see me on my death bed, please take me off my death bed and move me to my alive bed.” -- Grant Tanaka Medical History This week in 1880, the first U.S. patent for an electric hearing aid was issued to Francis D. Clarke and M.G. Foster, who called it a “Device for Aiding the Deaf to Hear (No. 226,902). The device employed bone conduction by which sound is passed through vibration of the skull bone. It was not until 1901 that the first commercially available hearing aid was produced: the Acousticon, invented by Miller Reese Hutchinson. Scott LaFee FBI DIRECTOR CHRIS WRAYAGAIN ALERTS CONGRESS, US CITIZENS… OF CHINA PREPARING TO GO TO WAR WITH US, AND AGAIN, THE ALERTS FALL ON THE DUMBASS EARS OF CONGRESS...with no urgency...we’ll look into it, ‘yawn’! Understand this…in my opinion, PRESIDENT Hussein Obama and his faithful sidekick, lapdog, Joe Obiden have weakened the US, brought us to near bankruptcy, and have intentionally, cunningly, and with malice aforethought, committed numerous Acts of TREASON to “fundamentally change America” to a socialist, Islamic nation. We are at the brink of disaster and you idiot Democraps… think you will be better off without a constitution. So, you want to look up to the likes of AOC, the crew, which backs the terrorist groups like Hamas, and Hussein Obama…who thinks Xi will just turn America over to…him…after he’s done!! NEVER HAPPEN! Xi will never trust Hussein…who just betrayed 400,000,000 Americans that he, Hussein, swore to protect and defend, as well as our Constitution and our unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness?! Why…? Because he wants to be the Ayatollah Obama…nothing else!! Xi will kill Obiden and his entire family, as well as Obama, and the entire Obama clan, after he kills the grid, oil and natural gas supply pipelines as well. You foolish politicians, who have made a deal with the devil, will regret everything you have done to yourselves as well as your loved ones. If you think for one minute that Xi will allow you to survive, then you are dumber than you look! We have 1of 3 ways to survive… 1. Convince Hussein OBAMA TO CALL OFF his DOGS... China, Russia, N Korea, and Iran…which he will NOT do. After all, he has worked so hard to bring America to this desperate state…the brink of disaster… he and Obiden… worked so terribly hard! These two scoundrels made mega millions of dollars secretly dealing with our enemies. That was their cost to do business. Poor things! 2. Remove Biden using the 25th Amendment…put Harris in but immediately remove her for Criminal Negligence and make the speaker, Johnson, President, with the caveat that he will issue the warning to China that IF Xi or ANYONE else, no matter who… hits us with an EMP device, he will order a full nuclear strike by our Trident sub fl eet upon China, Russia, N Korea, and Iran! 3. Elect former President Trump as President…that’s all we have to do…he will do the rest! Pray to God we live that long! Don’t believe for even one second that either Obama or Obiden are capable of issuing such a threat... making it believable, and neither is capable of carrying it out! That will NEVER happen!! Xi will never believe it! The Sun Bay Paper PHONE: (239) 267-4000 MAIL (Correspondence & General Inquiries): 16970 San Carlos Blvd., Ste 160, Fort Myers, Fl 33908 MAIL (Billing & Payments): PO Box 471, Sanborn, NY 14132 E-MAIL: production@sunbaypaper.com WEBSITE & DIGITAL VERSION: www.sunbaypaper.com PRODUCER: J. GARY DILAURA EDITOR IN CHIEF: RICHARD LUTHMANN EXEC. EDITOR: BOBBY MIMMO The information contained in this publication is for educational, general information, and entertainment purposes only and is never intended to constitute medical, fi nancial or legal advice or to replace the personalized care of a primary care practitioner, fi nancial or legal expert. The Right Side FBI DIRECTOR CHRIS WRAYAGAIN ALERTS CONGRESS J Gary Dilaura, FBI RED Retired Extremely Dangerous www.therightsidejgarydilaura.com Wellness news
May 3, 2024 The Sun Bay Paper Page 6 On May 18, Moss Marina, in partnership with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, will off er free boat safety checks. The event, part of National Safe Boating Week, aims to enhance safety and compliance for local boaters. From 9 AM to noon at 450 Harbor Ct., Fort Myers Beach, the Vessel Safety Check (VSC) Team will conduct these checks. This service helps boaters avoid fi nes for lacking necessary equipment. Robert Guenthner, Flotilla Commander of the FMB Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla, emphasizes the importance of this event. “It’s a chance to educate boaters on safety while ensuring their vessels are problem-free,” he said. Guenthner noted that while the Auxiliary doesn’t issue citations, it does provide valuable safety recommendations. Boats meeting the standards receive a VSC Decal, a symbol of their commitment to safety. Moss Marina, hosting the event, is conveniently located in downtown FMB, making it easily accessible for avid boaters. Gary Foco, General Manager of Moss Marina, describes the marina as a top destination for boating enthusiasts. “Our facilities include dock space for up to 180-foot vessels and an on-site restaurant, all designed to enhance your boating experience,” he explained. The safety event is a part of the National Safe Boating Week campaign, which runs from May 18-24. This campaign is dedicated to promoting safe boating practices and the importance of wearing life jackets, ensuring the safety of all boaters. Boaters interested in attending can fi nd Moss Marina at the coordinates 26°27’23.”N, 81°57’20.”W in Matanzas Pass. For those unable to attend, free vessel safety checks can be scheduled online at http://www.aux91fmb.org or by calling 239-6906780. The US Coast Guard Auxiliary, established in 1939, consists of 26,000 volunteers dedicated to supporting Coast Guard operations and enhancing boating safety. They provide trained crews and facilities to ensure the security of US ports, waterways, and coastal regions. More information about the Auxiliary is available at www.cgaux.org. Richard Luthmann Free Boat Safety Checks at Moss Marina Tide Chart High Tide Low Tide Fri, May 3 Tide Set One 11:29 AM 1.97 ft 04:38 AM -0.03 ft Tide Set Two 10:29 PM 2.30 ft 04:44 PM 1.15 ft Sat, May 4 Tide Set One 11:40 AM 2.17 ft 05:19 AM 0.23 ft Tide Set Two 11:49 PM 2.20 ft 05:49 PM 0.66 ft Sun, May 5 Tide Set One 11:56 AM 2.46 ft 05:53 AM 0.56 ft Tide Set Two 06:43 PM 0.13 ft Mon, May 6 Tide Set One 01:01 AM 2.10 ft 06:21 AM 0.89 ft Tide Set Two 12:15 PM 2.76 ft 07:33 PM -0.26 ft Tue, May 7 Tide Set One 02:07 AM 1.97 ft 06:44 AM 1.21 ft Tide Set Two 12:38 PM 3.02 ft 08:21 PM -0.56 ft Wed, May 8 Tide Set One 03:12 AM 1.80 ft 07:00 AM 1.41 ft Tide Set Two 01:05 PM 3.22 ft 09:08 PM -0.69 ft Thu, May 9 Tide Set One 04:21 AM 1.67 ft 07:10 AM 1.51 ft Tide Set Two 01:36 PM 3.31 ft 09:56 PM -0.69 ft Fri, May 10 Tide Set One 05:50 AM 1.54 ft 07:00 AM 1.54 ft Tide Set Two 02:11 PM 3.31 ft 10:47 PM -0.59 ft Sat, May 11 Tide Set One 02:50 PM 3.22 ft 11:41 PM -0.43 ft Tide Set Two Sun, May 12 Tide Set One 03:34 PM 3.02 ft Tide Set Two Mon, May 13 Tide Set One 04:25 PM 2.76 ft 12:38 AM -0.26 ft Tide Set Two Tue, May 14 Tide Set One 05:32 PM 2.46 ft 01:37 AM -0.10 ft Tide Set Two Wed, May 15 Tide Set One 10:52 AM 1.84 ft 02:32 AM 0.07 ft Tide Set Two 07:08 PM 2.17 ft 01:48 PM 1.74 ft Thu, May 16 Tide Set One 10:48 AM 1.94 ft 03:21 AM 0.20 ft Tide Set Two 08:56 PM 1.97 ft 03:48 PM 1.48 ft Sand Sculpting Cont. from pg 1 event partners, we are thrilled to be able to bring this much-loved event back to Ft. Myers Beach in November,” Liszak remarked. This year’s championship will introduce several new features, including live entertainment and extended “sand under the stars” evenings, adding a novel twist to the event’s traditional off erings. The Chamber is partnering with Diamond Head Beach Resort and The Sand Lovers LLC to orchestrate the festivities, ensuring a smooth and engaging experience for all attendees. The competition will showcase an array of sand sculptures crafted by talented artists from around the nation, promising to turn the beach into a gallery of ephemeral art. Multiple sculpture and vendor locations will be set up along the coast, providing spectators with various activities and sights. Given the event’s popularity and the limited accommodations available on the island, early booking is highly recommended. Liszak emphasized the importance of planning for those wishing to attend. “Those planning to attend should book early as accommodations may be limited on the island,” she advised. Visitors can access the FMB Chamber of Commerce’s website at www.fortmyersbeach.org/vacation-info-request/ for additional information about the event and to make accommodation inquiries. More details about the American Sand Sculpting Championship can be found on its offi cial website at www.fmbsandsculpting.com. The community and visitors alike eagerly await the return of this artistic spectacle, set to breathe new life into Fort Myers Beach this fall. Richard Luthmann
Page 7 The Sun Bay Paper May 3, 2024 The Most Disturbing Part of It The Big Ten, the Pac-12 and the Ivy League are overrun with antisemitic students protesting in favor of Hamas. They claim they support Palestinians, but “Globalize the intifada” and “Palestine will be free from the river to the sea” are explicit genocidal slogans of Hamas. Democrats insist words mean things. These words mean the students are terrorist sympathizers. Some of the protesters are chanting “Death to America.” At least one Columbia University student screamed at Jewish students, “The seventh of October is going to be every day for you!” Jewish students have been pushed off campuses, harassed, attacked and silenced. The protesters say it is about Israel and “Zionism” but attack any Jewish student without fi rst asking the student’s views on Israel and Zionism. The protests are not organic. They are organized by several antisemitic groups, including Students for Justice in Palestine. That organization claims, “Resistance comes in all forms -- armed struggle, general strikes, and popular demonstrations. All of it is legitimate, and all of it is necessary.” Nationwide, these college kids did not all spontaneously run to their local REI and buy tents. There were organizers and organizations advancing the funds, coordinating and getting ready for action. It is no coincidence the protests really took on a life of their own on April 20. That is Hitler’s birthday. The kids who would otherwise be getting stoned instead decided to stone some Jews. But one aspect of this has been more disturbing than everything else we have seen. And what we have seen has been disturbing enough. The antisemites have harassed Jewish students. They have antagonized Jewish professors. They have assaulted Jews. They have stormed into events organized by Jews to chase out the speakers and harass the attendees. At Columbia, one blond-haired white girl with a keffi yeh covering her face stood in front of a group of Jewish students who were waving Israeli and American fl ags. The girl held a sign with an arrow pointing to the students that read “Al-Qasam’s Next Target.” Al-Qasam is the military wing of Hamas that orchestrated the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre. Around Yale and Columbia, students have chanted for Al-Qasam to target Tel Aviv, kill more Jews and otherwise commit violence. But that was not the most disturbing thing to happen. The most disturbing thing was a video of a Jewish student approaching the protesters with a microphone and camera asking the white American kids if Hamas should release the remaining Israeli hostages. Many of the protesters refused to answer, but of those who did, every last one of them said, “No.” The video came out the day Hamas released a proof-of-life video of Hersh Goldberg-Polin. Goldberg-Polin had attended the music concert for peace on Oct. 7. He and others went into a bomb shelter to escape Hamas, which began throwing grenades in. Goldberg-Polin and a friend started throwing the grenades back. The friend died. Goldberg-Polin lost his hand. Hamas took him hostage. White, privileged American kids think Hamas can keep him. Now the protesters have trotted out Jewish students who are protesting to claim the protests are not really antisemitic. On social media, Black trans-conservative (a progressive who identifi es as a conservative) Candace Owens has been on a tweet storm defending the Nazis. A Black defender of the Nazis no more absolves the Nazis of their racism than a few ethnically Jewish rubes absolve the protesters of their vile antisemitism. Every barbarous regime depends on useful idiots for cover. Queers for Palestine would be thrown off buildings in Palestine if they ever went there. The white, blond Americans chanting “Globalize the intifada” would be shot. Hamas killed Vivian Silver. The 74-year-old Canadian lived in Israel championing the Palestinian cause. What we are witnessing on American college campuses is evil. It has infected college campuses across America. Only the Southeastern Conference has seemingly remained untouched along with most of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Those concerned about the rise of antisemitism should look to those schools for future workers and the rest of us need to understand something -- too many academic institutions have become breeding grounds for evil. Erick Erickson
May 3, 2024 The Sun Bay Paper Page 8 Can Ukraine defeat Russia? That’s a question roiling the U.S., Canada and Free Europe. Free Europe: That’s my term for Europe defended by the NATO alliance members and non-NATO European countries willing to defend themselves against violent authoritarian aggression. Since February 2022, the publicly professed membership of Free Europe has demonstrably expanded. Finland and Sweden have joined NATO. These two “Cold War super neutrals” are now armed and vocal members of NATO. This additional kicker demonstrates the strategic price Russia has paid for invading Ukraine. Greater Free Europe now includes Switzerland. The “forever neutral” Swiss have declared they will participate in the European air and space defense Sky Shield Initiative. Austria is also interested. Why? Because Vladimir Putin’s murderous invasion of Ukraine has convinced the Swiss a Putin-led Russia threatens everyone’s freedom. I confess I spent the entire Cold War being ticked at Finland’s, Sweden’s, Switzerland’s and Austria’s “neutral” hypocrisy. I got into it with Finns, Swedes, Swiss and Austrians at the level of heated personal debate. When pressed, they all caved and admitted their national pose was a charade. It took Putin’s invasion of Ukraine to shred their charade. Shredding the charade partially answers the question, “Can Ukraine defeat Russia?” Ukraine’s heroic defense has already dealt Russia a profound strategic-level defeat. Tucker Carlson doesn’t get it, but at the strategic military and political level, Putin’s invasion of Ukraine sobered Europe west of Ukraine, spurred European rearmament and solidifi ed the collective resolve of their free, intelligent citizens to combat Moscow. As for Ukraine defeating Russia at the operational and tactical levels of combat? Ukraine’s 2023 counteroff ensive needed F-16 fi ghter bombers for close air support and long-range missiles for “deep” interdiction missions. Remember, Washington initially denied both because the Biden administration didn’t want to be provocative. April 2024’s stalemated front of trenches and artillery is a war of attrition, one that in the long run favors Russia. However, look to the sea for a major fact only war-smart media outlets discuss: Ukraine controls the Black Sea, at least the 65% to 80% that matters to ocean freighters carrying Ukrainian grain and material cargoes to international seaports. Get a map of the Black Sea. Draw a line south-southwest from the Ukrainian seaport of Odessa to the Bosporus -- the eastern Turkish strait that passes Istanbul. Via the Sea of Marmara and the Dardanelles, ships enter the Mediterranean and global sea lanes. As I write this essay, Russian surface naval forces have withdrawn from the western Black Sea and basically taken refuge in northeastern seaports and the Sea of Azov. Ukraine won this victory with next to no naval vessels -- at least conventional naval vessels. Ukraine has used anti-ship cruise missiles. In April 2022, upgraded Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missiles sank the Black Sea Fleet’s fl agship, the missile cruiser Moskva. Anti-ship cruise missiles are 20th-century weapons. Ukraine’s sea control arsenal, however, is decidedly 21st century, with aerial drones, unmanned surface vessels/vehicles (USVs) and unmanned subsurface variants. Think of the unmanned vessels as “drone” warships. Weaponized seagoing USVs are hard to spot visually and on radar. Russia’s air force failed to gain air superiority over land and over the Black Sea. Russian ships and land-based defenses failed to protect the Crimean naval base at Sevastopol from aerial and sea drone attacks. Sevastopol has become a graveyard for Russian warships. In August 2023, Ukrainian USVs damaged a Russian ship near the naval base at Novorossiysk -- eastern Black Sea, about 300 kilometers east of Sevastopol. That’s a long-range attack. Since that attack, Russia has made limited use of Novorossiysk. Russia still operates Black Sea submarines. Ukraine, however, is about to take delivery of the Swedish Torpedo 47 -- an anti-submarine weapon that can be fi red from a land-based launch or dropped from helicopter. In late March, a Ukrainian Navy spokesman told the Associated Press that since February 2022, “Ukraine has sunk or disabled a third of all Russian warships in the Black Sea ...” Can Ukraine defeat Russia? Ukraine has certainly defeated Russia in the Battle of the Black Sea. Free Europe believes it can on land. AUSTIN BAY Ukraine’s Battle for the Black Sea -- And Free Europe
May 3, 2024 This is all Barack Obama. What you see happening right now in New York City all started at Columbia University way back in the early 1980s. Obama was my Columbia classmate. And now it’s all full circle back to our roots (excuse the pun). Columbia University is the canary in the coal mine. George H.W. Bush talked about “1,000 points of light.” Obama uses “1,000 points of destruction” to achieve his goal -- the intentional destruction of America. You can see it all happening just blocks apart right now -- all built around Columbia and NYC. Upper Manhattan is where the anarchy at Columbia is on display. The Jew-hatred. The America-hatred. The hatred of capitalism. The desire to destroy the greatest nation in world history ever blessed by God. And then a few miles south in lower Manhattan is the courtroom where a rigged communist show trial is happening to destroy the greatest symbol of everything Obama hates -- President Donald J. Trump. SYNERGY: Columbia and New York City. That’s where Obama and I learned the plan to destroy America, called “Cloward-Piven.” I have a unique understanding of Obama. Not only was he my college classmate but I’ve studied him for most of my adult life. You want to understand what makes Obama tick? Read the 452 pages of my No. 1 bestselling book from 2013, “The Ultimate Obama Survival Guide.” Here is what I see happening right now: Obama is the real president of the United States. Unelected. Yet he holds all the power and calls all the shots for his braindead, dementia puppet Joe Biden. The rigged election; the open borders; the Green New Deal; diversity, equity and inclusion, and critical race theory; transgender brainwashing of your kids at school; the weakening of our military; the division and hatred; the crime wave created by radical leftist prosecutors who let every criminal go free; the weaponization of government; the 86,000 new IRS agents; the massive spending and debt, leading to massive infl ation, which murders the middle class. Everything bad and evil happening for the past 3 1/2 years all started with Obama’s presidency. Obama honed these skills at Columbia. Then he sharpened them for eight years as president. Now he has perfected and accelerated them as the “shadow president” -- the man behind puppet Biden. Everything happening in NYC right now has Obama’s fi ngerprints all over it. The anarchy at Columbia. That’s Obama. The hatred for America. That’s Obama. The hatred for capitalism. That’s Obama. The hatred for Trump and the communist show trial rigged to destroy him. That’s Obama. The hatred for Jews (and anyone in power). That’s Obama. By the way, don’t take my word for it. Even ultra-liberal, lifelong Democrat and former Obama supporter Alan Dershowitz recently said Obama hates Israel and the Jews. He called Obama “despicable.” He blames Obama for the antisemitic, anti-Israel and anti-American attitudes in this country today. Alan, welcome to “Wayne’s World.” This is exactly what I’ve been saying about Obama since my college classmate was campaigning for president in 2007. One more thing Obama is great at -- painting everyone who disagrees with his plans to destroy America as a “racist.” You know the real defi nition of racist? Anyone winning an argument with a communist. This is all Cloward-Piven. The main goal of Cloward-Piven is to get the whole country on welfare and food stamps so the country will be overwhelmed. This creates so much debt that the economy implodes, the country collapses and in this mess, America is reborn as a socialist/communist utopia. Obama started all of that during his presidency. The spending, taxes and debt exploded. Even though Obama’s friends and donors got fi lthy rich on Wall Street, Main Street was decimated. By some measures, Obama’s economy was worse than the Great Depression. Under Obama, the number of Americans on welfare, food stamps and a thousand other government programs exploded to well over 100 million. Then he passed Obamacare to solve a problem that never existed. Health care spending exploded. More Americans dependent on government, more debt, more infl ation to wipe out the middle class. But now Obama has perfected his craft. If you can’t get everyone on welfare, just open the border and wave in the whole poverty-stricken world. Plus, the added benefi t of all the sick and pregnant of the world to add more massive spending, health care spending, welfare and debt until the economy is overwhelmed and America collapses. Meanwhile, you also completely change the demographic makeup of America and replace American citizens with foreign sheep who vote 100% Democrat to keep their welfare checks coming. And boy did Obama sharpen his use of government as a weapon. I’m a witness. As president he used the IRS to try to destroy me personally. Today he has weaponized every agency of government and funded 86,000 new IRS agents -- many with guns. He uses the DOJ and FBI to destroy Trump, Jan. 6 protesters and soon everyone who stands in the way of the fi nal destruction of America. Obama and his Marxist comrades use a government partnership with media and social media to push propaganda and misinformation out to the public 24/7, and to censor, silence and ban anyone who tells the truth. And then there’s the radicalized lynch mobs used as Obama’s army to create chaos and crisis. Today, he is behind the anarchy and unrest of this radical anti-Israel, pro-Hamas movement. Soon, the real “Obama Army” will appear -- 20 million new illegal aliens -- most of them criminals and military-aged males. The Trump persecution. The rigged Trump trials. The Jew-hatred. The America-hatred. The open border empowering a foreign invasion. The insane welfare, spending and debt. Exploding health care costs. It’s all Obama on STEROIDS. It all started at Columbia. That’s the centerpiece of the attack on Trump, America, capitalism and Jews right now. It’s all come full circle. Wayne Allyn Root The Sun Bay Paper Page 9 Where It All Started -- with My College Classmate at Columbia The Oyster Ed pearls from the muck
May 3, 2024 The Sun Bay Paper Page 10 Blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, is not just an unsightly nuisance but a formidable environmental and health hazard, especially prevalent in Florida’s freshwater bodies like Lake Okeechobee. These blooms thrive in warm, stagnant waters rich in nutrients. Lake Okeechobee, notably nutrient-dense, fosters an ideal breeding ground for such organisms. Microcystis, a common type of blue-green algae, produces microcystin, a liver toxin and potential carcinogen. Exposure can occur through ingestion, direct skin contact, or inhalation of aerosolized particles. The severity of this threat is underscored by significant blooms with toxin levels surpassing EPA safety standards by over 100 times, posing severe risks to human health. The primary source of nutrients feeding these blooms is agricultural runoff, which contributes over 75% to Lake Okeechobee’s pollution. Insufficient regulatory measures to curb nutrient influx exacerbate the lake’s condition. Historically, the reconfiguration of Florida’s water management systems has magnified the issue. Efforts to address this include the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP), which aims to redirect and treat water more naturally through the Everglades, reducing harmful discharges by up to 60%. Immediate solutions proposed involve optimizing water flow southward to prevent toxic discharges into vulnerable estuaries. Yet, the structural changes necessary to sustainably manage the water resources have been sluggish, leaving ecosystems and human communities at continued risk. Local health authorities, like the Florida Department of Health in Lee County, regularly issue warnings against contact with affected waters. Preventative advice includes avoiding swimming or boating in areas with visible algae and restricting water-related activities to prevent stirring up toxins. Economically, the impact of blue-green algae is not just significant, it’s profound. A recent report by environmental economists predicts financial devastation in the billions and significant job losses should severe blooms recur. Past events in 2018 saw extensive ecological and economic damage, underscoring the urgency for remedial action. Research underscores that blooms may intensify with climate change, linking warmer temperatures and altered rainfall patterns to more frequent and severe occurrences. As these events become more common, the economic stakes are high, necessitating not just immediate but also long-term strategies for water management and environmental protection. Stakeholders, from governmental bodies to local communities, must rally for enhanced regulatory frameworks and accelerated restoration projects to mitigate this environmental crisis. Without significant intervention, the cycle of pollution and damage is set to continue, threatening Florida’s ecological and economic future. Addressing this issue, which involves a complex interplay of environmental mismanagement and inadequate oversight, requires a concerted effort to reduce nutrient pollution, enhance water management practices, and prepare for the challenges posed by a warming climate. The health of Florida’s waterways is not just an environmental issue but a crucial economic concern, impacting countless lives and the state’s overall well-being. Richard Luthmann Environmental Toxic Tides: The Economic and Environmental Impact of Blue-Green Algae in Florida
Page 11 The Sun Bay Paper May 3, 2024 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued the fi rst national, legally enforceable drinking water standard to protect communities from exposure to harmful per-and polyfl uoroalkyl substances, PFAS, often called forever chemicals. Forever chemicals break down in the environment very slowly, and across the country, PFAS contamination is impacting the health and wellbeing of millions. People can be exposed to PFAS through drinking water or food contaminated with PFAS, by coming into contact with products that contain PFAS, or through workplace exposures in certain industries. PFAS are a category of chemicals used since the 1940s to repel oil and water and resist heat. They are in everyday products such as nonstick cookware, stain resistant clothing, and fi refi ghting foam, and they tend to migrate to groundwater. The science is clear that exposure to certain PFAS over a long period of time can cause cancer, can impact the liver and heart, and cause immune and developmental damage to infants and children. The fi nal rule is expected to reduce PFAS exposure for approximately 100 million people, prevent thousands of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses, the EPA says. It complements President Joe Biden’s government-wide action plan to combat PFAS pollution and is part of EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap announced in October 2021. “Drinking water contaminated with PFAS has plagued communities across this country for too long,” said EPAAdministrator Michael Regan. “That is why President Biden has made tackling PFAS a top priority, investing historic resources to address these harmful chemicals and protect communities nationwide. Our PFAS Strategic Roadmap marshals the full breadth of EPA’s authority and resources to protect people from these harmful forever chemicals. EPA is making nearly $1 billion in funding newly available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help states and territories implement PFAS testing and treatment at public water systems and to help owners of private wells address PFAS contamination. Overall, through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, EPA is making an unprecedented $21 billion available to strengthen the U.S. drinking water systems, including by addressing PFAS contamination. Of that, $9 billion is specifi cally for tackling PFAS and emerging contaminants. What Happened to the Cape Fear River EPAAdministrator Michael Regan joined White House Council on Environmental Quality Chair Brenda Mallory to announce the fi nal standard April 10 at an event in Fayetteville, North Carolina, a city of 336,600, located next to a large U.S. Army base, Fort Bragg. The Cape Fear River is the most industrialized river in North Carolina, lined with power plants, factories, wastewater treatment plants, landfi lls, paper mills, and industrial agriculture. The river is polluted by suspended solids and manmade chemicals, including PFAS byproducts of the production of the fl uoropolymer Nafi on. This Chemours product has attracted attention as a proton conductor for proton exchange membrane fuel cells because of its chemical and mechanical stability in the harsh conditions of this application. In 2017, area residents learned that the Cape Fear River, the drinking water source for a million people in the region, had been contaminated with PFAS pollution from chemical giant Chemours’ PFAS manufacturing plant, the Fayetteville Works facility. The pollution reached more than 250 local drinking water wells in addition to the river. A 2019 state consent order legally required Chemours to stop the pollution from its Fayetteville Works plant and reduce air emissions by at least 99 percent. Chemours invested $100 million on air emission controls that the company promoted as being capable of destroying PFAS, considered to be an impossible task on an industrial scale. Company and state agreed, the 99 percent standard had been reached. But an investigation by the UK’s Guardian newspaper showed otherwise. “Using a more comprehensive test than those used by state regulators,” the Guardian reported that its investigators found “PFAS levels outside the plant far above those detected and reported as evidence of Chemours’ success – as much as 30 times higher.” The researchers are concerned that the air emissions from the Fayetteville Works facility contribute to widespread PFAS contamination of the region’s water and food supplies. Biden Administration offi cials are hopeful that the new EPA fi nal rule limiting the concentrations of forever chemicals will clean up the water supply and help protect communities like Fayetteville from further devastating impacts of PFAS pollution. “President Biden believes that everyone deserves access to clean, safe drinking water, and he is delivering on that promise,” Mallory said. “The fi rst national drinking water standards for PFAS marks a signifi cant step towards delivering on the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to advancing environmental justice, protecting communities, and securing clean water for people across the country.” The new limits in the fi nal rule are achievable using a range of available technologies and approaches, such as granular activated carbon, reverse osmosis, and ion exchange systems. Drinking water systems will have fl exibility to determine the best solutions for their own communities. For instance, the Cape Fear Public Utility Authority, serving Wilmington, North Carolina on the Atlantic coast – one of the communities most aff ected by PFAS contamination – has deployed a granular activated carbon system to remove PFAS regulated by this rule. Emily Donovan, co-founder of the nonprofi t Clean Cape Fear, said, “We learned about GenX and other PFAS in our tap water six years ago. I raised my children on this water and watched loved ones suff er from rare or recurrent cancers. No one should ever worry if their tap water will make them sick or give them cancer.” “I’m grateful the Biden EPA heard our pleas and kept its promise to the American people. We will keep fi ghting until all exposures to PFAS end and the chemical companies responsible for business-related human rights abuses are held fully accountable,” Donovan declared. There is much work to do before that happens. Chemours, a PFAS manufacturer spun off from DuPont in 2015, has contaminated the environment across hundreds of square miles in southeast North Carolina with PFAS waste, a previous Guardian analysis of regulatory documents found. Additionally, this fi nal rule advances President Biden’s commitment to ending cancer as we know it as part of the Biden Cancer Moonshot, to ensuring that all Americans have access to clean, safe, drinking water, and to furthering the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to environmental justice by protecting communities that are most exposed to toxic chemicals. “Under President Biden’s leadership, we are taking a whole-of-government approach to tackle PFAS pollution and ensure that all Americans have access to clean, safe drinking water. Today’s announcement by EPA complements these eff orts and will help keep our communities safe from these toxic ‘forever chemicals,’” said Deputy Assistant to the President for the Cancer Moonshot, Dr. Danielle Carnival. EPA is establishing legally enforceable levels for several PFAS known to occur individually and as mixtures in drinking water. This rule sets limits for fi ve individual PFAS: PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA – sometimes called “GenX Chemicals.” GenX chemicals are used as replacements for PFOA in the manufacturing of fl uoropolymers such as Tefl on. The rule also sets a limit for mixtures of any two or more of four PFAS: PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and “GenX chemicals.” © Environment News Service, 2023. All rights reserved. Limits on PFAS in Drinking Water to Benefi t 100MAmericans Nonstick pans of fi ve diff erent brands all use PFAS
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