Cain to speak at EIHS meeting Monday evening
Another speaking engagement on a historical overview about Fort Myers Beach will be featured at the beginning of next week.
Beach resident Terry Cain will be the guest speaker at the public meeting of the Estero Island Historical Society this Monday (Feb. 14) at 7 p.m. at St. Raphael’s Parish Hall at 5601 Williams Drive.
Last month, Church of the Ascension Deacon Charles “Scoop” Kiesel jogged his 90-year-old memory to discuss the shrimp industry of the 1950s and 1960s at the EIHS meeting on Jan. 12.
This time, Cain, who is the land stewardship coordinator for Lee County Parks and Recreation Department, will use visual aids in her power point presentation about how Fort Myers Beach has changed in the past 70 years.
According to EIHS Curator and Board Member A.J. Bassett, Cain will employ aerial photos from the 1940s to show the changing natural profile of Matanzas Pass and Bowditch Point.
“She gives an outstanding presentation,” said Bassett. “She has spoken to our group 3-4 times. Each presentation is different, and they are all very, very informative.”
Cain, who first visited the Beach in 1975 and moved here due to the small town and cordial similarities of her former island home in New Jersey, will explain island dynamics, how barrier islands continually change and discuss the impact of human activity on the ecosystem.
“She is most concerned with the ecology of the island and its natural resources,” said Bassett, who said she has known the speaker since she arrived on the island. “She is a person who is involved and hands-on all the time.”
Since inhabiting Estero Island, Cain has collected a laundry list of community involvement by applying her B.S. degree in Marine Science to good use.
She served the Beach as a Town Councilwoman and Vice Mayor and created the “Treasures of the Sea Program.” She is also a past chair of the Marine Resources Task Force and a former member of the Cultural and Environmental Learning Center, the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program and Estero Bay Agency for Bay Management.
Cain is past president and current board member of the Estero Bay Buddies and a standing board member of Keep Lee County Beautiful.
“She is at the Matanzas Pass Preserve all the time,” said Bassett. “We partner with the Florida Gulf Coast University students and, if one of their professors or one of us (historical society personnel) is not available to run the class through the preserve, she is on-call and never misses. She’s just really, really active.”
Terry lives with her husband, Capt. Richard Cain, and two sons.
The public is welcome to attend the EIHS meeting, free of charge. Refreshments will be served.
EIHS has roughly 125 full-time members in the group. Basset encourages anyone interested about becoming a member to inquire at the meetings or at the Historic Cottage on Bay Road.
“It’s a social,” she said about the meetings. “It’s good to see friendly faces.”
-information provided by Janet Sailian