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Sep 11, 2023

Breeze Newspapers to release commemorative book

BREEZE NEWSPAPERSProduced by the Breeze Newspapers, “Ian” is now available for pre-order online. On Sept. 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian forever changed the landscape and lives throughout Southwest Florida.

BREEZE NEWSPAPERSProduced by the Breeze Newspapers, “Ian” is now available for pre-order online.

On Sept. 28, 2022, Hurricane Ian forever changed the landscape and lives throughout Southwest Florida.

The Breeze Newspapers, which worked through numerous challenges to keep readers up-to-date throughout the storm and aftermath, have put together a commemorative book documenting and storytelling through the eyes of those who lived it.

The 128-page book features stories, first-person accounts and more than 100 photographs.

Photos were crowd-sourced, which truly makes it a community project.

“Although this is a book we hoped we’d never have to publish, we’re incredibly proud of how it’s turned out, providing a fitting record of those terrible days and weeks in picture and word, but maintaining the spirit of resilience that we’ve all witnessed as our communities have begun to move forward again,” Breeze Newspapers Publisher Ray Eckenrode said.

The book’s title is simply “Ian.”

“We thought about trying to be creative or clever with the title, but it didn’t take long to realize the power that one word now holds in Southwest Florida,” he said.

As Breeze Newspapers Photo Editor Michael Pistella wrote in the book: “Hurricane Ian brought wind, rain, and ultimately destruction to Southwest Florida. Ian also took everything from some — homes, possessions, places of work, and even loved ones. But what Ian didn’t take from the people of Fort Myers Beach, Pine Island, Sanibel, Captiva, and Cape Coral was their spirit.”

Pistella put together the book, combing through hundreds of staff and contributed photos and recounting personal stories of local residents gathered by Breeze Newspapers reporters and editors.

“At first it was difficult to go through all the photographs and read the stories,” he said. “I started my career on Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel, so both islands mean a great deal to me and seeing the destruction made me really sad. But as I went on, everyone’s strength and resilience really came through to me. I tried to tell that story with the photos I chose and the way I presented them. I put the book together with love, and I hope our readers sense that.”

The book is available for pre-order at https://www.capecoralbreeze.com/ by clicking on “Store” in the upper corner. It is also available by clicking on the “Store” button on the websites for the Breeze sister publications on Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel-Captiva, Pine Island and North Fort Myers. The website for the Sanibel-Captiva Islander and Island Reporter is https://www.captivasanibel.com/.

The book is $30 for in-person orders, and $36 for mailed copies.

The hardcover book is expected back from the printer by the end of September, and mail orders will go out immediately. The Breeze will announce when in-person orders are available for pickup at its Cape Coral office at 2510 Del Prado Blvd.

The book was made possible with the help of four community sponsors: LCEC, Schiff Realty, Edwin Pickett Allstate and Travis Jewelers.