Fort Myers Beach Observer/The Beach Bulletin

VOLUME 38, NUMBER 5

Council moves to seek new attorney

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

In the latest personnel shakeup initiated by a new Town of Fort Myers Beach Council, Town Attorney John Herin Jr and his firm Fox Rothschild are facing the possibility that their days serving the town are numbered after the council voted 4-1 Monday to request proposals for a new law firm

The discussion included accusations by Councilmember Bill Veach against Councilmembers John King and Karen Woodson that they had violated the town council’s policies and procedures by soliciting a new law firm without any official vote by the town council to do so

The talks Monday were initiated by interim Town Manager Keith Wilkins, who referenced a letter from a Fort Myers law firm

seeking to provide services to the town

According to the Jan 19 letter from the law firm of Boy Agnew Potanovic Miller to the town council, they were approached by councilmembers John King and Karen Woodson through communications in which they were told the Town of Fort Myers Beach is looking for new counsel

At issue with that is the town council never took any official action to request pro-

posals for new counsel before Monday’s meeting King and Woodson said they approached the firm on their own accord

In a letter to the town, John Agnew and John Miller of the law firm stated “Through communications with Council Members Karen Woodson and John King, we understand the Town of Fort Myers Beach is seeking a new firm to provide Town Attorney

Trailers arrive as DeSantis announces more aid for school employees

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

On Sept 28, the home of Fort Myers resident Barbara Morgan was flooded with six feet of water by Hurricane Ian Forced out of her home, she stayed with f a m i l y a s s h e awaited her next steps

On Thursday, she was hugging Gov. Ron DeSantis in front of her new stateissued trailer next to her home at a press conference publicizing the distribution of the state trailers and more aid for school employees

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Bill Semmer, owner of Bonita Bill's and S e m m e r E

y evening. He was 76.

Semmer was as well known for putting on the annual children’s fishing tournament at his restaurant Bonita Bill’s and for helping to organize and put on a fireworks display at Fort Myers Beach Pier for 25 years

The cause of death was melanoma, his daughter Katie Reynolds said Semmer had been undergoing treatment since being diag-

“It spread very fast,

quickly,” Reynolds said A U S Army veteran who served in Vietnam, Semmer moved to San Carlos Island after returning from his service in the war Semmer’s main trade was as a master electrician, starting Semmer Electric in the early 1970s. With his sister Joanne, he also co-founded the Ostego Bay Marine Science Center across the street from Bonita Bill’s on Fisherman’s Wharf in San Carlos Island He

for approximately 50 years

Waterfront Cafe and Tiki B a r s i n c e 1 9 9 1 , d i e d Friday. For 25 years, he organized the annual fireworks show on Fort Myers Beach and until his passing organized the annual children’s fishing tournament

Morgan said the Federal Emergency M a n a g e m e n t A g e n c y p r o v i d e d h e r $2,500 for three months of rent to find shelter after Hurricane Ian but said there was no home in the area available for less than $2,500 for one month

Morgan can stay in the new state trailer for six months

Morgan embraced DeSantis with a hug and said “thank you to the whole team, the whole staff ”

“Everybody’s been just so wonderful,” Morgan said Morgan said there were a couple glitches with the trailer and after making a call they were fixed within a couple hours

Governor Ron DeSantis

Council chooses firm to work on FEMA funding, reimbursement

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

The Town of Fort Myers Beach has selected Tidal Basin as the firm which will be handling the town’s submissions to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and state for funding and reimbursement on its rebuilding projects The town expects to have Tidal Basin working on the projects for the next three years or longer though there is cost estimate currently on how much it will run the town

The rebuilding projects the town expects Tidal Basin to help collect funds for are its town hall, water lines, roads, street lights and other infrastructure.

The town had been prepared to award the contract to Tidal Basin in December but that was delayed by the

state emergency management agency’s desire to update the terms of the scope of services it believed the town needed Interim Town Manager Keith Wilkins said he expects Tidal Basin to be working for the town for the next three years A contract is still being finalized The town is expecting the state legislature to approve the funding of their work

“They are going forward with our FEMA claims for damage to the (town), public damage to (town) assets, town hall, water lines, streets,” Wilkins said “They will pursue applications to FEMA ”

Wilkins said the firm will work with the state legislature on the funding requests, including the replacement of revenues loss from the diminishment of taxes due to lost

FEMA to make exceptions for trailers

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

T h e F e d e r a l E m e r g e n c y

Management Agency has announced that travel trailers and manufactured housing units which have previously been denied for properties in special f l o o d h a z a r d a r e a s , f l o o d w a y s o r coastal high hazard areas, will now be c o n s i d e r e d f o r u s e M a n y o f t h e homes and businesses on Fort Myers Beach are in floodways and flood hazard areas

FEMA stated that it recognizes that “special Flood Hazard Areas may be the only feasible option to place temporary housing units in Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Hardee, Lee and S a r a s o t a c o u n t i e s F E M A n e v e r places manufactured housing units or travel trailers in a Special Flood Hazard Area as a first option; instead, this is only done after all other practicable options have been exhausted within a community approved for direct housing and with the approval of state and local officials ”

Special Flood Hazard Areas are identified as having special flood, m u d f l o w o r f l o o d - r e l a t e d e r o s i o n h a z a r d s F E M A w i l l n o t p l a c e T e m p o r a r y H o u s i n g U n i t s i n a Coastal High Hazard Area or in a floodway A floodway is an area subject to high water velocity flow in riverine areas Based on analyses of e n v i r o n m e n t a l , h i s t o r i c a n d g e ographic factors, FEMA will deter-

mine the feasibility of each location before placing temporary housing units in special flood hazard areas FEMA must follow local codes and standards when placing temporary housing units

Town of Fort Myers Beach interim Manager Keith Wilkins said “FEMA r e p o r t e d t o u s t h a t t h e y h a v e approved some trailers, but the representatives didn’t have the exact number at that time It’s on the order of less than 10 at this point but the process is ongoing, so that number w i l l c h a n g e p e r h a p s d a i l y i f n o t weekly.”

At a press conference this past w e e k i n F o r t M y e r s , G o v R o n DeSantis said he has directed Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie to cut through “red tape” and work with FEMA and local governments to accelerate the delivery of trailers

DeSantis cited FEMA regulations

preventing the funding of trailers in special high hazard floodways as one of the reasons for the state delivering the trailers to Fort Myers Beach DeSantis said the state risked losing its participation in the National Flood Insurance Program if it did so

The use of travel trailers and manufactured housing units are among several temporary housing solutions FEMA may provide Hurricane Ian survivors who cannot safely return to their storm damaged home Other options include direct lease and multifamily lease and repair For Direct Lease, FEMA leases existing readyfor-occupancy housing Multifamily lease and repair is a program in which FEMA enters into lease agreements with owners of multifamily rental properties and makes repairs to existing vacant apartments to provide temporary housing for survivors FEMA temporary housing solutions also include rental assistance, home repair and home replacement assistance

F o r m a n y s u r v i v o r s , i n s u r a n c e may cover damage and loss FEMA cannot duplicate insurance benefits. FEMA funding is intended to cover basic needs for those who don’t have insurance or lack adequate insurance to cover basic necessities after suffering damage and loss from a disaster like Hurricane Ian

Department of Health issues precautionary swim advisory for county beaches

STAFF REPORT

The Florida Department of Health in Lee County announced Monday it is reissuing a county wide precautionary swim advisory for all public beaches As a result of Hurricane Ian, d e b r i s r e m a i n s i n a r e a b e a c h e s , including debris buried under shallow sand and not immediately visible, the department stated in its advisory “Additionally, water quality has been affected and at this time, swimming is not recommended,” the department stated

“Tests will be conducted, when possible, to determine the water quality at public beach locations Until test results are available, you should assume that water contact may pose an increased risk of disease or illness, particularly for susceptible individuals ”

L

Park, Bowditch Point Park and Crescent Beach

buildings and the loss of parking revenue “They are putting together cost summaries,” he said

Wilkins said the town is down about 60% on its revenues from what was budgeted for the current fiscal year

Wilkins said the company has already made about $80 million in claims on behalf of the town and expects the total amount of the applications to be about $150 million

“We will get it all,” Wilkins said

A separate firm, Crowder Gulf, is overseeing the removal of debris on the island Wilkins said he thinks that effort is “going well ”

Wilkins is hopeful the debris pile at Bay Oaks Recreational Campus will be gone by the end of March “The ground will be remediated and cleared,” he said

Trailers

From page 1

DeSantis said the state has delivered more than 140 trailers so far and FEMA has delivered approximately another 80 trailers DeSantis said he believes another “couple thousand people” could use trailers and said the state has ordered more than 2,400 trailers.

"We're not satisfied with where we are now We want to do more," DeSantis said

DeSantis said he has instructed Florida Division o f E m e r g e n c y M a n a g e m e n t D i r e c t o r K e v i n Guthrie to work with local governments and cut through “red tape” to get more trailers delivered

One of the reasons for the delay in the delivery of trailers has been a FEMA rule which prevents the agency from funding trailers in special high hazard area floodplains or waterways such as in Fort Myers Beach The agency recently announced they would be making exceptions to the rule.

DeSantis said the state delayed putting trailers on Fort Myers Beach because it would put the s t a t e ’ s p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e N a t i o n a l F l o o d Insurance Program at risk

Town of Fort Myers Beach Interim Manager Keith Wilkins said “FEMA reported to us that they have approved some trailers, but the representatives didn’t have the exact number at that time It’s on the order of less than 10 at this point but the process is ongoing, so that number will change perhaps daily if not weekly ”

Aid for school employees

On Thursday, DeSantis also presented an oversized check to school employees from the region representing an additional $1 million to aid school employees in the region impacted by Hurricane Ian.

Those funds were raised by private donations to the Florida Disaster Fund and will go to support organizations in Lee County, Collier County, Hardee County, DeSoto County and Saratoga County

The funds can be used for food, gas, home repairs and other items

DeSantis said more than $63 million has been raised through the Florida Disaster Fund The fund previously allocated $2 million for school employees in October

DeSantis also announced Thursday that he has directed the Department of Children and Families to use $13 8 million in grant funding to support and expand mental health resources for Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian That includes on-site counseling and mental health support for survivors DeSantis said the agency has provided more than 120,000 meals to Florida families impacted by Hurricane Ian

D e S a n t i s a l s o a n n o u n c e d t h a t t h e F l o r i d a

l Park lately The county has stated that it plans to fence off Lynn Hall Memorial Park though that hadn’t happened as of Friday and there were no signs in the vicinity of the beach marking it was

closed

The parking lots at Lynn Hall Memorial Park and Bowditch Point Park remain gated

Division of Emergency Management has obligated more than $500 million in public assistance funding to communities impacted by Hurricane Ian. DeSantis said the state has qualified for $100 million in federal hazard mitigation program funding

Guthrie urged those who have not yet done so to apply for the state's housing recovery programs at IanRecovery fl gov/unite

NATHAN MAYBERG

Council

From page 1

services With that understanding, and pursuant to a request for a proposal from Council Member Woodson, it is with pleasure that the law firm of Boy Agnew Potanovic Miller, PLLC makes this proposal to provide Town Attorney services to the Town of Fort Myers Beach.”

Shortly after taking office, Woodson stated at a town council meeting that she had been approached by a law firm in the area seeking to serve the town council as its attorney though that idea was shot down by Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt at the time

On Monday, Atterholt joined Mayor Dan Allers, King and Woodson in voting 4-1 on a resolution to seek proposals for new counsel Veach voted against the measure

While Atterholt voted to move forward with seeking a new town attorney, he rejected an attempt by Woodson to give Herin and his law firm 30 days notice of separation before even having an attorney to replace him.

“There has been a sort of previous concern or thought that we needed local counsel and I have always subscribed to that in a perfect world but we also want to have good counsel,” Atterholt said “Should we have an RFP first to see if we can find good local counsel and then if we do we can give notice? I am wondering if that would be procedurally better than giving notice and then we don’t have counsel.”

Allers, who voted against Herin’s reappointment last year, asked Wilkins for his opinion Wilkins said the town’s council policies require the town put out a request for proposals

Herin said the town’s policies and procedures require a competitive procurement process that would include interviewing the candidates “If there is a majority vote here to terminate my services under the existing agreement at the end of 30 days, my firm would vacate this position and if you haven’t selected somebody to replace us you would technically be without a town attorney ”

Woodson then amended her resolution to ask that Fox Rothschild replace Herin with another attorney while the town sought a new law firm for the town The council rejected that amendment though it voted 4-1 to request proposals from law firms

Woodson, who has a background in corporate human resources and previously voted to suspend Town Manager Roger Hernstadt after he already submitted his resignation, spoke on Monday about why she started the process of finding a new town attorney

“I basically initiated this meeting,” Woodson said Woodson said she met individually with John Miller (and) John Agnew from the law firm. “It was a private meeting. I was told at that meeting that John King had also reached out to them however we were not in the same meeting ”

Woodson said “my personal concern, the town attorney in this case had a very long history with the town manager Part of our change strategy has been and continues to be that we are going to start fresh We are committed to culture change We are committed to doing things differently We have talked about, as part of that change of strategy, maybe

that is in leadership, maybe that’s in experts in the field, you know maybe it’s possible staff but in any case we need to move forward with that commitment to the culture change, how we do our business, the leadership, the trust, having everything transparent as we move forward.”

King and Woodson had campaigned stridently against Hernstadt in their quests to be elected to the town council

Herin, addressing Woodson, said “my ethical obligation is to the town and the town council, not the town manager and whoever that may be ”

Veach accused Woodson of violating the town council’s policies and procedures by soliciting new town counsel without any official action from the town council

“This throwing around, like you say, that there is a lack of trust in John without any kind of basis, without any kind of evidence I think is insulting to him I think that, two, the change you are talking about comes with a huge cost in the loss of institutional knowledge You look at the positions that we have open now, high-level positions, a lot of those vacancies come with a huge absence of institutional knowledge It becomes more and more difficult for us to continue to try to progress while we are digging ourselves a hole and the loss of more and more institutional knowledge I have never in my dealings with John had any reason to not trust him ”

Veach called Herin’s service to the town to be “admirable He has been honest and forthright with me in every evidence I don’t think that change for change sake at the expense of institutional knowledge is a healthy thing for our town ”

Woodson said “everyone has their opinion about who they trust and who they don’t trust I did state this is my personal feeling ”

Veach questioned King as to why he approached the firm about legal services King said he spoke to a local attorney who was interested in representing the town but backed out.

“They referred me to this individual We initiated an email contact and that’s been the extent of my contact,” King said King said he asked the firm if they were interested and said “they expressed interest ” He sent the firm another email the previous week. “That’s when I was told (councilmember) Woodson had contacted them for a proposal and they wanted to know if we wanted to get together and talk I said not ‘at this time I will wait and see what was in the proposal,’” King said

“I am going to reiterate my serious concerns,” Veach said “Trust should be based on some evidence If you are going to throw around trust then it shouldn’t just be a feeling or an opinion I think it’s a disservice to John and I think it will be a disservice to the town We’ve already lost a lot of institutional knowledge I have some concern that it seems most of the change people are saying they want is from enforcement.”

Veach said that led him to some “concerns about the motivations for this change If it’s a way to try to manipulate or degrade our levels of enforcement in some areas of the

My personal concern, the town attorney in this case had a very long history with the town manager. Part of our change strategy has been and continues to be that we are going to start fresh We are committed to culture change We are committed to doing things differently We have talked about, as part of that change of strategy, maybe that is in leadership, maybe that is in experts in the field, maybe it’s in possible staff ”

KAREN WOODSON

Town of Fort Myers Beach Councilmember

The change you are talking about comes with a huge cost in the loss of institutional knowledge You look at the positions that we have open now, high-level positions, a lot of those vacancies come with a huge absence of institutional knowledge. It becomes more and more difficult for us to continue to try to progress while we are digging ourselves a hole and the loss of more and more institutional knowledge ”

BILL VEACH

Town of Fort Myers Beach Councilmember

town ”

Atterholt said if the town council wasn’t able to find a good local law firm to represent the town, he considered Herin “a good fallback position ” Allers said “maybe nobody is interested” in the town attorney position

The Fox Rothschild law firm is based in Miami, though Herin travels approximately four times a month or more to attend town council meetings, Local Planning Agency meetings, magistrate hearings and other meetings and has been involved in meetings with emergency response officials since Hurricane Ian

Veach said that if the town lost Herin it would lose his institutional knowledge and the continuity of expertise “permanently ” Veach noted the town is involved in numerous legal issues that would require a new attorney to pick up on. That includes a years-long dispute with town property owner Ed Rood over building a 298-feet-long boardwalk near the Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area

Atterholt said “I think institutional knowledge is important but the town is going through significant changes Finding good local counsel could offset the loss of institutional knowledge ”

The firm of Boy Agnew Potanovic Miller cites in their letter to the town council their experience serving the city of Sanibel, serving as litigation counsel to Lee County and as employment counsel to Lee County Clerk of Court, City of Fort Myers Community Redevelopment District, Bonita Springs Fire Control and Rescue District, Lee County Supervisor of Elections, South Trail Fire District, Boca Grande Fire Control District, and the School District of Lee County

The firm proposes rates of $265 00/hr for partners, $175 00/hr for associates, and $115 00/hr for paralegals In contrast, Herin and his firm work on a flat rate and do not charge by the hour

The departure of Herin would add to the recent resignation of the town’s utilities director and last year’s departure of the town’s community services director

Interim Town Manager Keith Wilkins said Herin has “a great corporate history with the town There is not an issue he is not familiar with He has been a solid resource for us ”

Town of Fort Myers Beach Attorney John Herin Jr is facing the possibility the town will replace his services after the council voted 4-1 to request proposals for a new law firm

y , J a n u a r y

W e d n e s d

10 tips to avoid tax season fraud

19260

By IRS CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

Guest Commentary

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Customer service hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a m to 5 p m , except major holidays Letters to the editor must be typed or hand printed Your name and phone number must be affixed to the copy In the event of an advertising error, we are responsible only for the first incorrect insertion of the ad itself We are not responsible for any credit or reimbursement after 30 days from publication Postal Information: Third class postage paid at Fort Myers Beach, FL Permit 521 Postmaster: Send address changes to the Beach Observer 19260 San Carlos Blvd Fort Myers Beach FL 33931 The Observer and Bulletin is published every Wednesday

∫

∫

∫

a tax preparer wisely Look for a preparer who is available year-round

∫ Choose

use a ghost preparer They won’t sign a tax return they prepare for you

fall victim to tax preparers’ promises of large refunds Taxpayers must pay their fair share of taxes

are ultimately responsible for what appears on tax returns filed with the IRS

sure you receive your refund

Aren’t we lucky

To the editor:

We are so blessed here in Lee County to have a Board of County Commissioners that has developed such an intimate relationship with the developers It seems that no matter how many rules, regulations and laws that are broken and sidestepped, the commissioners seem to think they are duty bound to give the keys to the county to these developers

Most of us paid our way, through impact fees, to become residents of this county Then our wonderful commissioners reduced the impact fees which allowed us, after paying our own way, the privilege of coughing up MILLIONS of dollars to help those after us Aren’t we just so lucky?

Add to the mix infrastructure planning That which leaves all of us in traffic jams, creating unneeded pollution and wasting expensive fuel, for inordinate amounts of time Yes, we are growing at an exponential rate but common sense would have provided a better solution than our county commissioners have As stated, they reduced the impact fees and have allowed the developers to build willy-nilly without any consideration as to how this affects us and our environ-

The following are some fraudulent tax preparation cases the IRS-CI Tampa Field Office worked:

∫ Marcos Antonio Tejada, of Kissimmee, was sentenced to 18 months for tax fraud for preparing false tax returns for himself and others He prepared two versions of the same tax return, one he claimed was accurate and one he knew was false

∫ Iran V. Backstrom, aka Shariyf Noble, was sentenced to 105 months in prison and Mehef Bey, aka Arthur Daniels, was sentenced to 11 years in prison Their scheme involved recruiting clients and preparing false tax returns on the clients’ behalf by con-

ment Developers are allowed to build these small cities in areas, most environmentally sensitive, without providing the necessary infrastructure Instead, the plans, in most cases, call for the infrastructure to be put in place 10 20 years after it is needed It’s really quite simple; collect the necessary impact fees and do not allow this construction to take place without the infrastructure being built when or before development starts

Based on the way my fellow citizens vote, they must admire the well-thought-out common-sense approach to county management used by our commissioners They must enjoy sitting in motionless traffic They must enjoy spending MILLIONS of their own dollars to help people move here and create these conditions

Norman Cannon Fort Myers

Federal policies are hur ting the working poor

To the editor:

In 2023 the Federal minimum wage is still $7 25 per hour, as it has been since 2009 when Barack Obama was president

∫ Erotida Natasha Harden Ortiz and Aida Cortes, both of Orlando, were found guilty of conspiracy to defraud the United States and aiding in fraudulent and false statements related to IRS returns Their sentencing hearings were scheduled for this month Ortiz and Cortes orchestrated a scheme to file taxes for u n s u s p e c t i n g t a x p a y e r s w i t h f r a u d u l e n t Schedule C forms and Earned Income Tax credits By obtaining the Earned Income Tax credit the taxpayers were able to receive refunds to which the taxpayers were not entitled As a result, the taxpayers continued to come back every year

IRS Criminal Investigation is the criminal investigative arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money-laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft, and more IRS-CI special agents are the only federal law enforcement agents with investigative jurisd i c t i o n o v e r v i o l a t i o n s o f t h e I n t e r n a l Revenue Code The agency has 20 field offices located across the Unites States and 11 attaché posts abroad

Twenty-seven states are raising their minimum wage this year, but Georgia is still carving out an exception for certain employers to pay $5 15 per hour

Clearly there is no historical correlation between inflation and the 10 years of stagnant wages Yet it is precisely the working poor that the Federal Reserve chairman is battering by increasing the borrowing rate of money, ostensively to “fight inflation ”

This month Japan decided to take meaningful action to fight inflation: they proposed a raise of 40% for the workers in that country What do they know about economics in Japan that our Fed chair is pretending we don’t know here?

Ellen Starbird Cape Coral

Buy popcor n and have a seat

To the editor:

See LETTERS, page 5

Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931; faxed to 239-765-0846; emailed

news@breezenewspapers.com; or posted to our Virtual Newsroom at www breezenewspapers com

later

noon Monday All letters and guest columns must be signed and must contain a phone number for verification purposes You also can comment on any letter or editorial opinion online at: fortmyersbeachtalk com

Lyn McElhaney lmcelhaney@breezenewspapers

General

g h M a r c h 3 1 e v e r y y e a r I f y o u d o n ’ t e n r o l l i n P a r t B w h e n y o u ’ r e f i r s t e l i -

time to rationalize this event and put it in perspective

First of all no doubt Trump overstepped his bounds, which isn’t totally unique A lady named Hillary did the same but she was not president so she did not have the tools to make the stink that Trump made and the unfriendly media I have little sympathy for Trump He was one of our best presidents ever but by denigrating other Republicans he lost the election that he should have won by 10 points and many of his accomplishments were trashed You can’t make an impact if you don’t get elected Trump is toast

Little is said about several important issues First, the security at the Capitol was terrible just like it was in Democraticcontrolled cities during the riots of 2020 and 2021 Democrats, Nancy Pelosi and

Bonita Bill

period for Medicare Part

g i b l e f o r i t , y o u m a y h a v e t o p a y a l a t e e n r o l l m e n t p e n a l t y f o r a s l o n g a s y o u h a v e P a r t B c o v e r a g e Y o u r m o n t h l y p r e m i u m w i l l i n c r e a s e 1 0 % f o r e a c h 1 2m o n t h p e r i o d t h a t y o u w e r e e l i g i b l e f o r P a r t B b u t d i d n o t s i g n u p f o r i t Y o u r c o v e r a g e s t a r t s t h e f i r s t d a y o f t h e m o n t h a f t e r y o u s i g n u p

T o l e a r n m o r e a b o u t M e d i c a r e , v i s i t o u r M e d i c a r e B e n e f i t s p a g e a t w w w s s a g o v / b e n e f i t s / m e d i c a r e

the mayor of Washington, D C were responsible for security. With adequate security there would have been no loss of life and no break in They were warned by several people to take action such as enlisting the National Guard and working more policemen overtime but that fell on deaf ears

But for the Democrats to make the Jan 6 protest that lasted about three hours so large is the height of hypocrisy because the Democrats have been the purveyors of r i o t s f o r a l m o s t t w o y e a r s a n d t h e y seemed to encourage the riots and limit the police even to the point of defunding them

Seattle cut their police budget by 17% They are now 400 officers short They have no time to investigate new sexual assault cases and are unable to respond to many 911 calls Portland is short 100

From page 1

was sometimes referred to as the mayor of San Carlos Island In 1991, he purchased the Bonita Fish Company and Fish House and turned it into Bonita Bill's Waterfront Cafe and Tiki Bar

Joanne called him “my brother and my best friend ”

Mr Semmer’s niece Tracey Gore, who served as mayor of Fort Myers Beach, said “my family is heartbroken ”

She recalled Semmer as someone who was “very proud of his country ”

"Growing up on Fort Myers Beach, we have the best memories ever because of Uncle Bill and my family," Gore said "We went waterskiing, we went crabbing, we vacationed together "

Gore recalled helping Semmer wash trucks as a young girl and being treated by her uncle to ice cream at Dairy Queen at Times Square on Fort Myers Beach in exchange Her late father Doug worked with Semmer at Semmer Electric Mr Semmer's son Billy currently works there

She remembers how Semmer and her family would go around to Fort Myers B e a c h b u s i n e s s e s f u n d r a i s i n g f o r t h e annual fireworks show they would put on, holding fundraisers at local businesses "He loved seeing everybody come together," Gore said

At the children's fishing tournament he organized, "everything was free," Gore said "He made sure every child got a prize and lunch," Reynolds said "It was all about the kids "

An outdoorsman who liked to hunt and fish, he loved that those who fished at the tournament as children would later bring t h e i r o w n c h i l d r e n t o p a r t i c i p a t e , Reynolds said She said the tournament would continue in the future "He loved going toing to Bonita Bill's and watching everybody have a good time," Gore said

h o m

d e x t e n s i

e d a m a g e d u r i n g H u r r i c a n e I a n a s d i d Bonita Bill's though they were both still standing. "His house is still standing. He l o s t p r e t t y m u c h e v e r y t h i n g e l s e , " Reynolds said He was working hard to rebuild Bonita Bill's, his home and rentals he owned before his death, Gore said "He worked nonstop," she said. "He wanted to keep his workers working " The family plans to continue rebuilding Bonita Bill's "He was so proud of his family He supported all of us no matter what," Gore said She said her uncle would attend softball games and Little League games she and her family played in, as well as school plays

Mr Semmer also took an active part in civics, speaking out against a development down the road from his electric business just off Fort Myers Beach on Main Street o n S a n C a r l o s I s l a n d I n 2020, he went in front of the Lee County Board of County C o m m i s s i o n e r s t o a r g u e a g a i n s t t h e B a y H a r b o u r Marina project, which would include a 100-feet-high residential tower His arguments against the project's density on the small area of San Carlos Island had one supporter in late Commissioner Frank Mann but did not persuade the other commissioners to oppose the project A s t a t e a d m i n i s t r a t i v e l a w j u d g e w o u l d s i d e w i t h S e m m e r a n d a g a i n s t t h e county commissioner's decision over how it would delay

Y o u m a y a l s o r e a d o u r p u b l i c a t i o n a t w w w s s a g o v / p u b s / E N - 0 5 - 1 0 0 4 3 p d f

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t t h e S o c i a l S e c u r i t y A d m i n i s t r a t i o n a t w w w s s a g o v P e

police officers Result is that Portland murder rate is 3 times that of two years ago Minneapolis riots destroyed 1,500 businesses and burned a police station down Police are now less by 22% They had 600 carjackings last year

All the cities which are Democratic governed are setting crime records The Capitol building hasn’t had a single person killed since a policeman killed a woman rioter Jan 6 Maybe that is the difference between riots from the left vs riots from the right

Insurrection is a scary word that Dems like to use It means a violent uprising against an authority or government That perfectly describes the riots in our cities Is murder and injuries to police (authority) violent enough? How about burning a police station down or seceding several blocks of the city not allowing police into

that area? Attacking a federal building and trying to burn it down?

Then you have the federal law issues I w o u l d n ’ t c a l l t h e F B I T h e y a r e

Democrats Investigations, indictments, making news on negative issues involving the opposing party has seemed to be the primary work of many in Congress No one is more skilled at marketing a negative to gain power than the Democrats as proven by the last two elections

The truest words ever spoken “You reap what you sow ”

The Republicans in the House are now sitting in the catbird seat and are itching to get to investigations

I am buying popcorn finding a comfortable seat and waiting for a terrific side show!

John Benedict Cape Coral

traffic in a hurricane evacuation zone but the cabinet of Gov Ron DeSantis overruled the administrative law judge last year.

"He was very big into keeping the island a community island," Reynolds said "That was very important to him "

Mr Semmer was a major sponsor of the Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival over the years and served as grand marshal one year "He was the kind of guy that would help anyone and everyone," Reynolds said "He just loved the community "

Semmer is survived by three children, Nikki, Katie and Billy His wife Shirley predeceased him as did his sister Lorraine H i s s i s t e r s J o a n n e S e m m e r , C a r l e n e Brennan and Betty Hill also survive him

A celebration of life is being planned by his children for Bonita Bill's sometime in February

"He was a really good guy," Gore said. "He was a handshake guy "

Gore said Semmer was "one of the good old guys Their word is their bond If you needed something, he was there for you "

Topping off Margaritaville

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

When the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council approved Margaritaville five years ago, its supporters hoped the resort would revitalize a part of downtown hit hard by Hurricane Charley more than a dozen years earlier Now those same supporters hope Margaritaville and its developers TPI will help get the town back on its feet after the utter devastation of Hurricane Ian

At a ceremony held Friday near the Waistina Way (like the Jimmy Buffet song “Margaritaville”) beach access which the developers gave the town along with a new parking lot in exchange for its Canal St beach access, TPI celebrated construction on its Margaritaville buildings being completed on the top floor

TPI Chief Operating Officer Robert Kisabeth, standing near the side of the beach where a pool and beach club will be situated for the resort, vowed the construction would be “done by the end of the year, no question ”

The shell of the building, grounded in cement, is largely all there though there is still much work to be done That imposing, three-story high solid grey cement, which engineered opposition from those who preferred the town’s old cottage look, is what saved the structure from Hurricane Ian The survival of the building has given the developers enough confidence to continue to bet on Fort Myers Beach by recently purchasing the nearby Silver Sands property for $7 1 million to expand the Margaritaville site. The expansion at the Silver Sands site could happen in 2025, according to the company

For Margaritaville supporters like Bobbi Kemp and Ellen Vaughan, the ceremony was a bit emotional Kemp lost her home in Hurricane Ian and Vaughan has been living in downtown Fort Myers due to damage at her condo building

Kemp said “it’s very emotional We did lose everything ” Kemp said “we decided not to rebuild because time is ticking ” Kemp, who lived on Fort Myers Beach near Sterling Avenue said she is still “processing” the loss and may buy a home elsewhere

Vaughan said the grief was “not linear, it’s waves.” Vaughan said “I want to come home ” Vaughan said the Riviera Club, where she lives, has electricity but no ele-

vators and “no plumbing ” She doesn’t know when she can go back Initially, the building’s condo owners were told they would be able to go back home in September but now nobody is certain

V a u g h a n s a i d s h e w o r k e d h a r d t o s u p p o r t t h e

Margaritaville application with a petition drive when it was before the town council in 2018 “It was clear that they were going to help the town come back The town had suffered under Charley. We had 14 years of nothing happening in Times Square and then TPI comes along and they had a plan ”

Kisabeth credited DeAngelis Diamond, the chief contractor for Margaritaville’s construction, with the sturdiness of the buildings and for getting the construction going again after Hurricane Ian “They have really done a really outstanding job getting everything cleaned up and back into reconstruction,” Kisabeth said “Sheetrock

is going in as we speak, plumbing, electric, you name it ”

So exactly when will Margaritaville open?

“I am here to tell you, profoundly, that we don’t know,” Kisabeth said at the topping-off ceremony Friday “The good news is everyone knows supply chain is an issue across the country It’s no different for us ” Kisabeth said the furniture, equipment and fixture are in storage and ready to go “The biggest thing is really the electric, copper, door frames, sliding doors and the construction materials lost in the hurricane,” he said

“The structure was completely intact,” Kisabeth said of the impact from Hurricane Ian Kisabeth said electric material, lights and foam for the roof were washed away and lost in the storm and need to be replaced

“We’re in real good shape DeAngelis Diamond has really doubled their efforts in the building,”

Kisabeth

NATHAN MAYBERG

Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak (at lectern) stood in front of local businessowners who are still open on Fort Myers Beach

A ceremony celebrating the topping off of the Margaritaville resort brought out a crowd of supporters, business people and other community members to the beach access next to Margaritaville at Waistina Way on Fort Myers Beach.

Margaritaville supporters Ellen Vaughan (left), Bobbi Kemp (center) and Tracy Dammermann, w i f e o f M a r g a r i t a v i l l e d e v e l o p e r J o h n Dammermann

Margaritaville

From page 6

new

opportunities

that

we’re going to have on our island ”

Tracy Dammermann, who is developing Margaritaville with her husband John, was standing with Kemp and Vaughan She said “we are so proud to be part of the Fort Myers Beach community and with our amazing support from these guys ”

Dammermann said “Margaritaville is coming back strong It’s an emotional rollercoaster You have great days, you have bad days but we are having way more great days than bad days ”

Dammermann said “my heart goes out to the ones who lost their homes and businesses ”

said. On Friday, they were working on the floor of the parking garage on the other side of the street As part of thanking its construction crews for their work, TPI provided lunch t

Lighthouse Resort Friday Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President

Jacki Liszak brought up the owners of local businesses to the podium to bring attention to many of the businesses back open “I am confident that our island and our businesses and our residents will rebuild I know our visitors will come back,” Liszak said “We welcome the new businesses that are coming and the

NATHAN MAYBERG

T P I C

Margaritaville construction.

The completion of the Margaritaville construction project is currently unknown at this time but continues to progress

Post Office opens temporary trailer office on Fort Myers Beach

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

After almost four months without mail on Fort Myers Beach, residents can now go to Carolina Avenue where the old post office was and get their mail out of a temporary trailer

The U S Post Office opened its temporary post office facility Monday at 200 Carolina Ave. with a trailer with new temporary boxes and a trailer with retail services such as sending out mail and purchasing stamps or other supplies

“I thought the opening went very smoothly,” Town of Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt said “You give your named and address, show your ID (driver’s license), they give you your mail ”

Mail for all residents in the 33931 and 33932 ZIP code can be picked up there The post office will be serving retail operations as well on Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 a m to 4:30 p m There will be mail pickup on Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

“The lines seemed to move pretty quickly,” Atterholt said

The Fort Myers Beach Post Office has been closed since incurring damage from Hurricane Ian The facility was badly damaged and crews are beginning work to rebuild the facility

Atterholt said he was told the facility could be rebuilt as soon as this August “They have a crew there and it a full-court press,” he said

The parking lot is still hazardous and extra precau-

tions should be made by anyone traveling there or parking there There were broken nails and glass observed around the lot on Friday “ I t ’ s s t i l l a c o n s t r u c t i o n z o n e , ” Atterholt said “It’s better It’s not perfect ”

Atterholt worked on reaching out to the U S Post Office and through the office of Sen Rick Scott said he was able to get the Post Office to accelerate its efforts to open a temporary facility on Fort Myers Beach. “The pressure really did make a difference,” he said

Previously, residents had to pick up their mail near the Southwest F l o r i d a I n t e r n a t i o n a l A i r p o r t o n J e t p o r t L o o p i n F o r t M y e r s

Depending on traffic, that could easily be a 30-minute drive each way or longer Atterholt said three months of d r i v i n g o u t t o J e t p o r t L o o p w a s “untenable ”

NATHAN MAYBERG

Concer t to be held Feb. 7 at Barbara B. Mann Per for ming Ar ts Hall

Five internationally acclaimed singers will perform “A Celebration of Song” Tuesday, Feb 7, at the Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall, as part of the Fort Myers Community Concert Association’s 2023 season

“Concerto Soloists Internationale is one of Europe’s premier classical ensembles We are delighted that they will be performing in Fort Myers for the first time as part o f t h e C o m m u n i t y C o n c e r t A s s o c i a t i o n s e r i e s , ”

Community Concert Association President Mary Lee Mann said.

The concert will include popular highlights from grand opera to Broadway to pop performed by soloists from Europe, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico and the United States They will be accompanied by a live, on-stage orchestra and an emcee

insidetoday

Selections from Phantom of the Opera, Westside Story, South Pacific and Carousel will be sung in addition to songs from Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Puccini’s La Boheme, Donizetti’s La Fille Du Regiment and many others

The conductor will be Maestro Gregory Buchalter, who has been a cover conductor for the Metropolitan Opera for 30 years As both pianist and conductor, he has toured Cairo, Kuwait, Malaysia, Turkey and Hong Kong As a lecturer and speaker, he has been invited to hold Master Classes throughout the U.S.

Tickets are now on sale at the Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall on the Florida SouthWestern State College campus in Fort Myers Tickets may be purchased a t t h e b o x o f f i c e a t 2 3 9 - 4 8 1 - 4 8 4 9 o r o n l i n e a t www bbmannpah com

Barbara

Official tickets can be purchased here! We hope to see you soon at Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW in Fort Myers

www bbmannpah com

Prices are $55 for orchestra and mezzanine seats, $35 for lower balcony seats and $25 for upper balcony seats The performance begins at 7:30 p m

Concerto Soloists Internationale, an acclaimed European ensemble, will perform at the Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall Tuesday, Feb 7 in Fort Myers PHOTO PROVIDED

B Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW | Barbara B Mann I Official Website

RV show to return to Lee Civic Center

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com

For those who live the RV lifestyle, it brings adventure, freedom and ability to share time with family and friends

For those who want to, the Fort Myers Recreation Vehicle Show will motor back to the Lee Civic Center for its 37th annual show on Jan 26-28 from 10 a m to 5 p m and Jan 29 from 10 a m to 4 p m

This year’s show will provide attendees an opportunity to see the latest and best camping products available to RVers and lovers of the great outdoors offered by a slew of local RV dealers and vendors

Dave Kelly, executive director of the Florida RV Trade Association, said the show will appeal to all levels of travelers and provides the perfect learning ground for those interested but afraid to ask questions at a dealership

“RV shows are a great place to come whether they are just getting started or experienced RVers The great thing is you have multiple dealers showing multiple brands and styles of RVs,” Kelly said. “There are RVs for every price point, hobby and interest ”

The Fort Myers RV Show is one of the largest RV shows in the state, with more than 11,000 attending for last year’s show and as many as 16,000 during its heyday 20 years ago

Attendees can view hundreds of recreation vehicles aged 2018 and newer of all different types, sizes and price points

In years past, the show featured mostly new RVs, with some models costing nearly $1 million That changed a few years ago so the event could include older models to allow more people the opportunity to afford one, including a growing number of younger people

“Some people don’t want to buy something brand new as a first unit, so seeing some used models gives them an idea of where they can get started,” Kelly said “For a while, bigger was better It’s now switching with a younger audience, who now just want a place to sleep because they’re going to use them to do things outside the RV ”

U n i t s o n d i s p l a y w i l l i n c l u d e g a s a n d d i e s e l

motorhomes, travel trailers, toy haulers, 5th wheels, park models and van campers

The show also will feature more than 50 outdoors and camping supply vendors that focuses on the fun, flexibility and affordability RVs can provide, along with equipment and accessories to help outfit RVers or provide information on camping throughout the nation

Items will include new towing systems, specialized lighting RV insurance, unique camping equipment and where to camp throughout the nation. Daily free RV travel and maintenance seminars also will be offered

There is a fundamental change happening in the way Americans travel, work, and live More people are choosing RVs as their preferred option for travel as they prioritize spending time outdoors and embracing the freedom that comes with RVing

The new RVs Move America Economic Impact Study, released by the RV Industry Association shows

Grammy Award winner Gil Shaham joins the Southwest Florida Symphony for first Masterworks concert of the season

The Southwest Florida Symphony, the only professional orchestra in Lee County and fourth oldest orchestra in the state, is thrilled to announce Grammy Award winner and world-renowned violinist Gil S h a h a m w i l l p e r f o r m t h e f i r s t Masterworks concert of the season on S a t u r d a y , J a n . 2 8 . T h e p e r f o r m a n c e begins at 7:30 p m at Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers Conducted by Maestro Radu Paponiu, the concert will feature pieces by ColeridgeTaylor, Tchaikovsky and Mozart

As part of the symphony’s signature series, patrons will also have the opportunity to attend an exclusive pre-concert lecture prior to the show led by Shaham and Paponiu, including a Q&A session, to enhance the concert experience and provide insights into the pieces being performed The lecture begins at 6:30 p m

Shaham has been recognized as one of the foremost violinists of our time for his flawless technique combined with an inimitable warmth and generosity of spiri t N a m e d M u s i c a l A m e r i c a ’ s “Instrumentalist of the Year” and a recipient of the Avery Fisher Prize, he is sought after throughout the world for concerto appearances with leading orchestras and conductors He also regularly gives

PHOTO PROVIDED

Gil Shaham, guest artist

recitals and appears with ensembles on the world’s greatest concert stages and at the most prestigious festivals S h a h a m , w h o i s o r i g i n a l l y f r o m Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, moved to Israel with his parents, where he began violin studies with Samuel Bernstein of the Rubin Academy of Music at the age of 7, receiving annual scholarships from the America-Israel Cultural Foundation He

the RV industry has an overall annual impact to the U S economy of $140 billion, supporting nearly 680,000 jobs and paying more than $48 billion in wages This is a 23 percent increase in economic output in just the past three years

“Even after COVID, you see how storms have impacting flying and having trouble getting people where they need to be Since 2020, people have reevaluated how they travel and vacation,” Kelly said “They want those experiences that you want in traveling, not just getting on a plane and going somewhere ”

Admission is $10 with children under 16 free Parking is free courtesy of the RV Trade Association

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t w w w F R V T AR e g i o n 1 o r g o r w w w F R V T A o r g / s h o w / f t - m y e r s - r vshow

Mound House grounds open, museum still closed

The Mound House grounds and public restrooms are now open Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p m and the museum store is open Monday through Friday 9 a m to 4 p m The museum and exhibits are temporarily closed and the main museum is tentatively scheduled to reopen in early April

The Mound House, located at 451 Connecticut Street, is the town's oldest home, sitting atop a shell mound constructed by the ancient Calusa tribe

The three acres of grounds, which overlook Estero Bay, is now open to the public Visitors can enjoy the scenic

received a scholarship to attend Juilliard and also studied at Columbia University Shaham has earned numerous academic awards, including first prize in Israel’s Claremont Competition and an Avery Fisher Career Grant Shaham has regularly appeared with t h e B e r l i n P h i l h a r m o n i c , B o s t o n Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Israel Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, and San Francisco Symphony as well as multi-year residencies with the Orchestras of Montreal, Stuttgart and Singapore. Additionally, he has more than two dozen concerto and solo CDs to his

view from the property, which includes native plants, a walking path, picnic tables and an observation pier.

The Town of Fort Myers Beach operates the Mound House

"Upon full recovery of the amenities at Mound House, visitors will also be able to enjoy kayak tours and educationa l e v e n t s , " s a i d F o r t M y e r s B e a c h C o m m u n i c a t i o n s D i r e c t o r J e n n i f e r Dexter

Dexter stated that the timetable on the museum opening is April "The museum took on a few inches of water and had some window and roof damage that is requiring repairs," Dexter said

n a m e , e a r n i n g m u l t i p l e G r a m m y s , a Grand Prix du Disque, Diapason d’Or, and Gramophone Editor’s Choice.

The Southwest Florida Symphony’s Masterworks series is sponsored by Uhler & Vertich Financial Planners, with this opening concert also being sponsored by the Southwest Florida Symphony Society

To purchase tickets or learn more, visit swflso org/tickets/

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e Southwest Florida Symphony, upcoming season performances and subscription and ticketing information, visit swflso org or call 239-418-1500.

Sanibel farmers market returns post-storm to mark 15th season

B y T I F FA N Y R E P E C K I

t r e p e c k i @ b r e e z e n e w s p a p e r s c o m

T h e S a n i b e l I s l a n d F a r m e r s M a r k e t r e c e n t l y r e t u r n e d t o t h e i s l a n d f o l l o w i n g H

r r i c a n e I a n C e l e b r a t i n g i t s 1 5 t h s e a s o n , t h e w e e k l y e v e n t w a s s c h e d u l e d t o k i c k o f f i n O c t o b e r , b u t t h e n e a r C a t e g o r y 5 s t o r m s t r u c k t h e r e g i o n j u s t d a y s b e f o r e a n d d e v a s t a t e d t h e i s l a n d s . F o u r m o n t h s l a t e r , w i t h S a n i b e l a n d C a p t i v a o p e n a g a i n t o t h e g e n e ra l p u b l i c , t h e m a r k e t i s b a c k i n a t e m p o r a r y l o c a t i o n

T y p i c a l l y h e l d a t t h e S a n i b e l C i t y H a l l , t h e e v e n t i s t a k i n g p l a c e o n S u n d a y s f r o m 9 a m t o 1 p m i n t h e f r o n t p a r ki n g l o t o f J e r r y ' s F o o d s . O r g a n i z e d b y L o c a l R o o t s , w h i c h i s c oo w n e d b y i s l a n d r e s id e n t s J e a n B a e r a n d B e t s y V e n t u r a , i t f e at u r e s a m i x o f v e n d o r s a n d p r o d u c t s a n d w i l l r u n u p t h r o u g h M a y B a e r e x p l a i n e d t h a t w h i l e t h e y w e r e w a i t i n g t o h e a r a b o u t t h e p o s t - s t o r m s t a t u s o f C i t y H a l l a n d p o s s i b l e t i m e l i n e f o r o p e n i n g u p a t t h e s i t e , t h e m a n a g e m e n t a t J e r r y ' s F o o d s c o n t a c t e d t h e m .

“ O u t o f t h e b l u e w e r e c e i v e d a c a l l f r o m J e r r y ' s , ” s h e s a i d “ T h e y s a i d , ' W e b e l i e v e t h a t t h e f a r m e r s m a rk e t i s r e a l l y g o o d f o r t h e c o m m u n i t y a n d w e w o u l d l i k e t o i n v i t e y o u t o u s e o u r p a r k i n g l o t ' ”

L o c a l R o o t s a p p l i e d f o r a s p e c i a l e v e n t s p e r m i t t h r o u g h t h e c i t y a n d r e c e i v e d t h e g r e e n l i g h t

B a e r d e s c r i b e d t h e s e a s o n ' s o p e n i n g d a y o n J a n 1 5 a s “ a b s o l u t e l y f a n t a s t i c ”

S h e e x p l a i n e d t h a t a t t e n d e e s e v e r y w h e r e w e r e c a t c h i n g u p w i t h n e i g h b o r s t h a t t h e y h a d n o t s e e n , w h i l e o t h e r s t h a n k e d t h e m f o r b r i n g i n g b a c k t h e m a rk e t . S e v e r a l o f t h e v e n d o r s e v e n s o l d o u t b e f o r e n o o n .

“ R i c k c a m e o u t s e v e r a l t i m e s t h a t d a y a n d h e w a s s m i l i n g f r o m e a r t o e a r , ” B a e r s a i d o f t h e s t o r e d i r e ct o r a t J e r r y ' s “ T h e y ( f a r m e r s m a r k e t s ) d o n ' t t h r e a t e n o t h e r g r o c e r y s t o r e s T h e y e n h a n c e t h e m ”

“ I t h i n k i t w a s g o o d f o r t h e i s l a n d , ” s h e a d d e d

A s f a r a s w h a t t h e m a r k e t f e a t u r e s , t h e r e a r e a b o u t 2 5 v e n d o r s r e d u c e d b y a b o u t h a l f f r o m w h a t w a s i n i t i a l l y p l a n n e d o n p r e - I a n S h o p p e r s c a n f i n d f r e s h f r u i t s a n d v e g e t a b l e s , p r e p a r e d m e a l s a n d m o r e “ I t i s m u c h s m a l l e r , ” B a e r s a i d , e x p l a i n i n g t h a t t h e y t r i e d t o f o c u s o n i n v i t i n g b u s i n e s s e s w i t h p r o d u c t s n e e d e d d u r i n g t h e p o s t - h u r r i c a n e r e c o v e r y “ W e t r i e d t o t h i n k , ' W h a t a r e t h e n e e d s o f t h e r e s i d e n t s ? ' ” S o m e o f t h e v e n d o r s i n c l u d e I r e n e ’ s P r o d u c e , A u r o r a ’ s P r o d u c e , F r e s h C a t c h F i s h C o , M o l l y M a l o n e S e a f o o d , C h e f S e b a s t i a n M a z z o t t a , P i l a r ' s E m p a n a d a s , T w i l a M a e ' s C h i c k e n S a l a d , S t a m p e r C h e e s e , A u x D e l i c e s F r e n c h B a k e r y , E u r o p e a n B a k e r y , C h e r i e ' s S w e e t T r e a t s , D y n a s t y G u a c a m o l e , a n d m o r e

S h o p p e r s c a n a g a i n o r d e r i n a d v a n c e f r o m v e n d o r s a n d s i m p l y g r a b - a n d - g o

A l s o , L o c a l R o o t s i s p a r t n e r i n g w i t h F I S H o f S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a t o h e l p f i l l i t s f o o d p a n t r y

B a e r e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e p r o g r a m w o r k s w i t h t h e p a r t i c i p a t i o n o f t h e v e n d o r s A t t h e e n d o f t h e e v e n t , v e n d o r s c a n d o n a t e a n y l e f t o v e r p r o d u c t s , w h i c h F I S H v o l u n t e e r s p i c k u p f o r t h e f o o d p a n t r y A t t e n d e e s w h o w a n t t o h e l p c a n a l s o d r o p o f f d o n at i o n s a t t h e L o c a l R o o t s b o o t h d u r i n g t h e m a r k e t .

“ I f y o u ' r e i n a p o s i t i o n t o s u p p o r t F I S H , p l e a s e d o s o , ” s h e s a i d , n o t i n g t h a t t h e l o n g - r u n n i n g p a r t n e rs h i p i s e v e n m o r e i m p o r t a n t t h i s s e a s o n a s t h e c o mm u n i t y n e e d h a s g r o w n d u e t o I a n

B a e r a d d e d t h a t F I S H h a s b e e n a n d c o n t i n u e s t o b e a g r e a t r e s o u r c e f o r t h o s e i m p a c t e d

“ W e ' r e d o i n g e v e r y t h i n g w e c a n t o h e l p a n d f a c i l it a t e t h e i r e f f o r t s , ” s h e s a i d

D e s p i t e t h e d e l a y e d s t a r t t o t h e s e a s o n , L o c a l R o o t s s t i l l p l a n s t o c e l e b r a t e i t s 1 5 y e a r s a s p l a n n e d

B a e r e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e i r m a r k e t s t a r t e d o u t a s a h o b b y , s o m e t h i n g f u n t o t r y .

“ I t w a s B e t s y ' s i d e a S h e l o v e s g o i n g t o f a r m e r s m a r k e t s S h e ' s a r e a l f o o d i e , ” s h e s a i d , a d d i n g t h a t V e n t u r a w a s c u r i o u s a b o u t w h y t h e i s l a n d d i d n o t h a v e o n e a n d a s k e d h e r i f t h e y s h o u l d s t a r t o n e

I n 2 0 0 7 , t h e m a r k e t h e l d i t s f i r s t s e a s o n i n t h e p a r k i n g l o t o f t h e T a h i t i a n G a r d e n s s h o p p i n g c e n t e r o n P e r i w i n k l e W a y T h e r e w e r e 1 6 p a r t i c i p a t i n g v e n d o r s , a n d t h e e v e n t t o o k p l a c e o v e r f i v e S u n d a y s

W i t h t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e S a n i b e l C i t y C o u n c i l , t h e m a r k e t m o v e d t w o y e a r s l a t e r t o C i t y H a l l B a e r n o t e d t h a t s o m e o f t h e o r i g i n a l v e n d o r s s t i l l t a k e p a r t .

L o c a l R o o t s h a s s i n c e e x p a n d e d t o s e v e r a l m a r k e t s i n t w o c o u n t i e s , w i t h m o r e t h a n 1 5 0 v e n d o r s

“ M a n y v e n d o r s s t a r t e d t h e i r b u s i n e s s w i t h L o c a l R o o t s a n d a r e n o w i n m u l t i p l e m a r k e t s , a n d m a n y

h a v e o p e n e d t h e i r o w n s t o r e f r o n t s , ” s h e s a i d “ I t h a s b e e n a n d c o n t i n u e s t o b e a n a m a z i n g j o u r n e y t o b e a p a r t o f t h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f t h e s e l o c a l s m a l l b u s i n e s se s . ”

A s f o r t h e S a n i b e l e v e n t , t h e y e x t e n d e d t h e i r g r a t it u d e t o t h e c i t y a n d J e r r y ' s

“ W e h o p e t o c o n t i n u e t o g r o w t h e m a r k e t a s w e g r o w i n o u r r e c o v e r y p r o c e s s , ” B a e r s a i d

R e s i d e n t s a n d v i s i t o r s a r e e n c o u r a g e d t o s t o p b y .

“ I t ' s a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o o b t a i n m e a l s - t o - g o , f r e s h j u i c e s , f r e s h p r o d u c e , ” s h e s a i d “ A n d n o w m o r e t h a n a n e v e r , i t ' s a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o g a t h e r a s a c o m m u n i t y ”

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t h t t p s : / / w w w b u y l oc a l l e e c o m /

J e r r y ' s F o

SANIBEL ISLAND FARMERS MARKET

Betsy Ventura and Jean Baer at the Sanibel Island Farmers Market's opening in 2007.

In celebration of the 15th anniversary of the S a n i b e l I s l a n d F a r m e r M a r k e t , v e n d o r A u x Delices French Bakery and Cafe will introduce the Incroyable Croissant for this season

Former Sanibel City Manager Judie Zimomra, center, runs the city of Sanibel booth during a past Sanibel Island Farmers Market.

Co-owners Betsy Ventura and Jean Baer last season at the Sanibel Island Farmers Market

Florida Junior Duck Stamp Contest accepting submissions

In January, the J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge Education Team began making its round of school visits to get local students excited about the annual Florida Junior Duck Stamp Contest. The judging traditionally takes place at the Sanibel refuge Because of hurricane damage this year, it will move to a different refuge within the complex, the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge Art submissions must be postmarked by March 15 Mail submissions to Ranger Toni Westland, Florida Panther NWR, 12085 SR 29 South, Immokalee, Florida 34142

Gulfshore Opera to present ‘Mostly Mozar t’

A quartet of Gulfshore Opera artists, with piano accompaniment, will present “Mostly Mozart” on Jan 26 at 7 p m at the Daniels Pavilion at Artis Naples, at 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd , Naples The concert will feature a variety of scenes and arias by Mozart and the Italian masters, Rossini and Donizetti, who followed him. Tickets are $55 For tickets or more information, visit https://www gulfshoreopera org/

GULFSHORE OPERA

Pinkham, Strallen to join Gulf Coast Symphony

Tony Award nominee Bryce Pinkham and double Olivier Award nominee Scarlett Strallen will present “From Broadway to the West End: A Love Story” on Jan 29 at 7 p m at the Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall, at 13350 FSW Parkway, Fort Myers It is the story of how two actors met and fell in love while working on the “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder ” They will share their experiences performing, as well as their stories about how they met and fell in love Joined by the Gulf Coast Symphony, they will perform songs from their favorite musicals, including “The Sound of Music,” “Les Misérables,” “Cabaret” and more Tickets range from $39-85 For more information or tickets, visit https://gulfcoastsymphony org/ GULF COAST SYMPHONY

Strictly Sinatra to perform at Edison and Ford Winter Estates

On Jan 27, Edison and Ford Winter Estates will host the Frank Sinatra tribute, Michael Dutra and the Strictly Sinatra band This will be the first Rhythm on the River concert of 2023 The event will take place on the Ford lawn, along the Caloosahatchee River Gates open at 6 p m and the concert starts at 6:30 p m

The group performs many of Sinatra's greatest hits and has been performing all across the country since 2002 They opened for Howie Mandel at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City and performed at the Governor Chris Christie inaugural event in 2010. Dutra shares many similarities to Frank Sinatra: both are left handed, both born on December 12, they are the same height and both of their fathers were boxers at one time

Food and beverage vendors will have refreshments available for purchase No coolers or picnic baskets will be permitted Free parking is available in the main Edison Ford parking lot at 2350 McGregor Blvd

Tickets may be purchased online or at the ticket counter Individual tickets purchased in advance are $30 for Edison Ford members or $35 for non-members; tickets at the door will be $40 Individual ticket holders should bring a lawn chair and sweater or blanket if the weather is chilly.

A VIP seating area may be reserved by the table for $225 Each table holds up to 5 people; table ticket price includes the use of a table and chairs For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit EdisonFord org

Edison and Ford Winter Estates is at 2350 McGregor Blvd , Fort Myers

EDISON AND FORD WINTER ESTATES

A t t e n d e e s e n j o y a s u n s e t a l o n g t h e Caloosahatchee River at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers

The judging at last year's Florida Junior Duck Stamp Contest

Alliance for the Arts opens dedicated phone line to collect stories of Ian survival

h e a l i n g e x p e r i e n c e t o g e t t h i n g s o u t A l l i a n c e f o r t h e A r t s i n F o r t M y e r s i s g i v i n g t h e c o m m u n i t y a n o u t l e t t o g r i e v e a n d s h a r e t h e i r e x p e r ie n c e i n a n o r a l h i s t o r y p r o j e c t t i t l e d , " S t o r m S t o r i e s " i n r e s p o n s e t o t h e e m o t i o n a l i m p a c t o f H u r r i c a n e I a n “ S t o r m S t o r i e s ” h a s a d e d i c a t e d , u n m a n n e d v o i c em a i l ( 2 3 9 - 7 4 4 - 3 0 4 7 ) , a s w e l l a s a w a y t o s u b m i t w r i t t e n a n d r e c o r d e d r e s p o n s e s o n l i n e , a l l o w i n g i n d iv i d u a l s t o s h a r e t h e i r u n i q u e e x p e r i e n c e s a n d e x p r e s s e m o t i o n s A n y o n e w h o e x p e r i e n c e d H u r r i c a n e I a n i s i n v i t e d t o p a r t i c i p a t e B o t h m e d i u m s l a u n c h e d e a r l i e r t h i s m o n t h “ J u s t t e l l y o u r s t o r y a b o u t y o u r e x p e r i e n c e t h r o u g h a n d a f t e r H u r r i c a n e I a n i n w h a t e v e r c a p a c i t y y o u f e e l f i t u n c e n s o r e d a n d u n b r i d l e d , ” s a i d A l l i a n c e f o r t h e A r t s E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r M o l l y D e c k a r t “ I t c o u l d b e s t o r i e s o f r e s i l i e n c e o r t r a u m a o r p a i n o r l o s s I t c o u l d b e a w i d e r a n g e o f f e e l i n g s I t i s m e a n t t o b e c a t h a r t i c a n d t h e r a p e u t i c a n d s h a r e a b l e s o m e t h i n g t h a t w e c a n a l l r e l a t e t o i n s o m e f o r m o r f a s h i o n ”

A s a P o i n t o f D i s t r i b u t i o n f o r F E M A , D e c k a r t w a s o n m a n y c a l l s w i t h r e s p o n s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s a n d h e a r d c o u n t l e s s s t o r i e s o f b o t h h e a r t a c h e a n d r e s i l i e n c e S h e s a i d , " I t b e c a m e s o c l e a r t o m e t h a t ( s t o r yt e l l i n g ) w a s g o i n g t o b e p a r t o f e v e r y b o d y ' s p r o c e s s I j u s t t h o u g h t t h e a r t s c a n a c t a s a p o i n t o f h e a l i n g , s o w e s h o u l d d o s o m e t h i n g a b o u t t h i s

" I t ' s c a t h a r t i c t o s h a r e y o u r a c c o u n t a n d t h e e m ot i o n s i n v o l v e d "

A r t i s t i c l e e w a y w i l l t h e n b e g i v e n t o l o c a l a r t i s t s t o

b e t t e r s h a r e t h e s e s t o r i e s w i t h t h e c o m m u n i t y . T h i s p r o j e c t w i l l c u l m i n a t e i n a m u l t i - m e d i a , a r t i s t i c e x p r e s s i o n e x h i b i t i o n a r o u n d t h e a n n i v e r s a r y i n S e p t e m b e r 2 0 2 3 t h a t w i l l r u n f o r a m o n t h

" I t h i n k i t ' s g o i n g t o b e a p r o j e c t t h a t i s a n a m a l g am a t i o n o f a l l o f t h e S t o r m S t o r i e s t h a t w e r e c a p t u r e d , " D e c k a r t s a i d " W e ' r e g o i n g t o h a v e s o m e w r i t t e n w o r d s v i s u a l l y o n t h e w a l l , s o m e s t o r i e s y o u c a n a u d it o r i l y l i s t e n t o , a n d w e ' l l h a v e s o m e a r t i n s p i r e d b y t h e s t o r i e s "

D e c k a r t a d d e d t h e a l l i a n c e w i l l h a v e f e a t u r e d p h ot o g r a p h y b y K i n f a y M o r o t i " H e ' s t a k e n s o m e r e a l l y p o w e r f u l i m a g e s , " s h e s a i d . " E v e r y b o d y s h o u l d s e e t h o s e A n d I t h i n k i t ' s i m p o rt a n t t o m a r k t h e a n n i v e r s a r y o f s u c h a h i s t o r i c s t o r m , a n d l o o k h o w f a r w e ' v e c o m e a n d c o n t i n u e t h e h e a l i n g p r o c e s s "

W h i l e t h i s p r o j e c t a l r e a d y c o v e r s a l l o f L e e C o u n t y , A l l i a n c e f o r t h e A r t s p l a n s o n e x p a n d i n g t h i s p r o j e c t t o t h e e n t i r e s t a t e o f F l o r i d a . D e c k a r t i s h o p i n g t o c o nt i n u e t o s h a r e S t o r m S t o r i e s b e y o n d t h e e x h i b i t

p l a n n e d f o r n e x t f a l l " W e ' r e t r y i n g t o f i g u r e o u t h o w w e c a n t a k e t h i s o n t h e r o a d , " D e c k a r t s a i d o f b u d d i n g p r o j e c t " W h e t h e r i t ' s a l i s t e n i n g b o o t h o r s o m e w a y t h a t t h e p u b l i c o u ts i d e o f L e e C o u n t y c a n r e a l l y a c c e s s t h e s e s t o r i e s "

T h e a l l i a n c e i s a l s o w o r k i n g t o a r c h i v e t h e a n o n ym o u s s u b m i s s i o n s s o t h e y c a n a l s o b e c o n s u m e d o n a v i r t u a l p l a t f o r m

" F o r t h e n e x t y e a r , i t ' s g o i n g t o b e t h i s h i s t o r y h a rv e s t , a n d w e d o w a n t t h e s t o r i e s t o b e s h a r e d - - w e t h i n k i t ' s i m p o r t a n t , " D e c k a r t s a i d

A s f a r a s d a m a g e t o t h e A l l i a n c e f o r t h e A r t s b u i l di n g , D e c k a r t s a i d t h e y h a v e n o t f u l l y r e c o v e r e d , b u t a r e t h a n k f u l n o m a j o r s t r u c t u r a l d a m a g e t o o k p l a c e

" W e s t a y e d d r y W e d i d n ' t f l o o d , " D e c k a r t s a i d " I t ' s b e e n r e a l l y i m p o r t a n t f o r u s t o h e l p o u r o t h e r a r t s o r g a n i z a t i o n s W e h a v e a l o t o f ( a r t i s t s f r o m a l l o v e r ) w i t h u s r i g h t n o w W e h a d r o o f d a m a g e a n d w i n d o w s w e r e b l o w n o u t , b u t n o t h i n g c a t a s t r o p h i c "

T h o s e i n t e r e s t e d i n b e c o m i n g a p a r t n e r o n t h i s p r o je c t a r e e n c o u r a g e d t o c o n t a c t D e c k a r t

T h e A l l i a n c e f o r t h e A r t s i s a n o n p r o f i t c o m m u n i t y a r t s a n d c u l t u r a l c e n t e r l o c a t e d i n t h e h e a r t o f F o r t M y e r s a t 1 0 0 9 1 M c G r e g o r B l v d F o r m o r e t h a n 4 0 y e a r s , t h e A l l i a n c e h a s b e e n c h a r g e d w i t h t h e m i s s i o n t o f a c i l i t a t e a n d n u r t u r e t h e c r e a t i o n , d e v e l o p m e n t , p r o m o t i o n a n d e d u c a t i o n o f a r t s a n d c u l t u r e i n S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , c a l l 2 3 99 3 9 - 2 7 8 7 O n l i n e S t o r m S t o r i e s s u b m i s s i o n c a n b e m a d e b y v i s i t i n g w w w A r t I n L e e o r g / S t o r m S t o r i e s

C o n n e c t w i t h t h i s r e p o r t e r o n T w i t t e r : @ h a dd a d c j

Symphony to present

‘The

Thing About Men’

The Gulf Coast Symphony will perform “The Thing About Men” now through Feb 4 at the Music & Arts Community Center, at 13411 Shire Lane, Fort Myers It is a musical comedy based on the 1985 German farcical film “Men,” by Doris Dörrie With music by Jimmy Roberts and lyrics and book by Joe DiPietro, it was written as a follow-up to their long-running musical “I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change ” The plot revolves around a love triangle and shows what men will do to keep their pride and love affairs intact The show is a comic exploration of men, modern marriage, and friendship Tickets range from $39-50 For more information or tickets, visit https://gulfcoastsymphony.org/.

‘Changing

exhibit opens at

The exhibition “Changing Direction: National Association of Women Artists” will be on display now through Jan 28 at the Alliance for the Arts, at 10091 McGregor Blvd , Fort Myers

Juried by Florida Gulf Coast University professor Morgan Paine, the exhibit presents 50 pieces by NAWA members meditating on the theme “Changing Direction ” Founded in 1889, the NAWA is the oldest professional women’s fine arts organization in the United States

In addition, the exhibition’s juror will host a panel discussion with several artists on Jan 21 from 11 a m to noon The discussion is free and open to the public; however, RSVPs are recommended

Gallery admission is free, but a $5 donation keeps programming affordable and accessible

For more information, visit https://www artinlee org/event/changingdirection/

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Animal Ser vices highlights ‘Never Walk Alone Again’

Make pets a part of your New Year’s plan and consider that there are many ways a new pet can improve your life:

∫ Getting fit, losing weight and being healthy: A pet is a great way to be more active, whether playing games or going for a walk

∫ Reducing stress: Having the companionship of a devoted pet is a proven stress reducer. Research shows that contact with animals has many health benefits

∫ Enjoying life more: With all the benefits of pet adoption, this one is simple

∫ Helping others: By adopting, you will not just be helping You will be saving a life

The adoption fee for dogs have been reduced to $30 for the month of January

Valued at $600, the adoption package includes spay or neuter surgery, age-appropriate vaccinations, deworming, flea treatment, heartworm test for dogs 6 months and older, feline aids and leukemia test for cats, Lee County pet license for pets 3 months and older, microchip ID, and a 10-day health guarantee

For more information about pets available for adoption, visit www LeeLostPets com or call 239-533-7387 (LEE-PETS) Adoption applications can be submitted online Adoption hours are Monday through Saturday from 10:30 a m to 3:30 p m at Animal Services, at 5600 Banner Drive, Fort Myers

Edison and Ford estates offering gardening programs

The Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers offers opportunities throughout the year to learn about gardening in Florida

Programming scheduled for the month of January includes the following:

∫ Jan. 2 8 : Introduction to Florida Gardening Part I from 1 0 a.m. to noon

Participants will receive a foundation of how plants work, their nomenclature and understanding of unique weather patterns and unusual soils found only in Florida, zone 10 The class will educate them with identification of native and non-native plants and how to recognize invasive species. Palms will also be discussed and participants will spend the last 20 minutes in the Palmetum Participants should bring a notebook, pencil and drinking water Hats, sunscreen and good walking shoes are recommended for the outdoor portion Participants will receive handouts, a recommended reading list and additional resources Cost is $45 for members or $55 for non-members

∫ Jan. 3 1 : Introduction to Florida Gardening Part II from 1 :3 0 to 3 :3 0 p.m.

Participants will be introduced to the concepts of “Florida Friendly Gardening,” including learning the proper use of fertilizers and soil amendments Pest identification will be covered, as well as when to use chemical versus biological controls as recommended by the Green Industries Best Management Practices concepts Weed identification and diseases will also be covered, along with a discussion on selecting plants for a Florida landscape, followed by a question-and-answer session The last 20 minutes of class will be held in the Butterfly Garden Participants should bring a notebook, pencil and drinking water Hats, sunscreen and good walking shoes are recommended for the outdoor portion Participants will receive handouts, a recommended reading list and additional resources Cost is $45 for members or $55 for non-members

Seating is limited and registration is required.

For more information or to register, visit EdisonFord org

The Edison and Ford Winter Estates is at 2350 McGregor Blvd , Fort Myers

Annual Antique Ford Car Show at Edison and Ford Winter Estates

Feb. 4

Edison and Ford Winter Estates will host its annual Antique Ford Car Show, Saturday, Feb 4, from 9 a m to

2 p.m.,. Each year, classic car owners exhibit their cars on the Ford estate lawn as a tribute to Henry Ford, the pioneer of the automobile industry Model Ts, Mustangs, Thunderbirds and other models will be on display

Along with the car show, there will be a DJ on site playing music, and food trucks with refreshments available for purchase Participating food vendors include Easy Cheesy, the Hungry Pony Food Cart, and Millennial Brewing Company

This family event is free for Edison Ford members or $25 for non-members, which includes a self-guided tour of the entire site Visitors can tour the gardens, museum, laboratory and see the historic homes. The site includes more than 20 acres of botanical gardens along the Caloosahatchee River with plants and trees from all around the world General admission tickets may be purchased on the website at EdisonFord org or at the ticket counter

Antique car owners wanting to participate can register their car (any Ford model, 1980 or older) for display in the show at EdisonFord org before January 27 Car registration is $30 for the first car, and $15 for each additional car and includes general admission

Edison and Ford Winter Estates is at 2350 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers.

The Alliance for the Ar ts calls for Ar tists (in Florida) to submit work to the 37th Annual All Florida Juried Exhibition

The Alliance for the Arts is excited to be hosting the 37th Annual All Florida Exhibition This annual show is the most anticipated of the year As the name suggests, this exhibition features pieces created by artists working in a wide variety of media from all over the 65,000 square miles that make up Florida

Artists in Florida are encouraged to submit their pieces for this juried exhibition Categories for entry are sculpture, painting (including oil, acrylic, collage, watercolor and mixed media), photography, prints and drawing An entry may consist of 1 to 3 artworks All entries are due by Jan 23 If you would like to be considered for this show, please download the prospectus found on our website, ArtInLee org/AllFlorida2023 For more information, please email our gallery manager at exhibitions@ArtInLee org

The accepted entries will come together for an awardwinning and exciting exhibition in March 2023 representing Florida’s contemporary artists Awards include $1,000 cash for Best In Show, a 2nd place gift certificate, $100 cash for 3rd place and Juror’s Choice Award(s) of Alliance for the Arts membership(s)

Receptions and gallery tours are open to the public and do not require tickets or reservations While the gallery admission is free, a $5 suggested donation keeps the Alliance programming affordable and accessible

While visiting the exhibit, please be sure to also partake in the Arts & Economic Prosperity survey All answers are anonymous and help to measure the economic and social impact of arts and culture in our community! More information can be found at americansforthearts org

American Cancer Society announces 2023 Bucket List Bash to be held on Feb. 18

The American Cancer Society is pleased to announce the 2023 Bucket List Bash will be held at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort on Saturday, February 18th, chaired by Darlene and Don DeMichele and Beverly Fanning This year, we celebrate 13 years of amazing support in Collier County Since its inception, the event has raised $10 8 million to support the American Cancer Society’s mission to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support, to ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer

This year’s mission moment will support the newly created Collier and Lee County Health Equity Fund Cancer is a disease that can affect anyone, but it does not affect everyone equally Many barriers can impact a person’s ability to prevent, find, treat, and survive cancer and the American Cancer Society is committed to actively working towards ending cancer disparities This fund will support programs related to transportation and lodging grants,

GCWA accepting entries for contest

The Gulf Coast Writers Association is accepting entries for its Annual Writing Contest It is open to the public and there is a separate youth category

Submissions must be entered online by Jan 31 For more information including guidelines and entry forms, visit www gulfwriters org

as well as increasing screening efforts with partners in our community

The Bucket List Bash will celebrate hope and courage and will feature dancing from Powerhouse The Next Generation, a live auction of bucket list worthy items, and a custom designed menu from the Ritz-Carlton Black and white attire is encouraged. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, volunteer opportunities, or to purchase tickets, please visit www acsbucketlistbash com or contact Chanel McGregor, Senior Development Manager, at 239-259-4242 or chanel mcgregor@cancer org

Reser vations open for DDWS fundraiser

The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge is now taking reservations for its annual fundraiser, “Go Bully for “Ding” An Evening with Teddy Roosevelt ” The event will take place on March 6 at the Broadway Palm in Fort Myers In consideration of the hardships island residents and business owners have suffered since Hurricane Ian, the DDWS has lowered the price of tickets to $75 per person this year New event supporters include: Wayne and Linda Boyd, and In Memory of Boomer Duvin as Champion sponsors; William and Barbara Millar, and Doug and Sherry Gentry as Guardian sponsors; Tiffani Kaliko and John Silvia as Protector sponsors; and The Gresham Family, B o b a n d K a t h y W i e s e m a n n , a n d S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a Islander and Island Reporter as Defender sponsors For t i c k e t s o r s p o n s o r s h i p i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t https://www dingdarlingsociety org/ articles/go-wild-fording

Lee Health to offer self-management programs

Lee Health's “It’s All About You” a self-management resource program with the SMRC is offering the following research-based virtual programs for free to the community:

Chronic Disease Self-Management Program

The Chronic Disease Self-Management Program is designed for people ages 18 and older with chronic health conditions to help them learn ways to better manage the chronic conditions and symptoms that often accompany chronic health conditions The workshops are held once a week for six weeks

The program will be offered on Thursdays starting on Jan. 26 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Providence Family Life Center, at 3592 Broadway, Suite 100, Fort Myers

Participants will receive a copy of the book “Living a Healthier Life with Chronic Conditions ”

For more information or to register for one of the programs, call 239-424-3121

WHAT A CATCH!

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Capt. Dave’s Fishing Tips

Fishing tip #1 : As the cold fronts signal that winter is here, it's important to dress in layers on those cool mornings Florida is known for cool nights and warm days and layering can keep you happy throughout your day on the water It can get very uncomfortable in the wind and cold, so prepare before you get out on the water It's always colder and windier out on the boat than at the house or at the dock And don’t forget the sunscreen Our latitude is such that, even in dead-winter, a sunburn is possible

Fi s hi ng ti p # 2 : S n o o k a r e f o u n d throughout sub-tropical waters They are easily identified by their distinctive horizontal black line running along each side of their body, giving them the nickname “ l i n e s i d e r s ” T h e y m o v e w i t h i n t h e i r range just like all other non-migratory fish do, and spawn during the summer months

which means they gather in large numbers from May thru August, (closed season ) providing some of the best catch and release fishing of the year Like some other shallow water species, snook are cold blooded, making them highly temperature sensitive so they rely on the temperature of their surroundings to warm t h e i r b o d i e s d u r i n g t h e c h i l l y w i n t e r months During the upcoming winter season, their metabolism slows considerably, making them extremely lethargic, which explains why during the coldest months of the year, snook will not waste a lot of energy chasing frisky, fast moving baits December, January, and February are months when slowly and methodically working natural or artificial baits is the only way to get these fish’s attention

–

Capt. Dave Hanson

ABOVE: Angler Mike Connealy with an 18-inch redfish, caught on shrimp in southern Estero Bay on a recent inshore Fishbuster Charter LEFT: Angler Ted Conneally with a 14-inch sheepshead, caught on shrimp in southern Estero Bay on a recent inshore Fishbuster Charter

Angler Mike Conneally with a 14-inch black drum, caught on shrimp in southern Estero Bay on a recent inshore Fishbuster Charter

Angler Merritt Johnson with a 17-inch lane snapper, caught on squid and released 22 miles west of New Pass on a recent offshore Fishbuster Charter, just before lane snapper came back into season.

Minnesota Twins Celebrity Golf Classic set for February

Registration is open and sponsorship are available for the 25th anniversary Minnesota Twins Celebrity Golf Classic set for Feb 17 from 1:30 to 4:30 p m at Topgolf, at 2021 Topgolf Way, Fort Myers

This year, support for the event series will benefit the Lee Health Regional Cancer Center, ensuring families can stay close to home for lifesaving cancer care Registration for individual tickets and sponsorships will close on Feb 1

Individual tickets are $350. Team registrations are $1,500 and include tickets for five participants Sponsorships levels range from presenting sponsor to silent auction and hole sponsorships F o r i n f o r m a t i o n o r t o r e g i s t e r , v i s i t

Cypress Slough

The Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve is offering Tiny Tots Yoga and Guided Meditation classes for the spring season at the preserve's Interpretive Center, at 7751 Penzance Blvd , Fort Myers

∫ Now through May 3 1 : Tiny Tots Yoga on Wednesdays from 1 0 to 1 1 a m

Guardians and toddlers up to age 5 can enjoy meditation, movement and songs in an active, family-friendly yoga class Taught by certified yoga instructor Mariela Gömez, the class uses music, yoga play props and stories to help children establish a connection with their caretakers while benefiting from active movement Participants must bring their own gear, including yoga mat, blanket or towel, and water bottle Provided props will be disinfected thoroughly both before and following the class

∫ Now through April 2 7 : Guided Meditation on Thursdays from 9 to 1 0 a.m.

Direct your attention and intentions inward during guided meditation and qigong in the stillness of the slough Each week will focus on a different technique: reducing stress, promoting focus, mindfulness, visualization and kindness Classes begin with simple stretches and qigong movements

Tickets on sale now for the 2023 Chubb Classic

Tournament officials announced tickets are now on sale for the 2023 Ch presented by SERVPRO, wh ends of the game will come to e r f o r N a p l e s ’ f l a g s h i p P TOUR Champions event, Fe 16-19, 2023 at Tiburón Gol Club’s Black Course

Tickets are available for purchase now exclusively at www ChubbClassic com

T o u r n a m e n t o f f i c i a l s a l s o a n n o u n c e d t o d a y a l l military personnel (active, retired, reserve and veteran) and service personnel (police fire, EMS) and a plus one wi receive complimentary adm sion to the 2023 Chubb Cla compliments of SERVPRO will be available at Will Call t w e e k b y s h o w i n g p r o p e r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n

Children under 18 also will be admitted free into the tournament with a paid adult

“The Chubb Classic is a mainstay in Naples and Southwest Florida, giving fans the unique opportunity to watch legends of the game play in one of the top golf destinations in the country,” said Sandy Diamond, executive director for the Chubb Classic presented by SERVPRO “We are honored to offer complimentary admission to all military and service personnel to the 2023 Chubb Classic, who have worked so hard in our communities over the past few months."

Ticket packages for the 2023 Chubb Classic include exclusive hospitality and general admissions tickets offering a wide degree of entertainment and access All 2023 tournament tickets will be completely digital and will be emailed after purchase Tickets can be viewed on either a mobile device or printed out where they will be scanned at the main gate

There are four ticket options for fans interested in attending the 2023 Chubb Classic (**Ticket prices include all taxes and fees**):

Daily Grounds:

General admission daily grounds, valid Thursday, Feb 16 (Pro-Am), and Friday-Sunday, Feb 17-19 (tournament rounds)

∫ Thursday: $23

∫ Friday: $45

∫ Saturday: $45

∫ Sunday: $55

Weekly Grounds:

General admission daily grounds, valid ThursdaySunday, Feb 16-19

∫ $110 (Valid all days Thursday-Sunday)

∫ Michelob Ultra Legends Lounge 17th Green Skybox:

Semi-private luxury suite offering exclusive views of the 17th green Includes lunch options, afternoon snacks, water, soft drinks and cash bar Valid competition rounds, Friday-Sunday

∫ Friday: $165

∫ Saturday: $190

∫ Sunday: $215

Hoffman Family of Companies Wine Bar – 1 8 th

to shake off any stale energy before beginning meditation Wear comfortable clothing and bring water, a yoga mat and blanket or pillow to sit upon Open to ages 18 and older

The cost for a full session of four classes is $40 or $10 for a single class

Green Hospitality:

r, semi-private luxury suite king the 18th green Includes e d l u n c h , h o r s d ’ o e u v r e s , rnoon snacks and open bar a l i d c o m p e t i t i o n r o u n d s ,

Friday-Sunday

∫ Friday: $375

∫ Saturday: $430

∫ Sunday: $485

A portion of the ticket proceeds will be donated to local charities throughout S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a T h e Chubb Classic has proudly supported more than 30 charible organizations since the rnament’s inception in 1988

teer registration now p

Volunteer registration is now open to support the 2023 Chubb Classic Fifth Third Bank, longtime partner and sponsor of the Chubb Classic, returns as the official volunteer sponsor for the 2023 edition of the championship. Each year, hundreds of volunteers donate their time to serve critical needs such as marshaling, scoring, transportation, hospitality services and many other important roles In 2023, the tournament is seeking more than 700 volunteers to fill a variety of roles tournament week The $65 volunteer package ($75 after December 16) includes one official tournament branded golf shirt and tournament jacket, a hat or visor; volunteer pin; one volunteer badge allowing clubhouse access and free parking all week; four weekly grounds passes; and free breakfast and lunch for each day worked For more information on volunteering at t h e 2 0 2 3 C h u b b C l a s s i c , v i s i t www ChubbClassic com/volunteer

T h e 2 0 2 2 C h u b b C l a s s i c c e l e b r a t e d i t s 3 5 t h anniversary by returning to its traditional February dates, where Bernhard Langer went wire-to-wire to record his fourth Chubb Classic title Langer, who also won the TimberTech Championship in November, is one tournament win shy of tying Hale Irwin’s record of 45 PGA TOUR Champions victories He will join an 80-player field competing in the 54-hole championship Friday-Sunday, Feb 17-19, for a share of the $1 8 million purse

Tiburón Golf Club, managed by Troon, the only facility to host a PGA TOUR, PGA TOUR Champions and LPGA Tour event in the same calendar year, features two 18-hole Championship golf courses, The Gold and The Black The Black Course, which opened in 2001, has a very distinctive look with its pine strawlined fairways, crushed coquina waste areas and undulating greens nestled amidst acres of pine trees and native Florida foliage The Black Course is designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary by Audubon International to protect and enhance its natural surroundings

For more information on the Chubb Classic, visit w w w C h u b b C l a s s i c c o m , a n d o n s o c i a l m e d i a @ChubbClassic on Twitter and @ChubbClassic on Instagram

A paid parking fee of $1 per hour per vehicle is required

Preregister at www leeparks org; walk-ins welcome if there are open spaces

For more information, visit www leeparks org/sixmilecypress or call 239-533-7555