Fort Myers Beach Observer/The Beach Bulletin

Volume 38, number 11

Facing $1.1 million budget hole, town seeks aid

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

The Town of Fort Myers Beach will have to dig into its reserves to find $1 1 million to cover a loss of revenue last year due to Hurricane Ian, according to a preliminary budget presentation by the t o w n ’ s f i n a n c e d e p a r t m e n t a c c o u n t i n g manager Cheri Russ

“We are going to be a little bit short on this budget and we are going to have to

pull in about $1 1 million from reserves just to cover this year This is just the beginning and I can see this is going to be higher,” Russ said Meanwhile, interim Town Manager Chris Holley said he and Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers have met with state legislators to discuss the town’s financial state and need for aid Holley said legislators are currently working on a loan program and the town will be

THE SHOW MUST GO ON

Shrimp crawl pinch hits for shrimp festival

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Th i s w e e k w o u l d h a v e b e e n t h e 6 5 t h a n n i v e r -

s a r y o f t h e F o r t M y e r s B e a c h L i o n ’ s C l u b

S h r i m p F e s t i v a l H u r r i c a n e I a n c h a n g e d a l l

t h a t , p u t t i n g i t o n t h e b a c k b u r n e r t h i s y e a r Y e t t h e c l u b a n d l o c a l b u s i n e s s e s d i d n ’ t w a n t t o t o t a l l y g i v e i t u p “ W e j u s t c a n ’ t l e t t h i s w e e k e n d d r o p , ” F o r t M y e r s B e a c h L i o n ’ s C l u b P r e s i d e n t D r e w Y e l l e s a i d T h e s h r i m p c r a w l r a n t h i s p a s t S a t u r d a y a n d S u n d a y a t F o r t M y e r s B e a c h w i t h p a r t i c i p a t i n g r e s t a u r a n t s F r e s h C a t c h B i s t r o , J u n k a n o o , t h e L i g h t h o u s e R e s o r t I n n a n d S u i t e s , R u d e S h r i m p C o , S n u g H a r b o r R e s t a u r a n t a n d W a h o o W i l l i e ’ s r a i s i n g f u n d s f o r t h e F o r t M y e r s B e a c h L i o n ’ s C l u b t h r o u g h s h r i m p s a l e s , 5 0 - 5 0 t i c k e t s a n d r a f f l e s E r i c k s o n a n d J e n s e n , w h i c h n o r m a l l y p r o v i d e s m o r e t h a n 1 , 2 0 0 p o u n d s o f s h r i m p f o r t h e s h r i m p f e s t i v a l , a l s o s o l d s h r i m p a t t h e i r l o c a t i o n o n M a i n S t r e e t . T h e f u n d s a r e u s e d f o r t h e c l u b ’ s s c h o l a rs h i p f u n d a n d t o a i d t h e c l u b ’ s p r o g r a m o f f i n a n ci n g f r e e e y e e x a m s a n d g l a s s e s f o r s t u d e n t s a t L e e C o u n t y s c h o o l s S n u g H a r b o r R e s t a u r a n t d i d a s h r i m p b o i l , W a h o o W i l l i e ' s h e l d a n i s l a n d s h r i m p a n d p e e l a n d e a t , J u n k a n o o o n t h e B e a c h a n d F r e s h C a t c h B i s t r o d o n a t e d a p o r t i o n o f i t s s a l e s f r o m s p e c i a l s h r i m p d i s h e s T h e R u d e S h r i m p C o i s d o n a t i n g a p o r t i o n o f s a l e s o f t h e i r s h r i m p t a c o s a n d s h r i m p c o c k t a i l D r e w Y e l l e , p r e s i d e n t o f t h e F o r t M y e r s B e a c h L i o n ’ s C l u b , s a i d t h e s h r i m p c r a w l w a s o r g a n i z e d t o c e l e b r a t e t h e “ d e l i c i o u s G u l f s h r i m p , g o o d m u s i c , a n d c a m a r a d e r i e E v e r y o n e o n t h e b e a c h i s

See SHRIMP CRAWL, page 11

Lisa Lahners, Rude Shrimp Company owner, at last weekend's shrimp crawl on Fort Myers Beach

a p p l y i n g f o r a $ 5 m i l l i o n F e d e r a l Emergency Management Agency loan

A s i d e f r o m g o i n g i n t o d e b t , V i c e

“Is the overall concept to arrange for a loan from the state so then we can frontload it for these expenditures for the hope that FEMA at some point will reimburse us, or are we also hoping that the state

will give us a grant rather than a loan?”

Holley said to Atterholt that the state h a s a l o a n p r o g r a m b u t t h e t h i n k i n g among state officials he is speaking with, is to provide the town a loan because “you can’t double dip So it’s a loan because if it was a grant and you were going to use it for FEMA projects and you get FEMA reimbursement then you get double money If you get $10 million

See BUDGET, page 10

Sea turtle deaths up

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

While red tide levels have subsided in the waters around Fort Myers Beach over the past two weeks along with a decreasing amount of dead fish, Turtle Time and t h e S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a C o n s e r v a t i o n Commission have reported an uptick this year in sea turtle strandings and deaths

Out of a total of 11 dead sea turtles documented as stranded by Turtle Time since Jan 10, there were seven found on Fort Myers Beach and four on Bonita Beach

That is up from four for the same period last year It is unknown whether it is related to the elevated red tide levels recorded in January and February

Some of the turtles found “exhibited no external signs that would have caused their death,” Turtle Time founder Eve Haverfield said “Others had obvious boat p r o p e l l e r i n j u r i e s W i t h o u t l a b o r a t o r y examination, it is impossible to say for sure that red tide caused their demise but we can surmise The turtles that we saw were not fresh enough to send for tissue analysis As we approach nesting season, turtles will be migrating closer to shore, so each year, we anticipate an increase of strandings. We ask boaters to slow down when they see turtles on the surface of the water It gives the sea turtles time to escape ”

Sea turtle nesting season begins in Southwest Florida on April 15

The Florida Department of Health in Lee County issued health alerts last week for the presence of a red tide bloom after red tide was found near Turner Beach (Captiva), Blind Pass Beach (Sanibel), Buck Key near Blind Pass, Bonita Beach Causeway (Dog Beach), Bonita Beach Park, Little Hickory Island Park, and Boca Grande Beach The alert was in response to water samples taken on Feb 24, Feb 27, March 1, and March 6

See SEA TURTLE DEATHS, page 12

PHOTO PROVIDED BY DAWN THOMAS

P u b l i s h e r R a y m o n d M E c ke n r o d e re cke n ro d e @ b re e z e n ew s p a p e rs c o m

E x e c u t ive E d i t o r Va l a r i e H a r r i n g v h a r r i n g @ b re e z e n ew s p a p e rs c o m

E d i t o r N a t h a n M a y b e rg n m a y b e rg @ b re e z e n ew s p a p e rs c o m

A d ve r t i s i n g D i re c t o r L a u r i e R a g l e l rag l e @ b re e z e n ew s p a p e rs c o m

Advertising Sales

Lyn

McElhaney

lmcelhaney@breezenewspapers com

O b i t u a r i e s D e b b i e C a r l e t t i o b i t s @ b re e z e n ew s p a p e rs c o m P ro d u c t i o n m a n a g e r R o b B r a i t l i n g r b ra i t l i n g @ b re e z e n ew s p a p e rs c o m S u b s c r i p t i o

‘ ... you ain’t seen nothing yet’

Count us among those who have nothing but kudos to Gov Ron DeSantis for his efforts for Southwest Florida in the wake of Hurricane Ian

He was not only here, he was here often

He put both money and effort into the r e p a i r o f c r i t i c a l i n f r a s t r u c t u r e l i k e t h e Matlacha bridge and the Sanibel Causeway to get us on the road to recovery much quicker than anyone expected

In miracle time, in fact: Two days for the bridge leading to Pine Island, just over two w e e k s f o r t h e t h r i c e - b r e a c h e d c a u s e w a y leading to Sanibel and Captiva

He not only jabbed the feds on FEMA’s temporary housing rules but rallied state efforts to get temporary housing for those whose homes were damaged or destroyed

But count us also among those who have done more than an eye roll or two over some of his more, shall we say, political initiatives as he wades into presidential currents as fraught with below-the-surface debris as the post-storm waters off Fort Myers Beach.

It’s hard to be a beacon high on the cliffs of the current political divide but, like his efforts in the wake of one of the worst natural disasters to ever hit the United States, he’s giving it his all as his State of the State address last Tuesday attests

Opening with a term from his military background a lieutenant commander in U S Navy, Gov DeSantis served as in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps as a prosecutor and deployed to Iraq with special oper-

ations duty he gave Floridians the Bottom Line Up Front

The BLUF:

“Florida is number one and working together we will ensure that Florida remains the number one state in these United States

“Florida is the fastest growing state in the nation

“We rank number one for net in-migration

“We rank number one in the nation for new business formations.

“We are number one in economic growth among large states

“

F l o r i d a h a s m o r e p e o p l e e m p l o y e d today than before the pandemic Our unemployment rate is one of the lowest on record and it is significantly lower than the national average

“And of course, as many of you know in this room, the last two years we’ve seen the largest budget surpluses in the history of the state of Florida

“And we do that with having the lowest per capita state tax and lowest per capita state debt burdens amongst all large states

“We rank number one in the nation in tourism and we just experienced yet another r e c o r d - b r e a k i n g y e a r f o r v i s i t o r s t o t h e

Sunshine State

“We are number one in law enforcement recruitment and support Florida’s crime rate stands at a 50-year low

“We rank number one in the nation for education freedom

“We rank number one in the nation for parental involvement in education

“We rank number one in fourth grade reading and math amongst all large states

“And we have the number one public higher education system in the country

“We are number one among large states for the quality of our roads

“And Florida has the top three cruise ports in the entire world We rank number one for space-related development, manufacturing, and flight.”

The bluster:

“And, maybe most famously, we rank number one for protections of our citizens against the biomedical security state, from prohibiting ‘jab or job’ mandates to banning vaccine passports to ensuring hospital visitation rights,” Gov DeSantis said

“We defied the experts, we buck the elites, we ignored the chatter, we did it our way, the Florida way And the result is that we are the n u m b e r o n e d e s t i n a t i o n f o r o u r f e l l o w Americans who are looking for a better life.”

And the heart of the address the introduction of real people from around Florida to put a face on state programs, goals and initiatives including tougher penalties for drug dealers, especially for those who target children; enforcement of immigration laws; and support for law enforcement including a bail system “conducive to public safety” and constitutional carry:

See EDITORIAL, page 5

Community foundations ‘set the table’ for SWFL talk

By ASHLEY MAHER, EILEEN CONNELLYKEESLER and SARAH OWEN

O n M a r c h 3 0 , t h e c o m m u n i t y i s i n v i t e d t o h o s t o r p a r t i c i p a t e i n c o m m u n i t y a n d r e g i o n a l c o n v e r s a t i o n s h e l p i n g t o f o r m u l a t e p r i o r i t i e s a n d i d e a s t o b u i l d a b e t t e r , s t r o n g e r S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a

Previous Web Poll Results

Should the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council approve a special exception permit for a 298-feet boardwalk over two lagoons, dunes and vegetation near the Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area?

Current Web Poll Question

Are you concerned over whether the Town of Fort Myers Beach will receive enough state and federal funds to rebuild and make up for revenue losses?

∫ Yes

∫ No

∫ Unsure/no opinion

O n t h a t o n e d a y , h u n d r e d s o f i n d i v i d u a l s , n o n p r o f i t s , b u s i n e s s e s , a n d g o v e r n m e n t e n t i t i e s w i l l o p e n t h e i r h o m e s o r w o r kp l a c e s , o r g a t h e r a t r e s t a u r a n t s o r c o m m u n it y c e n t e r s t o h o s t a c o n v e r s a t i o n o v e r a m e a l o r b e v e r a g e f o r “ O n t h e T a b l e S W F L ”

W h a t i s i m p o r t a n t t o y o u ? W h a t a r e y o u r b i g i d e a s t o s o l v e c h a l l e n g e s f a c i n g o u r

c o m m u n i t y ? W h a t n e e d s t o h a p p e n t o i m p r o v e t h e q u a l i t y o f l i f e a n d w e l l - b e i n g o f o u r f r i e n d s , f a m i l y , a n d n e i g h b o r s ?

T h e C h a r l o t t e C o m m u n i t y F o u n d a t i o n ,

C o l l i e r C o m m u n i t y F o u n d a t i o n , a n d

C o l l a b o r a t o r y ( f o r m e r l y k n o w n a s t h e

S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a C o m m u n i t y F o u n d a t i o n ) h a v e b e e n h e l p i n g d o n o r s a n d r e s i d e n t s

w o r k t o g e t h e r t o a d d r e s s a n d s o l v e t h e m o s t p r e s s i n g c o m m u n i t y n e e d s f a c i n g o u r r e g i o n I n t h e w a k e o f t h e C O V I D - 1 9 p a n d e m i c a n d H u r r i c a n e I a n , o u r c o m m o n c h a l l e n g e s a r e c l e a r t o s e e , f r o m w i d e s p r e a d m e n t a l h e a l t h i s s u e s t o l a c k o f s t a b l e a n d a t t a i n a b l e h o u s i n g E v e r y o n e o f t h e r e g i o n ’ s f i v e c o u n t i e s i s a f f e c t e d b y t h e s e c h a l l e n g e s , a n d b e c a u s e t h e p r o b l e m s d o n ’ t s t o p a t a n y c o u n t y l i n e o r c i t y l i m i t , s o l u t i o n s t o t h e s e a n d o t h e r c h a l l e n g e s a r e m o r e l i k e l y t o s u cc e e d i f a l l o f u s w o r k t o g e t h e r W e k n o w t h e p o w e r o f a g o o d i d e a n o w i m a g i n e h o w m u c h b e t t e r o f f w e w o u l d a l l b e i f w e c o u l d t a p i n t o h u n d r e d s o f g o o d i d e a s , a l l a t o n c e a n d e v e r y w h e r e ? W e w a n t t o h e a r d i r e c t l y f r o m e a c h o f y o u a b o u t w h a t m a t t e r s m o s t f o r y o u , y o u r f a m i l y , a n d y o u r c o m m u n i t y

I n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h F l o r i d a G u l f C o a s t U n i v e r s i t y , w e w i l l d o c u m e n t c o n v e r s a t i o n t h e m e s a n d i d e n t i f y r e g i o n - w i d e s o c i a l p r io r i t i e s t h a t w i l l b e s h a r e d w i t h e v e r y o n e w h o p a r t i c i p a t e s i n O n t h e T a b l e S W F L T h e f o u n d a t i o n s p l e d g e t o w o r k t o g e t h e r o n i s s u e s i d e n t i f i e d t o c r e a t e a m o r e s u s t a i na b l e a n d v i b r a n t S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a f o r o u r f e l l o w r e s i d e n t s a n d t h e p l a c e s w e c h e r i s h

T o j o i n u s , r e g i s t e r a t o n t h e t a b l e s w f l c o m W e h o p e y o u d o Y o u r v o i c e m a t t e r s

A s h l e y M a h e r i s c h i e f e x e c u t i v e o f f i c e r o f t h e C h a r l o t t e C o m m u n i t y F o u n d a t i o n E i l e e n C o n n e l l y - K e e s l e r i s p r e s i d e n t a n d c h i e f e x e c u t i v e o f f i c e r o f t h e C o l l i e r C o m m u n i t y F o u n d a t i o n S a r a h O w e n i s p r e s i d e n t a n d c h i e f e x e cu t i v e o f f i c e r o f C o l l a b o r a t o r y

The views expressed on the Opinions pages are just that opinions These pages are intended to convey a range of viewpoints; opinions printed on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper Opposing views are welcome. Letters to the Editor or guest columns may be mailed to: Fort Myers Beach Observer, 19260 San Carlos Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931; faxed to 239-765-0846; emailed to news@breezenewspapers.com; or posted to our Virtual Newsroom at www.breezenewspapers.com. Letters are due no later than 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.

Suppor t the ‘Ban the Jab’ Resolution’

To the editor:

R e : t h e 2 / 2 4 / 2 3

Committee passes ‘Ban the Jab’ Resolution ”

People may not be aware but because Covid-19 socalled “vaccines” are Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) drugs, informed consent is required from the recipient However, pharmaceutical companies and governmental agencies have withheld full information on them for over two years In fact, we have been lied to repeatedly by Flip Flop Fauci on down about safety and effectiveness, so true informed consent cannot be given

In addition, per the FDA website, recipients “have the option to accept or refuse the vaccine ” Therefore, EUA drugs cannot be mandated Despite this, it was Mandate Away! for the military, airlines, healthcare workers, jobs, schools, travel and, in some states, to merely enter a business

People are pressured even without mandates, such as athletes who are threatened to submit or be benched, with disastrous consequences as many are collapsing and dying Others, including young children, are dying suddenly from heart attacks. Banned shots=No mandates.

As for banning them taking away choice: A choice for what? They do not prevent infection or transmission All risk No benefit No thanks

There are also valid concerns about spike proteins

The Florida Surgeon General has found a 4,400% increase in VAERS reports of “life-threatening conditions” in Florida since these drugs were introduced He also recommended against giving them to males aged 18-

Editorial

From page 4

Stephen Soloway, a Pine Island business owner who brought supplies in to his neighbors by boat immediately after Ian He called the reopening of the bridge “a Godsend ”

Julie Wappes, a fourth grade teacher at the Sanibel School who lost everything in her home and in her classroom and is now happy the school has now re-opened

Lee Countian Barbara Morgan, whose storm-damaged home was unliveable She could not get a FEMA trailer but received one through the state program created to help people like her live on their property while they repair their homes

Cape Coral Police Department Officer

39 due to the

increased risk of cardiac-related death

Meanwhile, the CDC continues its finger-in-the-wind method of choosing guidelines while thousands flock to Florida for freedom.

L e t ’ s h o p e t h e L e e C o u n t y R e p u b l i c a n P a r t y Executive Committee’s resolution meets with success in expanding that freedom Kudos to them for their bold effort to protect Florida residents from further harm

Winnie Harrison Cape Coral

‘Ban the Jab’ insanity

To the editor:

I read your article with disbelief regarding the Lee Republican Party Executive Committee passing a “Ban the Jab” resolution, asking the Florida legislature to ban the COVID vaccine and the Attorney General’s Office to confiscate all doses within the state

The resolution cites Pfizer’s clinical data revealing 1223 deaths It doesn’t mention that the data came from post-surveillance data that counted deaths from all causes in a certain time period, not necessarily deaths caused by having received the vaccine The resolution fails to cite that to date, the COVID virus has caused 1,117,856 deaths in the U S , and 6,859,093 deaths worldwide It also fails to mention that CDC data shows that the risk of having to be placed on a ventilator or dying was reduced by 90% in hospitalized patients who were vaccinated against COVID

People who do not want to take the vaccine demand “My body, my choice ” Does that not also apply to peo-

Mercedes Phillips, who received a $5,000 signing bonus to join the agency, one of many such incentives awarded throughout the state to help departments hire the additional officers they need

Tax breaks ($2 billion in cuts); boosts to education, including workforce training and programs for teachers, nurses and law enforcement; environmental stewardship including water quality initiatives; crime (tough on and getting tougher) and issues along the political precipice school choice, parents’ rights and the nexus of “political indoctrination;” illegal immigration; vax mandates and “permanent p r o t e c t i o n f r o m m e d i c a l a u t h o r i t a r i a n -

ple who want to take the vaccine?

How ironic it is that, to his credit, former President Trump, who is championed by right wing, Republican anti-VAXers, expended the resources to develop the vaccine against this virus that was killing more Americans than World War I, World War II, Vietnam, 9/11, and Iraq/Afghanistan combined, and took the vaccine himself

I was a registered Republican for decades However, when the Republican Party failed to condemn the vicious attack on our Capitol Police officers and the Capitol itself on Jan 6, 2021, I changed my political party affiliation to Independent The Republican party’s embracement of its embarrassing and dangerous MTG and similar members, retribution against people and companies that dare express a different opinion with political leaders, and now this local “BTJ” resolution, reinforces to me that I made the right decision The Republican Party has lost sight that our government is a democracy, not an autocracy, and that our country and state are strong because we have a melting pot of diverse people Inclusion maintains our strength Exclusion weakens us

The opposition to the “BTJ” resolution expressed by the SWFL Young Republicans Club encourages me that there is hope for the Republican Party in the future They expressed their opposition at the risk of being labeled RINOs For the sake of the future of the Republican Party, for the future of our state, and for the future of our county, Republican leaders need to be brave enough to stop the madness within the party

Barton Hershfield, M.D. Cape Coral

ism;” medical treatment for transgender minors summed up with “our children are not guinea pigs for science experimentation and we cannot allow people to make money off mutilating them ”

Love him, like him, or dub his Free F l o r i d a p o l i c i e s a s f r e e - d u m , G o v DeSantis will unapologetically tell you where he stands

His State of the State close:

“So we find ourselves in Florida on the front lines in the battle for freedom

“Together we have made Florida the nation’s most desired destination and we have produced historic results

“But now’s not the time to rest on our

laurels.

“We have the opportunity and indeed the responsibility to swing for the fences so that we can ensure Florida remains number one

“Don’t worry about the chattering class

“Ignore all the background noise

“Keep the compass set to true north

“We will stand strong

“We will hold the line

“We won’t back down

“And I can promise you this, you ain’t seen nothing yet Thank you all God bless you ” Observer editorial

Gulfside

Twelve cuts ribbon at Carousel Inn

The developers of the n e w G u l f s i d e Tw e l v e d e v e l o p m e n t h e l d a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Town of Fort Myers Beach officials at their property next to the Carousel Inn this past week on Estero B o u l e v a r d T h e G u l f s i d e Tw e l v e w i l l h a v e f o u r l u x u r y h o m e s i n o n e , f i v estory building at the site, with eight more luxury units to go up at the Carousel Inn site

PHOTO PROVIDED

Fort Myers Beach Realtor receives Century 21 award

Fort Myers Beach Realtor Rachel Rose-Danzi, a sales associate with Century 21 TriPower Realty Inc , was recently recognized for outstanding sales production and commitment to quality service by Century 21 Real Estate LLC Rose-Danzi was honored with the 2022 Century 21 President's Producer Award The annual award is bestowed upon those Century 21 System sales affiliates that earn the Century 21 C e n t u r i o n P r o d u c e r a w a r d a n d t h e C e n t u r y 2 1

Quality Service Pinnacle Producer award in the same calendar year

Also being recognized with the award locally was Monica Fowlds, a sales associate with Century 21 Selling Paradise, located in Cape Coral

The Centurion Producer award honors Century 21 System sales affiliates that earn $320,000 in sales production or 71 closed transaction sides within the calendar year

To earn the Quality Service Pinnacle Producer Award, a sales affiliate must receive completed customer surveys for at least 80 percent of their transactions surveyed from Jan 1 - Dec 31, with an average survey score of at least 95 percentage or better for two consecutive years

"The power of the CENTURY 21 brand rests on the shoulders of the relentless sales professionals who always strive to deliver 121% for each and every client they serve," said Michael Miedler, president and CEO, Century 21 Real Estate LLC "We are thrilled to recognize them for their amazing work and commitment to delivering the extraordinary experience that homebuyers, sellers and property investors deserve in their real estate journey "

Bonita Bill’s to reopen March 27

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Bonita Bill's Waterfront Cafe & Tiki Car will hold a grand re-opening Monday, March 27 "It’s been a long journey but we are so thankful for all the community support to get us here We are still working on day of events but we’ll have live music and a few fun things in store We also just had the art installation by Craig Petersen restored and reinstalled at Bonita Bill’s yesterday," Katie Reynolds said Reynolds is the daughter of longtime owner Bill S

The San Carlos Island restaurant has been closed since Hurricane Ian Its docks were severely damaged though the restaurant has held up in good shape

Reynolds said the family will be holding a celebration of life for Semmer at the end of April A date has not yet been finalized, but will likely be April 29 or April 30, Reynolds said

The celebration of life will be open to the community More information will be posted on the social media channels of Bonita Bill's as it becomes available

Bonita Bill's is at 702 Fishermans Wharf on Fort Myers Beach

District provides update on career paths for younger students

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The Career & Technical Education gram for the School District of Lee Coun continues to expand and reach students i elementary school

Adult & Career Education Director Rita Davis said in a presentation last week to the Lee County School Board their main focus is to begin at the elementary level to get students excite about careers, which is done through th E x c e l l e n t C a r e e r E x p l o r a t i o n L a b , EXCEL, bus

“It contains hands-on learning career kiosks and virtual reality,” she said

During the 2022-23 school year, 1,236 fifth-grade students at 10 schools were exposed to the EXCEL bus There are nine more schools scheduled to attend

The students are divided with half taking a basic career aptitude survey to see what their interests are, while the others go onto the bus and immerse themselves in various careers, such as a nurse in an emergency room

“Our dentist station is sponsored by Portofino Dental Our healthcare station is Lee Health, law enforcement by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, construction by Lee BIA and My Shower Doors has manufacturing kiosks,” Davis said

The Career & Technical Education enrollment for sixth through 12th grade for the 2021-22 school year was 37,399, which was not as high as 2019-20 school year of 37,656 students, but higher than 2020-21 of 33,122 students.

“It is very important to make sure programs are having impacts with our students We have been expanding enrollment in sixth through 12th in Career & Technical Education,” Davis said

The digital tool certificates earned for sixth through eighth grade was 1,169 for 2021-22, compared to 1,510 for 2019-20 As of Jan 31, the digital tool certificates

earned this year were 592 in such areas as word sing, introduction to gaming and good er citizens

The digital tool certificates are intended o get middle-school students excited about what could be available to them in high school It takes them from their fifth-grade initial exploration to taking courses and earning the digital tool certificates

The ninth through 12th grade industry rtifications earned was 2,099 for 2021compared to 3,052 for the 2019-20 year

There are more than 50 CTE programs for high school

“Seven years ago we strategically partnered with Career Source of Southwest Florida for guiding and implementing new programs,” Davis said “We want a skilled teacher in the classroom, a school that is going to support it and a workforce that needs students trained in that specific area CTE is no longer an elective We are actually more required in a wonderful way to have students complete two, three, four courses to get most indepth knowledge.”

There is a new course offering, marketing essentials, which has 4,006 students enrolled There is an online course requirement, which may lead to a certification for entrepreneurship and business

“The skills associated with that certification are transferable to many industries,” Davis said

The high demand programs include veterinary assisting, pharmacy tech and carpentry The district also had its first masonry I National Center for Construction Education & Research certified high school student

Davis said industry certifications can enhance a student’s life. Based on 2020 numbers, the student earned $27 30 an hour for base employment with certification, compared to $14 26 for entry level for the same job

“There is a difference in earning power with certifica-

tions,” Davis said.

Adult education was also highlighted, as the district offers GED, English for Speakers of Other Languages, Lifelong Learning and UpSkill Village courses for adults

There are eight in-person sites and one online option for GEDs that provide both morning and evening classes In 2021-22 there were 193 graduates For spring 2023 there are 313 students enrolled

There are 1,464 students enrolled in the spring 2023 ESOL class Lifelong Learners offers 17 classes for 250 students The UpSkill Village was made possible through a $750,000 Lee County Economic Development Office grant and offers eight micro-credentials in essential skills

Davis said digital badges are given, which enhances resumes

There is also Individualized Education & Training, which is concurrent learning for GED and ESOL students, as well as Family Literacy at Tice Elementary to help parents of pre-K students become proficient in English Davis said they also have business sponsored ESOL classes through a Goodwill Industries partnership to help employees become proficient in English

Technical colleges

In addition to providing young students with career options, the School District of Lee County provides programs at technical colleges

Cape Coral Technical College offers 16 programs in nursing/healthcare, technology, culinary arts and hospitality, barbering and cosmetology, business and veterinary assisting

“Students leave with no debt We do not give loans,” Cape Coral Technical College Director Charlie Pease said “Programs range from $3,000 to $7,000 We help them make sure they cover their program with zero debt ”

Fort Myers Technical College has 24 programs in healthcare, construction, transportation, manufacturing,

See UPDATE ON CAREER PATHS, page 10

Beach Living

Town reopens mooring field for wet storage

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

The Town of Fort Myers Beach began a phased reopening of its Matanzas Pass Mooring Field this past week

The town made 19 new mooring systems available for wet storage, near the Matanzas Pass Bridge, Town of Fort Myers Beach Communications Director Jennifer Dexter announced

Construction of the 19 moorings was completed after Hurricane The moorings can accommodate vessels up to 85 feet in length

Any vessel in the town's mooring field must register online at www dockwa com to provide registration information and payment.

Many of the docks on the island were damaged, including the town's public dinghy docks, Dexter stated The Town’s upland services facilities were also damaged

For more information, contact the town's Harbor Master at 239-224-4118

Lee County issues burn ban

The Lee Board of County Commissioners enacted a burn ban for unincorporated Lee County and municipalities effective immediately due to increasingly dry conditions throughout Southwest Florida

The county’s ordinance bans “outdoor burning ignition sources,” including campfires, bonfires and trash burning Grills for food and backyard fire rings are not included Officials ask all county residents to be mindful of dry conditions and to use good judgment to mitigate potential for significant wildfires

Extended weather forecasts are for continuing dry conditions, and there is an elevated risk of wildfires from fallen trees in undeveloped lands due to Hurricane Ian

The Florida Forest Service offers residents information and tips at:

∫ Be Wildfire Ready: www fdacs gov/ForestWildfire/Wildland-Fire/Fire-Prevention/Be-Wildfire-Ready

∫ Ready, Set, Go! Resources: www fdacs gov/ForestW i l d f i r e / W i l d l a n d - F i r e / F i r e - S a f e t y / R e a d y - S e t - G o !Resources

For the county to enact a burn ban, certain conditions must be met, including a Keetch-Byram Drought Index that reached or exceeds a value of 600 Lee’s index value today is a mean average of 602 out of 800 The county also coordinates with the Lee County Fire Chiefs’ Association and the Florida Forest Service, both of which support the ban

This ban does not apply to prescribed burns authorized by the Florida Forest Service, authorized public fireworks displays permitted by Lee County and other government agencies, and fireworks sales authorized by state laws

The burn ban is accomplished by the Board adopting a State of Local Emergency Commission Chairman Brian Hamman signed that State of Local Emergency and the burn ban after the Board of County Commissioners voted at its regularly scheduled March 7 meeting to authorize him to do so when conditions were met

County officials will continue to monitor the drought conditions to determine how long the burn ban will be in place

Commission is reminding everyone to enjoy their spring break safely

“Nothing can ruin a great day on the water quicker than a boating accident,” said Maj Alberto Maza, South Region Bravo Regional Commander “So, we are encouraging everyone coming to the beautiful Fishing and Boating Capital of the World to stay safe while enjoying our beautiful waterways ”

Life jackets save lives Statistics show that drowning is the leading cause of death in boating accidents and that most people who drown in these accidents were not wearing a life jacket Boating accidents are unpredictable, so wearing a life jacket at all times is the best protection

“There are many kinds of life jackets now available o n t h e m a r k e t , ” s a i d C a p t R a c h e l B r y a n t , F W C B o a t i n g a n d W a t e r w a y s B o a t i n g S a f e t y L e a d e r “Whether you are fishing, paddling, operating or riding a boat, kayak, personal watercraft or any other type of vessel, there are many comfortable choices available, so make sure to choose the best one for you ”

Know what is going on around you and your boat at all times. The operator of a boat should always maintain 360-degree awareness It is the operator’s responsibility to ensure they are avoiding other boaters, people in the water, navigational hazards and are aware of all posted boating restricted areas, such as manatee

zones A leading contributor to boating accidents is operator inattention or failure to maintain a proper lookout

“Unfortunately, each year FWC officers respond to too many tragic accidents that could have been prevented,” said Maj Rob Beaton, FWC Boating and Waterways Section Leader “It only takes following a few simple and effective safety precautions to potentially save lives ”

The FWC has zero-tolerance for operating a boat while under the influence of drugs or alcohol

“Our officers will be looking for impaired operators and removing them from the water by arrest,” said Col Roger Young, FWC Director of Law Enforcement “Operating a vessel while impaired puts everyone around you in danger ”

Have a plan, know where you are going, check your safety equipment and watch the weather Let family and friends know where you are going and when you will return

To report dangerous activity on the water, call 8884 0 4 - F W C C ( 8 8 8 - 4 0 4 - 3 9 2 2 ) o r t e x t 8 4 7 4 1 1 (Tip411) with keyword “FWC” followed by the location and any information you can about the violation.

For more information on boating safety or to find out how to sign up for an FWC recommended boating safety course, visit: MyFWC com/Boating

FWC encourages spring breakers to be safe while boating

f o r t m y e r s b e a c h t a l k . c o m F o r t M y e r s B e a c h O b s e r v e r

Coastal Watch provides project updates post-storm

Coastal Watch recently provided status reports on previous projects following Hurricane Ian

A few days after Hurricane Ian, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Marine Lab Director Dr Eric Milbrandt was able to get an aerial view of Hemp and Benedict Key. Coastal Watch reported that the islands look rough, but it is not all bad news A few mangrove seedlings were visible by air and later confirmed by boat

Director Kealy McNeal was able to visit Hemp Key in early February to confirm the survival of a few hundred seedlings behind the lone mature red mangrove in the horseshoe cove The oyster reef at both locations have not been surveyed after the storm Coastal Watch reported that it plans on continuing the restoration efforts on these islands in the fall months

Cor morant Key

C h a r l o t t e H a r b o r A q u a t i c P r e s e r v e s t a f f a n d

Budget

From page 1

to do a dune from the state and $10 million from FEMA to do a dune and that is what they are trying to avoid.”

Holley said he thinks a state loan could be reimbursed by FEMA

“ A n y t h i n g t h a t i s n o t c o v e r e d b y FEMA, you should go after a (state) appropriation request next year to pay that back That’s what we heard from Tallahassee ‘We will help you Let’s see how it works If you need repayment and can’t afford it, we will do an appropriation request next year,” Holley said

Atterholt said there was “an element of risk” if FEMA doesn’t reimburse the town

Atterholt also asked Holley if there was “a scenario where we could get some appropriated funds, not loans, but funds t h a t c o u l d b e h e l p f u l i n t h i s b u d g e t cycle ”

Holley said “I don’t recall that there are resources there that will help with your day-to-day operating ” Holley said the town’s appropriation request forms to the state legislature were for capital projects such as the rebuilding of town hall, beach renourishment and lighting

“I wouldn’t advise that you anticipate in terms of your operating expenses anything from the state other than the loan programs,” Holley said Holley said there may be funds out there for property owners to do demolition work

“

T h e m a y o r a n d I w e n t u p ( t o Tallahassee) and met with the Senate President (Kathleen Passidomo) and others and expressed our concern about the financial condition of the town,” Holley said “Our message was heard ”

Holley said an emergency loan program is being expanded, which the town can apply for Holley said he is asking that the town have longer than the one

Hemp and Benedict Key

Milbrandt visited Cormorant Key in December for a sixmonth progress check Coastal Watch reported that it was impressive the newly formed reef appeared to be unaffected by the strong winds and waves from Ian During the site check, they found over 400 oysters from

just six 0 25m2 quadrats, and many spat (baby oysters) were utilizing the reef

Coastal Watch thanked all the volunteers who helped in May to build back the damaged reef

I wouldn’t advise that you anticipate in terms of your operating expenses anything from the state other than the loan programs.”

—CHRIS HOLLEY

Town of Fort Myers Beach Interim Manager

Every time there is a disaster, it’s a different ballgame. The rules are different The money flows differently The local governments scramble to try to figure out what to do and how to do it Florida should have a better system in my opinion and I think we have an opportunity to do that ”

CHRIS HOLLEY

Town of Fort Myers Beach Interim

year to repay the loan, which is the timef r a m e c u r r e n t l y u n d e r c o n s i d e r a t i o n Holley said he wants the town to have two or three years to repay the loan

“Your cash flow situation is going to be complicated for that period of time,” Holley said Holley said the loan would help the town with operating expenses Holley said the town faced “the challenge of trying to operate and frontload these p r o j e c t s a n d p a y f o r t h e m a n d h o p e FEMA will reimburse you in a timely manner ”

Holley said he spoke with Senator Jonathan Martin (R-33), whose district covers Fort Myers Beach, as well as Rep Adam Botana (R-76), who also represents Fort Myers

“I have just asked that local government have a seat at the table,” Holley said

Update on career paths

hospitality and human services

The technical colleges have to keep data for completion, placement and licensures During the 2021-22 year, 91 were placed in their field upon completing their program at Cape Coral Technical College, while 87 percent were placed in their field at Fort Myers Technical College

Fort Myers Technical College Director John Roszell said they hold career fairs at the college inviting a particular industry for the students

“ H e a l t h c a r e s t u d e n t s o n l y t a l k t o healthcare employees The same thing for

From page 7

construction It really worked out well It’s a better opportunity to get out there,” he said

The board was also given an update about the Public Service Academy by Senior Director Todd Everly. The academy is the only FDLE certified basic recruit law enforcement academy in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades c o u n t i e s a n d t h e o n l y f u l l - t i m e b a s i c recruit fire service and EMT academy in Southwest Florida

The Criminal Justice Academy is the f i f t h l a r g e s t o u t o f 4 2 a c a d e m i e s i n

Manager

“The time is right for Florida to have a more detailed disaster response system in place,” Holley said “Every time there is a disaster, it’s a different ballgame The rules are different The money flows differently The local governments scramble to try to figure out what to do and how to do it Florida should have a better system in my opinion and I think we have an opportunity to do that ”

Huss said “our reserves are going to decrease We are not going to have unassigned funds this next year because we are already pulling from reserves Our savings account isn’t going to go up until our revenues start coming back So that means worse-case scenario without any loans, any appropriations from the state or federal government, things are tight We can make it but it’s going to be tight My point is when you think about cutting

any revenue or lowering revenue, that increases what we have to draw from reserves.

Huss said the town has to prioritize what facilities the town wants to open because that is also going to pull from reserves Russ said the town does have $3 5 million in federal funds that were made available during the height of the covid pandemic Those funds were originally meant to be used for underground water utility work, and was being considered for the Times Square and Bay Oaks Recreational Campus projects, but has not yet been allocated. The town also has a $1 3 emergency fund balance that has not yet been tapped

The town has a $10 million line of credit for its Bay Oaks and Times Square projects The town expended approximately $1 2 million for its Bayside Park project

The town has received $3 million from insurance and $7 6 million for its e m e r g e n c y r e b u i l d i n g p r o j e c t s f r o m FEMA so far, Russ said Russ said the town is looking at about 39 projects with the firm Tidal Basin, with which it contracted to manage its rebuilding The town is planning to demolish town hall

The town waived its building permit fees late last year, which took away a chunk of its revenue The town has also lost revenue from its parking meters, which Russ estimated at about $300,000 The council is considering lowering its parking meter rates The town is also facing the loss of property tax revenue with the demolition of homes from Hurricane Ian There were 333 demolition permits applied for in the town from the time of Hurricane Ian through Feb 13 Russ said she expected the town’s ad valorem tax revenue to be off by 30%

F l o r i d a I t a l s o s e r v e s 2 4 l o c a l l a w e n f o r c e m e n t a g e n c i e s i n S o u t h w e s t Florida The fire and EMT academy services 28 fire departments in Southwest Florida

T h e p r o g r a m s o f f e r e d i n c l u d e l a w enforcement (LEO), correctional officer (CO), crossover, CO to LEO, firefighter, emergency medical technician and equivalency of training (EOT)

Everly said EOTs are officers coming from somewhere else in the United States

“There was a huge draw from officers l e a v i n g t h e b i g e a s t o f g o v e r n m e n t s ,

maybe not supporting law enforcement, and coming to Florida We got into the business because demand was so high here,” he said

Everly said they have 280 law enforcement officers, 240 correctional officers, 48 firefighters and 90 EMTs a year

The academy has a 98 percent placement rate

“If we lose people in the beginning they were not ready, or have a full understanding of what that commitment is,” Everly said

COASTAL WATCH

s t i l l w o r k i n g r e a l l y h a r d o n r e c o v e r y a n d r e b u i l d i n g I t ’ s g o i n g t o b e a l o n g h a u l , b u t w e n e e d t o a l s o t a k e a b r e a t h e r ” Y e l l e s a i d t h e s h r i m p c r a w l w a s a w a y t o r e m i n d f o l k s “ w h y w e a r e w o r k i n g s o h a r d t o b r i n g t h i n g s b a c k . T h e s h r i m p f e s t i v a l i s a 6 5 - y e a r t r a d i t i o n o n F o r t M y e r s b e a c h a n d I t h i n k i t ’ s b e e n a g r e a t t o u c h p o i n t f o r t h i s c o m m u n i t y a n d a n e x a m p l e o f h o w t h i s c o m m u n i t y c o m e s t o g e t h e r f o r g o o d p u r p o s e ” T h e o w n e r s o f S n u g H a r b o r a n d W a h o o W i l l i e ’ s r e a c h e d o u t t o t h e F o r t M y e r s B e a c h L i o n ’ s C l u b a b o u t s o m et h i n g i n p l a c e o f t h e s h r i m p f e s t i v a l “ I a m a l i t t l e b i t s u r p r i s e d a t t h e i n t e re s t , ” Y e l l e s a i d “ A l o t o f f o l k s a r e s a d n o t t o h a v e t h e s h r i m p f e s t i v a l t h i s y e a r . ” J u s t t h r e e d a y s b e f o r e H u r r i c a n e I a n , Y e l l e w a s w o r k i n g o n p e r m i t t i n g f o r t h e s h r i m p f e s t i v a l T h a t w a s a l l p u t o n h o l d Y e l l e s a i d h e h a d 1 0 f e e t o f w a t e r i n t h e f i r s t f l o o r o f h i s h o m e a n d l o s t a n u m b e r o f p e r s o n a l b e l o n g i n g s H i s t w o - s t o r y h o m e s u r v i v e d a n d h e a n d h i s f a m i l y h a v e b e e n a b l e t o l i v e i n t h e h o u s e “ I a m l u c k y , ” h e s a i d Y e l l e s a i d t h e F o r t M y e r s B e a c h L i o n s c l u b i s “ h u r t i n g A l l o u r m e m b e r s a r e i m p a c t e d t o v a r y i n g d e g r e e s . ” N o t h a v i n g t h e s h r i m p f e s t i v a l t h i s y e a r “ w e i g h s h e a v i l y o n o u r h e a r t s I t ’ s b e e n a t o u c h s t o n e f o r t h e c o m m u n i t y a n d o u r c l u b f o r s o m a n y y e a r s I t ’ s a v e r y p e r s o n a l c o n n e c t i o n f o r e a c h o f o u r c l u b m e m b e r s W e c o u l d n ’ t d o n o t h i n g t h i s w e e k e n d ” T h e F o r t M y e r s B e a c h L i o n s C l u b l o s t a n u m b e r o f i t e m s b e l o n g i n g t o t h e c l u b d u r i n g H u r r i c a n e I a n i n c l u d i n g a b r a s s

b e l l t h a t h a s a l l o f t h e n a m e s o f t h e p a s t p r e s i d e n t s , d a t i n g t o t h e 1 9 5 0 s . T h e y a l s o l o s t f l a g s a n d p h o t o s , w h i c h w e r e s t o r e d a t S t R a p h a e l ’ s E p i s c o p a l C h u r c h i n F o r t M y e r s B e a c h a n d i n s t o r a g e u n i t s o f f P i n e R i d g e R o a d F o r t M y e r s B e a c h L i o n ’ s C l u b P r e s i d e n t D a r b y D o e r z b a c h e r , a n d a n e m p l o y e e o f l o c a l s h r i m p s u p p l y c o m p an y E r i c k s o n a n d J e n s e n , s a i d “ T h e L i o n s C l u b i s s l i g h t l y b r o k e n a t t h i s t i m e a s m a n y o f o u r m e m b e r s a r e d e a l i n g w i t h

I a n a f t e r m a t h a n d d o n ' t h a v e t h e d e p t h t o t a k e o n s u c h a c o n s u m i n g e n d e a v o r ” a s t h e s h r i m p f e s t i v a l Y e l l e s a i d l o g i s t i c a l c o n s t r a i n t s f a ct o r e d i n a s w e l l , i n c l u d i n g p e r m i t t i n g , n o t k n o w i n g w h e n L y n n H a l l M e m o r i a l P a r k w o u l d o p e n a n d i n t e r r u p t i o n s a t t h e B e a c h E l e m e n t a r y S c h o o l s i t e w h e r e f l o a t s w o u l d n o r m a l l y s e t u p f o r t h e p a r a d e I n a d d i t i o n , m a n y o f t h e b u s in e s s e s t h a t n o r m a l l y s p o n s o r t h e f e s t i v a l a n d p a r a d e , a r e n o t c u r r e n t l y o p e n

O r g a n i z e r s o f t h e s h r i m p c r a w l s a i d t h e r e w i l l b e s h r i m p s p e c i a l s , 5 0 - 5 0 s a l e s a n d r a f f l e s f o r p r i z e s t o b e n e f i t t h e

F o r t M y e r s B e a c h L i o n ’ s C l u b S n u g H a r b o r W a t e r f r o n t R e s t a u r a n t a n d W a h o o W i l l i e ’ s c o - o w n e r P e t e r E n n i s m a d e s h r i m p c r a w l s h i r t s f o r s a l e a n d r a f f l e o f f t h r e e $ 1 0 0 g i f t c a r d s a t W a h o o W i l l i e ’ s t o b e n e f i t t h e F o r t M y e r s B e a c h L i o n ’ s C l u b S n u g H a r b o r h e l d a s h r i m p b o i l w i t h s h r i m p a n d o y s t e r s p ec i a l s T h e r e w i l l a l s o b e a c o n c e r t a t M o s s M a r i n a G r a n t E r i c k s o n , o w n e r o f E r i c k s o n a n d J e n s e n , h a s b e e n r e b u i l d i n g h i s s h r i m p i n g b u s i n e s s s i n c e H u r r i c a n e I a n p u t a n u m b e r o f t h e s h r i m p b o a t s o n t h e s i d e l i n e s a n d w r e c k e d s e v e r a l f o r g o o d . E r i c k s o n s a i d h e h a s f i v e b o a t s o u t o n t h e w a t e r c a t c h i n g s h r i m p a t t h e m o m e n t T h e r e w e r e a b o u t 5 0 b o a t s d o c k e d a t h i s p r o p e r t y b e f o r e H u r r i c a n e I a n H e s a i d s e v e n o f t h o s e b o a t s a r e b a c k i n b u s i n e s s , t h e m a j o r i t y a r e b e i n g r e p a i r e d M a n y o f t h e s h r i m p f i s h e r m e n a r e o u t o f w o r k E r i c k s o n s a i d t h r e e o f h i s b o a t s w e r e t o t a l e d H e i s s t i l l w o r k i n g w i t h t h e F e d e r a l E m e r g e n c y M a n a g e m e n t A g e n c y a n d S m a l l B u s i n e s s A d m i n i s t r a t i o n t o r e p a i r d o c k s t h a t w e r e d e s t r o y e d b y H u r r i c a n e I a n E r i c k s o n s a i d t h e c o m p a n y ’ s c a s h f l o w w a s s e v e r e l y a f f e c t e d b y t h e h u r r ic a n e “ W e a r e i n s u r v i v a l m o d e , ” h e s a i d “ W e e n j o y s m a l l v i c t o r i e s a n d y o u c a n s e e ( F o r t M y e r s B e a c h ) i s g e t t i n g c l e a n e d u p a n d b e t t e r e v e r y d a y , ” E r i c k s o n s a i d

■ W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , M a r c h 1 5 , 2 0 2 3 f o r t m y e r s b e a c h t a l k . c o m F o r t M y e r s B e a c h O b s e r v e r

FILE PHOTO Grant Erickson, owner of Erickson and Jensen

Sea turtle deaths

A caution (low) level of red tide was found near Bowman’s Beach, Tarpon Bay Road Beach, Lighthouse Beach (Sanibel), and Dixie Beach (Sanibel) in water samples taken on Feb 27 and March 6

Testing for red tide at Matanzas Pass and Bowditch Point Park on Fort Myers Beach earlier this month showed very low levels of red tide or no levels

T h e S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a C o n s e r v a t i o n

Foundation sea turtle team reported an uptick in sea turtle strandings over the

From page 1

first week of March, with six strandings in one week

"Some sea turtle strandings wash up with obvious evidence of vessel strikes, entanglement, or even predation But during red tide events, when turtles strand with no obvious external injuries, it can be hard to tease out the exact cause of these strandings without further testing," said Coastal Wildlife Director and Sea Turtle

P r o g r a m C o o r d i n a t o r K e l l y S l o a n

"However, based on historical stranding

Obituaries

reports, we know there tends to be an increase in sick and dead sea turtles washing ashore during intense blooms "

Alison Hussey, executive director of t h e C l i n i c f o r t h e R e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f

Wildlife, said there has been 30 birds taken in for red tide symptoms during the recent uptick in red tide levels since January

CROW, which is based in Sanibel but has been operating out of North Fort Myers since Hurricane Ian, took in 11 birds in January, 14 in February and five so far this month

Of the 30 birds, 17 died, two were r e l e a s e d a n d n i n e w e r e t r a n s f e r r e d Hussey said there are still two birds in CROW’s care a white ibis and white pelican

The SCCF sea turtle team is also analyzing data from a four-year study examining the long-term impacts of red tide exposure on nesting loggerhead sea turtles and their offspring, including reproductive success, embryonic tissues, and transfer of maternal toxins

During the extreme red tide bloom of 2018, SCCF documented more than 250 sick and dead sea turtles on Sanibel and Captiva. More than 1,200 cases were documented across the region

“Although the immediate impacts of these blooms on sea turtles are apparent, the long-term impacts of exposure are not as well understood,” Sloan said

The Florida Department of Health in

Kelly Sloan

Lee County provided the following tips regarding red tide:

∫ In Florida, red tide is caused by a n a t u r a l l y o c c u r r i n g m i c r o s c o p i c a l g a c a l l e d K a r e n i a b r e v i s R e d t i d e a l g a l blooms can change rapidly, staying in one place for months or just a few days or weeks

∫ Symptoms from breathing red tide usually include coughing, sneezing and watery eyes For most people, symptoms are temporary and typically go away when the person leaves the area. Wearing a particle filter mask may lessen the effects, a n d o v e r - t h e - c o u n t e r a n t i h i s t a m i n e s decrease symptoms

People with chronic respiratory problems, like asthma, should avoid areas with active red tides People with symptoms that persist should seek medical attention

∫ Pet owners are advised that red tide poses a risk to animals brought to the beach Red tide can affect animals if they drink affected water, lick their wet paws or fur, or breath marine aerosols.

∫ Residents sensitive to red tide and living in beach areas affected by blooms are advised to close windows and run the air conditioner (making sure that the AC filter is maintained according to the manufacturer’s specifications)

To report a stranded sea turtle, contact Turtle Time at 239-481-5566 or the S C C F s e a t u r t l e h o t l i n e a t 9 7 8 - 7 2 83663

"We know there tends to be an increase in sick and dead sea turtles washing ashore during intense (red tide) blooms."

Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Coastal Wildlife Director and Sea Turtle Program Coordinator

WHERE to go WHAt to do WHo to SEE

Night at the Opera

es si ngers

est Florida Symphony, the only profesestra in Lee County, will offer “A Night a” for its third masterworks concert of the day, April 1 at 7:30 p m at Barbara B ng Arts Hall in Fort Myers Narrated by nkle, the evening will feature the orchesed by four up-and-coming Opera Naples performing famed arias from the world’s o p e r a s i n c l u d i n g “ D o n G i o v a n n i , ” ille,” “Carmen” and more he symphony’s signature series, patrons he opportunity to attend an exclusive preprior to the show led by Paponiu and the sident artists, including a question and enhance the concert experience and prohe pieces being performed The lecture

ano that has cal majesty ency,” as a on the opera id chamber a n d a n e o f c o np o r a r y i c D u r i n g summer of 0 2 2 , s h e w a s a f e llow at the M a r l b o r o M u s i c F e s t i v a l

Most recently, she covered and performed the role of Young Leah/Lisa in t h e N e w Y o r k P r e m i e r e o f L o r i Laitman’s “Uncovered” with City Lyric Opera Other operatic roles include Lucy B r o w n i n W e i l l ’ s “ T h e T h r e e p e n n y p e r a , ” Z e r l i n a i n M o z a r t ’ s “ D o n vanni,” Bess in Mazzoli’s “Breaking the es,” and Norina in Donizetti’s “Don e ” LeMesh earned a Bachelor of Music University and a Master of Music from e-Conservatory of Music

mezzo-soprano and a recent recipient of in the Seattle Opera Guild Singers’ ion She made her debut role performing ashon Opera and has worked with The ring the role of Giulio Cesare, and Utah ring the role of Carmen Skinner was a

vocal fellow of the prestigious young artist programs at the Music Academy of the West and the Aspen Music Festival

Steven Ricks is a tenor and has performed as a young artist with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Palm Beach Opera, Opera Saratoga and Idaho Falls Opera. He received the Encouragement Award from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in both 2018 and 2019, as well as third place in the Classical Singers Magazine Competition

Jeffrey Goldberg is a baritone with a voice praised as “rousing, full-throated,” and “ringing,” that has performed such roles as G u g l i e m o f r o m M o z a r t ’ s “ C o s f a n t u t t e , ” D r F a l k e a n d Eisenstein in “Die Fledermaus” by Johann Strauss, Claudio in Berlioz’s “Beatrice et Benedict,” Bartolo and Antonio from Mozart’s “Le nozze di Figaro,” Peter in Humperdink’s “Hansel and Gretel,” Simone in Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi,” and Howard in the Chicago premiere of “Dog Days” by David T. Little, as well as several partial roles He has also performed with Pacific Symphony in their Opera for Kids! productions of Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Pirates of Penzance,” and Humperdink’s “Hansel and Gretel ” On the concert stage, he has performed the solo in several beloved masterworks, including Handel’s “Messiah,” Mozart’s “Requiem,” and Beethoven’s “Symphony No 9 ” He is a graduate of Northwestern University, where he obtained a Master’s degree in Voice and Opera, and before that, Chapman University where he obtained a Bachelor’s in Vocal Performance

The Southwest Florida Symphony will perform an encore presentation of A Night at the Opera during the Opera Naples third annual Festival Under the Stars on April 2 at 7 p.m. at Cambier Park in Naples

The Southwest Florida Symphony’s Masterworks series is sponsored by Uhler & Vertich Financial Planners and the L A T Foundation

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

About Southwest Florida Symphony

The Southwest Florida Symphony made its debut as a community orchestra on April 15, 1961, playing in schools and community centers, with a roster of only 24 volunteer musicians Today, the symphony boasts a roster of 70 world-class musicians, and is Lee County’s only fully professional orchestra. The Southwest Florida Symphony’s 62nd year continues the orchestra’s tradition of artistic excellence as newly appointed Music Director Maestro Radu Paponiu leads his inaugural season of spectacular performances Maestro Paponiu, the sixth music director in the organization’s history, also serves as the associate conductor and youth orchestra director for the Naples Philharmonic in addition to guestconducting with orchestras throughout the United States and Europe

For more information about the Southwest Florida Symphony, upcoming season performances and subscription and ticketing information, visit swflso org or call 239-418-1500

Sara LeMesh

Appalachian Road Show to perform at Edison and Ford Winter Estates

Edison and Ford Winter Estates will host the acoustic ensemble, Appalachian Road Show, for the final Rhythm on the River concert of the season The group performs

b l u e g r a s s a n d

f o l k m u s i c , a s well as original songs. The event

w i l l t a k e p l a c e

F r i d a y , M a r c h

31, on the Ford lawn, along the Caloosahatchee River Gates open at 6 p m and the concert starts at 6:30 p m

Band members include Grammy-nominated banjoist

B a r r y A b e r n a t h y , G r a m m y - w i n n i n g f i d d l e r J i m

VanCleve, vocalist and mandolinist Darrell Webb (who has recorded and toured with Dolly Parton), Grammywinning bassist Todd Phillips, and guitarist Zeb Snyder Abernathy, VanCleve, and Webb were each born and raised in Appalachia Abernathy sang in his church as a young boy, VanCleve has played the fiddle since he was six years old, and Webb grew up with the influence of bluegrass music

The group's music tells stories from the mountains and valleys of North Carolina and Virginia and the coal mines of West Virginia and Kentucky Those stories include topics of logging, coal mining, trains, and lost love in their hit songs such as “I Am Just a Pilgrim,” “Little Black Train,” “Dance, Dance, Dance,” and the ballad of love and loss in “Anna Lee ”

The band's first album had three number-one songs on the Bluegrass Today Weekly Airplay charts Then, in 2019, the band was nominated for the New Artist of the Year and Song of the Year (“Dance Dance Dance”) at the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards In 2021, the group was named Instrumental Group of the Year and New Artist of the Year at the IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards

Food and beverage vendors will have light 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 , Fort Myers.

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 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

PHOTO PROVIDED

Band members from the Appalachian Road Show pose with their instruments

Bill Medley brings Righteous Brothers to Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

It was 20 years ago that Bill Medley of The Righteous B r o t h e r s w a l k e d i n t o a h o t e l r o o m i n K a l a m a z o o , Michigan and found his singing partner of 40 years Bobby Hatfield dead at the young age of 63

While the spirited tenor Hatfield has passed, the 82year-old Medley has kept The Righteous Brothers going with his legendary baritone voice along with the partners h i p o f o t h e r s i n g e r s O n S u n d a y , h e b r o u g h t t h e

Righteous Brothers to Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers with singer Bucky Heard in place of the late Hatfield

Medley spent some time talking with the Fort Myers Beach Observer ahead of the show speaking about his career which has included stints opening for The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, getting invited out to perform at the Sands Hotel in Las Vegas by Frank Sinatra and sharing dressing rooms with Elvis Presley during residencies at the Independence Hotel in Las Vegas

“I’m feeling good,” said Medley He is in the middle of a 50-date tour that will be extended by 10 weeks in Las Vegas

For decades, the Righteous Brothers and their song “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling,” owned the title of most-played song on the radio, a record only recently eclipsed A chart-topper in the 1960s, it enjoyed a resurgence in the 1980s after being part of a scene in the movie “Top Gun ”

Their other hits have included “Soul and Inspiration” and the heart-stopping “Unchained Melody,” which was refueled by an appearance in the 1990 movie “Ghost ”

While the band is best known for those ballads, they began as a blues-inspired California duo born out of the R&B and doowop scene, along with the growing surf rock scene “We were two white guys singing Black music,” Medley said

Their first major hit was the up-tempo “Little Latin Lupe Lu," a take-charge jam with blaring horns and some similarities to the suggestive shouting in the early Beatles hit “Shout ”

“Little Latin Lupe Lu” and “Shout” “could have been like brothers and sisters,” Medley said “It was kind of a song about what was going on There was a lot of surf music, a lot of experimenting ”

In short order, The Righteous Brothers would be opening for The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, but they were not as well known at the time Medley remembers the tour for the sounds of “screaming, yelling and crying” fans for The Beatles.

Medley wrote “Little Latin Lupe Lu” but would eventually cede songwriting to teams of powerful songwriters like Phil Spector, Carole King, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil “They were so good,” Medley said Spector, who died in prison in 2021, produced “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling,” with his famous Wall of Sound and group of musicians known as The Wrecking Crew Medley called Spector “brilliant,” using a group of horn players, multiple pianos, drummers, guitars, bassists and other instruments to fuel the music of t h e s o n g S p e c t o r a l s o p r o d u c e d T h e B e a t l e s , T h e Ronettes, The Crystals, Dion and The Ramones among many others

“He was really good with us,” Medley said “He was considered a little weird but it didn’t interfere with the music ”

After separating from Spector, Medley produced the

album “Soul and Inspiration,” during which he said he followed much of what Spector did including the use of an orchestra

They would hold a residency at The Sands Hotel in Las Vegas, invited by Frank Sinatra

“He saved our life,” Medley said Sinatra gave the group tips on how to protect their vocals in the Las Vegas weather by taking steam baths Medley recently had throat surgery to remove a cancerous tumor and says he is doing well

Inspired by Little Richard and Ray Charles, Medley was a self-taught pianist His mother and father had played in a band before they were married and had children His mother played the piano and his dad was a saxophone player There was always a piano in the house, Medley said It is his piano-playing that can be heard on “Unchained Melody ”

Other influences on Medley were Bobby Bland and B B King

“I fell in love with the blues,” he said Medley released a solo blues album in 2004 titled “Your Heart to Mine Dedicated to the Blues ” In 2005, he recorded a track for the solo album of Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlin titled “Lullabye ”

For a period in the 1970s, Medley and Elvis Presley were regular performers at The International Hotel in Las Vegas Medley said he would do three shows a night

“I would go on at 8 p m , he would go on at 10 p m , we both went on at 12 and I would go on again at 2,” Medley said

Medley and Presley would bond over their love of R&B and motorcycles “He rode some bikes in the street I used to race Scramblers in the dirt,” Medley said Presley also admired the songs of the Righteous Brothers, and would

perform a version of “Unchained Melody ” Medley said that Presley admired baritone singers

Presley would have Medley join him in his dressing room with his hairdresser to talk and relax They both admired the singer Roy Hamilton, who had a hit with “Unchained Melody” in the 1950s

P r e s l e y w o u l d a l s o i n v i t e M e d l e y o v e r t o h i s Graceland Mansion where they would sing gospel songs together, he said Medley had a close look at Presley’s downfall, which he attributed to a combination of sleeping pills and uppers

“He didn’t know he was on drugs He just had trouble going to sleep He took heavy sleeping pills and pills to wake him up He didn’t think he was doing drugs These were prescription drugs from a doctor,” Medley said Medley saw Presley gain weight but was unable to save him from his medication troubles “The last thing he said to me was ‘Bill, I am going to be all right ’”

The popularity of The Righteous Brothers was revived in the 1980s with a key scene in “Top Gun” where their song is sung “I thought it was done very well,” Medley said “If one of our songs is a pickup line for Tom Cruise, that’s pretty good for us ”

“It became very popular with the kids,” he said He wishes the song had been used again in last year’s follow-up “Top Gun: Maverick ”

B e f o r e H e a r d j o i n e d h i m , M e d l e y ’ s d a u g h t e r McKenna sang Harfield’s tenor part “She’s so good,” Medley said McKenna, who is pregnant, still tours with Medley as a backup singer, and performs the song “Time of My Life” with him That’s another song made famous by a 1980s movie - “Dirty Dancing.”

After the Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze film “ G h o s t ” b e c a m e a h i t i n 1 9 9 0 u s i n g “ U n c h a i n e d Melody” in a major scene, Medley said The Righteous Brothers “were better than ever The 1990s was a really great time for The Righteous Brothers ” He and Hatfield had families and were taking care of their business the right way, he said

How should audiences remember Hatfield? “They should know that he is probably one of the greatest singers to come out of the ’60s, a phenomenal singer, a real good friend We were like brothers We didn’t agree on everything but we would work it out,” Medley said. Medley said Hatfield was a “great athlete He almost played for the Dodgers ”

A class president in high school, Medley said Hatfield was well-liked Hatfield liked to roll off one-liners in the mold of comedian Don Rickles, Medley said “I told him he should be a comedian,” he said Unfortunately, Hatfield was a heavy drinker and smoker, which contributed to his death “He didn’t take care of himself I told him to see a doctor He said he didn’t have a doctor ” Medley said Hatfield never drank before a show and never let it affect his performances

Hatfield had sung “Unchained Melody” in his previo u s g r o u p T h e V a r i a t i o n s B e f o r e t h e R i g h t e o u s Brothers, Medley was in the Paramours which Hatfield would join in 1962 They eventually changed the name to The Righteous Brothers

Hatfield sings the entirety of "Unchained Melody" on the lead vocals, hitting a number of memorable notes in the climax “We still don’t know how high he can sing,” Medley said

Medley said Heard is “just perfect” for Hatfield’s part “He really cares deeply about the music I really lucked out You can’t replace Bobby ”

Bill Medley of The Righteous Brothers

2 0

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The Shell Point Retirement Community will present Windsync on March 16 at 7 p m in Connie Brown Hall at the Tribby Arts Center, at 17281 On Par Blvd , Fort Myers A quintet of five North American wind musicians, it eliminates the “fourth wall” between musicians and audience by often performing from memory, creating an intimate connection. Tickets are $50. For more information or tickets, visit https://www tribbyartscenter com/ or call 239-415-5667

Gulf Coast Symphony to present chamber music

T h e G u l f C o a s t S y m p h o n y w i l l p r e s e n t “ G y p s y ” s t a r r i n g J o d i B e n s o n a s M o m m a R o s e o n M a r c h 1 7 a n d 1 8 a t 7 : 3 0 p m a t t h e B a r b a r a B M a n n P e r f o r m i n g A r t s H a l l , a t 1 3 3 5 0 F S W P a r k w a y , F o r t M y e r s T h e g r o u n d b r e a k i n g 1 9 5 9 m u s i c a l w i t h m u s i c b y J u l e S t y n e , l y r i c s b y S t e p h e n S o n d h e i m , a n d b o o k b y A r t h u r L a u r e n t s . B a s e d o n m e m o i r s o f s t r i p t e a s e a r t i s t G y p s y R o s e L e e , i t f o c u s e s o n h e r m o t h e r , R o s e , w h o s e n a m e i s s y n o n y m o u s w i t h “ t h e u l t i m a t e s h o w b u s i n e s s m o t h e r ” K n o w n a s t h e v o i c e o f A r i e l i n D i s n e y ’ s “ T h e L i t t l e M e r m a i d , ” B e n s o n w a s T o n y n o m i n a t e d f o r B e s t A c t r e s s i n t h e m u s i c a l “ C r a z y f o r Y o u ” T i c k e t s a r e $ 4 5 - 8 5 F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o r t i c k e t s , v i s i t h t t p s : / / g u l f c o a s t s y m p h o n y o r g /

Edison and Ford estates offering classes

The Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers offers opportunities to learn painting techniques, create floral arrangements and more from local artists, as well as learn about Florida gardening

Upcoming scheduled classes include the following:

∫ March 18: Floral Still Life Painting with Marie Dyer at 9 a m

Impressionist painter Marie Dyer will explain color mixing, effect design, impressionistic techniques, shading and effective color contrast to create mood The acrylic-on-canvas painting workshop is for any experience level Cost is $90 for members or $100 for nonmembers

∫ March 21: Growing Tropical Fruit at 1:30 p.m.

While growing citrus in Florida is possible, today citrus greening presents challenges, which the class will cover Participants will also look beyond citrus to other tropical fruits that thrive in the local climate They will be introduced to some alternatives and best growing practices, as well as introduced to fruits from around the world. Topics will also include pest management, pruning for success and selecting fruits based on desired harvest time Cost is $45 for members or $55 for non-members

Seating is limited and registration is required

F o r m o r e 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

EdisonFord org

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

For t Myers Theatre to present ‘Godspell’ March 19

The Fort Myers Theatre is performing “Godspell” from now through March 19 at 16120 San Carlos Blvd , Fort Myers Chockfull of rock songs, humor, and goodwill, it spreads the power of love by modernizing a series of parables, using a variety of pop-culture references, games, and audience interaction. Tickets are $25-35. For more information and tickets, visit https://ftmyerstheatre com/

Alliance to host Spring Break camp

The Alliance for the Arts will host its Spring Break Arts Camp on March 20-24 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 10091 McGregor Blvd , Fort Myers Open to students enrolled in first through sixth grade, it will focus on visual arts, with campers learning a new medium each day The cost starts at $175 per week or $50 per day for members, and $225 per week or $60 per day for non-members; discounts for siblings and scholarships are availa b l e F o r m o r e 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 ArtInLee org or call 239-939-2787

Gulf Coast Harmonizers to present 31st Annual Spring Show

World” Saturday, March 25, at 6 p.m., and Sunday, March 26, at 2 p m , at Cypress Lake Presbyterian Church, 8260 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers

Come hear a cappella four-part harmony in true barbershop style

i n g t h e G u l f C o a s t H a r m

o n i z e r

Help Clean Up Lee County!

Keep Lee County Beautiful, Inc (KLCB) is the local organizer of the Keep America Beautiful Great American Cleanup and has been hosting the event for 25 years The event encourages residents and visitors to make a difference in their neighborhoods and communities

The 2023 Great American Cleanup will take place on Saturday, April 1, at multiple locations across Lee County from 8am to 11am Volunteers will be cleaning waterways, shorelines, roadways, and parks in the largest one-day event to help protect the environment

Hurricane Ian left an impact on every corner of our county making this cleanup more important than ever Since January, Keep Lee County Beautiful has already worked with over 600 volunteers removing over 20,000 pounds of trash and debris

The Great American Cleanup is open to volunteers of all ages and any individual, family, school, group, place of worship, business or government entity can coordinate or participate Visit https://www signupgenius com/go /805094aaaaa2ca4f49-2023#/ to register and for the details or call 239-334-3488 for additional information

K e e p L e e C o u n t y B e a u t i f u l i s t r u l y g r a t e f u l f o r t h e t r e m e n d o u s v o l u n t e e r s a n d t h e i r d e d i c a t i o n a n d h a r d w o r k a s w e c o n t i n u e t o w o r k t o g e t h e r i n o u r r e c o v e r y K L C B j u s t c e l e b r a t e d t h e i r 3 4 t h a n n i v e r s a r y s e r v i n g L e e C o u n t y a n d i s s o p r o u d t o b e p a r t o f o u r c o m m un i t y h e l p i n g t o m a k e t h e p l a c e w e l i v e , w o r k , a n d p l a y b e a u t i f u l V i s i t w w w k l c b o r g o r c a l l 2 3 9 - 3 3 4 - 3 4 8 8 t o f i n d o u t h o w t o g e t i n v o l v e d a n d s u p p o r t K L C B a n d t h e i r e f f o r t s

B a i l e y - M a t t h e w s N a t i o n a l S h e l l M u s e u m t o h o s t i n t e r a c t i v e w a l k s t o s u p p o r t n e w p ro j e c t

With the launch of Snail Search of Lee County its new citizen science project the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum is hosting guided Snail Search and Biodiversity Walks

On a walk, an educator will take participants out into the field in Lee County and walk them through the steps of creating a free iNaturalist account a free citizen science app and how to use it

Participants will also have the opportunity to explore the local flora and fauna within the natural area

The purpose of Snail Search of Lee County is to help the Sanibel museum learn more about the availability and location of native and invasive land and tree snails in the area Research conducted on land and tree snails in the area is limited and outdated, and most studies contain no photographs. During the free interactive walks, participants will be given the tools to go out on their own and contribute to the project Walks are expected to last 45 minutes to 1 hour, weather depending

The following walks are scheduled:

∫ April 26 at 10 a m at the Estero Bay Preserve State Park, at 4940 Broadway West, Estero ($2 per vehicle parking fee)

∫ May 24 at 2 p m at the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve, at 7751 Penzance Blvd , Fort Myers ($1 per vehicle parking fee)

To register, contact Jorden Falker at jfalker@shellmuseum org or 239-347-5119

For more information, visit https://www shellmuseum org/snail-search

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum is at 3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel

Tickets are $25 with a $5 discount for seniors and students, and can be purchased from Harmonizer members, at the door or on the g r o u p ' s w e b s i t e a t g c h a r m o n i zers com using the donation button and following the directions provided

Alliance for the Arts to present “The Hatmaker’s Wife”

Theatre Conspiracy at the Alliance for the Arts is proud to present “The Hatmaker’s Wife ” First premiering OffBroadway in 2013, this whimsical and poignant play based on a book by the same title, made its way down to our very own Fould’s Theatre

This bittersweet comedy will have you believing in the possibility of transcending worlds where love and family will always remain the most important aspects of life This sweet and surreal story bends time and space to redefine the idea of family, home, and true love itself

The production is generously sponsored by Janet and Bruce Bunch.

Tickets are $25 for members, $30 for non-members and available at ArtInLee org or by calling the box office at 239939-2787 Performances are March 16 – 18 and 23 – 25 at 7:30 p m and March 26 at 2 p m

Pace Center for Girls, Lee to host 15th annual Grande Dames Tea April 4

Pace Center for Girls, Lee has announced its 15th annual Grande Dames Tea presented by B Pat O’Rourke, taking place from 1 to 3 p m on Tuesday, April 4 at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, 1380 Colonial Blvd , Fort Myers

Each year, Pace’s Grande Dames Tea honors women who exemplify the organization’s guiding principles and have made a significant impact through their roles in business, community and philanthropy The inspirational event recognizes the unique perspectives and powerful insights that these women have gained throughout their life journeys, and the importance of passing this knowledge along to future generations With the event’s theme, “The Wisdom of Time – Honoring the Female Spirit,” honorees will share their wisdom during a Q&A session led by the young women of Pace Guests will also enjoy special performances by the Pace girls, and a virtual auction featuring an array of packages from local businesses.

The 15th annual event is chaired by Kelly L Fayer along with co-chairs Marlene S Moulton, M D , and Kellie Urban This year’s honorary chair is Pace Lee founder Gail Markham The 2023 Grande Dames honorees will be announced in the coming weeks

A Friends of Pace table for six is available for $600 Sponsorship opportunities are available, including Golden Teacup sponsor for $7,500, Silver Teacup sponsor for $5,000, Fascinator sponsor for $2,500, Silver Teaspoon sponsor for $1,500 and in-kind sponsorships

Proceeds from the event benefit Pace Lee and its strength-based programs that guide Pace girls in finding their voice and achieving their potential Programs are based on the belief that all girls and young women, regardless of race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status, should be uniquely cared for, supported and encouraged to become the best versions of themselves through a path of healing and recovery

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit P a c e C e n t e r o r g / L o c a t i o n s / F l o r i d a / L e e / 1 5 t h - A n n u a lGrande-Dames-Tea or call 239-425-2366

Al-Anon, Al-Ateen meetings

Are you concerned with a friend or family member's drinking? Let us help

Call our 24-hour helpline at 941-564-5098 or visit www SouthFloridaAl-Anon org Meetings are held every day in Lee County

Bell Tower invites the community to its ‘Brave the Shave’ fundraising event to fight childhood cancer on St. Patrick’s Day

Bell Tower invites the community to take part in its “Brave the Shave” fundraising event to help fight childhood cancer Friday, March 17, from 2 to 6 p m During the event, volunteers who have solicited donations from friends and family will bravely receive a head-shave from licensed barbers in solidarity with the courageous children fighting cancer across the community Those who prefer not to participate in the head-shave challenge can raise funds in another way or make an online donation to the Bridge To A Cure Foundation “Brave the Shave” fundraiser. Proceeds from the event will benefit St Baldrick’s Foundation, the nation’s largest charitable

DDWS to host Sounds of the Sands

In partnership with Bell Tower and Two Lane Lager, the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge w i l l p r e s e n t S o u n d s o f t h e S a n d s o n March 25 from 2 to 7 p m at the Fort Myers plaza

T h e J N “ D i n g ” D a r l i n g N a t i o n a l Wildlife Refuge will set up stations with nature games for families and information about the Sanibel refuge and its recovery and how to support the DDWS in its efforts to help build back and reinforce its conservation education and wildlife and water-quality preservation and research

missions The event will also feature local well-known musicians

Other Bell Tower merchants will be participating.

Suncoast Beverage Sales will have beer available for sale

The event is free and open to the public

F o r i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t s p o n s o r s h i p opportunities, contact April Boehnen at a p r i l b @ d i n g d a r l i n g s o c i e t y o r g o r 2 3 9292-0566

Bell Tower is at 13499 S Cleveland Ave , Fort Myers

Lee County Domestic Animal Services invites the public to ‘Mutt Madness’

It’s Mutt Madness this March at Lee County Domestic Animal Services and everyone is a winner when a new pet gets adopted Adoption fees will be reduced through March 31 Adult dogs will be $30 with an approved application To add to the adoption experience, each adopted pet will go home with a toy or treat

The reduced adoption fee includes the complete package of services: sterilization, age-appropriate vaccinations, county license, microchip ID, de-worming, flea treatment, a heartworm test for dogs, feline AIDS and leukemia test for cats, and a 10-day health guarantee The adoption package is valued at more than $600 The staff and volunteers at LCDAS are

waiting to help you find your perfect match

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t L e e County Domestic Animal Services’ pets for adoption go to www LeeLostPets com o r c a l l 2 3 9 - 5 3 3 - 7 3 8 7 ( L E E - P E T S )

Adoption applications may be submitted online Adoption hours are 10:30 a m to 3:30 p m Monday through Saturday at Animal Services, 5600 Banner Drive, F o r t M y e r s , n e x t t o t h e L e e C o u n t y Sheriff’s Office off Six Mile Cypress Parkway

To receive updates from Lee County Government, sign up for the newsletter h e r e : w w w l e e g o v c o m / r e s o u r c e s / n e w s letters

funder of childhood cancer research grants In addition to providing the venue, Bell Tower is sponsoring familyfriendly entertainment, children’s activities, and festive St Patrick’s Day music This event is free and open to the public; no pre-registration is required to attend. To sign up as a fundraising partner, sponsor, volunteer, or to m a k e a d o n a t i o n , v i s i t h t t p s : / / w w w s t b a l d r i c k s o r g /events/bravetheshave2023 For more information, visit https://www belltowerfl com/events/

Folk dance show to close out season at Barbara B.

Mann Performing Arts Hall

The Fort Myers Community Concert Association will close out its 2023 season with the Royal National Dance Company performing “Fire of Georgia” M a r c h 2 7 a t t h e B a r b a r a B M a n n

Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers

The Royal National Dance Company will be making its American debut this season and will be performing “Fire of Georgia,” which illustrates Georgian f o l k d a n c e s , c o s t u m e s a n d c l a s s i c a l dance elements, acrobatics and stunts

“We are so happy to bring these i n t e r n a t i o n a l l y a c c l a i m e d d a n c e r s t o Fort Myers to round out our 2023 seas o n , ” s a i d C o m m u n i t y C o n c e r t Association President Mary Lee Mann

“Dance enthusiasts will love the Royal National Dance Company promoting Georgian folk traditional culture ”

The Royal National Ballet is making its American debut this season The performance, called the “Fire of Georgia,” combines Georgian folk dances with modern attitude towards the choreography and costumes The company’s pro-

g r a m i l l u s t r a t e s t h e v a r i e t y o f t h e world’s folklore and classical dance elements, acrobatics, stunts and temperament of the male dancers, as well as the graceful steps of the female dancers

The Fort Myers Community Concert Association, now in its 73rd concert season, is an all-volunteer nonprofit o r g an izatio n f o u n d ed b y B ar b ar a B Mann in 1949 to bring world-class entertainment to Southwest Florida at affordable prices The association cons i s t s o f m o r e t h a n 1 , 2 0 0 m e m b e r s , underwriters and sponsors

Tickets for the March 27 “Fire of Georgia” show cost $25 to $55 and 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 at the box office at 239-481-4849 or online at 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

PHOTO PROVIDED

The Royal National Dance Company of Georgia will be performing “Fire of Georgia,” featuring Georgian folk dances and costumes, at the Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall in Fort Myers on March 27

2 0

Big Green EGGfest set for April 1 in Bonita

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Eighth annual Bonita Springs Short Film Festival to be held April 22

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e s p e c i a l l y a f t e r a l l o f t h e g o o d d e e d s t h a t f i l l e d S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a p o s t h u r r ic a n e I a n , ” s t a t e s A n t o n i o C o r r e i a , t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n ’ s f o u n d e r C o m p a n y s p o n s o r s i n c l u d e C i t y o f B o n i t a S p r i n g s , H e n d e r s o n F r a n k l i n A t t o r n e y s a t L a w , B o n i t a P r i n t S h o p , B o n i t a S p r i n g s H i s t o r i c a l S o c i e t y , H e a v e n S c e n t F l o w e r s & B o u t i q u e , B o n i t a V i d e o , M & M M u l t i M e d i a a n d T L C M a r k e t i n g & C r e a t i v e S e r v i c e s ; I n c . F r i e n d s o f t h e F e s t i v a l i n c l u d e C o n n i e & S t e v e M c I n t o s h , G a r y P r i c e , A m y Q u a r e m b a a n d K a t h y M c G r a t h 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 F i l m F e s t i v a l , v i s i t w w w B o n i t a S p r i n g s f i l m f e s t i v a l c o m o r c h e c k t h e B o n i t a S p r i n g s F e s t i v a l F a c e b o o k p a g e , w h e r e t h e r e w i l l b e w e e k l y u p d a t e s C o n t a c t F i l m F e s t E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r , A n t o n i o C o r r e i a a t a n t o n i o @ b o n i t a v i d e o c o m

Junior Achievement ‘Inspire’ event to unite businesses and students at SWFL’s largest hands-on career expo to date

Founded in 1994, Junior Achievement o f S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a ( J A ) h a s b e e n impacting the region’s future workforce for over 28 years One of its newest and exciting programs, JA Inspire, aims to launch 10,000 Lee and Collier County middle school students on an interactive career exploration on April 26 - 28, at FGCU’s Alico Arena This will be the largest career expo in Southwest Florida history, with thousands of students scheduled to connect and explore career opportunities with nearly 100 of the region’s top employers and business professionals

JA Inspire gives students real-world opportunities to envision future career options in Southwest Florida The program includes in-classroom curriculum and a hands-on interactive career expo S t u d e n t s w i l l r e v i e w c a r e e r p l a n n i n g , skills, interests, and job outlooks and then engage with local businesses and learn skills that are in demand at the career fair After the event, students and teachers will debrief to discuss academic choices and career paths

“This program is such a unique way for local businesses to engage and build their future talent pipeline with students from Southwest Florida,” said Angela Fisher, p r e s i d e n t a n d C E O o f J u n i o r

Achievement of Southwest Florida “We are excited to host this event for the first time in-person and can’t wait for businesses in our community to have the opportunity to inspire over 10,000 students from two school districts in person.” Previously, this program was held virtually due to the pandemic

Preparing young students with lessons that promote financial literacy and capability, work and career readiness, and entrepreneurship helps them better transition into adulthood JA Inspire gets students one step closer to finding their passion, earning a college degree, and achieving career success

L o c a l b u s i n e s s l e a d e r s a c r o s s Southwest Florida are encouraged to participate Expo booth space and sponsors h i p o p p o r t u n i t i e s a r e a v a i l a b l e S p o n s o r s h i p s a r e c r i t i c a l f o r J u n i o r

Achievement to continue providing lifechanging programs to students in our community You can make a difference in the lives of these students by emailing S t e p h a n i e H o f f m a n , D i r e c t o r o f Operations at shoffman@jaswfl org To h e l p s u p p o r t J u n i o r A c h i e v e m e n t o f

Southwest Florida and the future of local children, please visit www.JASWFL.org or call 239-225-2590

About Junior Achievement USA

J u n i o r A c h i e v e m e n t i s t h e w o r l d ' s l a r g e s t o r g a n i z a t i o n d e d i c a t e d t o g i v i n g

y o u n g p e o p l e t h e k n o w l e d g e a n d s k i l l s t h e y n e e d t o o w n t h e i r e c o n o m i c s u c -

c e s s , p l a n f o r t h e i r f u t u r e , a n d m a k e s m a r t a c a d e m i c a n d e c o n o m i c c h o i c e s J A p r o g r a m s a r e d e l i v e r e d b y c o r p o r a t e a n d c o m m u n i t y v o l u n t e e r s , a n d p r o v i d e r e l e v a n t , h a n d s - o n e x p e r i e n c e s t h a t g i v e s t u d e n t s f r o m k i n d e r g a r t e n t h r o u g h h i g h s c h o o l k n o w l e d g e a n d s k i l l s i n f i n a n c i a l l i t e r a c y , w o r k r e a d i n e s s , a n d e n t r e p r e n e u r s h i p T o d a y , J A r e a c h e s m o r e t h a n 2 5 m i l l i o n s t u d e n t s p e r y e a r i n 1 0 4 m a r k e t s a c r o s s t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , w i t h a n a d d i t i o n a l 5 2 m i l l i o n s t u d e n t s s e r v e d b y o p e r a t i o n s i n 1 0 0 o t h e r c o u n t r i e s w o r l d w i d e J u n i o r

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J u n i o r A c h i e v e m e n t o f S o u t h w e s t

PHOTO PROVIDED

JA Inspire, aims to launch 10,000 L e e a n d C o l l i e r C o u n t y m i d d l e school students on an interactive career exploration on April 26 - 28, at FGCU’s Alico Arena

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Annual ‘Evening at the Ballpark’ benefit on March 21 to feature Red Sox and Twins legends

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County’s annual Evening at the Ballpark Tuesday, March 21, will include opportunities to meet and mingle with baseball legends from the Boston Red Sox and Minnesota Twins Evening at the Ballpark, which will be held at JetBlue Park, will feature fun baseball-themed activities and games, dinner on the field, an autograph and meet-and-greet session, and panel discussions with former baseball players and staff. Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven and radio sportscaster John Gordon are among those confirmed to attend

Proceeds will help Boys & Girls Clubs fulfill its mission: “To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens ”

“The Red Sox and Twins have been incredible partners to local nonprofits since they moved their spring training to Southwest Florida during the early 1990s,” said Denise Gergley, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County “So many professional baseball players come from humble beginnings, and their stories serve as inspiration to members of Boys & Girls Clubs who are dreaming big and looking toward the future ”

Major League Baseball designated Boys & Girls Club of America as its official charitable partner in 1997

Evening at the Ballpark begins at 5:30 p m March 21 at JetBlue Park, 11500 Fenway South Drive in Fort Myers Individual tickets are $200 each and tables for 10 are $1,500 Sponsorship opportunities also are available

For additional information, please visit b g c l e e o r g / e v e n t s / 2 0 2 3evening-at-the-ballpark or call 239-334-1886

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County

Established in 1974, Boys

FWC: Rule to improve survival of released fish

At its Feb 22 meeting, the Florida Fish a Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a rul to require the possession of a descending device or venting tool that is rigged and ready for use on board a vessel when harvesting or attempting to harvest, including catch and release, reef fish in state waters

The FWC reported that it also requires the use of a descending device or venting tool if a fish is exhibiting signs of barotrauma prior to release

The rule is designed to increase the survival of released reef fish, a top priority management issue in the Gulf and south Atlantic As reef fish are reeled up from depth, they can suffer pressure-related injuries known as barotrauma. These injuries include the stomach protruding out of the mouth, bulging eyes, bloated belly, distended intestines and inability to swim down independently If not treated correctly, barotrauma can be lethal to reef fish

Tools such as descending devices or venting tools can help released fish recover from the effects of barotrauma

Descending devices are weighted devices capable of releas-

fish at a depth that is sufficient to recompress xpanded gas and help fish recover from the effects of barotrauma. Venting tools are sharp, hollow instruments that allow expanded gas to escape from an over-expanded swim bladder Learn more about barotrauma at MyFWC com/Barotrauma Barotrauma mitigation tool requirements have already been adopted in Gulf and Atlantic federal waters In the Gulf waters, fishers have the choice possessing either a descending device or venting tool that is rigged and ready for use In the Atlantic waters, fishers are required to have a descending device that is readily available for use

Find current reef fish gear requirements at MyFWC.com/ReefFishGear. Anyone who plans to harvest or attempt to harvest, including catch and release, certain reef fish species in Gulf or Atlantic waters from a private recreational vessel (includes anglers over 65 years of age), must sign up for the free State Reef Fish Angler designation and renew it annually Learn more at MyFWC com/SRFS and sign up today at GoOutdoorsFlorida com

Walk, Wiggle, Wag & 5K Run to benefit Cape Coral Animal Shelter

The Cape Coral Animal Shelter is holding a Walk, Wiggle, Wag & 5K Run Saturday, April 15

The run is at the shelter, at 25 S W 2nd Ave , Cape Coral, and starts at 8 a m with the walk starting at 11 a m

The event is both a fun walk around the shelter and a timed 5K.

There will be music, food trucks, a vendor marketplace, a pet costume contest and give-aways, including an event shirt

Walk participants will enlist family and friends, form a pack/team, create a fundraising page and compete to become a top fundraiser and win great prizes.

For the runners, there will be prizes for men, women and kids who come in first in their age group and for the dog runners who take first, second and third place

For additional information about the event and to register, please visit CapeCoralAnimalShelter com

San Carlos Bay Sail & Power Squadron upcoming boating courses

& Girls Clubs of Lee County serve children and teens through school-based, neighborhood and community club locations

The nonprofit’s mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens Afterschool and summer programs focus on five core areas: education and career, service and leadership, health and wellness, the arts, and sports and recreation

For additional information about the Boys & Girls Club of Lee County, please visit its website at BGClee org or call 239-334-1886

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve hosting classes

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, familyfriendly yoga class Taught by certified yoga instructor Mariela Gómez, 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 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

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

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■ W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , M a r c h 1 5 , 2 0 2 3 f o r t m y e r s b e a c h t a l k . c o m F o r t M y e r s B e a c h O b s e r v e r

(offDelPrado)

Worldlycollectionof artwork,antique pottery&crocks, figurines,cuckoo clocksandsteins. Midcenturyfurniture, livingroom,kitchen andlanaifullof greatitems. Garagewithfreezer, vintagetools,lumber, craftsmanriding mower(1yrold),yard tools,compressor, powerwasher, 17áaluminumcanoe andsomuchmore, Donátmissit!

Pictures: facebook.com/redbarnestate anddemolitionsale

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