Fort Myers Beach Observer/The Beach Bulletin

VOLUME 38, NUMBER 13

Lee County leading state in manatee deaths

FWC urges boaters to go slow

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Lee County is off to a bad start with manatee deaths this year In the first two months of the year, 29 manatee deaths were recorded in Lee County

That figure far outpaces any other county in the state Citrus County and Hillsborough County each have 12 manatee deaths

recorded by the FWC for the first two months of the year

The Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission has posted a bulletin reminding boaters to go slow while enjoying the local waters and to be on the lookout for manatees, which are considered a threatened species

Much of the waters around Fort Myers

Beach are manatee protection zones with slow-speed, minimum wake signs posted as well as no-wake signs posted in some areas Many seasonal manatee zones in the county go into effect beginning April 1

Last year, there were 800 manatee deaths recorded by the FWC in Florida, Lee County had the second-most mana-

Fisherman’s Wharf restaurant re opens its doors after Ian, death of founder Bill Semmer

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Hurricane Ian delivered a big hit to Bonita Bill’s Waterfront Cafe and Tiki Bar, erased a chunk of its docks and took out much of the equipment at the San Carlos Island institution Yet not even the death of its longtime o w n e r a n d f o u n d e r B i

Myers Beach that has kept customers coming back for decades

“

E v e r y o n e j u s t c a n ’ t w a i t , ” s a i d Semmer’s daughter Katie Reynolds “It’s been a long road back we’re finally ready ”

s i n c e i t w a s f o r c e d t o c l o s e a f t e r

Hurricane Ian

T h e y c l e a r e d o u t d e b r i s , c l e a n e d inside and rebuilt the kitchen which lost most of its equipment to the water damage incurred

tee deaths reported in 2022 with 82, behind only the 346 manatee deaths documented in Brevard County

Lee County is on pace to surpass last year's figures Based on a lack of testing and necropsies by the FWC, most of the causes of death for manatees are never recorded Leading causes for manatee deaths historically are boat strikes and starvation The loss of seagrass in Florida waters due to pol-

See MANATEE DEATHS, page 9

Town council to meet with new manager candidates

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers

com

T h e T o w n o f F o r t M y e r s B e a c h Council will meet the prospective new town manager candidates at its next meeting Monday, April 3, at the DiamondHead Beach Resort

Town spokesperson Jennifer Dexter said there will be a light continental breakfast, along with a meet-and-greet for the public beginning at 8 a m The council’s meeting will begin at 9 a m

Dexter said further information on the meeting and the candidates would be available later in the week

Interim Manager Chris Holley, who has been running the town along with Keith Wilkins since November, told the council this month that he planned to invite five candidates to meet with the town council Holley and Wilkins were hired on a sixmonth contract in November

The DiamondHead Beach Resort is at 2000 Estero Blvd on Fort Myers Beach

The council meets in the hotel’s ballroom

e

r i n January could stop the spirit of Bonita Bill’s from carrying on at Fisherman’s Wharf

With the help of Semmer’s children, family and the dedicated employees of the restaurant, Bonita Bill’s reopened Monday with a revamped kitchen serving up the kind of food and refreshments with a view of the bay overlooking Fort

On May 7, Bonita Bill’s will host a celebration of life for its owner and founder Bill Semmer Semmer bought the property in the early 1990s and turned it into Bonita Bill’s He also owned Semmer Electric and a number of rentals on San Carlos Island

Reynolds has been involved in the rebuild of Bonita Bill’s, which she credits to the loyal employees of Bonita Bill’s, along with a number of volunteers, who have stuck it out for months

“We’re still missing our docks The tiki bar is still not back yet The main dining area and seating is open,” she said A portion of the docks are open

“It’s been a labor of love,” Reynolds

See BONITA BILL’S, page 10

Volunteers and staff helped clean up the wreckage at Bonita Bill's from Hurricane Ian The Fort Myers Beach restaurant reopened Monday

PHOTO PROVIDED

Lee County property owners have until April 3 to apply for 2022 Hurricane Ian property tax refunds Those property owners whose residence was uninhabitable for more than 30 days in 2022 can apply for the refund on the Property Appraiser’s website (www.leepa.org), Lee County Property Appraiser Matt Caldwell stated in an announcement

I f y o u h a v e a l r e a d y a p p l i e d , t h e Property Appraiser’s Office will be contacting you in the near future regarding the status of your refund application The Lee County Property Appraiser website will have more information as they prepare the 2023 property tax roll

Questions can be directed to 239-5336100 or hurricaneupdate@leepa org

OPINIONS

What can property owners do about red tide?

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 n s 1 y

Web Poll

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?

∫ Yes, 39%

∫ No, 55%

∫ Unsure/no opinion, 6%

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.

Share your opinion at fortmyersbeachtalk.com

What can you do about red tide? There is something Maybe you have done it, or are already doing it Maybe you haven’t done it yet, but you will hopefully, soon

What is it that you can do?

Go native! Get rid of that green, grassy lawn and replace it with native vegetation City of Sanibel guidelines, for example, state that at least 75 percent of your yard and garden should be planted with native plants To meet the guidelines, only 25 percent can be non-natives

In many ways, green, grassy lawns are the worst of the nonnatives because, as Sanibel City Councilmember Dr Scott Crater stated so clearly on March 7, “You can’t grow grass on sand You cannot do it It is impossible The only way to grow grass on sand is to dump chemicals on the ground ”

Joy Cooley

Guest Commentary

Those chemicals include nutrients that eventually make their way into coastal waters to feed the red tide algae, contributing to red tide blooms like those that are plaguing our coastal waters now

Green, grassy lawns also require plenty of

Oh, SNAP! Florida lets kids go hungr y

To the editor:

The Federal SNAP emergency food allotments ended in February In Florida and 16 other states, it had already ended Our state legislators could have accepted the ongoing Federal assistance for poor families to receive nutritious food though the interium Instead the Republican-led legislators and Governor decided to turn down the extra food assistance for Florida’s children

Giving poor children food would have required Florida to receive, at no additional cost to Floridia taxpayers, ongoing aid from the federal government to supplement food for a starving child who is a citizen with two parents earning $2,495 or less Our state declined Those families only get food aid if earning less than $1,920 a month

You will recall the average rent in Fort Myers starts above $2,000 a month The legislature of the Republican Party while ostensively busy protecting zygotes chooses to turn down the help This punishment of the post-born children of Florida, apparently for no reason, describes the meanness of spirit of Florida’s GOP lawmakers.

Food supplements, of course, also are a boost to farmers, and grocery stores, and employees of farms and grocery stores,

water; that water increases the runoff into coastal waters

Sanibelians who are “in the know” about water quality tend to not have green, grassy lawns For example, each of us on the Committee of the Islands board does not have a green, grassy lawn

Tempting as it may be to hire a landscaper to install sod for an immediate “greening up” of your yard and garden, please resist that urge Native plants may be a little more difficult to find now after Hurricane Ian, but they are available, and will become increasingly available.

Which native plants survived best after the hurricane?

“Some of the most resilient native plants were cabbage palms, saw palmettos, and green and silver buttonwoods But so were coonties, wild olives, necklace pods, joewoods, Christmas berries, sea oxeye daisy, Simpson’s stoppers, sea-grapes, bay cedars and muhly grass,” Stephen Brown, a horticultural agent with the Lee County Extension Service, said at a recent Sanibel Vegetation Committee pro-

because the sales volume increases their business viability Children do better in school when fed, etc.

Meanwhile last week, the Coalition of Immokalee (farm) Workers marched across the state to request fair food wage increases, and additional agreements of food sales corporations They ask is for a code of conduct to not traffic in human slavery, and address sexual assaults on the job Their petitions are not frivolous demands The CIW program also asks a penny per pound incentive to farmers for wage bonuses for workers Farm machinery and H visa “temporary” workers from Mexico compete with these working families for minimum wage jobs in the tomato fields Obviously this competition is used by the corporations for suppressing wages downward CIW has a website for more information

Ellen Starbird Cape Coral

DeSantis to Washington as Prez?

To the editor:

Years ago, a colleague told me that in every negative situation there was a positive you just had to really look for it

What is the positive if Gov Ron DeSantis goes to Washington? Answer: He won’t be in Florida any longer

We want your opinion

gram at BIG ARTS “Although gumbo limbos, mahoganies, and strangler figs were badly broken, they have been quick to rebound Sprouting from seeds in the sediment were natives such as blue porterweeds, seaside goldenrods, and beach sunflowers ”

Now is the time. Go native! Don’t feed the red tide

Below are some resources for you to use as you go native:

∫ SCCF’s Post Hurricane Replanting Guide (December 2022)

https://issuu com/sccf3/docs/sccf replanting guide-final

∫ City of Sanibel’s Horticulturally Available Plant List (2021)

https://www mysanibel com/content/download/29309/191415

Barbara Joy Cooley is chair of the Environment Committee for the Committee of the Islands COTI is a Florida not-for-profit corporation dedicated to the continuity of good local government, protection of the environment and preservation of the small town character of the barrier island community For more information, visit www coti org or “COTI Committee of the Islands” on Facebook

David Stafford Cape Coral

Is America safe?

To the editor:

Is there anything that government does that is more important than keeping its citizens safe? Yet our cities have become gradually worse over time

Recently there was an article saying that the notorious gang MS13 is expanding to Mexico of all places to compete against the cartels Can you imagine that we have made crime so successful that they can expand to Mexico? MS13 proves that America doesn’t go to war against crime

America is big enough and has enough tools to stop almost anything and certainly gangs like MS13 is a small operation compared to ISIS and the like The fact that America doesn’t go to war against crime is purely political

Minnesota has digressed as much as any state Politically Minnesota took two steps They tried to defund the police and they installed liberal attorneys that were soft on crime letting criminals arrested loose in a few hours and then not prosecute Can you imagine how insulting and unsatisfying it would be to have someone throw away your

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

columns must be signed and must contain a phone

can comment on any letter or editorial opinion online at: fortmyersbeachtalk com

Barbara

FEMA announces $14 million for Lee County School District, Sheriff

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

T

(FEMA) has approved two grants worth more than $14 million to reimburse the Lee County School District and Lee County Sheriff for emergency costs responding to Hurricane Ian

The school district was approved for a grant of $10,069,446 which includes reimbursement for emergency repairs, mold remediation, debris removal, water removal, safety inspections and installation of temporary generators

Getting reimbursed from FEMA for repairs to Lee County Schools had been a topic of conversation among Lee County School Board members during recent talks about rebuilding the Fort Myers Beach Elementary School There had been apprehension among some on the school board, as well as Superintendent Dr. Chris Bernier, about whether the school could rely on getting reimbursement from FEMA

Rob Spicker, communications director for the Lee County School District, said the funding announced by FEMA was a "reimbursement to cover half the cost of a $20 million project to remove wet and moldy material from our schools Fort Myers Beach Elementary is one of the schools where that work took place "

Spicker said "we are anxious to receive the funding "

Meanwhile, talks are continuing between school district officials and Town of Fort Myers Beach officials over a possible interlocal agreement that would be part of the rebuilding of the Fort Myers Beach Elementary School.

"Our attorneys and attorneys from the Town of Fort Myers Beach continue to work on the interlocal agreement," Spicker said "There is no deadline for them to finish or board meeting scheduled for the agreement’s review "

The Lee County Sheriff's Office was approved for a grant of $4,180,612 to reimburse costs of security for crowd, access and traffic control, barricades, search and

FDEM debris removal request ends today

STAFF REPORT

Today is the deadline for property owners to have demolition and debris r e m o v e d a t n o c o s t t h r o u g h the Florida Division of Emergency Management

The department will be accepting a p p l i c a t i o n s t h r o u g h i t s website www iandebriscleanup com through the end of business this Wednesday, March 29, said Eva Spychalski, administrative officer for t h e T o w n o f F o r t M y e r s B e a c h

Clerk's Office

Commercial and residential property owners can have their homes or businesses demolished and debris

removed at no cost through the state program Property owners can also call the hotline at 850-961-2002 or email iandebriscleanup@em myflori da.com

Curbside debris now responsibility of property owners

While one deadline is approaching, another deadline has already passed March 1 was the last day that heavy debris could be placed curbside on the town’s side streets for free pick up by contractors with the F l o r i d a D i v i s i o n o f E m e r g e n c y

Management and partners If heavy debris other than regular trash pickup was placed curbside after March 1 it

may not be picked up, Spychalski stated It will be the property owner’s responsibility to coordinate removal and pay for that removal, Spychalski stated.

The deadline for that debris to be placed curbside on Estero Boulevard, which is being managed by Lee County, was also March 1 Any debris curbside that was put there after March 1 may not be picked up and it will be the property owner’s responsibility to coordinate removal, Spychalski stated

Household trash pickup is operating on a regular schedule through Waste Management.

FWC recovers body after boat capsized

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has reported finding the body of Pedro Pablo Ramirez, age 40, in the Caloosahtachee River this past week

A residence for Ramirez was not immediately available

The body was recovered follow-

From page 4

ing a search that began last Sunday after a single-vessel accident with two men aboard A witness saved one of the passengers on the boat.

According to the FWC, the accident was reported at about 4:30 p m on March 19 when a 16-feet vessel with two men on board capsized and both men fell into the water. A witness from shore saw the incident,

work of catching a criminal by letting him loose without even a hearing? The police responded by retiring early and quitting to g e t a j o b w i t h s o m e o t h e r t o w n Minneapolis is now short 22% of their budgeted number of police An attractive pension awaits but many will not suffer for years to qualify for a pension

responded quickly and rescued one of the men The FWC, Lee County Fire, Lee County Sheriff’s Office ( L C S O ) , F o r t

y e r s P o l i c e Department and the United States Coast Guard began the search for the missing boater immediately upon arrival and searched late into the night Sunday.

The result of all this is a step change in crime People in the cities, stay away from stores and downtown areas as much as they can; have to take safety measures to work downtown; have to buy a gun to protect their household; have to get used to gunshots in the neighborhood in the middle of the night; live where their kids are exposed to gangs, rape, murder, etc Kids then see crime as normal and might even

rescue, roof stabilization, medical care, debris removal, distribution of supplies, lighting, sandbags, tarps, generators, fuel and other costs

FEMA Public Assistance has already obligated $32 8 million (federal share) for Lee County and a total of $106 million for all applicants within Lee County

FEMA’s Public Assistance program provides grants to state, tribal and local governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations, including houses of worship, so communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies

Applicants work with FEMA to develop projects and scopes of work FEMA obligates funding for projects to

after final approval Once a project is obligated, FDEM works closely with applicants to complete the grant process and begin making payments FDEM has procedures in place designed to ensure grant funding is provided to local communities as quickly as possible

DeSantis appoints Alva resident to state board

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Gov Ron DeSantis has appointed Alva resident Dr Ellen Donald to the Florida Board of Physical Therapy Practice

Donald, of Alva is an assistant professor for the physical therapy program at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU)

Donald joined the faculty at FGCU in 1996 as the founding department chair of Physical Therapy, according to a biography from FGCU

Donald currently serves as Florida’s representative on the Board of Directors of the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, the office of DeSantis announced

Donald earned a Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Boston University and a Master of Science in Adult Education from Syracuse University

In 2016, she earned her PhD from the University of South Florida in Curriculum and Instruction with focus on Educational Measurement and Research Prior to coming to Florida Gulf Coast University, she was Director of Clinical Education for the Physical Therapy Program at the University at Buffalo Dr Donald’s clinical expertise is in pediatric physical therapy

get involved. Many stores are moving out of the severe crime areas The common element in these cities is the governance b y D e m o c r a t s M i n n e a p o l i s h a s 1 3 Democrats on the council and one Green Party member

The Dems’ strategy overall is to pursue special interest and they have enough of those to turn an election In Minnesota, not only has Minnesota become very soft

on crime but now they are passing a law to let felons vote There are 4 6 million felons in this country that could become a special interest market for Dems

Should Americans suffer extra crime to help the Democrats gain power?

Do you think it is too much to expect to be safe when you live in America?

John Benedict Cape Coral

Your views on the editorials, letters and the guest opinions that appear on

opinion pages can be shared on-line. Tell us what you think. Share your opinion

Kiwanis Thrift Shop back open

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

The Fort Myers Beach Kiwanis Thrift Shop is back open and looking for donations of furniture and household items to sell at affordable prices to a rebuilding community

The store took two feet of water during Hurricane Ian at its location off Summerlin Square Drive, costing the local nonprofit about $200,000 in damage to the store, said Fort Myers Beach Kiwanis Club Secretary Paula McCarthy Luckily, the organization’s insurance is covering the cost, McCarthy said

What the organization needs now is furniture and household items. “Furniture is what everyone is looking for and buying,” McCarthy said “We are hoping to have

enough to begin giving back to our community the way we always have ” Merchandise has been arriving daily and “leaving just

Southwest Florida Symphony receives grant

The Southwest Florida Symphony, Lee County’s only professional orchestra, was recently awarded a $7,500 grant from Suncoast Credit Union

The funds were used toward hosting a free interactive performance by the symphony for nearly 1,300 Lee County elementary school students at Fort Myers high school on Feb 28 Narration for the special conc e r t w a s p r o v i d e d b y R o b e r t V a n W i n k l e , t h e Southwest Florida Symphony’s community outreach ambassador

“We are extremely grateful for this generous grant from Suncoast Credit Union that will allow us to introduce the next generation of youth in our community to classical music performed by some of the world’s most talented musicians in our orchestra,” s a i d A m y G i n s b u r g , e x e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r o f t h e

Southwest Florida Symphony “These concerts provide the opportunity to create once-in-a-lifetime educational experiences that spark appreciation and inspiration in young minds ”

For more information about the Southwest Florida Symphony, its upcoming season performances and s u b s c r i p t i o n a n d t i c k e t i n g i n f o r m a t i o n , visit swflso.org or call 239-418-1500.

F o u n d e d i n 1 9 9 4 , 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 Florida (JA) has been 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 A r e n a T h i s w i l l b e t h e l a r g e s t career expo in Southwest Florida history, with thousands of students scheduled to connect and explore c a r e e r o p p o r t u n i t i e s w i t h n e a r l y 100 of the region’s top employers and business professionals J A I n s p i r e g i v e s s t u d e n t s r e a lw o r l d o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o e n v i s i o n f u t u r e c a r e e r o p t i o n s i n S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a T h e p r o g r a m i n c l u d e s i nc l a s s r o o m c u r r i c u l u m a n d a h a n d so n i n t e r a c t i v e c a r e e r e x p o 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 nn i n g , s k i l l s , i n t e r e s t s , a n d j o b o u tl o o k s a n d t h e n e n g a g e w i t h l o c a l b u s i n e s s e s a n d l e a r n s k i l l s t h a t a r e i n d e m a n d a t t h e c a r e e r f a i r A f t e r t h e e v e n t , s t u d e n t s a n d t e a c h e r s w i l l d e b r i e f t o d i s c u s s a c a d e m i c c h o i c e s a n d c a r e e r p a t h s

“This program is such a unique way for local businesses to engage and build their future talent pipeline w i t h s t u d e n t s f r o m S o u t h w e s t Florida,” said Angela Fisher, presid 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 f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e i n - p e r s o n a n d can’t wait for businesses in our community to have the opportunity t o i n s p i r e o v e r 1 0 , 0 0 0 s t u d e n t s 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 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 h e l p s t h e m b e t t e r t r a n s i t i o n i n t o adulthood JA Inspire gets students one step closer to finding their passion, earning a college degree, and achieving career success

as fast,” McCarthy stated

For those looking to drop off items, they can do so by delivering donations to the Fort Myers Beach Kiwanis Thrift Shop at 11050 Summerlin Square Drive or call the shop at 239-454-8090 to have them picked up

The shop is currently running a couple specials, with clothing now 50% off the ticketed price and all red tag items are priced at $1.

For McCarthy herself, she said she is “just about ready to move back in” to her Fort Myers Beach home She and her husband have been working on rebuilding since Hurricane Ian

“About half our membership has been displaced since the storm A few are back on the island,” McCarthy stated in an email “We are #FMB Resilient to the core ”

PHOTO PROVIDED 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

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

o f t h e s e s t u d e n t s b y e m a i l i n g 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

O

w w J A

■ W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , M a r c h 2 9 , 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

Beach Living Red Grouper Bash

Two-day tournament April 7 and 8 will start at Sanibel Lighthouse, with children’s tournament at Moss Marina

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

The Fort Myers Beach Woman’s Club will hold its inaugural “Red Grouper Bash” fishing tournament April 7-8 The two-day tournament will begin for adults at the Sanibel Lighthouse, while the children’s tournament on April 8 will be held at Moss Marina on Fort Myers Beach

The proceeds from the tournament will benefit the Fort Myers Beach Woman’s Club, said Fort Myers Beach Woman’s Club board member and incoming president Dawn Thomas said The club’s headquarters at Sterling Avenue was destroyed by Hurricane Ian and the club has been weighing options for a rebuild

The tournament is being hosted by Alec Dilallo of the Fort Myers-based Off Duty Lifestyle and will include catered food, beer and liquor stations, raffles, and live music

The cost to enter is $500 per boat (for four persons, with a cost of $150 per each additional person) There is an additional charge of $300 per boat for those participating in the kingfish contest and an additional $100 per boat for those competing for Calcutta snapper

The tournament will begin on Friday, April 7, with a

shotgun start out front of the Sanibel lighthouse Che in will start at 5 a m According to the rules provided Dilalo and Thomas, all teams must check in with star boat, which will be located at 34 Nortech with t pole flags located out front of the Sanibel lighthou Pier Once checked in, all further questions or co cerns can be handled via channel 69

On Saturday, there will be a shotgun start tim beginning at 6:30 a.m. with boats required to be bac to the dock no later than 3:30 p m All vessels wi need to be in sight of a spotter will be placed a Bowditch point This tournament will be restricted to a max depth of 120 feet No bent butt rods or electric reels will be allowed during the duration of the tournament Weigh-in will be measured off of the two largest grouper. Grouper chose for weighin will be angler’s choice Anglers will be allowed to carry a personal scale to help in deciding which fish will be weighed for each boat

The rules further include the following:

All teams in the money will have fish gutted to confirm no alterations have been made to the fish

A polygraph test will also be conducted for all teams in the money

Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum to host interactive walks to support new project

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

Easter egg hunt at DiamondHead

The Fort Myers Beach Bay Oaks Easter egg hunt will move to the DiamondHead Beach Resort this year The egg hunt will take place Saturday, April 8, at 10 a m at the resort, at 2000 Estero Blvd , Fort Myers Beach

The search for the easter eggs will take place on the resort's beach area

Registration will run from 9 to 10 a m with three separate groups for children up to age 13.

The Bay Oaks’ Easter Egg Hunt is sponsored by Diamondhead Beach Resort and the Fort Myers Beach Woman’s Club There will be limited food and beverage along with prizes for the adults Register at https://www fmb-wc org/index php/ bay-oaks-egg-hunt/ If you are interested in volunteering or for more information, email info@fmb-wc org or events@fmb-wc org

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 con-

tain 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 a t t h e S i x

lution from a wide variety of sources has been a leading cause for their starvation figures.

Lee County was hit with a large red tide spike in January and February

In 2021, there was a record 1,100 manatee deaths recorded in Florida The pace of their deaths could end up putting back the marine mammal back on the endangered species list Manatees were taken off the endangered species list in 2017 by the U S Fish and Wildlife Service after decades of being considered among the most endangered species in the U S Estimates on their current population numbers are believed to be around 5,000 in Florida

"Spring is a particularly important season for boaters to go slow and lookout below for manatees as the slow-moving mammals naturally disperse from their winter refuges, traveling to other parts of the state and beyond," the FWC stated in its announcement

Manatees need warm water to survive the winter and will travel in the spring from their winter refuges as water temperatures rise

They are more likely to be found in rivers, canals and nearshore waters as the spring begins, the FWC stated

Since manatees can be difficult to see since they largely stay just under the surface of the water, the FWC urges boat operators to go slow and to wear

While manatees are large, they can be difficult to see in the water That is why it is important to: go slow and wear polarized glasses to look out below while boating or using personal watercraft

A visible snout or large circles on the water are indicators that manatees are below the surface, the FWC stated

Manatee protection zones are marked by waterway signs and maps of manatee protection zones are available online at MyFWC com/Manatee by clicking on “Data and Maps ” From April 1 through Nov. 15, seasonal manatee zones require boaters to slow down in certain areas to prevent manatees from being injured or killed by motorboats or personal watercrafts

"Boat strikes continue to be a major threat to Florida manatees FWC law enforcement officers are on patrol in state waters to inform boaters of the seasonal manatee speed zones and take appropriate enforcement actions. Boaters are reminded to abide by the regulatory signs they see on the water

Manatees are a protected species and it is

illegal to feed, harass or harm them," the FWC stated

Physically handling a distressed or stranded manatee can cause additional harm Report injured, distressed, sick or dead manatees to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922) so trained responders can assist

FILE PHOTO

A family of manatees rest in the shallow docks at Fish-Tale Marina.

M a r c h

W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y ,

f o r t m y e r s b e a c h t a l k . c o m 2 9 , 2 0 2 3 ■ P a g e 1 0

From page 1 said Reynolds said the employees of Bonita Bill's “took a hit” from Hurricane Ian Some of them “pretty much lost everything,” she said “That’s why it’s been so emotional ”

There is a “lot of pride” among the

employees for the restaurant, she said “I feel a big responsibility” to reopen

R e y n o l d s s a i d t h e r e w i l l b e m u s i c m o s t a f t e r n o o n s a n d e v e n i n g s , a l o n g w i t h t h e r e t u r n o f ( G e n e r a l M a n a g e r )

K e r b y ’ s s p e c i a l s f r o m m e a t l o a f o n

PHOTOS PROVIDED Ian damage and the recovery Lea Brakefield and Kerby Bowe (above) help cleanup

M o n d a y s , t a c o T u e s d a y s , r i b s o n

W e d n e s d a y s , s h r i m p d i n n e r s o n

T h u r s d a y s , R e u b e n s a n d w i c h e s F r i d a y s ,

F r e n c h d i p s a n d w i c h e s o n S a t u r d a y s

a n d p o t r o a s t o n S u n d a y s Reynolds, who lives in Washington

and works for Boeing, has taken time off from her job to assist in the rebuilding after her father died She said she has been working seven days a week to get the restaurant back open Her sister Nikki will See BONITA BILL’S, page 11

Bonita Bill’s

be running the day-to-day operations

From page 10

“It’s been hard. That’s where I grew up, at Bonita Bill's, San Carlos Island,” R e y n o l d s s a i d R e y n o l d s s a i d B o n i t a Bill's has been “the heart of the communi-

ty” for many on San Carlos Island

“What’s been inspiring is to see how hard people are working,” Reynolds said “Sometimes it just seems overwhelming ”

Bonita Bill's reopened with a 50-50

raffle and giveaways

Reynolds said she and her family matched all of the tips dollar for dollar for the employees working Monday

“We can't thank them enough,” Reynolds

said “It’s more than just a business ”

Bonita Bill’s represents “a beacon of hope,” Reynolds said “The island is going to come back and we are going to come back stronger ”

PHOTOS PROVIDED

All of the equipment in the kitchen at Bonita Bill's was replaced.

Turning the grill on for the first time since the hurricane and passing all required inspections.

Great American Cleanup

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

The Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation will be registering volunteers and providing bags and gloves for the Great American Cleanup on Fort Myers Beach April 1 The event is being sponsored by Keep Lee County Beautiful

The Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation will be gathering at Santini Plaza on Estero Boulevard from 8 a m to 11 a m , said Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation member Jane McCloskey

“We welcome all volunteers to come help keep the island beautiful,” McCloskey stated

For more than five months, the Fort Myers Beach

What’s Happening - page 16

Pals - page 17

Community Foundation partnered with the Fort Myers Beach Woman’s Club on raising funds to assist those impacted by Hurricane Ian

“We are proud of all the work that we have done to raise money for the residents of Fort Myers Beach,” McCloskey said

Alliance for the Arts in partnership with Lee Arts Educators Association to present 31st Annual Student Exhibition

The Alliance for the Arts featured April exhibition, “The Future of Art: Student Exhibit,” will be on display from April 5-29 at 10091 McGregor Blvd , Fort Myers This is the 31st year the Alliance has partnered with the Lee Arts Educators Association (LAEA) to display student work in a formal exhibit The show features more than 40 schools and hundreds of works in a variety of mediums Winners will be selected in several categories and the Best in Show will be awarded

This exhibition will be divided into two, two-week sessions and feature 34 elementary & middle and 13 high schools The first two weeks of the month will be dedicated to the participating elementary and middle schools of Lee County Elementary and Middle School opening night will be held on April 5, from 5-7 p m This session will be on display until April 15

Lee County High Schools will be in the gallery the following two weeks with the opening reception held on April 20, 5-7 p m This session will be on display until April 29

The High School exhibition is sponsored by Florida SouthWestern State College

Both receptions are free and open to the public and the High School opening reception will feature pizza provided by Downtown House of Pizza (DHOP) Theatre Gallery: Digital Lee (April 5-15) and Cypress Lake High School’s Media Art (April 20-29)

From April 5-15, the Theatre Gallery will feature artwork by the students of Digital Lee Digital Lee was established to create a more relevant, community, and career focused learning environment for the technology students of the Lee County School District Digital Lee showcases both design and technology skills of Lee County’s Career & Technology Education (CTE) middle school, high school and post-secondary students This s h o w w i l l f e a t u r e

y ’ s G r a p h i c D e s i g n , Animation, Publication and Web Design students from each school The goal of our CTE programs and participation in Digital Lee is to provide exposure for the stu-

dents of Lee County; thereby spurring career opportunities, scholarship awards, and local technology involvement that will continue to make Southwest Florida a thriving and culturally rich community

From April 20-29, the Theatre Gallery will feature artwork by Cypress Lake High School’s Media Arts students The display will feature pieces in many media, including graphic design, video production, photo manipulation, 3D modeling, animation, and digital photography.

While the gallery admission is free, a $5 suggested donation keeps the Alliance programming affordable and accessible While visiting the exhibit, please be sure to also partake in the Arts & Economic Prosperity survey All answers are anonymous and help to measure the economic and social impact of arts and culture in our community! More information can be found at americansforthearts org

For more information about this exhibit, visit artinlee.org/laea2023 or call 239-939-2787.

‘Styled Steel’ exhibit open at Shell Point’s Tribby center

“Styled Steel: The Art of Automotive Design” is on display now through April 29 in the Shell Point Gallery at the Tribby Arts Center, at 17281 On Par Blvd , Fort Myers. It features works by Southwest Florida photographer Don Adams, watercolorist Shah Hadjebi, and miniaturist Alberto Chailosky

A retired executive of The Henry Ford Museum, Adams is displaying 32 photos of automobile details His

images highlight iconic automotive design elements as seen on a wide variety of classic cars, from those of yesterday to modern day For the exhibit, he also developed a video presentation that presents automotive designs from 1940 to 2020

RETIREMENT COMMUNITY Shell Point to present concer t

The Shell Point Retirement Community will present “Live in Central Park (Revisited): Simon and Garfunkel” on April 3-4 at 7 p m on the Connie Brown Hall Stage at the Tribby Arts Center, at 17281 On Par Blvd., Fort Myers. It is a re-creation of the iconic 1981 reunion concert featuring awardwinning recording artists Lee Lessack and Johnny Rodgers They will perform all the masterpieces heard on the night that half a million people gathered in Central Park to witness musical history Tickets are $55 For more information or tickets, visit https://www tribbyartscenter com/ or call 239-4155667

Painting realistic images of classic and antique cars is one of Hadjebi's passions He is displaying 18 watercolors showing classic automobiles, from Model T (190827) and Model A (1927-31) vehicles to acknowledged stunners of more recent years, including Corvette, Alfa Romeo, Porsche, and Lotus

Chailosky served for 11 years as a set designer in New York City for various Broadway shows and Saturday Night Live. He created three miniatures portraying gasstation culture of a past era, including “Texaco Gas Pumps,” “Mohawk Gas Station,” and “Sinclair Gas Station” all depicted as rusted versions of what they once were

In addition, the second-floor galleries of the Tribby display paintings of Anita Putnam, nature photography by Sallie Rich, and Nantucket baskets by Carolyn Wood, all of Fort Myers

The galleries are open for free from 10 a m to 3 p m Tuesday through Saturday

Lee County Parks & Recreation offers Easter egg hunts

Five Lee County Parks & Recreation sites will offer opportunities for children to put their egg-hunting skills to the test in advance of Easter, which is April 9 All i n f o r m a t i o n i s a v a i l a b l e a t www leeparks org

The dates and locations for upcoming events are:

∫ April 8 , Estero

Estero EGGStravaganza featuring an adaptive egg hunt will begin at 10 a m Saturday, April 8, at Estero Recreation Center, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd

Preregistration is required by calling the recreation center at 239-533-1470 or online at www leeparks org/register The egg hunt and the opportunity to meet the Easter Bunny are for children ages 12 and under The cost is $5 per child Bring your

camera and basket The first egg hunt begins at 10 a m This is an outdoor event, weather permitting For more information, call the Estero Recreation Center at 239-533-1470

∫ April 8 , Pine Island

The Pine Island 6-8 Grade Golden Egg Hunt will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 8 , o n t h e b a s e b a l l f i e l d s a t P h i l l i p s Community Park, 5675 Sesame Drive , Bokeelia This free event is for middle s c h o o l - a g e c h i l d r e n P a r t i c i p a n t s w i l l

receive a candy bag and will have the chance to find golden eggs with special prizes Registration begins at 9 a m April 8 at Phillips Park

∫ April 8 , North Fort Myers

S p r i n g F e s t w i l l b e h e l d 1 1 a m t o 2 p m S a t u r d a y , A p r i l 8 , o n t h e f o o t b a l l

f i e l d a t N o r t h F o r t M y e r s C o m m u n i t y

P a r k , 2 0 0 0 N o r t h R e c r e a t i o n P a r k W a y ,

N o r t h F o r t M y e r s A c t i v i t i e s i n c l u d e m u s i c , y a r d g a m e s , p h o t o b o o t h , b o u n c e h o u s e a n d f o o d t r u c k s T h e e v e n t i s f r e e T h i s e v e n t i s c o - s p o n s o r e d b y

R o t a r y C l u b o f N o r t h F o r t M y e r s F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , c a l l t h e N o r t h F o r t M y e r s R e c r e a t i o n C e n t e r a t 2 3 9 - 5 3 3 -

7 2 0 0

∫ April 8 , Lehigh Acres

Veterans Park Ultimate Egg Hunt will be held 10 a m to 1 p m Saturday, April 8, at the park basketball pavilion, 55 H o m e s t e a d R o a d S , L e h i g h A c r e s Activities include egg hunt, games, music, food truck, photo booth and more Bring your camera and basket The cost is $5 per child This event is co-sponsored by

Lehigh Acres Rotary Club Advance registration is required Participants can register online at www leeparks org/register, at the Veterans Park Recreation Center or by calling 239-369-1521

∫ April 8 , Boca Grande

The Boca Grande Egg Hunt will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 8. This free event is sponsored by The Friends of B o c a G r a n d e C o m m u n i t y C e n t e r Activities include an egg hunt for ages 11 and under, and a photo opportunity with the Easter Bunny Bring your camera Individually wrapped soft candy donations are welcome For more information, c a l l 2 3 9 - 5 3 3 - 2 9 2 1 o r v i s i t w w w l e e p a r k s o r g T h e B o c a G r a n d e Community Center is located at 131 First St , Boca Grande

SHELL POINT

ALBERTO CHAILOSKY

DON ADAMS SHAH HABJEBI

WHAT’S HAPPENING

‘A Cracker at The Ritz’ held over through June in Bonita Springs

After selling out all but one show in its three-month run, “A Cracker at The Ritz,” the social satire about life in Florida, is extending its Bonita Springs run through June It is performed at 7 p m on select Tuesdays at the Performing Arts Center, Moe Auditorium, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd , Bonita Springs The new dates are April 4, 11, and 25; May 2, 16, and 30; June 13, and 27

In “A Cracker at The Ritz,” Earlene is the Queen of the Florida Crackers She narrates her family’s four generations in Florida Each generation has prospered on everything from cattle to citrus, and rum to real estate Don’t confuse Earlene’s “Cracker” with the cultural slur. She and her Cracker ancestors are proud of their heritage

“Who,” she might point out, “do you think sold Disney World to Disney?”

“A Cracker at The Ritz” is a 75-minute roasting of Florida in song and sketch comedy Songs include “ S n o w b i r d C o m e ( a n d H e W o n ’ t G o H o m e ) , ” “Swampland Scam,” and “Florida Man ”

“Red Tide and Dead Water” lists the mother lode of chemicals in the water run-off There is a realtor’s solution to ocean rise And John Morgan shows up with a lawsuit that’s sure to suit everyone

“A Cracker at The Ritz” is performed in Bonita on select Tuesdays to allow Compton & Bennett time to continue their rigorous schedule of weekend performances elsewhere The duo is best known outside Southwest Florida for Assisted Living: The Musical They perform about 60 shows each year, all around the country

For more information or to purchase tickets visit https://artcenterbonita org/ or call 239-495-8989

‘All Florida’ exhibit open at Alliance

The 37th All Florida Exhibition will be on display now through April 1 at the Alliance for the Arts, at 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers.

I t s h o w c a s e s p r o m i n e n t a n d e m e r g i n g F l o r i d a a r t i s t s O u t o f m o r e t h a n 7 0 0 s u b m i s s i o n s , t h e j u r o r s e l e c t e d 6 6 p i e c e s t o b e i n c l u d e d i n t h i s y e a r ' s i n s t a l lm e n t o f t h e a l l i a n c e ' s l o n g e s t r u n n i n g e x h i b i t i o n

The exhibit is sponsored by American Art Collector and International Artist Magazine Gallery admission is free, but a $5 donation keeps programming affordable and accessible

For more information, visit ArtInLee org/AllFlorida 2023

Tribute band to per for m at BIG ARTS April 1

Absolute Queen, a tribute to the iconic rock band, will perform on April 1 at 8 p m at BIG ARTS, at 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel Tickets are $62 Full bar beverages will be available. Sponsored by Gustav and Vibeke Christensen For more information or tickets, visit the box office or call 239-395-0900

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

Big Green EGGfest set for April 1

Grill masters and barbecue lovers will be gathering on April 1 at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs for the fourth annual Sunshine Ace Hardware Big Green EGGfest

EGGfest is a family-friendly celebration of barbecue that includes all-you-can-eat food samplings, craft beer, grilling demonstrations and live music. The event doubles as a cooking competition with two divisions: trained chefs, caterers and restauranteurs will compete in the pro division, while home cooks compete in the amateur division Taster tickets allow attendees to try food samples from each chef and cast votes for their favorite items, awarding the People’s Choice Awards, while a Judges Panel crowns the EGGhead Grill Master Pro and GrillMaster Amateur, which will win a Mini Max Big Green Egg as well as other prizes Two-time winner

Chef Asif Syed, of 21 Spices, who beat the infamous Bobby Flay on The Food Network, returns in hopes of capturing a third title.

All chefs use a Big Green Egg to prepare meats, vegetables and side dishes The multi-functional ceramic charcoal barbecue cooker can be used as a grill, oven or smoker

“We tend to start our summers earlier in Southwest

or participate Visit https://www signupgenius com/go /805094aaaaa2ca4f49-2023#/ to register and for the details or call 239-334-3488 for additional information

Keep Lee County Beautiful is truly grateful for the tremendous volunteers and their dedication and hard work as we continue to work together in our recovery KLCB just celebrated their 34th anniversary serving Lee County and is so proud to be part of our community helping to make the place we live, work, and play beautiful Visit www klcb org or call 239-334-3488 to find out how to get involved and support KLCB and their efforts.

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 ver-

Florida, and the Big Green EGGfest has become the region’s unofficial kickoff to summer,” said Michael Wynn, president of Sunshine Ace Hardware “While this event was created as a celebration of barbecue, it’s also grown into a fairly large charitable event to support organizations focused on our local charities ”

This year, proceeds will support Farm City BBQ, Kiwanis, Leadership Collier, and United Way of Collier and the Keys Event sponsors include NCH Healthcare System, PBS Contractors, Lee Health, BKS Partners, Florida Gulf Coast University and Lantz Financial Team

Taster tickets are $20 each and include the entrance fee, unlimited samples and three voting ballots Additionally, VIP tickets are $50 and include access to a VIP tent and open bar in addition to food samples and voting privileges Live music will be provided by The Moonstone Riders

Amateur chefs can register for $25, while the registration cost for professional chefs is $150 Chefs can enter with a team of up to three other individuals as sous chefs and servers

For taster tickets, chef registration or sponsorship opportunities, please visit SunshineAceEGGfest com

sions 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

Floral arranging classes to be held at Edison and Ford Winter Estates

Edison and Ford Winter Estates offers many opportunities throughout the year for residents and guests to learn how to make floral arrangements Classes can be purchased as gifts and offer an opportunity for friends and relatives to enjoy the day together.

Registration is open for the following classes:

∫ Dried Floral Arranging April 16, 10 a m

P a r t i c i p a n t s w i l l l e a r n h o w t o c r e a t e a n d a r r a n g e a r u s t i c b u n c h o f d r i e d b l o o m s a n d b e a b l e t o t a k e h o m e t h e c r e a t i o n t o d i s p l a y f o r a v e r y l o n g t i m e F l o r a l d e s i g n e r , A n i t a S i n g h w i l l a l s o c o v e r t i p s a n d t r i c k s f o r d r y i n g f l o w e r s T o e n s u r e a d e q u a t e s u p p l i e s , r e gi s t r a t i o n i s r e q u i r e d A l l m a t e r i a l s a r e i n c l u d e d S t u d e n t s o f a l l e x p e r i e n c e l e v e l s a r e w e l c o m e S p a c e i s l i m i t e d C o s t : E d i s o n F o r d m e m b e r s $ 7 5 ; n o nm e m b e r s $ 8 5

∫ Mother’s Day Floral Workshop

May 7, 10 a m

This class will instruct participants how to create a decorative basket or vase filled with flowers Taught by floral designer, Anita Singh, the class can be purchased as a gift for mothers, daughters, sisters or other special women To ensure adequate supplies, registration is required All flowers, tools, vessels and supplies will be provided, along with light refreshments and an apron Students of all experience levels are welcome Space is limited Cost: Edison Ford members $75; non-members $85.

For additional information or to register for classes, visit EdisonFord org

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

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

Al-Ateen meetings are also offered for ages 10-18

PET PALS

Island pets seeking forever homes

Find A Home Give A Home Pet Rescue

We’re back

Co-founder of the

a Home, Give a Home pet rescue organization of Fort Myers Beach

I t h a s b e e n a l o n g s i x months since Ian devastated our Island Like many of you, we lost our home It has been a challenge to rebuild our little piece of parad i s e W e h a v e s o m a n y stories about the pets who were left behind and the people who helped rescue them Many cats and dogs have been displaced but all of us are resilient and are stronger than before Our rescue is so happy to find a spot in our favorite newspaper again. Thanks for giving us the opportunity to bring you some happiness and great stories

Nothing changed for us We r e s c u e d g r e a t d o g s w h o w e r e going to be euthanized (due to overpopulation in shelters) Some of the lucky ones

India

This is the story of a very sweet female who was on a tribal land, lost She had puppies and was the only one trapped She is a Lab mix and so adorable India is absolutely submissive and very sweet India will crawl on you to get affection

Such dogs have been handled by many people and are generally kid friendly They also love other dogs There is something about her eyes Breaks your heart Two weeks ago we took her into the rescue and since then she has been nothing less than extraordinary. She is very affectionate, and gets along with everyone If you are interested in helping and adopting India please call 239-281-0739 or email pets@findahomegiveahome com

Two brothers

Teddy (Chihuahua-10 years old) and Bandit (little Yorkie mix-5 years old)

Teddy is an absolute love bug and wants to be in your lap constantly He will follow you everywhere and howls in delight when dinner is served or when you arrive home Bandit is 4 pounds of love and fun He is gentle, playful, and he loves his best friend Teddy They are very bond-

ed Teddy is partially vision impaired but Bandit guides Teddy They are housebroken, doggie door trained and they walk on the leash Saved from death because they were frightened Both had dental work done and are up to date on their vaccines and of course neutered Bundle of Joy! Interested please call 239-281-0739

Follow us on Facebook at Find A Home Give A Home Pet Rescue and see all the amazing pets we saved these past few months

Please note our new PO Box #864, Bonita Springs, Fl 34133

You can also make a donation at www.findahomegiveahome.com using the donation tab using PayPal

Please make sure you do it through “Friends and Family” so there is no fee and all the donation comes to us directly.

By Jo Knobloch Saveourstraysfmb@yahoo com

Founder of

Save Our Strays

Cat Rescue

a 501c3 organization on Fort Myers Beach

Unfortunately like many others on Fort Myers Beach, we lost a lot all our cat rescue supplies, plus four cars that were stored in our first level including 25 cat carriers, 12 cat trees, 12 jugs of litter, many bags of cat food and cases of canned cat food, toys, 15 litter boxes, 15 cages of all sizes, folding tables they sat on, meds for cats, small fridge for their food and numerous other personal items With so many restaurants wiped out by the hurricane it is difficult to even hold fundraisers so hoping to have a good turnout for the Bingo Fundraiser April 6 and 7 at the Standard Restaurant on 41 in Best Buy Plaza on the 7th and also in downtown Fort Myers on the 6th Address is on the flyer for both places Also donations can be sent to P O Box 5104, Fort Myers Beach, 33912 Since there is no longer a place in Santini Plaza to leave food

and other donations for our rescue, they can be left at Pet Supermarket on San Carlos Blvd behind Fifth Third Bank in the Bealls Plaza There is a donation bin in the store with our name on it We also have cats for adoption at that store and the Pet Supermarket on corner of College and 41 in Fort Myers which also has a donation bin for Save Our Strays

Thank you to those who have supported

Kyle

Kyle is 8 month old brother of . He is silver gray with just a white s p o t o n h i s n e c k . H e i s v e r y active and loves to chase, run and play He, too, is very affectionate

us this past year. We are getting back on our feet and adopting out as well as rescuing new cats If any stray cats or kittens are spotted anywhere on the island, please call 239851-3485 We lost many of our feral and stray cats on the beach in the hurricane and there is now a big rat problem Some neighborhoods have called requesting cats to be brought to their area as rats are running everywhere

Annual Pioneer Picnic to be held April 29 at Lee County Civic Center

The Pioneer Club of Lee County is celebrating the 74th anniversary of its’ founding in 1949 by R A Henderson, Jr The Pioneer Club was formed to honor those living persons who had been residents of old Lee County for 50 or more years The initial meeting was held in 1950 at the Lions Park on Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers The Pioneer Picnic is a social organization comprised of many of the old families of Lee County who get together annually to catch up on one another’s lives and to have lunch together The Pioneer Picnic traditionally is held the last Saturday in April of each year

This year’s annual picnic will take place on Saturday, April 29, at the Lee County Civic Center – Tinsley Pavilion which is located off Bayshore Road in North Fort Myers Registration and visiting begin at 10 a m , lunch will be served at noon followed by presentations and a raffle at 1 p m

The Classes of 1973 from Alva HS, Bishop Verot HS, Cypress Lakes HS, Dunbar HS, Evangelical Christian School, Fort Myers HS, North Fort Myers HS and Riverdale HS will be recognized at the picnic as celebrating their 50th Class Reunions Also recognized at the picnic will be the eldest pioneer man and woman born in Lee County; the couple married the longest (both spouses need to be in attendance); pioneer who traveled the longest distance to the picnic; and the eldest person in attendance

Approximately 1,200 invitations are mailed out for the picnic of which two-thirds are sent to residents and the remainder to those people who live out of the area There are normally 600-700 people in attendance Barbecue chicken or pork, baked beans, coleslaw, rolls, chocolate chip cookies and iced tea or lemonade are available to the attendees for $10 per plate

The eligibility requirement for membership is that the person was a resident of Lee County Prior to 1973 Please email pioneerleecounty@gmail com to receive registration information or you may register the day of the picnic There are no membership dues

Through the generosity of the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, free admission on that weekend is given to the members of the Pioneer Club by presenting their membership card to the Edison and Ford Winter Estates, 2350 McGregor Blvd , Fort Myers, (General Admission) April 28-30 An invitation has also been extended to the members of the Pioneer Club to visit The IMAG History & Science Center, 2000 Cranford Ave , Fort Myers, (General Admission) and the Shell Factory/Nature Park, 16554 North Cleveland Ave , US 41, N Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers, (General Admission) April 28-30

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

pose with their instruments.

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

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

T h e e i g h t h a n n u a l Bonita Springs Short Film Festival is back The event and red-carpet gala will be held on Thursday, April 20, at Prado Stadium 12 Theatre in Bonita Springs, beginning at 6 p m

The 2023 competition theme “Good Deeds” will encourage filmmakers of all ages, stages, and walks of life, to participate and showcase their talent on the giant silver screen Filmmakers can pick any genre (comedy, drama, docu-

mentary, western, etc ) and tell a story through film

T h e f e s t i v a l i s n o w a c c e p t i n g f o o t a g e f r o m any location, particularly from Southwest Florida, though judges like films shot in Bonita Springs and those films will receive a d d i t i o n a l p o i n t s T h e filmmaker must hold all parts of the film’s rights

Failure to observe this rule can disqualify the entry

For any questions about using specific footage, please get in touch with the

Antonio Correia, at 239-404-3377

Each film/video must be 1 minute to 10 minutes long, with an exciting story for everyone to enjoy Award categories include Best Overall, Best Depiction of Bonita Springs, Most O r i g i n a l , B e s t F i l m U n d e r 1 8 , B e s t Musical Video and the People’s Choice Award “We are very excited to see the results of this festival especially after all of the good deeds that filled Southwest F l o r i d a p o s t h u

Attorneys at Law, Bonita Print Shop, Bonita Springs Historical Society, Heaven Scent Flowers & Boutique, Bonita Video, M & M Multi Media and TLC Marketing & Creative Services; Inc.

Friends of the Festival include Connie & Steve McIntosh, Gary Price, Amy Quaremba and Kathy McGrath For more information about the Film Festival, visit 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 Facebook page, where there will be weekly updates Contact Film Fest Executive D i r e c t o r , A n t o n i o C o r r e i a a t antonio@bonitavideo com

PHOTO PROVIDED

Band members from the Appalachian Road Show

SPORTS & RECREATION

Mighty Mussels unveil 2023 promotional schedule

Team to host Hurricane Relief/First Responders Appreciation Night April 6

The Fort Myers Mighty Mussels full promotional schedule for the 20 packed with fireworks, concerts, co tiatives, theme nights and specialty

Single game tickets went on sa mightymussels com today, March 1 at 8 a m

The season gets underway at 7 p m on Thursday, April 6 All first responders can receive free tickets for them and their families in grat of their vital work in the afterma

Hurricane Ian

The Mussels will host 14 fireworks shows and three concerts in 2023 amongst many other theme nights and special evenings

Specialty jersey nights

The team will wear specialty jerseys on April 8, May 3, June 9, and July 2-3

On April 8, the team will don custom white jerseys with blue pinwheels to spread awareness for Child Abuse Prevention Month Proceeds will benefit the Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida The CAC provides a coordinated response to child victims of abuse and neglect and to improve the lives of at-risk children and their families through prevention services The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is the Grand Slam Title Sponsor of the event

On May 3, the Mussels will celebrate the long-standing tradition of Islands Night, but with extra significance this season This year’s jerseys will feature the Sanibel Island lighthouse, with artwork produced by Sanibel artist Rachel Pierce All proceeds from the jersey auction will go directly to civic organizations on the islands most affected by Hurricane Ian

On June 9, the Mighty Mussels will join the rest of M i n o r L e a g u e B a s e b a l l b y c e l e b r a t i n g M a r v e l Defender’s of the Diamond Night The players will wear custom Mussels’ jerseys with Marvel’s own twist on the

M u s s e l s ’ l o g o a n d c o l o r scheme

On July 2-3, Fort Myers will celebrate Independence Day by donning the Stars & ipes for a pair of games that l also have post-game fireProceeds will benefit “Keep County Beautiful ”

ights

pril 22 – Grateful Dead Night udweiser – Pre and post-game music tribute by jazz and funk band “Unlimited Devotion ” For more information on everything Grateful Dead, visit Dead net

Fans can purchase a special ticket package for $30 that includes an exclusive Grateful Dead t-shirt along with a ticket to the game and access to the concert Limited packages are available at fevo me/grateful23

Saturday, May 13 – Country Night & Ag Night presented by Budweiser – “Ultimate Garth, a tribute to Garth Brooks” will be on hand to play all of the songs you know and love

Saturday, June 3 – Faith & Family Night presented by WayFM and Floor-meisters – “Sidewalk Prophets” will perform post-game for a night of faith and fellowship

Fireworks nights

Fans can enjoy post-game fireworks shows on April 7, April 21, May 5, May 12, June 2, June 9, June 30, July 2, July 3, July 14, July 28, August 11, August 25, and September 8

Daily specials available all season

Daily specials are always the best way to get the best deal at any Mighty Mussels game Most of the Hammond Stadium staples return in 2023, with a couple of new additions!

‘Tee It Up FORE Kids’ benefit tournament set for April 21

“The poverty rate for children in Harlem Heights is more than twice t h e c o u n t y a v e r a g e , ” s a i d P a t O s t r o m , t o u r n a m e n t c o o r d i n a t o r

Tuesdays – New this season – Publix 2-for-1 Ticket

Tuesday’s – All fans can 2 for 1 tickets by showing a Publix receipt from the previous two weeks at the box office Returning from previous years – 2 for 1 hot dogs and soda, presented by Coors Light

Wednesdays – Dollar Dog Night ($1 hot dogs), Silver Sluggers’ Night (Seniors’ Club presented by Amavida) and Ladies Night (2 for 1 seltzer’s and wine), Guaranteed Win Night (Free ticket to Thursday’s game if Mussels lose)

Thursdays – Miracle Throwback Night (Team wears Miracle uniforms), College Night ($5 student tickets), $1 & $2 Beer Night (12 oz cans) presented by Budweiser, Twin Peaks and Gator Country

Fridays – Fireworks Night, Bacardi Happy Hour (2for-1 Bacardi drinks at Rusty’s Bar from 6-7 pm)

Saturdays – Free Fan Giveaway (First 500 fans), Bark in the Park (All dogs get in free) courtesy of LCSO

Sundays – Sunday Brunch ($15 AYCE from 11 a m - 1 p m ), Kids Club Day (Pre-Game Catch on the Field and Kids Run the Bases presented by BRANDT)

Cancer Sucks night

Budweiser returns to sponsor the Mussels’ Cancer Sucks series, with proceeds from ticket sales benefitting cancer research on April 8, April 22, May 13, June 3, July 1, July 15, Aug 12, Aug 26 and Sept 9

Beer fests are back

The Mussels will host beer fests on May 6, June 10, and July 29 For $30, fans can get a ticket to the game and admission into Beer Fest, with samples of over 50 beers on hand from 5-8pm

Full schedule

Visit www.milb.com/fort-myers/news /mighty-muss e l s - u n v e i l - 2 0 2 3 - p r o m o t i o n a l - s c h e d u l e - t o - h o s t - h u r r icane-relief-first-r to see the Mighty Mussels’ Full 2023 Promotional Schedule, complete with theme nights and additional details

place Friday, April 21, at The Shell Point Golf Club, 17500 On Par Blvd , Fort Myers The tournament honors Scott, a longtime board member and supporter of Heights Early Learning (formerly GLAD Kids)

The event's

Heights Center

h e H e i g h t s C e n t e r family, The Heights Center Early Learning's mission is to ensure lowi n c o m e f a m i l i e s h a v e q u a l i t y , affordable childcare Children read, learn and play in a safe environment while their parents provide for

their families The Early Learning program has a five-star rating from The Early Learning Coalition T h e e v e n t i s s p o n s o r e d b y

FineMark National Bank & Trust and Susan Scott

Registration is from 7:30 a m until 8:30 a m The shotgun start is at 8:30 a.m., with lunch and awards following the tournament

“ T h e H e i g h t s C e n t e r E a r l y Learning provides a stable, nurturing environment and means the parents can further their education and participate in the workforce ”

Tournament Registration is now available

The registration deadline is Friday, April 14

Registration is $150 per golfer or $550 for a foursome. In addition, sponsorships that include golf packages and recognition are available

For additional information, visit www heightsfoundation org/forthe kids or call Annie Campbell at 239482-7706 or email annie@heightsfoundation org

San Carlos Bay Sail & Power Squadron upcoming boating

M a r c h

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