Fort Myers Beach Observer/The Beach Bulletin

VOLUME 38, NUMBER 14

State pulls back permitting assistance

B y N AT H A N M AY B E R G n m a y b e r g @ b r e e z e n e w s p a p e r s c o m C i t i n g t h e e n d o f a s i x - m o n t h 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 p u b l i c a s s i s t a n c e p r o g r a m , t h e F l o r i d a D e p a r t m e n t o f E m e r g e n c y M a n a g e m e n t h a s e n d e d i t s s u p p l y o f s t a t e e m p l o y e e s t o a s s i s t t h e T o w n o f F o r t M y e r s B e a c h b u i l d i n g d e p a r t m e n t a t a t i m e w h e n t h e t o w n h a s f a c e d a b a c k l o g o f p e r m i t

r e q u e s t s T h e t o w n h a s b e e n i n u n d a t e d w i t h t h o u s a n d s o f p e r m i t r e q u e s t s s i n c e H u r r i c a n e I a n , a p p r o v i n g m o r e t h a n 1 0 , 0 0 0 p e r m i t s T h o s e i n c l u d e m o r e t h a n 4 0 0 r e q u e s t s f o r d e m o l i t i o n p e rm i t s a n d t h o u s a n d s m o r e f o r r e m o d e li n g , e l e c t r i c a l w o r k , p l u m b i n g , f e n c i n g a n d o t h e r b u i l d i n g p e r m i t s T h e r e s u l t o f t h e l o s s o f s t a t e p e r s o n -

n e l w i l l b e t h e r e t u r n t o n o r m a l b u s i n e s s h o u r s f o r t h e t o w n ’ s p e r m i t t i n g d e p a r tm e n t f r o m 7 : 3 0 a m t o 4 : 3 0 p m T h e t o w n h a d e x t e n d e d i t s h o u r s a n d d a y s t o k e e p u p w i t h t h e d e m a n d s o n i t s p e r m i tt i n g d e p a r t m e n t . I n a n e m a i l r e s p o n d i n g t o a n i n q u i r y a b o u t t h e d e c i s i o n b y t h e s t a t e , 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 M a n a g e m e n t s p o k e s p e r s o n A l e c i a C o l l i n s s a i d t h e

Six mo nth s after Hurrican e Ian, toug h d ecisions

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Si x m o n t h s a f t e r H u r r i c a n e I a n uprooted the lives of thousands on Fort Myers Beach and ended the lives of 16, a clearer picture is emerging of the town’s future as homeowners decide whether to stay and rebuild or move on

More than 400 demolition permits have been applied for since the Sept 28 hurricane About one-third of those permits have been applied for in the last two months The bigger question, though, will be how many of those demolition permits are replaced by building permits, and what kind of homes will be rebuilt For some homeowners, insurance payments have only recently been finalized

Property owners have had to make decisions about whether the damage was more than 50% of the value of the home, which requires costly rebuilding at a higher elevation

For Steve and Cindy Johnson, they were among the luckier ones The damage to their home did not cross the 50% threshold Their insurance will cover the cost to rebuild The married couple have been living in a trailer provided by FEMA after waiting for months to get a permit for one

“Slowly but surely, we finally got out permit,” Mr Johnson said The trailer was on their property a month before they could live in it due to permitting issues “The bureaucracy is ridiculous,” Johnson said After FEMA placed the

for

residents

trailer on their property, a waiting period ensued as they waited for the town to conduct an electrical inspection after FEMA inspected and photographed the t r a i l e r T h e y h a d t o c o n t a c t F l o r i d a Power and Light to download a copy of the town’s inspection work after weeks of Mr Johnson going back and forth to town hall to check on the paperwork

The town has had an extensive permit backlog with thousands of permits requested for its small staff. The town had received assistance from the state for its permitting, but the state pulled back its assistance last week after FEMA aid expired

See NEW BEGINNINGS, page 10

Cindy and Steve Johnson PHOTO PROVIDED

s t a t e h a d b e e n p r o v i d i n g 3 4 p e r s o n n e l a s s u p p o r t f o r t h e t o w n ’ s p l a n n i n g r e v i e w d e p a r t m e n t , c o d e e n f o r c e m e n t , c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e s u pp o r t “ S i n c e O c t o b e r 2 0 2 2 , F D E M h a s b e e n s u p p o r t i n g t h e T o w n o f F o r t M y e r s B e a c h B u i l d i n g S e r v i c e s w i t h p r o c e s s i n g p e r m i t r e q u e s t s , c o d e

Town Council selects new manager

A n d r e w H y a t t f o r m e r l y l e d t h e To w n o f S u r f s i d e d u r i n g d e a d l y t o w e r c o l l a p s e

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 C o u n c i l v o t e d M o n d a y t o s e l e c t t h e f o rm e r T o w n o f S u r f s i d e m a n a g e r a s t h e n e x t m a n a g e r o f t h e T o w n o f F o r t M y e r s B e a c h , p e n d i n g c o n t r a c t n e g o t i a t i o n s H y a t t w a s s e l e c t e d b y t h e c o u n c i l a f t e r a s e r i e s o f m e e t i n g s w i t h f o u r c a nd i d a t e s M o n d a y m o r n i n g a t t h e D i a m o n d H e a d B e a c h R e s o r t C o u n c i l c o n d u c t e d p r i v a t e i n t e r v i e w s w i t h t h e c a n d i d a t e s b e f o r e a s k i n g a s e r i e s o f q u e s t i o n s o f t h e c a n d i d a t e s i n a p u b l i c s e t t i n g H y a t t o v e r s a w t h e T o w n o f S u r f s i d e a t t h e t i m e o f t h e 2 0 2 1 c o l l a p s e o f t h e C h a m p l a i n T o w e r s S o u t h c o n d o m i n i u m b u i l d i n g c o l l a p s e , i n w h i c h 9 8 p e o p l e d i e d H y a t t r e s i g n e d f r o m h i s p o s i t i o n i n D e c e m b e r o f 2 0 2 2 H i s p r e v i o u s j o b s i n c l u d e d w o r k i n g a s T e x a s d i r e c t o r f o r K 9 f o r W a r r i o r s , c i t y m a n a g e r o f N e p t u n e B e a c h , c i t y m a n a g e r o f E a s t R i d g e i n T e n n e s s e e , c i t y m a n a g e r o f F a i r v i e w i n T e n n e s s e e , c i t y m a n a g e r o f E t o w a h i n T e n n e s s e e , s a l e s c o n s u l t a n t f o r G o b e r E n t e r p r i s e s i n J a c k s o n v i l l e a n d s e n i o r a d m i n i s t r a t i v e a s s i s t a n t f o r h u m a n r e s o u r c e s f o r t h e c i t y o f J a c k s o n v i l l e p a r k s a n d r e c r e a t i o n d e p a r t m e n t H y a t t h a s a m a s t e r ’ s d e g r e e i n p u b l i c a d m i n i s t r a t i o n f r o m t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f T e n n e s s e e a t C h a t t a n o o g a V i c e M a y o r J i m A t t e r h o l t s a i d h e w a s c o n f i d e n t i n t h e a n s w e r h e r e c e i v e d f r o m H y a t t a s t o w h y h e l e f t h i s p o s i t i o n w i t h t h e T o w n o f S u r f s i d e i n D e c e m b e r A t t e r h o l t s a i d H y a t t ’ s “ e x p e r i e n c e a t S u r f s i d e a n d h i s r e l a t i o n s h i p s t h a t r e s u l t e d i n t h a t t r a g e d y p a r a l l e l i n c e r -

See NEW MANAGER, page 12

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

The best laws are only as good as the motives of those who are supposed to uphold them Florida’s once-proud “Government in the Sunshine,” having survived under eight previous governors, is now endangered by Gov Ron DeSantis

He’s the first Florida governor to claim an “executive privilege” exists to allow him to withhold public records, a pretext nowhere found in Florida’s Constitution, which says every governmental record is subject to public disclosure unless the Legislature has created a specific exemption for it

There are 1,159 exceptions and counting to the open meeting and open records laws, according to the Florida First Amendment Foundation None recognizes an executive privilege.

A Tallahassee Circuit judge named Angela Dempsey, who may soon be on the short list for a Supreme Court appointment from DeSantis, created executive privilege for him An attorney who had filed suit to demand that DeSantis turn over documents warned Dempsey that to rule for DeSantis “would render Florida’s Public Records Acts meaningless and impotent.”

She did it anyway, ruling on Dec 20 to allow the governor to use executive privilege in that Tallahassee court case

Dempsey’s decision is being appealed If it’s sustained, DeSantis could maintain that all government agencies under his control have the same privilege, which would elevate a disaster for government transparency in Florida into a catastrophe

The governor’s office also routinely slowwalks freedom of information requests, holding them for “review” for months at a time, and has created a highly contentious relationship with the capital press

Further, DeSantis signed legislation shielding university presidential searches from public view The law calls for three finalists to be identified in the process, but that requirement has been gamed when universities name only one finalist, effectively quashing public debate over the decision That’s how Ben Sasse, a Republican senator from Nebraska, became president of the University of Florida

DeSantis has virtually nullified public access to the elected state Cabinet, whose meetings are supposed to be an open window into much of the government, simply by rarely calling any meetings at all

Now, there’s pending legislation to exempt any of the travel records maintained by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which is responsible for his security, that would reveal where he’s been traveling and shed light on whether he is reimbursing the state for using his official jet to sell his new book and pursue the presidency

Those new laws (SB 1616, HB 1495) would be retroactive, deep-sixing all pending requests They would apply also to the records of the governor’s family, the Cabinet, legislative leaders, the chief justice and people traveling with them

When the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times asked FDLE last year for several weeks’ worth of DeSantis’s travel records, the newspa-

pers said the agency released a few heavily redacted ones and withheld others with the excuse that there was a backlog of requests.

The legislators fronting for DeSantis say the bills would help protect the governor, those traveling with him and the agents who guard them That doesn’t explain why historical data should also be exempt

Martin Dyckman Guest Commentary

(Disclosure: The Florida Center for Governmental Accountability is in litigation with DeSantis over records dealing with his use of state funds to fly migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard )

To appreciate how radically reactionary DeSantis is, let’s look back at Florida’s open government history

Gov. Collins championed public access to government

Gov LeRoy Collins, Florida’s first great reformer, urged the 1955 Legislature to pass an open meetings law for all state or local policymaking boards He had been fighting with the Board of Control, which ran the universities, over its secret meetings

The people, Collins told the Legislature, “have yielded to us no right to decide what is good for them to know or for what it is bad for them to know ”

The Legislature initially didn’t agree, but one legislator who had heard Collins say that, J Emory “Red” Cross of Gainesville, tried session after session to ban secret meetings Each bill was dead on arrival in the rural-dominated Legislature

Cross’s “Government in the Sunshine” bill finally passed in 1967 It was the first session after the U S Supreme Court ordered the Legislature reapportioned to represent people, not pine trees, taking away inordinate power from the more rural areas of the state

The same session also updated and significantly strengthened Florida’s open public records law Chapter 119 of the statutes which dates back to 1909

Three future governors Reubin Askew, Bob Graham and Lawton Chiles were legislators in the 1967 session So was Robert Shevin, a Miami senator who became attorney general and a fierce advocate of liberally interpreting government transparency laws He and the courts gave expansive interpretations to both the Sunshine and public records laws

Claude R Kirk Jr , the first Republican governor in Florida since Reconstruction, was a showman who enjoyed vetoing Democratic bills But he didn’t veto those

Lawton Chiles was governor when the Legislature adopted a constitutional amendment ensuring public access to records and meetings

As a U S senator, Chiles used Florida’s open government laws as a model for national legislation that Congress enacted in 1976 But after his election to governor in 1991, some of the reporters had quarrels with him over documents he didn’t want released.

Chiles was governor when the Legislature adopted a constitutional amendment forever guaranteeing public access to meetings and records It came in response to a Florida Supreme Court decision that appeared to exclude agencies established in the Constitution, like the governor and Cabinet, from such access

Then-Attorney General Bob Butterworth strongly pushed for the amendment, which voters approved by a record 87 percent in the 1992 election

Ten years later, the public ratified another amendment requiring a two-thirds vote in each House to create or renew an exemption from the public record or open meetings laws That majority was 77 percent.

Those referenda proved that open government is enormously popular with the people It is as helpful to individual citizens as to the media

From Kirk to DeSantis, governors of both parties generally understood that self-evident truth and complied with the Sunshine laws, albeit with occasional lapses and frayed relations with the Tallahassee press corps.

Askew, who served as governor from 1971 to 1979, appropriated the word “Sunshine” for his 1976 initiative amending the Constitution to include a strict ethics code for public officials that requires them to disclose their personal finances The people passed it with 78 9 percent of their votes

Graham, who served two terms as governor beginning in 1979, and Gov Bob Martinez, his successor, were respected by the media for their commitment to open government

Republican Jeb Bush, elected in 1999, and his staff occasionally had contentious relations with the media On taking office, he refused to reveal his calendar and insisted on meeting in private with legislative leaders But he did not stiff public records requests like DeSantis is doing, and he showed respect to the Sunshine laws

Bush’s successor, Charlie Crist, had extolled government sunshine as attorney general On his first day in the governor’s office, Crist publicly signed an executive order creating an Office of Open Government

Crist’s successor, Rick Scott, had become a millionaire running a private hospital company He was unaccustomed to public disclosures, didn’t take easily to Florida’s, and cracked the door to the ugliness we see today from DeSantis

Steve Bousquet, a Times capital bureau chief during Scott’s regime, says Scott and his agencies “routinely foot-dragged” Chapter 119 requests He flew on his own airplane, having sold the state’s, leaving no official record trail of his travels, and opted out of a national “Flight

See DESANTIS, page 5

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

After surviving eight previous governors, open government in Florida is endangered by DeSantis

School board moves forward on Beach Elementary School

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Fort Myers Beach students could be r e t u r n i n g t o t h e F o r t M y e r s B e a c h Elementary School as early as this fall, Lee County Schools Superintendent Dr Chris Bernier said this past week at a meeting of the Lee County School Board

All that appears to remain in the way is a n i n t e r l o c a l a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n t h e school board and town, and a vote by the s c h o o l b o a r d t o a p p r o v e f u n d s f o r rebuilding the campus that was damaged by Hurricane Ian

Bernier said he would like to have an interlocal agreement ready this month so that the district can vote on starting work on a rebuild so the school can reopen in time for the fall

Dr. Chris Bernier

Bernier said the district’s attorneys have been in discussions with the town’s attorney for an interlocal agreement “I have had two meetings with the mayor One face-to-face at the new town hall and the other one via Zoom. They were both quick meetings. They were

DeSantis

really an update of him to me about the p

n Allers of progress at the school and when it may open this fall

Bernier said an interlocal agreement will ensure that the Bay Oaks Recreational Campus would be available for afterschool care of students The interlocal agreement may also set trigger points about whether the enrollment doesn’t increase at a set number of parameters about how the community would be engaged on "the future of the school, Bernier said “ T h e B e a

affected by the storm,” Bernier said.

The district has been cleaning up the campus and r e s t o r i n g t h e h i s t o r i c a l b u i l d i n g o f t h e B e a c h Elementary School, which is on the National Registrar of Historic Places In a presentation Monday, Chief Operations Manager Jeff Wagner said the historic building was essentially stripped down to its studs and

From page 4

Aware” program, making it impossible to track the private aircraft

But unlike DeSantis, Scott did not try to weaken the laws

Mike DeForest, an Orlando television investigative reporter, discovered in February that DeSantis’s office has been reviewing and delaying Chapter 119 requests sent to agencies under the governor’s command, including the Department of Corrections, the Department of Health, and the FDLE

More than 280 batches of records were sent to the governor’s office in 2021, wrote DeForest, with dozens returned to the agencies more than two months later and a few

kept for nine months or more This appears to be in complete contradiction to the Public Records Act, which demands government agencies turn over public records in a “reasonable” amount of time and makes unjustified delays unlawful

The “executive privilege” decree Dempsey signed, which was essentially drafted by DeSantis’s lawyers, is the greatest threat to open government in Florida since the 1992 amendment engraved Sunshine into the Constitution

In that case, an anonymous petitioner identified only as J Doe sought documents pertaining to a secret committee of “six or

Dehumidifiers have been put into place due to the extensive water damage

The majority of the board favors rebuilding the campus in two phases, at a cost of $10.4 million for the first phase and $9 1 million for the second phase if enrollment warrants it The first phase construction would be to accommodate 80 students The second phase would include demolishing the buildings that are connected to the historic building of the school and rebuilding them An enrollment metric would be developed in the future for a second phase.

The school had an enrollment of between 82 and 87 students before Hurricane Ian, and approximately 50 students after Hurricane Ian Its 2022 budget was $1 7 million with approximately $400,000 in state and federal aid.

Bernier said plans for the school rebuild “will also include some rightsizing of the faculty and staff” to bring the school’s cost-per-student down

School board member Chris Patricca said that would make her “far, far more comfortable in terms of the operational costs ”

seven pretty big legal conservative heavyweights” that DeSantis said helps him vet candidates for appointments to the Supreme Court

Other sources have revealed that one member of the shadow committee is Leonard Leo, the Federalist Society guru who effectively controls federal judicial appointments under Republican administrations

Doe sued for relevant documents that weren’t forthcoming Asserting executive privilege, the governor’s lawyers argued that executive privilege is “rooted in the separation of powers ” They also claimed that “the privilege is not for the executive but for the

benefit of the public to ‘protect the effectiveness of the overall governmental system at stake ’”

It is as LeRoy Collins objected 68 years ago Government is once again telling the public what is good or not good for them to know

M a r t i n D y c k m a n p r e p a r e d t h i s commentary for The Florida Center for Government Accountability, a nonprofit 501(c)3 dedicated to helping enforce open government laws.

BUSINESS

Valerie’s House teen throws out first pitch at JetBlue Park

STAFF REPORT

At Valerie's House, there is a saying “loss doesn't have to limit our dreams ”

Last month, Fort Myers teen Justin Layne did something that was almost straight out of one of h i s d r e a m s when he took the mound at J e t B l u e P a r k in Fort Myers and threw the f i r s t p i t c h b e f o r e a B o s t o n R e d S o x s p r i n g training game

Layne, a participant at Valerie’s House, was chosen to throw the pitch as a representative of those who lost a loved one to suicide Layne lost his father to suicide three years ago

He has had to overcome an untold amount of grief

Chamber to hold coffee connection at Dr. Piper Center

The Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce will hold its April coffee connection event at the Dr Piper Center in Fort Myers on Thursday, April 6, from 8 to 9 a m

The event is free and open to Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce members and prospective members The

“I loved my dad and had so many questions,” Layne said “It’s taken a lot of time and a lot of tears at Valerie’s House to know that none of this I could have prevented.”

L a y n e w a s a s t a r baseball player at Bishop V e r o t C a t h o l i c H i g h S c h o o l i n F o r t M y e r s and transferred this past y e a r t o p l a y f o r P o r t Charlotte High School

“Having the chance to be on the Red Sox field a n d f e e l t h a t e n e r g y made me realize that I will never give up my dream to play college ball,” Layne said “It’s what my dad would have wanted ”

Business Briefs

Dr Piper Center is at 2607 Dr Ella Piper Way

The gathering will be hosted by Irvine Bourdeau and Melissa Bonner at the Dr P i p e r C e n t e r f o r S o c i a l S e r v i c e

Layne (second from right in group photo) threw out the first pitch at a recent Boston Red Sox spring training game

Fort Myers Layne, of Fort Myers, was representing those who lost a loved one to suicide Layne is a participant at Valerie’s House

County residents invited to participate in a survey about the future of the Lee Civic Center

STAFF REPORT

Lee County residents are invited to participate in a survey to share ideas about the features and amenities important to a reimagined Lee Civic Center, Lee County Communications Director Betsy Clayton announced Go to www leegov com/CivicCenter - Lee County Civic Center Complex

Visit Leegov com to find useful information for resid e n t s , b u s i n e s s e s a n d v i s i t o r s o f L e e C o u n t y i n Southwest Florida www leegov com for the survey and related information.

The Lee County Board of County Commissioners is working with county staff to visualize a new, reimagined future for the Lee County Civic Center complex at 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers This includes a commitment to maintaining activities for 4-H and the Southwest Florida Fair This also includes a process to see what short-term repairs can be made to keep the site operational

An assessment study of the property was conducted last year by a team of specialized local architects and engineers licensed in Florida

The study evaluated all 14 buildings of the 96-acre property The executive summary, also available on the website, provides an overview of the completed comprehensive structural and architectural assessment

At a meeting of the commissioners last month, staff made a recommendation, which the Board approved, to temporarily close all buildings on the Lee Civic Center property effective immediately with the exception of the Civic Center main building, which remained open until Sunday for the conclusion of the Fort Myers Gun Show

County staff was to provide an update Tuesday at the regularly scheduled Board of County Commissioners' meeting This will include recommendations for the structures at the site, some of which will reopen soon to accommodate upcoming events

Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve hosts 15th anniversary of the Interpretive Center

Lee County Parks & Recreation will commemorate the 15th anniversary of the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve Interpretive Center with a special event 10 a m to 4 p m Sunday, April 16, at the preserve, 7751 Penzance Blvd, Fort Myers

This event is free with paid parking of $1 per hour or $5 per day and will celebrate 15 years of educating visitors of the importance and beauty of the slough Special

presentations will be held throughout the day by volunteer naturalists and guest speakers A new exhibit about the history of the Interpretive Center will be unveiled during the event

For more information about the event, contact Rick Bauer at RBauer@leegov com For more information about Lee County Parks & Recreation locations, amenities and special events, visit www leeparks org, call 239-

Boil water notice issued for Fort Myers Beach

STAFF REPORT

The Town of Fort Myers Beach has issued a boil water notice, Fort Myers Beach Communications Director Jennifer Dexter announced Monday afternoon

“Due to chlorine residual out of standard compliance levels, as a precaution, we advise that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled a rolling boil of one minute is sufficient as an alternative bottled water may be used,” Dexter stated in an email

The precautionary boil water notice “will remain in effect until the problem has been corrected and a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink,” Dexter stated

For further information, the town asks the public to r e a c h o u t t o t h e t o w n ’ s U t i l i t i e s D e p a r t m e n t Supervisor Roxanne Frank customer service representative Deborah Hite at town hall at 239-463-9914

533-7275, or email leeparks@leegov com

To receive updates from Lee County Government, s i g n u p f o r t h e n e w s l e t t e r 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 l e t t e r s F o l l o w L e e C o u n t y G o v e r n m e n t o n F a c e b o o k , www facebook com/leecountyflbocc

Southwest Florida Concert Band to perform ‘All About the Blues Concert’ April 16

The 45 member Southwest Florida Concert Band will perform an “All About the Blues Concert” on April 16, at 2 p m at South Fort Myers High School, 14020 Plantation Rd , Fort Myers

Join the band as they play a wide variety from Sousa’s Who’s Who in the Navy Blue March, to the driving music of the Blues Brothers Our vocalists will sing the Frank Sinatra medley ‘Ol Blue Eyes and Music from the Broadway show Chicago featuring jazz and blues songs Hear the iconic crooner’s song Blue Moon and the swinging clarinet solo Wild Cat Blues

With a little bit of Blue Tango and the Tuba Tiger Rag, the program will appeal to everyone The Brass Monkeys quintet will make an appearance to St’ Louis Blues in an upbeat Dixieland style The show will finish the season with a rousing Stars and Stripes Forever featuring our piccolo section

All concerts are FREE with donations accepted. Information on the group, our scholarship program, and other performances can be found on our website at www SouthwestFloridaConcertBand org

PHOTO PROVIDED

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

Mound House museum reopens

STAFF REPORT

The Mound House museum has reopened to the public

The Mound House property, at 451 Connecticut St in Fort Myers Beach, has been accessible to the public though the museum itself has just completed a rehabilitation project due to Hurricane Ian

The museum and museum store will be open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 9 a m to 4 p m The grounds, kayak launch, observation pier, and restrooms will continue to be open daily 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p m Overflow parking for the Mound House is available at 216 Connecticut Street

The public grounds of the Mound House, which spans three acres overlooking Estero bay, reopened in January The outdoor property includes native plants, a walking path and picnic tables

The Mound House is the oldest home on Fort Myers Beach and is listed on the National Registrar of Historic Places The home dates back to the turn of the 20th century and sits atop a centuries-old shell mound constructed by the ancient Calusa tribe The Mound House provides tours of the shell mound and the home, which has been restored

In related news, Keep Lee County Beautiful and Mound House are joining together for a neighborhood cleanup Saturday, April 22, from 9 a m to 11 a m for an Earth Day beach cleanup

The starting point will be the Mound House at 451 Connecticut Street Parking is available at 216 Connecticut Street Registration is required For more information, contact the Mound House at 239-7650865

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

Beach Kids Foundation seeking scholarship applications

As the recovery from Hurricane Ian continues, the Fort Myers Beach Kids Foundation wants everyone to know that they are coming into 2023 stronger than ever, with some great things planned for our island kids when they need it the most

The board announced this week that they are now accepting applications for their annual scholarship program, which offers $1,000 to any graduating high school senior living in the 33931 area code who is enrolling or is a college student already enrolled in a college or trade school, or whose parent or grandparent has worked on Fort Myers Beach for at least two years

“Obviously with the hurricane, this

year it will be for students who met that criterion before Ian,” said Beach Kids Foundation Vice Chair Deborah Groll. “Every year we do scholarships which includes college and grad school, also vocational schools This is one of our favorite programs and we have helped so many students year after year We love to see their progress, and many keep in touch with us after graduation ”

Scholarship applications are available on the Foundation website at w w w b e a c h k i d s f o u n d a t i o n n e t Completed applications can be emailed to summerinoh@aol.com or to btmyers2152@eagle fgcu edu

The deadline to get them is June 30

out 16 checks for $1,000 last year, which are made payable to the college institution after verification of enrollment. Once the Board reviews all the applications, a decision will be made in July Be sure and stay tuned to the Fort Myers Beach Observer and social media as more fun is in store for this summer The foundation is planning a couple of fundraisers a corn hole tournament in June and a beach cleanup event in July They are also planning a backpack drive to send island kids back to school with everything they need, including clothes, and Island parents will be invited to pick up the fully stocked backpacks at an event sometime in August

The Beach Kids Foundation gave

DEP accepting student entries for Earth Day contest

O

Protection will join the global celebration of Earth Day This yearly observance mobilizes efforts of more than 1 billion people across the world who are dedicated to the protection of the environment for future generations

Within this theme, 4-12 grade students are encouraged to partici-

pate by joining a statewide poster contest The theme of Earth Day 2023 is “Invest in Our Planet.”

Students are asked to design a poster that reflects how they take care of the environment The deadline for the poster contest is April 10

Winning students will be selected from each age group (grades 4-5, grades 6-8, and grades 9-12) in each of the DEP's six district regions and

will receive day-passes for entrance to a Florida State Park

Regional winners will be entered into a statewide contest for a full-size printed poster of their art

The winners will be announced in late April

For the contest rules and guidel i n e s

n W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , A p r i l 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

Above, Linda Clayton bought her home on Miramar Street in 1989

The moment meant so much to her, she still has the Century 21 ad that she saved from the Fort Myers Beach Observer. One the few possessions she was able to save was a book published by the Fort Myers Beach Observer in 1995 with a history of the town

PHOTOS PROVIDED

New beginnings

“It’s tight,” Mr. Johnson said of the trailer “It’s not home but I’m grateful to have it ”

Mrs Johnson said the trailer “makes it easier to work on our house

“We’ve lived here for 12 yrs,” Mr Johnson said “The last six months have been like peddling uphill Nothing came easy ”

The Johnsons stayed on Fort Myers Beach through the hurricane and through its aftermath, cleaning away the much and the debris out of their home and property Without electricity or running water, they stuck it out with the help of friends and neighbors, and volunteers who assisted the town in providing aid They still use Beach Baptist Church for their laundry A lot of residents are still using the church property for laundry as not everybody has hot water heaters or electric yet The Johnsons are waiting for heating, ventilation and air conditioning work to be completed before they can get the plumbing work done on their home to install a hot water heater

“Everybody has water but not everybody has hot water,” Mrs Johnson said

To s t a y o r g o ?

Linda Clayton bought her home on Miramar Street in 1989 The moment meant so much to her, she still has the Century 21 ad that she saved from the Fort Myers Beach Observer

Clayton moved from New Jersey and bought the home for $89,000 on her salary as a casino dealer with her partner James Watcke

Last month, her home was demolished “It’s just an empty lot,” Clayton said

During Hurricane Ian, Clayton and Watcke stayed at a friend’s home in Bonita Springs Watcke had a stroke nine

From page 1

We were homeless, possessionless, but certainly not destitute, so the world was our oyster.”

STEVE JOHNSON

years ago and after the hurricane his feet started swelling up, which resulted in him being hospitalized “I was losing it,” Clayton said “It’s a miracle he is even here ”

They returned to their home to find many of their possessions gone, including Watcke’s electric wheelchair, his non-electric wheelchair and an $8,000 wheelchair lift

They felt lucky when they were chosen by Charlie Rocket’s Dream Machine Foundation for a $10,000 grant to help pay for the loss of Watcke’s wheelchairs

“It was very inspirational,” she said

They ended up staying at the home for six weeks before finding a one-bedroom apartment in Naples, where they have b e e n l i v i n g . T h e y r e c e i v e d a i d f r o m FEMA to rent the home and have applied f o r e x t e n d e d a s s i s t a n c e w h i l e t h e y decide what to do with their Fort Myers Beach property

“I’m sleeping on an air mattress on the floor,” Clayton said

They had applied for a handicap trailer Clayton said she was initially told they would get the trailer, then was told they couldn’t, before being told a trailer would be available in Charlotte County

When FEMA learned she was staying in a safe place, they informed her the trailer was only for those without a place to stay

“I would rather have somebody stay there who is sleeping under a bridge,” Clayton said

With more than 50% of the home badly damaged, Clayton would need to build up to the new hurricane code which

would be costly The decision was made to demolish the home Clayton has spoken with builders about the cost of a new home, which would require an elevator for Watcke Clayton said she has been quoted prices north of $300,000

The home she lived in was built in 1959 “It was beautiful,” Clayton said “It was still standing but the front half was separated from the (back) half It was bulging at the foundation ”

The flood surge from Hurricane Ian blew out the walls and knocked the home off its foundation

“It was very emotional You spend half your life in that house,” Clayton said “I’m 68 It’s tough ”

Clayton feels fortunate to have saved most of her photo albums and clothes. She lost her yearbooks and all of her furniture She still has a book published by the Fort Myers Beach Observer in 1995 with a history of the town

T h e p a t h b a c k

For the Johnsons, the path back to having their home has been full of hardship but they have stuck it out every step of the way

“Right after the storm, the first phase was to try to retrieve some of the important things that held sentimental value,” Mr Johnson said “Having lost all our p e r s o n a l p o s s e s s i o n s a n d m u c k i n g through what was left without the benefit of clean water was a chore ”

The next phase, he said, “was the realization that all these additional things were just that, material objects We came

to Fort Myers Beach to live a minimalistic life but having lost everything turned out to be very liberating When in your l i f e c a n y o u l i t e r a l l y p a c k a l l y o u r belongings in the bed of a pickup truck? It caused us to consider all the options that suddenly became available to us due to a single compelling event We were homeless, possessionless, but certainly not destitute, so the world was our oyster ”

The Johnsons stayed at a property owned by their friends outside of town and then moved into a place in North Fort Myers

After visiting family in Illinois last T h a n k s g i v i n g a n d d i s c u s s i n g t h e i r options, the Johnsons made the decision to “stay in Fort Myers Beach and see this thing through Live like refugees, experience real suffering and battle the insurance companies like so many others,” Johnson said

They said they had to deal with inexperienced and overwhelmed contractors w o r k i n g i n p l a c e o f e x p e r i e n c e d a d j u s t e r s o n t h e i r i n s u r a n c e c l a i m s , resulting in a protracted claims process w h i c h o n l y w a s c o m p l e t e d t h i s p a s t week, Mr Johnson said

“The problem with a lot of this is they don’t have enough adjusters,” Johnson said of the insurance industry

We are moving at our own pace and are ensuring we can continue to be a voice for the community The bonds w e ’ v e c r e a t e d w i t h o u r f r i e n d s a n d neighbors through the struggle have convinced us that what we have on this island is worth saving

W h e re t o g o f ro m h e re

For the Johnsons currently, there are contractors working inside their home on the heating and air conditioning systems

New beginnings From page 10

They said their neighbors are “doing great,” with most returning to their homes and one family selling their home where Daymon Utterback died

The Johnsons are concerned about the future of Fort Myers Beach They hope the town council and Local Planning Agency will continue to follow its code and not allow for overdevelopment during the rebuild They worry that not enough input is being asked of community residents at a time when the council is considering updates to its comprehensive plan

“Most of the residents feel that we are already maxed out as far as density,” Mrs. Johnson said. “In the season, you can’t move ”

Still, the Johnsons are impressed by the fortitude shown by their fellow residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian “We have made great strides,” Mrs Johnson said

“There are a lot of dedicated people,” Mr Johnson said

For Clayton, she has not yet made up her mind if she will rebuild or if she can afford the cost “We are looking at all our options,” she said

The toughest part of the hurricane for Clayton was leaving her home for the final time.

“That was the hardest thing Closing the door Knowing you are never going to be able to go back I feel fortunate I was able to come back Some people came back to nothing,” Clayton said “Just about all my neighbors were able to move back ”

Her home was the only one on the street that was demolished Returning to the street to watch people working on their homes has also been tough

Despite her ordeal and the disaster brought on the town, Clayton sees Fort Myers Beach rebounding She said local restaurants have been busy despite all the destruction around town.

“I definitely think it will come back The view is still there The sunsets are still beautiful The sunrise is still beautiful My heart goes out to everybody,” Clayton said

That was the hardest thing Closing the door Knowing you are never going to be able to go back I feel fortunate I was able to come back Some people came back to nothing."

LINDA CLAYTON

W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , A p r i l 5 ,

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A m e s s a g e l e f t w i t h t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s o f f i c e o f F E M A w a s n o t r e t u r n e d a s o f p r e s s t i m e I n a l e t t e r f r o m F E M A t o 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 M a n a g e m e n t D i r e c t o r K e v i n G u t h r i e o n M a r c h 2 7 , F E M A f e d e r a l c o o r d i n a t i n g o f f i c e r a n d d i s a s t e r r e c o v e r y m a n a g e r T h o m a s M c C o o l s t a t e d t h a t t h e r e q u e s t f o r e x t e n s i o n f o r t h e a i d u n d e r S e c t i o n 1 2 0 6 w a s l i m i t e d a n d t h a t F E M A c a n ’ t e x t e n d t h e t i m e p e r i o d f o r a i d “ H o w e v e r , o t h e r s o u r c e s o f F E M A f u n d i n g m a y b e a v a i l a b l e t o a p p l i c a n t s w i t h n e e d s t h a t e x t e n d b e y o n d t h e p e r i o d o f s e c t i o n 4 0 6 e l i g i b i l i t y , ” M c C o o l s t a t e d T h i s m a y i n c l u d e F E M A ’ s H a z a r d M i t i g a t i o n G r a n t P r o g r a m , t h a t c a n f u n d p o s t - d i s a st e r c o d e e n f o r c e m e n t o r o t h e r a d d i t i o n a l r e s o u r c e s C o l l i n s s a i d L e e C o u n t y w i l l s t i l l m a i n t a i n t h e B e a c h B a p t i s t C h u r c h c o m f o r t s t a t i o n t h a t h a s a l a u nd r y r o o m , s h o w e r a n d r e s t r o o m t r a i l e r . A n e m a i l s e n t o u t b y F o r t M y e r s B e a c h C o m m u n i c a t i o n s D i r e c t o r J e n n i f e r D e x t e r t h i s p a s t w e e k s t a t e d t h a t t h e t o w n m a d e r e q u e s t s f o r a n e x t e n -

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t a i n w a y s w i t h w h a t w e h a v e b e e n t h r o u g h ”

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s i o n o f t h e s i x - m o n t h a i d t h e t o w n w a s r e c e i v i n g i n t h e w a y o f s t a t e p e r s o n n e l s u p p o r t “ T h e t o w n r e q u e s t e d a n e x t e n s i o n u p t o a n d i n c l u d i n g f r o m t h e W h i t e H o u s e a n d w a s d e n i e d ”

T h e F o r t M y e r s B e a c h O b s e r v e r r e q u e s t e d f r o m i n t e r i m T o w n M a n a g e r C h r i s H o l l e y , i n t e r i m T o w n M a n a g e r K e i t h W i l k i n s a n d D e x t e r a c o p y o f t h e l e tt e r f r o m t h e W h i t e H o u s e o r w h o w a s c o n t a c t e d i n t h e W h i t e H o u s e r e g a r d i n g t h e i s s u e “ T h e T o w n i s n o t i n p o s s e s s i o n o f a n y l e t t e r f r o m t h e W h i t e H o u s e r e g a r d i n g t h e s a m e s u b j e c t , ” D e x t e r s t a t e d N o f u r t h e r d e t a i l s w e r e p r o v i d e d b y t o w n o f f i c i a l s o n h o w t h e r e q u e s t w a s m a d e t o t h e W h i t e H o u s e o r w h o w a s c o n t a c t e d . I n a l e t t e r f r o m K e i t h A d k i s o n , s t a t e p u b l i c a s s i st a n c e o f f i c e r f o r t h e 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 M a n a g e m e n t , t h e s t a t e r e s p o n d e d t o a r e q u e s t s e n t b y W i l k i n s f o r a n e x t e n s i o n f o r s t a t e a s s i s t a n c e “ T h e T o w n s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e r e w e r e f o u r j u s t i f ic a t i o n s f o r t h e i r e x t e n s i o n r e q u e s t : h e a v y s t o r m d a ma g e , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h e c o a s t a l h i g h h a z a r d a r e a ( V z o n e ) a n d c o a s t a l A z o n e s o n t h e f l o o d i n s u r a n c e r a t e m a p ; s t a f f s h o r t a g e s ; e m p l o y e e t u r n o v e r ; a n d i n c r e a s e d p r o c e s s i n g a n d c u s t o m e r s e r v i c e d e m a n d s d u e t o N F I P - r e q u i r e d r e c o r d k e e p i n g r e q u i r e m e n t s T h e S t a t e ’ s s e n s i t i v i t y t o t h e s i g n i f i c a n t i m p a c t s t h a t a r e a s l i k e F o r t M y e r s B e a c h h a v e e x p e r i e n c e d b e c a u s e o f H u r r i c a n e I a n l e d u s t o r e q u e s t a S t a t e w i d e e x t e n s i o n f o r D R R A s e c t i o n 1 2 0 6 T h e

q u a t e l y a s f a r a s I a m c o n c e r n e d I t h i n k i t i s s o m e b o d y w h o c a n s t a r t t o m o r r o w w i t h a z e s t a n d a n e a r n e s t n e s s t h a t w i l l s e r v e t h i s t o w n w e l l " T h e c a n d i d a t e s w e r e c h o s e n b y c u rr e n t i n t e r i m T o w n o f F o r t M y e r s B e a c h

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t h a t F E M A a u t h o r i z e a 6 0 - d a y e x t e n s i o n o f t h e p e r i -

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d a t e d M a r c h 2 7 , 2 0 2 3 , F E M A d e n i e d t h a t r e q u e s t , s t a t i n g t h a t , “ C o n g r e s s l i m i t e d t h i s a u t h o r i t y t o t h e s t a t e d p e r i o d o f p e r f o r m a n c e A d d i t i o n a l l y , C o n g r e s s h a s n o t e m p o w e r e d t h e e x e c u t i v e b r a n c h t o e x t e n d o r c h a n g e t h e p e r i o d C o n g r e s s e n v i s i o n e d u n d e r s e c t i o n

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K e i t h W i l k i n s w e r e h i r e d b y t h e c o u n c i l i n N o v e m b e r o n a s i x - m o n t h c o n t r a c t A t t e r h o l t s a i d h e w o u l d h a v e l i k e d t o h a v e k e p t H o l l e y a n d W i l k i n s s t a y o n t h o u g h t h e y e n c o u r a g e d t h e t o w n t o s e e k a n e w m a n a g e r

WHERE TO GO WHAT TO DO WHO TO SEE

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, located at 2000 Estero Blvd on Fort Myers Beach

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

Registration will run from 9 a m 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

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

What’s Happening - page 16

Pet Pals - page 17

Sports & Recreation - page 19

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 information is available at 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 R e c r e a t i o n C e n t e r , 9 2 0 0 C o r k s c r e w P a l m s B l v d 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 p e r m i t t i n g 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 E s t e r o 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, on the baseball fields at Phillips Community Park, 5675 Sesame Drive , Bokeelia This free event is for middle school-age children Participants will 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

2nd Annual Bonita Springs Shrimp & Music Festival set for April 7-9

Enjoy a weekend of great food, l i v e m u s i c a n d r e l a x a t i o n a t t h e

2nd Annual Bonita

S p r i n g s S h r i m p and Music Festival on Friday, April 7, from 3 to 10 p m ; Saturday, April 8, from 11 a m to 10 p m and Sunday, April 9, from 11 a m to 6 p m at 28001 Old 41 Rd , Bonita Springs General admission is FREE

This seafood & music festival is created like a great meal, incorporating and blending the finest ingredients Choose entrees (seafood, meat and vegetarian) cooked fresh onsite Select from a diversity of side dishes, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and of course – scrumptious desserts!

Relax to live musical performances by some of Florida’s top musical talents in such genres as R&B, blues, jazz, rock, soul and more The line-up includes:

Friday, April 7

∫ 4:30 – 6 p m Reggie King Sears

∫ 6:30 – 8 p m Hurricane Shane Band

∫ 8:30 – 10 p m Dead Set Florida

Saturday, April 8

∫ 12:30 – 2 p m Under8ed Band

∫ 2:30 – 4 p m Nigel Mack & The Blues Attack

∫ 4:30 – 6 p m Memphis Lightning

∫ 6:30 – 8 p m Crossfire Creek Band

∫ 8:30 – 10 p m Damon Fowler

Sunday, April 9

∫ 12:30 – 2 p m Thunder Beach

∫ 2:30 – 4 p m JP Soars & The Red Hots

∫ 4 : 3 0 – 6 p m K - L u v & U n i t e d F u n k Foundation

The final ‘seasoning’ to the event is a marketplace of arts and crafts (e.g., painting, jewelry, ceramics, woodworking) along with gourmet food items and specialty products Enjoy shopping during the breaks between band performances

For more information, visit www paragonfestivals com

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 at 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 Homestead Road S , Lehigh Acres 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 R o t a r y C l u b A d v a n c e r e g i s t r a t i o n i s r e q u i r e d 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 Boca Grande Community Center 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, call 239-533-2921 or visit www leeparks org The Boca Grande Community Center is located at 131 First St , Boca Grande

Florida Repertory Theatre announces 2023-2024 Season

Florida Repertory Theatre has announced its 26th Season in the Historic Arcade and ArtStage Studio Theatres The 2023-2024 Season opens to previews in the ArtStage Studio on Sept 19, and the nineshow season runs through May 19, 2024

Subscriptions are on sale now to renewing patrons and to new subscribers, and packages start as low as $234 for six shows Packages are available for 9, 8, 7, and 6 shows, and offer the biggest savings over single ticket prices which increase when they go on sale in July

“All of us at Florida Rep wish to thank the loyal patrons and supporters who came out to the theatre this season especially considering the impact of Hurricane Ian As we all continue on the path to recovery, we are thankful to begin preparations for our twenty-sixth season,” s a i d p r o d u c i n g a r t i s t i c d i r e c t o r G r e g L o n g e n h a g e n “ O u r 2 0 2 32024 season will be full of joyful l a u g h t e r , e l e c t r i f y i n g d r a m a , a n d beautiful, iconic music and we truly l o o k f o r w a r d t o s h a r i n g i t w i t h you ”

Florida Rep’s 26th Season kicks off on Sept 19 in the ArtStage Studio Theatre with “Beguiled Again” featuring music by Richard Rogers, lyrics by Lorenz Hart, conceived by J Barry Lewis, Lynnette Barkley, and Craig D Ames, with musical arrangements by Craig D Ames This glamorous, romantic, and nostalgic salute to America’s most beloved songwriting team, Rogers and Hart, features more than 50 songs including “Bewitched,” “My Funny Valentine,” and many more

The Historic Arcade Theatre opens Oct 27 with “The Legend of Georgia McBride” by Matthew Lopez. When a down-and-out Elvis impersonator’s gig at a seedy, Florida

bar is about to be replaced by a second-rate drag show, “the King” gets a make-over by some fabulous new friends and steals the show in this big-hearted and music-filled comedy

The season continues in December in the Historic Arcade Theatre with “A Sherlock Carol,” a regional premiere by Mark Shanahan The worlds of Charles Dickens and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle collide in this inventive holiday whodunnit full of intrigue, suspense and a good helping of holiday cheer

The surrealistic fantasy, “The Mountaintop” by Katori Hall opens Dec 15 in the ArtStage Studio This gripping and electrifying drama imagines a chance encounter between Dr Martin Luther King, Jr and a mysterious stranger on the night before he is assassinated.

Florida Rep kicks off 2024 in the Historic Arcade with “Beehive: the ’60s Musical” created by Larry Gallagher This non-stop, energetic celebration of the powerful female voices of the 1960s features chart toppers from Diana Ross & The Supremes, Petula Clark, Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, and more

The modern American classic and Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “The Gin Game” by D.L. Coburn opens Feb 2 in the ArtStage Studio This

touching, heart-wrenching story follows two nursing home residents as they reflect on the highs and lows of their lives while playing game after game of gin

On Feb 16, Ken Ludwig’s “A Comedy of Tenors” opens in the Historic Arcade Theatre This madcap comedy full of mistaken identities and bedroom hijinks is set in 1930s Paris where the concert of the century is about to take place as long as the producer can keep his stars in line

In March, “Hank Williams: Lost Highway” by Randal Myler and Mark Harelik is presented by a company of actor-musicians in the Historic Arcade Theatre The musical features many of Williams hits like “Hey, Good Lookin’,” “Move it on Over,” and follows the influential singer-songwriter’s rise from humble beginnings, through career triumphs, and tragic death at age 29.

Florida Rep’s season closes in the ArtStage Studio with an explosive masterpiece by David Mamet “Oleanna,” opening April 19, is filled with electrifying dialog, blazing emotion, and an ending that will leave audiences talking for weeks The riveting drama follows a college professor and his female student who become embroiled in an escalating war of words that transforms a serene college campus into a battleground for justice

Subscription packages for 9, 8, 7, and 6 shows are on sale now and give patrons the option to lock into seats or the flexibility to reserve as the season progresses for as low as $234

The popular Flex Pass offers the greatest flexibility and allows pass holders to lock into $58 tickets for the season after the minimum purchase of six tickets Preview Subscriptions sell out quickly for See THEATRE, page 15

Community Cooperative announces PB&J Drive through April 24

Community Cooperative is asking businesses and the community to help support a peanut butter and jelly collection drive through April 24 Peanut butter and jelly are some of the most frequently requested items at mobile food pantries because it is kid-friendly, shelf-stable, and protein-rich

“Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are a simple way to feed kids who lack access to food when school is out f o r t h e s u m m e r , ” s a i d J a n e l l e O l s o n , C o m m u n i t y

Cooperative’s Community Engagement Manager “Of course, peanut butter and jelly isn’t just for kids, but families and seniors also rely on these pantry staples ”

I n a d d i t i o n , t h e c o l l e c t i o n h o n o r s C o m m u n i t y

Cooperative’s late founder Sam Galloway Jr , who, with many others, began the Soup Kitchen in 1984 by handing out peanut butter and jelly sandwiches after church in downtown Fort Myers to people who found themselves in need of a meal

Donations are needed of any brand or type of peanut butter, almond or alternative nut butter, jelly, or jam in plastic jars instead of glass Also, no expired or homemade items or pre-made sandwiches will be accepted

A weigh-in to see which team and individual collected the most peanut butter and jelly is planned for Monday, April 24, from 2 to 4 p.m., at Community Cooperative with prizes for winners Businesses, schools, churches, and community neighborhoods are encouraged to organize their own drives

Summer Camp show announced at The Laboratory Theater of Florida

The Laboratory Theater of Florida’s award-winning education department will be holding a Summer Camp from June 26 to July 14 for students aged 11–17

The students will create and produce the high-octane c o m e d y “ S h e K i l l s M o n s t e r s : Y o u n g A d v e n t u r e r s Edition” by Qui Nguyen, with four performances July 13-16.

The Laboratory Theater of Florida takes a “whole actor” approach to acting In addition to physical theater, stage combat, voice modulation, blocking, stagecraft, and scene study, students also learn the basics of set design, lighting elements, lighting design, costuming, stage makeup, stage management, and theater etiquette and best practices And, of course, theater games

The camp culminates in a professional production of “She Kills Monsters: Young Adventurers Edition” by Qui Nguyen, which plays for four performances the weekend of July 14 Speaking and backstage roles are available for all abilities, genders, and ethnicities within the camp age range

This camp is limited to 15 students, ages 11-17, which guarantees one-on-one instruction and allows the theater to train the students safely The theater will consider actors outside this age range on a case-by-case basis and readiness assessment

Each day will offer a different intensive lesson This is a hands-on, interactive camp with theater professionals, a

Theatre From page 14

most plays, so the theatre recommends acting swiftly to lock into those seats and savings while supplies last Premium Subscriptions start at $342 (for six shows) and offer the biggest savings on premium seats

Single tickets go on sale July 10 and start at $65/$61 for regular performances and $43/$39 for previews Single Tickets for “Beehive” and “Lost Highway” start at $69/$63 Single tickets are priced dynamically and the value increases with demand The theater recommends the Flex Pass for single ticket buyers who want to

Janelle@CommunityCooperative com A Food Drive Tool Kit and printable flyers are available to decorate collection boxes or bins Financial donations to purchase peanut butter and jelly for the drive are also welcome For more information visit CommunityCooperative com

Community Cooperative is at 3429 Dr Martin Luther King, Jr Blvd , Fort Myers

About Community Cooperative

Since 1984, Community Cooperative has worked to effectively eliminate hunger and homelessness in southwest Florida while simultaneously inspiring and supporting sustained positive change in its clients by delivering innovative food, education, and social service programs With a dedicated team of volunteers, board of directors and staff, Community Cooperative stays committed to its core responsibility to collect and distribute resources through a strong and viable network of community partners Community Cooperative is an exemplary steward of the resources entrusted to it and serves clients with compassion and integrity Through collaboration and ongoing education, Community Cooperative supports and strengthens those whose lives have been affected by hunger and homelessness, ensuring that they have access to the resources necessary to transform their lives with dignity

Lighthouse of SWFL to hold unique sensory dining experience, benefit April 22

L i g h t h o u s e o f S o u t h w e s t Florida will be holding its “Dining in the Dark” event on Saturday, April 22, from 6-9 p m at Heritage Palms Golf & Country Club in Fort Myers This event is a unique sensory awareness and dining experience providing guests with a firsthand glimpse into the challenges of living with blindness or low vision while raising much-needed funds to achieve Lighthouse of SWFL’s mission of providing vision rehab i l i t a t i o n a n d i n d e p e n d e n c e f o r those we are privileged to serve.

Emceeing the event will be Eric Raddatz, one of the most renowned faces in the Southwest Florida movie and news com-

completely immersive experience that has proven to be both successful and enjoyable by previous campers Summer Camp runs from 8:30 a m –4:30 p m each day (with a 30-minute window from 8–8:30 a m and from 4:30–5 p m ) and is $525 for the entire three-week theatrical experience Limited scholarships and sibling discounts are available

Registration is required For registration forms or scholarship applications, please call The Laboratory Theater of Florida’s Education Department at 239-8414250 or register online at www laboratorytheaterflorida com

This camp is sponsored, in part, by a grant from the School District of Lee County

lock into lower prices for the whole season and the only way to lock into lower prices for Arcade musicals is to subscribe with any package

Continuing for the 2023-2024 season, all evening performances in both venues start at 7 p.m., with the exception of Opening Nights (first Fridays) which begin at the later 8 p m curtain time

Popular matinee performances on Wednesday (Arcade), Thursday (ArtStage), and selected Fridays (Arcade), Saturdays, and Sunday begin at 2 p m

Florida Rep’s free parking opens two

munity, who is familiar with the movie theme He is the founder and director of the Fort Myers Film Festival, a regular contributor at NBC, ABC and iHeart radio in SWFL and is also the host of the i n d i e f i l m l i v e t h e a t e r s e r i e s T G I M He is a veteran visual journalist and currently serves as e d i t o r o f F o r t M y e r s F l o r i d a Weekly

Event tickets are $125 each and include dinner, dessert and one drink To securely purchase your e v e n t t i c k e t s o n - l i n e , v i s i t https://www lighthouseswfl org/ Heritage Palms Golf & Country Club is at 10420 Washingtonia Palm Way, Fort Myers

The Laboratory Theater is at 1634 Woodford Ave , Fort Myers

About The Laboratory Theater Of Florida

The Laboratory Theater of Florida, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is dedicated to the promotion of the performing arts, through live performance, education, community outreach, experimentation, and the development of ensemble work The company features ensemble productions, produces classic works, takes artistic risks, which both feature and challenge local performers For m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n v i s i t ww w LaboratoryTheaterFlorida com or the physical location at 1634 Woodford Avenue, in the Fort Myers River District

hours before every performance

To read more about the 26th Season and to download a subscription order form, visit www FloridaRep org To renew or become a new subscriber over the phone, please call the box office at 239-332-4488. Box office hours are Monday–Friday, 10 a m –5 p m ; Saturday, noon–5 p m ; Sunday two hours before curtain

Florida Repertory Theatre performs in the Historic Arcade Theatre and the ArtStage Studio Theatre on Bay St between Jackson & Hendry with free park-

ing in the Fort Myers River District Visit Florida Rep online at www FloridaRep org, and by following the company on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube

Florida Rep’s current season is PLAYING NOW through May 21. “Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash” plays through April 23 in the Historic Arcade Theatre, and “Lobby Hero” plays April 18–May 21 in the ArtStage Studio Theatre Tickets and information are available through the box office at 239-3324488 or toll-free at 877-787-8053

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 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

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

Eighth annual Bonita Springs

Shor t Film Festival to be held April 22

The eighth annual 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, documentary, western, etc ) and tell a story through film

The festival is now accepting footage from any location, particularly from Southwest Florida, though judges like films shot in Bonita Springs and those films will receive additional points The 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

A w a r d c a t e g o r i e s i n c l u d e B e s t O v e r a l l , B e s t Depiction of Bonita Springs, Most Original, Best Film Under 18, Best Musical Video and the People’s Choice Award

Company sponsors include City of Bonita Springs, Henderson Franklin 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 www BonitaSpringsfilmfestival com or check the Bonita Springs Festival Facebook page, where there will 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 Director, Antonio Correia at antonio@bonitavideo com

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

Junior Achievement ‘Inspire’ event to be held April 26-28

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 F l o r i d a ( J A ) h a s b e e n i m p a c t i n g t h e 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

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 n - c 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 s - o 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 n n 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 t l 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 ud 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

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

Local business leaders across Southwest Florida are encouraged to participate Expo booth space and sponsorship opportunities are available Sponsorships are critical for Junior Achievement to continue providing life-changing programs to students in our community

You can make a difference in the lives of these students by emailing Stephanie Hoffman, Director of Operations at shoffman@jaswfl org To help support Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida and the future of local children, please visit www JASWFL org or call 239-225-2590

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

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

Love seniors

B y I S A B E L L E W E L L S

A f t e r a l l t h a t t i m e s e e i n g destruction on the island for the last six months, it is nice to see some dogs taking walks again and people crossing the boulevard and going to the beach It feels like normal for a few moments. Of course on the side street, some homes still have a lot of debris which could be a risk to pets I have been walking my dogs but I watch everything they put in their mouth Somehow they find stuff

I remember one of the contractors after the hurricane let his dog o u t o f t h e c a r S h e w a s going everywhere jumping and running on piles of debris and even in stinky water. Didn’t bother him even after we told him it was dangerous

Piper is a funny puppy

What can I say? She is adorable and only 10 pounds and growing. A blue merle miniature Australian Shepherd She is 15 weeks old and just trying to figure out life Crate trained at night Loves to snuggle If you are interested in Piper please call/Text Isabelle at 239281-0739 Thanks

In a few weeks we will lose our volunteers for the summer and will need transporters If you can help please text or call Isabelle at 239-281-0739

A couple weeks ago we got an alert about t w o v e r y s w e e t g i r l s going to the shelter that S a t u r d a y T h e i r M o m p a s s e d a w a y a n d h e r boyfriend couldn’t keep t h e m a n y l o n g e r f o r health reason True or not, it is the reality of many dogs If you have a p e t p l e a s e m a k e a r r a n g e m e n t w i t h f r i e n d s , f a m i l y a n d i n c l u d e t h e m i n y o u r will It might save their lives We took the girls in rescue and they are now available for adopt i o n P l e a s e c o n t a c t I s a b e l l e a t 2 3 9 - 2 8 10739 for more information

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.

A yard sale was held on the south end of Fort Myers Beach on March 17 and 18 and our rescue, Save our Strays, was the charity. Many thanks to those who participated and helped at this event and especially Debbie H for all her hard work setting it all up and managing the sales plus selling 50/50 tickets and silent auction items Many cat items are needing to be replaced due to all the loss of everything in the hurricane As per the flyer we are the charity for two bingo nights this week on Thursday, April 6, in downtown Fort Myers and

Friday, April 7, at Page Field Commons Plaza near Best Buy at Standard Restaurant Any donations can be made at P.O. Box 5014, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33912 If you would like to come and meet the cats we have for adoption, please call Jo at 239-851-3485 to schedule a time Cats for adoption are also at our two Pet Supermarket stores on College Parkway and also Majestic Palms Boulevard, off San Carlos Boulevard, and close to the beach Food donations can also be left there in the bins provided

Fran is a female Tuxedo and just turned 2 years old the end of March. She has a sister, Nan. They are very close and actively play and chase each other. They can be adopted as a pair or singly.

D e b r i s c o u l d b e a r i s k t o p e t s

Organization seeking former USS Intrepid crew members

The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum reported that Aug 16 will mark the 80th anniversary of the commissioning of USS Intrepid (CVS-11), the World War II-era Essex class aircraft carrier that is now the centerpiece of the New York City museum To mark the occasion, the museum will put out a coast-to-coast “all call” for Intrepid former crew members to be reunited at a special 80th Commissioning Anniversary Celebration on board the ship

The museum is also seeking and accepting donations of personal artifacts and memorabilia from former crew members and their families The museum noted that each item added to the collection helps it perpetuate, honor, express and interpret Intrepid’s stories of service, and to fulfill its mission to honor, educate and inspire millions of people each year

The museum reported that the homecoming will fea-

County’s annual food-rescue campaign taking donations

Lee County Solid Waste’s fifth annual “Donated not Wasted” food rescue campaign encourages seasonal residents and visitors to donate unopened pantry items before returning north

Join Solid Waste, the Harry Chapin Food Bank, Waste Pro, Lee County Library System, Sanibel Public Library and Lee County Parks & Recreation to help route food that might otherwise end up in the waste stream to the county's population of people in need Drop off unopened canned or dry goods from now through April 10 at open libraries or county recreation centers Additional collection containers are at the Six Mile Cypress Slough Interpretive Center and Lee County Solid Waste’s Topaz Court Facility

The drop-off locations include:

Recreation centers

∫ Estero Recreation Center, at 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd , Estero

∫ North Fort Myers Recreation Center, at 2000 North Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers

ture a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of Intrepid’s commissioning on Aug 16, honoring former crew members from all eras of the carrier’s service, who will reunite and share stories of their tours of duty It will host a special former crew member dinner event that evening and guided tours of the ship For some former crew members, it will be the first time they have been aboard their ship since the completion of their service While the museum recognizes the ship’s commissioning anniversary every year, the 80th celebration promises to be the largest gathering of former crew members since the 75th anniversary in 2018

the visiting former crew members

Reynolds St , Bonita Springs

∫ Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library, at 921 S W 39th Terrace, Cape Coral

∫ Dunbar-Jupiter Hammon Public Library, at 3095 Blount St , Fort Myers

∫ East County Regional Library, at 881 Gunnery Road, Lehigh Acres

∫ Fort Myers Regional Library, at 2450 First St , Fort Myers

∫ Johann Fust Community Library, at 1040 W 10th St , Boca Grande

∫ North Fort Myers Public Library, at 2001 N Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers

∫ Northwest Regional Library, at 519 N. Chiquita Blvd N , Cape Coral

∫ Pine Island Public Library, at 10701 Russell Road, Bokeelia

∫ Sanibel Public Library, at 770 Dunlop Road, Sanibel

∫ South County Regional Library, at 21100 Three Oaks Parkway, Estero

Others

∫ Six Mile Cypress Slough Interpretive Center, at 7751 Penzance Blvd , Fort Myers

∫ Topaz Court Solid Waste Annex, at 6441 Topaz Court, Fort Myers

Since the program's inception, 25,385 pounds of food has been diverted from potential disposal and sent to Harry Chapin enough food to provide more than 21,000 meals to residents.

T h e m u s e u m a

e p i d ’ s 8 0 t h Commissioning Anniversary Celebration is open to the public, and will feature events specifically tailored for former crew members and their families, as well as opportunities for members of the public to interact with

Now a national historic landmark, the aircraft carrier Intrepid was one of the most successful and stalwart ships in U S history Nicknamed “The Fighting I” by its crew, it served in the Pacific during World War II, surviving five kamikaze attacks and one torpedo strike It later conducted submarine surveillance in the North Atlantic during the Cold War and served three tours of duty off Vietnam It was also one of the primary recovery vessels for NASA during the Mercury and Gemini missions, and retrieved astronauts Scott Carpenter, Gus Grissom and John Young after their respective orbits and splashdowns in the Pacific

To learn more about the commemoration and for registration information, former crew members and their family members can visit intrepidmuseum org/80 or contact fcm@intrepidmuseum org

‘The Future of Art’ exhibit to open at Alliance

The 31st Annual “The Future of Art: Student Exhibit” will be on display today, April 5, through April 29 at the Alliance for the Arts, at 10091 McGregor Blvd , Fort Myers

P a r t n e r i n g w i t h L e e A r t s Educators Association, the show will feature artwork from Lee County elementary, middle and high schools with hundreds of works in a variety of mediums It will feature 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

The exhibition will be divided into the following two-week sessions:

∫ Elementary/middle school on display from April 5-14

Opening reception set for today, April 5, from 5 to 7 p m

∫ High school on display from April 20-29

Edison, Ford estates to

T h e E d i s o n a n d F o r d W i n t e r Estates in Fort Myers will hold its annual “Grow Fort Myers” Plant Sale and Workshops, combined with the Orchid Symposium that was cancelled last fall, on April 7-8

April 7: Plant sale

Plant vendors will have plants available for sale from noon to 4 p m

The following vendors will have orchids and other plants available: B e l l o T r o p i c a l s , F l o r i d a O r c h i d H o u s e , H a n g - a - P o t , J i m - N - I Orchids, Krull/Smith Orchids, OFE Orchid Supplies, Orchids Amore, Sierra Madre, SO Orchids, Sunland Orchids, and Tropiflora Plus, the Garden Shoppe will be open and stocked with a large selection of p l a n t s a n d t r e e s , a n d w i l d f l o w e r seeds will also be available

There is no charge to attend the plant sale or the Garden Shoppe area Tours or admission to the museum and lab or riverside of the property are not included

April 8: Workshops and plant sale

The plant sale will continue from 9 a m to 4 p m , along with workshops. Attendees can also learn about the new wildflower garden There is no charge to attend the sale; however, a ticket is required for the workshops The tickets are $20 for members or $25 for non-members. Tours or admission to the museum and lab or riverside of the property are not included

The schedule for the workshops is as follows:

∫ “ G r o w i n g O r c h i d s a s Houseplants” from 10 to 10:45 a.m. with orchid specialist Michael Spelta

Opening reception on April 20 from 5 to 7 p m with pizza provided by Downtown House of Pizza

Both receptions will be free and open to the public

T h e e x h i b i t i s s p o n s o r e d b y Florida South Western State College

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t https://www artinlee org/event/laea2 023/

host sale and symposium

∫ “ U n r a v e l i n g t h e M y s t e r i e s o f O r c h i d P o t t i n g ” f r o m 1 1 t o 1 1 : 4 5 a m w i t h S t a n G r i g i s k i , o f t h e S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a O r c h i d S o c i e t y

∫ “ W i l d f l o w e r T a l k & S t r o l l ” f r o m n o o n t o 1 p m w i t h D e b b i e H u g h e s , h o r t i c u l t u r e d i r e c t o r f o r t h e E d i s o n a n d F o r d W i n t e r E s t a t e s

∫ “Introduction to Orchids” from 1 to 1:45 p m with Mickey Carnell, of Blue Pagoda Orchids

∫ “ G r o w i n g O r c h i d s f r o m Seedlings” from 2 to 2:45 p m with Jim Davison, of Jim-N-I Orchids

∫ “ B e n i g n N e g l e c t o f O r c h i d s ” f r o m 3 t o 3 : 4 5 p m w i t h R o b e r t R i e f e r , o f t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f F l o r i d a

Attendees can also enter to win a rare and endangered, native Vanilla d i l l o n i a n a o r c h i d T h e s u g g e s t e d donation for each raffle ticket is $5 The winner will be drawn at the end

of the event on April 8

“With the help of a grant from the Florida Wildflower Foundation, we started a wildflower garden behind t h e l a b o r a t o r y , w h e r e T h o m a s Edison once grew rows and rows of Goldenrod,” Hughes said “Visitors will be able to stroll through the wildflower garden and learn about the native plants ”

Food and beverage vendors will have refreshments available for purchase on April 8

Attendees are encouraged to bring a garden cart, as only a limited number will be available

For more information or tickets, visit EdisonFord org

T h e E d i s o n a n d F o r d W i n t e r Estates is at 2350 McGregor Blvd , Fort Myers

EDISON AND FORD WINTER ESTATES

Participants attend a gardening workshop at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers

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 are on sa mightymussels com

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 gratitude of their vital work in the after of Hurricane Ian.

The Mussels will host 14 fir 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 Mussels’ logo and color scheme

On July 2-3, Fort Myers will celebrate Independence Day by donning the Stars & Stripes for a pair of games that will also have post-game eworks Proceeds will benefit eep Lee County Beautiful ” nights

, April 22 – Grateful Dead ted by Budweiser – Pre and sic tribute by jazz and funk d Devotion ” For more inform a t i o n o n e v e r y t h i n g G r a t e f u l D e a d , v i s i t

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!

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

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

The Craig Scott Memorial Golf T o u r n a m e n t , “ T e e I t U p F O R E K i d s , ” b e n e f i t i n g T h e H e i g h t s C e n t e r E a r l y L e a r n i n g p r o g r a m , will take 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 proceeds benefit The Heights Center Early Learning, an o r g a n i z a t i o n t h a t s u p p o r t s m o r e than 80 children from birth through a g e 4 A p a r t o f T h e H e i g h t s

F o u n d a t i o n / T 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

“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

“ 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

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

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

T h e C a p e C o r a l A n i m a l S h e l t e r i s h o l d i n g a W a l k , W i g g l e , W a g & 5 K R u n S a t u r d a y , A p r i l 1 5

T h e r u n i s a t t h e s h e l t e r , a t 2 5 S W 2 n d A v e , C a p e C o r a l , a n d s t a r t s a t 8 a m w i t h t h e w a l k s t a r ti n g a t 1 1 a m

T h e e v e n t i s b o t h a f u n w a l k a r o u n d t h e s h e l t e r a n d a t i m e d 5 K T h e r e w i l l b e m u s i c , f o o d t r u c k s , a v e n d o r m a r k e t p l a c e , a p e t c o s t u m e c o n t e s t a n d g i v e - a w a y s , i n c l u d i n g a n e v e n t s h i r t W a l k p a r t i c i p a n t s w i l l e n l i s t f a m i l y a n d f r i e n d s , f o r m a p a c k / t e a m , c r e a t e a f u n d r a i s i n g p a g e a n d c o m p e t e t o b e c o m e a t o p f u n d r a i s e r a n d w i n g r e a t p r i z e s . F o r t h e r u n n e r s , t h e r e w i l l b e p r i z e s f o r m e n , w o m e n a n d k i d s w h o c o m e i n f i r s t i n t h e i r a g e g r o u p a n d f o r t h e d o g r u n n e r s w h o t a k e f i r s t , s e co n d a n d t h i r d p l a c e F o r a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e e v e n t a n d t o r e g i s t e r , p l e a s e v i s i t C a p e C o r a l A n i m a l S h e l t e r . c o m

g e 1 9 n W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , A p r i l 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

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