Fort Myers Beach Observer/The Beach Bulletin

Fire district to close on $3.4 million land deal

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

The Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District is expected to soon close on a $3 4 million deal to acquire waterfront property on San Carlos Island for a new administrative building and training facility

The property will accommodate all of the fire district’s administration offices, which are currently split between San Carlos Boulevard and Voorhis Street.

age used for shrimp boats before Hurricane Ian wiped it out A portion of the building to be torn down is on property owned by Erickson and Jensen Seafood

The Fort Myers Beach Board of Fire Commissioners had approved the purchase, which was contingent on a building on the property at 1101 Shrimp Boat Lane being torn down

the property and expects the deal to close in the next 30-45 days

Fort Myers Beach Fire Chief Scott Wirth said the district is under contract to purchase

The 1 75 acre parcel is adjacent to Erickson & Jensen Seafood and had dock-

Nat ional championship maki ng fi rst tr ip back t o For t Myers Beach since 2019

By NATHAN MAYBERG

nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Th e A m e r i c a n S a n d S c u l p t i n g

Championship is returning to Fort Myers Beach for the first time

s i n c e 2 0 1 9 , t h e F o r t M y e r s B e a c h Chamber of Commerce announced

The popular championship, which features dozens of impressive art sculptures from the sand, will take place between Nov 21–24

The chamber announced that it is partnering with the DiamondHead Beach Resort and The Sand Lovers LLC on the event

There will be multiple sand sculpture and vendor locations, Liszak said

The 34th annual championship was long a fixture on Fort Myers Beach until COVID and Hurricane Ian dashed plans for its return

“The return of the American Sand Sculpting Championship to Fort Myers Beach is a huge win for the entire community,” Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak said

“Overcoming the challenges of two years of COVID and two years of impact

from Hurricane Ian has been a tremendous feat, however, with teamwork from all of the event partners, we are thrilled to be able to bring this much-loved event b a c k t o F o r t M y e r s B e a c h i n November,” Liszak said.

See SAND SCULPTURES, page 19

T h e A m e r i c a n S a n d S c u l p t u r e Championship will be returning to Fort Myers Beach in November for the first time since 2019, when this sculpture won the top prize

NATHAN MAYBERG

“All of the pre-work to do the demolition has been completed,” Wirth said “We are now waiting for the demolition company to do their work ”

Wirth said the property will accommo-

FILE PHOTO

Loggerhead

Wednesday, May 1

Sea turtle nesting starts May 1

By NATHAN MAYBERG

nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

To protect threatened loggerhead sea turtles, Florida’s sea turtle nesting season officially begins on Fort Myers Beach May 1 and runs through October

That means blinds go down from 9 p m to 7 a m and outdoor lights are prohibited on the island unless they are shielded, downward-directed LED lights Indoor lights should be kept as far away from windows as possible so the light isn’t visible from the beach

The town’s turtle light ordinance is meant to ensure nesting sea turtles, federa l l y p r o t e c t e d u n d e r t h e E n d a n g e r e d Species Act, aren’t disoriented and that hatching sea turtles don’t chase lights and die after they leave their nests

Last year saw a record number of disorientations of sea turtles on Fort Myers Beach, as documented by Turtle Time

The start of turtle-nesting season also means it’s the start of a five-month jour-

See SEA TURTLE NESTING, page 21

sea turtle nesting season begins on Fort Myers Beach

A new insurance challenge for snowbirds: unregulated surplus line carriers

For years, miles of pristine coastline, mild winters, and yearlong golf have made Florida among the most popular retirement spots in the country Snowbirds flock to the Sunshine State, often purchasing second homes to live here while family and friends shiver in northern climates

Recent legislation, however, could have a significant impact on these homeowners, as nearly 80,000 Florida homes could be taken off Citizens Insurance and moved to what are called “surplus line carriers ”

With insurance costs rising, depopulating the state-run insurance carrier has become a priority. However, pushing thousands of homes to surplus line carriers provides a complex set of obstacles that Florida property owners need to be aware of Unlike regular insurance companies, surplus line carriers are unregulated by the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) and their policies often cover risky properties or luxury items that other insurance companies will not Now, they’re expanding into the Florida property insurance market

Surplus line carriers are now allowed to selectively target homes insured by Citizens that are vacant for nine months yearly This leaves those with vacation homes and or temporary Florida residents at risk, highlighting the importance of consumer advocacy and the crucial role of public adjusters in protecting policyholder rights and ensuring fair insurance settlements

As president of the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (FAPIA), I believe all Florida homeowners have the right to understand their insurance options It is important to know if your “second home” qualifies to be taken out of Citizens Gather paperwork and calculate your time and tenant’s time at the property You should also confirm how much you are currently paying for Citizens, as homeowners are only required to accept an offer that is within

Economic impact of dir ty water

To the editor:

We b Po ll

One million acres of Florida’s estuaries are polluted; 9,000 miles of our recreational waters are polluted; 80% of our natural springs are polluted Every year we have toxic red tide that causes people to have severe allergies, coughing, difficulty breathing, and other symptoms.

Additionally, the marine life our community and state rely on so heavily for tourism revenue suffers from blue green algae growth that shades their habitat and prevents them from flourishing during warmer months

A c c o r d i n g t o a s t u d y p e r f o r m e d b y Greene Economics LLC and published Dec 20, 2023, if Charlotte, Lee and Collier coun-

20% of what they are paying for Citizens’ coverage.

If you are forced to accept coverage from a surplus line carrier, there are several things I recommend you prepare for and know before you endure a hurricane season or file a claim

First, the recent legislation requires surplus line carriers to provide “comparable” coverage when you renew your policy Identify critical numbers in your current policy, like your deductible, judge these against your surplus lines carrier’s coverage to ensure your needs are covered

Second, the most glaring hole in surplus lines coverage is these carriers are not required to participate in the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association, which pays for damages if your insurer goes insolvent With a surplus line carrier, homeowners are left unprotected

Finally, surplus line carriers, being unregulated, may include contract terms not permitted for regulated carriers, such as clauses limiting policyholders’ rights to hire public adjusters Their lack of regulation also complicates claim disputes, potentially requiring Floridians to travel, even internationally, to address issues This could mean going as far as New York, Bermuda or London for litigation against these carriers

If you are the owner of a Florida vacation home or one of our welcomed seasonal residents, I encourage you to ask questions in the event your Citizens policy is eligible for takeout Being prepared and knowledgeable can save you both on your monthly premium and in the unfortunate case that you are forced to file an insurance claim

John Hornbuckle is president of the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters’ board of directors He is a former mayor of Biscayne Park, obtained his public adjuster license in 2011, and is focused on advocacy for insurance consumers

ties experience another harmful algae bloom of a scale similar to that of 2005/06 and 2018, our area would lose over $460 million in commercial and recreational fishing, over 43,000 jobs, $5 2 billion in economic output, $17 8 billion in property values and a resulting $60 million in tax revenue, and $8 1 billion in value from outdoor recreation

The economic health of our community is at risk! We must act now by taking immediate action!

Please go to this website to make a donation and or obtain a petition, sign it and mail it in: https://www floridarighttocleanwater org/donate The Florida Right to Clean Waters is seeking to hold those contributing to the pollution accountable for cleaning it up

so taxpayers don’t end up footing the bill We can no longer afford to ignore this issue!

Whitney Taylor Cape Coral

Don’t leave your pet in the car

To the editor:

While most Floridians are excited to see temperatures in the 80s, warm weather means that we must be more vigilant about watching for dogs left in hot cars. Recently, I heard yelping and whining in a store parking lot and followed the sound to discover a black dog left alone in an SUV I found the owner, who said that his dog was fine because the windows were cracked and he

See LETTERS, page 22

John Hornbuckle Guest Commentary

e t s w i l l o n l y b e d r a w n o n c e a n d w i l l n o t b e r e - e n t e r e d f o r f u t u r e d r a w i n g s A g r a n d p r i z e d r a w i n g w i l l b e h e l d D e c . 3 1 f o r a M a r g a r i t a v i l l e A t S e a C r u i s e f o r T w o , o n t h e i r P a r a d i s e S h i p f r o m W e s t P a l m B e a c h f o r t h r e e d a y s a n d t w o n i g h t s E a c h p a r t i c i p a t i n g l o c a l e s t a b l i s h m e n t w i l l o f f e r a d r i n k s p e c i a l f o r a l l p a s s p o r t h o l d e r s T h e p a s s p o r t h o l d e r w i l l g e t a s t a m p p r o v i n g t h e y p u r c h a s e d t h e s p e c i a l t y d r i n k A f t e r c o m p l e t i n g t h e i r “ P a s s p o r t A d v e n t u r e , ” t h e f i r s t 5 0 0 p a s s p o r t h o l d e r s w i l l r e c e i v e a f r e e F o r t M y e r s B e a c h C o m m e m o r a t i v e F o r t M y e r s B e a c h P u b P a s s p o r t B e a c h B a g A s a n a d d e d b o n u s , t h e r e w i l l b e p r i z e s e a c h m o n t h s u c h a s t r i p s o n K e y W e s t E x p r e s s a n d m o r e T h e f i r s t d r a w i n g i s M a y 1 T h e P u b P a s s p o r t i s b e i n g s p o n s o r e d b y t h e K i n g F a m i l y F o u n d a t i o n a n d M a r g a r i t a v i l l e B e a c h R e s o r t “ W e a r e e x c i t e d t o p a i r u p w i t h t h e K i n g F a m i l y F o u n d a t i o n a n d M a r g a r i t a v i l l e a t S e a , ” s a i d F o r t M y e r s B e a c h W o m a n ’ s C l u b P r e s i d e n t D a w n T h o m a s “ O u r c l u b a n d i s l a n d c o n t i n u e t o w o r k t o g e t h e r t o h e l p e a c h o t h e r f i n d w a y s t o n a v i g a t e t h r o u g h o u r r e b u i l di n g p r o c e s s T h e g e n e r o s i t y o f M a r g a r i t a v i l l e c o n t i nu e s t o a m a z e u s W e k n o w m a n y p e o p l e l o v e o u r l i t t l e b e a c h , a n d w e h o p e y o u w i l l c o m e s u p p o r t o u r b u s in e s s e s ” P a s s p o r t s a r e $ 3 0 9 5 ( $ 2 5 f o r p a s s p o r t a n d $ 5 9 5 f o r s h i p p i n g a n d h a n d l i n g ) A l l p r o c e e d s w i l l g o t o t h e F o r t M y e r s B e a c h W o m a n ’ s C l u b t o h e l p b u i l d b a c k t h e i r c l u b h o u s e H o w i t w o r k s : ∫ G o t o w w w f m b - w c o r g a n d o r d e r y o u r P u b P a s s p o r t

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LPA rejects land use change for Moss Marina project

By NATHAN MAYBERG

nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

The Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency voted 4-2 against allowing Moss Marina to make a comprehensive plan future land use amendment which would be the first step to allowing the property owner to build a multi-hotel project known as “Arches Bayfront” on their Harbor Court property.

Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency Chair Anita Cereceda said she opposed changing the land use to the highest intensity

“In my opinion it would destroy that neighborhood,” she said

“I can’t escape the very essential premise of our incorporation and our comprehensive

T h e F o r t M y e r s B e a c h L o c a l Planning Agency rejected a land use change for Moss Marina which w o u l d a l l o w f o r a m u l t i - h o t e l development known as "Arches Bayfront" at Harbour Court. SEE LAND USE, page 18

Beach Living

STAFF REPORT

Every April since 2015, FishingBooker, the world’s largest platform connecting anglers and fishing guides, announces its yearly Angler's Choice Award This exclusive recognition acknowledges charter operators for their exceptional customer service, reliability, and quality of fishing trips Out of 7,910 captains who partner with FishingBooker, only 537, or 6 8%, were recognized for their excellence each quarter this year

Of those 537 fishing guides, 15 are based in Lee County, which is 10% of the 153 Lee County captains listed on FishingBooker That means that Lee County captains performed well above the national average

Here is the full list of fishing guides in Lee County that received the yearly Angler’s Choice Award (ranked in no particular order):

∫ Fabian Guerrero of Gulf Coast Charter Service

∫ Dillon Bryant of Saltwater Excursions

∫ Robert Reed of Tarpon Magic Charters

∫ Nick Pisculli of SWFL Premier Charters

∫ Scott Williams of Thrill Of It All

∫ Dave Eliasson of Island Time Adventures

∫ Fred Gowdy of Fred Gowdy Charters

∫ Michael Panichello of BeeLine Fishing Charters

∫ Roland Willock of Day Shape Fishing Charters

∫ Paul Stiso of Captain Paul's Yacht Charters

∫ Andy Santana of Hooked4life Fishing Charters

∫ Captain Benny of Jump On Charters

∫ Joseph Sagi of Send It Charter Fishing

∫ Mike Moran of Dragonfly Charters

∫ Billy Williams of Maxed Out Charters

Requirements:

To be eligible for the award, fishing guides had to meet the following criteria over the past 12 months:

∫ 4 8+ out of 5-star review rating from 10+ verified reviews.

∫ 98% reliability score and response rate

∫ Full business verification

LeeCares Hurricane Ian Housing Recovery Program application deadline May 15

The online application portal and submission of new applications online or inperson for the LeeCares Hurricane Ian Housing Recovery Program will conclude at 5 p m , Wednesday, May 15

Lee County currently is processing more than 1,300 applications requesting assistance for repairing, reconstructing, elevating or purchasing a home. Lee County and its partners directly contacted more than 62,000 Lee County residents to provide LeeCares program information

Funding for the LeeCares housing program comes from the U S Department of

H o u s i n g a n d U r b a n D e v e l o p m e n t ’ s Community Development Block Grant –D i s a s t e r R e c o v e r y a l l o c a t i o n t o L e e County to address the disaster recovery needs of residents affected by the hurricane Programs for which individuals now can apply:

n T h e H o u s i n g R e h a b i l i t a t i o n , Reconstruction and Elevation program may assist income-eligible property owners to repair, replace and/or elevate property that suffered hurricane damage

n The Home Purchase Assistance may assist income-eligible home buyers to

Beach Kids Foundation announces scholarships

The Beach Kids Foundation is currently accepting scholarship applications for the 2024-25 school year and welcome local college-bound students to apply Every year, the foundation helps as many children as possible, through scholarship funding and through providing families at Beach Elementary School with supplies and other necessities to ensure the healthy growth and development of our youth.

To apply, students must live on Fort

Myers Beach or have a parent, grandparent or guardian who lives or works within the Fort Myers Beach area (33931 zip code)

To receive a scholarship application, email chairman Deborah Groll at summerinoh@aol com The deadline to submit an application is June 15 Over the years, the Beach Kids Foundation has provided hundreds of Fort Myers Beach students receive college scholarships

purchase a qualifying primary residence outside of the flood zone in Lee County

To view a full list of eligibility requirements and documents needed to apply, visit www leeflcares com

Q u e s t i o n s c a n b e e m a i l e d to leecares@leegov com Individuals also can call 239-382-5453

Once an application is submitted, individuals will be assigned a designated L e e C a r e s c a s e m a n a g e r t o p r o v i d e updates If an application is approved, the funding is a grant – not a loan – and does not need to be repaid if applicants comply with the terms of the grant

Comprehensive and detailed informat i o n a b o u t L e e C o u n t y ’ s C o m m u n i t y Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Action Plan, program allocations, activities and expenditures are provided on the county’s website at https://cdbgdr leegov com

To receive updates from Lee County Government, sign up for the newsletter here: www leegov com/resources/newslet ters Follow Lee County Government on Facebook, www facebook com/leecountyflbocc.

T h e F o r t M y e r s B e a c h L i o n s Foundation is now accepting applications for their 2024 ‘WE SERVE" scholarships Monetary awards for college or vocational educational assistance are given to local students who demonstrate ability, need and a solid record of community service

This year, the Lions Club will be awarding scholarships to 10 deserving applicants The form can be found on the F o r t M y e r s B e a c h L i o n s w e b s i t e : f m b l i o n s c o m P l e a s e m a k e s u r e y o u receive e-mail confirmation after you send the application All completed applications must be submitted no later than May 3 1 Q u e s t i o n s c a n b e a d d r e s s e d t o : info@fmblions com

FEMA grants town, county more time to respond

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SCCF celebrating Earth Week with BioBlitz

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation is celebrating Earth Week by holding a special week-long “BioBlitz” program to raise environmental awareness throughout Lee County through events that will include beachwalks at Sanibel beaches and nature walks at the nonprofit organization’s Johnson Preserve

The community programs started on Earth Day, this past Monday, as part of an effort to document Lee County plants and wildlife using the app iNaturalist

The bioblitz runs through Saturday and includes special guided bird walks and beach walks on Sanibel from SCCD

“This year, we are trying something new,” said Kelly McNeal, SCCF Coastal Watch Director “We are doing a weeklong bioblitz. It’s a community science project.”

The foundation is encouraging participants to use of the app to help the organization gain a better understanding of local wildlife and plants, and to help document them as part of SCCF’s iNaturalist project The project seeks to document, fauna, flora, birds, fish, molluscs, mammals, plants, reptiles, amphibians, fungi throughout Lee County

Participants will submit photos of the plants and wildlife they observe to SCCF's project on SCCF's iNaturalist project SCCF's username on iNaturalist is sanibelcaptivaconservationfoundation

“People enter everything they see birds, bugs, plants Everything. That will get us a really good idea of the (local) biodiversity,” McNeal said The foundation wants to make the “bioblitz” an annual event in the county

To participate, an iNaturalist account needs to be setup on a smart phone, camera or desktop Participants can download the app and then type in SCCF Earth Day BioBlitz and click on it The app will automatically document the location of the participants when they take photos and submit their sightings

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation will also be holding guided tours this week at its Johnston Preserve on Sanibel and at Gulfside City Park Beach

“It’s a great family activity,” McNeal sais.

Guided BioBlitz Walks

The scheduled for the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation guided BioBlitz walks on Sanibel is as follows:

∫ Wednesday, April 24: Bird Walk, 8-9:30 a m , Gulfside City Park Beach

∫ Thursday, April 25: Beach Walk, 2-3:30 p m , Meet at Sanibel Sea School

Guidelines

Please respect wildlife by keeping your distance, especially with sensitive species including nesting birds. Do not try to bait wildlife with food, and do not chase wildlife this causes them to expend unnecessary energy Respect private and conservation lands and obey park and city rules while observing

If you find an injured animal, please contact CROW's Wildlife Hospital at 239-472-3644 EXT 222 For injured or deceased sea turtles, please contact the SCCF Sea Turtle Hotline at 978-728-3663

Common questions

∫ What is a BioBlitz? A BioBlitz is a focused effort to take inventory of all living things in an area, essentially like a species census It’s a thrilling adventure where YOU become the scientist!

∫ What species are we looking for? Everything, we are looking for all the plants, animals, and even fungi we can find! The more data the better If you observe a plant in a garden, remember to mark the species as “captive/cultivated” when loading your observations

∫ Should I record invasive/exotic species? Yes! We want it all. Recording nonnatives will help us map where they are, and develop more productive mitigation strategies

∫ What if I don’t know what species it is? This is where iNaturalist comes in handy It will provide suggestions for what species it thinks your observation is based on the media you upload, and even if it's wrong, other account holders

can help verify your observation The iNaturalist platform allows us or another community scientist to post suggestions of what the species may be, which you can "agree" with

BioBlitz par ticipants can take par t in Bingo

The public can use iNaturalist to help the S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a Conservation Foundation document flora and fauna in Lee County from now through April 27 One fun way to participate in its Earth Week BioBlitz is with the BioBlitz Bingo

card Simply snap photos, document the findings to the SCCF's iNaturalist project and mark off those boxes Once participants have conquered a Bingo, turn in the completed card by May 3 to the SCCF's headquarters, at 3333 Sanibel-Captiva Road,

Sanibel, between 8 a m and 4 p m Monday through Friday to claim a prize Supplies are limited For more information or to download and print the Bingo card, visit https://sccf org/event/earth -day-bioblitz/

SCCF provides legislative process update and overview

Foundation reported that public participation during the 2024 legislative session via action alerts resulted in 11,543 connections to legislators about four bills

Two bills that the SCCF opposed did not pass, one opposed bill passed, and one supported bill passed

The SCCF continued that it expects some of the bad bills defeated this year will be back next session, but it will continue to monitor any state actions and work to protect the natural environment

“Many of the bills that we opposed either did not pass or were amended to remove the most harmful provisions of the bill Unfortunately, supporting or opposing a bill is nuanced, as many of the bills that pass contain both good and bad provisions that must be considered when deciding to ultimately oppose or support,” it reported “One of the bills dominated by harmful, anti-renewable energy policies, HB 1645 Energy Resources, is targeted for an SCCF veto campaign This bill was amended to include many of the damaging provisions that were removed from related bills ”

Final steps before bills become law

The SCCF reported that during election years when the legislative session starts early, there are several months between the end of session and the beginning of the July 1 fiscal year, when all of the bills and the budget must be passed by the governor

Since the end of the session on March 8, only 73 of the 291 general bills that passed in session had been presented to Gov Ron DeSantis as of April 5

The SCCF continued that once a bill has been sent to the governor, the governor has 15 days to sign it or veto it or it will become law without a signature

The Legislature sends small batches of bills to the governor at a time, but the SCCF expects that flow to accelerate as the June 30 deadline gets closer

“Please continue to join us to impact important environmental policy in Florida as we send you additional information on

Like the For t Myers Beach Obser

upcoming bill veto campaigns

Until then, we will update the SCCF Legislative Tracker to show which bills have been signed into law,” it reported “Thank you for your interest and influence in shaping the laws that protect our communities ”

To view the SCCF Legislative Tracker, visit https://sccf org/what-we-do/environmental-policy/

Bob Graham, Florida governor and senator, dies at 87

A leader like Bob Graham would be a unicorn in the hyper-partisan politics of today

The former Florida governor and U S senator wasn't a slick, slogan-spouting politician He didn't have an usagainst-them mentality Sometimes, he even came across as more of a kind-hearted professor just trying to make the world a better place

He connected with people on a very real level during his nearly five decades in politics, and he had immense respect for the nation's political process and institutions Graham died Tuesday at the age of 87

In a state long politically divided and now dominated by Republicans, he earned support among Republicans and Democrats alike with a folksy charm that belied the fact that he was a millionaire Harvard-educated lawyer He fit in just as easily in conservative, rural north Florida as he did in bustling Miami

Graham was known for his workdays, when he would try a new job for a day They began when he was a state senator and became a regular feature in his campaigns and time in office. It was his way to meet and connect with every day folks His 408th and final workday was wrapping Christmas presents for a Florida Keys charity

“I’ve been Santa Claus, I’ve been an elf and, on a number of occasions as today, I’ve been a Santa Claus helper,” Graham said that day, wearing a red shirt instead of a red suit

The workdays were similar to the 1,003-mile walk that former U S Sen and Florida Gov Lawton Chiles used to launch his foray into national politics

“I don’t know why there hasn’t been other efforts, either to emulate a walk or workdays or some other way to establish a special relationship with the people,” Graham said.

After he retired from politics, Graham made it his goal to

encourage people all people to get involved in civic affairs, from the local level on up He established the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida, which list its mission as “three central principles: civic engagement, public leadership and public service ”

In his book “America: The Owners Manual,” Graham wrote, “Since my retirement from the U S Senate in 2005, I have become increasingly involved in the effort to transform civics from a spectator sport into a participatory sport one in which citizens directly engage in democracy and shape local, state and federal policies to the betterment of their families and communities ”

President Joe Biden, who served in the Senate with Graham, described him as a person of principle

“Bob loved people, and he knew that politics at its core is about learning from and serving others That’s why he spent more than 400 ‘workdays’ on the job with constituents, doing everything from picking tomatoes, to handling baggage, to patrolling the streets with police He knew it matters to walk a mile in other folks’ shoes,” Biden said in a statement

Graham briefly ran for president in 2004, emphasizing his opposition to the invasion of Iraq When Al Gore lost Florida, and thus the presidency, by 537-votes to George W Bush in 2000, many speculated that Gore would have won if he had picked Graham instead of Connecticut Sen Joe Lieberman as his running mate

Democrats and Republicans remember him fondly “Florida and our country has lost a great public servant Bob Graham served Floridians with a servants heart, with integrity and with civility Columba and I are praying for the Graham family,” former Republican Gov Jeb Bush said in an email

Charlie Crist, who served as a Republican governor before switching parties and serving as Democratic U S rep-

resentative, said Graham was an influence on him

“I always felt that when he was governor, that he was trying to govern for the people of Florida not in any way political or partisan and I took that to heart and tried to, in some small way, emulate it,” Crist said in a phone interview

Graham's daughter, former U S Rep Gwen Graham, tried following in her father's footsteps, running for governor in 2018 in much the same spirit he did, continuing his workdays and promising to put people over politics. She narrowly lost the Democratic primary and Republican Ron DeSantis went on to win the general election

“I’ve certainly learned from him, but I would never expect anyone to support me simply because I am Dad’s daughter,” Graham told The Associated Press before announcing her candidacy ”I will be a governor that does focus on what he focused on, which is making the right decisions for Florida again ”

At her announcement, Bob Graham was present, and spoke of how he relished the job “In a life of public service, I don’t think there is a more exciting but demanding job than being governor,” he said.

Chris Hand, a former speechwriter for Graham who cowrote “America: The Owners Manual" with him, said his love of people was genuine, whether it was during workdays or meeting well-wishers after his retirement

“He was never anything but sincerely interested in the stories they would share and he would usually conclude by getting their contact information so he could stay in touch,” Hand said “I think that’s one of his defining features as a leader He truly loved the people that he represented, saw them as the best source of his ideas and truly enjoyed hearing their stories and learning from them ”

Associated Press writer Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report

School district continues efforts to keep buses on time with shortage

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Although the percentages of on-time buses in the morning and afternoon have improved, the School District of Lee County is still battling with a shortage of bus drivers

The goal is to increase the on-time percentage of buses by 3% from 88% to 91% in the morning and from 71% to 74% in the afternoon

Quarter three for the 2023-24 school year is 92% in the morning and 72% in the afternoon, compared to the 2022-23 school year of 87% for the morning and 70% in the afternoon

Chief Operations Officer Larry Stephens said they continue to deal with a shortage of bus drivers There were 600 bus driver positions for the 2023-24 school year, with only 543 drivers starting off the school year The district currently has 519 bus drivers, leaving 81 routes open daily

“The transportation department has an additional 22 drivers unavailable to drive because of leave of absence,” he said “In addition to those absences, we average over 40 drivers calling out daily This results in having to provide coverage Each route is responsible for two schools in the morning and two schools in the afternoon ”

The school district runs 548 buses every day 2,452 daily routes

During the Lee County School Board meeting on March 26, the presentation also highlighted decreasing preventable accidents There is an accident review committee to determine which accidents preventable vs nonpreventable. Stephens said there are 22 accidents that are going to the committee

The meeting also highlighted enrollment numbers over the past five years An example given was for the 2019-20 school year with 84,328 students enrolled with 85,038 student seats The compound annual growth rate is 0 84% students and 3 96% student seats

He said there has been a consistent increase of student population corresponding with the growth of student seats

“The increase has outpaced the student population districtwide,” Stephens said, adding that the new growth has been in the East Zone

The presentation highlighted maintenance and the average days of service request is open In 2023-24 the average number of days was 94 46, compared to 162 97 in 2022-23 The district is implementing strategies to increase preventative maintenance to reduce the overall service request that were entered

“The goal is to keep maintenance cost below the state average As we keep the cost down, we must also invest in facilities to maximize the useful life of facilities and systems,” he said.

Chief Financial Officer Dr Ami Desamours went over business impact measures with a focus on breakfast and lunch participation in elementary, middle and high school The benchmark for breakfast in elementary and middle school is 35% taking part and the benchmark for high school is 25%

“We are meeting the benchmark as far as the elementary level At the secondary level, we are not necessarily meeting the benchmark,” she said. “We are working to find out the reason why ”

Lunch, on the other hand, is at 75% benchmark for elementary school and 65% for high school

“Generally, at elementary and middle are meeting participation High school level, no,” Desamours said “We will continue to work on the reasons why and making sure we are reaching every student all the time ”

The last presentation touched upon IT Performance Management, specifically help desk, field support and in-shop repairs.

Chief Information Officer Dwayne Alton said their trends are continuing to improve year over year Some of those are due to pro-

cedural improvements, better tools, and training programs

The conversations stemmed around improvements of tech support and staff development

“We have had a lot of turnovers 60% of school tech people turnover in the last three years, new people in those positions,” he said “The challenges we have had with recruiting a lot of our applicants are not coming in with a lot of experience, or credentials ”

To address this, the district is ramping up its training programs for the school level and staff in the district office

“At the school level, all new tech people are assigned with a mentor, and they check on them regularly,” Alton said “It’s a pretty

big lift Only 40% of people have credentials of any kind Our goal is to bring that up to where entry level is four within two years ”

He said they currently have internship programs for high school students

“The challenges are some local business partners are very good business partners and offer them more money Of the people in the organization at the school level and district level, over 30 of them started in one of our internship programs,” Alton said

The district also offers a paid internship program

“In the past six months or so, we’ve seen the retention better The market conditions are a challenge,” he said

School district sees increase in students with disabilities

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The School District of Lee County continues to see an increase in students who have an identified disability an uneven rise in students they serve Student Services Executive Director Dr Jessica Duncan said the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is for students ages 3-21 Unlike the 504 plan, IDEA includes an individualized education plan, or IEP, which provide for the specialized instruction and support a student requires in an education environment

Exceptional Student Education Assistant Director Scott Kozlowski said there has been a 4 3% increase of students with disabilities As of October, there were 11,905 students with disabilities who are served under IDEA

“We are seeing an uneven rise in our

students that we serve,” he said, adding that 14 7% of the total are students who are on the autism spectrum

There has been an 8% increase in the number of students who have other health impairments; a 49.7% increase in the number of students who have developmental disabilities; and a 16 9% increase in the number of student with speech impairments

The district has also seen eligibility areas with increasing populations, one of which is students who have developmental delays, which went from 819 in the fall of 2022 to 1,174 in the fall of 2023

Duncan said two things are happening Last year, legislation passed which allows students to keep their eligibility until they are age 9; previously it was 6 years old

“We really appreciate the extra years in that area,” she said, adding that it does not

See STUDENTS, page 13

DeSantis signs bills to allow chaplains, patriotic groups in schools

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Legislation signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis will allow public schools to host chaplain programs in schools as well as “patriotic organizations” on campus

“Faith leaders and civic organizations are important additional resources for students who may be facing challenges or need to build community and camaraderie,” DeSantis said during a press conference announcing the signing of the bills

“It provides students with even more resources to be able to help them through difficult times, make the most of their own lives, realize all their opportunities and dreams,” he said

The bill allowing chaplains in schools establishes a statewide school chaplain program which will allow school districts to allow volunteer chaplains to be on school campuses and provide additional counseling support to students

Chaplains would be assigned by the district school board or charter school governing board A student may only receive support offered by school chaplains with written parental consent

“These students need some soul craft and that can make

Students

From page 12

account for the entire increase

“Additionally, a number of students in pre-K make up the majority and those numbers continue to grow ”

The areas in which the district saw a small decrease are students with specific learning disability, language impaired, emotional/behavioral disability eligibilities, deaf or hard of hearing, and orthopedically impaired

There have also been other eligibilities that have not increased or decreased by more than 10 students, which include hospital homebound, intellectual disability, dual-sensory impairment, traumatic brain injury and

all the difference in the world,” he said

“You have a right to come and offer these services It’s totally voluntary for a parent or a student to participate No one is being forced to do anything But to exclude religious groups from campus, that is discrimination You are basically saying that God has no place That is wrong That is not what our founders intended ”

DeSantis said the chaplains can provide counseling and mentorship from faith leaders.

“Parents can make these judgments about whether any of those fit the needs they think for their kids,” DeSantis said “Providing our kids with more resources is better ”

DeSantis said the state will use “common sense” when determining which religious groups will be able to have a presence in schools

Patriotic organizations in schools

The other new state law signed by DeSantis authorizes school districts to allow civic and patriotic organizations to visit schools to encourage student participation and involvement, pass out materials and station displays They can also use any other communication channels handled by the dis-

visually impaired

Kozlowski also touched upon students who have disabilities scoring 3 or higher on state assessments for grades 3-10 He said prior to 2022-23 school year different standards were used for the general and modified assessment

“The gap between the percentage of 3 or above are also decreasing We are closing that gap with students with and without disabilities scoring a 3 or above,” Kozlowski said.

Duncan said two years ago the focus was on student support A new math and reading intervention program was given for teachers,

trict

The law would allow the organizations to speak to students during school hours and during school instructional time and encourage students to join their organizations The law allows the groups to inform students how they can help the students achieve their educational goals and further civic involvement

The bill would allow parents to opt out from having their children hear from the groups. The groups would have to provide enough notice to parents about their presentations so that parents can withhold their consent from having their children partake

DeSantis said the organizations that could be allowed include Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, The Boy Scouts of America, The Boys & Girls Clubs of America, The Civil Air Patrol, Future Farmers of America, The Girl Scouts of the United States of America, Little League Baseball, The Marine Corps League and The Navy Seal Cadet Corps

“It’s really important that kids stay active,” DeSantis said. “I think students are better off being involved in any of these activities ”

which includes technology to assess student gaps

Duncan said 338 students are in supplemental reading and 113 students in math With 27 weeks, it has allowed 113 students in reading and 45 students in the math program to increase their skill by one or more grade level

Kozlowski said what he is most excited about is the gap being closed on the graduation rate between students with and without an identified disability. There are two paths that can be taken for graduation, the general and traditional path, and the modified path, a path determined by the IEP team

“Both paths do lead to a standard diploma,” he said

One path includes standard curriculum, standard courses and participates in FAST, compared to the other path that includes a modified curriculum, ACCESS courses and participation in FAA

Kozlowski said the Florida ACCESS points takes the general standard and modifies it to the basic components and gives the teachers a little more flexibility to make sure students have access to standards. He said they have access to standards, the same courses, but are modified to their level

Superintendent candidate debate to be held April 30

The Cape Coral Republican Club will be hosting a debate between the two candidates for Superintendent of Lee County Schools on April 30

The debate between Denise Carlin and Morgan Wright will take place at Club Cabaret on Tuesday, April 30 Doors will open at 5 p m The meeting begins at 6:30 p m The meeting is free to members and costs $5 to the general public

Audio and video recording will be prohibited To RSVP, email capecoralrepublicanclub@gmail com

Candidate bios:

∫ Denise Carlin

Denise Carlin was raised in Cape Coral and has lived in Lee County for 54 years She is a lifelong educator, having served as a teacher, principal, and district leader Under her leadership, student achievement increased, budgets supported classrooms, and students, families, and staff were all treated with respect Carlin attended E d i s o n C o m m u n i t y C o l l e g e w h e r e s h e e a r n e d a n

Associate’s Degree in Elementary Education before moving on to the University of South Florida, earning a

Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education, and a M a s t e r ’ s d e g r e e a n d D o c t o r a t e i n E d u c a t i o n a l

Leadership

Carlin and her husband of 33 years, John, have two sons who graduated from Lee County schools She experienced as a teacher, principal, and administrator and also understands what it means to be a parent of students within the district

A c c o r d i n g t o a r e l e a s e f r o m t h e C a p e C o r a l

Republican Club:

Carlin is running for Superintendent of Lee County Schools because she believes in public education and knows that the children of Lee County are our future. She also knows that, while the School District of Lee County has made strides, there is so much more that must be done to provide a high-quality education for every student Carlin is committed to making our school district the best in the nation by ensuring safe schools, academic excellence, college and career ready students, highly effective teachers for every child in every classroom, and fiscal responsibility The school district must live within its means, and Denise will make sure that happens

School district officials provide legislative update

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The School Board of Lee County accomplished many of its priorities during the 2024 legislative session

At the top of the list? Needed funds

“This year under your direction and the superintendent, we asked for $6 1 (million) for appropriation project funding As of right now we are waiting for governor’s approval in funding for $5 6 million,” Chief Communication & Government Relations Officer Angel Gomez said at the board's session on April 9. “A great achievement I can’t thank you enough ”

Other successes included Cape Coral Technical College Phase II $2 1 million, which has been funded and is awaiting the governor’s action, as well as Fort Myers Technical College East Annex Phase 1, pre-construction, of $2 5 million, both of which have been funded and awaiting the governor’s action

Gray-Robinson Senior Government Affairs Advisor Dr Kim McDougal credited the board for its willingness to go to Tallahassee

“Great job and thank you I can’t say thank you enough,” she said Gomez went over the School District of Lee County’s 2024 legislative priorities and the areas that moved forward Some of the highlights included two Senate Bills 7002 and 7004 for deregulation of public schools requests for all public schools to have the same statutory flexibility

The presentation went into detail on both bills, which ranged from flexibility to set salaries for instructional personnel to enhancing the ability of school boards to plan for and manage their facilities for SB 7002

The other deregulation of public school bill, SB 7004, includes revising elementary school student progression planning to identify students in kindergarten through second grade with substantial deficiency in reading and math to greater flexibility in offering Voluntary Pre-K summer programs.

Gomez said another student achievement priority was support for increase of per student funding by at least 5%

“The total funds per student increase was 2 75%,” he said

Safety was a crucial priority as well, Gomez said The request was support for an increase in the Safe Schools’ Allocation in the Florida Education Finance Program He said that resulted in a $40 million overall increase statewide for a total of $290 million funded There was another success for safety and security enhancements and a mobile disaster response vehicle appropriation project of $1 million

Another success occurred under the district’s teacher certification and retention priority House Bill 151 The bill permits retired classroom teachers and administrators to return to the classroom after six months

McDougal went through numerous other bills of interest, some of which were approved by the governor and others have yet to be sent to the governor.

One of the highlights was HB 537, a two-year music-based Supplemental Content to Accelerate Learner Engagement and Success Pilot Program with the Department of Education She said it is a pilot program that will use music to get students interested in STEM programs.

Another education bill, SB 7032, is the creation of the Graduation Alternative to Traditional Education (GATE) Program, GATE Scholarship Program, GATE Startup Grant Program and GATE Program Performance Fund

McDougal said the bill was driven by the Senate and has not yet been sent to the governor The program re-engages students who have withdrawn from high school by providing opportunities to earn career education credentials while also completing a standard high school diploma, or equivalent credential

Others school related bills include:

∫ HB 0003: Online protection for minors on social media platforms

∫ HB 0049: Employment for minors

∫ HB 1403: School choice

∫ SB 46: R A I S E Program for VPK to 12th grade students

∫ HB 1285: Education provisions for K-12 public schools

∫ HB 187: Antisemitism

∫ HB 917: Career and technical education

∫ HB 523: Florida Seal of Fine Arts Program

∫ Morgan Wright

A 19-year veteran of teaching within Lee County, Morgan “Moose” Wright is also a decorated Army officer and a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, in Afghanistan

Wright has consistently stood out from his peers receiving the coveted Golden Apple Award for excellence in teaching as well as being Teacher of the Year within his specialty four times

Wright volunteers often within the community from being the Grand Marshal at the Best Buddies special needs inclusion parade to focusing on environmental issues such as Captains for Clean Water.

A colorful and popular positive figure within the community, “Moose” can be found volunteering at social events as a celebrity food judge or spending his time supporting The Pace Center for Girls

A consistent supporter of discipline and common sense, Wright is ready to take politics out of classrooms and bring back common sense and return to focusing on what matters most: producing educated and productive citizens of tomorrow's society within our Lee County school system

Kudos, congratulations deserved across district

As we embark on this last quarter, I want to welcome Dr Ken Savage back to the role of superintendent He served the School District of Lee County well during the last transitionary period and I am confident he will provide our students and staff stability in the months ahead while laying the groundwork for an elected superintendent in November

Jada Langford Fleming Guest Commentary

We also have so many wonderful things to reflect upon this school year New school projects are already underway We have so much excitement surrounding our spring sports Not to mention the amazing educators who have been presented the Golden Apple Award for excellence in their profession

As many board members have previously stated, we have seen exponential growth within our district To accommodate the approximately 12,000 new seats needed, we have several projects in our near future Many of these schools needed are in our East Zone I would like to congratulate our newest schools, Amanecer Elementary and Lemuel Teal Middle, as they wrap up their inaugural year Under amazing leadership, the students in these two schools have soared

This year we made history by adding Girl’s Flag Football to the spring schedule The sport has taken off and I am proud to say many of these young women have never been a part of team sport until now A huge congratulations to the schools that won their district title in our winter sports programs and I am confident we will have several more banners hanging in our gyms and on our field come the end of spring

∫ HB 883: Short-acting bronchodilator use

∫ HB 931: School chaplains

∫ HB 1291: Educator preparation pro-

High school winter sports District Champions include:

∫ Boys basketball: Gateway and Mariner

∫ Girls basketball: Gateway High School

∫ Boys soccer: Mariner and Fort Myers

∫ Girls soccer: Mariner and Fort Myers

∫ Girls weightlifting: Fort Myers in both Olympic and traditional

Last but certainly not least, congratulations to all of our Golden Apple finalists All of these men and women have shown tremendous strength and passion for what they do inside our classroom walls

Congratulations to our Golden Apple winners!

∫ Sarah Thornburg at Cypress Lake High School

∫ Jessica Lisi at Tanglewood Elementary

∫ Christie Bartz at Pine Island Elementary

∫ Jil Klausing at Dunbar High School

∫ Michelle Smith at Lehigh Senior High

∫ Sara Kizzire at Lehigh Senior High

Before closing, I would like to say thank you to all of our educators, bus drivers, support professionals and administrators What you do each day is appreciated and you are valued Keep an eye out next month It’s my favorite month in the world of education Teacher Appreciation Week is right around the corner Hug a teacher!

Jada Langford Fleming holds the District 6 seat on the Lee County School Board

gram

∫ HB 1403: Patriotic organizations

∫ SB 994: Student transportation safety

Land deal

From page 1

date all of the fire district’s administration offices, which are currently split between San Carlos Boulevard and Voorhis Street

Erickson and Jensen Seafood owner Grant Erickson said he is hopeful that the fire district will work together with him to rebuild the docks lost to Hurricane Ian, which will allow shrimp boats to dock there again The docks were an important part of the shrimping industry

“We’ve already lost quite a bit,” Erickson told the board at a meeting in which the purchase was approved

During a meeting of the fire commissioners, the board expressed a willingness to work with Erickson and support the shrimp fleet

The board has also approved in January by a 4-1 vote to study to investigate a potential merger with the IonaMcGregor Fire District

The property at 1101 Shrimp Boat Lane is currently owned by Dennis Henderson and George Gala and was the site of a commercial seafood business It was once known as St George Packing, owned by the late Larry Shafer

“That dockage is vital to me,” Erickson said. “I don’t want to see that go away That is 25% of the dockage for the shrimp boats ”

Wirth said plans for potential dockage use have not yet been finalized The fire department may want to have a fire boat on the docks there which would limit the amount of space for the shrimp boats

As for the cost of the planned training facility and new administration building, Wirth said “We don’t have a design or price yet for the training tower or administration We will start design after we officially own the property This project will be on a slower timeline than the new station (on Estero Boulevard).”

The current administration building at Voorhis Street “will most likely be sold but that decision isn’t in stone just yet,” Wirth said

Land use

From page 6

plan that hopes and aspires to maintain the small-town character of Fort Myers Beach,” Cereceda said

Cereceda said she supported allowing the downtown to thrive but also wants to protect the neighborhood near the marina

“I want people to be able to live their lives,” she said

“I can never escape the commercial intrusion into residential neighborhoods,” Cereceda said “Especially after the hurricane ”

Cereceda said the aftermath of Hurricane Ian showed “how fragile” the community is and “how much we can take ”

Several neighbors of Moss Marina spoke out against the project

Among the opponents of the proposal was former Fort Myers Beach Councilmember Bill Veach who asked “How does FEMA look at it when we are allowing additional density in a special flood hazard area?”

Moss Marina Ben Freeland proposed three hotels at the Moss Marina at the site He had submitted two applications to the town for the bayside project including a map amendment which would include the Arches Bayfront properties in the Pedestrian Commercial future land use, and another application which would entitle the properties under a Commercial Planned Development (CPD) with uses of hotel, marina, restaurant, retail and civic spaces

Freeland had pulled his applications last year after delays but eventually resubmitted them

The proposed hotels would range in size from 150 rooms each for two of the hotels that will have mid-range and extended stays A third hotel, which Freeland described as a boutique hotel, would be smaller with 100 rooms Two of the hotels would be six stories high and another hotel would be five stories

Under the redevelopment plans, the four-acre bayfront property overseeing Matanzas Pass and the bay would open up access to pedestrians and bicyclists along a 1,000-feet linear park overlooking the bay down to Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant, Bayside Park and Nervous Nellie’s Freeland envisions spots along the baywalk being opened up to vendors

Freeland had promoted the development of the hotels through the use of water ferries, waterboats, kayaks and charter boats to get around anticipated traffic issues

LPA member Patrick Vanasse said he supported the project “We have to really get going on the redevelopment,” he said

“You can address compatibility issues, you can address interaction between the residential and commercial There are ways to do that,” Vanasse said. He said the town could require sidewalks and pathways for pedestrians and bicyclists if it wanted to

“I think their application is complete It’s sufficient and it has demonstrated compliance with a comprehensive plan application,” Vanasse said

LPA member James Boan said the town’s 1999 comprehensive plan has been the subject of much discussion He said the board believed that the marina designation in the plan is important

“A marina is an intrical use to being on an island,” he said

PHOTO BY NATHAN MAYBERG

The Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District is under under contract to purchase this site at 1101 Shrimp Boat Lane for $3.4 million on San Carlos Island.

Sand sculptures

From page 1

This year's event will include live entertainment, extended "sand under the stars" showings and more new features, Liszak said

Liszak said those planning to attend should book early as accommodations may be limited on the island For accommodation informat i o n a n d a v a i l a b i l i t y visithttps://www fortmyersbeach or g/vacation-info-request/

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h e A m e r i c a n S a n d S c u l p t u r e Championship, visit www fmbsandsculpting com

To contact the Fort Myers Beach C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e , e m a i l e v e n t s @ f m b c h a m b e r c o m o r c a l l 239-454-7500

Delayne Corbett’s Luvbug was a big hit at the 2019 Sand Sculpture Championship and took home third place in the master solo competition The championship returns to Fort Myers Beach Nov. 21-24.

NATHAN MAYBERG

Sea turtle nesting

n e y f o r T u r t l e T i m e f o u n d e r E v e Haverfield, who will be waking up before the crack of dawn each day to keep track of turtle nests and their hatchlings

Haverfield, who started Turtle Time in 1989 to protect hatching sea turtles from f a t a l l y c h a s i n g l i g h t s o n E s t e r o Boulevard, is hopeful this season will be better for the turtles of Fort Myers Beach

From page 1

Haverfield and her team of volunteers counted 18 disorientations among hatchlings from sea turtle nests last year, breaking the previous record of 11 With each nest having north of 100 eggs on the average, the results have been devastating The combination of heavy rain storms, including Hurricane Idalia, did doubledamage to the nesting season

e n t s , i n c l u d i n g Hurricane

The sea turtles will have some help this year at least from resorts like the DiamondHead Beach Resort and Pink Shell Beach Resort which have both installed turtle-friendly lights and windows. The Pink Shell went so far as to install 15% tint on all windows, which will actually p r e v e n t i t s g u e s t s f r o m n e e d i n g t o c l o s e t h e i r b l i n d s . T h e DiamondHead Beach Resort spent $1 million installing new turtlefriendly windows with a tint of 28% Both are below the town’s 45% tint requirement for new windows

Haverfield and the Fort Myers Beach

M a r i n e a n d E n v i r o n m e n t a l R e s o u r c e s Task Force having been working with the t o w n a n d F o r t M y e r s B e a c h Environmental Projects Manager Chadd Chustz on efforts to educate the public, residents and visitors on ensuring lighting compliance to protect against more disorientations

“The town is working hard to get peop l e ( t o u s e ) a m b e r L E D l i g h t s , ” Haverfield said

Last year, Chustz reported issuing 52 lighting violations through Sept 1 A request to Chustz for the full number of violations for the season wasn’t responded to as of press time Tuesday. The number of lighting violations was down considerably from the previous year, when 272 violations were issued

One of the problems since Hurricane Ian is that buildings that once blocked light from Estero Boulevard and beyond, are now gone and demolished That will lead to a lot more light hitting the beach from many other places

The sea turtles will have some help this y e a r a t l e a s t f r o m r e s o r t s l i k e t h e DiamondHead Beach Resort and Pink

Shell Beach Resort, both of which have installed turtle-friendly lights and windows The Pink Shell went so far as to install 15% tint on all windows, which will actually prevent its guests from needi n g t o c l o s e t h e i r b l i n d s T h e DiamondHead Beach Resort spent $1 million installing new turtle-friendly windows with a tint of 28% Both are below the town’s 45% tint requirement for new windows

Last year, the organization also counted the fewest number of sea turtle nests on Fort Myers Beach in 10 years, with 71 nests and only 58 hatching That was the lowest since 2014, when there were 48 nests. In 2015, there were 73 nests, with only 42 hatching

The number of loggerhead nests on Fort Myers Beach has declined since 2020, when a record 132 nests were counted There were 87 counted in 2021, 109 in 2022 and 71 last year Typically, sea turtles will nest every other year so there should be more this year though Haverfield is concerned that all of the equipment and activity on Fort Myers

See SEA TURTLE NESTING, page 22

FILE PHOTO

Turtle Time founder Eve Haverfield said sea turtle nesting numbers were disappointing last year on Fort Myers Beach, when a record number of d i s o r i e n t a t i o n s w e r e r e c o r d e d . S e v e r e w e a t h e r e v

Idalia, also negatively impacted the nesting season last year.

From page 4

had only been gone a few minutes but his mistake could’ve been deadly for his dog

On a 70-degree day, the temperature inside a parked car can soar to 99 degrees in just 20 minutes Leaving the windows cracked or parking in the shade makes almost no difference It takes only a few minutes for dogs to sustain brain damage or even die from heatstroke

Some dogs have turned off the car’s air conditioning or locked their guardians out It just isn’t worth the risk

If you see a dog left in a car, have the owner paged at the nearest stores, and call authorities if they don’t return Keep

watch over the dog for signs of heatstroke, including heavy panting, heavy salivation, difficulty breathing, lethargy, and vomiting If authorities are slow to respond and the dog appears to be in danger, Florida has a “Good Samaritan” law that protects any citizen who breaks a car window to save an animal’s life

Michelle Reynolds

North Port

A senior writer for the PETA Foundation

Gov. DeSantis said no

To the editor: Many Floridians are still recovering and trying to rebuild after Hurricane Ian

Sea turtle nesting

Beach from the ongoing sand haul projects could disrupt the nesting activity

“Last year, we documented a lot of turtles that went over the beam,” Haverfield said

The 71 nests recorded on Fort Myers Beach last year was below the figure on nearby Bonita Beach, where 152 nests were recorded Bonita Beach typically outpaces Fort Myers Beach and last year was a down year for them as well

In a way, Haverfield is actually hoping this year won’t be as active for nests on Fort Myers Beach because she is worried about the dangers to hatchlings from all of the construction activity and equipment on the island for the sand haul project She is also concerned that the loss of the dunes

From page 21

and sand berms that were previously in place, will make it easier for hatchlings to go the wrong way out of their nests

Though the nesting season officially started May 1, Turtle Time began their work monitoring the shoreline April 15 in c a s e t h e r e a r e a n y e a r l y n e s t e r s Leatherback sea turtles, which are larger, start nesting in February though they rarely will nest in this part of Florida “If we had leatherbacks, they would leave enormous tracks,” Haverfield said Tracking of loggerheads that have previously nested on Sanibel, showed they were 11 miles off the coast as of Monday T h e S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a C o n s e r v a t i o n Foundation, which tracks the threatened species, has found the turtles will travel

The Inflation Reduction Act had allotted $346 million to Florida in rebates for energy efficient improvements and applia n c e i m p r o v e m e n t s , G o v D e S a n t i s rejected this funding and he also rejected $24 million to update rural waste water systems

The Department of Energy will give these funds to other states to help their people if the money if not allocated by Florida by August Why would our governor make a seemingly irrational decision?

Electrical wiring, heat pumps, solar windows and energy saving appliances could all qualify rebates issued to their buyers

thousands of miles in the course of a year before they return to Southwest Florida to nest

Each spring, female loggerhead sea turtles make their way to Fort Myers Beach after months of swimming hundreds, if not thousands of miles out in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean After a winter of searching for crabs, mollusks and whelks, adult female turtles begin mating this time of year and searching for coastal habitats like Fort Myers Beach to lay their eggs

Despite the damage to homes on Fort Myers Beach and the continued closure of many condos, Haverfield said her team of volunteers are “doing great We had very few losses ”

Wake up, fellow Floridians! Why are we are not making this a big deal about Gov DeSantis turning away funding s u p p o r t e d b y P r e s i d e n t B i d e n a n d Congress?

Other state governors are welcoming this funding but not Florida

Anything the current administration proposes regardless of how much his opposition harms Florida residents It’s pretty clear that our governor is looking out primarily for himself

Kathleen Callard, RNBS North Fort Myers

Turtle Times boasts more than 40 volunteers on Fort Myers Beach who keep an eye out for nests and help keep the beach clean to protect the turtles.

“A lot of people who lost their homes are still turtling,” Haverfield said “Once you are a turtler, you are always a turtler It’s fascinating ”

Haverfield said the importance of the work, protecting a threatened species, it what motivates her to continue doing her job It’s a job has been doing since 1979, when she was monitoring sea turtles on Sanibel

“ W e w a n t t o p r e v e n t t h e m f r o m becoming endangered,” Haverfield said. “Florida is the mecca for loggerheads If the numbers decrease, it’s a bad omen ”

WHERE TO GO WHAT TO DO WHO TO SEE

Bayside Park Concert Series is back

Midnight Specials performing this Sunday

STAFF REPORT

The Bayside Park Concert Series returns this Sunday at Bayside

Veteran’s Memorial Park on Fort Myers Beach with a performance from the Midnight Specials from 4 to 7 p m

The group will be playing familiar covers for the crowd to dance to at the park, located off Old San Carlos Boulevard next to Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant, Nervous Nellie’s and Wahoo Willie’s

The concert series is presented by the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Fort Myers Beach Title Sponsors are Nervous Nellie’s, Snug Harbor Restaurant and Wahoo Willie’s The series sponsor is Current LUXE Alex King Group, and the stage Sponsors are Extreme Florida Roofing and Proximo Spirits Stage Sponsorships are available each week

IF YOU GO

What:

Bayside Park Concert Series featuring Midnight Specials

When: Sunday, April 28, from 4 to 7 p m

Where:

Bayside Veteran's Memorial Park on Fort Myers Beach

Each Sunday the concert series features a different local band, giving the community a chance to sit back, relax and end their weekend with a beautiful sunset concert on the back bay

Check the Bayside Park Concert Series website at: Bayside Concert Series for additional performances as the series will continue with more bands announced each week

Lawn chairs and well-behaved pets on a 6-feet or less leash are encouraged

There will be no outside food or beverage permitted Events are weather permitting and are free to the public

Attendees are encouraged to come early and support the recovering businesses on Fort Myers Beach by spending the night for a quick staycation, doing a bit of shopping, or enjoying lunch or dinner For information on who is open for business, visit FMB Who is OPEN for Business Plenty of parking is available in the area around the base of the Matanzas Pass Bridge

For more information, contact the Fort Myers Beach Chamber at 239-454-7500 or visit Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce

Achieva Credit Union kicks off Cereal for Summer donation drive

Donations will feed hungry kids over the summer

Achieva Credit Union has begun its Cereal for Summer donation drive to make sure that all children in Lee, Charlotte and Collier counties receive daily nutrition when school is out of session Each Achieva branch across Southwest Florida is accepting healthy, dry cereal donations until May 3

“No child should ever have to go hungry but many do once school lets out for summer as many rely on free breakfast and lunch at school,” said Achieva’s Market President, Susan Lacey “One in five children live in homes that are food insecure - meaning they do not have enough food at times for an active, healthy life Achieva is deeply committed to our community, and we want to do something to help alleviate some of the financial burdens many families face ”

Donations from Lee, Charlotte and Collier will be distributed to Harry Chapin Food Bank

“Harry Chapin Food Bank is eternally grateful to Achieva Credit Union for spearheading this year’s, ‘Cereal for Summer’ Drive,” said Harry Chapin Food Bank’s

Law in the Library: Free legal clinic for seniors returns to downtown Fort Myers

A free legal clinic for area seniors in need of no-cost, limited legal advice is returning to downtown Fort Myers

Law at the Library is a quarterly conversation sponsored by Lee County Legal Aid Society with support from AARP Foundation

The next session is scheduled for Wednesday, May 1, from 9 a m to noon, at the Fort Myers Regional Library meeting room, 1651 Lee St , Fort Myers, and is open to Lee County residents ages 50 and older.

A panel of three local attorneys will review several topics in civil law of interest to seniors, including landlord-tenant disputes; elder law; filing a case in small claims court; and issues stemming from the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, including post-disaster insurance claims and contractor fraud

The panel's 30-minute presentation will be followed by an audience question-and-answer session and then 20-minute individual appointments on any legal issue

Advance registration is required Participants should email Nanci@leecountylegalaid org with contact information, a brief description of the legal advice being sought, and any relevant documents

Unlike in criminal law, there is no constitutional right to counsel in civil law, which includes landlord-tenant disputes, foreclosures, evictions, probate, debt collection, child custody cases, domestic violence orders of protection and more

Law at the Library follows a similar series of free legal workshops "Just for Seniors" offered by Lee County Legal Aid Society in prior years through support from The Community Foundation

For more information on Lee County Legal Aid Society, visit leecountylegalaid.org or call 239-3346118

About Lee County Legal Aid Society

Founded in 1967, Lee County Legal Aid Society is a private, nonprofit organization that provides no-cost civil legal aid to low-income residents of Lee County The organization helps narrow the access to justice gap among those who cannot afford a private attorney in civil cases In partnership with the Lee County Clerk of the Court, Lee County Legal Aid Society offers free, 20minute "self-help" legal clinics that pair attorneys in private practice with those in need of legal services.

Chief Development Officer Stuart Haniff “This campaign is especially critical during the summer months ahead when our children struggle with replacing the free and reduced meals missing when school is out Unfortunately, for them, no school often means no food With Achieva’s generosity we are able to provide food this summer, the hungriest season of all. Because of this drive and our community working together, ‘Cereal for Summer’ will help nourish and sustain our kids now and during the school year ahead ”

To find the closest Achieva Credit Union branch to you, visit https://www achievacu com/Home/Locations

Winn-Dixie drive aids children’s hospitals

Southeastern Grocers Inc , parent company and home

of Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie grocery stores, is partnering with eight children’s hospitals across the Southeast to raise essential funds for pediatric health care provided to local children every day

Now through April 30, Harveys Supermarket and Winn-Dixie customers are encouraged to donate $1, $5 or round up their total grocery bill while shopping at their neighborhood stores to support their local children’s hospital Donations will aid each facility’s specialty programs, including family centered support, therapeutic activities, research, child advocacy, pediatric cancer and additional programs that contribute to the recovery of young patients

Funds collected during SEG’s community donation program will be donated to the following eight children’s hospitals to support their specialized care and emergency services:

∫ Wolfson Children’s Hospital (Jacksonville)

∫ Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children (Orlando)

∫ Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida (Fort Myers)

∫ J o h n s H o p k i n s A l l C h i l d r e n ’ s H o s p i t a l ( S t Petersburg)

∫ Nicklaus Children’s Hospital (Miami)

∫ Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart (Pensacola)

∫ Children’s of Alabama (Birmingham, Alabama)

∫ Ochsner Children’s Hospital (New Orleans)

SEG has raised more than $1 1 million for its local children’s hospital partners since the program’s inception in 2021, and the grocer remains dedicated to serving its neighbors in need across its footprint

North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts to present ‘Descendants’

North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts middle school production of the hit musical “Descendants,” will take the stage at the school on April 25 and 26

The performances, at 6:30 p m each day, will showcase the talents of students in grades 6-8

The show promises to captivate audiences with its innovative approach to storytelling, enhanced by the debut of the school's cutting-edge high-resolution projection system

Under the direction of Kathy Rivadeneira, the cast and crew have been hard at work rehearsing for this exciting p r o d u c t i o n , w h i c h b r i n g s t h e b e l o v e d c h a r a c t e r s o f Disney's "Descendants" to life on stage Set in the idyllic kingdom of Auradon, the musical follows the journey of the teenage children of Disney’s most infamous villains as they navigate the complexities of friendship, identity, and acceptance

What sets this production apart is the integration of a state-of-the-art high-resolution projection system, allowing for seamless transitions between scenes and transporting audiences to the fantastical worlds depicted in the show With stunning visuals and immersive storytelling, viewers will feel as though they've stepped directly into the magical universe of "Descendants "

"We're incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication our students have put into this production," said Mrs Rivadeneira "The addition of our new projection system has elevated the theatrical experience to a whole new level, allowing us to create dynamic and visually stunning scenes that will leave a lasting impression on audiences "

The cast features a talented ensemble of young performers, each bringing their own unique energy and charisma to their roles From the charismatic descendants of Maleficent and the Evil Queen to the charming princes and princesses of Auradon, audiences can expect a delightful blend of humor, heart, and unforgettable musical numbers

T i c k e t s m a y b e p u r c h a s e d f o r $ 1 2 o n l i n e a t

https://www showtix4u com/event-details/80367 or at the door for $15 the day of the performance

“Don't miss your chance to experience this magical journey with North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts!,” theatrical staff said

The school also is offering a VIP experience for existing and new NFMAA Foundation members in the Media Center before the show and during Intermission

VIPs may enjoy themed refreshments and decor

Foundation membership starts at just $50 for an annual membership and 100% of membership fees go to directly support the art programs at NFMAA

C o n t a c t A r i R e i s , A r t s F o u n d a t i o n P r e s i d e n t , a t nfmaa foundation@gmail com if you are interested in becoming a VIP

For more information on North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts visit nfa leeschools net

The Alliance for the Arts announces performers for Fringe Fort Myers 2024

Four-day performing arts festival to be held May 30-June 2

The Alliance for the Arts and Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre presents Fringe Fort Myers 2024 performing arts festival May 30-June 2 Fringe Fort Myers 2024 features a wide variety of performances, from one-person shows, to dance and music, to stand-up comedy, and much more. Fringe Fort Myers 2024 is the newest member of the Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals (CAFF), and the first to come to Southwest Florida Fringe Fort Myers 2024 follows the long-standing Fringe traditions of being 100 percent independent, 100 percent inclusive and 100 percent unique, with 100 percent of ticket sales going directly to the artists

Fringe Fort Myers 2024 kicks off Thursday, May 30, at 5 p m with a “Flamingle with the Artists'' Reception in the Alliance Gallery, giving patrons a chance to meet the artists, followed by the Preview show at 6:30 p m At the preview, each performer has three minutes to sell the audience on why they should see their show “They can perform a scene from their show, talk about the show or just burp for three minutes,” said Bill Taylor, producing artistic director at the Alliance for the Arts “Whatever they think will get you to buy a ticket!” This event is open to the public, and more information is available at artinlee org/fringe Following the Preview Show there will be one performance in each venue Most shows are 60 minutes long

In addition to the performances, there will be a Kids Fringe Fest happening Saturday June 1

Mad Libs Live!- Foulds Theatre, Alliance for the Arts

Mad Libs Live is energetic, original and fast-paced. It captures the essence of the classic word game, and watching it can help kids distinguish between nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs In the one-hour musical, you meet four students from Blankville Central High School: Gogo the jock, Virtuosa the diva, shy and artsy Merrily and Geyser the nerd

This show is suitable for all ages

Showtimes: Saturday, June 1, at 1 p m Tickets are $10 or $5 for 12 and under

Presented by Sears Studio Performing Arts Academy

A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Abridged)Alliance for the Arts Green Market stage.

In William Shakespeare’s stage classic; love, magic, betrayal, truth and desires take center stage Hermia has a decision to make, Lysander or Demetrius She loves Lysander but Demetrius has a better standing in court, more money, though he’s not so nice Hermia’s best friend Helena only has eyes for Demetrius and will do anything to have him Including selling out Hermia and Lysander as they plan to elope The four lovers end up lost in the forest trying to find their way out. However, what they encounter will change the course of their lives

Showtimes: Saturday, June 1, at 6:30 p m Tickets are $10 or $5 for students with valid ID

Presented by Cypress Lake Center for the Arts High School drama department

Fringe Fort Myers 2024 continues through June 2, 2024 with additional programming to be announced All of the shows are $16, and patrons can buy multiple shows for a discount: 3 shows for $45 or 6 shows for $80 All shows are included in the discount except the C a r o u s e l o f B u r l e s q u e . T h e r e a r e n o r e f u n d s , n o exchanges, and no exceptions Please note that all Fringe Fort Myers shows begin at the time stated on your reservation and that we cannot guarantee late seating Please arrive 5 to 15 minutes before show time There will be no late seating for any of the Fringe shows Tickets may be purchased online at artinlee org/fringe or by calling the box office at 239-939-2787

Nine acts have been selected for Fringe Fort Myers 2024, running the gamut from burlesque, to magic, to stand-up comedy and more Please note that due to adult language, content and themes, some of the performances are not suitable for those under the age of 18:

In the Foulds Theatre at the Alliance:

∫ Tomatoes Tried To Kill Me But Banjos Saved My Life – from Vancouver, BC

When faced with a cancer battle, Keith Alessi’s lifelong dream becomes the key to saving his life

This show is suitable for all ages

S h o w t i m e s : T h u r s d a y , M a y 3 0 , a t 7 : 3 0 p m , Saturday, June 1, at 5:30 p m , Sunday, June 2, at 2:30 p m

∫ The Carousel of Burlesque: Behind the Curtain –from Fort Myers, FL

The Carousel of Burlesque premiered last year with the history of burlesque in the US Now it's time to take a look behind the curtain

This show contains nudity and is not suitable for those under the age of 18.

Showtimes: Friday, May 31, at 8:30 p m , Saturday, June 1, at 8:45 p m , Sunday, June 2, at 4 p m

∫ TransMasculine Cabaret, Starring Vulva Va-Voom – from Tampa, FL

"TragiComic transgender-identifying true confessional" and "obscene, maniacal burlesque headliner" seem like incompatible elements but this gritty song-anddance nightclub comedian has combined stranger, stickier things onstage Nine-time Fringe honoree Vulva VaVoom asks of queer identity: "Who gets to define whether someone is a drag queen, king, or an inbetween?" Hardships, meet hilarity.

This show contains adult language and content and is not suitable for those under the age of 18

Showtimes: Friday, May 31, at 7 p m , Saturday, June 1, at 7 p m , Sunday, June 2, at 1 p m

Fringe Classroom Stage at the Alliance:

∫ The Other Side – from Orlando, FL

The Other Side is a story of survival, an experience of magic, and a message of hope Magician Sebastian Gerhardt was 22 years old when he was diagnosed with an inoperable, malignant brain tumor and told he had six months to live It was time to say goodbye to his family, friends, and loved ones. This show is his story; combining magic and storytelling to express his newfound appreciation for life and inspire others to do the same

This show is suitable for those 12+

Showtimes: Friday, May 31, at 7 p m , Saturday, June 1, at 5:30 p m , Sunday, June 2, at 1 p m

∫ Cock Talk – from Fort Myers, FL

A male version of the play ‘Vagina Monologues’ Four men explain, discuss, and debate the trials and tribulations of the “member ”

This show contains adult language and content and is not suitable for those under the age of 18

Showtimes: Friday, May 31, at 8:30 p.m., Saturday, June 1, at 7:15 p m , Sunday, June 2, at 2:30 p m

The Other Side.

∫ LOVE LETTERS TO HUMANITY – from Floyd, VA

This one-woman show weaves dance, theatre and stand-up comedy to reveal both the dark and the light on the search for inner peace From movement poetry to grotesque play, this piece holds satire with compassion in a hilarious depiction of the wild reality of being human

This show contains adult language and is rated PG-13

S h o w t i m e s : T h u r s d a y , M a y 3 0 , a t 7 : 3 0 p m , Saturday, June 1, at 8:45 p m , Sunday, June 2, at 4 p m

Off Broadway Palm at Broadway Palm:

∫ The Chase: A Light Bringer Story– from Lutz, FL

A sequel to The Light Bringer, The Chase is another true-life storytelling show, written and performed by Laila Lee, who weaves a tale of mystery, intrigue, and survival that begins with a rude awakening to being stuck between a virtual rock and a hard place

This show is suitable for those 16+

See ALLIANCE, page 28

PHOTOS PROVIDED Runaway Princess

WHAT’S HAPPENING

S t e p h e n M a r l e y B r i n g s H i s ‘ O l d S o u l To u r

U n p l u g g e d ’ w i t h S p e c i a l G u e s t I n n e r

C i rc l e t o S e m i n o l e C a s i n o H o t e l M a y 4

Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee welcomes eight-time Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter/producer

Stephen Marley and his “Old Soul Tour Unplugged” with special guest Inner Circle Saturday, May 4 at 8 p m , with gates opening at 7 p m Advance tickets for this outdoor concert are available from Ticketmaster or at http://www moreinparadise com starting at $55 Parking is free

$1 of every ticket will benefit the mission of Ghetto Youths Foundation (GYF) to provide aid and assistance, support and critical resources to people in need across the globe Each year GYF programs serve hundreds of young people, seniors, families, and communities with transformative outreach initiatives supporting health and education, sports and arts, community-building and fundamental social services For more information, visit ghettoyouthsfoundation org

S e m i n o l e C a s i n o H o t e l I m m o k a l e e i s a t 5 0 6 S o u t h 1 s t S t , I m m o k a l e e

C o u n t r y M u s i c S i n g e r a n d S o n g w r i t e r B i l l y C u r r i n g t o n t o P e r f o r m a t S e m i n o l e C a s i n o H o t e l M a y 3 1

S e m i n o l e C a s i n o H o t e l I m m o k a l e e w i l l h o s t c o u nt r y m u s i c e n t e r t a i n e r B i l l y C u r r i n g t o n p e r f o r m i n g l i v e F r i d a y , M a y 3 1 a t 8 p m T i c k e t s f o r t h i s o u t d o o r c o nc e r t s t a r t a t $ 5 2 5 0 a n d a r e a v a i l a b l e f r o m T i c k e t m a s t e r o r a t w w w m o r e i n p a r a d i s e c o m P a r k i n g i s f r e e P o s s e s s i n g o n e o f t h e s m o o t h e s t a n d m o s t d i s t i n ct i v e v o i c e s i n a n y g e n r e o f m u s i c , C u r r i n g t o n i s e q u a ll y s k i l l e d a t d e l i v e r i n g u p b e a t s u m m e r t i m e a n t h e m s a s w e l l a s e x p l o r i n g t h e c o m p l e x i t i e s o f l i f e a n d l o v e w i t h a p o i g n a n t b a l l a d S e m i n o l e C a s i n o H o t e l I m m o k a l e e i s a t 5 0 6 S o u t h 1 s t S t , I m m o k a l e e

Tickets on sale now for NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet

T i c k e t s a r e n o w o n s a l e f o r N U T C R A C K E R ! M a g i c a l C h r i s t m a s B a l l e t , a s t h e C h r i s t m a s c l a s s i c v i s i t s B a r b a r a B M a n n P e r f o r m i n g A r t s H a l l o n N o v 1 7 t o c a p t i v a t e a u d i e n c e s t h i s h o l i d a y s e a s o n . E m b a r k i n g o n i t s 3 2 n d a n n u a l N o r t h A m e r i c a n t o u r , t h e p r o d u c t i o n s h o w c a s e s a f u s i o n o f t a l e n t f r o m e s t e e m e d b a l l e t c a p i t a l s w o r l d w i d e , a n d w i l l f e a t u r e n e w c h o r e o g r a p h y t h i s y e a r

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www nutcracker com Special pricing is available for groups. Call 800-320-1733 or email groups@nutcracker com

The Moody Blues’ John Lodge

The Musical Comedy Hit ‘The Addams Family’ now playing at The Broadway Palm!

Broadway Palm presents The Addams Family, A New Musical Comedy playing now through May 25, 2024 They’re creepy and they’re kooky, mysterious and spooky, they’re all together ooky, and now they star in a hilariously ghoulish musical!

America’s darkest family comes to life in this comical feast that embraces the wackiness in every family and features an original story about love, family, honesty and growing up Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love

with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family Everything will change on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents

P e r f o r m a n c e s a r e W e d n e s d a y t h r o u g h S u n d a y evenings with selected matinees Tickets are $60 to $85 with group and children’s prices available Snap up your tickets today at broadwaypalm com, call (239) 278-4422, or visit us at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers

Hayes has charted his own path, moving from his country roots into the genre-bending world that he was destined for On his album, “Red Sky,” the singer-songwriter is executing at the highest level of his musical career: crafting memorable melodies and instantly catchy hooks albeit with a top-notch musician’s discerning ear His music is both a reflection of his influences, and a product of his prodigious multi-instrumental talents, reflected by the fact that he plays every instrument on his records

‘Per for ms Days of Future Passed’ at Seminole Casino Hotel

Aug. 2

Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee welcomes legendary bass player, songwriter and vocalist of The Moody Blues and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer John Lodge as he “Performs Days of Future Passed” Friday, Aug 2, 2024 with doors opening at 7 p m and the show beginning at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $55 and are available f r o m T i c k e t m a s t e r o r a t w w w m o r e i n p a r a d i s e c o m

Parking is free

The concert was originally set for February 2024 but had to be postponed Tickets for that show are still valid unless a refund was requested

Lodge’s “Performs Days of Future Passed’’ show encompasses a first set of electric Moody Blues’ classics featuring fan favorites such as “Isn’t Life Strange,” “Legend of a Mind,” “I’m Just a Singer (in a Rock and Roll Band),” “Ride my See-Saw,” and much more The

second set will see Lodge and his band performing the iconic album “Days of Future Passed” in its entirety and in full symphonic sound “Days of Future Passed” was released 56 years ago and was arguably the start of progressive rock These songs began the long standing cross-over between rock and classical music There are exciting changes from the original show, with new classic songs and deep cuts, enhanced video and dazzling lighting, all coming together to make a very special evening of great music and Moodies memories The show takes a journey back in time with Lodge and his 10,000 Light Years Band as they create audio alchemy for the audience’s listening and visual pleasure

S e m i n o l e C a s i n o H o t e l I m m o k a l e e i s a t 5 0 6 S o u t h 1 s t S t , I m m o k a l e e

Hunter Hayes to take the stage at Seminole Casino Hotel Aug. 3

Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee hosts GRAMMY award-nominee Hunter Hayes live in concert Saturday, Aug 3 with doors opening at 7 p m and the show beginning at 8 p m Tickets start at $59 and are available from Ticketmaster or at www moreinparadise com Attendees must be 21 Parking is free

A multi-instrumentalist and platinum-selling artist, Hayes is an embodiment of the type of musician who embraces change and strives to rewrite the rules After debuting on the scene with a platinum-certified album,

The Louisiana native has garnered over two billion ondemand global streams since the release of his debut album, along with six gold and platinum-certified singles In addition to his legendary headlining shows, Hayes has toured with superstars like Taylor Swift and Carrie Underwood, and has headlined sold-out shows across the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia. With over 50 award nominations and wins, including five GRAMMY nominations, Hayes is just getting started

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

PHOTO PROVIDED

What would you give to save a dog?

By ISABELLE WELLS

Every week I visit the shelter and assess some of the dogs who are in need Most of them are supposed to be strays but of course many of them that arrive are coming with their owners who don’t want to pay the fee or don’t know what to say so claiming the dog as a stray is easier Walking to the back room and seeing how many are there is very sad Beautiful dogs that you know won’t make it out There is a lot of controversy right now and many advocates are trying to bring down the number of euthanisias Did you know there was over 2,500 euthanized pets last year at Domestic Animal Services in Lee County Just think how many of them could have been saved by simply giving them a chance Not enough resources are given to shelters The commissioners are the ones in charge and could/should increase their budget Just imagine if there was a special tax for your shelters as low as $5 a year on your bill Think what could be done to save these pets (cats and dogs) with that money I would gladly give $5 in my taxes to save them What about you?

Pirate

Canela

Kittens and cats should be adopted in pairs

Kittens and cats should always be adopted in pairs unless the potential adopter has another cat or kitten in their home that will accept a new friend Kittens learn from each other as they wrestle and teach each other that biting hurts Otherwise, they will practice on humans

There are many kittens being born all over and fosters are needed badly Also donations needed to help with vetting of all the cats and kittens we are rescuing Please call us at 239851-3485 if you can foster a cat or kitten

If you see any kittens or pregnant cats wandering around, please call us immediately as kittens need special care and food They should not be left outside to grow up and multiply. We have been advised that there are kittens on Delmar Street on beach If anyone knows where they are please call our rescue at 239-851-3485 so we can rescue them and give them the proper care and vetting they need and get their mom fixed when done nursing

Lori

L o r i ( 5 y e a r s o l d - 5 4 pounds) has been in the shelter since January and is not g e t t i n g a b r e a k She is so stressed S h e n e e d s o u t . Call or text 239281-0739

mostly white with some tabby markings Also 7 months old She loves attention and being held and pampered Very bonded with sibling Trista Must go as pair

Marcie is

Pirate was a stray Loves to be around people 5 years old In danger and still at the shelter Call or text 239281-0739.

Canela was an owner surrender after being hit by a car She can’t walk on her front leg and like the others, is in danger to be euthanized Call or text 239-281-0739

Trista is a black and white 7 month old female kitten She is very sweet and affectionate She and her sister Marcie are very bonded and need to be adopted as a pair.

Award winning duo from Spain returns to the Alliance for the Arts for ‘Flamencodanza’

The Alliance for the Arts is thrilled to welcome back the mesmerizing performance of "Flamencodanza" on Friday, May 10, at 7:30 p m in the Foulds Theater Don't miss this inspired and elegant fusion of Flamenco dance and guitar, featuring the dynamic duo, dancer Aylin Bayaz and guitarist Raúl Mannola The Alliance for the Arts is at 10091 McGregor Blvd Fort Myers

" F l a m e n c o d a n z a " t a ke s a u d i e n c e s o n a j o u r n ey through the rich traditions of Flamenco while infusing elements of Brazilian music and jazz, creating a vibrant tapestry of sound and movement UNESCO recognized Flamenco as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010, and Bayaz and Mannola embody its passion and artistry in every performance.

F u l l o f e n e rg y, b e a u t y a n d i n s p i r a t i o n , “Flamencodanza” made its Fort Myers debut last year at the 2023 Fringe Fort Myers This special performance features a duo collaboration of Flamenco dance and guitar, fusing different elements together producing an award-winning show of beauty and inspiration

Witness dancer Aylin Bayaz's breathtaking interpretation of the music as she whirls and twirls with grace and precision, perfectly complemented by Raú Mannola's rhythmic guitar playing Their collaboration is a testa-

Alliance

From page 25

Showtimes: Friday, May 31, at 7 p m , Saturday, June 1, at 5:30 p m , Sunday, June 2, at 1 p m Held at Off Broadway Palm located at 1380 Colonial Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33907

∫ Stabilized Not Controlled – from Naples, FL Evil landlord "Killer" Joe goes to war on the tenants o f h i s f i v e - f l o o r , s t a b i l i z e d a p a r t m e n t b u i l d i n g i n Manhattan Septuagenarian sex addict Lorna Breedlove, the "mother" of them all, guides her eccentric neighbors to keep up the good fight in this biting comedy that ran for two years at Manhattan's Stage Left Studio

This show contains adult language and content and is not suitable for those under the age of 18

S h o w t i m e s : T h u r s d a y , M a y 3 0 , a t 7 : 3 0 p m , Saturday, June 1, at 8:30 p m , Sunday, June 2, at 4 p m

Held at Off Broadway Palm located at 1380 Colonial Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33907.

∫ Runaway Princess: A Hopeful Tale of Heroin,

ment to their extraordinary talent and dedication to their craft. This is one beautiful showcase of international talent you won’t want to miss!

Tickets for this unforgettable performance are only $20, with discounts available for Alliance members Don't miss your chance to experience the beauty and power of Flamenco at the Alliance for the Arts Purchase your tickets today! Performance will be held in the Foulds Theatre-Alliance for the Arts For more information, call 239-939-2787, visit us at www ArtInLee org, or find us on Facebook and Instagram

About Alliance for the Arts

The Alliance for the Arts is a nonprofit community visual and performing arts center located in the heart of Fort Myers, Florida Since 1975, the Alliance has been committed to transforming lives and improving community through the arts The Alliance campus and galleries are open to the public from 9 a m to 7 p m Tuesday through Friday, and from 9 a m to 1 p m on Saturdays Located at 10091 McGregor Boulevard just south of Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers For more information, please call 239-939-2787, visit us at www ArtInLee org, find us on Facebook or Instagram

Hooking and Happiness – from Bronx, NY

Former New York City call girl Mary Goggin shares the true, award-winning story of her traumatic Irish Catholic upbringing, alcoholism, drug addiction and prostitution. Fortunately, like all fables, there is a happy ending As we peel away the last layer of a broken woman who never felt she fit in, we find the princess, reunited at last with her most precious treasures

This show contains adult language and content and is rated PG-13

Showtimes: Friday, May 3, at 8:30 p m , Saturday, June 1, at 7 p m , Sunday, June 2, at 2:30 p m

Held at Off Broadway Palm located at 1380 Colonial Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33907

Full show descriptions, graphics and tickets are available now at ArtInLee org/Fringe Please note that all Fringe Fort Myers shows begin at the time stated on your reservation and that we cannot guarantee late seating

Mound House

Regular Programs:

Eco-Kayak Tours

Wednesday through Saturday 9 to 11 a m

Explore the winding mangrove creeks and go places only a kayak can go on this guided eco-tour of Estero Bay This beginner friendly tour allows you to experience and learn more about the natural beauty of a mangrove estuary and the history of the area

Mound House kayak tours are conducted in accordance with Florida Society for Ethical Ecotourism guidelines All paddling and kayak safety equipment is provided Ages 12 and up Weather permitting Maximum of 12 paddlers per tour Shoes required; water strongly recommended Mound House members save at $20 per person, regular price $50 per person Museum admission included Register at MoundHouse org

Shell Mound Tours

Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a m -10:30 a m and 2-2:30 p m

Discover the archaeology and history of the site and learn what clues were uncovered about this 1,600-yearold shell mound This hands-on tour will explore the environmental and cultural history of the site and feature replica artifact demonstrations Mound House members save with free tours, and regular price is Museum Admission + $5 No reservation required

April lecture series

Florida’s First Flowers: Afternoon Tea

April 26 from 1 to 3 p.m.

Cost: $5 + admission, Mound House members: free

Description: The Mound House invites you to join us for afternoon tea under the springtime sun! Immerse yourself in the grounds’ historic charm as you enjoy tea and refreshments from teas made from native and Florida-friendly plants Learn more about the history of tea, and the history of popular plants in Florida Register at www MoundHouse org

Knights of Columbus to hold May the Four th Be With You tour nament at Cape Royal Golf Club

The Knights of Columbus will be holding a May the Fourth Be With You charity golf tournament Satur-day, May 4, at the Cape Royal Golf Club in Cape Coral. Registration is at 7 a m with a shotgun start at 8:30 a m

The cost is $125 per golfer or $400 per team, which includes lunch to be served following the tournament

The prizes for the best team are $500 for first place, $300 for second place and $200 for third

Hole sponsors are available for $100 each, which includes the sponsor's name on a sign at the tee There are also other sponsorships available

Make checks payable to Knights of Columbus and mail them to Steve Shaw, 1427 S W 38th Terrace, Cape Coral, FL 33914

The tournament is sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Council 11177, St Katharine Drexel Church, Knights of Columbus 7131 and St Andrew Parish

For information, visit the tournament website at h t t p s : / / a p p e v e n t c a d d y c o m / e v e n

with-you-43

Please arrive 5 to 15 minutes before show time Fringe Fort Myers prides itself on returning all box office sales to its artists

For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Bill Taylor at theatre@artinlee.org.

About Alliance for the Arts

The Alliance for the Arts is a nonprofit community visual and performing arts center located in the heart of Fort Myers, Florida Since 1975, the Alliance has been committed to transforming lives and improving community through the arts The Alliance campus and galleries are open to the public from 9 a m to 7 p m Tuesday through Friday, and from 9 a m to 1 p m on Saturdays Located at 10091 McGregor Boulevard just south of Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers For more information, p l e a s e c a l l 2 3 9 - 9 3 9 - 2 7 8 7 , v i s i t u s a t www.ArtInLee.org, find us on Facebook and Instagram.

Unique summer camps offered at Edison and Ford Winter Estates

Edison and Ford Winter Estates is offering several summer camp options for children in grades K-5 Students are separated into groups according to grade level (K-2 and 3-5) The camps are educational and focus on science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM), and incorporate fun activities Campers get to invent, design, build, and learn in the same location where famous inventors Thomas Edison and Henry Ford invented some of the world's best-known products Summer camp starts on June 3 and runs from 9 a m to 4 p m daily

Most of the camps are available for both age groups; camps for younger students are less complex Summer camp is sponsored by Captains for Clean Water, Fred and Gingy Quinn, Scientists' Society o f S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a , a n d T r i C i r c l e Pavers Additional sponsorships are available Camp options are listed below

Camps:

∫ Kitchen Chemistry

June 3-7

Ordinary kitchen ingredients will be used to conduct science experiments and campers will learn about chemistry and reactions

∫ Fundamental Physics

June 10-14

From the sound waves of the phonograph

to the mystery of light in a bulb, this camp explores the wild world of physics Campers will learn how to conduct experiments and learn about the world around them

∫ Wired Wizardry

June 17-21

Students will learn why Edison was called “the Wizard of Electricity” in this exciting camp In this crash course of electronics, campers learn about watts, amps, volts, and the power of circuits The week concludes with campers designing a light system in their own miniature model house.

∫ LEGO Explorers

June 24-28

Campers will explore rapid prototyping and mechanical designs using LEGOs They will also begin to explore robotics using modular LEGO parts

∫ Space and Rockets

July 1-3

This camp is part space science, and part rocket science Campers will learn about their place in the universe as they design and launch a water-powered rocket

∫ Roving Robotics

July 8-12

Campers will combine mechanics with code as they solve a variety of challenges K-2 Campers will design interactive moving models using motors, lights, and savvy coding Campers in 3rd-5th grade

will tackle the most recent LEGO competition field as they learn alongside Edison Ford robotics coaches who will teach the tricks of the trade

∫ Innovation and 3D Design

July 15-19

Students will learn how to design anything by using CAD (computer aided design) and a 3D printer They will learn how to think and design in 3D as their creations take shape

∫ Mechanical Marvels

July 22-26

C a m p e r s w i l l l e a r n a b o u t s i m p l e machines, mechanical advantages, and gear systems in this fast-moving camp

∫ Art and Creativity

July 29 – August 2

Students will unleash their creativity through various art forms such as painting, sculpting, and mixed media They will also create their own art exhibition

∫ Code Camp (Grades 3-5 only)

August 5-9

Campers will explore the world of code as they develop their own program in Scratch, a word block coding language They will learn new skills each day that can be added to their library of code, allowing them to develop their own original programs

∫ Eager Engineers (Grades K-2 only)

August 5-9

(Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education It offers a range of activities and experiences designed to s p a r k c u r i o s i t y , f o s t e r c r e a t i v i t y , a n d develop critical thinking skills

Camp Pricing

Three-day camps are $135 for Edison Ford members and $150 for non-members Five-day camps are $225 for Edison Ford members and $250 for non-members

Scholarships Available

Support from private donors make it possible for the Estates to offer one scholarship for each camp A committee will determine scholarship eligibility based on financial need so that underprivileged children can experience camp The deadline to apply for a scholarship is two weeks before the desired camp Parents or guardians can apply through the website a t h t t p s : / / w w w . e d i s o n f o r d w i n t e r e s t a t e s org/education/camps/

Throughout the year, other camps and classes are offered when school is closed, including one-day camps and spring and w i n t e r b r e a k E d i s o n F o r d m e m b e r s receive a discounted rate For registration and additional information, visit edisonford org

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