Fort Myers Beach Observer/The Beach Bulletin

VOLUME 40, NUMBER 20

Allers wants new redevelopment agency board for town

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers

w a n t s t o e s t a b l i s h t h r e e C o m m u n i t y Redevelopment Agency boards for Fort Myers Beach and the town council agrees Council agreed at its management and planning session to authorize Allers and Town Manager Andy Hyatt to begin talks with Lee County commissioners and staff about setting up the new government agencies in the town

The agencies, perhaps as many as three, would have their own boards to redirect tax funds from certain parts of the island that are considered “blighted areas ”

The agencies would have their own boards to redirect tax funds from certain parts of the island that are considered “blighted areas ”

Allers said he has reached out to the town’s attorney and to town staff to work on setting up the boards

“We certainly meet the blight require-

ment,” Allers said According to assistant town attorney Nancy Stuparich, the funds would be derived through the use of an increase in tax revenues for certain areas of the town which are considered blight, slums or where there is no affordable housing A baseline for ad valorem tax revenue for

Mayor proposes allowing electric bikes on si dewalks, beach

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers wants to allow electric bikes on the sidewalks and on the beach

During a management and plan-

ning session this past week, Allers proposed a change in the town’s existing ordinance regulating the use of such electric vehicles on the island Electric bikes have been

See BIKES, page 15

A proposal by Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers would change the town’s 2018 ordinance which prohibits electric bikes on the sidewalks and on the beach, to allow them on sidewalks and on the beach FILE PHOTO

properties would be set for those areas, and any increase in tax revenues, would go into a trust fund to fund redevelopment projects

Allers said he wants to present the idea to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners, which would have to approve the setup of the Community Redevelopment Agency boards

The county had set up a CRA for

See ALLERS, page 17

Council moves toward impact fee study

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council is close to moving forward with an $85,000 contract to assess impact fees on the island and establish a new fee schedule ordinance

Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers said he pushed for the item to be put on Council’s agenda to discuss how impact fees “can be beneficial” with new developments.

“I think we are at the key stage of our evolution where this is something we need to take a look at,” Allers said

Fort Myers Beach Operations Manager Frank Kropacek said impact fees can “be a benefit to the town ” He called the town’s current fee structure “lackadaisical ” Kropacek said impact fees are needed to grow the town’s utilities department and enlarge the town’s employee base and improve equipment

During a management and planning session, the town council was given a proposal by Axis Infrastructure for the $85,000 study and impact fee ordinance development

“We need to get going on this ASAP,” Councilmember Karen Woodson said

Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt said he wanted to see a breakdown of what fees the town is currently collecting from new construction and other developments and how much the county collects

Fort Myers Beach Manager Andy Hyatt said those figures would be available at Council’s next meeting

Allers said he supported moving forward with putting the impact fee proposal on the agenda for next week’s Council meeting The proposal is expected to be discussed again Monday

Allers said the contract with Axis Infrastructure would be paid for through the town’s building permit fee collections

At Council’s last meeting, the board also approved a new procurement policy which will allow Hyatt to approve contracts of up to $75,000 without town council approval

NATHAN MAYBERG

The beach renourishment project would restore sand to eroded areas around the Fort Myers Beach shoreline such as this spot near the remnants of the former PierSide Grill & Blowfish Bar

Beach renourishment bid under protest

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

The low bid that the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council voted to accept for its beach renourishment project is under protest by the company that submitted the second-lowest bid

The council voted May 6 to accept the low bid of $21 7 million from Ahtna M a r i n e a n d C o n s t r u c t i o n C o m p a n y despite the protest, following the advice of Town Manager Andy Hyatt and Town Attorney Becky Vose Hyatt and Vose cited the upcoming hurricane season as the reason to move forward with the project despite the bid protest

Callan Marine, which is protesting the bid, put in a bid of $37 19 million, which was the second-lowest bid

The third-lowest bid was for approximately $38 7 million

In a letter to the town dated May 7, attorneys for Callan Marine alleged that Ahtna Marine and Construction Company doesn’t have the necessary dredge equipment to safely do the work. “The nearest available and specified borrow area is offshore and exposes any dredge on the proje c t t o p o t e n t i a l l y h a z a r d o u s s e a a n d weather conditions The closest safe harbor is 1 5 miles from the project borrow area,” attorneys for Callan Marine wrote in their protest letter to the town

An email seeking comment from Ahtna Marine and Construction Company wasn’t responded to as of press time

The protest letter went on to say that Callan Marine’s dredging equipment is designed to operate offshore and calls on the town to award the bid to the most responsible bidder Callan Marine alleges that the town could be exposing its beach areas and adjacent waters to environmental hazards, including potentially an oil spill if a dredge tinder sunk or partially

sank

Bas ed on documents s ubmitted by Ahtna Marine, lawyers for Callan Marine argue that the company won’t finish on time based on its equipment “Ahtna’s dredge has approximately 1,200 installed horsepower compared to the more than 2 4 , 0 0 0 h o

dredge that Callan intends to use for the project,” the protest letter states

C a l l a n M a r

Texas, initially filed a notice of protest on April 30

In a letter to town council ahead of its May 6 vote to award the contract to Ahtna Marine, Hyatt cited the impending hurricane season as a reason to treat the project with urgency and award the contract without delay

The beach renourishment project will bring 946,000 cubic yards of new sand onto the island over 5 2 miles of shoreline along Estero Island

“Since Ian, the condition of the beach

Estero Island,” Hyatt said in a letter to the town council “In some areas of the project, no beach exists at all, and the emergency sand berms that were constructed in

already been overwashed and degraded by subsequent storms.”

Hyatt said the beach renourishment project will provide surge-impact reductions for a 25-year storm

“It is critical for the project to be constructed as soon as possible to provide protection to upland properties and critical infrastructure,” Hyatt wrote to the town council

Hyatt said there is a potential for this year’s hurricane season to be one of the most active in recent years, based on one forecast he cited from Colorado State University

A year of accomplishments

The school year is moving at such an amazing pace that it won’t be long now until we celebrate the Class of 2024 at their graduation ceremonies What we’ve seen already is that there is plenty to cheer about for our students and schools As your District 4 School Board representative, it is my pleasure to share with you some of their accomplishments from this school year Academically, our students

Yeung from North Fort Myers H

with Distinction, the highest level possible,

for his performance

tions Thirteen

Scholar Awards with Merit and 33 won Scholar Awards At Island Coast High School,

Cambridge Scholar Awards

Myers High School and one at Island Coast earned academic

Board National Recognition

helps them stand out during

process We also saw new Carson Scholars recognized at

Elementary, North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts and North Fort Myers High School. The Carson Scholars Fund awards $1,000 college scholarships to students in grades 411 who excel academically and are dedicated to serving their communities

Students are also excelling in their extracurricular activities Thirteen students at North Fort Myers High School and four at North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts were selected for All-State Musical Ensembles They attended the Florida Musical Educators Association conference in January for an AllStar caliber concert. The Island Coast Boys

Championship in November Two years ago, they didn’t have enough members to even form a team, so this was quite the accomplishment The North Fort Myers Girls’

How to solve America’s doctor shortage

Doctors appointments will be hard to come by over the next decade, according to new data from the Association of American Medical Colleges By 2036, the organization estimates that the United States will be short as many as 86,000 physicians

This is a shortage of not just doctors but medical care. In most sectors of the economy, shortages tell suppliers it's time to boost production But government regulation has artificially restricted the supply of medical care for years

We must relax those regulations in order to boost the supply of medical care and meet the needs of patients

There are plenty of medical professionals who can help address this shortage of medical care if only they’re allowed to Nurse practitioners and physician assistants go through years of training and clinical practice to get qualified They can diagnose and treat patients, including by prescribing medica-

about 280,000 nurse practitioners and 126,000 physician assistants in the United States

In many areas, “scope of practice” laws prevent these professionals from practicing to the full extent of their training Nearly half the states have laws limiting nurse practitioners’ ability to practice

Proponents of these rules argue that allowing nurse practitioners and physician assist

restrictions would put patients at risk Yet research shows otherwise

A study by researchers at N

d Boston College concluded that "(s)tate regulations restricting (nurse practi-

tioner scope of practice) do not improve the quality of c

University of Central Florida found that broadening nurses’ scope of practice may actually improve quality of care

And according to a 2023 study from the University of Alabama School of Law, over a 14-year period, expanding scope of practice for nurse p r a c t i t i o

e r s a n d p h y s i c i a n assistants reduced healthcarerelated deaths -- by 12 per 100,000 people and 10 per 100,000 people, respectively Rural areas, which tend to have the biggest primary-care shortages, saw even greater improvements

Beach Community Foundation

Debbie Jordan Guest Commentary

Sally C Pipes

Vacancy on audit committee

STAFF REPORT

The Town of Fort Myers Beach announced a vacancy on its audit committee, following the resignation of Jeff Taylor in April

Community members interested in serving as volunteers to advise and support the work of town government are encouraged to apply The audit committee is an advisory board to the Town Counci; helps select an auditor for the town's financial audit and takes part in other reviews of town finances

Requirements to serve:

∫ All members of the Audit Committee shall be Town Residents who do not have any direct financial or business interests involving the Town The Town may waive the resi-

dency requirements by majority vote if there are an insufficient number of applicants who reside in the Town

∫ All members should, through education and experience, possess a basic understanding of government financial reporting and auditing

∫ At least one member of the Audit Committee shall have accounting, auditing, or related financial management expertise that is specifically relevant to the Town government sector

∫ The Audit Committee shall advise the Town Council on these matters and other matters pursuit to F S , 218 391, F S , or any other topics as assigned by the Town Council

To apply, visit www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov.

Lee Health receives $4 million gift to help nurses and CNAs pursue additional degrees

A Southwest Florida man who credits certified nursing assistants for expediting his recovery has pledged $4 million through Lee Health Foundation for scholarships so nurses and CNAs can pursue additional degrees

For the past decade, Mark Ain, a former patient at Gulf Coast Medical Center, has provided financial support to nurses and CNAs through the Heart of Caring Scholarship Program, which he established in 2014 alongside his wife, Carolyn The program has covered application fees, tuition, books and additional academic expenses, as well provided stipends for more than a dozen CNAs who wanted to pursue a bachelor of science in nursing degree and advance their careers to care for patients Scholarship recipients commit to working for Lee Health for two years after completing their degree program The Ains also have funded Lee Health’s CNA educational symposiums, as well as professional development for Lee Health nurses from across the system Ain’s newest pledge will endow the Ain Heart of Caring program in perpetuity to allow nursing staff from across the spectrum to pursue college degrees, helping Lee Health make a dent in a nursing shortage impacting hospitals nationwide

“Mark Ain has not only been a loyal grateful patient, but also a close friend over the past decade,” said Lee Health President and CEO Dr Larry Antonucci

“This gift ensures that his support of Lee Health nursing development continues forever His personal experience with our nurses shows that they are the backbone of our health care system ”

Nationally, the shortage of nurses runs in the tens of thousands, according to the American Hospital Association Locally, Lee Health regularly has more than 100 vacancies for nurses across its hospitals and medical centers

The Ains have been active philanthropists whose impact is felt across the country, including Southwest Florida, where the Ain Technology and Design Hub within Florida Gulf Coast University’s Daveler & Kauanui School of Entrepreneurship honors the couple’s generosity Mark Ain said he was “blown away with the care” of Lee Health medical staff after his hospitalization, particularly the CNAs who collaborate with health care professionals to provide compassionate care to patients

Although CNAs are licensed, their patient care responsibilities remain somewhat limited, and they operate under the supervision of a Registered Nurse or

Licensed Practical Nurse

Nurses who have completed a BSN program are authorized to assess patients’ conditions, record medical histories, administer medications, monitor medical equipment, perform diagnostic tests, discuss treatment plans and more Nurses generally command higher salaries and enjoy employment opportunities in a variety of settings, including hospitals, medical offices, home health care, nursing homes, outpatient clinics and schools

With the ever-changing nature of health care today, continual education and professional development is essential to stay at the forefront of advances in care

Lee Health employs 4,657 nurses, and although dozens of vacancies are posted, its staffing levels are within recommended levels However, Lee Health continues studying national trends, including reports of declines in nursing school enrollment despite U S Bureau of Labor Statistics data projecting 6% growth for the occupation through 2032

Visit LeeHealthFoundation.org or call 239-343-6950 for more information about the role of Lee Health philanthropy in Southwest Florida

Lee County MPO to hold public hearing

r a m ( U P W P ) T h e U P W P i s t h e M P O ' s b u d g e t T h e h e a r i n g w i l l a l s o i n c l u d e t h e r e v i e w a n d a p p r o v a l

f t h e u p d a t e d F e d e r a l a n d S t a t e P r i o r i t y L i s t . T h e f i n a l i t e m i n c l u d e s T r

n s p o r t a t i o n I m p r o v e m e n t P r o g r a m a m e n d m e n t s t o r e m o v e t

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p e C o r a

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t h a t a r e n o l o n g e r d e f i c i e n t a n d t h e r e f o r

U s e N o

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t o r i z e d ( S U N ) T r a i l P r i o r i t y L i s t ; a n d L e e a n d C o l l i e r a n d L e e a n d C h a r l o t t eP u n t a G o r d a T r a n s p o r t a t i o n R e g i o n a l I n c e n t i v e P r o g r a m ( T R I P ) P r i o r i t i e s . A r e v i e w o f t h e d r a f t f i v e - y e a r T r a n s p o r t a t i o n I m p r o v e m e n t P r o g r a m t h a t i n c l u d e s f e d e r a l - a n d s t a t e - f u n d e d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n p r o j e c t s i n L e e w i l l a l s o b e p r o v i d e d . F o r t h e a g e n d a o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t w w w l e e m p o c o m H a r d c o p i e s o f t h e d

Soccer team nearly won a state title They beat rival Mariner in Regionals and only lost in the state championship game after

e i g h t r o u n d s o f p e n a l

c k s Congratulations on a great season Schools in our community are also being recognized for their success Tropic Isles Elementary was named an Imagine Nation Beacon School Imagine Learning is a supplemental program the school uses to help students learn English and the designation recognizes student improvement Island Coast High School launched the

state of Florida’s only “Into Space” cur-

Downes, and part of the school’s Earth & Space Academy, “Into Space” prepares students for all types of careers in the aerospace industry North Fort Myers High School was recognized for achieving Level 1 Certification in Marzano High Reliability Schools Level 1 certification means the school has created a “Safe, Supportive, and Collaborative Culture,”

which is the foundation for improved student achievement and effective day-today school operations North was also honored with the school’s second Special Olympics National Unified Champion School Banner. One of only 16 schools in Florida to be recognized, National Unified

a m p i o n s c h o o l s a r e c o m m i t t e d t o inclusive practices for all students And one last honor for North, the school maintained its “A” grade when the 2023 School Grades Report was released late last year During a school year impacted

by Hurricane Ian and testing to new standards, this was an amazing accomplishment

These are some of the examples of the great things happening in our schools every day. Congratulations to all our students on their successes this year I can’t wait to see what you will do next

Debbie Jordan is the Lee County School Board Member for District 4

It’s clearly time for states to get rid of scope-of-practice rules

Another way to expand the supply of medical care is to make it easier for international medical graduates to practice in the United States

Research shows that physicians with

According to a study published in the BMJ, Medicare patients tended to by

lower mortality than patients treated by U S medical graduates

Physicians who obtain their degrees abroad often face stiff requirements to get U S medical licenses First, they have to complete two or three years of graduate medical education in the United States

Then they have to take the U S Medical Licensing Examination, apply for a residency, and obtain a state medical license

The process can take years It’s no wonder some doctors who move to America pursue careers in other fields

A recent survey of nearly 300 immigrant doctors disclosed that two out of three with jobs weren’t working as physicians

requirement that all international graduates complete U S residencies Other states should consider following suit

Demand for medical care will only

increase in the years to come, as the U S population ages Meeting that demand will require eliminating the regulations that have long curtailed the supply of care

Sally C Pipes is president, CEO, and Thomas W Smith Fellow in Health C

Institute This article

BUSINESS

New cocktail at Doc Ford’s to benefit Captains for Clean Water

Customers who order the new Send It South cocktail at Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille restaurants and the Dixie Fish Company will be aiding Captains For Clean Water, donating $1 from every drink to the nonprofit organization’s mission of restoring and protecting Florida waters for the use and enjoyment of all

“We’re thrilled to support Captains For Clean Water and raise awareness of the local water quality issues we face here in Southwest Florida,” said Joe Harrity, a partner with HM Restaurant Group, which owns and operates Doc Ford’s and Dixie Fish Company “We are all impacted by the health of our local waterways from the Gulf of Mexico to the Florida Everglades and our many rivers and lakes ” Send It South, a refreshing and tasty combination of mango and silver rums, blue Curaçao, pineapple and soda water, is now available at Dixie Fish Company on Fort Myers Beach and Doc Ford’s four locations on Sanibel Island, Fort Myers Beach, the St Petersburg Pier and Jungle Terrace in St Petersburg Captains For Clean Water was founded in 2016 by fishing guides concerned about Florida’s water management practices and the impact on estuaries’ unique plant and animal communities The organization opposes the current-day procedure of discharging f r e s h w a t e r f r o m L a k e O k e e c h o b e e t o t h e Caloosahatchee and St Lucie rivers a practice linked to blue-green algae and red tide plaguing South Florida’s waterways Send It South refers to the group’s awareness campaign advocating a return to the natural southerly flow of critical freshwater through the Everglades and into Florida Bay, a process now impeded by dams, dikes and ditches built over a century ago. For more information, visit captainsforcleanwater org

HM Restaurant Group owns and operates Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille and Dixie Fish Company on Fort Myers Beach, off Fishersmans Wharf

PHOTO PROVIDED Keep Lee County Beautiful reported removing approximately 3,334 pounds of trash and debris from the environment in April countywide, as part of 26 litter cleanups

Keep Lee County Beautiful holds cleanup events

STAFF REPORT

Keep Lee County Beautiful reported taking part in 26 litter cleanups countywide in April as part of Earth Month, including their annual Great American Cleanup and Global Youth Service Day

The organization announced that 395 volunteers removed approximately 3,334 pounds of trash and debris from the environment in April KLCB held six beautification events, planting 178 trees and cleaned the Veteran Memorial at the Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve

Earth Month takes place during April every year and demonstrates the support for environmental protection One of the highlights of this month is Earth Day, celebrated on April 22nd

“Earth Month and Earth Day is a time that individuals contribute to protecting the environment, reflect on their own behaviors, or to make changes in their personal lives to reduce waste and choose more sustainable options”, said Keep Lee County Beautiful Executive Director Trish Fancher “Keep Lee County Beautiful provides opportunities for members of our community to participate in hands-on projects that make an immediate impact ” Keep Lee County Beautiful recently marked a significant milestone by celebrating its 35th anniversary of serving the community Visit www klcb org or call 239334-3488 to find out how to get involved and support Keep Lee County Beautiful and their efforts.

Lee County fishing captains recognized for excellence

,

FishingBooker, the world’s largest platform connecting anglers and fish-

Angler's Choice Award This exclusive recognition acknowledges charter operators for their exceptional

quality of fishing trips Out of 7,910

c

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

∫ M i k e M o r a n o f D r a g o n f l y 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

∫ 9

response rate

∫ Full business verification.

Hurricane Ian reimbursements continue to come in

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The School District of Lee County is no currently in a deficit due to Hurricane Ian damage, a welcome update

Imperium Consulting Director Joseph Mascali said currently the district is temporarily in a surplus of $30 4 million, a significant increase from the last board update of a deficit of $5 million

“Those proceeds are going to be expend ed in respect to ongoing work in relation to recovery,” Mascali said

The estimated total loss caused by Hurricane Ian remains at $227 million for the school district

To date, the district has received $5 2 million from the National Florida Insurance Program; $75 million for property insurance the policy limit; $116.9 million from FEMA public assistance; $13 million from the State Public Assistance Cost Share program; $1 2 million from Lee County for the shelter claim reimbursement and $17 5 million for legislature capital appropriation

The estimated non-eligible district losses is $48 4 mil-

Custom Packaging & Products, which produces short-run custom printed food packaging, is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year The company, started in 1974 by entrepreneur John Van Horn Sr , assists small independent restaurants and groups brand their business with customprinted food service papers.

Started as a paper converter, the com-

The presentation highlighted the progress he district has made with FEMA Mascali said of the 178 submitted scopes of work for permanent work, 173 have been approved

The district has also submitted cost summaries financial asks to FEMA for a total of $5 4 million

“We are almost halfway through the otality of projects that need to be submitted EMA. We are forecasted to complete it by early July All of the balls are in FEMA’s court and we are working with responding to any questions we receive,” Mascali said

Business Services Executive Director Susan Malay said FEMA has to make the commitment to replace and repair Hector A Cafferata Jr Elementary School before the district can move forward with demolition

“FEMA needs to put into writing that the facility should be replaced Until then, they have the option to come back to look at it, or ask questions,” she said

Rather than risk not having those questions answered, the shell of the building will remain in place, Malay said,

pany transitioned into retail packaging, printing gift wrap and tissue paper for retail businesses throughout Georgia In

approached by a paper distributor asking if he could print a small quantity of custom-printed deli papers for a few restaurant clients. He saw the demand for small quantity, low-minimum, custom-printed

adding hopefully that decision will come soon, so they can review, consult again, and get ready to demolish the original Hector campus

The presentation also highlighted other funding opportunities to make the school district more resilient during any future events through two funding sources

Those include the 404-Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery – Lee County Grant The Lee County Grant was awarded to the district for $500,000 to retain an expert to perform vulnerability assessments of the district’s infrastructure.

The 404-Hazard Mitigation Grant Program request is for storm shutters for the school buildings and upgrading shingle tiled roofs to metal slopped roofs

“The targeted funding amount is $22 million We are working through the application process,” Mascali said

The district also has received approval to apply for sponsorship from the county for phase 3 – capital infrastructure This would be to harden existing shelters and add shelters to the district’s portfolio

“The available funds are fairly significant Potentially tens of millions of dollars,” he said

food service papers, developed that side of his business I n 2 0 0 4 , V a n H

s s

, assumed the role of president and CEO of the company He has been instrumental in expanding the company into new geographical areas and implementing innovative technologies to their business. Now, under the leadership of John, Ryan and Ryan’s wife Natalie, Custom

&

, R

Custom Packaging & Products in Fort Myers celebrating 50 years in business Please recycle!

anniversary Custom Packaging & Products is at 2269 Palm Ave , Fort Myers Call 239201-3394 or visit custompackagingandproducts com

Beach Living

Woman’s Club announces fundraising totals

STAFF REPORT

The Fort Myers Beach Woman's Club announced a big year in fundraising for the 2023-24 fiscal year

F o r t M y e r s B e a c h W o m a n ’ s C l u b

President Dawn Thomas said the nonprofit o r g a n

2023-2024 fiscal year “This is separate

3 9 3

Hurricane Ian,” Thomas said in a letter detailing the numbers

“We have proudly donated $108,964 73 back to nonprofits (cash and/or physical items),” Thomas said

The Fort Myers Beach Woman's Club has raised the funds through charitable events such as the Putt & Pub, Christmas Tree Festival and the ongoing Pub Passport

Thomas said the organization used the funds raised to provide $196,509 46 directly into the Fort Myers Beach community

“Our dedicated members have stepped up during the island rebuilding process They continue to find creative ways to work with our businesses and nonprofits,” Thomas said

T h o m a s s a i d t h e F o r t M y e r s B e a c h Woman’s Club recently had a meeting with T h e A l l i a n c e a c o m m i t

w a s formed so that all nonprofits on the island can work together and benefit from one another

“The open communication and willingness to work together is alive and well It is part of our mission to support our local nonprofits and this Alliance committee gives everyone a chance to hear what others are doing and how they can work together,” Thomas said

For more information on the Fort Myers Beach Woman’s Club, visit their website at www fmb-wc org

Mound House to participate in museum assessment program

STAFF REPORT

The American Alliance of Museums recently selected the Mound House on Fort Myers Beach to participate in its 2024 Museum Assessment Program

In an email announcing the news, Fort Myers Beach Communications Director Nicole Berzin cited the organization's aid to more than 5,000 small and mid-sized museums to help strengthen operations, plan for the future, and meet standards

According to the letter from Berzin, the Mound House must choose from one of four institutional assessment types: O

& Interpretation, or Community & Audience Engagement All

Standards; are inclusive of Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion (DEAI) issues as they relate to the assessment focus; help museums look at both functional and strategic

Beach Kids Foundation announces scholarships

STAFF REPORT

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

aspects of their operations; present focused learning modules and action plans for the museum to progress through; and include a peer-reviewed site visit

“We are thrilled to be participating in AAM’s 2024 MAP cohort Mound House has endured a lot of challenges since it opened in 2015, including two major hurricanes and a global pandemic,” said Mound House Museum Manager Adam Knight “This organization assessment will allow us to lay the groundwork towards becoming a stronger resource to the communities we serve ”

According to the letter from Berzin, the town expects the assessment to help streamline and strengthen the integration of the Mound House with the Town of Fort Myers Beach as well as clearly define the roles and responsibilities between staff and members of their Advisory Board, Friends of Mound House, and volunteers

y s e r v i c e T h i s y e a r , t h e L i o n s C l u b w i l l a w a r d s c h o l a r s h i p s t o 1 0 d e s e r v i n

Eight sea turtle nests in first two weeks of season

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

There have been eight sea turtle

n e s t s r e c o

d

d o n F o r t M y

s Beach during the first two weeks of turtle nesting season.

Three more were recorded by Turtle Time on Tuesday morning

T u r t l e T i m e f o u n d e r E v e Haverfield said there have also been 18 false crawls, or non-nesting emergences as of Monday On Bonita Beach, there have been eight nests documented and 10 non-nesting emergences

F o r t M

B

fewer loggerhead sea turtle nests since a record 132 were documented in 2020, during the covid pandemic There were 87 nests recorded in 2021, 109 in 2022 and 71 last year

L

should bring more nests than last year The town’s sand haul and b e a c h r e n o u r i s h m e n t p r o j e c t s could impact the numbers

Loggerhead sea turtles are considered threatened and are protected under the Endangered Species Act It is illegal to disturb them

A town ordinance prohibits outdoors lights that are not downward-directed and covered LED lights All shades must be closed from 9 p m to 7 a m through Oct 31 to protect nesting sea turtles and hatchlings from disorientation

So far a total of 11 sea turtle nests have been recorded on Fort

there have also been 18 false crawls, or non-nesting emergences On Bonita Beach, there have been eight nests documented and 10 non-nesting emergences

PHOTO PROVIDED BY EVE HAVERFIELD

Myers Beach Turtle Time founder Eve Haverfield said

Lee Schools to install vape detectors

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The School District of Lee County plans to install vape detectors in five schools as part of a pilot program

Initial schools include Estero High School, Fort Myers High School, Cape Coral High School, Lexington Middle School, and Caloosa Middle School

The detectors are $1,000 per unit and $335 for each installation for a total of $173,550 There will be numerous vape detectors at the pilot schools, which would also include inside the boys and girls bathrooms.

The district received a net award of $2,220,879 59 as part of the Juul Litigation and settlement and this money will be used for such proposed enhancements, including the detectors With the data indicating steady increase in tobacco and drug use, the school district recognizes the need for intervention, officials said

The substance abuse intervention will entail:

∫ Community agency support/partnership

∫ Social media campaign

∫ District infrastructure considerations for vape detectors

∫ Consideration of the expansion of OPENGATE

∫ Saturday school and extended day school

∫ Student-led clubs

∫ Anti-drug curriculum

Initial schools include Estero High School, Fort Myers High School, Cape Coral High School, Lexington Middle School, and Caloosa Middle School.

∫ Tiered consequences

The total cost for the first year using the settlement money is $681,550

The school board approved participation in the litigation which alleged a company role in youth vaping on April 20, 2020 The litigation had cited harms as significant and ongoing disruption, significant resource diversion to anti vaping, truancy and absenteeism and significant cost increases

Six states, including Florida, and the District of Columbia were awarded a collective $462 million

The school district has already received two payments, the first in 2023 - $1,199,846 95, and the second in February of this year for $242,486 49 The third payment will be made in December 2024 for $242,486 49, the fourth payment in December 2025 for $268,029.83 and the fifth payment will be made in December 2026 for $268,029 83

Constituent Services and Student Discipline Director Dr Ron Iasussi said the social media campaign includes participation with local law enforcement to present the anti-vaping philosophy to the community through bill-

boards in each zone

The expansion of OPENGATE includes setting the detection system at a standard where vaping devices would show up.

Extended school days and Saturday school would be part of the tiered consequences in an effort to engage parents and students to educate the family on the effects of substance abuse Iasussi said the extended day program would consist of six 75-minute sessions to address alcohol abuse, substance abuse and coping skills and more

“Each session would have a different theme to it,” he said, adding that they are providing a Saturday option for students and parents who cannot attend during the week If attended, it would be in lieu of suspension

The proposal also includes mental health support, which would provide different levels of support for students specifically indicated with a higher use of vaping and drug use They would help families connect with resources to better understand the challenges they are facing, officials said

School District continues to contend with late buses

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Numbers for on-time school buses are improving but still are not where the School District of Lee County wants them to be

The on-time yearly bus percentage continues to be in the low 70s for the afternoon percentages, fairing worse than the morning drop off on-time percentages

The third quarter for this year has an on-time percentage of 92% for the morning and 72% for the afternoon, compared to 87% last year for the morning and 70% for the afternoon

T r a n s p o r t a t i o n E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r Roger Lloyd began a presentation to the School Board of Lee County this week by s h ar in g th at th e d ep ar tmen t h as 8 5 6 employees

“At the highest, we had just under 1,200 When I gave this presentation probably three and a half years ago, we had 1,180,” he said, adding that they are struggling with bus operators and attendants, but also with support and garage staff

There are 513 bus drivers out of the budgeted 600 operator positions; 218 bus a t t e n d a n t s ; 7 7 s u p p o r t s t a f f , a n d 4 8 garage staffers

Lloyd said what hurts is their drivers works180 days on a split shift working in the morning for a few hours and then in the afternoon They struggle with the bus drivers coming back in the afternoon.

The transportation department is 87 drivers short, with another 18 are unavailable due to FMLA situations, workers comp or leaves of absence

“We are covering 150 routes every day,” Lloyd said Absenteeism has gone from 19% to 910% Lloyd said drivers get five sick days and five personnel days a year

“You look for patterns Our kids need structure,” Lloyd said

Out of the 70,283 eligible students to ride a bus, there were 47,190 who rode a bus during a two-week period

There are 548 daily buses that run 2,442 routes Lloyd said there are 5,778 stop locations for a total of 29,925 daily stops

The third quarter for late buses for this year has an on-time percentage of 92% for the morning and 72% for the afternoon, compared to 87% last year for the morning and 70% for the afternoon.

“How did we get to 548?” Lloyd said “As we plan for the shortage of drivers, 87 routes open, we condense routes, plan for coverage, split between two, three, and sometimes four buses “If you think about each one of those buses, they do two routes in the morning and at least two routes in the afternoon Our buses are doing at least four routes per day Many are doing three, or four for coverage ”

On a daily basis in the afternoon, and morning, they collectively stop nearly 30,000 times every single day

As of April 26, Lloyd said there have been 12,629 route changes from requests that parents and schools make and put into their electronic system

“We have granted over 93% of them.

We do what we can We are a customer service-based program We are customer service service the students, parents, and schools,” he said

The presentation also broke down the transportation data further:

∫ Daily miles traveled: 53,708 miles

∫ Average route mileage: 21 9 miles

∫ Annual miles traveled: 9,667,440 miles

∫ Average route time: 58 7 minutes

∫ Average bus occupancy: 67 7 students as of Feb 2023 and 81 3 students for October 2023

“The average bus occupancy has never been an issue with us Our issue has always been the length of route in mileage and time,” he said. “The problem when

you have a (school) choice program, it’s not the bus occupancy, it’s the length of route We don’t want the kids to be on the bus any longer than they need to be ”

Lloyd said the average bus occupancy has increased because they do not have drivers

He said they are always looking to increase the on-time percentages, with the absolute focus in the morning as there is a loss of instructional time when buses and so students are late They also focus on safety

“We are analyzing data every day Our GPS data is amazing I could spend a day going through everything that the program gives us. The bus gets pinged every 10 seconds,” Lloyd said

T

much the district’s elementary proximity plan has helped the transportation department

“Did the proximity help? Absolutely, 100% absolutely,” Lloyd said, adding that there are still late school buses, but that time went from 60-90 minutes to 3045 minutes

There was a difference of 729 budgeted, needed positions for fiscal year 2023 to 600 for fiscal year 2024 There was also a difference in 260 routes, 15,481 daily route miles, 3 7 miles difference for average miles and 9 2 miles difference in average time per route with the change

“Everything is reduced, and we expect the same change when we go to the middle school proximity However, it is not going to be on such a big scale We are not going to see this dramatic of a change,” Lloyd said “Without proximity change, we would not be as successful as we are.”

The district had more than 9,000 students in elementary school who chose to be “grandfathered” into their existing school, which gave up the right for transportation out of zone

The cost savings for the elementary proximity for the drivers, fuel costs and buses alone was $7 9 million

“Every 20 drivers equates to about a million dollars Eighty-seven short, that alone is another $4 million that is out there,” Lloyd said.

School Board looks again at cell phone policies

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The Lee County School Board continues to wrangle with how to deal with student cells phones

According to board policy 5136 – wireless communication devices – principals have the authority to designate times and locations where these types of devices may be used on campus and teachers designate where they can be stored during instructional time, such as bookbags and containers

District staff said next year electronic devices will be their main focus, first with input from principals Conversations then will continue with all other stakeholders

Board member Armor Persons asked at Tuesday’s meeting why they should wait another year to implement change to the student code of conduct

“As a board, in my opinion, we should change that this year for next year to have phones in backpacks in the off position from first bell to last bell,” he said

Although there was no consensus to implement this for next school year, there was an agreement to bring back the topic for more discussion

Superintendent Dr Ken Savage said he has heard the significant concern of how the devices are being used and the lack of consistency throughout the schools They

can look into how to implement the policy, but don’t want to rush.

“I have no objection to eliminating them from bell to bell,” Board member Cathleen Morgan said “I do believe the path they are suggesting is the best way to go I think we need school leadership, families, and students in the discussion I like the path that they have laid out I am sensitive to your desire to do it immediately I feel strongly that we need to engage all the stakeholders in that kind of policy change ”

Board member Jada Langford-Fleming said when she taught phones were a huge distraction

“In my opinion we provide everything a child needs to follow the curriculum throughout the day without needing their phones to do so,” she said “In my opinion, I don’t see why cell phones are so needed The lack of communication amongst their own peers is going to hurt

them later on once they go into the workforce, or secondary education.”

Other board members said there may be a need for students to have cell phones

Board member Debbie Jordan said she has spoken to law enforcement who have children in schools sharing that if an emergency were to happen it would be better for their child to hear their voice

“They can bring their phone I am sure if there is an emergency everyone would have their phone out and not have repercussions,” Persons said

Board member Melisa Giovannelli said her only concern is a lot of times, although she knows it is not right, some of the video taken by a cell phone during a fight have been evidence of seeing what happens

“I would want to make sure all of our cameras are working and functioning properly,” she said

Lee County Supervisor of Elections announces Arts Vote Contest winners

Lee County Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle recently announce the winners of the seventh annual Arts Vote Contest

n First Place “Best Artwork:” Emma Corbin - Cypress Lake High School

n Second Place “Most Original Artwork:” Daniela Uribe de la Hoz - East Lee County High School

n T h i r d P l a c e “ M o s t C r e a t

A

w o r k : ” L i l y Spangaro - North Fort Myers High School

The Lee County Elections Arts Vote contest showcases the artistic talent of local high school students and provides a platform for them to express their creativity while promoting the importance of voter participation and civic engagement

“Every year, I’m overwhelmed by the talent and dedication of our Lee County students in presenting artwork for the contest,” said Doyle in a prepared statement “I greatly appreciate the schools for fostering voter education and the students for creating artwork that communicates the importance of voting and elections ”

On Monday, April 29, Doyle presented the winning school and students with certificates of appreciation and gift cards for their contributions to the contest Cypress Lake High School received $500 for winning the category of “Best Artwork,” and each winning student received a $100 gift card

The contest began Oct 23 and ended on March 29 At the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year, an invitation went out to all Lee County high schools Doyle and staff selected the winning pieces from 35 entries: 13 from Cypress Lake High School, 21 from North Fort Myers High School and one from East Lee County High School

The mission of the Lee County Supervisor of Elections is to deliver superior election services to the voters of Lee County

Family Initiative awarded $250,000 by the Golisano Foundation Grant to support of Thrive Academy

Family Initiative, a Cape Coral nonprofit dedicated to providing family-centered compassionate support, innovative programs and evidence-based therapies to children, teens and young adults impacted by autism spectrum disorder, this week announced it has received a grant of $250,000 to help create a new and innovative autism specialty school for middle and high school students

The Golisano Foundation is one of the nation’s largest foundations dedicated to supporting programs for people with intellectual disabilities and a big supporter of the autism community in Southwest Florida

“We are beyond excited for this generous donation from the Golisano Foundation The support provided is more than a financial investment in our educational programs, it also represents belief in our organization’s grassroots approach to building a continuum of care for the autism community here in Southwest Florida It is equally impactful to our families and organization,” said Family Initiative President and CoFounder David Brown, LCSW

“We are very pleased to provide this grant to Family Initiative to make essential renovations to two buildings on the Thrive Academy campus and better accommodate students with autism spectrum disorder,” said Erica Dayton, Executive Director of the Golisano Foundation “This is the largest single grant we have provided to any organization in Southwest Florida It will help Family Initiative make important improvements including dividing classrooms into smaller rooms, adding sensory rooms, upgrading utilities, and enhancing hurricane safety features We commend Family Initiative for providing high quality, evidence-based clinical services, and a continuum of programmatic care for individuals with autism spectrum disorder and their families in Southwest Florida ”

“This funding is such a huge step for us as we build out a unique educational, vocational, and life skills environment to ensure every student is provided with what they need to thrive,” said Family Initiative o-Founder Anjali Van Drie, MA, BCBA, LCSW

Family Initiative piloted Thrive Academy in the 2023 school year, with the support of a $5 million investment by the state of Florida that helped acquire the campus for the new school Demand for alternative education settings is incredibly high Enrollment is open for the upcoming school year and spots are filling up quickly. Thrive Academy offers middle and high school students an individualized learning environment focusing on academic goals, and also vocational training, life skills training and experiences, and wrap around clinical support

Family Initiative is the leading ASD provider in Southwest Florida, offering a continuum of care through early screenings, social skills programs, family support programs, clinical services, workforce programs and community education for families across Southwest Florida

To learn more about Family Initiative, the services they offer and their work in the community, visit FI-Florida org or call 239-910-0712.

Elite DNA Behavioral Health conducting food drive through May for Mental Health Awareness Month

Elite DNA Behavioral Health, a comprehensive behavioral and mental health care provider, is hosting a statewide food drive throughout May for Mental Health Awareness Month.

Now through Friday, May 24, Elite DNA is collecting food items at 32 locations and is calling on the community for support through donations of canned goods, dry pasta, rice, cereal and other non-perishable food items

Elite DNA is collaborating with seven Feeding Florida chapters across the state to distribute items to those in need via a network of local hunger organizations including All Faiths Food Bank, Feeding Northeast Florida, Feeding South

Florida, Feeding Tampa Bay, Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida, Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and Second Harvest of the Big Bend

Feeding Florida is the state’s network of food banks working to solve hunger and address its root cause Feeding Florida member food banks support more than 2,400 local charitable agencies, which provide food directly to individuals and families in need

Elite DNA has practices throughout the state of Florida and is collecting non-perishable items at its locations in Bradenton, Brandon, Brooksville, Cape Coral, Delray Beach, Fort Myers, Estero, Gainesville, Jacksonville,

Jupiter, Lakeland, Largo, Lehigh Acres, Maitland, Naples, New Port Richey, Ocoee, Orange Park, Ormond Beach, Oviedo, Port Charlotte, Sarasota, Stuart, Tallahassee, Tampa Carrollwood, Tampa Westchase, Venice, Wesley Chapel and Weston

The community is invited to drop off donations at any Elite DNA location between 8 a m and 5 p m , Mondays through Fridays, from May 1-24

For more information and to find drop-off locations across the state, visit EliteDNA com/Find-A-Location/

PHOTO PROVIDED

Lee County Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle, center, with North Fort Myers High’s art teacher, Joy Williams, left, and student Lily Spangaro, who finished third in the Arts Vote Contest

Bikes

From page 1

banned on sidewalks and the beach since a 2018 ordinance limited their use to within the town’s bike lanes.

Electric bikes go faster than pedal bicycles and have been a source of contention amongst past councils concerned with their impact on pedestrians, who can be startled by fast-moving electric bikes on the sidewalks

“I get more emails and conversations from people who can no longer ride a bike that doesn’t have some sort of pedalassist,” Allers said “Why can’t you ride a bike on the beach?”

“Why can’t you ride a bike on the beach?”

Councilmember John King said he has heard from constituents on both sides of the issues, including pedestrians who walk the beach concerned about electric bikes as a safety issue He suggested that if the council changes its ordinance, that it be revisited in a year

Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt suggested that the town add language to the ordinance which would require bicyclists to stop before passing a pedestrian to let t h e m k n o w t h e y w e r e b e h

m

Atterholt said he is concerned about safety on the sidewalks, which are narrow in many areas

Councilmember Karen Woodson said she wasn’t sure about requiring bicyclists

t o s t o p b

“People don’t stop on their bikes very eloquently,” Woodson said “They are falling over, they are tipping over I don’t know how that would work ”

See BIKES, page 17

Estero Island and San Carlos Island in 1990, but it was disbanded in 2006, Stuparich said Stuparich said she would like to see what was in that original plan and build from it

Stuparich said a CRA is designated as a dependent special district, a separate local governmental entity and board which would likely have appointments from the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council and Lee County Board of County Commissioners

“There are a lot of requirements you need to satisfy,” Stuparich said

Lee County would have to concur with which areas are considered blighted which can include a variety of conditions including the lack of affordable housing, Stuparich said.

The tax revenues for the areas of the town which are chosen to be part of the CRA would be required to invest in redeveloping those sections of the town, Stuparich said

Bikes

From page 15

Atterholt said if there are too many pedestrians on the road, bicyclists should get off their bikes and walk

“I think it encourages more people to d r i v e , ” F o r t M y e r s B e a c h

Councilmember Scott Safford said Safford said there are two separate issues: the beach and the sidewalk “I haven’t heard anybody say the E-bikes are dangerous on the beach,” Safford said. “I have,” Woodson said.

“I am in favor of allowing them both,” Allers said “Especially after the renourishment, the beach is going to be beautiful and wide ”

Atterholt urged caution in allowing

Town council would need to arrange an interlocal agreement with the county

The town also would have to finance a study to show from a planning perspective that there are conditions which meet the definition of a blighted area, Stuparich said

Stuparich said the first step would be seeing if the county agrees the area is blighted and is willing to pursue an interlocal agreement on the CRA boards

“It would be you functioning as a separate local government,” Stuparich said Typically, the town council would add two additional members to the local government boards and the county “would add its own people,” Stuparich said

A trust fund would need to be established where the tax revenue is gathered The funds could be spent on an annual basis or could be allowed to build up for a larger project for grants or other funding sources, Stuparich said The CRA plan has to be consistent with compre-

electric bikes on the beach, where he said it could be a safety issue

“I am really concerned about the beach piece,” Atterholt said “The kids on the beach, when you are on the beach on a bike, running or walking, you have to work on the premise that child will definitely be running into your path ”

Atterholt said he will pass on his bike 10-20 feet away from pedestrians and birds.

“With kids, you just never know what they are going to do,” he said

“The beach piece is really something we really need to be careful with,” Atterholt said “That’s the relaxation

hensive plan, she said

As an example of how the funds could be spent, the town could hire additional code enforcement officers but their salary would have to be specific for work in that area of the Community Redevelopment Area but not for the rest of the town

Councilmember Scott Safford said he supported the concept

“The City of Fort Myers has an incredible CRA plan,” Safford said They have four districts, he said

Stuparich said the city of Cape Coral also has a CRA Hyatt said he would take part in the talks but asked for a councilmember to join him in talks Allers said he would get the initial talks going “and see what they say ” Nancy said if there is a positive response she would “move quickly” with documents to start the process of setting up a CRA

“Now is the time to bring it back,” Allers said

piece for our people When they are on that beach, they feel safe,” he said “On the sidewalks, you are more alert We have to be very careful on the beach ”

Turtle Time founder Eve Haverfield is opposed to electric bikes on the beach, near the shoreline where beachgoers and birds could be disturbed in particular “Motorized vehicles, particularly Ebikes, because they are relatively fast, pose a significant hazard to people relaxi n g o n t h e b e a c h , ” H a v e r f i e l d s a i d

“Shorebirds resting and feeding along the s h o r e a r e a l r e a d y s t r e s s e d A d d i n g motorized bikes compounds the threat to th e mig r ato r y b ir d s th at ar e p r es en t

here ”

It’s not clear how the allowance of electric bikes on the beach could also impact other motorized vehicles such as scooters

“If we are going to make changes in the ordinance, I would prefer we try a pilot program on sidewalks and see how that goes before we begin discussion of the beach,” Atterholt said

The town currently has signs at its public accesses which states “no motorized vehicles of any kind allowed on beach ”

WHERE TO GO WHAT TO DO WHO TO

Su mm er at Bay Oaks

TWEDNESDAY

FRIDAY

Breakfast with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

Get to know the missions of the U.S. Coast Guard and Auxiliary at a meet and greet breakfast Thursday, May 23 as part of National Safe Boating Week

While being a marvelous source of recreation, boating, to the unprepared, can be a risky sport Not knowing or obeying the Navigation Rules or the nautical “Rules of the Road,” drinking alcohol or taking drugs while operating a boat, or choosing not to wear your life jacket, are all examples of human error or a lack of proper judgment All too often this misjudgment turns into a Search and Rescue case

Representatives from the Coast Guard and Auxiliary will be available to answer questions about search and rescue, our missions, facilities, training, and capabilities. Register online at www Aux91FMB org/Breakfast

The Safe Boating Campaign is a worldwide effort focused on responsible boating led by the National Safe Boating Council with support from boating safety advocates around the world At its heart, the Safe Boating Campaign is a grassroots effort that collaborates with partners to share about safe boating in their local communities through events, social media, workshops, and more It is produced under a grant from the Sports Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund, administered by the U S Coast Guard National Safe Boating week is May 18-24

Coast Guard

Auxiliary offering free vessel safety checks

The U S Coast Guard Auxiliary will be offering free vessel safety checks at Moss Marina on Fort Myers Beach Saturday, May 18 from 9 a m to noon Moss Marina is located at 450 Court

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary ensures that boats meet the highest standards for safety and regulatory compliance By undergoing a thorough safety check, boat owners can identify any potential issues or hazards that could compromise your safety on the water, allowing you to address them proactively

Whether it's verifying the integrity of your safety equipment, assessing your navigation lights, or confirming the general condition of your vessel, a safety check is a crucial step in safeguarding against accidents and ensuring smooth sailing ahead

The vessel safety check can prevent boat owners from being fined by local law enforcement while operating their boats on the water without the proper equipment

“We welcome the opportunity to inform boat owners on safe boating practices while checking their boat for potential problems,” said Robert Guenthner, the Flotilla Commander of the Fort Myers Beach Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla

"The Auxiliary does not issue citations for violations, but rather provide recommendations and insight on how to stay out of trouble Boats that comply receive an annual VSC Decal which demonstrates their commitment to safe boating," Guenthner said

Moss Marina is hosting this important event as part of National Safe Boating Week National Safe Boating Week runs from May 18-24 This is an important annual campaign that aims to raise awareness about safe boating practices and the importance of wearing life jackets while boating

Boaters can learn more about Moss Marina at https://www mossmarina com

Boaters may visit Moss Marina at 26°27'23 "N, 81°57'20 "W in Matanzas Pass or request a free vessel safety check, online at http://www aux91fmb org or by calling 239-690-6780

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed auxiliary service of the United States Coast Guard created by Congress in 1939 For more information, visit www cgaux org

Wear your life jacket at work day

STAFF REPORT

The US Coast Guard Auxiliary Fort Myers Beach encourages all boaters to participate in “Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day” on May 17, the day before National Safe Boating Week

working, they can join in the fun by wearing their life jacket and posting creative pictures on social media for a chance to win a prize

How to Par ticipate

Boaters share a picture of themselves wearing a life jacket at work (or home) on social media along with the hashtag #wearyourlifejacketatworkday and tag @boatingcampaign (Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram) Don’t use social media? Email p h

council org/For more information, please visit www cgaux org

U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Offers boating safety class

Boating enthusiasts seeking to obtain the state boating safety certificate are encouraged to enroll in a one-day responsible boating class on the third Saturday of the month, from 9 a m to 5 p m The course on Saturday, May 18 at the Cypress

33919 Completion of the course will make participants eligible for the state boating certificate

Robert G uenthner, the F lotilla Commander of Fort Myers Beach Flotilla 91, stresses the importance of education and awareness of boat-

"Attending an in-person class is an excellent opportunity for students to interact, share perspectives, and gain local knowledge Participants learn

about the importance of life jackets, r

d exercising sound judgment together with updates for regulatory compliance "

According to Florida law, anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, w h o p l a n s t o o p e r a t e a b o a t i n Florida waters with an engine of 10 horsepower or more must complete an approved boating safety course and obtain a Florida boating safety ID card This card certifies that the person has completed the required boating safety course, but it is not a boating license

The one-day class costs $45 per person and includes study materials F o r a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t boating safety classes or registration f o r a c l a s s , c o n t a c t K e v i n M c T a g g a r t , P u b

Ostego Bay summer camp open for registrations

STAFF REPORT

Attention future scientists and marine biologists, the Ostego Bay Foundation Marine Science Center is offering summer camps designed for children K-16

Campers will explore the barrier island and water of Estero Bay Field Trips will introduce campers to sea grass communities, plankton populations, mangrove tangles and bird-nesting areas The camp's staff of state-certified science teachers

offers a wide diversity of expertise

instruction. The camps run from 9 a m - 4 p m Monday through Friday with all instructional materials provided Cost is $275 per child

Camp dates are June 10-14, June 17-21, June 24-21, July 8-12, July 15-19 and July 22-26. For more information go to our website at http://www ostegobay org

n Officer, cgaux91education@gmail .com, at 239-690-6780 option 1, or www Aux91FMB org/Safeboating T h e U n i t e d S t a t e s C o a s t Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed auxiliary service of the United States Coast Guard created by Congress in 1939 It is comprised of 20,000 members who volunteer their time to support the operation of the Coast Guard, promote and improve recreational boating safety, and provide t r a

e s t o enhance the safety and security of US ports, waterways, and coastal regions It is the civilian component of the U S Coast Guard and supports the Coast Guard in nearly all mission areas For more information, please visit www cgaux org

FILE PHOTO

Ostego Bay

NATHAN MAYBERG

Marine Science Center summer campers discover sand dollars on Fort Myers Beach at the last camp held in 2022 The camp renews this summer

Registration open for Tommy Bohanon Foundation Youth Football Camp

The annual Tommy Bohanon Foundation Youth Football Camp is set to kick off on Saturday, June 15, at North Fort Myers High School.

Registration is free and opens today, May 15, for the yearly one-day event for student-athletes in first through eighth grades in Southwest Florida

Participants will expand their love and knowledge of football with the help of experienced football coaches

The team of coaches provide hands-on training by guiding youth through NFL-style drills that lay a solid foundation for good sportsmanship

The camp runs from 8:30 a m to 1 p m at the high school stadium Athletes should wear shorts and a T-shirt and bring socks and football cleats (sneakers are acceptable if the athlete does not have cleats). Athletes should also bring a refillable water bottle Lunch will be provided by Tropical Smoothie Café and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office will have sweet treats for all participants at the end of the camp

“This is one of our biggest events of the year,” said Foundation President Tommy Bohanon “It’s always great to see the young kids out on the field laughing and having a good time while both learning the game and acquiring some valuable life lessons ”

Sponsors for the camp include Extreme Florida Roofing, Advanced Seamless Gutters, Arthur Printing, Barry Goettemoeller RE/MAX, Custom Pools by Design, Garramone Board Certified Plastic Surgery, Johnny Prevatt & Sons Paving, Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Lee Drywall, Nor-Tech Hi Performance Boats, Patriot Storm Shutters, Personal Touch Banquet & Catering, Potts’

S

Chiroprac-tic, Rue Homes, Taylor Carpet One, Thomas Family Foundation and Tropical Smoothie Café

To register, please visit https://tommybohanonfoundation org/youth-football-camp/ Registration closes on Wednesday, June 12 ---

Mound House Calendar

Museum Hours: Wednesday through Saturday 9 a m4 p m

Park Hours: Daily 7 a m - 6 p m

∫ Shell Mound Tour - Wednesday through Saturday 10 a m , noon, 2 p m

∫ Kayak Tours: Wednesday through Saturday 9 a m - 11 a m

∫ Hurricane Expo: May 17 10 a m Cost: FREE

In preparation for the upcoming hurricane season Mound House invites you to explore essential resources and support services at our “Hurricane Expo!” Expect to engage with local organizations and experts providing valuable insights and short lectures throughout the day Prepare yourself and empower your community at this informative event! Free Museum Admission offered all day 9 a m - 4 p m

∫ History at the Beach

Date: May 24

Cost: FREE

Embark on an exciting beach tour highlighting coastal sea life and Calusa history Explore the shoreline's lifeforms and ancient artifact replicas that offer a glimpse into the region's past. The tour starts at 10 AM and we will meet at Beach Access 22

Tommy Bohanon at one of his foundation’s previous youth football camps

The Tommy Bohanon Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting young athletes reach their highest potential on and off the playing field Former NFL fullback Tommy Bohanon returned to his hometown in Southwest Florida to pursue his vision of ending generational poverty for at-risk youth The

foundation funds annual scholarships, sports equipment grants to local high schools, youth football camps, seminars and programs, as well as funding for other local nonprofits For more information about the Tommy Bohanon Foundation, visit TommyBohanonFoundation org or call 239-671-0441

ARC’s annual Casino Royale 007 fundraiser set for May 18

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com

You can almost hear the James Bond music playing in the background every time the Animal Refuge Center holds its annual Casino Royale fundraiser

And that day is coming upon soon as ARC will hold its 11th annual Casino Royale 007 fundraiser Saturday, May 18, from 7-11 p m , at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Estero

Many who attend this 007-themed event will don formal dresses or white tuxedos while they play their favorite games of chance like blackjack, poker, roulette and craps to support the mission of the Animal Refuge Center

“This is one of our three major fundraisers with a James Bond theme We’ve had impersonators here in the past and we encourage people to come and play the part,” said ARC vice president Rob Spicker “Part of the game is to take in the theme and dress like you’re at the casino with Bond himself ”

The play money you win increases your chances of winning one of many great raffle prizes There also will be a live auction with jewelry, weekend hotel getaways, a $500 martini package and 10-night vacation packages to Antigua, Spicker said

All the proceeds raised will support the dogs and cats in ARC’s care, some of whom will be there to remind the crowd about the purpose of the night

Tickets are $75 and include $2,000 in “cash” to gamble with Additional gambling “cash” can be purchased at the event.

This year's Casino Royale is presented by Paul and Rosalie Watson

If still available, the 007 sponsorships are $2,750, License-to-No Kill sponsorships are $1,250, Diamonds

are Furever sponsorships are $600, and The Dog Who Loved Me sponsorship is $300

Sponsorships come with event tickets and various levels of advertising

“We’re almost where we were last year with sponsorships We hope to cross that line and exceed what we had last year,” Spicker said “Ticket sales are always available through our website ”

The Animal Refuge Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit animal welfare society It is a non-euthanasia organization dedicated to caring for all owner-surrendered cats and dogs received into their care

ARC places approximately 500 dogs and cats per year into homes through direct and indirect adoptions

“We depend entirely on the generosity of donors, sponsors and grants This is your opportunity to help us control the animal population, take care of the cat and dogs here and find them permanent homes here in Southwest Florida,” Spicker said

Tickets and sponsorships are available at https://animalrefugecenter com/all-upcoming-events/2016/5/21/ arcs-casino-royale-007

ARC is at 18011 Old Bayshore Road in North Fort Myers Contact the center at 239-731-3535 or visit http://animalrefugecenter.com for more information.

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SWFL’s Cinematic Celebration: Fort Myers Film Festival set to dazzle audiences in 14th year

The Fort Myers Film Festival’s 14th annual soiree is set to take place from May 22-26, in and around SWFL at venues including the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, IMAG, Alliance for the Arts, BIG ARTS, Broadway Palm Dinner Theater, Luminary Hotel, and more

“Hellbent on Boogie” will kick off this year’s festivities at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center with

Wednesday, May 22 The event will include high

attending from around the world

The film was completely shot in Florida and is directed and produced by Vito Trupiano, executive

Ramirez, and John Farley Stars from the event will attend a private reception before the screening and will be present for a Q&A afterward The night will feature champagne toasts, paparazzi, delicious treats for VIP attendees, and an afterparty on the roof of the SBDAC with fun, dancing, and a night never to forget

In the opening night film, Ian returns to his small Floridian hometown to find his sister Quinn all grown up But when he discovers that their overbearing mother is sheltering Quinn because of her autism, he hatches a plan for them to run away together so that

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v a l i d u n l e s s a r e f u n d w a s r e q u e s t e d L o d g e ’ s “ P e r f o r m s D a y s o f F u t u r e P a s s e d ’ ’ s h o w

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

r o c k a n d c l a s s i c a l m u s i c T h e r e a r e e x c i t i n g c h a n g e s f r o m t h e o r i g i n a l s h o w , w i t h n e w c l a s s i c s o n g s a n d d e e p c u t s , e n h a n c e d v i d e o a n d d a z z l i n g l i g h t i n g , a l l c o m i n g t o g e t h e r t o m a k e a v e r y s p e c i a l e v e n i n g o f g r e a t m u s i c a n d M o o d i e s m e m o r i e s T h e s h o w t a k e s a

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e n c e ’ s l i s t e n i n g a n d v i s u a l p l e a s u r e

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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 h o s t s G R A M -

M Y a w a r d - n o m i n e e H u n t e r H a y e s l i v e i n c o n c e r t

S a t u r d a y , A u g 3 w i t h d o o r s o p e n i n g a t 7 p m a n d t h e

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Quinn can pursue her dream of becoming a professional dancer

The Fort Myers Film Festival will be benefiting several nonprofits this year including Florida Arts Inc , #KindLee, Raddatz Foundation, FODASA and Kimmie’s Recovery Zone

About the Fort Myers Film Festival

The Fort Myers Film Festival supports Lee County Schools filmmakers, United Way, Raddatz Foundation, SalusCare, Lighthouse of SWFL, ACT, Kimmie’s Recovery Zone, Uncommon Friends, Charity Pros, #KindLee, Uncommon Friends Foundation, Family I n i t

Sponsored by and partnered with The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, Happenings Magazine, Luminary Hotel, The Banyan, Gulfshore Life Magazine, NBC-2, Riverside Realty Group, Hilfiker Missions LLC, Wild about Popcorn, Outlier Brands, Downtown House of Pizza, UNIT A and Marcus Jansen Foundation, Pamela Templeton Unlimited, Captiva Spirits, IMAG, J Bert Davis, Clarity Certified Public Accountants, Kearns Restaurant Group, Black Tie Tuxedoes and City Tavern and Martin Law Firm To make a donation to the Raddatz Foundation today, visit https://raddatzfoundation org/ If you would like to sponsor the Fort Myers Film Festival contact us at eric@fortmyersfilmfestival com

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A l - A n o n , A l - A t e e n m e e t i n

Looking to expand

By ISABELLE WELLS

Co-founder of the

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

W

expand somewhere in the area and would appreciate your help If you know anyone who could help getting us a place that would be great We would love to have some land (one acre is good) and a place where our trainer can l

come Please contact Isabelle at 239-281-

0 7 3 9 - t h e p

needs to be fenced

PALS

In loving memor y

Many of our dogs come from shelters like Belle and Heidi Both passed away last week and were loved until the end Both had health issues heart-worm and cancer which are both preventable they didn’t have to pass away so early

Belle Belle was rescued in 2016 after being in DAS in Lee County where she was scheduled to be euthanized Today was a sad day for all of us at the Rescue including her foster parents of course

Belle from you in 2016 I wanted

was the most lov-

away today We are going to miss her more then we

her & letting us adopt her ”

Heidi Heidi touched our hearts even though she was not directly part of our Rescue I

shelter when she was scheduled to

tumors and was euthanized after she was

moments so she could enjoy love and happiness She passed away with a tummy full of treats at home with Marie, her husband and their cat She was the happiest girl ever Loved everyone and has such a great disposition We thought all of us very hard to save her so she would not die alone in a cold place.

Termite tenting warning

Feeders needed on and off beach

Once they tie it all down and put the gas in any cats

w i l l b e k i l l e d immediately A good tenting company will usually check under to make sure no cats are there but we m u s t b e d i l e g e n t A n y s t r a y s s h o u

S i n c e t h e s n o w b i r d s have now left, we have a big shortage of feeders to feed hurricane survivors on and off the island

If you can give an hour or two a day or two please call 239-851-3485

We need help on San Carlos Island and also in the Pine Ridge Summerlin area as well as on Fort Myers Beach

We are also in need of dry adult cat and kitten food

d b e c h a s e d away from the home or building to be tented as, once tented, cats think it is a safe place to go

Kayla

Kayla is an all black female beauty with beautiful orange eyes She is very s w e e t a n d i s g o o d w i t h other cats. She will be at t h e P e t S u p e r m a r k e t o n C o l l e g e a n d 4 1 i n F o r t Myers this week

Sweetie Pie

Sweetie Pie is a white with tabby striped female with bullet circles on her side She is very sweet and loves to be held She currently can be seen at the Pet Supermarket, Babcock Ranch

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

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

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

T h i s c a m p i s f o c u s e d o n S T E M

(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

develop critical thinking skills

Camp Pricing

Three-day camps are $135 for Edison Ford members and $150 for non-mem-

bers 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

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

s receive a discounted rate For registration and additional information, visit edisonford org

Florida Repertory Education announces summer theater camp programs for children ages 6 - 18

c l u d e s w i t h a s t u d e n t p e r f o r m a n c e i n t h e H i s t o r i c A r c a d e T h e a t r e c o m p l e t e w i t h c o s t u m e s , s e t s , a n d l i g h t i n g P r o g r a m e n r o l l m e n t i s l i m i t e d ; o p e ni n g s r e m a i n f o r :

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1 5 - 1 9 , f o r a g e s 1 1 t o 1 8

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A u g u s t 2 , f o r a g e s 9 t o 1 8

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e r s a s s i s t h e a d t e a c h i n g a r t i s t s d u r i n g

t h e t w o - w e e k s e s s i o n s A n a p p l i c a t i o n m a y b e f o u n d a t

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E d u c a t i o n P r o g r a m

F l o r i d a R e p e r t o r y T h e a t r e ’ s e d u c a -

t i o n p r o g r a m i s d e d i c a t e d t o e n r i c h i n g t h e l i v e s o f y o u n g p e o p l e a n d f a m i l i e s t h r o u g h o u t S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a w i t h e x c e p t i o n a l t h e a t r e e x p e r i e n c e s ; n u r t u ri n g a n a p p r e c i a t i o n f o r t h e a t r e i n o u r s t u d e n t s , a u d i e n c e , a n d c o m m u n i t y ; E d u c a t i n g a n d e n g a g i n g y o u n g p e o p l e , n e w a r t i s t s , a n d a d u l t s w i t h t h e h i g h s t a n d a r d s o f p e r f o r m i n g a r t s t r a i n i n g i n c l u d i n g c l a s s e s , i n t e r n s h i p s , a n d

PHOTO PROVIDED Summer camp students perform a chemistry experiment at Edison and Ford Winter Estates.