Fort Myers Beach Observer/The Beach Bulletin

Field set for Fort Myers Beach Council race

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

There will be four candidates for three seats on the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council in this November’s elections after qualifying ended Friday Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers, V i c e M a y o

d

Councilmember Scott Safford will each be seeking four-year terms Nov 5, while Fort Myers Beach Library Trustee Greg Scasny entered the race as the lone challenger

Myerside Resort approved

Elections confirmed that all four candidates, who had previously announced their candidacies, qualified to be on the ballot.There were no new candidates to announce since Scasny entered the race in May and all three incumbents announced their intentions to run

Allers and Atterholt were elected to their seats in 2020, along with Bill Veach Veach resigned his seat in protest of the state’s new controversial financial form

disclosure law, which was temporarily blocked this past week by a U S District Court judge over constitutional law objections by municipal officials throughout the state who also resigned their seats.

The council appointed Safford, who manages vacation rentals in town and who owns the Sea Gypsy Inn property, to replace Veach on the council in January Scasny, who is a founder of the local

Cybersecurity, was appointed to his seat

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council voted 4-1 M

Monday amid a split in opposition and support from residents who spoke during a public hearing Mayor Dan

Allers voted against approving a zoning change to allow the Comprehensive Planned Development for the 45-unit hotel, while Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt joined council members John King, Scott Safford and Karen Woodson in approving the new ordinance to allow the resort

Despite the opposition from a group of residents, the resort also had its backers in the way of other residents, business owners and developers such as London Bay Development Group which is proposing its own hotel down the road

Myerside Resort developers to build more units and intensity on the one-acre parcel, while deviating from parking requirements which they would normally have to follow per the town’s land development code.

The resort, totaling more than 50,000 square feet, will also have four dwelling units and 9,000 square feet of commercial space including a restaurant, as part of a commercial planned development approval near the Fort Myers Beach Elementary School

T

Resort and Cottages, a small group of seven cottages with 12 units that were largely destroyed by Hurricane Ian

The Local Planning Agency had previously given approval for the project

on the library board last year by Gov Ron DeSantis Scasny has entered the election on a platform of seeking to slow down commercial development, posting weekly v

Fridays ”

Scasny said he is against “rampant development” and wants to protect “the quality of what we have here ”

“I think that quality is going to be in jeopardy soon,” Scasny said "” think we

Council passes

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

T h e T o w n o f F o r t M y e r s B e a c h

Council voted 3-2 to approve a 4% millage rate hike, that will increase the town’s property tax from 99 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value to $1 03 per thousand dollars of taxable assessed value

The vote followed a lengthy discussion on the town’s financial condition

Fort Myers Beach Finance Director Joe Onzick said the town needs to replenish its emergency reserve budget to $3 5 million He said the town currently has approximately $220,000 in its emergency reserve fund, though it also has $1 6 million in other operating reserve funds Onzick said the town needs to raise $1 6 million to ensure the town has the proper reserves to handle another emergency, such as a serious hurricane

Voting in favor of the 4% millage rate h i k e w a s M a y o r D a n A l l e r s ,

Councilmember Scott Safford and Karen Woodson

V i c e

Councilmember John King voted against the millage increase

Safford said he is concerned about how the town could handle even a minor hurricane based on the kind of flooding the town saw just last week “We’re going to need some capital improvements like you wouldn’t believe,” Safford said Atterholt said information provided by Lee County Property Appraiser Matt Caldwell showed that the town’s property values are rebounding as it rebuilds Atterholt said the town is on its way to getting back to its property tax values from before Hurricane Ian

The town budget will be bolstered by state funding in the way of $8 million for

FILE PHOTO

Myerside Resort and Cottages was largely destroyed by Hurricane Ian

In Lee County, no bad deed goes unpunished

Like many, I rarely considered the role the Lee County Clerk of Courts plays in our community Typically, thoughts of community enrichment bring to mind the selfless acts of volunteers, the life-saving duties of first responders, or the educational contributions of teachers The Clerk of Courts, known primarily for administrative tasks such as processing fees and recording documents, seemed distant from these more direct forms of community engagement That is, until I sat down with the Clerk’s Chief Administrative Officer, John Bodner, who was happy to answer my question, “How does the Clerk help enrich the lives of people who call Lee County home?”

Here’s what I learned The Clerk of Courts is instrumental in ensuring judicial transparency by accurately maintaining and providing public access to court records, essential for justice and fairness As the County Recorder, it also safeguards records such as mortgages and marriage licenses, protecting the area's legal history and the property rights of its residents dating back to 1887

The Clerk of Courts also oversees the county's finances, acting as the Chief Financial Officer to audit, invest, and wisely manage substantial tax dollars, ensuring fiscal health and responsible use of taxpayer funds. In addition to financial management, this role includes serving as the Clerk to the Board of

Town council elections upcoming: Heed the warning signs To the editor:

Guest Commentary Letters

We listened carefully to this week’s town council meeting and specifically the Myerside Resort project Councilmembers Jim Atterholt and Scott Safford (who voted to approve the development), who are two of the three councilmembers up for election this year, are not protecting the interest of our town

They are ignoring density, height requirements, reducing parking and setting precedents that will bring further harm to our town Additionally, while councilmembers John King

County Commissioners, where it maintains important records and minutes, promoting transparency and accountability in government operations

However, a deeper look into the Clerk of Courts operations and initiatives revealed a significant impact on our community The Clerk's office does much more than administrative work; it plays a crucial role in safeguarding our community.

Real estate fraud has been a significant problem throughout Florida’s history Criminals have been known to forge deed signatures or create fake deeds to unlawfully gain control of properties This type of fraud has caused substantial financial damage, victimizing property owners and disrupting the real estate market

All Florida counties now provide free Property Alert notification systems, which alert property owners to changes in their property records, but it does not prevent fraudulent deeds from being filed While these notification services are beneficial for early detection, they operate after the fact

Lee County has put in place proactive measures that set a new standard for combating real estate fraud, prioritizing prevention over mere detection

After months of working with legislators and advocating for changes in Florida law, the Clerk of Courts launched a new pilot program in the summer of 2023 The Property Fraud Prevention Pilot Program was intro-

and Karen Woodson (who also voted for the project) are not up for re-election, they, too, are representatives who need to be given careful consideration as I am not sure they have the experience and business savvy to guide our community On the Shucker’s Resort and Cottages project, further reduced parking was granted The die has been cast, and I fear the town and the quality of life for its residents on the island is in decline

Meanwhile, we can not seem to get anything done on the island, I went away for about two months and returned expecting to see movement on the delayed beach renourishment, Newton Park progress, lot clean up, etc There are no obvious signs that any work has taken

duced to specifically address and mitigate property fraud, a prevalent issue in areas with many vacant lots This program requires that any person listed on a property deed must present valid government-issued photo identification before the document’s recording, aiming to clamp down on fraudulent activities and enhance the security of property transactions

Due to this advocacy for property owners, additional safeguards for property deed recordings were implemented statewide in 2024. The new rules require that each deed submitted for recording must not only have the signatures of two witnesses but must also include these witnesses’ post office addresses This requirement is set to improve the traceability of individuals involved in property transactions and add an extra layer of verification, thereby strengthening the legal framework against potential fraud

As these programs evolve, their positive impacts on enhancing property transaction security and building community trust continue to grow, affirming the important work of the Clerk of Courts' office

The Property Fraud Prevention Pilot Program and the subsequent regulations introduced by the Clerk of Courts reflect a commitment to ensuring that our residents’ property rights and taxpayer dollars are safeguarded These initiatives contribute significantly to a safer, more transparent real estate environment for all Lee County residents and are to be both applauded and supported

Michael R. Davis is one of the owners of Worthington Realty, Inc He has called Fort Myers home since 2003

place We are nearing two years post Ian Do we have the right Town leadership, from Town Council to Town Manager?

Lastly, I did notice that we have a new traffic light at the Seagate Development (previously known as Red Coconut RV Park) and a sales trailer All for a project that has yet to come forward and make their ask Is this too a forgone conclusion of overdevelopment, reduced parking, greater building heights? I would encourage you to think very seriously about who should be leading our Town I know who I will not be voting for This has nothing to do with moving the Town forward It will never be the old Fort Myers Beach, however, I see no adher-

or posted to the virtual

fortmyersbeachtalk.com. Letters run space permitting and are due no later

for consideration for that week’s paper. The Observer reserves the

You may also comment on any letter or guest com-

Michael R Davis

page 4

ence to current code and no consideration to asks that will be coming from future developments i e London Bay, Seagate, etc

I hold the Town Council fully responsible for the direction of our island and frankly I have huge concerns This beach can not handle all of this overbuild and the majority of our Council lacks the foresight and vision to the issues they are creating Michael Funk and Greg Miller Fort Myers Beach

Where in the nation is Byron Donalds?

To the editor:

Citizens of Florida House District 19 deserve better than Byron Donalds We deserve a representative who works for our concerns and our interests For 15 months, we have been waiting for promised relief in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. Donalds filed legislation for tax relief for losses from Ian 15 months ago, yet he has not done the real work to get that legislation moved out of committee for a vote Instead of prioritizing the Hurricane Ian Relief Bill as promised, Donalds is spending his time traveling across the U S , attending Republican gatherings in Wisconsin, and serving as a prop in NYC Sitting in the Cigar Code bar in Philadelphia drinking cognac and smoking cigars with Rep Hunt from Texas is not making a priority of the issues and concerns of our district; rather, it is making a priority of his personal political ambitions

Donalds and 25 years of Republican majority in the House have failed our district We have a better choice to represent our district in Congress: Kari Lerner, a busi-

nesswoman and a moderate elected in a red district with a proven track record of representing her constituents Lerner is a representative who will actually defend your freedoms your healthcare choices, your freedom to vote, and your religious freedom

If you are tired of Congress doing nothing, send a message with your vote Send Kari Lerner to Washington as Congresswoman for Florida Congressional District 19

Keith Edison Fort Myers

New England Independent to a Florida Democrat

To the editor:

When I bought my home here, Florida enshrined a citizen’s right to privacy in the State constitution, legalized medicinal marijuana, and supported a $15 minimum working wage Since then, legislators systematically passed bills to erode the people’s collective decisions, claiming the USA is not a Democracy but a Representative Republic (to excuse their disregard for our wishes) We are not children to speak only when spoken to Elected officials serve voters not themselves or a Supermajority that prevents a range of thought and discussion

I became a Democrat seeing Florida’s 25-year supermajority’s efforts to

1) Reverse freedoms for reproductive health care (despite our Supreme Court's definition as a right of privacy)

2) Hamper book availability, and flying flags of my choice

3) Revamp standardized school tests to hide sinking educational standards

See LETTERS, page 17

BUSINESS

Shuckers gets approval for rebuild

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

A year before Hurricane Ian, the owners of Shuckers at the Gulfshore and Cottage Bar were holding a jubilant celebration of the 100th anniversary of the landmark Fort Myers Beach property which once moonlighted as a casino

Hurricane Ian wiped out the physical history of the t o w n ’ s o l

c o m m e r c i a l building standing at the time of the storm

O n M o n d a y , t h e n e w

owners of Shucker’s at the Gulfshore and Cottage Bar received approval from the town council for five variances to cons truct a new Shuckers

“We want it to feel as close to the prior building. It’s important to us to keep that feel ” Shuckers developer Joe Orlandini

The property was sold last summer for $9 million to Right Choice Investments, a Michigan-based limited liability company connected to Fort Myers Beach developer Joe Orlandini

The new restaurant will have three stories (rather than the previous two stories), with 12,000 square feet, about 1,100 square feet more than the old Shuckers The popular restaurant had been reconstructed over the years, around one of the original cottages

One of the main variances granted to the company was for parking The council approved allowing the developer, represented by planner Patrick Vanasse and the Neighborhood Company and attorney Noel Davies, to have 16 vehicle parking spaces down from the 28 spaces that were there previously Under town code, the

rebuild of the restaurant and bar would require 114 parking spaces

According to town staff, they are allowed a 33% reduction in the parking requirements for being in the downtown district which would require them to have 76 spaces Instead, they sought an 85% reduction in parking which would necessitate only 16 vehicle parking spots at a business where parking has historically been difficult

The large number of spaces required is due to the property being a bar and restaurant. The Whale, located across the street, also recently received a break from parking regulations by the town council

M i k e M i l l e r , o w n e r o f

The Whale, appeared at the town council meeting to support the project and variance requests though he said he had a concern about potential noise “We want them to s u c c e e d , ” M i l l e r s a i d “ I know they are going to be good neighbors.”

Mayor Dan Allers said t h e p a r k i n g r e q u i

s S h u c k e r s f a c e d w a s “ a n inflated number ” He said that the town should change its parking regulations so not as many parking spaces are required for bars and restaurants that serve the same function in one building

“It’s never made sense why the double calculation for parking if it’s a bar or r e s t a u r a n t , ” A l l e r s s a i d

“You have to have calculations for the bar and then on top of it for the restaurant It makes staff’s job much more difficult and for people to understand it makes it much for difficult I would like down the road to look into how we can clear that up to make it a little easier for people to understand and make variances that aren’t necessarily needed ”

C o u n c i l m e m b e r S c o t t Safford asked “Is there an issue with parking?”

Allers, who had clashed with Safford over parking

RENDERINGS PROVIDED

requirements at the Myerside Resort earlier in the meeting, said he didn’t have as much concern at Shuckers

“Do I have an issue with parking? Sure,” Allers said “To me it’s different It was important to see the usable square footage,” he said “I’m not a huge fan that they are having less parking spaces but in this case I understand the circumstances ”

Allers cited the requirement for the building to be placed behind the coastal construction line as pushing the construction further away from the beach, limiting parking

As part of the parking variance request, the developers also proposed a bike rack for four bicycles, which allows them a break in one vehicle parking space requirement

The other variances were for setback requirements, an extra two feet of height, side parking and the entryway The developers largely sought those variances in order to keep the same setup of Shuckers which the council supported

“We are going to do the best we can to keep the character of that original cottage,” Orlandini said Orlandini said the bar will have a similar feel to the former one “We want it to feel as close to the prior building. It’s important to us to keep that feel ”

Orlandini said there will be three floors, to allow for a larger view and broader view Orlandini said there will be an elevator and stairwells

Orlandini said he met with neighbors “We want to partner with the community,” he said “We’re going to do our best to keep the character of the original building ” Orlandini said the menu will keep the favorites the same but said he also wants to broaden the clientele

The Gulf Shore was built in 1921 and went through a number of transformations over the years During the 1920s, it was also known as the Crescent Beach Casino and in the 1930s it was called the Gulfshore Inn When the property was purchased in 1970s, there were several cottages, with the property eventually being renamed Shuckers at the Gulfshore and Cottage Bar

The town council approved the rebuild and variances unanimously

FILE PHOTO

Brian Nagle (left) and Brian Wierima (right)

Beach Living

Active Season

reporting an active bird-nesting season on Fort Myers Beach, with several hundred active nests

The FWC employs one seasonal field technician to m

Island Critical Wildlife Area adjacent sites The CharlotteL

C

a Shorebird Alliance, which includes Audubon Florida, has been providing additional support for monitoring and stewardship

NATHAN MAYBERG

Wilson’s plover near the Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area

NATHAN MAYBERG

Sunset at Lynn Hall Memorial Park on Fort Myers Beach. Despite the loss of the Fort Myers Beach Pier, sunset selfies and photo taking are still a popular pastime at the beach.

A laughing gull flies over the nests of shorebirds of threatened black skimmers, least terns, snowy plovers, American oystercatchers.

Fire district unveiling plans for new station

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

The Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District announced an informational meeting will be held Wednesday, June 19, at the DiamondHead Beach Resort on plans for the new fire station

h e f i r e d i s t r i c t p u r c h a s e d t w o

p a r c e l s a t t h e v a c a n t l o t i n 2 0 2 0 f o r

$ 3 9 9 m i l l i o n t o b u i l d t h e s t a t i o n T h e

s t a t i o n w a s m e a n t t o r e p l a c e t h e o l d f i r e h o u s e o f f D o n o r a B o u l e v a r d , w h i c h w a s d e s t r o y e d b y H u r r i c a n e I a n , a c c e l e r a t i n g t h e n e e d f o r a n e w b u i l d i n g

L a s t y e a r , t h e b o a r d o f f i r e c o mm i s s i o n e r s r e j e c t e d t a l k s o f a p o t e nt i a l l a n d s w a p w i t h t h e t o w n f o r t h e f o r m e r t o w n h a l l p r o p e r t y C o m m i s s i o n e r s a n d C h i e f S c o t t W i r t h c i t e d s p a c e c o n c e r n s a t t h e f o r m e r t o w n h a l l p r o p e r t y a n d t h e n e e d t o r a i s e t h e f i r e s t a t i o n h i g h e r

Town hires new principal planner

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

The Town of Fort Myers Beach has hired a new principal planner

Judith Frankel, who previously worked with Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Andy Hyatt as a town planner at the Town of Surfside, has been hired at an annual salary of $115,000

The introduction of Frankel followed a public apology by Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers to town planning consultant Sarah Probst for how he treated her at a previous council meeting. “My apologies,” Allers said. The town council and management, along with Probst,

have previously discussed the need for more planning staff to review the town’s large amount of project and redevelopment plans

“It’s a good fit for us,” Hyatt said Hyatt said Frankel would be doing a mix of working remotely and on site on Fort Myers Beach.

“I am excited to get started,” Frankel said during an introduction to the town council “I started reaching out to staff to get up to speed and familiar with projects and all the things going on ”

H y a t t s a i d h e h i r e d Frankel at Surfside, where she worked as a planner

Environmental funding fares well in state budget

DeSantis signed the 2024-25 state budget on June 12, almost three and half months after the legislative session ended with the passage of a $117 4 billion budget

He vetoed $950 million of the proposed $117 4 billion for a final total postveto budget of $116 5 billion The SCCF reported that environmental funding fared well, with over $975 million directed to environmental projects, including:

Restoration

∫ $100 million each in recurring funds for Florida Forever and Rural and Family Lands land acquisition programs

∫ $10 8 million for the Blue/Green

Algae Task Force

∫ $25 million to Florida Gulf Coast University's Water School to identify, analyze and determine root causes of impaired water bodies

The SCCF noted that despite the budget being signed, the 2024 legislative process continues as the DeSantis still has to address about 50 bills out of the 291 total passed by the Legislature before the beginning of the fiscal year on July 1. He can sign, veto or allow a bill to become law without his action in the timeframe between the end of session and July 1

Once the final bills are signed or vetoed, the SCCF will evaluate the final outcomes from the session and how they impact the health and the economics of the coastal environment

“She brings a wealth of knowledge and a wealth of background, information and industry It’s really good to have her She met with staff She spoke with Sarah at length,” he said

Frankel has previously worked for Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County and the city of Philadelphia. She has worked as a planner, policy analyst and grants manager

New water treatment tech installed near Lake O

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c e l l s , i n s t a l l e d b y N u Q u a t i c T h e c e l l s

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“ T h i s p r o j e c t i s o n e o f m a n y t h a t w i l l b e n e

County commissioners choose Fort Myers Beach Pier design

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

The Lee County Board of County Commissioners voted 4-0 Tuesday to approve plans for rebuilding the Fort Myers Beach Pier The commissioners chose the longest and largest option of three designs which will add 415 feet of length to the pier while adding four feet of width

The option chosen by the commissioners was the costliest at $17 1 million The project would have cost $5 55 million to keep the pier the same size The design and permitting will also take three to eight months longer, according to county estimates The total timeframe for the project is expected to take five to six years. Lee County Commissioner Ray Sandelli, whose district includes Fort

REPORT

National Seashell Day this Thursday Urge EPA to help fight toxic algae in Florida

National Seashell Day this Thursday, June 20, for the beaches of Lee County that are destinates for shelling.

With nearly 50 miles of beaches and over 400 species of seashells that often cover the white sands around the county, the bureau is promoting shell hunting this week

The bureau calls Sanibel Island the “Seashell Capital of the World” because of its unique east-west orientation that brings countless seashells in pristine condition to its white-sand beaches

For more information on shelling,

Convention Bureau website's event calendar for shelling at:https://www visitfortmyers com/national-seashell-day

Amateur ham radio field day this weekend

STAFF REPORT

The Fort Myers Amateur Radio Club Inc will be participating in the national amateur radio field day exercise at the Tice Fire Station in Fort Myers and North Fort Myers Community Park Pavilion from Saturday, June 22, at 10 a m until Sunday, June 23, at 2 p m

The field day is a showcase for how amateur radio works reliably under any conditions from almost any location to create an independent communications network Especially important for posthurricane communication

“Ham radio functions completely independent of the Internet or cell phone infrastructure can interface with laptops or smartphones, and can be set up almost anywhere in minutes That’s the beauty of amateur radio during a communications outage,” said Bob Inderbitzen, spokespers

Amateur Radio.

“In today’s electronic do-it-yourself (DIY) environment, ham radio remains one of the best ways for people to learn about electronics, physics, meteorology, and numerous other scientific disciplines, and is a huge asset to any community during disasters or emergencies if the standard communication infrastructure goes down,” Inderbitzen adds Anyone may become a licensed amateur radio operator

There are more than 750,000 licensed hams in the United States, as young as 9 and as old as 100 And with clubs such as the Fort Myers Amateur Radio Club, it’s easy for anybody to get involved right here in Fort Myers For more information about ARRL Field Day or amateur radio, contact Jon Scharbrough or Lynn Johnson a

www arrl org/what-is-ham-radio

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation recently joined the Calusa Waterkeeper, Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Everglades, Florida Wildlife Federation and city of Stuart in a petition urging the Environmental Protection

Agency to set enforceable standards for cyanotoxins in Florida to help fight against harmful algal blooms To voice your concern to the EPA, visit https://biologicaldiversity org/action/alerts/ and find “Protect Florida From Toxic Algae Blooms ”

Myers Beach, was not present for the vote No Fort Myers Beach officials were

County reminds public about fertilizer restrictions

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

b e a c h e s . P r o t e c t i n g S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a ' s w a t e r q u a l i t y d u ri n g t h e s u m m e r m e a n s a d j u s t i n g l a w n c a r e r o u t i n e s

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Rainy season opens with soggy start

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers

com

It is often said when it rains, it pours, and that was certainly the case for Southwest Florida last week

If residents were wondering when rainy season would start, it is here It seems Mother Nature has made up for lost time, dumping heavy amounts of precipitation across Lee County and other local areas, putting an end to a countywide burn ban and causing flooding in many areas

On June 12, Gov Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency due to severe weather that impacted areas of South Florida, including the county Widespread, heavy rainfall saw cumulative totals of 10 to 15 inches of rain in areas, with the city of Sanibel closing some beach parking lots due to flooding

Other parts of South Florida reported more than 25 inches of rain

“Preliminary reports indicate that the rainfall and flooding has affected and may

continue to impact the operational capability of critical infrastructure, including major interstates, state and county roadways, airports, schools, and other critical infrastructure throughout these counties,” DeSantis’ executive order stated. “Additional rounds of heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecasted for South Florida for the next several days which will further exacerbate ongoing flood conditions over already impacted and vulnerable metropolitan areas ”

The National Weather Service issued a flood watch on June 12 that ran through June 13

Officials stated that “flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be possible ”

The alert also stated that “Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations Flooding may occur in poor draining and urban areas Storm drains and ditches may become clogged with debris ”

Rains continued through the weekend in some areas

“Torrential downpours from a large area of disorganized showers and thunderstorms have already flooded several areas in the Sunshine State,” AccuWeather Chief OnAir Meteorologist Bernie Rayno said in a statement “It’s like a garden hose Instead of it being on spray, it’s on stream, bringing heavy rain in one area That’s why we’re seeing so much rain in Fort Myers and Sarasota ”

Last week, county officials said staff members were in regular communication with partners at the National Weather Service in Tampa Bay and were monitoring the tropical moisture and forecast

“The county encourages residents to monitor NWS’ website and social media and to listen to local media outlets meteorologists’ reports,” officials said Department of Transportation crews were working throughout unincorporated Lee, officials said, monitoring any poten-

tially blocked storm grates and areas with localized flooding and addressing both

The DOT monitors and adjusts weirs as necessary during rainfall events

State Farm officials, who said on June 13 that they had already received hundreds of claims coming from the batch of storms, offered South Florida drivers tips to help avoid flood damage to vehicles:

∫ Do not drive into water pooled on the road, the depth is not known and could be deeper than appears

∫ If your vehicle stalls, do not attempt to restart it, as your engine may be damaged Leave it immediately and seek higher ground

∫ Stay off roads until flood waters have subsided, and do not park your vehicle near bodies of water, rivers, streams and washes

If your vehicle has been exposed to flood water, follow these insurance/claim tips to help limit the damage to your vehicle after flood/water exposure:

∫ Do not start a flooded vehicle until it has received a thorough inspection by a qualified mechanic This will cause more damage if there is water in the engine

∫ Record the highest level of water exposure on your flooded vehicle.

∫ Start drying out your vehicle as quickly as possible, and contact a towing service to get it back to higher ground

∫ File an insurance claim Contact your agent or insurance company and advise them that your vehicle has been flooded The sooner the vehicle can be evaluated and dried out, the less damage the vehicle will sustain

Florida drivers are encouraged to check with their insurance agent to ensure adequate coverage for your vehicle, including Comprehensive Coverage Comprehensive is the coverage that kicks in to repair or replace a covered vehicle damaged by rising flood waters

Sanibel residents can sign up for alerts from the city by visiting https://www mysanibel com/ and clicking on “Sign Up For City Announcements” under the “I Want To” pull-down menu

All county residents can sign up for updates through AlertLee by visiting www.alertlee.com.

Flooding on For t Myers Beach

Study highlights need for integrated nutrient monitoring

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that a sensor on its River, Estuary, and Coastal Observing Network (RECON) Shell Point monitoring platform played a role in a pilot study for the development of a nutrient monitoring program across Gulf of Mexico estuaries

The study's results are featured in the August issue of Environmental Technology & Innovation

“The study demonstrated that collecting nutrient data more frequently can provide necessary data on nutrient sources and potential triggers for algal blooms,” lead author and SCCF Marine Lab Director Dr Eric Milbrandt said “More frequent nutrient data can also be useful for outreach about sources of nitrogen pollution in our estuaries, including fertilizers and stormwater runoff ”

Problem with nutrient pollution

With nutrient pollution as an ongoing challenge for water quality worldwide, the study recognized that much of the problem originates in inland watersheds, with many of the effects seen in coastal and estuarine waters that experience eutrophication, harmful algal blooms (HABs) and hypoxia

Eutrophication is the gradual increase in the concentration of phosphorus, nitrogen and other nutrients Hypoxia refers to low or depleted oxygen in a water body that can lead to “dead zones” or areas where life cannot be sustained

High-nutrient runoff from agricultural lands and urban areas have been found to be the main causes of coastal eutrophication, which can stimulate HABs that cause millions of dollars in damages annually

To support research and management to assess the effectiveness of upstream nutrient reduction efforts on coastal water quality, the study looked at the role of enhanced nutrient monitoring

Testing at RECON, LUMCON

It tested the operational status and integration of a commercial, in situ chemical analyzer for nitrate in two existing monitoring programs the SCCF's RECON and one at the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) DeFelice Marine Center

Wet chemical nitrate sensors or WIZ (Water In Situ AnalyZer) probes were deployed at the mouth of the Caloosahatchee River and at the northern boundary of Terrebonne Bay in a saltwater marsh ecosystem that receives freshwater from the Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers, which increases nutrient inputs to the ecosystems, mainly from upstream fertilizer use

The RECON WIZ was operational for approximately one year, from March of 2020 through February of 2021, while the LUMCON was also deployed in March of 2020 but Hurricane Zeta made landfall in Louisiana in October of 2020, causing substantial damage to the dock at which the WIZ was deployed and delaying the redeployment of the sensor

The RECON location is in the lower estuary where phytoplankton are thought to be nitrogen-limited for most of the year The site is also downstream of an urbanized tidal watershed with over 372 miles of canals and largely residential land use that is under the Caloosahatchee Estuary Watershed Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP), which sets total maximum daily loads for total nitrogen

“Enhanced nitrate monitoring is of great importance in this system,” he said

What is needed for integration

By testing the integration of the sensors into existing water quality monitoring programs, the study highlighted the need to address full interoperability with non-proprietary data-logger systems and ongoing needs for more site-specific calibrations and post-hoc corrections.

“Collecting continuous nutrient data within existing

monitoring systems like RECON is challenging because of the complicated nature of mixing reagents and standards in a self-contained system,” Milbrandt said “It requires development of new communication protocols, such as when to apply power and when to turn on pumps, and new field preparation techniques for deploying a sensor in a highly fouling marine environment ”

SCCF Marine Lab Manager A J Martignette and former research assistant Sierra Greene also contributed to the study, which was funded by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration via the Alliance for Coastal Technologies and the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System

To read the study, visit https://www sciencedirect com/science/article/pii/S2352186424001524?via%3Dih ub#sec0085

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

Boil water notice issued after main struck

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

A precautionary boil water notice was issued by the Town of Fort Myers Beach on Monday for residents residing in Fairview Isles Condominiums, Albatross Street, Fairview Boulevard, Clearview Boulevard, Sunview Boulevard, Palmview Boulevard and Bayview Boulevard

From page 5

after a contractor struck a water main, Fort Myers Beach Communications Director Nicole Berzin said "Contractors working in the area hit the water main, requiring the water to temporarily be shut off and a boil water notice" issued, Berzin said Further information on the location and nature of the accident was not immediately available

turning Florida into the most expensive

6) Scare tourists from visiting Florida because it is unsafe for women of reproductive age and those with Latino heritage

Earlier on Monday, the town issued a boil water notice for Curlew Street, which was lifted later in the day

The town has had to issue several boil water notices over the past year due to mains struck by contractor activity

The town is directing any residents with questions to contact the town's utilities department at 239-463-9914.

7) Reject Federal funds costing Florida residents tax credits because local elected officials refuse to meet the attached higher federal standards

8) Invest in dirty energy and discard efforts to invest in our largest natural clean resources: Sunshine and Gulf breezes

10) Dismantle Social Security and Medicare, undercutting many of the state’s residents and our local economy

Karyn Edison Fort Myers

9) Disregard the history of my neighbors and blame their struggles on laziness, not structural racism

Federal judge issues injunction against financial form disclosure law

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

U S District Court Judge Melissa Damian has issued a temporary injunction against the Florida Commission on Ethics from enforcing the controversial financial disclosure forms for municipal officials known as Form 6.

The decision was the result of a lawsuit brought by municipal officials challenging the invasive law which requires a multitude of financial information relating to personal assets and accounts and business interests

According to the ruling by Damian, more than 100 municipal officials have resigned their seats this year in order to avoid complying with the law, which was passed by the state legislature last year The disclosure forms had been due July 1

F

resigned his seat in January over his concerns regarding an invasion of privacy.

Veach was replaced by the town council with the appointment of Councilmember Scott Safford

Myerside Resort

w i t h m u l t i p l e c o n d i t i o n s i n c l u d i n g requirements for parking on site Under town code, the resort would be required to have 89 parking spaces though the developers received an approximately 30% deviation from the town code to only have 60 parking spaces The property is located in between the Fort Myers Beach Elementary School, Fort Myers Beach

L i b r a r y a n d B a y O a k s R e c r e a t i o n a l Campus, across from the Fort Myers Beach Little League field

The developers also eliminated four required parking spaces by offering 16 bicycle spaces instead at the property, which straddles School St , Oak Street and Estero Boulevard

While developers Beverley Milligan and Roland Weinmann are seeking 45 hotel units, their planner, Patrick Vanasse, said they are entitled to 30 units by right Allers said town staff believed the development was entitled to 20 units Allers said the approvals amounted to double what they were allowed in terms of intensity

Vanasse said the request for more density was due in part to the “extreme” cost of rebuilding “We are consistent with the (comprehensive) plan,” Vanasse said

V a n a s s e c i t e d t h e t o w n c o u n c i l ’ s approval of the Margaritaville Beach Resort for more intensity in 2018 as an example of “a process that has been used b e f o r e a n d t h i s a p p l i e s t o u s a l s o ” Vanasse said Margaritaville was entitled to 84 units by right and ended up getting approximately three times as many units, with 254 units when it was approved by the town council with deviations in 2018

The Myerside project would attempt to mitigate the parking situation through using the town’s public parking spaces located near the baseball fields, town pool and Bay Oaks The developers also suggest they could potentially use parking spaces at the defunct Beach Methodist Church, which is located directly across from the Beach Elementary School

In responding to urging by some members of the council, the developers said they will try to bring a medical professional to open up in an office at the resort

Allers said his main issue for opposing the project was traffic, while Safford said the potential for a medical office at the resort could potentially improve traffic in getting onto the island

Safford said he also opposed the town having any parking requirements at all for businesses “I don’t know why the gov-

The seats of Safford, Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers and Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt are all up for election this November Fort Myers Beach Library Trustee Greg Scasny is the lone challenger to the incumbents

Veach said the judge’s ruling would not lead to him running again for town council The law was believed to have discouraged others from running for office in town

The decision by the judge led to the Cape Coral City Council being advised this week that its council would not need to file Form 6 any longer

Cape Coral City Council members have been notified that they need not file a state form requiring much more financial disclosure than when they ran for office.

Cape Coral City Attorney Aleksandr Boksner wrote in an email to members of Council last Tuesday, explaining the order

“The Court has concluded that the defendants have failed to establish that there was any serious consideration of a less intrusive means to address the identified interests,” Boksner wrote “The defendants have not

From page 1

demonstrated the need for SB 774’s heightened disclosure requirements for municipal elected officials and candidates by showing that the disclosure requirements previously in place (Form 1) were not adequate

“Equally important, the District Court Judge concluded that Defendants have not demonstrated a relationship between the interest of protecting against the abuse of the public trust and SB 774’s fulsome financial disclosure requirements support or justify the need for requiring municipal elected officials and candidates to comply with the Form 6 requirements when Form 1, a less intrusive method, is available and has not been shown to be ineffective or inadequate.

“In conclusion, SB 774’s Form 6 disclosure requirements on municipal elected officials and candidates unconstitutionally compels content-based speech, and that any continued or prospective enforcement, for even minimal periods of time, constitutes a per se irreparable injury, which is a violation of the First Amendment ”

ernment is involved in telling people how many parking spots they need to have,” Safford said “I think the market dictates what happens with their parking ”

Atterholt said the public benefit of the project, in its health and wellness office potential, was key to his approval of the development Atterholt said the town has lost medical professionals that it once had, that it needs to attract again

Atterholt said that while providing the medical professional offices are not binding on the development, he said it was “worth the risk ”

During public comment, former town councilmember Bill Veach said the developers had no requirement to do so, and was not a benefit to the town He said the town was giving the developers millions of dollars in benefits through the additional units that the council was approving “This is too big of an ask,” he said Veach said he didn’t understand how the town staff recommended approval when planning staff recommended denial of a much smaller expansion proposed by the developers at the site in 2021

The town council voted 4-1 in 2021 in f a v o r o f a n o r d i n a n c e w h i c h w o u l d change the zoning of the property from residential conservation to commercial planned development and allow for a restaurant and boutique store, and allow for the sale of alcohol at the restaurant That change was opposed by the School District of Lee County

Town staff had recommended denial of the project in 2021 for being inconsistent with the comprehensive plan and the residential neighborhood That approval also came with noise restrictions which will no longer be part of the resort’s conditions

T o w n p l a n n i n g s t a f f r e c o m m e n d e d approval of the current project

A previous council had previously given approvals to the property owners to add a bed and breakfast use to the land Fort Myers Beach resident Barbara Hill, vice chair of the town's Bay Oaks Recreational Campus Advisory Board, said the extra density awarded to the developers was "not acceptable " Hill said she objected to the developers not complying with the town's parking requirements

P a u l a K i k e r , a R e a l t o r w i t h E R A Lahaina Realty, spoke in support of the Myerside Resort expansion "Today is monumental for most of us," Kiker said Kiker said the approval would help the town become "vibrant" again "Your decision will divide most of us," Kiker said. "We are going to be a different town and that is OK We are going to be OK We must rebuild, rebuild wisely and rebuild quickly Fort Myers Beach has always been and will always be a tourist town We will always have traffic " Kiker said the Myerside project is a "boutique gem "

Kiker said the Myerside Resort project represented a large financial investment, like others in the works "If the financial piece doesn't work out we will remain a wasteland of parcels of dust and weeds," she said

“If the financial piece doesn’t work out we will remain a wasteland of parcels of dust and weeds,” she said

F o r t M y e r s B e a c h r e s i d e n t T o d d

Capela said “I don’t see a lot of public benefit” to the project “The island is not going to shrivel up and die if we don’t build as fast as we can, blindly and frankly overpopulate the island ” Capela maintained the development breaks a large part of the town’s zoning code

Robin Capela said the town and developers should scale down the project “Let them go back to the drawing board,” she said

“We can slow down and think about things,” Ms Capela said “They can give up a little ”

F o r t M y e r s B e a c h r e s i d e n t S t e v e Johnson said the development was too intense and “opens Pandora's box ” Johnson said more precedents were being set with the approvals

“All we hear, is that for parking variances, ‘The Whale got to to do that ’ It just builds Even today, we heard ‘well if Margaritaville got this, we get this ’”

Johnson said the town should be following its own comprehensive plan and questioned why the town council didn’t involve the town more on its work on revising its comprehensive plan He said that if the town council were to approve the project it would show that “commercial interests of this town will drive this town’s future ”

Fort Myers Beach Fire Commissioner Ron Fleming was another supporter of the project, crediting the property owners for cleaning up the property from what it looked like previously

Christopher Smuts, a representative of London Bay Development, which has its own project to redevelop the Outrigger resort in front of town planning staff for review, spoke in favor of the Myerside Resort project Monday

“Consider the island-wide economic impact of the Myerside project,” Smuts said “It will also increase property values and property tax revenue ”

K i n g s a i d o n e o f t h e r e a s o n s h e approved the project was that the town has lost a lot of its population over the years “I see this as a big positive as increasing our tax revenue once this project gets completed,” King said

Allers said that while he respects the developers and how they cleaned it up and have contributed to the community, he believes the project could lead to precedent-setting that other developers will try to use in the future

“To me, this doesn’t appear as smart growth,” Allers said “What is being built there by right is already three times what was there when the property was purchased ”

Allers said he believes the hotel will have an “adverse effect” on the neighborhood and will create a “snowball effect ”

LEFT: Councilmember Scott Safford

RIGHT: Fort Myers Beach

Vice Mayor Dan Allers

BELOW LEFT: Fort Myers Beach Library Trustee Greg Scasny

BELOW RIGHT: Fort Myers Beach

Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt

NATHAN MAYBERG

Council race

From page 1

need a little bit of thought and patience when it comes to how we are going to redevelop our island and not be so quick to pull the trigger ”

Allers was appointed as mayor by the town council after the November, 2022 elections and Atterholt was

From page 1

a new town hall and $7 54 million in revenue replacement funds approved by the s t a t e l e g i s l a t u r e G o v R o n D e S a n t i s signed the state’s new budget into law last week, relieving town officials DeSantis vetoed hundreds of other member items that were in the state budget

Onzick said the $7 54 million in revenue replacement will help boost the town’s finances though it wouldn’t cover the emergency fund balance The town also faces repaying an $11 9 million bridge loan that the town is hoping will be forgiven by the state. Unless it is forgiven by state legislators and DeSantis, the town will have to repay it with 10% interest

“Over the last two years, we have been up there asking for money,” Allers said In his meetings with state legislators and state officials, “It was made very clear to me in meetings that I had that ‘you also

appointed as vice mayor Both were reappointed to their positions last year

In the last council elections in 2022, there were four candidates for two seats In the 2020 elections, there were seven candidates for three seats. This year’s elec-

have to help yourself We are not going to a

f things,’” Allers said

Atterholt has suggested the town sell part of the former town hall property to cover the emergency fund reserve and avoid a tax hike The town council is split on whether it should sell the former town hall property Meanwhile, Town Manager Andy Hyatt said the town is looking into acquiring land next to the new town hall on Estero Boulevard in order to have enough parking

Atterholt said raising the millage rate wouldn’t fully fund the emergency fund balance He said that selling the former town property would give “a breather” to town residents

Safford said the town needs to hold on to its assets “We can also use that property now to generate that revenue I don’t

tions will occur at a time when many residents have still been unable to return their homes as the island rebuilds from Hurricane Ian

know why we don’t have parking spots,” he said. Safford suggested using the property for overnight parking

“Our revenue is down substantially,” Safford said Safford said parking meters,

Mound House revenue was all down The town has also lost revenue from vacation rental fees

Safford said condo buildings on the island have all had to raise their homeowner association fees as a result of the costs associated with rebuilding from Hurricane Ian.

“The state hasn’t bailed those condos out,” King replied King said that raising taxes “sends a bad message to our residents ” King said the town should raise its impact fees for new development and sell the town hall property

Allers said selling the town hall prop-

erty would be a “quick fix” but wouldn’t fully fund the emergency fund balance on an annual basis “It should be a last resort,” he said

Allers said the town should hold off on selling its town hall property until it knows whether the state’s bridge loan will be forgiven “

“I don’t want to pigeonhole us in the event something catastrophic were to happen in the next three months,” Allers said Hyatt said the town is also waiting to hear back from FEMA on its appeal of a decision that would remove the town from the State Flood Insurance discount program The town council could ultimately still lower the amount of increase in the millage rate at its Sept 23 meeting

Lee Health Board votes to convert to private nonprofit

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 f W e d n e s d a y , J u n e 1 9 , 2 0 2 4 n P a g e 2 0 S TA F F R E P O RT

T h e L e e H e a l t h B o a r d o f T r u s t e e s v o t e d 9 - 1

T h u r s d a y t o a p p r o v e c o n v e r t i n g f r o m a g o v e r n m e n t s p e c i a l d i s t r i c t t o a p r i v a t e n o n p r o f i t T h e v o t e i s t h e f i r s t s t e p i n t h e p r o c e s s A v o t e f r o m t h e L e e C o u n t y

B o a r d o f C o u n t y C o m m i s s i o n e r s i s s t i l l n e e d e d .

L e e H e a l t h s p o k e s p e r s o n J a c l y n B e v i s s a i d t h e v o t e “ r e p r e s e n t s a n i m p o r t a n t s t e p t o w a r d s e c u r i n g a s u st a i n a b l e a n d v i b r a n t f u t u r e f o r o u r c o m m u n i t y ”

B e v i s s a i d t h e p r i v a t i z a t i o n w i l l “ m a i n t a i n l o c a l

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

m e d i c a l a d v a n c e m e n t i n S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a , ” w h i c h

s h e s a i d “ a r e t h e d r i v i n g f a c t o r s b e h i n d t h i s d e c i s i o n

B y p u r s u i n g c o n v e r s i o n , w e s t r e n g t h e n o u r a b i l i t y t o

s e r v e t h e r e s i d e n t s o f L e e C o u n t y ”

L e e H e a l t h P r e s i d e n t a n d C E O L a r r y A n t o n u c c i i s s u e d t h e f o l l o w i n g s t a t e m e n t o n t h e v o t e :

L e e H e a l t h a p p r e c i a t e s t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e c o m m un i t y i n t h i s o n g o i n g p r o c e s s t o c o n s i d e r t h e o p t i o n s f o r t h e h e a l t h s y s t e m t o b e s u c c e s s f u l i n s e r v i c e t o a l l A l l

d o c u m e n t s r e l a t e d t o t h e c o n s i d e r a t i o n f o r c o n v e r s i o n

r e m a i n p u b l i c l y a v a i l a b l e o n l i n e , w i t h t o d a y ’ s r e s o l u -

t i o n , t h e d r a f t M i s s i o n A g r e e m e n t a n d o t h e r i m p o r t a n t i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e b e n e f i t s f o r t h e r e s i d e n t s o f L e e

C o u n t y b e i n g c o n t i n u o u s l y a d d e d a n d u p d a t e d Y o u

c a n l e a r n m o r e o r s u b m i t q u e s t i o n s o f y o u r o w n a t

L e e h e a l t h o r g / l o o k i n g a h e a d

L e e H e a l t h h a s b e e n a s s e s s i n g t h e b e n e f i t s a n d

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

n a n c e s t r u c t u r e i s i n t h e b e s t i n t e r e s t o f t h e r e s i d e n t s

o f L e e C o u n t y T h e c a s e f o r t h e t r a n s i t i o n f r o m a p u b -

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

e r s h i p o f L e e H e a l t h I a m p l e a s e d t o s h a r e t h a t o n

i d e n t s o f L

l e g a l l y b i n d i n g M i s s i o n A g r e e m e n t S i g n i

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u n t y i n t h

s w i t h s t a k e h o l d e r s h a v e r a n g e d f r o m

t i o n t h a t b r o u g h t u s t o t h i s p h a s e , a n d t h e e n

a r d t o f i n a l i z i n g t h e M i s s i o n

A g r e e m e n t w i t h t h e L e e C o u n t y B o a r d o f C o u n t

l i t y c a r e L e e C o u n t y r e s i d e n t s h a v e c o m e t o e x p e c t f r o m i t s h e a l t h s y s t e m f o r g e n e r a t i o n s t o c o m e A d d i t i o n a l l y , t h i s t r a n s i t i o n w i l l e n a b l e u s t o c o mp e t e f a i r l y i n a d y n a m i c a n d c h a l l e n g i n g h e a l t h c a r e e c o n o m y , a l l o w i n g u s t o e n h a n c e a n d d i v e r s i f y p r og r a m s , s e r v i c e s a n d c o m m u n i t y a c c e s s p o i n t s t o m e e t p a t i e n t s w h e r e t h e y n e e d c a r e O p e r a t i n g a s a c o mm u n i t y - f o c u s e d n o n p r o f i t s y s t e m w i l l a l s o e n h a n c e o u r f l e x i b i l i t y a n d h e l p e n s u r e t h a t t h e p r o d u c t i v e p a r tn e r s h i p w e e n j o y w i t h L e e C o u n t y a n d i t s r e s i d e n t s c o n t i n u e s a n d f l o u r i s h e s W e l o o k f o r w a r d t o c o n t i n ui n g t o w o r k t o g e t h e r i n i n n o v a t i v e w a y s w i t h o u r c o mm u n i t y p a r t n e r s t o s e r v e t h e r e s i d e n t s o f L e e C o u n t y I t ’ s i m p o r t a n t t o k n o w t h a t l o c a l c o n t r o l w i l l r e m a i n a c o r n e r s t o n e o f o u r g o v e r n a n c e , w i t h l e a d e rs h i p a n d r e p r e s e n t a t i o n d r a w n f r o m a c r o s s t h e c o mm u n i t y T o e n s u r e w e u p h o l d o u r c o m m i t m e n t s , w e h a v e p r o p o s e d t h e c r e a t i o n o f a n o v e r s i g h t b o a r d d e di c a t e d t o c o n f i r m i n g t h a t L e e H e a l t h l i v e s u p t o t h e p r o m i s e s m a d e t o t h e

Page 22

Country mus ic artist to play P in k S hell pool party in S eptember

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

If you like to plan ahead, now is the time to make plans for the 10th annual Island Hopper Songwriter Fest, which will be headlined Sept 29 by country music artist Scotty McCreery at the Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina Pool Party

McCreery’s performance at the Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina on Fort Myers Beach, will cap off 10 days of musical performances on Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral, Captiva and Fort Myers beginning Sept. 20.

The Fort Myers Beach set of shows is set to run from Sept 27-29

Among the other performers who have been scheduled to perform that week on Fort Myers Beach are country musicians Kristian Bush, Kassi Ashton and Shane Profitt, who Wonder Gardens plans ‘Brews for the Birds’ July 25

See McCREERY, page 23

Scotty McCreery’s country music hits include “Cab in a Solo,” “Five More Minutes,” “See You Tonight and “This is it ” He is scheduled to take the stage at the Pink Shell on Sunday, Sept 29 at 5 p m

a

Wonder Gardens plans

‘Brews for the Birds’ July 25

“Brews for the Birds” is on tap at the Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs on Thursday, July 25 from 6 to 8 p m

“The care of more than 300 birds and r e p t i l e s i s o u r p r i o r i t y a t W o n d e r Gardens, and we are grateful for the supp o r t o f

A n d e r s o n , e x e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r “ O u r Brews for the Birds event is a fun and engaging way to showcase the gardens while raising funds for the continued oversight and protection of a wide variety of birds who reside in our ponds, aviaries and pavilions throughout our historical 3 5-acre park ”

The adults-only event includes food trucks, beer from local and national breweries, nonalcoholic drinks, music and the opportunity to experience the Wonder Gardens at night Tickets are available online and are $50 for Wonder Gardens members and $55 for nonmembers and include 8 tasting tickets, with additional tasting tickets for sale at the event

Food trucks include Eazy Cheezy and Between the Bunz Music will be supp l i e d b y l o c a l D J R i c k i e S h a r p

P a r t i c i p a t i n g b r e w e r i e s a n d b e v e r a g e sponsors to date include 3 Daughters B r e w i

FSW

offering

Buddha, Islamorada Brewery LaBelle Brewing Co , Riptide Brewing Company, Tampa Bay Brewing Co and R A D Cidery & Winery.

To purchase tickets, visit wondergardens org/brews-for-the-birds-july2024/

About

the Wonder Gardens

The Wonder Gardens, a charitable

established in 1936 in Bonita Springs, is home to rescued birds and reptiles nestled among sprawling banyan trees and plantings While preserving the best of this site’s history, the nonprofit cares for rescued, rehabilitated, and non-releasable animals, is upgrading wildlife enclosures and growing the botanical beauty of the property, while delivering education programs and events and further engaging the community to enjoy this jewel in hist o r i c D o w n t o w n B o n i t a S p r i n g s T h e Wonder Gardens, at 27180 Old 41 Road in Bonita Springs, is one of the few remaining cornerstones of Old Florida, an enduring symbol of the history of the region, and a resource for learning about the environment and wildlife. For information, visit wondergardens org or call 239-992-2591

Buccaneer Bound Summer Bridge program starting on June 25

Florida SouthWestern State College has announced the launch of Buccaneer Bound, a six-week summer bridge program designed specifically for incoming firstyear students This program sets the stage for academic success and a seamless transition to college life, empowering students to start their collegiate journey on solid ground

“FSW’s new summer bridge program, Buccaneer Bound, is designed to give new first-time-in-college students a jump-start on courses foundational to any major,” said Dr Judith Bilsky, FSW vice president for Academic Affairs “Combined with wraparound advising support services, students will be well-prepared for success in the fall term and beyond ”

Buccaneer Bound propels students' academic pursuits by allowing them to complete two core courses, crucial for their degree progress, while a $1,000 scholarship addresses the financial aspects of tuition, fees and books

The program, which starts June 25, emphasizes a supportive ecosystem through personalized academic advising,

priority registration and financial aid guidance Additionally, it cultivates a peer network and familiarizes students with essential campus resources, ensuring a comprehensive foundation for their college journey

As part of the program, students will enroll in two courses: Cornerstone Experience and Mathematical Thinking

The Cornerstone Experience course is designed to support students in their transition to college life, covering topics such as goal setting, career exploration, learning styles and strategies, and mental and physical health management

The Mathematical Thinking course, focuses on problem-solving within real-life contexts, engaging students through practical applications and highlighting math as a human endeavor.

Courses will be held Monday through Thursday, from 9 a m to 1:30 p m , on the Lee Campus at 8099 College Parkway in Fort Myers

For additional information about the program or to apply, please visit www fsw edu/summerbridge

Registration is now open for the 20242025 Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) school year in Lee, Collier, Hendry and Glades counties The free educational program is available to 4-year-olds who reside in Florida, regardless of family income

VPK gives children a strong start by preparing them for school and enhancing their pre-reading, pre-math, language and social skills Classrooms are taught by highly qualified teachers with a focus on school readiness and social and emotional well-being As children develop the early skills needed to become strong students, they are more likely to be successful in school and life

To be eligible, children must live in Florida and be 4 years old on or before S e p t 1 o f t h e c u r r e n t s c h o o l y e a r

Through the Early Learning Coalition of

Southwest Flori-da, parents can register their qualifying child to attend 540 hours of preschool during the regular school year, or 300 hours of summertime preschool In 2021-2022, Early Learning Coalition reported 7,464 children attended 260 different VPK programs in Lee, Collier, Hendry and Glades counties

To register, families must first apply f o r a V P K v o u

o n l i n e a t VPKSWFL org Individuals can also visit the Early Learning Coalition offices for assistance, located in Fort Myers at 2675 Winkler Ave , Suite 300, from 8 a m to 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 8 a m to 11:30 a m on Friday Offices provide free kiosks, and no appointments are needed

To learn more about the 2024-2025 VPK program, visit VPKSWFL org or call 239-935-6100

Symphony still taking camp registrations

The Gulf Coast Symphony in Fort Myers is hosting summer camps from now through July

They will offer an opportunity for youths to explore their musical talents, unleash their creativity and make lifelong memories From learning to play instruments to engaging in fun-filled musical

young musicians of all skill levels

The camps also feature:

∫ Professional instruction from experienced music educators and musicians

∫ Diverse range of programs catering to various ages and musical interests

∫ Engaging activities and performances to foster creativity and confidence

∫ Safe and supportive learning envi-

ronment within vibrant musical community

All camps will be held at the Music & Arts Community Center, at 13411 Shire Lane, Fort Myers

For more information or to register, visit https://gulfcoastsymphony org/education-programs/

PHOTO PROVIDED

Southwest Florida Symphony announces 64th season lineup

The Southwest Florida Symphony, Lee County’s only professional orchestra, is excited to announce another innovative and diverse lineup of performances for the 2024-25 season. Maestro Stilian Kirov, the Symphony’s interim artistic advisor, will lead the orchestra through its 64th season of celebrated works of all genres, many of which are woven with groundbreaking pieces that allow concertgoers to expand their musical diet

The symphony opens the season on Oct 25 with another innovative Brave New Pops in partnership with the Alliance for the Arts “Rock & Roll Séance” is a multimedia performance curated, arranged, and conducted by locally beloved Maestro Andrew Lipke This concert takes place outdoors on the Alliance for the Arts lawn and incorporates video, live vocalists who will channel the spirits of rock stars from the afterlife, and audience interactivity, all made larger than life with a full symphony orchestra performing bold arrangements for iconic rock tunes by Kurt Cobain’s Nirvana, Amy Winehouse, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, John Lennon, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin, and more

From Dec 6 to 11, the Symphony takes its Holiday Pops on the road throughout Southwest Florida, from Babcock Ranch to the Tribby at Shell Point and other venues in between In keeping with the Symphony’s signature innovation, Maestro Andrew Lipke returns with unique arrangements for traditional holiday favorites, with special guest vocalist Mary Bichner, who will add even more sparkle and joy to this beloved Holiday Pops

tradition

On Jan 17, the orchestra commences its mainstage series at the Charlotte Performing Arts Center in Punta Gorda led by Maestro Stilian Kirov with Beethoven’s glorious Symphony No 9, along with the Fort Myers Mastersingers, then kicks off its Barbara B Mann Hall Concert Series on Jan 18, repeating this performance The concert opens with a Youth Orchestra side-by-side, both of which haven’t been performed with the orchestra in a decade

Other Barbara B Mann Series performances include John Williams the Great on Feb 1, with a “prequel” performance at Charlotte Performing Arts Center on Jan 31

Bichner, on Feb. 14, with an encore at Charlotte Performing Arts Center on Feb 15 On March 15,, for one-night only at Barbara B Mann Hall, the orchestra presents 2025: A Space Odyssey featuring excerpts from Also Sprach Zarathustra (the Theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey), the theme from Star Trek, and Holst’s The Planets March 29 features an unlikely fusion, with weather in common The Four Seasons: Vivaldi and Valli, featuring Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and tunes that made lead Jersey Boy, Frankie Valli, of the Four Seasons, famous The Barbara B Mann Concert Series concludes on April 26 with American Beauty, featuring pieces by beloved American composers and Dvorak’s 9th symphony: From the New World, which was inspired

by his infatuation with America

Other performances include a quartet at the Alliance for the Arts Oct 7 memorial event, commemorating the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel, a chamber concert at the Tribby at Shell Point on Nov 7, featuring award-winning pianist Pricilla Navarro, and a Young People’s Concert, The Conductor’s Spellbook, led by Maestro Kirov, on Feb 3 and 4

Season subscriptions and single tickets to select concerts are currently on sale

T o p u r c h a s e t i c k e t s o r l e a r n m o r e , v i s i t swflso org/tickets/

The Southwest Florida Symphony debuted as a community orchestra on April 15, 1961, playing in schools and community centers with a roster of only 24 volunteer musicians. Today, the symphony boasts a roster of 70 world-class professional musicians and is Lee County’s only entirely professional orchestra The Southwest Florida Symphony’s 64th year continues the orchestra’s tradition of artistic excellence and innovation as Interim Artistic Advisor Maestro Stilian Kirov leads a season of spectacular performances Maestro Kirov was selected through a brief but intens e proces s to bridge the Symphony’s artistic gap until a Music Director search is complete

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

Better Together, Christ Community Church to host job fair June 27

Better Together is partnering with Christ Community Church to host a community job fair from 11 a m to 2 p m , Thursday, June 27, in Fort Myers. Registration is now open for hiring employers and job seekers to participate in the June event The church-based job fairs not only connect jobseekers with local employers who are ready to hire, but a l s o p r o v i d e r e s o u r c e s t o f a c i l i t a t e

stronger connections and more hires Free one-on-one job coaching sessions are available to job seekers to review resumes and interviewing skills, and additional services will be available onsite

The community job fair is part of Better Together’s “Better Jobs” program, which has helped 42,000 applicants conn e c t w i t h e m p l o y m e n t o p p o r

u n i t i e s across 22 states At job fairs hosted by

From page 21

will be performing at the Margaritaville Beach Resort on Friday, Sept 29 Bush, a two-time Grammy Award winner for his work with the band Sugarland, played at the Pink Shell Beach Resort last year.

Many other performers are expected to be announced

Outside of Fort Myers Beach, other announced performers for the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest include five-time Grammy Jeffrey Steele On Sept 26, Steele will join the Gulf Coast Symphony in a live performance at the Florida Repertory Theatre in downtown Fort Myers

Better Together, two-thirds of attendees get a job interview, and 1 in 4 receive a job offer on the spot Some 70% find work within six weeks. The June 27 job fair will take place at C h r i s t C o m m u n i t y C h u r c h , a t 4 0 5 0 Colonial Blvd in Fort Myers Job seekers a n

BetterTogetherUS org/CCC-FortMyers or by texting “JOBS” to 844-987-3949

The preliminary festival schedule is as follows:

∫ Captiva Island, Sept 20-22

∫ Cape Coral, Sept 23-24

∫ Downtown Fort Myers, Sept. 25-26

∫ Fort Myers Beach, Sept 27-29

While most Island Hopper performances

Churches interested in hosting a Better Together job fair can visit BetterTogether US org for more information Better Together is a nonprofit organization that helps parents going through a hard time keep their kids out of foster care, find work and address the root causes of their struggle so that they can reunite as a family with the tools and support system to thrive Visit BetterTogetherUS org

are free, the McCreery and Steele performances, along with a few experiences, will be ticketed Look for these events to go on sale this month For the full lineup and ticket information, visit IslandHopperFest.com.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Southwest Florida Symphony - season 64 led by interim artistic director Stilian Kirov

WHAT’S HAPPENING

National Seashell Day, June 20

Our visitors know the joy of searching through seashells to find that perfect lightning whelk or alphabet cone These natural treasures are a part of the seashells that wash onto our shores every day of the year

With nearly 50 miles of beaches and over 400 species of seashells that often cover the white sands, there’s no other place quite like Fort Myers for shell hunting People come from all over the world to search for unbroken seashells on our shores In fact, Sanibel Island is known as the “Seashell Capital of the World” because of its unique east-west orientation that brings countless seashells in pristine condition to its white-sand beaches visitfortmyers com/national-seashell-day

Sea tur tle nesting season runs through Oct. 31

Sea turtle nesting season is underway and runs through Oct 31 And like our visitors, who return year after year to enjoy our beautiful beaches, the loggerheads return to the same beach time after time to deposit their eggs For more information about sea turtle nesting season and how you can help, contact the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) sccf org/what-wedo/protect-wildlife/sea-turtle-program or Turtle Time, Inc at turtletime org

Tips to protect our wildlife

Shield your lighting so that it is not visible from the beach Sea turtles go toward the light instead of heading for the water

When enjoying our beaches, take a bag and remove any litter that you may find on your walk Balloons, plastic bags, foam and other non-degradable pollutants can cause the deaths of sea turtles if mistaken for food Enjoy your fun at the beach but be sure to fill any holes when you leave

Observe a nesting sea turtle from a distance Don’t shine lights on or around her or she may abandon her effort to nest Forgo taking photos or using smartphones and stay far away where she cannot see you as she crawls back to the water

Annual writing contest deadline extension!

The Annual Gulf Coast Writers Association (GCWA) Writing Contest has been extended by one month from May 31 to June 30, 2024, at 11:59 p m EST Over the last month, GCWA has been transitioning its website from one platform to another While leaders expected kinks during this timeframe, one unexpected hiccup was in submitting entries for the contest Therefore, the GCWA Executive Team decided to keep the contest open for an additional month to ensure all writers who wished to enter their best work had the chance to do so

Submissions are being accepted in three categories: F i c t i o n , N o n f i c t i o n a n d P o e t r y T o e n t e r , g o t o www gulfwriters org and click on Writing Contest The first-place winner in each category will receive $200; the second place, $75; and the third, $50 Deadline is June 30, 2024 at 11:59 p m EST

Tickets on sale now for NUTCRACKER!

Magical Christmas Ballet

Tickets are now on sale for NUTCRACKER! Magical Christmas Ballet, as the Christmas classic visits Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall on Nov 17 to captivate audiences this holiday season Embarking on its 32nd annual North American tour, the production showcases a fusion of talent from esteemed ballet capitals worldwide, and will feature new choreography this year

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 ‘Per for ms Days of Future Passed’ at Seminole Casino Hotel Aug. 2

Jump and jive with ‘Swing!’ at Broadway Palm

Broadway Palm will be jumpin’ and jivin’ now through June 22 with the musical with a great big exclamation mark SWING! The Tony nominated musical celebrates the music and dance phenomenon that swept the nation in the 30’s and 40's Swing exploded out of Harlem and shattered cultural and ethnic barriers and now you can relive the dance phenomenon that swept the world You’ll hear over 30 songs from the Big Band Era including It Don’t Mean a Thing If It Ain’t Got that Swing, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, In The Mood, Sing Sing Sing, Stompin’ at the Savoy, Cry Me A River, Bounce Me Brother and more

This all singing, all dancing extravaganza is directed and choreographed by Amy Marie McCleary Amy is excited to bring this production to life, inspired by her passion for the music, dance and spirit of the 1930’s and 40’s

evenings with selected matinees Tickets are $60 to $85 with group and children’s prices available Tickets are now on sale and can be reserved by calling 239278-4422, visiting BroadwayPalm com or in person at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers

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

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 ra d i s e c o m P a r k i n g i s f r e e

T h e c o n c e r t w a s o r i g i n a l l y s e t f o r F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 4

b u t h a d t o b e p o s t p o n e d T i c k e t s f o r t h a t s h o w a r e s t i l l 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 e n c o m p a s s e s a f i r s t s e t o f e l e c t r i c M o o d y B l u e s ’ c l a ss i c s f e a t u r i n g f a n f a v o r i t e s s u c h a s “ I s n ’ t L i f e S t r a n g e , ” “ L e g e n d o f a M i n d , ” “ I ’ m J u s t a S i n g e r ( i n a R o c k a n d R o l l B a n d ) , ” “ R i d e m y S e e - S a w , ” a n d m u c h m o r e T h e s e c o n d s e t w i l l s e e L o d g e a n d h i s b a n d p e r f o r m i n g t h e i c o n i c a l b u m “ D a y s o f F u t u r e P a s s e d ” i n i t s e n t i r e t y a n d i n f u l l s y m p h o n i c s o u n d . “ D a y s o f F u t u r e P a s s e d ” w a s r e l e a s e d 5 6 y e a r s a g o 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

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, 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

The Louisiana native has garnered over two billion on-demand 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

PET PALS

Island pets seeking forever homes

Find A Home Give A Home Pet Rescue

By ISABELLE WELLS

Co-founder of

the Find a Home, Give a Home pet rescue organization

of

Fort

Myers Beach

So many dogs, so many lives to save We understand we can’t save all of them but still it is hard for us to imagine what those poor dogs go through when they enter a shelter These are two females mid-size dogs who were left behind and in need If you are interested in saving and helping please let us know You can call or text 239-281-0739

Canela

Canela and her brother were confiscated after being in a garage for a long time with no air conditioning or water She is shy and won’t go to adoption floor because of the noise and all the commotion in a shelter. She only had until June 17 to be rescued but we asked for an extension So we are hoping she can be in a loving home She is 3 years old and weighs 55 pounds

Ahsoka

Ahsoka was brought to the shelter because she had skin issues Her owners decided to have her euthanized because of that How sad It is another photo that touched me That look, helpless She is a good girl and very sweet Ahsoka is 4 years old and weighs 43 pounds.

Demi She made is out! Little Demi got lucky she is 15 weeks old and was in the shelter as well She had a bite on her shoulder and has a fracture as well She will be ready soon for adoption At least she is

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

Please note our new PO Box #864, Bonita Springs, Fl 34133 You can also make a donation at www.findahomegiveahome.com using the donation tab using PayPal Please make sure you do it through “Friends and Family” so there is no

Save Our Strays Feline Rescue For t Myers Beach

. c

Cape Coral to hold 2024 Red, White & BOOM on July 4

M u s i c c a n b e h e a r d f r o m t h e

c

t M y e

F

Freedom 5K & WB Williamson Bros Kid's Fun Run, held by the Chamber of Commerce of Cape Coral

The Freedom 5k begins at 7 a m and features an out-and-back course running over the Cape Coral Bridge Participants can pick up their race T-shirts and chipenabled bibs before the race or the day of Veterans receive a discounted registration fee and commemorative challenge coin The Kid’s Fun Run will be held after the 5k is complete and is geared toward children 12 and under

https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/CapeCora l/Freedom5KRunWalkKidsFunRun

Exhibits on display at Shell Point

“Seeing Red: Works by Shell Point Artists & Writers” is on display now through June 22 in the Shell Point's Tribby Arts Center, at 17281 On Par Blvd , Fort Myers It features work in a variety of mediums, including 10 texts by writers who reflected on the theme As a complement to the exhibit, “Seeing Red: By the Book: Artworks by Youth of the Heights Center Art Program” is on display Part of a collaboration between the center and the Heights Center of Fort Myers, the children created images in red inspired by their favorite books In addition, “Artist as Muse: The 20th Anniversary Exhibition of Art Quilters Unlimited” is on display from now through Sept 7 The quilts are homage to a painting or style of a well-known 20th-century artist The galleries are open for free from

Collaboratory invites public to Summer Night Market June 21

Collaboratory is inviting the public to its Summer themed Night Market, to be held from 6-9 p.m., Friday, June 21, at Collaboratory’s campus at 2031 Jackson St , in downtown Fort Myers

Supporting local artisans and entrepreneurs, this free event will include tours, resident partners and will also feature live music by The Line Up Band Food trucks will include South Pizza Co and Between the Bunz and

more than 20 vendors will be on site

To R.S.V.P., please visit collaboratory.org/events. Collaboratory is a regional community foundation with an evolved mission committed to coordinating the solving of Southwest Florida’s major social problems by 2040 Collaboratory provides community leadership, raises and coordinates funding and disburses funds to organizations that are helping solve the problems our

donors and the community have identified as priorities Collaboratory also provides capacity building with training and resources for regional partners Since 1976, the organization has made over $120 million in grants to individuals and organizations across the region to enhance the quality of life for current and future generations To learn more and get involved, call 239-2745900 or visit www collaboratory org

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