Fort Myers Beach Observer/The Beach Bulletin

Council schedules new walkover showdown

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

With the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council waiting for a court to act on litigation filed by Florida Audubon challenging its approval of a special exception permit for the 298-feet bridge that would cross state lagoons near the Little Estero I

nc i l m e m b e r s J o h n K i n g a n d K a r e n Woodson voted Monday not to wait any

longer and issue a building permit for the structure Though the vote failed, the council did agree to schedule the matter for further discussion Sept. 25, at which time another vote could take place

King and Woodson voted Monday to issue the building permit after new town attorney Becky Vose brought up the subject Vose referenced what she described as a “notice” from the attorney for the applicants Kurt Kroemer and Ed Rood

that contended the town had “an obligation” to issue the building permit

Mayor Dan Allers, Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt and Councilmember Bill Veach voted against issuing the building permit Allers, who voted for the special exception permit in March, said he wanted to give all the parties involved a chance to comment before taking action Atterholt and Veach have opposed the walkover

Vose told the council Monday “I just

wanted to bring this up and see if you all wanted to change, you know, what you have done previously because I have received a lot of correspondence on this issue ”

Though there has been no change in the state of the litigation as both sides await a show-cause ruling from the circuit court, Vose told the council it could issue the permit and that there was no legal

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 Monday to adopt a $12 1 million budget while keeping its millage rate flat

The budget, which still faces a final hearing and vote, sets the property tax rate at the currrent at 99 per thousand dollars of assessed property value

The final budget hearing has been scheduled for Sept. 25.

The town managed to keep its property tax rate flat at a time of more than $1 8 million in lost property tax receipts due to a loss of approximately $2 7 billion in assessed property value since Hurricane Ian, a $1 6 million loss in parking ticket revenue and what Finance Director Joe Onzick called “the uncertainty of funding for disaster recovery ”

Onzick said the town is utilizing an $11 9 million bridge loan awarded from the state as well as a portion of the $1.7 m i l l i o n t h e t o w n r e c e i v e d f r o m t h e American Rescue Plan Act The town is required to repay the bridge loan by next year under a 10% interest rate though officials have been seeking whether the loan will be forgiven or the timeframe extended

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Before Hurricane Ian, Debi Szekely was a happy retiree who was splitting her time between a home on Fort Myers Beach and back in Pittsburgh where her husband Timothy runs a machine shop That all changed Sept 28 Like 14 other property owners in her neighborhood on Hibiscus Drive, her home and her daughter’s next door was destroyed by Hurricane Ian and have since been demolished

On Friday, Szekely was celebrating with the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce and the builders of her future new home at a groundbreaking ceremony The ceremony was about Szekely but also about the firm Homebound this is the first home construction client for the company based in San Francisco

Szekely, who was back in Pittsburgh at the time of Hurricane Ian, has been staying in a trailer during her time back on Fort Myers Beach

She returned two days after the destruction and spoke about encountering looters

The cost to rebuild won’t be cheap She has been quoted $600,000 to build a new 1,795-square-foot home whose first floor will be 13 feet above ground to comply with the newest

See

F o r t M y e r s B e a c h M a n a g e r A n d y Hyatt said he recently inquired with the office of State Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-28, about repayment and said there is the potential of the town getting more time to repay the loan

T h e h e a r i n g h a d a c o u p l e b u m p y moments over fees and funding

The town’s community development department proposed raising the administrative fee for court cases in front of the town’s magistrate from $175 to $250

Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt opposed r ais in g th e f ees , s ay in g p eo p le w er e already taking their mornings off to go to court to challenge a fine “It seems punitive, when folks actually show up to dispute their ticket or whatever the issue is

Debi Szek ely star ts life a ne w on Fort M ye rs Be ach by r eplac ing he r home on Hibiscus Driv e

Hibiscus Drive property owner Debi Szekely lost her home to Hurricane Ian, but is building a new one with the help of contractors Homebound and Ernie Jaime (pictured), director of construction and operations for the firm NATHAN MAYBERG

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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 , S e p t e m b e r

n W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , S e p t e m b e r 1 3 , 2 0 2 3 f o r t m y e r s b e a c h t a l k . c o m F o r t M y e r s B e a c h O b s e r v e r

OPINIONS

Post-9/11 veterans: Get the care you’ve earned and deserve

P u b l i s h e r R a y m o n d M E c ke n r o d e re cke n ro d e @ b re e z e n ew s p a p e rs c o m

E x e c u t ive E d i t o r Va l a r i e H a r r i n g v h a r r i n g @ b re e z e n ew s p a p e rs c o m

E d i t o r N a t h a n M a y b e rg n m a y b e rg @ b re e z e n ew s p a p e rs c o m

A d ve r t i s i n g D i re c t o r L a u r i e R a g l e l rag l e @ b re e z e n ew s p a p e rs c o m

Advertising Sales

Lyn

McElhaney

lmcelhaney@breezenewspapers com

O b i t u a r i e s D e b b i e C a r l e t t i o b i t s @ b re e z e n ew s p a p e rs c o m P ro d u c t i o n m a n a g e r R o b B r a i t l i n g r b ra i t l i n g @ b re e z e n ew s p a p e rs c o m S u b s c r i p t i o

There is a huge reason why I trust VA for all my health care needs and why I have for over 18 years I feel safe, connected, and know my providers have my best interest at heart and strive to deliver positive health outcomes Further, as I age, I know that VA will be positioned, ready, and capable of caring for me when I need them most The overwhelming majority of veterans who use VA for their care, feel the same way

The Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act is perhaps the largest health care and benefit e x p a n s i o n i n t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e U S Department of Veterans Affairs Among the many provisions in the law, there is one that I’d like to urgently highlight that directly impacts post-9/11 combat veterans and the opportunity to enroll for VA’s full medical benefits package.

When President Biden signed the PACT Act into law last August, his pen stroke immediately initiated a one-year, VA health care open enrollment period for veterans who meet the following criteria:

Served on active duty in a theater of combat operations during a period of war after the Persian Gulf War or served in combat

Bridge near critical wildlife area would detract from an ever-changing environment

(Editor's note: The following letter was addressed to the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council, town manager and town attorney )

To the editor:

Web Poll

Previous Web

Should repairing the Fort Myers Beach Pier be a top priority for Lee County? ∫ Yes, one of the most important priorities, 60%

Important, but there are many other equally important projects, 29%

It's not a top concern of mine, 11%

Current Web Poll Question

Should the Fort Myers Beach Council issue a building permit for the 298-feet lagoon walkover near the Little Estero Critical Wildlife Area or wait until the lawsuit by Audubon Florida has concluded?

∫ Wait until lawsuit has concluded, once the boardwalk is built the damage will be done

∫ Issue the permit, the boardwalk can be dismantled if the town loses the suit

∫ No opinion

Share your opinion

Yesterday I took photos of the south end of Fort Myers Beach from just outside the south end of the Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area down to where the Gulf waters are carving an inlet that is reaching the mangroves along that portion of the lagoon system, all within the Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area

A few observations:

1 T h e L i t t l e E s t e r o I s l a n d C r i t i c a l W i l d l i f e A r e a h a s b e c o m e e v e n m o r e remarkably beautiful with the sea oats, mangroves (both protected by Florida law) and other native vegetation getting reestablished after Hurricane Ian

2 In addition to the critical role the area serves for the beach nesting birds and other shorebirds, Fort Myers Beach Town Council would be wise to recognize the ecotourism benefit this area can bring to FMB as we recover from Hurricane Ian The addition of a 300 ft private bridge will significantly

against a hostile force during a period of hostilities after Nov 11, 1998

And:

Were discharged or released between Sept 11, 2001, and Oct 1, 2013, and not previously enrolled in VA health care

Time is of the essence as the deadline to apply for VA health care without the need for additional eligibility verification is Oct 1, 2023 For some vetera n s , m e e t i n g V A ’ s i n c o m e threshold requirements prevent them from being eligible for VA care Applying for care before the deadline eliminates this challenge entirely

David B Isaacks

Guest Commentary

To apply for care today and to learn more about the PACT Act, Veterans can visit www va gov/PACT, or visit the closest VA medical center or clinic

One of the primary advantages of VA health care is the comprehensive coverage it offers From preventive care to specialized treatment for service-related conditions, veterans receive high-quality medical attention w i t h o u t t h e f i n

Letters to the Editor

detract from the beauty of this prime coastal habitat

3 During recent high tides/storms the s o u t h e n d o f t h e b e a c h o u t f r o m t h e

Condos/private homes becomes knee-deep and pools of Gulf water remain You can see from the first few photos that the lagoon is breaking through and forming pools This area is rapidly changing and the critical wildlife area could become a separate island as it has been in the past Where does that put the private bridge wanting to be built by Ed Rood and Kurt Kroemer?

4 All decision makers regarding Rood and Kroemer’s special exception permit should take the time to walk this area to better understand the impact of the decisions they are making to alter this area with a (nearly) 300-feet private bridge and recognize the important role we all serve to be responsible stewards of our environment

Penny Jarrett Fort Myers Beach

Lack of 9/11 obser vance dishear tening

To the editor:

Recently the White House explained that the president will travel to Alaska to mark the somber occasion of 9/11 after his Sept 10

associated with private health insurance and private health care in general Furthermore, t h e V A h e a l t h c a r e s y s t e m focuses on the unique health challenges faced by veterans, e n s u r i n g t h a t t h e i r s p e c i f i c needs are met

Back in 2005, after I completed my first VA primary care appointment, I felt the same way as I do now VA health care is about building a l i f e l o n g r e l a t i o n s h i p a n d empowering veterans to access VA throughout their journey of life As a community, it is our d u t y a n d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o encourage and support veterans in applying for VA care they deserve nothing less.

David Isaacks is a Marine Corps vete r a n a n d e x e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r o f t h e V A Sunshine Healthcare Network (VISN 8) –the network of VA hospitals and clinics located in Florida, South Georgia, Puerto Rico, and the U S Virgin Islands

trip to Hanoi, Vietnam, where he will meet with Vietnamese leaders to discuss technological innovation and climate change It will be the first time that a president has not attended any of the observances that have b e e n h e l d a n n u a l l y i n N e w Y o r k C i t y , Pennsylvania, and Virginia, or at the White House 9/11 was one of the worst events in our country’s history

The decision to forgo the traditional observance at the attack sites or the White House in favor of other topics raises concerns about the administration’s priorities Seems the President and progressives along with the media want to cancel events that has united Americans

It’s vital to prioritize commemorating the heroes and victims of 9/11 above all else on this day of remembrance Many Americans find it disheartening that the focus appears to have shifted away from honoring the memory of those who perished, and that the consciousness of 9/11 is receding It was a terrorist attack against our country, and everybody should remember it and take precautions and watch out and hope it never happens again

Lou Walker Cape Coral

John Boyd ‘BOYD Sand Artist,’ dies at 52

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

John Boyd, known for his intricate beach raking art on Fort Myers Beach, died on Aug 30 according to Restore Fort Myers Beach Arches Boyd had helped raise funds for the organization He was 52

According to a Gofundme page set up by his sister Keli Smith, that was linked to the Facebook page of Restore Fort Myers Beach Arches, Boyd had gotten sick a couple years ago

In an interview in 2020 with the Fort Myers Beach Observer, Boyd said he was a retired auto worker and was working to get into the Guiness Book of World Records with his raking

“Fort Myers Beach is a very special place to me because I would spend much time every year as a child People are friendly and generally curious about my art,” Boyd said at the time “I’m thankful to be the first to bring this art to a beach so close to my heart My art is ‘simplicity with elegance’ giving me a platform to talk to so many, who see them, globally, without speaking directly to them ”

Smith said that Boyd was born in Lancaster, Ohio and grew up in “The Shores” in east Fort Myers.

In her Gofundme page for Boyd, Smith said “He was loved by many As a child, John, spent a long time at his Aunt Eva’s farm in Burnt Chimney, VA He loved playing with toys that she had placed in a small cast iron kettle He loved picking grapes, petting the cows, and picking berries for ice cream making As he grew up, we realized that he had a brilliant mind He was accepted at MIT, where he briefly attended ”

Smith, of Montana, said Boyd was “always very artistic He was a wonderful musician As a child he liked to make up songs and play them on the autoharp As he matured, he taught himself to play guitar. He loved to write songs and sing them to his mother He also could play piano, by ear ”

According to Smith, Boyd would sketch out his designs for his beach raking sand artwork on paper “and

then use mathematics to enlarge his drawings on the beaches of south Florida ” In addition to Fort Myers Beach, Boyd would also visit Sanibel and he was known as BOYD Sand Artist

“He got sick a couple of years ago and could not stand to draw his designs any longer,” Smith said “He was always hoping that he would get better, but his health declined quite quickly Since John worked on his own, he has no employer benefits The family is asking for help with his cremation and services.”

Steven Ray McDonald, who founded Restore Fort Myers Beach Arches, said he met Boyd via Facebook in 2020 McDonald shared a message that Boyd sent him on Facebook that said “these Arches represented more then just a structure that you drove under. These arches became intertwined with people’s excitement, joy and happiness, of making it to such a beautiful beach As a child, my family moved here in 1979 Fort Myers Beach holds so many great memories for me When invited to

bring my art and help bring awareness to the Restore Fort Myers Beach Arches, there was never (any) hesitation.”

McDonald said it was Boyd’s idea to “further our cause through his artwork ”

McDonald said that Boyd donated prints of his artwork to Restore Fort Myers Beach Arches fundraising events and the Woman’s Club Christmas Tree event “He created artwork on the Beach at Lani Kai before Rock The Arches. Boyd’s artwork was part of our online auction He was part of every event He tried breaking the world record for the biggest sand artwork to help our project along ”

McDonald said a leg injury suffered by Boyd slowed him down.

McDonald said Restore Fort Myers Beach Arches will place a brick in the Kings Walk Etched Brick pathway with the name “Boyd Sand Artist ” McDonald said “it is the least we can do ”

The Gofund me page for Boyd can be found at https://gofund me/b665980a Smith said there are no current plans for a memorial or funeral service though friends in Florida are looking to put one together

FILE PHOTOS

BUSINESS Farmer’s Market in full swing

Business was steady for the second week of the Fort Myers Beach Farmer ’s Market at Times Square Organizer Linda Miller (below) is selling honey this year from Joyce and Buddy Walker ’s Walker Farms in North Fort Meyers NATHAN MAYBERG

Matthew Demian offers delicious, fresh bagels at the farmer ’s market from his Bonita Springs bakery

Adam Rodriguez, of Naples, has brought a new fresh fruit and vegetable stand to the market

Lee Clerk to host free class on how to apply for a passport

With the holiday travel season quickly approaching, Lee County Clerk Kevin Karnes is hosting a free online class on how to apply for a passport The webinar will be held from 2-3 p m, today, Sept 13, via the online platform Zoom

During the virtual class, participants will learn the process and requirements to apply for a passport so they can begin their travels abroad This includes:

∫ Types of forms & applications

∫ Required documentation and infor-

mation for adults and minors

∫ Time limits

∫ Fees and associated costs

∫ Turnaround times

September is also Passport Awareness

M o n t h , w h i c h i s a t i m e t h e U S Department of State encourages people to apply for their passport since demand is typically down in the fall and winter months As an official passport acceptance facility, the Lee Clerk’s office processes approximately 8,000 passport

applications a year

The class is free, but registration is required. Anyone who would like to attend the online class can register at www leeclerk org/seminar

This webinar is part of the “How To” series provided by the Lee Clerk’s office to educate the community about all of the resources available to them Recorded tutorials of past “How To” classes are available at www leeclerk org/howto

The Florida Constitution established

Lee Health Cancer Institute to open new cancer clinic at Bonita Health Center

The Lee Health Cancer Institute is opening a new cancer clinic at the Bonita Health Center on Sept 15, giving southern Lee County and Collier County residents and visitors access to quality cancer care close to where they live and work

The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation Cancer Clinic will offer oncology services, offering treatments, physicians, and other necessary medical support staff at the Bonita Health Center

Lee Health also has a cancer treatment center in Fort Myers at 8931 Colonial Center Drive

As part of the most comprehensive cancer program in Southwest Florida, the new Richard M Schulze Family Foundation Cancer Clinic will be staffed with oncologists, nurse navigators, dieticians, a genetics counselor, and infusion services The 18,000-square-foot building at 3501 Health Center Blvd in Estero will offer services similar to its sister center in Fort Myers

Joshua Brown appreciates the opportunity to meet with his care team near where he lives.

“I’m thankful to receive cancer care close to home, but also for my dedicated and compassionate team,” said Brown, who has colon cancer “They’re constantly communicating, and I know if something happens and I need immediate help, everyone on my team will have my back right away ”

“World-class cancer care is available in our backyard and will have a tremendous impact,” Brown added

The new clinic has an estimated total cost of $10 4 million It will feature a 32-chair infusion center, four individual treatment rooms, and 12 exam rooms

To offset the $10.4 million needed to renovate the center, the Richard M Schulze Family Foundation donated $1 million with an additional $1 5 million community challenge grant to expand cancer services at the current

Two community workshops planned

STAFF REPORT

The Town of Fort Myers Beach will host two comm u n i t y w o r k s h o p s o n M o n d a y , S e p t 1 8 a n d Tuesday, Sept 19, at the DiamondHead Beach Resort to gather input from residents as the town rebuilds from Hurricane Ian

The workshops are also meant to provide information to the public about projects being worked on or that have been completed by the town in the wake of Hurricane Ian

In a message regarding the meetings sent out by the town, the workshops will strive to "create a shared vision for a more resilient Fort Myers Beach "

According to the notice sent out regarding the workshops, the public's input at the meetings will be used in planning while maintaining the town's "best of the old" Fort Myers Beach

The meetings will take place on Monday, Sept 18 from 6 p m to 7:30 p m and on Tuesday, Sept 19 from 10 a m to 11:30 a m at the DiamondHead Beach Resort located at 2000 Estero Blvd on Fort Myers Beach

Lee Health Bonita Health Center

In recognition of this generosity, the facility will be named the Richard M Schulze Family Foundation Cancer Clinic Other significant donors include the Bonita Bay community, which has provided almost $1 5 million in charitable contributions

“As the population in Southwest Florida continues to grow, our oncology services in the region need to grow with it,” said Deb Wilson, vice president of oncology for Lee Health “The cancer clinic in Estero will complement Lee Health’s cancer center in Fort Myers ”

The Lee Health Cancer Institute services include cancer rehabilitation, financial navigation, and disease-specific support groups for patients and families, prosthesis, and wig fitting

Lee Health is focused on elevating its oncology services to ensure access to the best possible care for Southwest Florida residents

Wilson and Dr Mark Roh, chief physician executive of oncology services, joined in 2022 with a focus on expanding Lee Health’s oncology program

They have decades of extensive and dedicated experience in cancer care, and both Wilson and Dr Roh are experts in the oncology field

“We’re expanding our oncology team to make sure the growing Southwest Florida population and beyond has the resources and access to care they need,” Dr Roh said “Lee Health is committed to the highest standard of compassionate care, and we can’t wait to start serving our friends and neighbors in south Lee and Collier counties More convenient access will help patients feel less stressed and more comfortable during their cancer journey, which is the ultimate goal ”

Learn more about the Lee Health Cancer Institute at www leehealth org

Chamber to hold membership Luncheon this Thursday

STAFF REPORT

The Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon will take place this Thursday at Bonita Bill's Waterfront Cafe at 700 Fishermans Wharf on Fort Myers Beach

The luncheon will feature Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Andy Hyatt

The luncheon will take place from 11:30 a m to 1 p m The cost is $30 for Chamber members and $40 for prospective members

the Clerk of the Circuit Court as a public trustee, responsible for safeguarding public records and public funds. Clerk Kevin Karnes is directly elected by and accountable to Lee County residents

In addition to the role of Clerk of the Circuit Court, the Clerk is the County Recorder and Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners, and the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Auditor for Lee County For more information, visit https://www leeclerk org/

Persons-Mulicka honored by LeadingAge Florida

L e a d i n g A g e F l o r i d a , t h e s t a t e ’ s o n l y a s s o c i a t i o n r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e e n t i r e c o n t i n u u m o f c a r e f o r o l d e r a d u l t s , a n n o u n c e d t o d a y i t r e c o g n i z e d s t a t e R e p .

J e n n a P e r s o n s -

M u l i c k a , R - 7 8 a s

L e g i s l a t o r o f t h e Y e a r P e r s o n s - M u l i c k a , w h o r e p r e s e n t s m o s t o f F o r t M y e r s i n t h e s t a t e l e g i s l a t u r e , w a s c h o s e n f o r h e r " e x t r ao r d i n a r y l e a d e r s h i p

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

C C R C l e g i s l a t i v e r e f o r m , a n e w l a w t h a t w i l l h e l p e n s u r e t h e f u t u r e v i a b i l i t y a n d f i n a n c i a l s t r e n g t h o f t h e C o n t i n u i n g C a r e R e t i r e m e n t C o m m u n i t y ( C C R C ) m o d e l i n F l o r i d a , " L e a d i n g A g e F l o r i d a a n n o u n c e d “ L e a d i n g A g e F l o r i d a i s h o n o r e d t o r e c o g n i z e R e p r e s e n t a t i v e P e r s o n s - M u l i c k a f o r h e r t i r e l e s s e f f o r t s i n s u p p o r t i n g o u r s e n i o r c i t i z e n s a n d a d v oc a t i n g f o r t h e e n h a n c e m e n t o f a g i n g s e r v i c e s , ” s a i d S t e v e B a h m e r , P r e s i d e n t a n d C E O o f L e a d i n g A g e F l o r i d a “ F l o r i d a ’ s C C R C s s e r v e m o r e t h a n 3 0 , 0 0 0 o l d e r a d u l t s , a n d t h i s n e w l a w w i l l h e l p s t r e a m l i n e t h e p r o c e s s o f e x p a n s i o n , a m o n g o t h e r p r o v i s i o n s , t o h e l p e n s u r e t h a t F l o r i d a s e n i o r s h a v e a r o b u s t a r r a y o f h i g h - q u a l i t y s e n i o r l i v i n g o p t i o n s a v a i la b l e t o t h e m , " B a h m e r s a i d P e r s o n s - M u l i c k a w a s r e c o g n i z e d b y t h e o r g a n iz a t i o n d u r i n g a c e l e b r a t i o n h e l d a t C y p r e s s C o v e i n F o r t M y e r s S u s a n L a n g s t o n , L e a d i n g A g e F l o r i d a ’ s V i c e P r e s i d e n t o f A d v o c a c y w a s p r e s e n t a t t h e e v e n t a n d a l s o s h a r e d h e r a p p r e c i a t i o n “ W i t h o u t t h e s t r e n g t h o f R e p r e s e n t a t i v e P e r s o n s - M u l i c k a ’ s v i s i o n f o r a h e a l t h y s e n i o r l i vi n g m a r k e t w i t h s t r o n g p r o t e c t i o n s f o r r e s i d e n t s , t h i s i m p o r t a n t r e f o r m s i m p l y w o u l d n o t h a v e h a pp e n e d , ” L a n g s t o n s a i d “ H e r d e d i c a t e d e f f o r t s h a v e l e d t o m e a n i n g f u l i m p r o v e m e n t s a n d t h i s i s a w e l ld e s e r v e d r e c o g n i t i o n ”

n W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , S e p t e m b e r 1 3 , 2 0 2 3 f o r t m y e r s b e a c h t a l k . c o m F o r t M y e r s B e a c h O b s e r v e r

Jenna Persons-Mulicka

Beach Living

the victims of the

attacks

Fire department honors 9/11 victims

STAFF REPORT

The Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District held a 9/11 remembrance ceremony at its fire station on Lenell Road Monday morning on the 22nd anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.

Fire Chief Scott Wirth and Assistant Chief Chris Armiger laid a wreath at the district’s permanent 9/11 memorial at

Station 33 during a ceremony to honor the victims of the attacks

Nearly 3,000 people were killed in 2001 in the morning attacks after terrorists hijacked four planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon outside Washington D C and a field in rural Pennsylvania

Tur tle Time nest data

For t Myers Beach

Nests: 71

Non-nesting emergence: 201

Nests Hatched: 58

Bonita Beach

Nests: 151

Non-nesting emergence: 268

Nests Hatched: 136

Fort Myers Beach Kiwanis scholarships awarded

Fort Myers Beach Kiwanis is very happy to announce that it has awarded twelve $1000 scholarships to the following local students

∫ Kelsey Brown – Rollins College

volunteers ask that Beach residents and visitors remember to turn off or shield their lights at night, and remind everyone never disturb a sea turtle or nest. For more information or to report a nest, please contact Turtle Time, Inc. at 481-5566. visit Turtle Time at turtletime.org.

∫ Brittany Curley – Florida

∫ Bo Dwyer – College of Charleston

∫ Aiden Fancher – Florida

∫ Maryn Fancher – Georgia

∫ Luciano Gilberto – FGCU

∫ Kailyn Haataja – USF

∫ Brianna Levy – FGCU

∫ Kyra Levy – FGCU

∫ Christopher Prisco – FSW Fire School

∫ Annelise Swiersz – UCF

∫ Joseph Uecker - FSU

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District Assistant Chief Chris Armiger saluted a wreath placed at the 9/11 memorial on Fire Station 33 to pay tribute to

Sept 11, 2001

on Monday

9 n W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , S e p t e m b e r 1 3 , 2 0 2 3 f o r t m y e r s b e a c h t a l k . c o m F o r t M y e r s B e a c h O b s e r v e r

Two beach accesses closed, sand and vegetation removed

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

If you were wondering what the smell on Fort Myers Beach was over the past week, it was the storage of vegetation, sand and shellfish at Newton Beach Park

According to an advisory from the town, vegetation and shellfish that washed up on Fort Myers Beach after Hurricane Idalia was stored temporarily at the park after being removed by a town contractor

The piles have been since been removed off the island Town of Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers credite d t h e v e n d o r I C S D i s a s t e r R e c o v e r y f o r removing “whatever that sludge was that we all smelled for a few days safely off the island.”

Allers said “It wasn’t ideal to have it at Newton Park but we tried to get it out of there as fast as we could ”

Allers said the vendor “worked very hard in less-thanpleasant circumstances ”

In a separate announcement, the town closed its beach accesses at Lanark and Gulf Drive

According to an advisory from the town, the access points are undergoing restoration with sand that was displaced last week by Hurricane Idalia. The sand has been sifted and cleaned It’s currently being stored at Newton Beach Park until it can be used

PHOTO PROVIDED

n W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , S e p t e m b e r 1 3 ,

0 2 3 f o r t m y e r s b e a c h t a l k . c o m F o r t M y e r s B e a c h O b s e r v e r

Buffett remembered by conservation group for his efforts in working to protect manatees

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

While the late Jimmy Buffett will be remembered by millions of fans for his songs about paradise, sponge cake and 5 o’clock somewhere, environmental groups hold the late singer in high regard for his contributions to causes such as protecting manatees, coral reefs, clean water and lobb y i n g f o r t h e r e a u t h o r i z a t i o n o f t h e Endangered Species Act.

Buffett’s environmental achievements in Florida date to 1981, when he joined forces with Florida Gov Bob Graham to establish the Save the Manatee Committee, which would eventually become the Save the Manatee Club The committee’s mission was to edu-

cate the public about the presence o f e n d a n g e r e d m a n a t e e s i n Florida’s waters and the threats they faced Save the Manatee Club was started shortly after that to get the public involved in manatee and a q u a t i c h a b i t a t c o n s e r v a t i o n efforts

In a statement on their website, the Save the Manatee Club said that Buffett “didn’t merely lend his name to the cause; he rolled up his sleeves and took action He starred in public service announcements, used his concerts to raise funds and awareness, and directed resources toward essential waterway signs to protect manatees from speeding boats In 1984, he conceived the Adopt-A-Manatee program, a groundbreaking initiative that engaged the public and provided crucial funds for manatee conservation The program not only saved manatees but also educated and inspired countless individuals ”

Save the Manatee Club Executive Director Patrick Rose called Buffett “a great old friend to manatees and the watery world that sustains us despite such storms of life ”

Buffett died on Sept 1 at the age of 76

The Club’s mission is to protect endangered manatees and their aquatic habitat for future generations by educating and raising public awareness; conducting research and sponsoring rescue, rehabilitation, and release efforts; supporting land acquisition and promoting aquatic habitat protection and advocating for improved protection measures

The late singer Jimmy Buffett (left) formed the Save the Manatee Committee with former Florida Gov. Bob Graham (right) sitting behind them is the late Florida Rep. Frank Mann and his wife Mary Mann in Fort Myers during a manatee release in coordination with Audubon Florida in 1981 Photo by Richard Wells, provided courtesy of Save the Manatee Club

Jimmy Buffett

The late singer Jimmy Buffett (left) with Save the Manatee Club Executive Director Patrick Rose (right) in 1982 Photo by Chris Gotshall, provided courtesy of Save the Manatee Club.

The location of the Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area (pictured) and two lagoons that feed into the state-protected lands where shorebirds nest, has led Audubon Florida to challenge a special exception permit issued by the Town of Fort Myers Beach for a 298-feet bridge that would cross the lagoons.

Walkover showdown From

requirement that they wait for the court’s ruling

Former town attorney John Herin Jr had recommended against the town issuing the building permit in light of the litigation Herin cited the potential damages the town could be liable for if a court ruled against the town, citing case law. It is unusual for developments to proceed while under litigation

“I have had a lot of input with regard to this,” Vose said

“The previous attorney had opined that it was inappropriate to issue the permit,” Vose said “I disagree as far as the legality of it The inappropriateness is another issue, it’s a policy issue, which I don’t get involved with If there is in fact an indemnification of the town with regard to a removal of the walkover if ultimately at the end of the day the walkover needs to be removed and if that indemnification is tied to those properties so that the town would have a lien on those properties if in fact they didn’t remove it and it had to be removed From a legal standpoint, I don’t see a legal problem with the permit ”

Asked by Woodson about Herin’s legal advice to the council previously, Vose said “it is my legal opinion, that there is no case law or statutory law that would prohibit the issuance of the permit.” Vose said if the town lost its case, “there would be another step in the process ”

If the court overturned the town’s decision, Vose said “you would have to have a completely new hearing and in theory fix whatever you did wrong and then assuming (Audubon Florida) didn’t like that, would file another lawsuit ”

Vose said if the court ruled against the town and the case was sent back to the council, the town would have to pull the permit “and then (the walkover) would need to come down In that situation, you would have to have some sort of indemnification ”

Woodson asked “legally we have no right not to issue it based on anything that’s happening, with another lawsuit or anything like that? Because we voted on

page 1

“It’s my legal opinion that there is no law prohibiting you from doing it and no law indicating that you should not do it.”

Town of Fort Myers Beach Attorney Becky Vose, on whether to issue a building permit for a 298-feet boardwalk over state lagoons near the Little Estero Critical Wildlife Area in the midst of a lawsuit filed by the town from Audubon Florida over a special exception permit approved by the town for the bridge

it, we should be issuing that?”

Vose replied “yes ” Vose said “there is nothing that says the town should not issue the permit ”

Vose said “I am asking if you want to take another vote on this If you don’t want to, that’s fine, we will address any issues I will let you know if a lawsuit is filed to force us to issue the permit That may happen That might not happen ”

Councilmember Bill Veach said there were “risks to the town” by issuing the building permit in light of the litigation

“I think there are potential risks, yes,”

Vose said

Vose said an indemnification agreement with Kroemer and Rood would ensure that they would not hold the town liable for the expense of building the bridge if they were made to tear down the boardwalk in the event a court ruled against the town’s decision

Audubon Florida has warned that the damage from the construction of the boardwalk would be long-lasting

Allers asked Vose if it is her legal opinion that the council should issue the permit “It’s my legal opinion that there is no law prohibiting you from doing it and no law indicating that you should not do it,” Vose said

Vose said “If someone wants to have the permit issued and not maintain the status quo, I suggest that a motion is appropriate If you all want to maintain the status quo, I recommend a motion would not be appropriate ”

Veach asked if Vose had communicated with Audubon Florida regarding her raising the possibility of issuing the building permit. Vose said she hadn’t. “I didn’t t r y t o g e t i n w i t h t h e a t t o r n e y s f o r Audubon,” Vose said “It’s up to you all if

you want to postpone this to the next meeting.”

Veach said “with as contentious as this is, I think it’s important to have everybody be able to weigh in ”

King then called for a vote for the permit to be issued, with backing from Woodson

Allers, Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt and Veach voted against issuing the permit Allers said the issue has been going on long enough (since 2014) that a vote on whether to issue a building permit should be a formal agenda item with a chance for both sides to comment

“We are doing this out of courtesy It is not a required action,” Allers said “This is going on a long time and it’s not going to end anytime soon ”

A new town council in March granted the permit for the out-of-state limited lia-

Ed Rood (pictured) has been seeking to build a 298feet walkover behind his property over state land in the town’s environmentally critical zone adjacent to the Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area.

bility companies of Kroemer (Squeeze Me Inn LLC of Indiana) and Rood (Texas Holdem LLC) after years of multiple councils having opposed the walkover due to its location in the town’s environmentally critical zone and near shorebird nesting sites

King and Woodson had campaigned in favor of issuing the special exception permit during last year’s council elections

“We are just continuing to kick the can down the road and in essence avoiding doing what we are supposed to be doing,” King said.

“I think we have given this ample priority in our post-Ian need list,” Veach r e p l i e d “ I d o n ’ t t h i n k i t h a s b e e n ignored ”

NATHAN MAYBERG

Breaking ground

F l o r i d a E m e r g e n c y M a n a g e m e n t Agency (FEMA) hurricane and flood elevation code The roof will reach 18 feet high

Szekely said her daughter Amber B o s c a i n o c u r r e n t l y d o e s n ’ t h a v e plans to rebuild her home, which was used as a vacation residence for her Both residences were destroyed, with n o t h i n g l e f t e x c e p t t h e b a s e m e n t slabs, Szekely said

Surrounded by empty lots that have been cleared of Hurricane Ian’s destruction, Szekely said her reaction to the hurricane initially was to be “just glad everybody on the street survived At that point, there is nothing you can do ”

The street sign for Hibiscus Drive, like most on the island, was washed away by the force of the 18-feet storm surge from Hurricane Ian In its place is a hand-painted sign on a piece of wood with “Hibiscus” in big blue letters along with paintings of the hibiscus plant

Next week, Homebound will begin drilling in pilings onto the property T h e f i r m ’ s v i c e p r e s i d e n t S a m i r Malviya said the company has about a dozen clients lined up that are awaiting permits to construct new homes He expects to add more

Homebound and Szekely began talking in December at a town meeting Szekely said she looked into other builders to get other quotes but that Homebound was the best and most easily accessible “They made the process really easy,” she said A lot of the work they agreed upon doing was worked on over the internet on Zoom

E r n i e J a i m e , d i r e c t o r o f C o n s t r u c t i o n a n d O p e r a t i o n s f o r H o m e b o u n d , s a i d t h e p e r m i t t i n g

process for the town has been “very difficult with all of the FEMA regulations and coastal zoning.” Jaime said the “red tape hinders the speed we would like ”

The Town of Fort Myers Beach p e r m i t t i n g d e p a r t m e n t h a s b e e n working with a small staff since the F l o r i d a D i v i s i o n o f E m e r g e n c y Management pulled away in March from providing personnel to handle the avalanche of permit requests the town is facing

Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak helped organize Friday’s ceremony

“ W e ’ r e t h r i l l e d t o h a v e t h e f i r s t Homebound home coming out of the ground to give residents the opportunity to rebuild their homes and their lives at a pricepoint that is attainable ”

Liszak said “It’s critical to get our residents back home so that our community can continue to recover together ”

From page 1

and they make an eloquent argument but f o r w h a t e v e r r e a s o n t h e m a g i s t r a t e decides against them, they pay a fee in addition to their fine, that is significant ”

Town Attorney Becky Vose said “otherwise people might just always appeal their fines and that sort of thing and when you have a situation where people are appealing fines, you have to take the code enforcement person essentially off the street into the hearing and they have got to show up for that and you are paying the special magistrate and the code enforce-

The town’s recovery has been delayed by “supplychain issues, the number of workers available, permits, new codes,” Liszak said Still, she sees progress “I think we will start to see faster movement as soon as the (permit) process is understood ”

ment person to sit there ”

Atterholt said the town already raised its parking ticket fines to $77 “plus they get hit with a $250 administrative fee? Is that the way it’s going to be proposed?”

C o m m u n i t y D e v e l o p m e n t D i r e c t o r

Steve Poposki said “it would be a bumpup in fee if it was decided against them ”

Mayor Dan Allers asked the town’s finance director Joe Onzick to research if the cost of paying for the town’s special magistrate was being funded through the town’s fees and fines

Liszak said the town is at “the very beginning stage” of its recovery

“It’s overwhelming,” Szekely said of her efforts to rebuild “So many people care It’s awesome I feel part of the community ”

Atterholt said he would prefer for the town’s administrative fee to be lowered.

The budget would also lower some beach vendor fees for parasailing, beach furniture and personal watercraft licenses

The proposed fees would be lowered from $685 for parasailing and watercraft to $375, and from $685 to $120 for beach furniture The fees would then go up 3% each year Allers said the fees are actually higher than fees were in 2021

The budget also includes 14 3 new full-time positions added since last year’s

budget Allers said some of the positions were formerly contracted out but were now brought in-house such as the town’s environmental project manager and inform a t i o n t e c h n o l o g y s u p p o r t

Councilmember Karen Woodson said the town’s human resource director, noted as a new position, was replaced

Town Manager Andy Hyatt said some positions have not been filled that are budgeted

SHE’S BACK

Sheena Brook ready to hit the Beach again at Island Hopper

By NATHAN MAYBERG

nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Ayear ago, famed Fort Myers Beach musician Sheena Brook had put the covid pandemic in the rearview mirror and was preparing to be a key part of the Island Hopper Songwriters fest on the barrier islands of Fort Myers Beach, Captiva and Sanibel

Brook was enjoying the success of that final weekend when Hurricane Ian descended on the island and uprooted her life and her home While she and her wife Summer Stockton lost many of their possessions and had to demolish their Fort Myers Beach home, Brook kept her guitar

On Friday, Sept 22 Brook will begin an eight-show tour back to the islands as part of this year’s Island Hopper Songwriter Fest.

“I’m excited,” Brook said “It was nuts last year ” Most emotional for Brook will be her Fort Myers

Beach shows, which begin Friday, Sept 29 with the opening night showcase at Cabanas Beach Bar and Grille

Dear to her heart will be a benefit she is headlining a benefit at the Mound House Sept 30 with country musician and Fort Myers native Brian Sutherland The benefit show for the Mound House, organized by Friends of the Mound House, will begin at 2 p m with tickets priced at $45 and nearly sold out as of Sept 12 with just one ticket left.

“I’m honored they chose me,” Brook said “I asked Brian to play it with me because he is another Florida boy,” Brook said “He is unbelievable so talented ”

Brook said she often visits the Mound House, typically once or more a week

“I love the Mound House,” she said “It’s so beautiful there We take my dogs there a lot I love the docks ” Brook enjoys the view of the trees and the bay on the spa-

cious property “It’s a beautiful piece of peacefulness,” she said Though sometimes she and Summer have to yell at boaters traveling too fast through the no-wake zone Brook won’t have much time to rest after the Mound House performance She is due to hit the Yucatan Beach Stand & Grill that night for a free show with Tim McGeary beginning at 6:45 p m

Her last scheduled performance for the festival will be at Bayside Park on Sunday, Oct 1 That will be a fitting end to the festivities for Brook as she played at the opening of Bayside Park before Hurricane Ian with a countryfolk song about the island’s sea turtles and one of her catchiest tunes “Another Day in Paradise” written about the Beach Brook will kick off the festivities with performances at Key Lime Bistro on Captiva Friday, Sept 22, followed by a headlining gig the next day poolside at the ‘Tween

See SHEENA BROOK, page 19

Harry Chapin Food Bank to hold 24-hour packing event Sept. 15-16

Harry Chapin Food Bank, the largest hunger relief organization in Southwest Florida, has announced it will hold its first ever, 24-hour food packing event on Sept 15 and Sept 16 The 24-hour Sort-aThon begins at 8 a m on Sept 15, Hunger Action Day at the Fort Myers Distribution Center, 3760 Fowler St in Fort Myers

During this 24-hour event, volunteers will be inspecting, sorting and packing food donations that will be distributed through a variety of Harry Chapin Food Bank programs and partner agencies

Volunteers will work four-hour shifts b e g i n n i n g a t 8 a m o n S e p t 1 5

Community members are encouraged to form teams to participate in this unique event A $25 donation per person is encouraged to participate

September is Hunger Action Month, which focuses on how communities can come together to raise awareness about hunger in America and inspire action

According to Feeding America, more than 135,250 people in Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties faced food insecurity in 2021 Food insecurity is defined as the lack of access to enough food for an active, healthy lifestyle

Now in its 40th year, Harry Chapin Food Bank feeds more than a quarter of a million people each month through a variety of food distribution programs.

Community members interested in participating in the 24-hour Sort-a-Thon should contact, Volunteer Manager, Lori Harrington at lharrington@hcfb org or 239-334-7007, extension 141

Air Pros USA now accepting nominations for its annual Veterans Day Giveaway in Fort Myers area

Air Pros USA will honor local men and women who served or are currently serving in the U S military The HVAC company has launched its 4th annual Air Pros USA Veterans Day Giveaway to award one veteran or active-duty service member in the Fort Myers area a free air conditioning unit with installation

Throughout the entire month of September anyone can nominate a deserving veteran for Air Pros USA Veterans Day Giveaway by filling out a short application at h t t p s : / / a i r p r o s u s a c o m / v e t e r a n s - d a ygiveaway/ The deadline to submit nominations is Saturday, Sept 30 The contest is open to active military, retired service members, and veterans who were discharged under general or honorable conditions All nominees need to own their home in the Fort Myers area.

“The Veterans Day Giveaway stands as a cherished and treasured tradition throughout our company,” serif Anthony

Perera, founder and chief growth officer of Air Pros USA “It serves as a humble gesture of appreciation for their dedication and an authentic reflection of our gratitude for their unwavering commitments The values and ethos of Air Pros USA resonate profoundly with Veterans as we have numerous former and active military in our company and the communities we serve We are honored to be able to give back in this annual tribute ”

Air Pros USA is dedicated to the veterans’ community, instituting this tradition leading up to Veterans Day, by helping those in need This year, the company will host the giveaway in multiple U S cities across Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Louisiana

For more information and a complete list of official rules for the Veterans Day Giveaway, visit https://airprosusa.com/ veterans-day-giveaway/

For more information visit www airprosusa com

About Harry Chapin Food Bank

Harry Chapin Food Bank rescues food that would otherwise go to waste and distributes it to children, families and seniors who are hungry through a series of food distribution programs that feed more than a quarter of a million people each month

Harry Chapin Food Bank distributed $61 5 million worth of food in fiscal year 2022 Through its food distribution programs, the food bank supplied 34 7 mil-

lion pounds of food and other grocery items, including 12 million pounds of fresh produce The food is the equivalent of 29 million meals distributed to those who are hungry.

Harry Chapin Food Bank is also a United Way partner agency For more information or to make a gift, please call 239- 334-7007 or visit harrychapinfoodbank org

Estero Historical Society kicks off 2023-24 Lecture Series with event at Koreshan

A History of the Koreshan Unity Settlement will be the topic of the first event of the 2023-24 Saturday Lecture Series hosted by the Estero Historical Society

The event will be held at the historic Art Hall in the Koreshan State Park located at the northwest corner of U S 41 and Corkscrew Boulevard The event i s

9 : 3 0 a m , Saturday, Sept 16 A continental breakfast will be served The presenter will be R o n W e s t c o t t , t h e l e a d d o c e n t o f Koreshan State Park.

Koreshan Unity Settlement, a religious sect, founded by Dr Cyrus R Teed in Chicago, moved to what is now Estero in 1893 The utopian community was based on a commitment to communal living and a belief that the universe existed on the inside of the Earth They were an i n d u s t r i o u s c o m m u n i t y t h a t b u i l t a n d operated a printing facility, boatworks,

cement works, sawmill, bakery, store and hostelry The Koreshans had a profound effect on the development of Southwest Florida which Westcott will detail in his presentation

Koreshan State Park charges a $5 entry fee at the ranger station Visitors can tour the park following the presentation In addition, attendees are asked to register for the presentation in advance on the Estero Historical Society website (www esterohistoricalsociety com) EHS members pay $10 each and non-members pay $15 each

L e a r n m o r e a b o u t t h e E s t e r o

Historical Society at the website referenced above or by visiting http://facebook.com/esterohistory.

T h e h i s t o r i c a l s o c i e t y m u s e u m , housed in two early 20th century buildings, is located inside Estero Park at 9285 Corkscrew Palms Blvd

PHOTO PROVIDED

The Koreshan Globe

Sheena Brook

Waters Resort and Spa on Captiva and two more Captiva shows, including one with young Punta Gorda phenom Adriana M c D o n a l d ( S e e s c h e d u l e F e s t i v a l S c h e d u l e | I s l a n d H o p p e r S o n g w r i t e r Festival (visitfortmyers com)

In addition to her show at the Mound House and Cabanas on Fort Myers Beach, Brook will host the festival’s after-party at the DiamondHead Beach Resort

Last year was “one of my best years,” Brook said She particularly enjoyed hosting the “F E M pride party” at last year’s Island Hopper “It was such a great year and then the hurricane.”

This year, Brook said she is “looking forward to enjoying this without the PTSD ”

Brook came to prominence to a national audience when she was selected for NBC’s season 12 of The Voice, after being picked by Adam Levine Since her appearance, Brook has played with several multi-platinum songwriters and artists that has recorded songs like “Piece Of Me,” “Tongues Of Angels” and her debut single, “Bad Bitches Like Me.” Earlier this year, she released the singles “Katie Baby” and “Rule the World” on Spotify While she normally records in Nashville, Brook chose to record her latest single in Fort Myers

It’s a busy time for Brook, who was getting ready to head to Annapolis this weekend to perform

Earlier this year, she recorded a new song in Fort Myers based on her experiences in Hurricane Ian The song centers on Brook praying as the flood waters rose

From page 17

while she stayed in a neighbor’s home She wrote the song in the children’s room of a friend where she was staying. “We moved seven times since the hurricane,” Brook said Brook grew up in a religious, Pentecostal family though her identity as a queer person led to a rift in her family, and led to her taking up music

“When the flood waters were rising, I learned to pray again,” Brook said “I’m really proud (of the new song) ”

After Hurricane Ian, she attended a Nashville benefit that raised funds for local workers who lost their jobs due to Ian. A number of Nashville musicians will b e p e r f o r m i n g a t t h e I s l a n d H o p p e r including Megan Linville, who will be joining Brook at Bayside Park

“Songwriters love our town,” Brook said

Look out on Brook’s Instagram Friday, Sept 22 when she hosts her “golf cart karaoke” show with four musicians who she interviews and showcases their performances while driving a golf cart in Captiva

Sadly for Brook, she and Stockton had to move off island due to the damage caused by Ian Their house was struck by another home that washed down their street on Palermo Circle They were hoping to rebuild but the cost was too prohibitive “I didn’t want to pay a mortgage until I was 70,” Brook said “We loved our neighbors ” They are staying close by though off McGregor Boulevard “We loved where we moved to,” Brook said “If we are meant to return to the Beach, we will. It will always be special to us.”

Oh yes, where’s the food on Fort Myers Beach for the many and diverse animals who live here or stop by as they migrate either north or south?

We humans all know we must either pack enough food and beverages for a day on the beach or be prepared to buy these essential supplies for our beach visits Of course the birds don’t carry a lunch and we don’t have shorebird restaurants as such on Fort Myers Beach But our animal visitors and residents alike don’t have to worry about procuring food They just eat fresh all the time whenever they choose That is because they are all part of the great web of life and as such they are, each in their own way, perfectly prepared for gathering certain foods from their environment

Where’s The Food

∫ Straight spear like bills are seen on herons, egrets, anhingas and such This type of beak shows the bird is a sight feeder These birds use spearing or snatching to catch prey

∫ Shovel and spoonlike bills like bills belong to birds like ducks, spoonbills, and pelicans These beaks strain and filter food from the water

Coastal birds will have beaks designed for three distinct actions:

∫ Tearing like the osprey or red-shouldered hawk

Mary

Shoreline Spotlight

We have places on the beach which offer varying foods for our wildlife The catch is that they must be able to get it And as we know, we all need the right tool for any job we tackle and birds are no exception Not coincidentally, the birds have the right tools to eat specific foods One of these important tools is the bird’s beak Shorebird beaks are the key to what these birds eat Beaks are designed as efficient food gathering tools So let’s take a closer look at these specialized beak designs

There are three basic types of shorebird beaks:

∫ Long curved bills, like on ibis, avocet and wood storks These beaks are very sensitive They allow the bird to poke into the mud or sand and feel for small animals So we say they are tactile feeders Shorebirds like plovers, sandpipers, and turnstones have bills of variable length dependent on the depth they probe into the sand Surface feeders have shorter bills Deep probers have longer bills

∫ Catching as the swallow warbler, or flycatcher

∫ Cracking like sparrows and other seed eaters

And once we know what the bird eats, (the beak design is the reveal) we have a good idea where the bird hunts for food Then we know what part of the beach to look to find them

These next six birds each have beaks that enable them to feed and thrive in specific ways Their beaks help make them easily identifiable and we can find them here on Fort Myers Beach

The great blue heron is the largest wader in the heron/egret group Look for the spear like bill on this tall, solitary, slow-moving hunter as it walks in the water

The double-crested cormorant has a hooked bill to aid in catching fish We see this bird diving just offshore of Fort Myers Beach

The black skimmer has a knife-like bill Oddly, the lower part of the bill is longer than the top part! The bird feeds on small fish and such by flying low over the water with its mouth wide open! The black skimmer flies low over the water or wet area with its upper bill raised and the lower part snapping up the fish! By the way, although

this bird is related to the gulls and terns there are only three skimmer species in the world

The brown pelican is easily identified by its specialized large bill with an extending pouch that strains water from its fish catch These birds dive beak-first into the water to stun the fish. The stunned fish are then scooped up into the pouch The water is then strained out before the catch is swallowed We often see seagulls hanging about pelicans as they eat The gulls take advantage of the pelican’s efforts and help themselves to an easy meal enjoying the fish that have been pelican stunned

The roseate spoonbill as a tactile feeder swings its unique beak through the muddy waters eating the worms, crabs, and other small animals living there

The osprey is sometimes called our fish hawk Its hooked beak allows it to tear apart the whole fish it has caught before swallowing

Before we end this essay about wild birds, let’s address the well-intentioned but definite no-no of feeding wild birds Firstly, it is illegal to feed any bird that migrates and that should be reason enough not to offer tad-bits But when we are tempted to feed any wild animal anything, even just leftovers please remember that is not advised for several reasons:

People food disrupts wild animal digestive systems because they are just not meant to eat it! Human food may make them ill because it cannot be digested It might even kill if taken in quantity When humans feed birds it removes their fear of human contact and so puts them in places where they are more vulnerable to harm. It may also teach them to be hand-out dependent which puts them at risk for losing their feeding skills

So as you enjoy all this barrier island has to offer include our birds

We know they are all feathers in our collective caps!

Mary Rose Spalletta, Marine & Environmental Task Force

MERTF ‘Murphy’ award

The Marine & Environmental Resources Task Force (MERTF, pronounced murph) is an advisory board for the Town Council of Fort Myers Beach The board meets at 10 a m on the second Wednesday of the month at The Mound House MERTF awards “Murphy” awards to people who are seen demonstrating good environmental stewardship. We would like to recognize Adventurers in Paradise, Captain Jim Eckelt and First Mate Thomas Herrick for assisting the Keep Lee County Beautiful Clean up at the Mound House on June 9 Kayakers launched and gathered debris that had littered the Mangroves from Hurricane Ian Adventures in Paradise and their bright yellow boat stationed themselves close so that the kayakers were able to unload and return to gather more debris without having to paddle all the way back to Mound House The community appreciates that on such a beautiful day, where they could’ve made a profit they instead helped the very environment they work in. Cheers on them! Adventures in Paradise has been owned and operated by the Stewart Family since 1986

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Lee County Cattle Baron’s Ball to be held Oct. 14

y i s pleased to announce the 2023 Lee County Cattle Baron’s Ball which will be held at

Cancer Society’s signature western event with more than 50 events nationwide This year, we celebrate 19 years and an amazing history of support in Lee County Since its inception, the event has raised $4 million to support the American Cancer

Society’s mission to improve the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support, to ensure everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer

This year’s mission moment will support the newly created Lee and Collier County Health Equity Fund Cancer is a disease that can affect anyone, but it does not affect everyone equally Many barriers can impact a person's ability to pre-

vent, find, treat, and survive cancer and the American Cancer Society is committed to actively working towards ending cancer disparities This fund will support programs related to transportation and lodging grants, as well as increasing screening efforts with partners in our community

The 19th annual Lee County Cattle Baron’s Ball will feature music from "Whiskey County," along with an exciting live and silent auction, bull riding, axe

throwing, Heaven’s Door bourbon tasting, Dunkin’s Diamonds Diamond Heist and a custom designed menu from the Hyatt For more information on sponsorship opportunities, volunteer opportunities, or to purchase tickets, please visit leecattlebarons com or contact Nina Gasparrini, Associate Director of Development, at 239-321-5018 or nina gasparrini@cancer org

Rose Spalletta

Cinema with the Symphony to close out film series with ‘Quartet’ featuring Maggie Smith

STAFF REPORT

The Southwest Florida Symphony, the only professional orchestra in Lee County, will feature “Quartet” as the final film of its “Cinema with the Symphony” summer movie screening series The showing will take place at 6:30 p m , Friday, Sept 22, at the symphony’s new Artistic & Operations Center at Coconut Point, 23050 Via Villagio Ste 101, Estero, next to Five Guys

M a e s t r o R a d u P a p o n i u , t h e S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a Symphony’s music director, will introduce the film The pre-screening remarks begin at 6 p m

“Quartet” is a British comedy-drama film based on the p l a y b y R o n a l d H a r w o o d a n d w a s a c t o r D u s t i n Hoffman’s directional debut. At a home for retired musi-

c i a n s , t h e a n n u a l c o n c e r t t o c e l e b r a t e C o m p o s e r

Giuseppe Verdi's birthday is disrupted by the arrival of Jean, portrayed by Dame Maggie Smith, an eternal diva and the former wife of one of the residents The star-studded cast includes Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly, Pauline Collins and Michael Gambon

Tickets are $20 Popcorn, wine, soft drinks and movie style snacks will be available for a suggested donation Proceeds from these fundraising events will be used to support the symphony's programming and educational initiatives Attendees will receive a discount code that can be used toward the purchase of concert tickets during the symphony’s 2023-24 season

To reserve tickets, visit swflso org or call 239-418-

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Sanibel Ar t Colony seeking ar twork for Hurricane Ian exhibition

The Sanibel Art Colony is accepting submissions of artwork inspired by Hurricane Ian for an upcoming exhibition titled “There’s Calm In Your Eye.”

Sanibel Art Colony (SAC) is inviting artists to submit images or videos of artwork in all mediums that depict hope for the future of Sanibel Island and Southwest Florida, express the artist’s feeling and experiences before, during and after the hurricane; shows changes in landscapes, landmarks and wildlife due to Hurricane Ian; incorporates found materials from after Hurricane Ian and is influenced by the hurricane recovery and rebuilding process

The deadline for submissions is Sept 20 This is a digital-only exhibition that will be posted on the newlylaunched SanibelArtColony.com website and promoted online through Sanibel Barometer, Sanibel Art Colony, and other Barometer Media platforms

The digital exhibition on SanibelArtColony com will take place from Sept 27 through Nov 27

Entries should be limited to 1 to 3 artworks All artists must be 18 years or older

Interested artists may see the full exhibition prospectus and submit work to “There’s Calm In Your Eye” online at: https://sanibelartcolony com/hurricane-iancall-for-art/

Foghat to headline opening show of 2023 Season at Caloosa Sound Amphitheater, Oct. 12

Caloosa Sound Amphitheater, the premier outdoor entertainment venue located adjacent to Luminary Hotel & Co , is thrilled to announce its highly anticipated inaugural show of 2023 featuring legendary rock band, Foghat On Thursday, Oct 12, Foghat will rock the stage, taking concertgoers on a “slow ride” of musical nostalgia with a show that promises to relive classic hits and make new memories celebrating music, community, and the vibrant spirit of Downtown Fort Myers

Foghat was a mainstay of 1970s rock and roll with a rich musical history spanning more than five decades Achieving eight gold records, one platinum and one double platinum album, they are known for such hits as “Slow Ride,” “Fool for the City,” “Ride, Ride, Ride” and “I Just Want to Make Love to You ” Drummer and f o u n d i n g m e m b e r R o g e r E a r l a n d l e a d g u i t a r i s t

Bryan Bassett (a 24-year member of Foghat) lead the band Scot Holt, former Buddy Guy guitarist, and Rodney O’Quinn round out the group

1500

The Southwest Florida Symphony made its debut 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 musicians, and is Lee County’s only fully professional orchestra

The Southwest Florida Symphony’s Music Director Maestro Radu Paponiu, the sixth music director in the organization’s history, also serves as the associate conductor and youth orchestra director for the Naples Philharmonic in addition to guestconducting with orchestras throughout the United States and Europe Learn more at swflso org

The fundraising event supports Pace Lee in providing girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy Programs are based on the belief that all girls and young women, regardless of race, ethnicity or socioeconomic status, should be uniquely cared for, supported and encouraged to become the best versions of themselves through a path of healing and recovery Through Pace Lee, 100% of students improved their academic performance, 100% had no involvement with the juvenile justice system within one year of exiting the program and 95% were either in school or gainfully employed after leaving Pace Lee

For more information, visit PaceCenter org/Locations/Lee or call 239-425-2366

Better Together to host ‘A Night of a Million Dreams’ Gala on Nov. 10

Better Together, a nonprofit dedicated to families and children, is hosting ‘A Night of a Million Dreams’ Gala at 6 p m on Friday, Nov 10, at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs. The gala will raise funds to support Better Together’s mission of helping parents find employment and provide a loving, safe and supportive foundation for their children

Leoma

Lovegrove 30

Days of Ar t and Culture Give-Away

T h e R i v e r D i s t r i c t A l l i a n c e ( R D A ) h a s p a r t n e r e d w i t h t h e A l l i a n c e o f t h e A r t s t o c r e a t e a N E W p r o m ot i o n , 3 0 D a y s o f A r t & C u l t u r e , h e l d t h r o u g h o u t t h e m o n t h o f S e p t e m b e r i n t h e C i t y o f F o r t M y e r s . 3 0 D a y s o f A r t & C u l t u r e p a r t n e r s m o r e t h a n a d o z e n d i ff e r e n t a r t i s t s , m u s e u m s , t h e a t e r s , c u l t u r a l o r g a n i z at i o n s , a n d e v e n t s i n F o r t M y e r s t o s h o w c a s e t h e m a n y c u l t u r a l o f f e r i n g s t h r o u g h s p e c i a l p r o g r a m m i n g , d i sc o u n t s , a n d o n e - o f - a - k i n d e x p e r i e n c e s K i c k i n g o f f 3 0 D a y s o f A r t & C u l t u r e i s a s p e c i a l p r o m o t i o n w i t h r e n o w n e d a r t i s t L e o m a L o v e g r o v e F r o m S e p t 1 – 3 0 L o v e g r o v e w i l l c r e a t e 3 0 p i e c e s o f o r i g i n a l a r t w o r k t o b e p l a c e d t h r o u g h o u t d o w n t o w n i n s h o p s a n d a t t r a c t i o n s P a r t i c i p a n t s w i l l h a v e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o w i n t h i s o r i g i n a l a r t w o r k t h r o u g h a r a ff l e . E a c h d a y a n e w l o c a t i o n w i l l b e r e l e a s e d a n d p a rt i c i p a n t s c a n e n t e r t o w i n L o c a t i o n s c a n b e f o u n d o n t h e R D A w e b s i t e : w w w e x p l o r e f o r t m y e r s c o m L o v e g r o v e ’ s w e b s i t e : w w w l e o m a l o v e g r o v e s t o r e o r o n F a c e b o o k ( D o w n t o w n F o r t M y e r s a n d L e o m a L o v e g r o v e ) L o v e g r o v e p l a n s o n o p e n i n g h e r n e w 3 , 0 0 0 s q u a r e f o o t s t u d i o a n d g a l l e r y o n D e a n S t r e e t i n d o w n t o w n F o r t M y e r s l a t e r t h i s F a l l L o v e g r o v e i s a n i m p r e s s i o n i s t - e x p r e s s i o n i s t p a i n t e r k n o w n w o r l d w i d e f o r h e r v i v i d c o l o r f u l p a i n t i n g s 3 0 D a y s o f A r t & C u l t u r e b e g i n s S e p t e m b e r 1 a n d r u n s t h r o u g h S e p t e m b e r 3 0 F o r a c o m p l e t e l i s t i n g o f e v e n t s , d i s c o u n t s a n d g i v e a w a y s v i s i t w w w . e x p l o r ef o r t m y e r s c o m

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased at CaloosaSoundAmp com A selection of VIP, reserved seating, and general admission tickets will be available, ranging from $37 general admission (seat not provided) to $120 VIP on stage Concertgoers can enjoy food and drinks served inside Caloosa Sound Amphitheater; outside food, drinks, and coolers are prohibited Small lawn chairs and blankets are permitted in the general admission lawn area

For more information about the event, ticket availabili t y , a n d f u t u r e s h o w s c o m i n g t o C a l o o s a S o u n d Amphitheater, visit CaloosaSoundAmp com or follow along on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Faces of Pace Celebration & Gala to benefit Pace programs in Lee County on Oct. 21

Pace Center for Girls, Lee will host its Faces of Pace Celebration & Gala on Saturday, Oct 21, from 6 to 10 p m at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center & Amphitheater, at 1375 Monroe St Fort Myers

The gala will feature dinner, dancing and live music by Bay Kings Band, as well as a spirited live auction with proceeds benefiting Pace programs and services Recognizing all the Faces of Pace who have played an integral part of the center’s mission to change the lives of girls and young women, the evening will include messages from founding members and alumni of Pace Lee

Presented by B&I Contractors, a range of sponsorship opportunities are still available for the gala, including the Creating Partnerships sponsor at $10,000, Invest in the Future sponsor at $7,500, Focus on Strengths sponsor at $5,000, Honor the Female Spirit table sponsor at $1,500 and in-kind sponsorships

The signature event is led by co-chairs Noelle Casagrande and Lt Angelo Vaughn with honorary chair Sandy Stilwell Youngquist B&I Contractors is the gala’s title sponsor

The Wizard of Oz-themed gala will take guests on a magical journey to the wonderful land of better families and better jobs with an evening of dinner, impactful stories and live and silent auctions, with all proceeds to benefit Better Together programs that serve families across the state The event is chaired by Dr Alise and David Bartley

Better Together is made up of two programs – Better Families and Better Jobs – that help parents who are going through a hard time to 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 Established in Southwest Florida just over five years ago, the nonprofit’s programming has rapidly expanded to reach families in 21 counties across the state To date, the organization has served over 7,800 children and kept 98% of families together, while helping 39,000 job seekers across 22 states find employment

The gala will be held at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point, 5001 Coconut Rd , Bonita Springs and tickets are $350 per person and $2,500 for tables of eight To purchase tickets or for more information, visit BetterTogetherUS org/Gala

PET PALS

Two Goofy dogs!

By ISABELLE WELLS Co-founder of the Find a Home, Give a Home pet rescue organization of Fort Myers Beach

Meet Emi

Emi is a Chinese Sharpei female who is only 8 months old and so cute and a little timid then warms up very quickly with other dogs She is stunning and very sweet She is AKC registered and will melt your heart Emi was rescued from a breeder and is now a happy girl who loves to play If you are interested in adopting a goofy girl please text or call Isabelle at 239-281-0739

Handsome Dolce

I have had the pleasure of being Dolce’s foster mom for four days now I have had Golden Retrievers all my life and it needs to be said right away that this is a VERY SPECIAL GR PUPPY Golden’s are known to be great dogs because they are very loyal, loving and even tempered They are great family dogs and do well with children and other pets Dolce is all that and more He chooses to sit right beside you, covers you with kisses, and loves to bring you your shoes. Dolce is very smart and doing well with house training, crate training, walking on a lead, sitting

for treats and coming when called Dolce is up to date with vaccinations and is on heartworm, flea and tick medication

We need fosters and transpor ters to help with many dogs.

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

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

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

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

Donations always needed

By Jo Knobloch Saveourstraysfmb@yahoo com

Founder of Save Our Strays Cat Rescue

a 501c3 organization on Fort Myers Beach

W e a r e g o i n g t h r o u g h a l o t o f k i t t e n f o o d a n d c a n a l w a y s u s e d o n a t i o n s T h e r e a r e d o n a t i o n b i n s a t t h e t w o P e t S u p e r m a r k e t s t o r e s t h a t w e w o r k w i t h , o n e o n S a n C a r l o s B o u l e v a r d , a n d t h e o t h e r a t t h e c o r n e r o f C o l l e g e P a r k w a y a n d U S 4 1 W e a l s o a l w a y s h a v e a d u l t c a t s o r k i t t e n s a t t h e s t o r e s f o r a d o p t i o n

W e n e e d h e l p w i t h f e e d i n g t h e I a n s u rv i v o r s o n F o r t M y e r s B e a c h I f y o u c a n d o n a t e f o o d o r h e l p w i t h t h e f e e d i n g o n c e o r t w i c e a w e e k , p l e a s e c a l l 2 3 9 - 8 5 1 - 3 4 8 5 P l e a s e c a l l u s i f y o u a r e f e e d i n g a n y f r i e n d l y s t r a y s o n y o u r p r o p e r t y a s t h e y c o u l d b e c a t s t h a t w e r e l o s t i n t h e h u r r i c a n e a n d b e l o n g t o s o m e o n e W e s t i l l h a v e m a n y t h a t a r e m i s s i n g . A l s o , a l w a y s b e o n t h e l o o k o u t f o r k i t t e n s a s w e n e e d t o g e t t h e m w h e n t h e y a r e y o u n g T h e y n e e d t o b e v e tt e d a n d f i x e d b e f o r e t h e y c a n g o t o a n y h o m e s a n d s h o u l d n o t b e g i v e n a w a y f r e e a s t h e y m a y n o t g e t t h e v e t c a r e n e e d e d p l u s s p a y e d o r n e u t e r e d s o t h e y d o n o t m u l t i p l y

Ginger is a female diluted calico She had three kittens, Amber, Sunrise and Peaches Ginger is young, not more than one year old She is very sweet and ready for adoption and has been spayed so no more kittens for her Sunrise is a Torti Shell 11-week-old female kitten She has a unique peach stripe down the front of her face Sunrise is very playful and enjoys running with her two litter mates She and her siblings are ready for pre-adoption as will be spayed and neutered in the next few weeks

Emi

Dolce

SPORTS & RECREATION

Mussels finish 2023 season with 67-64 record

FORT MYERS – Walker Jenkins finished his season with two more hits and one RBI in the season finale Sunday, but the Mighty Mussels fell 5-3 to the Bradenton Marauders at Hammond Stadium.

Since his promotion to Single-A on Aug 23, Jenkins slashed 392/ 446/ 608 with one homer, 10 RBI and three triples over 12 games played In the process, he struck out just six times amongst 56 plate appearances (10 7%)

With no score in the top of the fourth, the Marauders (7654, 41-24) loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batter With one out in the inning, reliever Develson Aria sent a wild pitch to the back stop that scored Lonnie White Jr to put Bradenton up 1-0 After a walk to Kalae Harrison, Esmerlyn Valdez sent a roller to short After the Mussels (67-64, 33-32) recorded one out on a force play at second, Yohander Martinez’s relay to first was wide and went into the first base dugout to push across two more runs for the Marauders to make it 3-0

In the bottom of the fifth, Ricardo Olivar doubled to the wall in left with two outs The next hitter was Nate Baez, who sent a sharp liner to center to score Olivar and make it 3-1

In the bottom of the seventh, Jay Harry led off with a single to center Jenkins followed with a ringing triple to right center to cut the deficit to 3-2 With the tying run 90 feet away, Olivar proceeded to send a sacrifice fly to right to tie the game at 3-3

The Marauders answered back immediately in the top of the eighth when Enmanuel Terrero singled and Charles McAdoo doubled to begin the frame With no outs, Omar Alfonzo lifted a sacrifice fly to left that gave Bradenton a 4-3 lead. On the play, McAdoo advanced to third, allowing him to score on a sacrifice fly from Kalae Harrison that extended the lead 5-3

Despite the loss, the Mussels completed their third consecutive winning season under manager Brian Meyer, racing to the finish line with a record of 17-8 in their final 25 games

Stay tuned to MightyMussels com for the reveal of the 2024 schedule as well as the announcement of upcoming events and promotions

Marauders claim

Saturday showdown, 5-4

FORT MYERS – The Mighty Mussels’ pitching staff a l l o w e d j u s t t h r e e h i t s S a t u r d a y , b u t t h e B r a d e n t o n Marauders edged Fort Myers 5-4 at Hammond Stadium

The Mussels’ (67-63, 33-31) bullpen was stout as Danny Moreno, Major-League rehabber Jorge Alcala, Xander Hamilton, and Juan Mendez combined for five hitless innings The quartet allowed just one run while fanning seven Marauders (75-54, 40-24) hitters in the process

With no score in the bottom of the second, Alec Sayre reached on an error and Kyle Schmidt walked with one out After inclement weather delayed the game for half an hour, Gregory Duran walked to load the bases loaded for Dillon Tatum, who drew ball four to force in the game’s first run The next hitter was Yohander Martinez, who rolled a single to center to score Schmidt and make it 2-0 Mussels Walker Jenkins kept the line moving with a line-drive single to left that pushed the lead to 3-0 Still with one out in the frame, Danny De Andrade sent a sacrifice fly to right to bring home Tatum and make it 4-0 Fort Myers

In the top of the fourth, Charles McAdoo singled before Kalae Harrison walked After both runners stole second and third, Esmerlyn Valdez shot a triple to deep right center to cut the deficit to 4-2 Javier Rivas followed with a bloop single to center that cut the Mussels’ lead to one run After a walk and wild pitch pushed Rivas to third, Mitch Jebb lifted a sacrifice fly to left that tied the game at 4-4

In the top of the ninth, Javier Rivas walked and stole second to begin the inning After a groundout advanced him to third, Jebb sent another sacrifice fly to right to give the Marauders the lead and cap scoring at 5-4.

Grab those drivers and iron golf clubs out of the bag and join the fun for the Gulf Coast Humane Society’s Top Golf Tournament, Sunday, Sept 17, f r o m 1 - 5 p m a t T o p Golf in Fort Myers, located at 2021 Topgolf Way

N o m a t t e r h o w y o u fair in the tee box, your p a r t i c i p a t i o n w i l l b e a w i n n e r f o r t h e G C H S shelter animals, with the T o p G o l f T o u r n a m e n t being one of the shelter’s biggest fundraisers of the year

For the last stretch run to the big event, GCHS is offering a price reduction of $200 on the traditional bays (which suits six golfers) to drop the registration fee to $600! This is to help ensure a sell out of the bays, going by the adage of “The more, the merrier!”

This package includes six players, access to the Fajita Fiesta buffet and three hours of unlimited golf play

This year, there is a new VIP Experience for $1,500 per bay The VIP Experience will include six players with access to comfy couches in each bay, a premium top shelf open bar, exclusive Fajita Fiesta buffet and three hours of unlimited gameplay

But the VIP Experience is limited to 10 bays, so it is urged to potential teams to register as soon as possible

Each team is also able to register up to two extra guests to join The cost for VIP guests is $100 (which includes the buffet and open premium bar) and $50 for

non-VIP (which includes the buffet)

“Last year, everyone had a great time at the Top G o l f T o u r n a m e n t a n d i t b e c a m e a n i m p o r t a n t fundraiser for the shelter,” said GCHS executive director Gary Willoughby “We are expanding the event this time around to add more enjoyment and hopefully raise more funds for the shelter animals.”

Sign up today here: https://bit ly/47hWpnI or visit https://gulfcoasthumanesociety org/events/

There will be plenty of extracurricular fun, including raffle prizes and a silent auction Prizes will also be won by participating golfers.

Sponsorships are available for the event Please c o n t a c t L o r i B u r k e a t lori@gulfcoasthumanesociety org or (239) 332-0364 ext 321 for more information

Shoot an ace for the GCHS shelter animals by competing in the Top Golf Tournament! Sign up today h e r e : h t t p s : / / b i t . l y / 4 7 h W p n I o r v i s i t h t t p s : / / g u l fcoasthumanesociety org/events/

About Gulf Coast Humane Society:

Gulf Coast Humane Society is a regional organization dedicated to helping companion pets find their forever homes, no matter how long it takes GCHS provides an adoption center, spay-neuter and veterinary clinic, as well as education and awareness to the public about the welfare of homeless pets

GCHS’ mission is to care for companion pets in need by offering safe refuge, providing medical care and facilitating adoptions. GCHS promotes the concept the “Adopt, Don’t Shop” and help educate the community about proper and responsible animal care, while providing quality, affordable veterinary care

To learn more about GCHS, visit its website at www.gulfcoasthumanesociety.org.

n W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , S e p t e m b e r 1 3 , 2 0 2 3 f o r t m y e r s b e a c h t a l k . c o m F o r t M y e r s B e a c h O b s e r v e r