Fort Myers Beach Observer/The Beach Bulletin

In wake of Helene, town issues permit alert

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

W

Helene underway, Town of Fort Myers Beach government officials issued an alert to its residents: Get permits before you do your work

On Saturday, the town sent out an alert through its email blasts stating that doing repair work without a permit is illegal

Yet just what work needs permits and what doesn’t, was not spelled out in the alert that was emailed to residents and

posted on the town’s website The message said residents should contact town hall if they have any questions

That left some residents wondering if work they had already started needed permits or not

Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt said he had received a question from a resident wondering if replacing drywall needed a permit

“I called Frankie Kropacek from the Town who oversees permitting,” Atterholt said “Frankie told me that the answer to

that question is an absolute yes Permits are required for drywall and drywall repairs ”

B

Kropacek and Town of Fort Myers

immediately respond to questions concerning the permitting requirements

The homes of residents throughout the town were flooded by Hurricane Helene

sewage intrusion Residents have been busy cleaning and throwing out debris yet the town will not begin picking up debris

St orm surge overwhelms

Fort M yers Beach

until Friday

Fort Myers Beach will be mobilizing disaster recovery providers Tetra Tech and Crowder for Hurricane Helene debris pickup

According to Fort Myers Beach Public Information Officer Nicole Berzin, the contractors will be picking up construction debris, electronic waste, vegetation and appliances The town is requesting that all four types of debris be separated in different piles

H e l e n e b r o u g h t

b a c k c r u e l m e m o r i e s o f t h e l a t -

t e r s t o r m a s i t s s t o r m s u r g e

s e n t w a v e s f r o m t h e G u l f o f

M e x i c o a c r o s s E s t e r o

B o u l e v a r d T h u r s d a y a n d o v e r -

w h e l m e d r e s i d e n t i a l s t r e e t s

M a n y h o m e s w e r e f l o o d e d

w i t h t h r e e t o f i v e f e e t o f w a t e r ,

l e a v i n g r e s i d e n t s d i g g i n g t h e

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

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

h o m e s a f t e r n e a r i n g t h e c o m -

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

d a y s b e f o r e H e l e n e s t r u c k .

O n e p e r s o n h a d t o b e r e s -

c u e d f r o m t h e i r h o m e b y t h e

L e e C o u n t y S h e r i f f ’ s O f f i c e

d u r i n g t h e h e i g h t o f s t o r m

s u r g e l a t e T h u r s d a y n i g h t I n

d r a m a t i c v i d e o f o o t a g e

C a r o l i n a Av e n u e o n F o r t Myers Beach as the storm

s u r g e o v e r w h e l m e d t h e streets of Fort Myers Beach Thursday evening PHOTO BY SUZAN CONKLIN

Show goes on at Pink Shell

By NATHAN MAYBERG

nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Just call it the house of miracles The Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina pulled off its Island Hopper Songwriter f e

y music star Scotty McCreery without a hitch Sunday, just two and a half days after Hurricane Helene walloped Fort Myers Beach and left the beachfront resort’s pool full of sand and its hallways full of water

By Sunday, the pool was as good as new with revelers flocking to the scenic outdoor pool to enjoy the concert The hotel’s lobby and halls had been cleaned up and the iconic resort was in remarkably fine shape as if nothing happened

“It was tight It was a monumental effort,” Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina General Manager Bill Waichulis said Waichulis credited roughly 300 resort employees “working around the clock to get it cleaned up ”

Waichulis and his staff have performed miracles at the resort before After Hurricane Ian, the hotel was able to open up in surprisingly short order to welcome in emergency responders and government agency workers to stay on the island during the recovery

On Sunday, the Pink Shell Beach Resort looked almost like a scene out of the board game Candyland, with hot pink water flowing out of a pink waterfall below the hotel’s scenic staircase

Waichulis said staff had to pump out the water from the pool and shovel out 34 inches of sand and muck The beach in front of the resort had just undergone a r e n o u r i

Hurricane Helene The pool then had to be power washed and filled with water again

See STORM SURGE, page 11 See SHOW, page 22 See HELENE, page 16

OPINIONS

Advertising

lmcelhaney@breezenewspapers

Why everyone should be Mad About Hunger

Did you know that in the United States, one in eight households and one in six households with children are struggling with food insecurity?

That’s a staggering 40% increase since 2021, as reported by the Food Research & Action Center

For 40 years, Community Cooperative has been at the forefront of the fight against hunger and homelessness in Southwest Florida Our commitment and hard work have made a profound difference in the lives of countless individuals and families But we need the community’s help to continue this crucial mission!

At Community Cooperative, our impact to Southwest Florida in 2023 included:

- 113,000 Meals on Wheels delivered to elderly, disabled, and ill clients who are homebound

- 54,000 individual people provided with essential assistance

- 265,000 meals cooked and served at Sam’s Community Cafe and Kitchen

- 2 million pounds of emergency food distributed to those in need

- 41,000 hours generously donated by over 2,000 active volunteers

Despite significant effort, the challenges

s o m e o f t h e m o s t i m p o r t a n t W h a t w e h a v e

s e e n i n r e c e n t y e a r s , h o w e v e r , i s a d e d i c a t -

e d , w e l l - f u n d e d e f f o r t b y t h e f a r - r i g h t

M A G A m o v e m e n t t o p o l i t i c i z e i n s t i t u t i o n s t h a t h a v e t r a d i t i o n a l l y , a n d f o r g o o d r e a -

s o n s , b e e n n o n p a r t i s a n T h e T r u m p a d m i n i s t r a t i o n s u c c e e d e d i n

p o l i t i c i z i n g t h e C D C , w i t h t h e r e s u l t t h a t t o d a y r e c e i v i n g a v a c c i n a t i o n i s a p o l i t i c a l

s t a t e m e n t W h o a m o n g u s d o u b t s t h a t t h e

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

e v i d e n c e o r w h a t ’ s b e s t f o r t h e c o u n t r y ,

b u t o n n a r r o w p o l i t i c a l a g e n d a s ? S o m e j u s -

t i c e s d o n ’ t e v e n s t r i v e f o r t h e a p p e a r a n c e

o f n e u t r a l i t y a n y m o r e

N o w p u b l i c e d u c a t i o n i s i n t h e

have been mounting The pandemic and Hurricane Ian intensified the demand for our services, and while emergency donations throughout those events have dwindled, the need in 2024 is greater than ever Food costs have surged nearly 16% since 2022, and with the rising cost of living and lack of affordable housing, our community’s need for support is skyrocketing

Feeding America reports that two-thirds of food banks are struggling to keep up with the increased demand

Many people are aware of Community Cooperative as the Soup Kitchen, but we do so much more

Every day, our dedicated team begins their work at 4:45 a m , preparing over 1,000 meals. This includes delivering Meals on Wheels to 32 routes across Southwest Florida, serving breakfast, lunch, and snacks to six partner schools, and preparing a hot midday meal for anyone in need Our volunteers and staff also run mobile food pantries to reach the farthest corners of our region and manage the Community Market at the Community Cooperative where clients can pick up food for their families

Our Social & Education Resources Center helps people with a safety net by providing lifesaving services to meet the most basic needs for

Letters to the Editor

c r o s s h a i r s U n d e r t h e f a l s e f l a g o f “ p a r e n t a l r i g h t s ” t h e M A G A m o v e m e n t

h a s p e r s u a d e d s c h o o l b o a r d s t o b a n b o o k s ,

e m b r a c e c e n s o r s h i p a n d c u r t a i l t h e F i r s t

A m e n d m e n t r i g h t s o f t e a c h e r s a n d s t u -

d e n t s N o w , w i t h A m e n d m e n t 1 o n t h e b a l -

l o t i n N o v e m b e r , t h e y w a n t t o m a k e e l e c -

t i o n s f o r s c h o o l b o a r d , h i t h e r t o n o n p a r t i -

s a n c o n t e s t s , i n t o p a r t i s a n a f f a i r s T h i s i s a

t h o r o u g h l y b a d i d e a t h a t s h o u l d b e r e j e c te d b y v o t e r s

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

b o a r d c a n d i d a t e i n d i c a t i n g a p o l i t i c a l p e r -

s p e c t i v e a b o u t e d u c a t i o n a l i s s u e s b y i n d i -

c a t i n g p a r t y a l i g n m e n t ? T h e d a n g e r i s i n t h e d e t a i l s . F l o r i d a i s a c l o s e d p r i m a r y

s t a t e w h e r e o n l y r e g i s t e r e d m e m b e r s o f a

p o l i t i c a l p a r t y c a n v o t e i n t h e p r i m a r y a n d

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

p a r t y T h e r e a r e r o u g h l y f o u r m i l l i o n N P A

( N o P o l i t i c a l A f f i l i a t i o n ) v o t e r s i n F l o r i d a w h o w o u l d b e e x c l u d e d f r o m v o t i n g i n a

c l o s e d p r i m a r y S c h o o l b o a r d e l e c t i o n s ,

e s p e c i a l l y i n L e e C o u n t y , a r e o f t e n d e c i d -

e d i n t h e p r i m a r y P a r t i s a n s c h o o l b o a r d

our neighbors going through crises

We could not help our community without the important components outlined in our name: Community and Cooperative, which means mutual assistance in working toward a common goal Cooperative fundraising, food donations and volunteering is what supports our neighbors To keep providing these vital services, we need to grow our support network

You can make a tangible impact by attending or sponsoring our upcoming fundraisers including our Becoming Cosmopolitan: Mad About Hunger event on Oct 15, and our annual Soup Kitchen Benefit each spring Your participation and support will directly provide the resources we need to continue our work

As one of our founders, the late Sam Galloway, passionately stated, “We need to serve food, and that’s what our charge is Serve food to hungry people That’s something I want to see go on and never stop, because hunger is never going to stop ”

Please join us in this urgent mission. Your support is critical to ensuring that we can continue to serve those who need us most Together, we can make a difference and keep Sam’s fight against hunger and homelessness going

Stefanie Ink Edwards leads Community Cooperative as its CEO For information on upcoming events, volunteering opportunities, donations, and other ways you can get involved, please visit CommunityCooperative com

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

b e r s o f v o t e r s

N o n p a r t i s a n s c h o o l b o a r d s a r e l i k e l y t o b e m o d e r a t e a n d o p e n t o c o l l a b o r a t i o n a n d c o m p r o m i s e , n o t d r i v e n b y n a r r o w p o l i t ic a l a g e n d a s P a r t i s a n b o a r d m e m b e r s m a y m a k e d e c i s i o n s n o t b a s e d o n a d v o c a c y f o r t e a c h e r a n d s t u d e n t w e l f a r e b u t b a s e d o n t h e “ p a r t y l i n e ” S u c h d e c i s i o n s c o u l d l e a d t o p o l a r i z a t i o n a n d d i s c o n t e n t a m o n g p a re n t s P o l i t i c a l l y c h a r g e d e n v i r o n m e n t s c r ea t e f e a r a n d d i v i s i o n w h i c h a r e n o t c o nd u c i v e t o g o o d e d u c a t i o n a l o u t c o m e s L e g i s l a t i o n p a s s e d i n 2 0 2 3 p e r m i t s c a nd i d a t e s f r o m o u t s i d e o u r c o u n t y t o r u n f o r o u r l o c a l s c h o o l b o a r d . T h e y n e e d t o m o v e o n l y i f t h e y a r e e l e c t e d N o n - r e s i d e n t p a rt i s a n c a n d i d a t e s a r e l i k e l y t o b e u n f a m i l i

Stephanie Inks Edwards

Shell Factory leaves its mark

By MEGHAN MCCOY news@breezenewspapers com

After 86 years of serving the community as a familyfriendly, entertainment destination, the Shell Factory & Nature Park closed Sunday

Established in North Fort Myers in 1938, the 18-acre, old-Florida roadside attraction has entertained multiple generations with amusement-style rides, arcade games, miniature golf, 50,000 square feet of gift shops, a 4 5acre nature park with over 400 animals, birds, reptiles and fish and much more Despite efforts to find a buyer to take over the park’s expansive operations, long-time owner Pam Cronin, who has worked tirelessly to preserve the property and its proud traditions for the past 27 years, has made the difficult decision to close the Shell Factory and sell the property.

“This has been an incredibly hard decision for me, and one that was not made lightly, as the Shell Factory has been such a big part of the community and my life for many decades,” said Cronin “We are so proud of the countless joyous experiences that the Shell Factory has provided for residents and visitors of our community, as children and families have laughed aboard the bumper boats, tried a round of mini-golf, flew on the zipline, learned about our loveable animals, enjoyed delicious food and sweet treats, discovered many unique treasures from our store and so much more ”

In 1997, Cronin and her late husband, Tom, took the helm of the property when it was under foreclosure and lovingly transformed it from a roadside tourist spot to a sought-out destination for locals, seasonal residents and tourists Over the years, the couple made extensive investments and upgrades to the property, created the Nature Park, an animal rescue, and founded The Nature Park Environmental Education Foundation, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization The property has two restaurants, the Southern Grill and Tommy’s Outdoor Café Adjacent to the restaurant is The Carousel Cabaret (an outlet for

community involvement in the arts), a small venue, host to weddings, events and receptions of all kinds The park has also supported many local nonprofits by serving as the host venue for countless fundraisers and events that rallied the community together in support of important community, animal and wildlife missions

Throughout the years, the couple worked to overcome hardships including hurricanes, the recession, financial challenges and fires After her husband’s passing, Cronin continued to own and operate the Shell Factory, leading

the organization through the impacts of the pandemic and multiple hurricanes However, with any property that is over 86 years old and of this magnitude, ongoing maintenance and necessary repairs are costly While Cronin has made significant investments to sustain the Shell Factory’s continued operations, the sad reality is that the park is no longer viable in its current form

“This is an unfortunate, yet natural evolution that we have seen countless old Florida roadside attractions like ours face. Many other classic tourist destinations that were once booming have come and gone over the years,” Cronin said “Having witnessed these changes within our industry, I feel proud that the Shell Factory has achieved such a long-lasting, 86-year history that has touched the lives of so many, and I’m grateful for the incredible journey and enduring legacy we leave behind ”

Cronin is dedicated to supporting the employees during this transition and ensuring they have access to the resources and assistance they need, as well as working collaboratively with wildlife officials to safely re-home the park’s 400-plus animals

Recognizing the connection between the Shell Factory and the greater community, Cronin wishes to leave a legacy of happy memories shared at the Shell Factory on Facebook com/ShellFactoryNaturePark using the hashtag #MyShellFactoryMemories

“On behalf of our entire team at the Shell Factory, we are deeply grateful for the unwavering support and cherished memories created by our visitors, employees and community members throughout the years, including many who have cherished their own childhood memories at the Shell Factory and gone on to create new memories with their children and grandchildren in these same beloved spaces,” said Cronin. “While we bid farewell to this chapter, the Shell Factory team remains committed to preserving the rich legacy of our landmark and exploring ways to honor its history and impact on the community ”

FILE PHOTO BY VALARIE HARRING

Pam Cronin stands in front of the Shell Factory sign pre-Hurricane Ian.

Spirit of Children Campaign supports patients at Golisano Children’s Hospital

STAFF REPORT

Spirit Halloween’s Spirit of Children campaign is bringing smiles and crucial support to child patients at Golisano Children’s Hospital Through Oct 31, Spirit customers can donate or round up their purchase at checkout with 100% of proceeds going to the Golisano Children’s Hospital Child Life program. In addition, Spirit Halloween will provide costumes, decorations, and crafts for a special Halloweenthemed party for hospitalized children

Shoppers can also present a coupon for 10% off their total purchase at participating locations, and Spirit Halloween will donate 10% back to Golisano

redeemed at the following locations:

∫ Naples: Ridgeport Plaza, 5351 N Airport Pulling Road ; Gateway Shops, 13595 Tamiami Trail N.

∫ Port Charlotte: Former Winn Dixie, 3280 Tamiami Trail

∫ Estero: Miromar Outlets, 10801 Corkscrew Rd ; Coconut Point, 8020 Mediterranean Drive

“We feel a deep sense of pride and privilege in our ability to support the critical work of child life specialists at 161 partner hospitals across North America through Spirit of Children,” said Rick Tereo, director of Spirit of Children Foundation “Our efforts help these teams provide therapeutic healing, emotional support and education that equip young patients with the coping skills they need, while doctors and nurses focus on medical treatment ”

Since 2007, Spirit Halloween has donated more than $471,000 to Golisano Children’s Hospital Child Life program These dedicated professionals use evidence-based techniques, such as medical play and therapeutic disciplines, to bring joy and comfort to hospitalized kids and their families, helping normalize their hospital experience

“Through the Spirit of Children campaign, our Child Life team is able to ease the fears of our young patients,” said Michele King, director of Child Life Advocacy at Golisano Children’s Hospital. “These generous contributions allow us to make a meaningful impact in the hospital every day ”

About Spirit of Children

At the heart of Spirit Halloween is Spirit of Children, a program which focuses on making hospitals less scary for kids and their families Since its creation in 2007 Spirit of Children has raised more than $127 million for the Child Life department at hospitals across the United States and Canada For more i n f o r m a t i o n , p l e a s

n .com.

Snug Harbor, Wahoo Willies reopen after hurricane

Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant (left) and Wahoo Willies (right) both have reopened on Fort Myers Beach after being shuttered due to Hurricane Helene.

Managing Partner Peter Ennis said Monday that the restaurants

“Took on some water Lots of mud, tons of help on Friday to clean up Both back up and running ” PHOTOS PROVIDED

Senator Scott visits Fort Myers Beach

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

U S Sen Rick Scott, R-FL, visited Fort Myers Beach Sunday as part of a tour of counties throughout Florida hit by Hurricane Helene

In an exclusive interview with the Fort Myers Beach Observer, Scott said he would be working with FEMA to get Fort Myers Beach aid to help with its ongoing stormwater drainage issues Scott said he is hopeful FEMA will provide the assistance Fort Myers Beach needs

“Fort Myers Beach has had consistent issues,” Scott said

“You have businesses and families impacted by Ian, Debby and now Helene,” he said “Clearly, more investment is needed to make sure we have better drainage ” Scott said he would be working with FEMA to come up with more funding for mitigation assistance, and for housing and the Small Business Administration loan program

Scott said there are also programs offered by the U S Army Corps of Engineers Fort Myers Beach that the town could tap into to build dune systems and rebuild dunes that have been lost Scott said he would be working on making sure the federal agencies had the resources to help communities recover from Hurricane Helene

Scott met with Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno, Congressman Byron Donalds, Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers, Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt and other local officials during his tour or Fort Myers Beach Sunday

“This was just a devastating storm for our state,” Scott said

“While Hurricane Helene made landfall hundreds of miles north of Lee County in the Big Bend, communities here still experienced feet of devastating storm surge that caused significant damage to homes and businesses,” Scott said “Many folks are still recovering from Hurricane Ian and Helene has only made that work more difficult.”

During a press conference Sunday on Fort Myers Beach, Scott spoke about how many storms have been hitting Florida in recent years

“We all watched, and we said ‘Oh it’s a category 1 that

doesn’t sound very bad and now it’s a category 3 ’ It’s really not the categories anymore The wind is not what’s killing us It’s the water that’s killing us It just comes in a wave,” Scott said

Scott also said Fort Myers Beach was “resilient” and that it was important for local restaurants and tourist spots to continue getting tourists back to protect jobs

“My heart goes out to all the Floridians impacted by this storm and I’m working every day with local, state, and federal partners, like FEMA and the Small Business Administration to coordinate resources and direct assistance to those in need,” Scott said “Floridians are resilient, and

while so many families are facing unimaginable loss, I will stand alongside them every step of the way as they recover, and I will fight for every federal resource they need to do so ” Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno, who spoke at a press conference on Fort Myers Beach with Sen Scott, said his department responded to more than 100 calls during Hurricane Helene countywide That included a rescue operation on Fort Myers Beach in which deputies went through knee-high water on rescue boats through streets that had flooded from San Carlos Boulevard to Estero Boulevard.

See SCOTT, page 9

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF RICK SCOTT

Beach Living

T

h e F l o r i d a D e p a r t m e n t o f

Environmental Protection announced that Lovers Key State Park on Fort Myers Beach will present weekly programs on nature, park history and w i l d l i f e t h r o u g h o u t t h e m o n t h o f August The park is located at 8500 Estero Blvd

Space is limited for all events; reservations are required To register, visit the Friends of Lovers Key’s Eventbrite page: https://bit ly/FOLKS-Events

The park offers many recreational opportunities for visitors with disabilities For accommodations assistance, please contact the park office at 239-707-6328

Programs include:

∫ Friday, Sept 20 at 10 a m

Walk on the Wild Side

Program is free with paid park entry

Join a park ranger for a guided hike along our Black

Island Trail Learn about the fascinating vegetation and wildlife that reside in our maritime hammock ecosystem and enjoy a little local history along the way Closed-toe shoes, sunscreen, bug spray, and water bottles are highly recommended Space is limited; reservations are required To register, visit https://bit ly/FOLKS-Events

∫ Friday, Oct 4 at 10 a m

Beach and Estuary Walk Program is free with paid park entry

Join a park ranger for a leisurely hike along the beach and estuary shorelines of Lovers Key Discover the natural beauty of both ecosystems as you encounter the seashells, crustaceans, birds, and other creatures that reside amongst these waterways Space is limited; reservations are required To register, visit https://bit ly/FOLKS-Events

∫ Thursday, Oct 10 at 8:15 a m

Lovers Key Garden Club Workday

Park entry fee is waived for participants

Join a park ranger to help maintain Lovers Key’s native pollinator garden Weeding, pruning, and planting are all on the table at a garden club workday, and we welcome both beginner and expert gardeners to participate Closed-toe shoes are required, and work gloves, hand clippers, water bottles, sunscreen, bug spray, kneeling pads, and hats are highly recommended Space is limited;

https://bit.ly/FOLKS-Events.

∫ Friday, Oct 11 at 10:00 a m

Seashell Walk

Program is free with paid park entry

Join a park ranger for a relaxing hike along the Lovers Key shoreline Learn the names of the seashells that wash ashore at the park, fun facts about the creatures who craft them, and the shelling regulations that help protect these iconic Florida treasures Space is limited; reservations are required To register, visit https://bit ly/FOLKSEvents

Mound House Events Schedule

o n n e c t i c u t

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Mooring field rates to increase

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

The cost to dock at the Fort Myers Beach Mooring Field will increase from $25 to $30 a day while those who cancel their reservations could now expect to see $50 cancellation fees or no refund at all, following a fee schedule discussion in front of the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council Monday at its budget hearing

Harbor Master Curtis Ludwig introduced the rate increase, which had been previously discussed with council as well as with the town’s anchorage advisory committee

The town will eliminate its weekly rate while keeping the monthly rate of $410 the same

The town council also approved a new mooring field cancellation policy, instituting a new rule that users must cancel their reservations 30 days in advance or will not receive a refund For reservations canceled within 30 days, there will be a $50 cancellation fee

The credit card processing fee had been proposed by Ludwig to change from 3.5% to a $5 flat fee but this was shot down by the council, with councilmembers arguing that the town would lose out on revenue by moving to the

Scott

From page 7

After Scott and Sen Marco Rubio sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Saturday urging his immediate approval of a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of Florida, President Biden approved the request. This Major Disaster Declaration approval follows last week’s approval of the State of Florida’s request for a pre-landfall emergency declaration

Scott urged Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to immediately reconvene the Senate and vote on a Hurricane Helene supplemental aid package once FEMA and

flat fee

Councilmember Scott Safford said the town would be losing out on revenue since a credit card processing fee of 3 5% on a monthly rate of $410 would mean roughly $14 to the town rather than the $5 flat fee “You’re leaving some money on the table there,” Safford said

At Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Andy Hyatt’s suggestion, the council agreed to keep the processing fee of 3 5% with a minimum of $5

Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt suggested the town consider charging variable rates by location at the mooring field, as some members of the anchorage advisory committee proposed

Lugwig said he wants to try daily rate change first though he acknowledged there was a demand for the front of the mooring field Ludwig said a location-based charge would be looked at again in the future, along with the size of boats

“We are kind of at the bottom end of competition,” Ludwig said

At an anchorage advisory committee meeting in August, board member Jim Hockett said the town’s rates were in line with others in the region “We are pretty

local and state officials determine the funding need

“What I have seen, from the catastrophic damage in Cedar Key, to the massive destruction caused by unprecedented storm surge in communities from Fort Myers Beach to Siesta Key and Anna Maria Island and north to Pinellas, Pasco and Hernando counties is heartbreaking News reports of the devastation in Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and other communities impacted by Hurricane Helene are also devastating Floridians are resilient, but the response and

close to what other people are charging on the west coast,” Hockett said at the August

The anchorage advisory committee asked Ludwig in August if the town is on the wrong side of its budget, thus necessitating the changes to the rates

Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt said that the town’s mooring field is supposed to be “revenue neutral” and not a generator of income for the town

The town has raised its mooring field rates at least three times in the past eight years Back in 2016, the mooring field rate was $16 a day and $276 per month before being increased to $18 a day and $312 a month until being increased further to its current rates

Ludwig said he didn’t want to change the monthly rate because it would put the town out competition. “I think the $5 increase (per day) is fair,” he said “I think that would be a fair increase and a good start ”

Ludwig said last week the town could consider raising the monthly rate next year

The town council approved a $200,000 expansion of the mooring field, which is located in and around Matanzas Pass, in 2021 for 19 more mooring balls for a total of 89

recovery from this storm demands the full and immediate support of government at every level to get families and businesses back to normal ”

Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Dan Allers said “this is the third storm after Ian ” Allers said islanders “understand there are consequences sometimes to thing that are outside of your control Mother Nature can be very mean and very unpredictable ” Allers said his heart went out to those in northern Florida, Georgia and North Carolina dealing with tougher circumstances

after Hurricane Helene “We’re dealing with sand,” Allers said

“We will be there to support them like they were there to support us We will reach out to you to see if there is anything you need,” Allers said

Atterholt said he and other town officials pointed out to Scott and Donalds “the various cleanup efforts and discuss longer term infrastructure needs, like storm water drainage, that may require federal help ”

Candidates vie for Superintendent of Schools

Voters to decide post previously appointed by the Lee County School Board

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

For the first time since the 1970s, Lee County voters will elect the superintendent for the School District of Lee County

L e e C o u n t y v o t e r s a p p r o v e d t h e c h a n g e f r o m appointive post to elected office via a referendum in November of 2022 with the first race to be determined on Nov 5

The measure, which was placed on the ballot by the State Legislature and was opposed by the School Board of Lee County, passed with 62 15 percent of the voters in favor, making the superintendent’s post another elected constitutional office in Lee County as of the 2024 General Election.

The existing system of having the superintendent appointed by the School Board had been approved by Lee voters in 1974

The elected superintendent will serve a four-year term

T w o c a n d i d a t e s r u n n

Republican Denise Carlin and Democrat Victor Arias.

“This is the first time in 50 years that we get to elect a superintendent The voters in Lee County overwhelmingly voted in November 2022 to have an elected superintendent They demanded a change, and we have to get this right. We need to have someone in the role of superintendent that has the knowledge, background, and experience to get the job done,” Carlin said Arias said a change in direction is needed

“If we want to improve student achievement, retain/ recruit educators and have parents more actively participate in the education of their children, we cannot continue to direct the school district in the same direction and expect a different result Also, we have to bring the p a r e n t s , s t u d e n t s a n d e d u c a t o r s c l o s e r t o g e t h e r t o improve student achievement,” he said

Carlin, a Lee County resident of 55 years, was an educator for the Lee County School District for 32 years, serving as a teacher, an assistant principal, a principal, and a district administrator including chief of staff, said Lee County voters were unhappy with superintendents being appointed by the school board

“They wanted a superintendent that represented the conservative values of this community and who is accountable to the voters, not subservient to the school board While the average tenure of an appointed superintendent is two years, the elected superintendent will have a four-year term, which will provide stability of leadership to our school district If elected, this fouryear term will allow me the time required to accomplish my top priorities: ensuring safe and secure schools, i m p r o v i n g s t u d e n t a c h i e v e m e n t , i m p r o v i n g t e a c h e r retention and recruitment, ensuring fiscal responsibility, and empowering parents as our partners in education,” she said

Arias, who has lived in the county for more than 24 years, is the owner and managing attorney of The Arias Law Firm He said the elected superintendent position will be beneficial because the superintendent will be accountable directly with the voters

“In the past, the elected board members appointed the superintendent by doing local and national searches. After the local and national searches were made, most o f t h e s e l e c t e d a n d a p p o i n t m e n t s u p e r i n t e n d e n t s worked for the school district for a short time period

As a result, this lack of stability in the superintendent’s position impacted the school district negatively,” Arias said

Student achievement is among the first things Carlin said she will tackle, as it is an all-time low in the district She said the literacy rate of 10th graders is 46%, which means that fewer than half of the district’s 10th grade students are proficient in reading and writing

“Of the 10 largest school districts in Florida, only two districts’ literacy rates were lower,” Carlin said “Improved student achievement starts with having the best teachers educating our students Throughout this past school year, the school district has been short over 200 teachers I will immediately go to work on improving student achievement by ensuring that all classroom t e a c h e r s a r e i n s

Victor Arias

Seat sought: Superintendent of Lee County Schools Party: Democrat Age: 63

Education:

Occupation: Attorney

& C

Arias Law Firm, P A; B us

appl

to the

you are seeking: Former

than seven years with the L

District and the St Lucie C

y

c t combined; trained educators and other employees on school issues such as student discipline, school policies, and labor law

Length of residence in county: Since February 1999 Campaign website: www victor-arias com

1 ) Why are you running?

My interest in becoming Superintendent of Lee County Schools stems from my love of our children, and our community!

Our Lee County community is one of the most valuable parts of all our lives It is where we live, work, play, worship, sing, dance, fellowship, and where we raise our children! As we raise our children, EDUCATION is one of the most important training tools needed by parents and guardians to instill in the lives of our children An EDUCATION is the glue that mends their wonderful brains to all the various resources, information and school subjects they must learn in order to achieve

2 ) Top three issues.

Benchmarks My administration will also implement a comprehensive teacher retention and recruitment plan, which includes improving teachers’ compensation and improving working conditions by ensuring effective structures of support for student behavior ”

Carlin said while teachers do not go into education to get rich, their pay must be competitive with their neighboring school districts

“Right now, that is not the case Therefore, we will improve teachers’ compensation to ensure that it is competitive with other Southwest Florida school districts I will reduce our top-heavy district administration and reallocate those dollars to support students in classrooms and teachers’ compensation,” she said “My administration will ensure that effective structures of support for student behavior are in place, as too many teachers are leaving because the district’s support systems are inadequate to support students’ behavior I will also ensure that school leaders and teachers understand

Department of Education ”

Arias said to improve student achievement, he would immediately bridge the gap between parents, students, and teachers

“I believe there is a disconnect between parents, students, and teachers One example, the school district invested in a program called Focus for the parents to have access to the teachers and student reports This program has a lot of potential; however, the majority of the parents do not have access or were not taught how to use it I would improve the access to the Focus system and create locations at schools and other public places for them to learn how to properly access their child’s reports,” he said “Another example, currently, parents and their children, are waiting in long lines, in the hot sun waiting to register their children to attend

Denise Carlin

Seat sought: Superintendent of Lee County Schools Party: Republican Age: 57

Education: Bachelor’s

, Educational Leadership

B us i ne s

applicable to the office you are seeking: Served the School District of Lee County for 32 years as a teacher, an assistant principal, a principal, and a district administrator, including chief of staff serving in the No 2 position in the district, which included responsibilities for the daily operations of the district and oversight of the district’s $2 5 billion budget, in partnership with the Superintendent of Schools

Length of residence in county: I have lived in Lee County for 55 years

Campaign website: www DeniseCarlin com

1 ) Why are y o u runni ng ?

Superintendent of Schools to provide a high-quality education for every student I want to make our school district the best in the nation for academic excellence and college and career readiness and to ensure that our students have effective teachers in every classroom This past school year, the school district had some of the lowest student achievement rates out of the top-10

n deserve better In my administration, we will focus on our core mission of teaching and learning; and student achievement will improve 2 ) Top three issues.

I am committed to safe and secure schools, increased student achievement, and fiscal responsibility

school I would immediately make changes and have the parents wait inside a building and sit on chairs while they wait their turn to register As a result of these long lines, in the hot weather, this perpetuates the problem of parents continuing to lack of knowledge of how to access Focus Program, and in addition, creates poor attendance their children.”

Teacher retention is another area in which the candidates are looking to improve

Arias said he would build and strengthen partnerships with local businesses and schools

“As the superintendent, I would build and strengthen partnerships with local businesses, FGCU, FSW and add more resources to teacher training programs within the school district I am a business owner in Cape Coral for over 20 years and I believe that with my unique experience both within the school system and private business, I can bring all parties parents, students and educators together and get better results from the school system,” he said

Carlin also touched on the need to improve the classroom environment

“While teachers’ pay is an issue, working conditions are also important Our school district has one of the highest rates of violent and disruptive student behavior in the entire state When teachers cannot teach due to these types of disruptions, students cannot learn When teachers cannot teach or do not have a productive work environment, they leave In 2022, the district had 678 teachers leave the district The record before that was just under 500 teachers leaving in a single year. My administration will implement effective structures of support for student behavior, as teachers cannot teach, and students cannot learn in a disruptive learning environment,” she said

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PHOTO BY DAWN MILLER Bahia Via on Fort Myers Beach was battered again by flooding, this time after storm surge from Hurricane Helene

Lee Commissioners approve $5.7 million in beach and shoreline projects

The Lee County Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to authorize interlocal agreements to fund nine Lee County beach and shoreline projects using more than $5 7 million in Tourist Development Tax revenue

The interlocal agreements are between Lee County and the Barrier Island Parks Society, Captiva Erosion Prevention District, City of Cape Coral, City of Sanibel, Town of Fort Myers Beach and Florida Department of

Storm surge

From page 11

i a r e s i d e n t D a w n M i l l e r s a i d t h e w a t e r

w a s s t a r t i n g t o r e c e d e b y T h u r s d a y

a f t e r n o o n “ H o p e f u l l y i t d o e s n ’ t g o a n y h i g h e r

t h a n i t a l r e a d y h a s , ” M i l l e r s a i d

H o w e v e r , i t w a s t h e s t o r m s u r g e t h a t w o u l d d o t h e w o r s t d a m a g e T h u r s d a y n i g h t B y 6 : 3 0 p m , t h e d e l u g e w a s s o b a d f r o m t h e G u l f o f M e x i c o c r o s s i n g o v e r

Environmental Protection Commissioners approved the funding with the adoption of the fiscal year 2024-2025 budget and the agreements authorize the work and reimbursement of expenses

The projects primarily allow for maintenance of beach park facilities including public accesses, boardwalks, restrooms and equipment Beach and Shoreline project funding accounts for

26 4% of the proceeds from the Tourist Development Tax assessed on short-term lodging such as hotels, resorts and vacation rentals

The agreements are part of more than $11 7 million in projects using Tourist Development Taxes, including a $4 million allocation to the Beach Renourishment Trust Fund for scheduled projects

Source: Lee County Government

“It’s going to set the town back again. I can’t believe we are going through this again.”

Steve Johnson, Fort Myers Beach Marine and Environmental Resources Chair

“There was a lot of hardship throughout the island with the flooding and loss of power. The fact that it happened as we approached the two-year anniversary of Ian made it all the more difficult.”

Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt

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e m e r g e n c y c a l l s . T h e N a t i o n a l W e a t h e r S e r v i c e h a d b e e n f o r e c a s t i n g s t o r m s u r g e o f t h r e e t o f i v e f e e t f o r t h e a r e a , w h i c h i s e x p e c t e d t o p e a k T h u r s d a y n i g h t a n d r e s i d e n t s r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e y w e r e s e e i n g e v e r y i n c h o f t h a t “ I t w a s t e r r i b l e , ” s a i d t o w n r e s i d e n t

S t e v e J o h n s o n J o h n s o n , w h o c h a i r s t h e

M a r i n e a n d E n v i r o n m e n t a l R e s o u r c e s

T a s k F o r c e , s a i d h e e s t i m a t e s t h e s t o r m

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s t o r m s u r g e h i t e a r l y T h u r s d a y e v e n i n g

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

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

r e s i d e n t s m o r e p r o t e c t i o n f r o m s u r g i n g

f l o o d w a t e r s f r o m t h e G u l f o f M e x i c o

I t ’ s a t o p i c h e a n d t h e M a r i n e a n d

E n v i r o n m e n t a l R e s o u r c e s T a s k F o r c e

h a s a d d r e s s e d a n d h a s r e c o m m e n d e d t o

t h e t o w n c o u n c i l t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f

d u n e s t o m a k e a m o r e r e s i l i e n t b e a c h

J o h n s o n s a i d h e w a s u n a b l e t o s t a y i n h i s h o m e i n t h e w a k e o f t h e s t o r m w h i l e

c l e a n i n g t h e m e s s . “ I t ’ s s t i n k y , ” h e s a i d .

H e e x p e c t s r e p a i r s t o t a k e a c o u p l e

w e e k s “ I t ’ s g o i n g t o s e t t h e t o w n b a c k

a g a i n , ” J o h n s o n s a i d “ I c a n ’ t b e l i e v e

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

“ T h e r e w a s s o m e s e r i o u s f l o o d i n g i n

p a r t s o f B a y B e a c h L a n e a n d t h e r e w a s

a l o s s o f p o w e r f o r a b o u t t e n h o u r s , ”

F o r t M y e r s B e a c h V i c e M a y o r J i m

A t t e r h o l t s a i d “ T h e r e w a s a l o t o f h a r d -

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

f l o o d i n g a n d l o s s o f p o w e r . T h e f a c t

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

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

H y a t t s a i d s t a f f b e g a n p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r t h e h u r r i c a n e l a t e l a s t w e e k “ A s p r e p a r e d a s w e w e

PHOTO PROVIDED

Miramar Street was amongst the hardest-hit residential streets on Fort Myers Beach.

surge From page 13

“ T o w n s t a f f t h a t w e r e h e r e d u r i n g I a n t o l d m e t h i s w a s

m o r e s a n d t h a n I a n W e a r e a n t i c i p a t i n g t h e c l e a n u p w i l l t a k e s e v e r a l d a y s , a t l e a s t a w e e k ”

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

r e o p e n h e r s t o r e “ T h e I s l a n d e r ” a t S a n t i n i P l a z a T h e

p l a z a h a s b e e n c l o s e d f o r t h e p a s t t w o y e a r s s i n c e H u r r i c a n e I a n C e r e c e d a s a i d t h e p l a z a l o s t p o w e r I n

h e r o w n h o m e , C e r e c e d a s a i d “ I g o t w a t e r i n t h e g u e s t r o o m , t h e d i n i n g r o o m a n d t h e g a r a g e T h a n k g o o dn e s s t h a t ' s a l l M y a i r c o n d i t i o n e r i s d e a d a n d m y p o o l

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

s t e p b a c k w a r d ” C e r e c e d a w a s p l a n n i n g t o o p e n t h e

s t o r e F r i d a y

T o w n r e s i d e n t G r e g S c a s n y s o u n d e d a n o p t i m i s t i c

n o t e “ R e g a r d l e s s o f t h e m e s s t h a t H e l e n e l e f t b e h i n d , o u r i s l a n d a n d o u r g r e a t c o m m u n i t y h a v e w a s t e d n o

t i m e i n g e t t i n g t o w o r k a n d c l e a n i n g u p , ” S c a s n y s a i d “ I s a w n e i g h b o r s h e l p i n g n e i g h b o r s , b u s i n e s s e s g e t -

t i n g o p e n t h e n e x t d a y a n d e v e r y o n e d o i n g w h a t t h e y

A vehicle attempts to get through flooded Estero Boulevard on Fort Myers Beach Thursday as Hurricane Helene passed through.

COURTESY OF FORT

Fort Myers Beach Thursday morning, during the early part of Hurricane

c a n t o h e l p t h e c o m m u n i t y r e c o v e r T h a t i s t h e t r u e j e w e l o f F o r t M y e r s B e a c h , o u r g r e a t c o m m u n i t y t h a t e v e n t h o u g h w e t o o k a g o o d h i t f r o m H e l e n e , w e g o t b a c k u p , d u s t e d o f f o u r s e l v e s a n d o u r f r i e n d s , a n d p u t i n t h e w o r k t o m o v e f o r w a r d H e l e n e w i l l n o t k e e p o u r i s l a n d d o w n ” D e s p i t e t h e f l o o d i n g o n h e r o w n r o a d t h a t t h r e a te n e d h e r h o m e , W e b e r s a i d F r i d a y h e r t h o u g h

PHOTOS

MYERS BEACH FIRE CHIEF SCOTT WIRTH

Helene

sandy

Helene From page 1

Fort Myers Beach resident Jennifer Rusk said she has been busy shoveling muck out of her garage and throwing away furniture “It’s been nonstop cleaning,” Rusk said “I don’t think I ever mucked so much in my life ”

Rusk said town code officers have been driving up and down her street watching what residents are doing, taking pictures of debris piles She said some homeowners do not know what permits are needed “People want to know what is required,” Rusk said

Rusk said there is is confusion among some property owners because drywall isn’t listed under the town’s permitting

applications on the town website, only construction is

Rusk said it was important for residents to follow the permitting process so the town doesn’t lose its 25% insurance

o o d Insurance Program, which FEMA has threatened to take away

“I’m worried about the 25% discount,” Rusk said

The town has been under a microscope since Hurricane Ian as to how it has handled its permitting, leading to a FEMA review of permitless work that initially led FEMA to take away the town’s 25%

National Flood Insurance Program Since then, the town has been given extra time by FEMA to formulate a plan to address permitting and fix issues cited by the agency

Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager

Dan Allers did not respond to messages seeking comment as of press time

In a message sent out on the town’s advisory notices, Berzin said property owners should contact the town at 2397 6 5 - 0 2 0 2 o r e m a i l buildingpermits@fmbgov com with any q

always better to reach out to us before we have to reach out to you,” Berzin said

Lee County notices for permitting, curbside debris

Lee County has issued its own notice regarding debris removal for those in unincorporated Lee County

Residents who may have had sand washed on their property by the storm are asked to not pile sand on sidewalks or alongside roadways

Beachfront residents with overwashed sand on their property must follow a process to remove it They can put it back on the beach only after receiving approval f

See HELENE, page 17

NATHAN MAYBERG

The crossing over the Matanzas Pass Bridge onto Fort Myers Beach was a mixture of retention pond and

beach/mud along Estero Boulevard on Friday after Hurricane Helene blew by.

From page 16

Environmental Protection FDEP has a link with information about how private property owners can receive proper permission before placing overwashed sand from Helene back on the beach. Visit https://floridadep gov/sites/default/files/C CCL%20Post%20Storm%20Information

%20Handout Private 06242022 0 pdf

To facilitate storm debris removal, Lee County Solid Waste will collect three types of storm debris Each type must be in a separate pile for collection, and will be collected in multiple passes: Construction and demolition debris:

This includes carpet, furniture, drywall and other materials resulting from storm damage to homes and structures

Vegetation: This includes tree branche s , p a l m f r o n d s , l o g s a n d p l a n t s .

Vegetative debris should not be placed in plastic bags and can be left at the curb

Appliances: Please leave appliances at the curb with all food removed

Residents can help expediate storm debris collection by doing the following:

∫ Separate all storm debris

∫ Place debris at the curb or roadside

∫ Empty out appliances and either

secure the doors or remove them

∫ B e m i n d f u l n o t t o b l o c k f i r e hydrants, mailboxes or any other structures

∫ Do not place storm debris into bags. Curbside debris may not be picked up immediately Lee County residents or b u s i n e s s e s w i t h i n t h e S p e c i a l F l o o d

Hazard Area with any damage to their homes or businesses, including water intrusion, were also reminded by Lee Count to obtain a permit for all repairs

Email FIRMinfo@leegov com for assis-

resources, and be sure to include the following information:

∫ Contact information

∫ Property address

∫ Type of damage

∫ Height of the water that entered the home

Residents also can find more information at www leegov com/dcd/BldPermit Serv/disaster-recovery

NATHAN MAYBERG

Race for Fort Myers Beach Council

L i b r a r y B o a r d , i s t h e l o n e c h a l l e n g e r T h e s e a t o f t h e m a y o r a n d v i c e m a y o r a r e a p p o i n t e d b y t h e c o u n c i l a n d n o t e l e c t e d b y t h e v o t e r s V o t e r s o n l y e l e c t c o u n c i l m e m b e r s i n t h e T o w n o f F o r t M y e r s B e a c h i n a n o n - p a r t i s a n e l e c t i o n A l l e r s a n d A t t e r h o l t r a n s u c c e s s f u l l y f o r t h e i r s e a t s i

t r u s t e e o n t h e F o r t M y e r s B e a c h

UESTION

OF THE WEEK

What type of aid does Fort Myers Beach need most from county, state and federal government agencies to help it recover from Hurricane Ian? The town still has an outstanding $10 million state loan to pay back and faces the loss of its 25% insurance discount with FEMA. What should the town be doing to resolve this? Town officials visited Washington D C earlier this year Did the town gain any benefit from this visit? What assistance has the town gotten from our federal representatives and what should the town be asking of them? Has the county been responsive enough to repairing the drainage on Estero Boulevard? What is the town doing to work with the county on Estero Boulevard or should it be doing?

❑ dan allerS (Incumbent)

Over the past two years, we have worked diligently to strengthen our relationships with local, state, and federal partners. Since Hurricane Ian, we’ve secured over $50 million in assistance from various agencies This crucial funding has helped stabilize our budget, expedite critical repairs, and allowed us to purchase an existing building for the new Town Hall saving taxpayers millions by avoiding new construction costs

These partnerships, sustained through clear communication and consistent follow-through, are key to securing the resources and discounts necessary for our ongoing rebuilding efforts As the needs of the town continue to evolve, we must adapt our requests to align with both current and future needs of the community Our advocacy in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., has already paid dividends for our residents, and we expect it to continue doing so Currently, we have an infrastructure appropriation request making its way through Congressman Donalds’ office, and with another state legislative session on the horizon, we will seek additional infrastructure support and loan forgiveness

At our recent budget meeting on Sept 23, I recognized the Mayor and Town staff for all of their hard work in procuring funds at the county, state and federal level after Hurricane Ian The Town Manager said at the meeting that Fort Myers Beach has received over $50 million in grants since the storm These dollars don’t automatically come to the Town--they must be pursued and the proper data and documentation must be demonstrated This effort, along with various low-interest loans, has placed the Town on solid financial footing post Hurricane Ian all things considered

These grants in part are being used for big ticket items like new lighting on Estero Blvd , procuring the Town Hall building, beach renourishment, the water tower on the north end of the island and refurbishing our parks and pool The Town has already procured low interest loans from the State Revolving Loan Fund to address the significant storm water needs of the Town and that work is ongoing The County has begun addressing the crosswalks on Estero Blvd. but still needs to repair the sidewalks, road and drainage issues caused by Hurricane Ian Those conversations are occurring and the working relationship between the Town and the County has been excellent since the Hurricane

The amount of county, state and federal relief has been truly outstanding the last two years I applaud our town staff and elected officials on all levels for supporting our rebuilding efforts I think the visits to both Tallahassee and to Washington, D C by the mayor and town staff have been fantastic and a great benefit to us.

We obviously still have a long way to go

On the state level I would like to see the AG go after the insurance companies that are frauding our residents The 60 Minutes piece this last weekend was enough to make me sick On the FEMA side, I would like to see a better/faster process to help people lift their homes There is money available, but their process is so totally backwards You have to sign up and then wait years before they give you money to lift your home I think it would be much more efficient to let people lift their homes now and then get a reimbursement or at least a tax credit upon completion I think this would encourage more people to do it AND save money in the long run As we saw with Helene, most of the damage was down to ground level units

Finally I would like us to get assistance dredging and cleaning up our canals If FEMA won't fund it, then ask the state for help

I think it is important for the Town to keep a good relationship with all our partners, including the County, State and Federal lawmakers and agencies Visiting our State and Federal Capital to lobby lawmakers for funds in part of that process, and it's needed to assure that our Town is not forgotten when it comes to appropriations that are needed to get our Town back to “normal ” Our Town Finance director is doing a great job in managing our income to debt ratios and I look forward to hearing from him about the State loan In addition, our Town is complying with all FEMA’s requests to assure we don’t lose our flood insurance discounts. Lastly, drainage is another issue altogether. We can all agree that storm water drainage is not what it needs to be both along Estero Blvd and the side streets where it routinely floods during normal rain events This should be a top issue for the council to tackle as it affects residents severely every time it rains We all understand that we can't stop flooding events like Hurricane Helene, but the island should be able to drain normal summer rains without constant flooding

❑ JIm atterholt (Incumbent)

❑ Scott Safford (Incumbent)

Town of Fort Myers Beach Council Candidate Bios dan

allerS

Candidate name: Dan Allers

Seat sought: Fort Myers Beach Council

Age: 51

Campai g n

forourbeach

Education/degrees: Spring Lake Park High School in Minnesota, attended Northeast Metro Technical College

Occupation and place of employment and most recent previous occupation: Owner of Gulfview Solutions and coowner of Island Carts FMB. Previously worked as a project manager for Automated Shading and Lighting in Naples

Time living in Fort Myers Beach: 12 years

Political Experience/offices held: Fort Myers Beach Mayor, Councilmember, formerly Local Planning Agency board member

Civic/Community involvement: Town council liaison to the Bay Oaks Recreational Campus Advisory Board, Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce member

Family: Married with one daughter

Jim

atterholt

Candidate name: Jim Atterholt

Seat sought: Fort Myers Beach Council

Age: 62

Campaign website: jimatterholtfmb com

Education/degrees: BA in History and Political Science, University of Wisconsin 1986

Occupation and place of employment and most recent previous occupation: Owner of regulatory compliance consulting company, former Chair of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, former congressional aide, Indiana state legislator, state of Indiana insurance commissioner and chief of staff to former Indiana Governor Mike Pence

Time living on Fort Myers Beach: 8 years full time

Political Experience/offices held: Congressional aide, state legislator, insurance commissioner, chair of the utility regulatory commission and chief of staff to the governor all for the state of Indiana

Civic/Community involvement: Former member of the Local Planning Agency (LPA) and served as condominium association board member

Family: Married (Brenda), three grown sons

Scott Safford

Candidate name: Scott Safford

Seat sought: Fort Myers Beach Town Council

Age: 59

Campaign website: www scottsaffordfmb com

Education/degrees: BA in Economics from the University of Dallas, MBA International Finance from the Thunderbird School of Global Management

Occupation and place of employment and most recent previous occupation: CFO of Sea Gypsy Vacation Rentals, previously owner of the Sea Gypsy Inn

Time living on Fort Myers Beach: Part time since 2007, full-time since 2012.

Political experience/offices held: Town Council member, Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency member

Civic/community involvement: Leadership Lee Class of 2024, Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce member

Family: Married (Jacki Liszak), three children, two stepchildren, eight grandchildren

Candidate name: Greg Scasny

Seat sought: Fort Myers Beach Council Age: 51

Campaign website: https://www fmbcommunity com

Education/degrees: BS - Electrical Engineering and Technology - Purdue - 2000

Occupation and place of employment and most recent previous occupation: CTO / Founder - Blueshift Cybersecurity, CTO / Co-Founder - Cigent Technology, Inc

Time living on Fort Myers Beach: Since 2018

Political Experience/offices held: Fort Myers Beach Library Board of Trustees

Volunteer, FMB Little League Volunteer

Family: Wife (Marcia), Son (Gage)

PHOTO PROVIDED

Hard work by the staff at the Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina led to the resort cleaning out and drying the flood damage in 48 hours to allow the show to go on at the Island

Show

From page 1

The main outdoor pool was open at 4 p m , just in time for the pool party to begin with an opening set by country musician Katrina Cain Cain was well received with her acoustic songs “Gold,” “Lucky” and her earnest cover of the Bruce Springsteen classic “Dancing in the D a r k , ” w h i c h w a s o n l y m i s s i n g S p r i n g s t e e n ’ s l a t e o r g a n i s t D a n n y Federici.

The crowd roared up for the arrival of

Pink

McCreery, who was promoting his latest album “Rise & Fall” fresh off an induction into the Grand Ole Opry this spring McCreery said he was more proud of his recent album than any of his previous work McCreery showcased a tightlywound backing band as he opened with “Can’t Pass The Bar” before picking up his guitar and playing songs like “Cab in a Solo,” “Little Miss Gone” “It Matters to Her” and some of his biggest hits such as

“This is It ” The Valentine family, which splits their time between Fort Myers Beach and Michigan, were in town to see the concert McCreery’s hit “This is It,” was the w e d d i n g s o n g f o r D a v e a n d V a l e r i e Valentine They had a lot of cleaning up to do after Hurricane Helene Their garage was full of mud after incurring nearly a foot of water, Mrs. Valentine said. “I call it slip and slide mud,” she said They were

close to finishing repairs on their home before Helene struck Their garage had previously been destroyed by Hurricane Ian

“We’re not leaving,” Mr Valentine said “ Y

” McCreery said to the crowd, noting what

Hurricane Helene and Ian. “Music heals everything,” he said

NATHAN MAYBERG Country music star Scotty McCreery performs at the Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina Pool Party during the Island Hopper Songwriter Festival on Fort Myers Beach Sunday

NATHAN MAYBERG

The

Shell Beach Resort and Marina was all-in on its pink theme Sunday for the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest during its annual pool party

Hopper Songwriter Fest

NATHAN MAYBERG

Sarah Valentine (left to right), Emily Valentine, Dave Valentine, Valerie Valentine, who split their time between Fort Myers Beach and Michigan, came to see Scotty McCreery perform at the Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina on Emily's birthday McCreery’s song “This is It” was the wedding song for Dave and Valerie

WHERE TO GO WHAT TO DO WHO TO SEE

e concer t seri es ret ur ns to For t Myer s Beach Sunday

STAFF REPORT

Bayside Veterans Park will get an infusion of classic rock music for folks walking along Old San Carlos Boulevard and enjoying the views of Matanzas Pass on Fort Myers Beach this Sunday

Simply-Fi, a classic rock cover group will perform on stage at Bayside Veterans Park from 4 to 7 p m on Oct 6 as part of a free show brought together by the town and Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce with the support of local businesses

Lawn chairs and well-behaved pets on a six-inch or

less leash are encouraged at the park, which has an artificial turf surface There will be no outside food or beverages permitted inside the park, which is covered by shade sails

Attendees are encouraged to come early and support the recovering businesses on Fort Myers Beach by spending the night for a quick staycation, doing a bit of shopping, or enjoying lunch or dinner

Plenty of parking is available in the area around the base of the Matanzas Pass Bridge.

This week's concert is being brought by the Town of Fort Myers Beach and Fort Myers Beach Chamber of

Commerce in conjunction with the Lee County Tourist Development Council, title sponsors Nervous Nellies, Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant and Wahoo Willies. The stage sponsors are Gavin's Ace Hardware and Florida Structural Group The series sponsor is the Alex King Group S

Bayside Park Concert Series Sunday, Oct. 6 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. off Old San Carlos Boulevard on Fort Myers Beach. FORT MYERS BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

ACT’s biggest fundraiser of the year approaching

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Abuse Counseling and Treatment, Inc , is gearing for its biggest fundraising event of the year

The 35th annual Arts for ACT Gala and Auction will return this year after being put on hold last year due to Hurricane Ian

It is set for Saturday, Oct 5, at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center, 1375 Monroe Street, in Downtown Fort Myers This year's theme is “The Swans" Gala and Auction ”

“It’s a black-and-white ball. We have a live and silent auction, a raffle, dinner, and dancing,” said ACT CEO Jennifer Benton “It is a fun event ”

The live auction will be led by auctioneer Scott Robertson Prizes include luxury trips, hotel stays and art from award-winning artists

Registration, cocktails, and the silent auction will begin at 5 p m , followed by dinner at 6 p m The live auction will begin at 7 p m , followed by dancing to The Original Studio 54 Band

T i c k e t s a r e $ 1 5 0 a n d c a n b e p u r c h a s e d a t https://event gives/artsforact2024

The event typically attracts about 500 people and is ACT’s largest fundraising event Benton said with them missing last year, this year marks a critical year to do the event

“As we grow in clients, we have to continue to serve those with services Money has been tight this year because of the hurricane Last year really has hurt,” Benton said

The tough year came from the repairs needed from Hurricane Ian

“That cost us You have to have a good roof, even if the insurance company is not going to pay,” Benton said “We have a thrift store and a gallery downtown. Our gallery flooded from the river We had to do all the repairs for our gallery That was down for nine months from income The store was closed a bit because of the damage We lost income because of the hurricane from

Play golf and help Keep Lee County Beautiful!

The “GO GREEN” Golf Tournament is back for its 33rd year to raise funds for Keep Lee County Beautiful, Inc. (KLCB). The event will be held on Oct 18 at The Plantation Golf & Country Club with an 8:30am shotgun start

The day will be filled with golf, fun-filled course contests, food, and a chance to win some premium auction items while raising funds to support programs and events focused on protecting the environment and improving the quality of life in Lee County

Keep Lee County Beautiful is the largest environmental education organization providing community cleanups, beautification projects, and environmental education programming in Lee County. Last year, our dedicated volunteers removed more than 85,000 pounds of litter and debris from the environment and planted 145 trees As we mark our 35th anniversary serving Lee County, we are proud to share that this year alone, we have already collected over 24,000 pounds of trash, planted 107 trees, and 808 shrubs In addition, we have had the opportunity to educate over 18,000 individuals on the importance of protecting our natural environment

All proceeds stay in Lee County and support Keep Lee County Beautiful’s mission of preserving a n d p r o t e c t i n g

reduction efforts, education outreach activities, and beautification projects in our local communities

K L C B i s v e r y t h a n k f u l f o r t h e s u p p o r t o f Nextran Truck Centers who is once again the event title sponsor Visit https://www klcb org/events/gogreen-golf-tournament/ for information on sponsorship opportunities and to register

If You Go:

What:

35th annual Arts for ACT Gala and Auction

When: Saturday, Oct 5

Registration, cocktails, and the silent auction will begin at 5 p m , followed by dinner at 6 p m The live auction will begin at 7 p m , followed by dancing to The Original Studio 54 Band

Where:

Caloosa Sound Convention Center, 1375 Monroe Street, Downtown Fort Myers

Tickets:

Tickets are $150 and can be purchased at https://event gives/artsforact2024

those It really has been a tough time ”

All proceeds from the event will go to ACT services

“We are still here We operate 24 hours a day all of our services,” she said “We have to raise money for this event It is critical ”

This month marks 46 years that ACT has served the community Lee, Hendry, and Glades Counties by helping victims of domestic violence and children, survivors of sexual assault and human trafficking

Both the gallery and thrift store operating now for 20 years are other ways the community can support the organization

Second ACT Thrift Store, at 12519 South Cleveland Ave , Fort Myers is open from 10 a m to 6-8 p m Monday through Thursday, from 10 a m to 6 p m Friday and Saturday and from 11 a m to 5 p m Sunday

The store has clothing, shoes, household items, furniture, linens, and bathroom accessories and more

This store also supports clients who are residing at ACT’s residential facilities They receive free vouchers to shop there or receive job-skills education by working at the thrift store

Arts for ACT Gallery is another opportunity for the community to support ACT. The gallery is at 2265 First Street, in Downtown Fort Myers, in front of the Arcade Building It is open from noon to 8 p m Monday through Saturday, and from noon to 6 p m Sunday F o r m

www artsforactgallery com F

www actabuse com, or call (239) 939-2553 ACT's 24hour crisis hotline is (239) 939-3112

Hooters of Fort Myers to host weekend events Oct. 4-6

Hooters of Fort Myers is the place to be during the weekend of Oct 4-6 The restaurant is hosting several events including the 2025 Hooters Calendar National Launch Party (Friday, Oct 4), Self Help International’s Iowa Party (Saturday, Oct 5) and Hooters and Hounds Pet Adoption Event (Sunday, Oct 6) Plus, attendees w

International and the 2025 Hooters Calendar Cover Girl plus more calendar girls at these events

The just-released 2025 Hooters Calendar will be available for purchase during the National Launch event on Friday from 7-9 p m at Hooters of Fort Myers The event is open to the public All 200 ladies in the calendar work at Hooters Restaurants all over the country One dollar of every Hooters Calendar sold supports the Kelly Jo Dowd Breast Cancer Research Fund benefiting the V Foundation for Cancer Foundation Research as part of the “Give a Hoot” fundraising efforts in October

On Saturday, Oct 5, from noon to 8 p m , join Self Help International for the Iowa party in honor of Hooters of South Florida founder Dave “Lags” Lageschulte, a Waverly, Iowa, native Lags passed away in 2014, but his legacy and generosity endure To celebrate his life, all auction proceeds and 5% of beverage and food sales will be donated to Self Help International, a charity Lags passionately supported in its mission to alleviate hunger in Nicaragua and Ghana Watch both Iowa football teams live under the tent showcase The event will feature a

silent auction, Busch Light specials, grilled corn on the bob and special merchandise at Fort Myers Hooters

Then on Sunday, Oct 6, from 10 a m to noon, Fort Myers Hooters is partnering with Lee County Domestic Animal Services, Gulf Coast Humane Society, Big Hearts for Big Dogs Rescue and Cape Coral Animal Shelter for a Hooters and Hounds Pet Adoption event Adopt a dog at the event and receive a $25 Hooters gift card Hooters and Hounds is a fun-filled event for the community to come out and adopt a furry friend The event also gives the agencies the opportunity to educate the community and bring awareness on their programs

“We are thrilled to host events to raise funds and awareness for these important causes at Fort Myers Hooters It is our priority to give back We look forward to giving our Southwest Florida community the opportunity to meet this year’s 2025 Hooters Calendar Girls, “said Hooters of South Florida Director of Marketing Kristi Quarles

Hooters of Fort Myers is located at 4411 Cleveland Ave , in Fort Myers Hooters of South Florida owns and operates 15 locations For more information about South Florida Hooters and their charitable outreach please visit w

@HootersFlorida, Instagram @SouthFLHooters TikTok @southflhooters, and Facebook https://www facebook com/hootersflorida/ or for Fort Myers Hooters updates visit Instagram @HootersFortMyers

Orchid Sale and Symposium to be held at Edison and Ford Winter Estates Oct. 12-13

Edison and Ford Winter Estates will hold its annual Orchid Sale and Symposium on Oct 12 and 13, from 9 a m to 4 p m The event will take place outdoors, under the oak trees Multiple presentations will be offered each day and vendors will have rare and unusual orchids for sale. The event is sponsored by the Southwest Florida Orchid Society

There is no charge to attend the event or presentations (does not include tours or admission to the museum, lab or riverside of the property)

Presentation Schedule:

Saturday, Oct 12

∫ 10 a m – Stan Griski, President, SWFL Orchid Society – To Repot or Not

∫ 11 a m – Carly Pfalz, Jungle House Nursery –Orchids and Lighting

∫ Noon – Jim Hopton, artist and hypertufa expert –Creating a Hypertufa Orchid Display (Jim’s creation will be raffled off at the end of his presentation)

∫ 1 p m – Gary Sims, SWFL Orchid Society – Have Fun with Orchids

∫ 2 p.m. – Ashley Palmer, Palmer Orchids –Growing Beautiful Vanda Orchids

Sunday, Oct. 13

∫ 10 a m – Debbie Hughes, EFWE – Choosing Orchids to Mount in your Trees

∫ 11 a m – Micky Carnell, Blue Pagoda – Orchids 101

∫ Noon – LUNCH BREAK

∫ 1 p m – Aaron Apsley, Aaron Apsley Artwork –Painting Orchids in Watercolor

∫ 2 p m – John Hampton, SWFL Orchid Society –The Joy of Kikis

The Lee County Master Gardeners will have an advice table, food trucks will be on site, and representatives from the Southwest Florida Orchid Society will be available to answer questions A limited number of garden carts will be available; guests are encouraged to bring their own

P

Tropicals, Blue Pagoda Orchids, Florida Orchid House, FTE Studios, Hang-A-Pot, Jim-N-I Orchids, Jungle

H o u s e N u r s

, K

K

S m i t h Orchids, OFE Orchid Supplies, Palmer Orchids, Pelican

C

a s t O

Orchids, Smiley’s Orchids, So Orchids, Sunland Orchids,

PROVIDED

Guests attend an orchid presentation during the annual Orchid Sale and Symposium at Edison and Ford Winter Estates

and Tropiflora will have orchids and orchid supplies for sale

The Edison Ford Garden Shoppe will be open all day and offers a unique place for gardeners to shop for quality plants The Shoppe will be stocked with a large selection of orchids, ornamentals, fruit trees, butterfly plants, herbs, succulents, rare exotics and Florida natives Many of the flowering trees and shrubs in the botanical gardens are available for purchase. Wind chimes, fountains, ceramic flower pots and garden art are also available

Orchids have a long history with the Estates They

were Mina Edison’s favorite plants and she displayed many of them in her garden, attached to trees so they could grow as she saw them in the Everglades Today, visitors can view many orchid species throughout the 20 acres of botanical gardens Following in Mina’s footsteps, horticulturists continue to attach orchids to trees throughout the site Tickets are required to tour the botani c a l g a r d e n s a n d m a y b e p u r c h a s e d o n l i n e a t EdisonFord.org.

Edison and Ford Winter Estates is at 2350 McGregor Blvd , Fort Myers

The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center to present Saltwater Cowboy Oct. 18

Bring your salty attitude and join your boat-runnin,’ fish-wranglin,’ briny friends for a night of great food, drinks, music, and dancing. The Heights Foundation/The H e i g h t s C e n t e r p r e s e n t s S a l t w a t e r Cowboy on Friday, Oct 18, from 6 – 10 p m at MarineMax, 14030 McGregor Blvd , Fort Myers The event benefits The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center and Heights Early Learning programs

Last year’s event raised $160,000 for the organization that works to build strong, self-sufficient families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood of Fort Myers

“We believe a decent education allows at-risk kids to meet, challenge, and raise the bar on the world’s narrative of them,” said Kathryn Kelly, founder, president, and CEO of The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center “Our enriching preschool, afterschool, and summer camp programs ensure that parents can work while their kids learn, are safe, and have fun In addition, our adult and family programs provide opportunities for self-sufficiency This event supports our families and is an opportunity for a lot of fun!”

Guests will enjoy an extensive raw bar

Restaurant & Fish Market, and signature

Roadhouse & Saloon will prepare a steak dinner that will be accompanied by fresh Gulf shrimp

The event will include a silent and live

Everglades Python hunt with Huntress Amy Siewe, an in-home dinner for eight by Black Salt Culinary, a sunset yacht cruise courtesy of MarineMax, and the ultimate in home raw bar party for sixteen courtesy of the Timbers Restaurant & Fish Market. Live music will be performed by the Back Country Boys, a dynamic country rock band In addition, guests will have the opportunity to view luxury boats available at MarineMax S p o n

2 5 0 Individual tickets are $275 per person

cowboy or call Annie Campbell at 239482-7706 or email annie@heightsfoundation org

PHOTO PROVIDED

Melissa Barlow and Deb Mathinos with children from The Heights Center's programs.

PHOTO

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Ser vices at St. Peter Lutheran Church

St Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at 3751 Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach

Outdoor Services under the tent

Every Sunday 9 a m

All are welcome, we are pet friendly 239-463-4251

stpeterfmb@gmail.com

www stpeterfmb com

YouTube - St Peter Lutheran Church Fort Myers Beach FL

In cooperation with former Chapel by the Sea and Beach United Methodist Church

J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge to present Family Fun Night

For the second year, the J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge will kick off Hispanic Heritage Month Sept 15 through Oct 15 with Family Fun Night on Sept. 20 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Lakes Park in Fort M y e r s T h

Conservation Week, the Honrando Nuestra Historia (Honoring our History) Series and National Public Lands Day with educational and cultural activities for the family Attendees will enjoy music and food, a take-home marigold seed planting, bilingual birding walk and kidfriendly archery, plus informational tables in partnership with Florida Public Archaeology Network

Edison and Ford Winter Estates to host annual quilt show Oct. 5

Edison and Ford Winter Estates will host the annual “Airing of the Quilts” Quilt Show, Saturday, Oct 5, from 10 a m to 2 p m Dozens of quilts from the Southwest Florida Quilters Guild will be on display, suspended from clotheslines between the palms in front of the historic homes. Quilters Guild participants will also have quilts available for sale

Certified quilt appraiser, Lars Cain, will be on site and conducting appraisals from 10 a m to 2 p m His vast experience includes the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian Institution He has been sharing his expertise for many years and has spoken to more than 1,500 quilt groups throughout the Midwest, New England area and south to Florida Since 1977, he has appraised more than 20,000 quilts Visitors may bring antique quilts for assessment Verbal appraisals will be offered for $25 and the fee for a written appraisal will be $35 per quilt

Quilts have a long history with the Edison and Ford families Henry Ford and his wife, Clara, collected quilts and other historical objects that were created and used by people from all across the United States The quilts were often made from modest scraps of material, demonstrating the resourcefulness of American women

The quilt show is included with admission Tickets may be purchased online at EdisonFord org or at the ticket counter Admission is free for Edison Ford members Edison and Ford Winter Estates is at 2350 McGregor Blvd , Fort Myers

Wonder Gardens to host ‘Boo-tanical Weekend’ Oct. 11-13

Wonder Gardens will host “Boo-tanical Weekend,” a Halloween-themed event Oct 11-13 with family friendly activities, free with paid admission to the gardens

The event will take place from 5 to 8 p m Oct 11; and 11 a m to 2 p m Oct 12 and 13 and includes games, crafts, local vendors, face painting and more! Select activities are subject to an additional fee

As in previous years, Wonder Gardens will join zoos, animal-lovers and thoughtful consumers nationwide by choosing Halloween candy brands that support sustainable palm oil production and distribution. Paper bags will be provided for children to collect candy

The event on Oct 11 provides a unique opportunity for guests to visit the garden in the evening, when it is typically not open, to explore the lushly landscaped botanical gardens and interact with rescued, rehabilitated and non-releasable birds and reptiles

Costumes are optional but encouraged, and the event is free to Wonder Gardens members Other guests will pay regular admission, which is free for children under

During these electrifying shows, audiences will rock out to the greatest hits from the '80s with songs by such bands as Bon Jovi, Whitesnake, Foreigner, Journey, Poison, Twisted Sister, Joan Jett, Styx, Pat Benatar, and many more

PHOTO PROVIDED

Broadway’s Rock of Ages Band – The Music of the Hit Broadway Show – to headline the Barbara Mann Performing Arts Hall Oct. 12

For over six years they rocked Broadway, and millions of fans, in the five-time Tony Award®-nominated musical Rock of Ages Now, for the very first time, Broadway’s Rock of Ages Band are bringing the music of the hit Broadway show to venues across the country as they reveal details for their Fall 2024 Tour Featuring an all-star ensemble, comprising the artists from the original cast on Broadway, this exclusive routing will hit the Barbara Mann Performing Arts Hall on Oct 12

During these electrifying shows, audiences will rock out to the greatest hits from the '80s with songs by such bands as Bon Jovi, Whitesnake, Foreigner, Journey, Poison, Twisted Sister, Joan Jett, Styx, Pat Benatar, and many more Broadway’s Rock of Ages Band comprises the following stars:

∫ MiG Ayesa – Rock Of Ages (Broadway), Rock Of Ages (National Tour), Thriller Live (London), We Will Rock You (World Tour), Rock Star: INXS (TV)

∫ Josephine Rose Roberts – Rock Of Ages (Broadway), Rock Of Ages (Toronto), Cats (25th Anniversary Tour), The Electric Company (TV), Paw

age 3, $10 for ages 3 to 12, $15 for ages 13-64 and $13 for ages 65+ Discounted admission is available to the military and first responders Children must be accompanied by an adult

For information, visit wondergardens org or call 239992-2591

Wonder Gardens is at 27180 Old 41 Rd , Bonita Springs

Gulf Coast Symphony to per for m the Music of Star Wars and the Music of Harr y Potter

When life hands you lemons you create magnificent music! Gulf Coast Symphony, in an effort to recoup its $150,000 loss from the state of Florida’s cuts to the Arts, will be performing The Music of Star Wars on Friday, Oct. 18, and The Music of Harry Potter on Friday, Oct. 25 The shows will be performed twice each evening at 6:30 p m and 9 p m

For The Music of Star Wars, audiences are invited to travel through galaxies far, far away as they relive the music of the Star Wars epic soundtrack for all nine movies of the Skywalker saga Led by Jedi, Maestro Kurtz, the Symphony will create the ultimate Star Wars musical experience!

Similarly, in The Music of Harry Potter, audiences will embark on a magical journey with Maestro Kurtz as they revisit the memorable professors, characters, and magical creatures from the beloved books and films. The spellbinding scores define the iconic Harry Potter sagaa must-attend event for wizards and muggles alike!

Patrol (TV)

∫ Tommy Kessler – Rock Of Ages (Broadway), Blondie

∫ Jon Weber – Rock Of Ages (Broadway), Hedwig 7 The Angry Inch (Broadway), Love, Janis (offBroadway), Willie Nile Band

∫ Joel Hoekstra – Rock Of Ages (Broadway), Whitesnake, TSO, Cher, Night Ranger, Foreigner, Brett Michaels

∫ Winston Roye – Rock Of Ages (Broadway), Tina Turner Musical (Broadway), Soul Asylum, Shakira, Lauren Hill, Jewel

∫ Richard Maheux – Rock Of Ages (Broadway), Enrique Iglesias, Cirque de Soliel

View the Broadway’s Rock of Ages Band video here: Broadways Rock of Ages Band Promo Video at https://www youtube com/watch?v=kPmUCtP9cs8

Tickets for Broadway's Rock of Ages Band – The Music of the Hit Broadway Show are on sale now and

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Costumes are encouraged (but are not required) for all performances

Note: These concerts will be music only, and not accompanied by a film screening

For tickets, please the Gulf Coast Symphony box office at 239 -0277-1700

The Music and Arts Community Center is at 13411 Shire Ln, Fort Myers

Rock Star Séance tickets on sale now

Celebrate Halloween by joining us for a special concert led by Andrew Lipke, where he and “spirit host” vocalists will channel legendary rock stars like Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, and more! Dress as your favorite dearly departed rock star and enjoy a multimedia experience that promises to be a musical séance like no other Oct 24 at 7:30 p m at Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Pkwy, Fort Myers

For more information visit https://www bbmannpah com/

Al-Anon, Al-Ateen meetings

Are you concerned with a friend or family member's drinking? Let us help

Call our 24-hour helpline at 941-564-5098 or visit www SouthFloridaAl-Anon org Meetings are held every day in Lee County.

Al-Ateen meetings are also offered for ages 10-18

Island pets seeking forever homes PET PALS

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

from his shelter shot, he didn’t look good Poor little guy Max was hot and could not understand what happened to him Shelters are terrifying for little dogs

We happened to be there looking at dogs and we knew it was not a place for him to be H i s p r e v i o u s o w n e r s were given Max by a

b r e e d e r ( b a c k y a r d ) who was going to kill

h i m b e c a u s e o f a

h e a l t h i s s u

involves vomiting

Today, after being checked, we are thinking that he needs to be

in a home who can follow a food regiment He will never be able to eat out of a food bowl on his own or drink whenever he wants He needs to be regulated and be fed by hand one meatball at a time Then wait for a few hours then be able to drink a little then wait and then play

Is that a great life, NO!

H o w e v e r , t h a t i s w h a t b a d breeding will do and that is what happens to Frenchies Unless you have money or pet insurance you should not get a Frenchie They always have issues and it costs a lot of money to have one

My article is not especially to get Max adopted, but to let you know that Frenchies were only made by humans and that should never be OK to do Many of them will suffer in the hands of people who can't afford them and will live a life of misery Can you find Frenchies in shelters? Yes and unfortunately it is not a great place for them to be adopted from We've rescued so many of them who were used to breed, had ear issues and so much more

Can Max be adopted? Absolutely!!!

We are giving him a chance because we learned what to do and how to feed him. Just need to find the right home for him where he will be adored How can you resist this little face!!!!!!

Max is a little guy and only 2 years old (Picture at the shelter and now at his foster Mom Irina )

For more information on Max please call or text Isabelle at 239-281-0739

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.

Rats or cats

In the 1930s a group of local beach men went off the island and brought back 30 cats to live on the beach as the island was overrun with rats Well, that did the trick No more rats as rats sense when cats are aroud and leave the

area and also the cats help as they break their necks and rats are now dead Since Ian struck our island we lost most of the stray and feral cats that were here We have very few now and the few we have are strays lost from the hurricane and owners have not come forward looking for them since they abandoned them and left in homes when they evacuated which they should not have done Animals need to be taken with you when you leave for any reason and especially a hurricane These cats are scared and not used to living outside We have volunteers that help feed them daily which is essential in keeping them healthy Here is the problem: Many individuals are throwing out our bowls for water and food that we put in places where not seen but

Coalie is a male 5-month-old kitten that was rescued with his five littermates from a flooded trailer in North Fort Myers He is very sweet, affectionate and playful as all black cats are. Please call 239-851-3485 if you would like to meet Coalie

Blaze is an orange tabby male kitten found in a garden at a home near the golf course off Mcgregor Boulevard He is very sweet and playful and it is a mystery how he got where he was found as there are no adult cats outside at this area nor any other kittens He is 4 months old and ready for his new home preferably with another cat or kitten he can play with He is also close with three other kittens that he has been with so could go as a pair with any of them also

where the cats can easily find They must have water and food There is no reason for so few cats that are left to be treated like they are pests as they are doing a service keeping rats away in the areas where they are PLEASE stop picking on these cats and leave their food areas and food alone. The fewer cats we have, the MORE RATS we will have and rats can multiply quickly The few outside cats we have left are all spayed and neuthered and had rabies shots so please treat them with respect and STOP throwing out their food and dishes In fact if you would like to volunteer to help in the care of these hurricane cats, please call 239-851-3485 Your help will be appreciated

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