Fort Myers Beach Observer/The Beach Bulletin

VOLUME 37, NUMBER 43

Access onto Fort Myers Beach limited

Residents barred from entering island Monday and Tuesday

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Fort Myers Beach residents will be limited to returning onto the island to the days of Wednesday through Sunday from 9 a m to 5 p m after Town of Fort Myers Beach officials and Lee County Government agreed to restrict entry to the island on Mondays and Tuesdays to essential person-

nel in order to speed up the removal of debris Lee County has begun taking over the management of debris removal on Fort Myers Beach following discussions between Fort Myers Beach Manager Roger Hernstadt and Lee County Manager Roger Desjarlais

Lee County announced Friday that

access to Fort Myers Beach would be closed off beginning Monday, Oct 17, on each Monday and Tuesday except for “essential response personnel ”

According to a statement issued by Lee County Government, the decision was made to “speed restoration of essential services and infrastructure.”

Residents and their hired contractors can access the island from 9 a m to 5 p m Wednesday through Sunday, Lee County

Fo rt Myer s Bea ch reco very pain fu l as stories eme rge from H ur ricane Ian

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Hurricane Ian left Fort Myers Beach looking like a warzone A veteran’s memorial the town had been working on for Bayside Park, which was obliterated by Ian, may need to be joined one day with a memorial with the names of the 14 who perished on the island after Ian landed

The Category 4 storm that unleashed 150 mph winds and storm surges of up to 16 feet lasted about four to five hours at its most intense strength on Sept 28 b u t t h o s e w e r e d e a d l y h o u r s t h a t destroyed scores of homes and businesses

More than 500 people stayed on Fort Myers Beach through the hurricane

Cindy and Steve Johnson were among

those who braved the hurricane They lived to tell about it

“We are refugees,” Mr Johnson said

Ms Johnson had planned to ride out the hurricane at a neighbor’s home on higher ground while Mr. Johnson, chair o f t h e t o w n ’ s M a r i n e R e s o u r c e s Environmental Task Force, watched the home they had moved into 11 years earlier from Illinois

High noon

By 11:30 a m , the water was rushing off the Gulf of Mexico down Sterling Ave , Ms Johnson said By noon, Mr Johnson knew he wouldn’t be able to survive the hurricane in his home as flood waters rose to his second floor.

See RECOVERING, page 10

“We are refugees ” Steve Johnson, chairman of the Fort Myers Beach Marine Resources Environmental Task Force, who rode out Hurricane Ian with wife Cindy at a neighbor ’s home

S t e v e J o h n s o n a n d C i n d y Johnson stuck out Hurricane Ian on Fort Myers Beach though their home on Seminole Way is a total loss. They don't know yet if they will rebuild. NATHAN MAYBERG

stated.

Town of Fort Myers Beach Mayor Ray Murphy said non-residents not involved in the recovery process would not be allowed on the island “We don’t want people who don’t live on the island coming into town,” Murphy said

Murphy said the new hours restriction from 9 a m to 5 p m was done with the guidance of Lee County Government in

See ACCESS LIMITED, page 9

NATHAN MAYBERG

Florida Power & Light workers have been working seven days a week to restore power to Fort Myers Beach Most of the town's power lines have been repaired Property owners will have to have an electrician and structural engineer certify their home is safe before power can be restored

Power, water begin to be restored

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Power and water began returning to Fort Myers Beach this weekend for the first time since Hurricane Ian struck

As the three-week marker approached since the Category 4 storm unleashed devastation throughout the island, Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Roger Hernstadt said Florida Power & Light power lines had been mostly repaired and the town’s water was also largely returning

Residents will need to have a certified electrician inspect their home, as well as a structural engineer certify the home is safe before power and water can be restored

“The town’s water utility director and staff, our mutual aid partners and contractors report they have restored the water

See POWER, page 9

f o r t m y e r s b e a c h t a l k . c o m 1 9 , 2 0 2 2 ■ P a g e 2

Fort Myers Beach Mooring field closed

By NATHAN MAYBERG

nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

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

B e a c h h a s a n n o u n c e d t h a t i t s

W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , O c t o b e r

m o o r i n g f i e l d w i l l r e m a i n c l o s e d “ T h e t o w n ’ s m o o r i n g f i e l d h a s b e e n d a m a g e d a n d i s c l o s e d u n t i l f u r t h e r n o t i c e , ” t h e t o w n s t a t e d i n a n a n n o u n c e -

Fire district waiving fees for inspections and permits

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers

com T h e F o r t M y e r s B e a c h F i r e C o n t r o l D i s t r i c t h a s a n n o u n c e d t h a t f i r e i n s p e c t i o n s a n d p e r m i t t i n g f e e s h a v e b e e n s u s p e n d e d f o r 9 0 d a y s b e g i n n i n g M o n d a y F o r t M y e r s B e a c h F i r e C o n t r o l D i s t r i c t C o m m i s s i o n e r J a c k i L i s z a k s a i d t h e d e c i s i o n t o w a i v e t h e f e e s w a s d e c i d e d o n t h i s w e e k e n d a n d w i l l h e l p r e s i d e n t s w h o a r e a l r e a d y f a c i n g h e f t y c l e a n u p b i l l s a s t h e y r e b u i l d a f t e r H u r r i c a n e I a n “ A n y t h i n g w e c a n d o t o h e l p f o l k s o u t b e c a u s e p e o p l e a r e p a y i n g a l o t o f m o n e y f o r t h e s e s t r u ct u r a l r e v i e w s , ” L i s z a k s a i d L i s z a k s a i d i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e f i s c a l c o s t o f t h e r e c o v e r y a n d c l e a n u p , t h e r e i s a n “ e m o t i o n a l t o l l Y o u r l i f e h a s c h a n g e d , ” s h e s a i d T h o s e s e e k i n g t o h a v e p o w e r a n d w a t e r r e s t o r e d t o t h e i r h o m e s , n e e d t o u n d e r g o a r e v i e w b y a c e rt i f i e d e l e c t r i c i a n t o d e e m t h e i r h o m e s a f e , a s w e l l a s a s t r u c t u r a l r e v i e w o f t h e i r h o m e b y a n e n g i n e e r I n a d d i t i o n , r e s i d e n t s n e e d t o a p p l y f o r p e r m i t s t o d o r e p a i r s o r d e m o l i s h s t r u c t u r e s I f m o r e t h a n 5 0 % o f t h e h o m e i s d a m a g e d , p r o pe r t y o w n e r s w i l l n e e d t o b r i n g t h e h o m e u p t o c o d e

U.S. Army Corps

The U S Army Corps of Engineers is expected to begin evaluating which homes on Fort Myers Beach will need to be demolished There will be a three-tier system based on views from the road to determine which homes are clearly unsafe and will need to be demolished and which ones will require further review The agency will not be going onto any properties without permission from property owners, Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Roger Hernstadt said. The evaluation will assist Federal E m e r g e n c y M a n a g e m e n t A g e n c y r e v i e w s o f t h e Hurricane Ian disaster recovery and to aid in safety efforts, Roger Hernstadt said Hernstadt said properties without roofs or which are clearly unstable and need to be demolished will be marked red to be demolished “to make sure nobody goes into a structure that is unsafe. We don’t want anybody getting hurt ”

The review will help FEMA document how many homes and businesses were destroyed on Fort Myers Beach and need to be torn down Hernstadt said the town will be working with the state and FEMA to determine how property owners will be notified as to when the buildings will be demolished and how long they will have to do the work

of

FILE PHOTO

The Town of Fort Myers Beach mooring field is closed to boaters due to safety hazards and damaged incurred during Hurricane Ian

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

CROW still standing on Sanibel

B y T H E C L I N I C F O R T H E R E H A B I L I TAT I O N O F W I L D L I F E H u r r i c a n e I a n b r o u g h t m u c h u n c e r t a i n t y t o s o u t hw e s t F l o r i d a a n d t h e S a n i b e l I s l a n d c o m m u n i t y , b u t o n e t h i n g i s c l e a r – t h e C l i n i c f o r t h e R e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f W i l d l i f e ( C R O W ) i s h e r e t o s t a y . O v e r t w o w e e k s a g o , C R O W s t a f f j u m p e d i n t o a c t i o n a s s o o n a s t h e p r o j e c t e d t r a c k o f t h e h u r r i c a n e s h i f t e d A f t e r w a t c h i n g t h e t r a c k f o r s e v e r a l d a y s , o n S e p t 2 6 , t h e d e c i s i o n t o e v a c u a t e w a s m a d e a n d s t a f f m e m b e r s b e g a n p r e p a r a t i o n s . T h e n e x t d a y , c r i t i c a l c a r e p a t i e n t s w e r e t r a n s f e r r e d t o E a s t C o a s t w i l d l i f e f a c i l i t i e s w h i l e s t u d e n t s , a n i m a l a m b a s s a d o r s , a n d r e m a i n i n g p a t i e n t s w e r e e v a c u a t e d t o s a f e , o f f - i s l a n d l o c a t i o n s

C R O W h o s p i t a l s t a f f b r o u g h t o w l s , h a w k s , a n i m a l a m b a s s a d o r s , a n d o t h e r a v i a n s p e c i e s i n t o t h e i r a p a r tm e n t s , g a r a g e s , a n d g u e s t b e d r o o m s f o r c o n t i n u e d c a r e d u r i n g t h e s t o r m O r p h a n e d m a m m a l s s u c h a s r a c c o o n s , s q u i r r e l s , a n d o p o s s u m s r e s i d e d t e m p o r a r i l y w i t h C R O W s t u d e n t s i n t h e i r h o t e l r o o m s f o r s c h e du l e d f e e d i n g s T h o u g h u n c o n v e n t i o n a l , s t a f f a n d s t ud e n t s p r o v i d e d o p t i m a l c a r e i n t h e f a c e o f a h i s t o r i c n a t u r a l d i s a s t e r a n d c h a l l e n g i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s A f t e r t h e s t o r m p a s s e d , d a m a g e t o t h e S a n i b e l C a u s e w a y m a d e i t i m p o s s i b l e t o r e s u m e o p e r a t i o n s a t t h e w i l d l i f e h o s p i t a l o n i s l a n d H o s p i t a l s t a f f c o o r d in a t e d t r a n s f e r a n d p l a c e m e n t p l a n s f o r p a t i e n t s a n d a n i m a l a m b a s s a d o r s i n t h e i r c a r e A l l w e r e t r a n s f e r r e d t o a f e w o f o u r p a r t n e r i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n s : S e a s i d e S e a b i r d S a n c t u a r y , C o n s e r v a n c y o f S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a , F l o r i d a K e y s W i l d B i r d C e n t e r , a n d S o u t h F l o r i d a W i l d l i f e C e n t e r “ T h e S e a s i d e S e a b i r d S a n c t u a r y i n I n d i a n S h o r e s e v e n g r a c i o u s l y o f f e r e d t o t e m p o r a r i l y c a r e f o r a n d h o u s e t w o o f o u r a n i m a l a m b a s s a d o r s – M i n a , t h e G r e a t H o r n e d O w l a n d T a l o n , t h e R e d - t a i l e d H a w k ! B i l l y , t h e N i n e - b a n d e d A r m a d i l l o , w a s p e r m a n e n t l y p l a c e d a t t h e C e n t r a l F l o r i d a Z o o w h e r e h e w i l l c o nt i n u e t o e d u c a t e t h e p u b l i c w i t h m o r e s p a c e t o d i g a n d e x p l o r e , ” s a i d B r e a n n a F r a n k e l , W i l d l i f e R e h a b i l i t a t i o n M a n a g e r a t C R O W . “ A l t h o u g h w e w i l l m i s s w o r k i n g w i t h o u r a m b a s s ad o r a n i m a l s , w e m a d e t h e d e c i s i o n t o t r a n s f e r t h e m

w i t h t h e i r b e s t i n t e r e s t a t h e a r t W e h o p e t o s e e s o m e o f t h e m b a c k a t C R O W i n t h e f u t u r e , ” s a y s C R O W S t a f f V e t e r i n a r i a n , D r R o b i n B a s t T h a n k s t o a e r i a l p h o t o s a n d h e l i c o p t e r t r a n s p o r t f r o m t h e L e e C o u n t y M o s q u i t o C o n t r o l D i s t r i c t , C R O W s t a f f w e r e a b l e t o s e e s o m e o f H u r r i c a n e I a n ’ s e f f e c t s F a l l e n t r e e s d a m a g e d r e h a b i l i t a t i o n e n c l os u r e s , s t o r m s u r g e b r e a c h e d t h e b o t t o m f l o o r o f t h e h o s p i t a l , a n d t h e h u r r i c a n e f o r c e w i n d s t o r e s e c t i o n s

f r o m t h e s i d i n g a n d r o o f t o p s , b u t C R O W ’ s w i l d l i f e h o s p i t a l , v i s i t o r e d u c a t i o n c e n t e r , a n d s t u d e n t h o u s i n g b u i l d i n g s a r e s t i l l s t a n d i n g S i n c e t h e s t o r m , C R O W s t a f f h a v e b e e n c h e c k i n g i n w i t h B l u e P e a r l P e t H o s p i t a l o f f D a n i e l s P a r k w a y i n F o r t M y e r s t w i c e - a - d a y t o t r i a g e a n y a d m i t t e d w i l d l i f e p a t i e n t s B l u e P e a r l h a s b e e n a C R O W p a r t n e r a n d o f fi s l a n d , d r o p - o f f l o c a t i o n f o r m a n y y e a r s C R O W s t a f f w i l l c o n t i n u e t o a s s e s s i n j u r e d w i l d l i f e , t r e a t , a n d t r a n s f e r t h e m t o p a r t n e r i n g w i l d l i f e c e n t e r s f o r c o n t i nu e d c a r e u n t i l a t e m p o r a r y c l i n i c o f f i s l a n d i s s e t u p . O n O c t 1 3 , a c r e w f r o m t h e S a n i b e l C a p t i v a

C o n s e r v a t i o n F o u n d a t i o n ( S C C F ) b r o u g h t a f e w

C R O W s t a f f m e m b e r s t o t h e i s l a n d o n t h e N o r m a

C a m p b e l l R e s e a r c h V e s s e l t o c o l l e c t m u c h n e e d e d m e d i c a l s u p p l i e s O n e o f C R O W ’ s C e r t i f i e d W i l d l i f e R e h a b b e r s , K a t i e M u e l l e r e v e n r e s c u e d a n o r p h a n e d r a c c o o n f o u n d o n t h e p r o p e r t y C R O W b o a r d m e mb e r s a n d e x e c u t i v e s h a v e b e e n w o r k i n g t o s e c u r e a t e m p o r a r y , o f f - i s l a n d l o c a t i o n w h e r e t h e m i s s i o n o f s a v i n g s o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a ’ s w i l d l i f e c a n c o n t i n u e “ T h e o u t p o u r i n g o f s u p p o r t t o c o n t i n u e C R O W ’ s m i s s i o n i n s p i t e o f H u r r i c a n e I a n ’ s w r a t h i s a m a z i n g , ” s a i d A l i s o n C h a r n e y H u s s e y , C R O W ’ s E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r “ O u r p a r t n e r s , l i k e t h e A n i m a l R e f u g e C e n t e r ( A R C ) a n d B l u e P e a r l h a v e o p e n e d t h e i r d o o r s t o u s , a n d o u r d o n o r s a n d v o l u n t e e r s a r e p r o v i d i n g t h e r e s o u r c e s , b o t h f i n a n c i a l a n d s w e a t e q u i t y , t o m a k e s u r e w e g e t b a c k o n o u r f e e t q u i c k l y T h e t e a m i s s o h u m b l e d a n d b l e s s e d t o h a v e t h e s u p p o r t o f o u r c o mm u n i t y b o t h h e r e a n d f r o m a f a r ”

T o m a k e d o n a t i o n s t o w a r d s H u r r i c a n e I a n r e c o v e r y a t C R O W , p l e a s e v i s i t c r o w c l i n i c o r g / d o n a t e / d o n a t et o d a y o r s c a n t h e Q R c o d e w i t h y o u r p h o n e F o l l o w u s o n F a c e b o o k ( C R O W - C l i n i c f o r t h e R e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f W i l d l i f e ) a n d I n s t a g r a m ( @ c r o w c l i n i c ) f o r u p d a t e s o n c l i n i c n e e d s a n d w a y s t o g e t i n v o l v e d ! I f y o u f i n d i n j u r e d , o r p h a n e d , o r s i c k w i l d l i f e , p l e a s e b r i n g t h e m t o B l u e P e a r l P e t H o s p i t a l l o c a t e d o f f D a n i e l s P a r k w a y i n F o r t M y e r s a t 9 5 0 0 M a r k e t p l a c e R o a d I f y o u h a v e a n y w i l d l i f e o r o p e r at i o n a l r e l a t e d i n q u i r i e s , p l e a s e c o n t a c t i n f o @ c r o w c l i ni c o r g

Insurance resources for businesses after Ian

H u r r i c a n e I a n ’ s i m p a c t f o r e v e r changed the Florida communities in its path, and its damage is still being evaluated as rescue efforts continue The resilience of Florida will be supported by the state’s insurance community, including surplus lines insurance covering more than 7,500 flood policies for people and businesses in Lee, Charlotte a n d C o l l i e r c o u n t i e s ( a c c o r d i n g t o 2021 data) The Florida Surplus Lines A s s o c i a t i o n i s h e l p i n g t o h i g h l i g h t a v a i l a b l e r e s o u r c e s f o r f a m i l i e s a n d businesses in the recovery process.

“Surplus lines agents and partners throughout the state are deeply sadd e n e d b y t h e c a t a s t r o p h i c d a m a g e caused by Hurricane Ian,” said FSLA President-Elect Dave DeMott, CPCU, A M I M , A R M , A U , o f G r i d I r o n I n s u r a n c e U n d e r w r i t e r s “ W e s t a n d w i t h t h e p e o p l e a n d b u s i n e s s e s o f Southwest Florida and are ready to help aid and assist with the rebuilding of communities As a first step, we urge policy holders to document damage and connect with their agents if you cann o t f i n d y o u r p o l i c y , c o n t a c t y o u r insurer or the Department of Financial Services (DFS) helpline ”

F o r a s s i s t a n c e w h e n f i l i n g p o s tstorm claims, Floridians can call 1877-MY-FL-CFO (693-5236) or visit

w w w M y F l o r i d a C F O c o m F S L A h a s rounded up tips and resources for businesses regarding ways to safely operate a f t e r a s t o r m a t https://www myfsla com/hurricanes/

“The state has also coordinated several in-person centers where Floridians c a n f i l e c l a i m s , r e c e i v e i m m e d i a t e c h e c k s a n d l e a r n m o r e a b o u t t h e options and resources available in the rebuilding process,” added DeMott

Insurance carriers will be on hand to a s s i s t r e s i d e n t s w i t h t h e i n s u r a n c e c l a i m s p r o c e s s a t d e s i g n a t e d D F S I n s u r a n c e V i l l a g e s C u r r e n t l y , t h a t i n c l u d e s t h e P o r t C h a r l o t t e I n i t i a l Payment Center in the Port Charlotte T o w n C e n t e r ( P a r k i n g L o t ) , 1 4 4 1

T a m i a m i T r a i l , P o r t C h a r l o t t e , F l a , 33948, open daily from 8 a m – 6 p m

In a release, DFS urged policyholders to bring as much documentation as t h e y c a n , i n c l u d i n g i d e n t i f i c a t i o n , insurance cards / information and pictures or documentation of the property being claimed as a loss.

Helpful resources for businesses can also be found at the state’s Disaster Recovery Center, located at the Lakes Regional Library, 15290 Bass Road, Fort Myers, Fla , 33919, open daily from 9 a m – 6 p m Here, Floridians can explore the state agencies, partners

a n d o r g a n i z a t i o n s a v a i l a b l e t o h e l p

i n d i v i d u a l s a n d b u s i n e s s e s r e c o v e r .

Additional Disaster Recovery Centers are expected to be announced in the c o m i n g d a y s a t www floridadisaster org

Agencies available onsite to assist at the Disaster Recovery Center:

∫ Florida Division of Emergency Management

∫ Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

∫ Florida Department of Economic Opportunity

∫ O f f i c e o f F l o r i d a ’ s C h i e f Financial Officer, Jimmy Patronis

∫ Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation

∫ Florida Department of Children and Families

∫ Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs

∫ F l o r i d a O f f i c e o f I n s u r a n c e Regulation

∫ Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles

∫ Enterprise Florida, Inc

∫ Legal Services of North Florida

∫ CareerSource Southwest Florida

∫ CareerSource South Florida

∫ CareerSource Pasco Hernando

∫ F l o r i d a S m a l l B u s i n e s s Development Center Network (SBDC)

∫ U S S m a l l B u s i n e s s Administration (SBA)

F S L A e c h o s s t a t e l e a d e r s u r g i n g Floridians to avoid fraud by knowing the signs and reporting it if they see it: Call the Fraud Tip Hotline at 1-8003 7 8 - 0 4 4 5 o r v i s i t FraudFreeFlorida com

To learn more about the role of surplus lines as a safety value within the i n s u r a n c e m a r k e t p l a c e , v i s i t h t t p s : / / w w w m y f s l a c o m / s u rpluslines101/

About FSLA

T h e F l o r i d a S u r p l u s L i n e s Association (FSLA) is an association representing excess and surplus lines a g e n c y m e m b e r f i r m s a n d a s s o c i a t e members in Florida Over the past 60 years, FSLA has promoted the regulatory and legislative interests of FSLA members and the Florida surplus lines industry, with a focus on supporting o p p o r t u n i t i e s a n d i n s u r i n g r i s k s t h r o u g h o u t F l o r i d a . T h e F l o r i d a Surplus Lines Association serves as a voice and a resource for its members and is consistently recognized for being one of the most active in the nation, ranking among the top three surplus lines associations in the country Learn more at www myFSLA com

■

e e k o f

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

PHOTO PROVIDED

OPINIONS

Your choice: Politics or professionalism

P u b l i s h e r

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

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

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

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

Advertising Sales

Lyn McElhaney

lmcelhaney@breezenewspapers com

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

Do you want politics or professionalism? That is the question voters in Lee County will face in November when they decide whether to maintain an appointed/hired professional as the Chief Executive Officer of the Lee County School District or take their chances with a politician if they choose to elect their children’s top schools chief

Our local state delegation introduced and passed a bill to place the question on the November ballot It will be the very last item on the ballot

Of the 13,567 school districts in the nation, only 1% have elected superintendents and of the 120 largest school districts in the nation, only 1 has an elected superintendent. Florida and Alabama are the only two states that have a statutory scheme that allows for an elected superintendent In Alabama, no school district with more than 2,500 students has an elected superintendent

Of the 22 largest school districts in the State of Florida, only one county has an elected superintendent School districts like Escambia and Marion, with student populations that range from 30k – 40k students, recently moved from elected to appointed/hired superintendents

Notably, both Districts were graded a “C” by the State of Florida before moving to the appointed/hired superintendent model The elected superintendent position in Florida is far more common in smaller, rural districts with

New bold Biden prediction

To the editor:

We b Po ll

Previous Web Poll Question

Do you support the Town of Fort Myers Beach constructing a new Bay Oaks building and raising fees at Bay Oaks?

∫ Yes, I support a new building and higher Bay Oaks fees, 17%

∫ No, don't construct the new Bay Oaks building and keep fees flat, 53%

∫ Construct the new Bay Oaks building but don't raise fees, 14%

∫ I support higher Bay Oaks fees but no new building, 16%

Current Web Poll Question

Do you think the new Bayside Park renovations were worth it?

∫ Yes

∫ No

∫ I like the renovations but it was too expensive

∫ Unsure, I haven't seen it yet

Share your opinion at fortmyersbeachtalk com

In a CNN interview on Oct. 11, 2022, Joe Biden admits, “slight recession possible but I d o n ’ t a n t i c i p a t e i t ” O n t h e s a m e d a t e ,

Allianz Chief Economic Advisor Mohamed El-Erian sounded the alarm on the state of the global economy saying the worst of inflation is yet to come, “very sobering” and there is now financial stability risk

Biden stated last year that “no serious economist” is saying inflation isn’t transitory Both Larry Summers and Mohamed ElErian were warning that “this round of inflation is not transitory” in the middle of last year Biden was wrong again and maybe he doesn’t have any “serious economist” in the White House onboard his administration

He is either lying to the American people a month before the mid-term elections for obvious partisan reasons, or he is too stupid to understand the dynamics of the economy

student populations below 40,000 students Of the 29 school districts in Florida with an appointed/hired superintendent, all but two of them are graded an “A” or a “B” by the DOE Districts earning a “C” are almost exclusively elected superintendent districts

Our newest superintendent, Dr Christopher Bernier, was hired after the School Board conducted an exhaustive national search, allowing for the highest degree of professionalism, expertise, and experience

With an elected superintendent, the citizens are limited to choose from only those who live in Lee County Many argue that electing a superintendent ensures the loss of educational expertise. I cannot remember a time when the superintendent in Lee County did not have a doctoral degree along with decades and decades of education and education leadership experience The only qualifications a candidate needs to run for the position of elected superintendent are to be 18 years old, live in Lee County, be free of felony convictions, and not be adjudicated mentally incompetent Elections are costly, time-consuming, often contentious undertakings Winning a campaign in a county the size of Lee County is akin to a full-time job. Appointed/hired superintendents can devote all of their efforts to the operations of the school district Elected superintendents must divert significant time that should be focused on the students to raising money and

Letters to the Editor

whose taxpayers have made him a multi-millionaire throughout his lackluster career as nothing more than a plundering political pirate

Rest assured, if Biden says you don’t have to worry about a recession, you better get ready for some very hard and bitter times ahead, as if any of us need any more of those.

Max Christian, St James City

Say NO to changing to an elected superintendent

To the editor:

A proposal to change to an elected superintendent will be on our ballot in November here in Lee County I understand the fervor around how important our leadership is at the district and I am in full support of us choosing who represents us That being said I per-

We want your opinion

winning votes Some believe that it is quite counterintuitive to choose a system that necessitates the politization of public education over the performance of students in public schools Others argue that it is oxymoronic to infuse partisan politics into an area of public service that thrives in an environment of nonpartisanship

Appointment of a superintendent of schools is a near universal practice and sound business practice dictates that a governing board appoints or hires the chief executive officer of a company Rosalind Brewer was not elected as the CEO of Walgreen’s Ken Frazer worked his way up Merck for 19 years before being appointed as the company’s CEO Citigroup’s CEO, Jane Fraser, did not have to campaign to become CEO because her experience, expertise, and strong leadership skills drove the Board of Directors to appoint her as such The notion of private industry CEOs running for their jobs is ludicrous Yet, that is what is being proposed for the School District, which educates 103,000+ students, manages a $2 4 billion budget, employs 13,000 people, is the second largest employer in the county, the single largest food service provider in the county, and one of the largest transportation providers in the nation

While we all want someone who can manage the politics of a school district, consider whether you really want a politician as the chief executive officer in charge of our children’s education

Chris Patricca sits on the Lee County School Board District 3 She writes this article in her individual capacity, not as a spokesperson for the Board

sonally am not a fan of electing a superintendent

For those who argue that the super should be accountable to the people, I would argue that he/she is and will be via the already established representative process we have via the elected school board I understand the passion for direct accountability however we cannot place every position on the ballot

I am more focused on having the right person on the job and they be laser focused on execution of their agenda If we put the super in an elected role they will have to spend half of their term campaigning and looking away from the day-to-day priorities which are so very important to us all

If you want great personnel to be selected for key roles at the district, elect board members that will make the right decisions

Todd Maurer Cape Coral

The views expressed on the Opinions pages are just that opinions. These pages are intended to convey a range of viewpoints; opinions printed on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper. Opposing views are welcome. Letters to the Editor or guest columns may be mailed to: Fort Myers Beach Observer, 19260 San Carlos Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931; faxed to 239-765-0846; emailed to news@breezenewspapers.com; or posted to our Virtual Newsroom at www breezenewspapers com Letters

guest columns must be signed and must contain a phone

comment on any letter or editorial opinion online at: fortmyersbeachtalk com

Chris N. Patricca Guest Commentary

Health officials urging hurricane cleanup crews to take care

Cape man being treated for ‘flesh-eating’ bacterial infection after removing debris from flooded home

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

You may never know what lies below the surface -something that Cape Coral and Southwest Florida residents are unfortunately learning while cleaning up from Hurricane Ian

Cape resident Terry Brennen, 79, underwent his third surgery on Wednesday after contracting a “flesh-eating” bacterial disease attempting to clear debris from his home on Bayshore Drive He and his wife, Carlene, rode out the storm in their home adjacent Redfish Cove with beloved pets Carlene said high waters and a thick muck engulfed their house, leading to flooding and major damage

“I watched it come in,” Carlene said of the storm surge, the most destructive element of Hurricane Ian as it hit Lee County with winds just shy of a Category 5 storm “It came up over the seawall, a couple of feet above it, and came in flat no ripple, no wave It came in and hit the front of our house, hit the back It engulfed the front yard and the back yard. It came in with us standing there, up to our knees with us standing there ”

While a fit-for-his-age Terry was cleaning up the sludge and grime so they could walk up and down the driveway safely days later, he sustained small scratches and scrapes from moving debris The next day, his right leg began to swell The next day, even more so The next day, his leg was so swollen he couldn't walk That’s when Carlene’s pleads for him to go to the hospital were heard

“When he got in and got all of his labs done, he was admitted right away to the ICU,” Carlene said “It was diagnosed that he had a flesh-eating bacteria ”

Carlene said Terry’s doctor was familiar with the bacteria and that another person recently had their leg amputated due to the same circumstances

“The first couple of days we weren’t sure he was going to make it,” Carlene said “We were so scared ”

Terry had all of his skin on the right side of his leg removed, and doctors at Cape Coral Hospital had to cut out rotted flesh Carlene said they hope they can now start treating the bacteria with antibiotics Terry will have the open wound for four weeks, and will have skin graphs taken from his back to replace the skin on his leg

“Terry wanted to let people know that this stuff is so dangerous,” Carlene said, adding she also fell in the muck injuring her shoulder the other day “It’s everywhere We’re still pulling up everything we can salvage from waist-deep muck ”

Carlene believes every house on her street is a teardown She and Terry are now desperately looking for a rental, one they can stay in for at least a year

Meanwhile, she and her daughter are still in retrieval mode Every house along their circular drive has 10-foothigh piles of debris stacked in front

Lee Health Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Mary Beth Saunders said it’s important for people to understand that while standing water, for the most part, has receded, the same bacteria that was in that water can be on debris

“It’s still dangerous but we are still trying to get our stuff out,” she said

Lee Health Infectious Disease Specialist Dr Mary Beth Saunders said it’s important for people to understand that while standing water, for the most part, has receded, the same bacteria that was in that water can be on debris

“If you have cuts and scrapes, that puts you at-risk for infections and infections with unusual organisms,” Saunders said

Saunders said it’s important for those moving debris to protect themselves with long sleeves, long pants, and gloves

If a puncture is sustained, Saunders said to wash the area immediately with soap and clean water

She advised those that are not up to date with their tetanus immunization should make sure they do so

Saunders said another aspect of storm aftermath residents should take heed of is the high-levels of mosquitos with the amount of standing water the area experienced

“We don’t see it often, but we can see some mosquitoborne illnesses,” Saunders said. “With what has been happening, I would be concerned that we may see a rise in some of those illnesses The county is not out spraying as they usually do They're still on rescue and recognizance ”

So, when is it time to see a doctor?

Saunders said when individuals notice an increase in redness or pain, or drainage from a wound, medical care should be sought Other symptoms could include experiencing fever, chills, or diarrhea

Saunders said Lee Health has seen an increase in the number of patients with storm-related clean up injuries, including infections

She said Lee Health is most commonly seeing the Vibrio illness

“We have seen an increase in the number of Vibrio infections,” she said “And it can be a very serious infection -especially for those who may be immune-compromised ”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Vibrio bacteria naturally live in certain coastal waters and are present in higher concentrations between May and October when water temperatures are warmer About a dozen Vibrio species can cause human illness, known as vibriosis

The CDC states that most people become infected by eating raw or undercooked shellfish, particularly oysters. Certain Vibrio species can also cause a skin infection when an open wound is exposed to salt water or brackish water Brackish water is a mixture of fresh and salt water It is often

found where rivers meet the sea

The CDC continues to state that people with compromised immune systems, especially those with chronic liver disease, are more likely to get vibriosis Eating raw seafood, particularly oysters, and exposing open wounds to salt water or brackish water can increase a person’s chance for getting vibriosis

The CDC estimates that vibriosis causes 80,000 illnesses each year in the United States About 52,000 of these illnesses are estimated to be the result of eating contaminated food

“Most people with a mild case of vibriosis recover after about three days with no lasting effects,” CDC officials stated However, people with a Vibrio vulnificus infection can get seriously ill and need intensive care or limb amputation About one in five people with this type of infection die, sometimes within a day or two of becoming ill

Another rare “flesh-eating” bacterial infection that spreads quickly in the body is necrotizing fasciitis According to the CDC, it is a very serious illness that requires care in a hospital Antibiotics are typically the first line of defense, though sometimes they cannot reach all of the infected areas because the bacteria have killed too much tissue and reduced blood flow CDC officials said when this happens, doctors have to surgically remove the dead tissue Since necrotizing fasciitis can spread so rapidly, patients often must get surgery done very quickly It is not unusual for someone with necrotizing fasciitis to end up needing multiple surgeries In serious cases, the patient may need a blood transfusion

Symptoms include a red, warm, or swollen area of skin that spreads quickly, severe pain (including pain beyond the area of skin that is red), fever, blisters, changes in skin coloration, pus or oozing, dizziness, fatigue, diarrhea, and nausea Saunders added that flu season is right around the corner, and with the influx of out-of-state individuals coming to help with hurricane recovery, it’s important to have the vaccine She said both the flu vaccine and COVID-19 boosters can be admitted at the same time at a Lee Health facility or local pharmacy

“This is the time of year to get the flu vaccine,” Saunders said

Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad cj

American Red Cross continues to provide support following Hurricane Ian

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

Florida are struggling with the devastation left behind by Hurricane Ian In response, more than 1,800 American Red Cross disaster workers are on the ground across the affected communities in Florida delivering urgent relief

As many Floridians clean up their n e i g h b o r h o o d s a n d h u n d r e d s m o r e remain in shelters, the American Red Cross and our partners are there, working day and night to help as people deal w i t h t h e d e v a s t a t i o n l e f t b e h i n d b y

Hurricane Ian With the help of partners S o u t h e r n B a p t i s t D i s a s t e r R e l i e f a n d others, mobile kitchens are cooking tens of thousands of hot meals each day More than 120 Red Cross emergency response vehicles are on the roads delivering these hot meals and relief supplies to people struggling in the hardest hit

a r e a s O n S u n d a y a l o n e , m o r e t h a n

850,000 meals were provided

Red Cross shelters and Disaster Aid Stations are also open where people can either stay or get food, relief supplies a n d o t h e r a s s i s t a n c e D i s a s t e r A i d Stations are a location for the community to receive hot meals, meal kits, water, s n a c k s , a n d i n d i v i d u a l d i s a s t e r c a r e Sites are also equipped with Starlink, which provides free Wi-Fi within the general area The list of Disaster Aid Station sites change daily and are update d o n t h e S o u t h F l o r i d a R e d C r o s s F a c e b o o k p a g e ( F o l l o w o n F B : SFLRedCross) Link to updated post and 10/11 Disaster Aid Station sites is here: https://www facebook com/SFLRedCro ss/posts/pfbid02ku3WzkkJkLs6aZ2wv

a2QdBXgJs81cXi9WEAzhDgbh2SvCt XLszJR9wgnCtLVBWzJl

Trained volunteers are also providing health and mental health support to families who have suffered unimaginable loss. This includes help coping with new c h a l l e n g e s , m a n a g i n g m e d i c a l c o n d itions, caring for wounds or injuries, and r e p l a c i n g p r e s c r i p t i o n m e d i c a t i o n s o r other critical medical equipment like canes and wheelchairs

The Red Cross is working closely to ensure help is available when and where people need it most Last night, more than 1,600 people sought refuge in 11 Red Cross and partner shelters across Florida To date, more than 167,000 relief items including comfort kits and other supplies have been provided to people in need

For more information and for people who need assistance, we encourage them to go to: [redcross org]RedCross org

You can find information there about how the Red Cross is helping and how to find open shelters If you need additional assistance, you can call 1-800-RED CROSS

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission For more information, p l e a s e v i s i t r e d c r o s s o r g o r c r u z r ojaamericana org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross

Governor meets with business leaders in Cape Coral

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com

Sitting in front of a group of business leaders from around Lee County on Oct 12 at the Mercola Market in Cape Coral, Gov Ron DeSantis received frank and direct feedback on their top concerns and issues in dealing with the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.

C h i e f c o n c e r n s i n c l u d e d t h e w e l l b e i n g o f t h e i r employees out of work and finding housing for workers displaced by Ian and those who have arrived in Lee from around the country to aid in the cleanup and recovery

“We already had a housing crisis here,” Mercola Health Resources and Mercola Market Chief Executive Officer Steve Rye said, adding that there is now “housing chaos” due to the displacement of workers from the hurricane and construction workers seeking homes

DeSantis earned praise for the progress made thus far in getting bridges up across devastated Pine Island and Matlacha. Marty Harrity, a partner in the ownership of Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille and the Dixie Fish Co , called the temporary bridge on the Sanibel Causeway “miraculous ” It is allowed repair crews to cross onto the islands He described the bridge as the “umbilical cord” for Sanibel

While there have been successes, the bridges leading to the south side of Fort Myers Beach remained closed as of last week

“We’re coming back It’s going to take some time,” Harrity said

Four of the businesses he has on Sanibel, Captiva and Fort Myers Beach are closed.

F l a n k e d b y F l o r i d a D e p a r t m e n t o f E c o n

Opportunity Secretary Dane Eagle, DeSantis, acknowledged that there was still a lot of turbulence ahead with many displaced from their homes

“There are a lot of challenges we will have to deal with,” he said “It’s a very disruptive time for everybody, particularly for businesses ”

DeSantis said the widespread loss of power that occurred during the hurricane, and which continued to be felt last week in places like Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and Captiva, was a “big interruption

Tommy Kolar, who operated the Lighthouse Inn and Suites on Fort Myers Beach, said the biggest challenge is replacing equipment

“All our equipment was ruined,” he said D e S a n t i s s a i d t h e r e w a s a n e e d f o r f i n a n c i n g t o h e l p b u s i n e s s e s r e p a i r d a m a g e d s t r u c t u r e s a n d r e o p e n E m e r g e n c y b r i d g e l o a n s f r o m t h e s t a t e w e r e g o i n g o u t t o b u s i n e s s e s t h a t h a d c o m p l e t e d d a m a g e a s s e s s m e n t s u r v e y s H e s a i d m i l l i o n s h a d b e e n g i v e n o u t t o 1 0 6 b u s i n e s s e s t o m e e t p a y r o l l a n d c o v e r e x p e n s e s D e S a n t i s w a s a w a i t i n g a $ 3 0 m i l l i o n f e d e r a l g o v e r nm e n t g r a n t t o a i d w o r k e r s d i s l o c a t e d f r o m t h e i r h o m e s i n t h e s t a t e .

“I’m optimistic we are going to see a bigger bounceback,” he said

T i m b e r R e s o r t s C h i e f E x e c u t i v e O f f i c e r G r e g Spencer, which owns South Seas Island Resort on Captiva, said he estimated that it would take $800 million to $1 billion to rebuild The tightening of the construction debt market and permitting were two of the obstacles they will need to overcome

“We can’t take 10 to 12 months,” he said of getting permitted for construction

Spencer said the company would use its workers on the cleanup.

Jeff Miloff, partner and broker at Miloff Aubuchon Realty Group in Cape Coral, said there was a “big shortage of housing” in the region, particularly for rentals

Cathy Eagle, charter boat captain and owner of Captain Cathy Eagle Boat Tours in Matlacha, said local waters faced troubles from debris in the water, including other boats, trees and refrigerators, which have created new obstructions

Matt Sinclair, president of Sinclair Custom Homes in

Matlacha, said the construction industry was already suffering from a shortage of labor and delays in construction materials before the hurricane He said there is a need to speed up the issuance of permits for construction

“It’s a very resilient area,” Sinclair said “It’s going to be a long fight We are going to get through it ”

DeSantis said he supports relaxing local codes to

NATHAN MAYBERG

allow property owners to place trailers on their properties that they could live in while rehabbing their homes Among the other suggestions he heard from the area business leaders was that tax notices should be delayed in November

See GOVERNOR, page 7

Congressman Byron Donalds (R-19) was in Cape Coral last Wednesday for a town hall t o f o c u s o n p r o p e r t y r e s t o r a t i o n a f t e r

Hurricane Ian. At right, Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter was among those who spoke.

Donalds uses residents to use licenced, insured, contractors

B y N AT H A N M AY B E R G n m a y b e r g @ b r e e z e n e w s p a p e r s c o m C o n g r e s s m a n B y r o n D o n a l d s , R - 1 9 , w a s i n C a p e C o r a l W e d n e s d a y f o r a t o w n h a l l t o f o c u s o n p r o p e r t y r e s t o r a t i o n a f t e r H u r r i c a n e I a n D o n a l d s h e l d t h e s e s s i o n f o c u s i n g o n p r o p e r t y r e s t o r a t i o n a t C a p e C h r i s t i a n C h u r c h W e d n e s d a y H e w a s j o i n e d b y C a p e C o r a l M a y o r J o h n G u n t e r a n d o f f i c i a l s f r o m t h e F e d e r a l E m e r g e n c y M a n a g e m e n t A g e n c y i n a t t e m p t i n g t o a n s w e r t h e q u e s t i o n s o f L e e C o u n t y r e s i d e n t s w i t h c o n c e r n s a b o u t g e t t i n g r e i m b u r s e d f o r i n s u r a n c e c l a i m s , h o w t o f i x t h e i r r o o f s a n d o t h e r h u r r i c a n e - r e l a t e d q u e s t i o n s N e a r l y e v e r y o t h e r b u i l d i n g i n C a p e C o r a l i s b e l i e v e d t o h a v e b e e n d a m a g e d i n s o m e c a p a c i t y b y H u r r i c a n e I a n D o n a l d s s t r e s s e d t h a t w h e n h i r i n g c o n t r a c t o r s t o d o t h e w o r k t h a t h o m e o w n e r s d e m a n d c o n t r a c t o r s s h o w t h a t t h e y h a v e a F l o r i d a c o n t r a c t i n g l i c e n s e , i n s u r a n c e a n d w o r k e r ’ s c o m p e n s a t i o n i n s u r a n c e “ I f t h e y d o n ’ t h a v e t h a t , d o n ’ t d o b u s i n e s s w i t h t h e m , ” D o n a l d s s a i d .

T h e i s s u e h a s r e c e n t l y b e c o m e p o l i t i c a l a f t e r a T e x a s c o n t r a c t o r w a s a r r e s t e d b y t h e C h a r l o t t e C o u n t y S h e r i f f ’ s O f f i c e f o r a t t e m p t i n g t o c o n d u c t r o o f i n g w o r k T h e a r r e s t w a s d e n o u n c e d b y f o r m e r G o v e r n o r

C h a r l i e C r i s t , w h o i s c h a l l e n g i n g G o v e r n o r R o n D e S a n t i s i n N o v e m b e r ’ s g u b e r n a t o r i a l r a c e C o n t r a c t o r s w i t h o u t a F l o r i d a l i c e n s e a r e n ’ t a l l o w e d b y s t a t e l a w t o m a k e r e p a i r s t o h o m e s a n d r o o f s i n F l o r i d a R e s i d e n t s w e r e a l s o u r g e d n o t t o s i g n a n y i n s u r a n c e i n f o r m a t i o n o v e r t o c o n t r a c t o r s o r t o g i v e t h e m c r e d i t c a r d i n f o r m a t i o n . O f f i c i a l s t o l d a c r o w d o f s e v e r a l d o z e n t o s t a y p e rs i s t e n t i n w o r k i n g w i t h F E M A a n d i n s u r a n c e c o m p an i e s o n g e t t i n g r e i m b u r s e m e n t a n d c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r

Governor

From page 6

Jason Moon, president of Elite DNA Therapy in Naples, said the challenges are also mental in nature

“There is a lot of anxiety and depression in the community,” he said, adding that a lot of people are without cable, Internet and phone service, and that a part of the community is “sick mentally ”

“We need to be there to help them,” Moon said

“We are committed to rebuilding. Nobody is going to be left behind ”

Congressman Byron Donalds, R-19

w o r k t o r e p a i r h o m e s O f f i c i a l s s a i d d e n i a l l e t t e r s f o r r e c o v e r y a s s i s t a n c e c a n o f t e n b e d u e t o l a c k o f d o c u m e n t a t i o n “ D o n ’ t g e t d i s c o u r a g e d S o m e t i m e s i t ’ s a l i t t l e t h i n g , m a y b e t h e y n e e d a l i t t l e c o p y o f s o m e t h i n g S o m e t i m e s t h e y n e e d m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , ” s a i d S a n d r a L a w s o n , w i t h t h e U S S m a l l B u s i n e s s A d m i n i s t r a t i o n O f f i c e o f D i s a s t e r A s s i s t a n c e O f f i c i a l s u r g e d r e s i d e n t s w i t h c o n c e r n s o r w h o n e e d e d a s s i s t a n c e w i t h c l a i m s , t o g o i n t o d i s a s t e r r e c o v e r y c e n t e r s , w h i c h a r e o p e n s e v e n d a y s a w e e k D i s a s t e r r e c o v e r y c e n t e r s a r e c u r r e n t l y o p e n e d f r o m 8 a m t o 7 p m s e v e n d a y s a w e e k a t L a k e s R e g i o n a l L i b r a r y i n F o r t M y e r s a n d t h e F o r t M y e r s D M S B u i l d i n g O n e C a p e C o r a l r e s i d e n t w h o l i v e s i n a 1 4 9 - u n i t c o n d o m i n i u m b u i l d i n g s a i d h e r i n s u r a n c e c o m p a n y h a s d e n i e d h e r c l a i m s f o r d a m a g e d i t e m s i n h e r c o nd o m i n i u m S h e s a i d t h a t m o l d h a s g r o w n a n d t h a t r e si d e n t s h a v e b e e n t o l d t h e y h a v e t o l e a v e t h e b u i l d i n g w h i l e t h e b u i l d i n g i s a i r e d o u t . T h e r e s i d e n t s a i d s h e h a s n o w h e r e t o g o a n d h a s n ’ t b e e n g i v e n a n y h e l p b y h e r i n s u r a n c e c o m p a n y o r F E M A t o f i n d a p l a c e D o n a l d s s a i d h e w o u l d d i r e c t s t a f f t o r e a c h o u t t o h e r t o t r y a n d g e t i n t o u c h w i t h t h e i n s u r a n c e c o m p a n y a n d t r y t o h e l p

Jerron Hull, president and chief execut i v e o f f i c e r o f A I M E n g i n e e r i n g & Surveying in Fort Myers, said “folks are stretched really thin ” Traffic volumes have increased with the wave of construction and recovery workers in town

“Folks need a little space,” he said

DeSantis said the success of Southwest Florida had been part of the reason for the problems The region was one of the top

M i k e W a d e , a s p o k e s p e r s o n f o r F E M A , s a i d i f t h e h o m e i s n ’ t l i v a b l e , s h e w i l l b e e l i g i b l e f o r r e n t a l a s s i st a n c e

G u n t e r s a i d t h e r e s i d e n t c o u l d n ’ t b e f o r c e d f r o m h e r h o m e w i t h o u t a c i t y b u i l d i n g d e p a r t m e n t i n s p e ct i o n G u n t e r s a i d l e s s t h a n 1 0 0 p e o p l e i n C a p e C o r a l a r e w i t h o u t p o w e r a n d t h a t w a t e r a n d s e w e r h a s b e e n r e s t o r e d a n d i s s a f e

C h r i s H o r n e , a h o m e b u i l d e r w i t h R u e H o m e s , s a i d t h e h u r r i c a n e w a s g o i n g t o m a k e t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n m a rk e t e v e n t o u g h e r “ I t w a s a l r e a d y a t o u g h e c o n o m y b e f o r e t h e h u r r i c a n e , ” H o r n e s a i d “ T h i s i s r e a l l y g o i n g t o h u r t . ” T h o s e l o o k i n g f o r a s s i s t a n c e c a n a l s o v i s i t R o t a r y o r g T h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l R o t a r y C l u b i s p r o v i di n g d i s a s t e r r e l i e f t o t h o s e i m p a c t e d b y H u r r i c a n e I a n , t h e C a p e C o r a l R o t a r y C l u b a n n o u n c e d O t h e r s w e r e c o n c e r n e d a b o u t a l a c k o f c a b l e O n e C a p e C o r a l r e s i d e n t s a i d t h e y h a d p o w e r r e s t o r e d S u n d a y b u t h a v e b e e n t o l d t h e y w o n ’ t g e t c a b l e b a c k u n t i l t h i s w e e k e n d

D o n a l d s s a i d t h e l a c k o f i n t e r n e t f o r s o m e w a s f r u st r a t i n g a n d t h a t i t d a m a g e d e f f o r t s t o r e a c h o u t t o t h e p u b l i c a n d g e t m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o u t a b o u t r e c o v e r y e f f o r t s . “ W h a t g o o d i s a w e b s i t e i f t h e p e o p l e i n a d i sa s t e r z o n e d o n ’ t h a v e i n t e r n e t a c c e s s ? ”

D o n a l d s s a i d t h e t o w n h a l l w a s “ v e r y i n f o r m a t i v e ”

D o n a l d s s a i d g e t t i n g o u t i n f o r m a t i o n i s “ r e a l l y c r i t i c a l r i g h t n o w ” D o n a l d s s a i d t h a t t h e h o u s i n g m i s s i o n a n d h a v i n g a l o n g - t e r m h o u s i n g m i s s i o n f o r p e o p l e w h o w e r e d i s p l a c e d n e e d s t o g e t “ f i g u r e d o u t v e r y q u i c kl y ” D o n a l d s s a i d h a v i n g e n o u g h “ m a n p o w e r ” w a s t h e b i g g e s t c h a l l e n g e

“ W e a r e c o m m i t t e d t o r e b u i l d i n g , ” D o n a l d s s a i d “ N o b o d y i s g o i n g t o b e l e f t b e h i n d ”

five places for building homes in the country prior to the hurricane

“This is a challenging economic environment in terms of supply chain,” he said “It costs a lot more to repair a roof ”

Following the roundtable, Harrity said the Doc Ford’s on Captiva is in the best shape of the four restaurants he operates in terms of reopening. The Fort Myers Beach one was the worst hit

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

“It looks like somebody took a big washing machine and spun everything around,” he said “We will have to rebuild outdoor seating The deck is gone and will have to be replaced ”

Harrity said rebuilding the tourism sector should be a priority

“Tourism is the lifeblood of the area,” he said.

Beach Elementary students returning to classes at San Carlos Park Elementary

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Fort Myers Beach Elementary School students will be returning to classes Thursday but at another school Beach Elementary School students, who have been out of school since Hurricane Ian began, will start attending San Carlos Park Elementary School on Thursday

Lee County Schools spokesperson Robert Spicker said there is currently “no timeline” on when Fort Myers Beach Elementary School might open “When appropriate, the beach community will be invited to be a part of the process,” he said

“The damage is significant,” Spicker said “We are only at the beginning of determining how to rebuild the school ” Beach school families are invited to a s t u d e n t r e u n i f i c a t i o n e v e n t o n Wednesday from 3 p m to 5 p m at San Carlos Park, Spicker said “This is an opportunity for the students to reconnect with their teachers and tour their partner school so they can start to become familiar with their new surroundings It is also a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o g e t a n y q u e s t i o n s answered and work with staff about establishing bus stops closer to where they are now living if they have not

already done so ”

The school day schedule will not change Classes start at 7:55 a m and dismiss at 2:10 p m

“The only thing that will be different for students is the campus they are on,” Spicker said

“We have tried to establish as normal a school day as possible for Fort Myers B e a c h E l e m e n t a r y a t t h e i r p a r t n e r school,” Spicker said “San Carlos Park Elementary has taken great steps to create space and welcome both the students and staff ”

All of the School District of Lee County's 80 PreK through 12th grade schools will offer students “a learning environment” by Friday, with a handful to provide virtual or combined campuses for classes

The week started with 13 schools opening on Monday Another 13 schools p l u s t h r e e s p e c i a l c e n t e r s o p e n e d Tuesday. The largest group of schools, 42, will open on Wednesday Five more will open on Thursday and the final schools will return to teaching and learning on Friday

Meghan Bradbury contributed to this report

Fort Myers Beach Elementary School “suffered significant damage” from Hurricane Ian,

Church ministry helps feed Beach but unclear if they can return

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

While Hurricane Ian brought the worst darkness Fort Myers Beach has seen and the worst possible outcome its residents could have imagined, folks from around the state and country have been chipping in to give residents left without a home a leg up

For a town without power, water or sewer for more than two weeks and going on three for most, a myriad group of do-gooders have assembled around Fort Myers Beach from WalMart to Santini Plaza and places in between

A group of 10 families and friends from the Ministry Center of Highlands County in Sebring spent Saturday and Sunday on the south side of Estero Boulevard serving about 1,000 hamburgers and hot dogs at a parking lot to hungry folks on the island, along with Gatorade and about 350 sausage burritos, as well as non-perishable foods, canned goods, diapers, wipes and hygiene products

They are planning to return this weekend though It’s not clear if they will be allowed back on the island with the edict being announced that only residents and their contractors will be allowed on Fort Myers Beach Sunday through Wednesdays from 9 a m to 5 p m

Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Roger Hernstadt and Town of Fort Myers Beach Mayor Ray Murphy said the county made the decision to change the hours Lee County Government spokesperson Betsy Clayton said the decision-making process for the opening of access to Fort Myers Beach and the limits of hours for residents was done in concert with the Town of Fort Myers Beach, Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District Clayton said residents or their contracts, or those who can show an affiliation with an address on Fort Myers Beach, will be allowed on the island

“There has been a lot of need,” Brad Stephan said “We’ve done everything on donations from the church and individuals who want to give ”

Tia Hodges Simpson said the group plans to return to the parking lot of Charley’s Boat House and Grill with hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, drinks and non-perishable items for anyone in need “We have over 400 hamburgers and hotdogs and plenty of cold beverages – all free,” she said The restaurant was totaled by Hurricane Ian Stephan said he and his group were the “hands and feet” of the congregation ”

Access limited

order to aid with the debris removal process “The county came up with the schedule for the debris removal We’re following it ”

Lee County Government spokesperson Betsy Clayton said the decisions were made in consultation with Town of Fort Myers Beach government officials, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Town of Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District

Previously, there has been a curfew at 7 p m

Essential response personnel include: Debris management (crews from CrowderGulf and Thompson Debris); electric providers, water and sewer utility providers; and transportation crews from Florida Department of Transportation and Lee County Department of Transportation

Hernstadt said the county's management of debris removal will allow town staff to focus on other rebuilding priorities

From page 1

foods, canned goods, diapers, wipes and hygiene products

The ministry made a large investment in the goodwill effort for Fort Myers Beach

“We found out that people just want a hot meal If it’s hamburgers and hot dogs they don’t care,” Stephan said Stephan said he and members of the ministry have been visiting Fort Myers Beach for decades “We just camped at Red Coconut (RV Park) in July and now it’s gone It’s totally wiped out,” Stephan said

At the intersection of Buttonwood Drive and Prescott Street, Justin Sarles was cooking in a field under a tent with a Miami Dolphins logo with boxes and bins of canned goods, cereal, bags of chips, water, clothes, hygiene products and other supplies and other items to help folks Sarles, of Fort Myers, who owns Tropical

From page 1

"It makes sense to me," Hernstadt said

"They need to expedite debris removal " Currently, debris is piled up along town streets and is making passage difficult The town has entered into a contract for debris removal but is not receiving any state or federal assistance with personnel or trucks to remove the debris

Traffic has been backed up for vehicles heading north on Estero Boulevard for miles

"If trucks can't move, why have more trucks?," Hernstadt asked "Trucks are clogging up the road "

Not everyone is happy with the hour restrictions

Contractors need to be let in at 6 a m Wednesday to Sunday when they normally are up,” Renee Gabet said “Let them in so we can get our homes back The south end is impossible to come and go We need our Dumpsters and contractors to enter early ”

for the first time since Hurricane Ian struck, Dexter said,

Solar, said he has become friends with a lot of locals who have been left homeless or who are working on their homes

Sarles said he has been receiving donations from all over the world to assist “I rallied up a couple friends and we went the first day over to the East Coast to get supplies and we posted it on the Fort Myers Beach, Florida (Facebook) group and people from all over the world have been sending us money I have been out here every day cooking and we have been doing 600-1,000 meals a day,” Sarles said.

Amid sand blowing with the wind and nearly knocking over his tent, Sarles doesn’t seem phased by any of the challenges “It’s pretty good,” he said

Hernstadt said the aim is to have the debris cleaned up within 60 days, while 100% of the cost of debris cleanup will be covered by the federal government That date could still be extended Technically, after 60 days the federal government would only cover 87% unless an extension is given

Power and water have only begun to be restored on Fort Myers Beach three weeks after Hurricane Ian struck Florida Power and Light has been making progress in repairing the infrastructure for residents to receive power but residents will need to get a certified electrician and structural engineer to deem their electrical outlets and home are safe to receive power first

Former Fort Myers Beach Mayor Tracey Gore was also unhappy with the restrictions on beach access

“I think it’s crap They should still let homeowners come and go,” Gore said

The homes had power restored through Florida Power and Light after obtaining approved structural and electrical inspections

Repairs to the main power line along

Gore recently stayed at a hotel while awaiting power and water to be restored to her home Gore said hotel rooms are hard to come by

“People are still living on island with nowhere to go and need to be able to come back and forth to get gas and water and supplies,” Gore said “You can only stay with friends for so long ”

Gore said she knew residents who had to sleep in their car when the island was closed off for a week Gore said due to the traffic on the island and on the county the limit to the hours was unreasonable since the time it takes for people to leave the island to go to a friend’s home or hotel to shower or purchase food, supplies or other items could take longer than the time allowed to enter back onto the island

“They should let us come and go,” Gore said

Estero Boulevard are 96% complete, and 85% of side streets are complete, Dexter stated Florida Power and Light has installed 47 new streetlights as of Saturday

NATHAN MAYBERG

Sherri Simpson (left to right), Tia Hodges, Jesse Simpson, Tatelynn Woodward, Braylee Stephan, Bruce Woodward, Toshia Wingo, Devin Wingo, Brad Stephan, Kerrie Powers of Ministry Center of Highlands County in Sebring spent Saturday and Sunday serving about 1,000 hamburgers and hot dogs to hungry folks on the island, along with Gatorade and about 350 sausage burritos They also provided non-perishable

main service from the town's water tank on the south end of the island to Times Square with pressure stable at 60 PSI,"

“It came up so fast,” Johnson said When the toilets started exploding, he took off from the highest window in the house in the bathroom with a bookpack containing his laptop, a hard drive for his personal computer and one change of clothes. He traveled through chest-high water to get back to his wife down the street, clutching onto homes as he traveled

hoping not to get hit by debris “My concern was getting hitting hit by something I was worried about getting hit by a two-by-four ”

Mr Johnson would make it to safety

“My concern was getting hitting hit by something. I was worried about getting hit by a two-byfour,” Steve Johnson on escaping his home during Hurricane Ian in chest-high water

Johnson’s next-door neighbor wouldn’t be so lucky Daymon Utterback, 54, died after getting stuck in a window and after saving his fiancé Theresa Between Utterback’s home and the Johnson family’s house, the remains of the Hideaway Village Motel settled after floating down from Estero Boulevard

Several people staying at the hotel survived by clutching onto the debris from the hotel in between the two homes, Johnson said

One of them, Nishelle Harris-Miles, would be found dead under the debris Johnson said neighbors reported hearing yelling from the group during the hurricane

The day after the hurricane, Johnson returned to his home and saw the body of Utterback. “I put a towel over him,” he said

“He was a nice guy,” Johnson said “He was very happy, go lucky ” Known around town for dressing up like Captain Jack Sparrow the Johnny Depp pirate character from “Pirates of the Caribbean,” Utterback worked at a tool and dye fabrication shop in Naples

Johnson said Utterback used to host pool parties in his backyard and was known for fishing for sharks

A couple in their 80’s on the street sur-

Cindy Johnson and Steve Johnson survey the damage behind their home on Seminole Way overlooking a canal. Their home was entirely flooded by Hurricane Ian and will need to be gutted. Nearby, a 40-year-old woman staying at the Hideaway Motel was found dead under debris from the Hideaway Motel that floated in the area behind their house.

vived by swimming all day and night and hanging onto a lanai inside their pool cage and treading water into the night, Johnson said

The morning after the hurricane hit, the home of Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Roger Hernstadt burned down across the canal. The fire, which could be seen from behind their backyard, burned quick, according to the Johnsons The Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District has not responded to requests for information regarding the investigation into the fire as of the publication of this story Hernstadt declined to comment on it Riding out the stor m

F o r m e r F o r t M y e r s B e a c h M a y o r Tracey Gore stayed on the island with her husband Henry throughout the hurricane they lost the family’s pontoon boat “It’s All Good,” had to replace the subfloors of their home, suffered damage to their pool, and their presently out-of-commission shrimp boat “Lexi Joe” is stuck with her other boats on top of the property of Erickson and Jensen on San Carlos Island

“It was scary as hell,” Ms Gore said

“The reason locals stay is because of Hurricane Charley (in 2004) People couldn’t get back on the island for five days ”

Her 12-year-old Labrador mix Wojo collapsed and died on the shrimp boat docks in the days after the hurricane Gore thinks it was from the stress

“I’m luckier than most people,” she said “Our home was built two feet over the code That’s what saved us,” she said

See RECOVERING, page 11

NATHAN MAYBERG

NATHAN MAYBERG

Former Fort Myers Beach Mayor Tracey Gore stands in front of debris in the front yard of her home with the remnants of her pontoon boat "It's All Good," which was ruined by Hurricane Ian

PHOTOS PROVIDED

ABOVE: The pool area behind Tracey Gore's Fort Myers Beach home before Hurricane Ian. BELOW: The pool area behind Tracey Gores's Fort Myers Beach home after Hurricane Ian.

Recovering

Terrifying losses

From page 10

Hurricane Ian took away Gore’s friend Marti Campbell whom she worked closely with when Gore was mayor along with Hernstadt, to reverse a previous council’s actions to remove a fishing pier at the end of Hercules Drive Gore said the pier, as well as two other piers, were preserved due to the advocacy efforts of Campbell, who lived on Hercules Drive

C a m p b e l l , a 7 4 - y e a r - o l d r e t i r e d teacher from Maysville, Kentucky, was killed in her Fort Myers Beach home by Hurricane Ian Gore had received text messages from her throughout the hurricane The last one arrived at 2:58 p m

“Afraid to get out Walls are collapsing around me,” Campbell texted Gore.

Ms Campbell’s brother Robert lived across the street from his sister in a duplex he rented from her Mitch Pacyna, lived in the other unit of the duplex Pacyna, a 74year-old Chicago native who was popular for the sports bar he kept in the basement and for working as a greeter at the town library

Pacyna was in Mr Campbell’s home a l o n g w i t h P a c y n a ’ s w i f e M a r y W o j c i e c h o w s k i w h e n t h e h u r r i c a n e ’ s waters reached the second floor. Pacyna had been posting throughout the day on Facebook, documenting the surging tide

Pacyna’s last post on Facebook was at 1:26 p m

“OK, WE’RE TERRIFIED !!” Pacyna wrote An hour earlier, Pacyna posted a video of the hurricane “how sad to see the bar going down the street Very, very sad and I have to go down the block in a couple days and see what we can salvage There goes our drums,” he said “That’s the saddest thing.” Pacyna speculated he might have to go on the roof if the flood waters went higher

“I jumped out of my second floor win-

dow with Mitch,” Mr Campbell said Robert, Mitch and Mary found themselves in surging flood waters. Robert saw Mitch go under the water and never saw him again Mr Campbell said he was saved by a tree “It reached out and grabbed me,” he said He stayed on the tree for about four hours, he said He had to push back boards and other debris away from the tree “My job was to protect that tree,” Campbell said Mary survived by hanging onto a railing 30 feet from the home, he said “The water was over my front door, 12-15 feet,” he said.

Campbell said Pacyna loved all sports, but especially Chicago sports and legendary Bears running back Walter Payton Pacyna would have five television sets playing sports in the basement bar Folks would visit him from all over “People would sit down and expect to be served,” Campbell said Pacyna was happiest on the “rare occasions” when all the Chicago sports teams were playing on television at once If there was a night when the Cubs, Blackhawks, Bears and Bulls were playing “he would be in heaven,” Campbell said

Mr Campbell, a retired professor from Youngstown State University, said his sister was a “really important person to the island in terms of preservation ” In addition to saving the pier, she worked to preserve palm trees along the road that had been set to be cleared He said she liked to

work on her garden A middle school science teacher for 30 years, she bought a house on Fort Myers Beach in 1992 “She loved it here,” Mr Campbell said He said C a m p b e l l w o u l d g o b a c k t o v i s i t Kentucky from time to time but preferred to be on Fort Myers Beach to tend to her plants, her cats and her fish

“She liked the sheer beauty” of Fort Myers Beach and its people, Campbell

said Campbell is believed to have been the last person found on Fort Myers Beach, having been located underneath debris on Oct 7, nine days after the hurricane struck.

“It was the worst week of my life,” Mr Campbell said

See RECOVERING, page 14

Marti Campbell was one of 14 people who died on Fort Myers Beach during Hurricane Ian A tribute of photos provided by Tracey Gore shows Campbell and Gore together at top left and at bottom right with Gore, Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Roger Hernstadt and former town councilmember Joanne Shamp after the town council and manager celebrated the preservation of the fishing pier off Hercules Drive, which Campbell had advocated for.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Mitch Pacyna, a 74-year-old Chicago native who was popular for the sports bar he kept in the basement and for working as a greeter at the town library.

“It was the worst week of my life,” Robert Campbell, sister of Marti Campbell, who died in Hurricane Ian, as well as neigh-

bor Mitch Pacyna.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Daymon Utterback, 54, died after getting stuck in a window and after saving his fiancé Theresa

Fort Myers Beach storm damage

The former home of Mitch Pacyna on Hercules Drive, who died in Hurricane Ian

Above: Charley's Boat House and Grill. Below at left, debris in front of Mitch Pacyna’s home. He is one of 14 Beach residents who died in the storm.

DeSantis announces $2 million for first responders impacted by Hurricane Ian

awarded $2 million through the state's private fund, Florida Disaster Fund, to four first responder organizations which have had members impacted by Hurricane Ian These organizations will use these funds to help impacted first responders recover following Hurricane Ian The Florida Disaster Fund, spearheaded by First Lady DeSantis, is the state’s private fund overseen by Volunteer Florida The fund has raised more than $45 million to help Floridians with recovery efforts following Hurricane Ian

Governor Ron DeSantis

“Our first responders have continuously put Floridians’ needs above their own over these past few weeks in the wake of the storm,” DeSantis said “Many of these first responders lost their own homes, but they continued to show up and help keep Floridians safe We hope that this funding is just the beginning of what will be an outpouring of support to help our first responders tackle their own recovery ” The four organizations awarded will receive $500,000 each to aid their members in the storm recovery process Organizations receiving awards are:

Florida Sheriff’s Association

∫ The Florida Fraternal Order of Police

∫ The Florida Professional Firefighters

The Florida Sheriff’s Association has reported more than 65 officers and sheriff’s office personnel who have b

F l o r i d a Professional Firefighters have reported more than 300 members who have been impacted

“First responders are the ones who run towards danger They save lives, they get people to safety – they’re the tip of the spear when it comes to getting people out of harm’s way,” said CFO and State Fire Marshall Jimmy Patronis “All too often, however, people forget that first responders have families, and homes, that may have been impacted too We need to help these heroes, and we need to do what it takes to keep them in these communities "

County provides guidance on storm debris collection

Lee County reported that storm debris is collected separately from household garbage

Storm debris assessment was underway throughout the county and collections were scheduled to begin in the coming days, giving residents time to get their storm debris to the curb, according to officials

The county provided the following information to assist with collections:

∫ Set storm debris at the curb away from your normal household trash and recycling; it will be collected and documented separately

∫ Place storm debris at the curb in three separate piles: garbage, yard waste and building debris Federal Emergency Management Agency rules require documentation of the volume and type of debris collected to reimburse the county for storm cleanup

∫ Garbage must be placed in a 40-gallon can or heavy mil plastic bag each weighing no more than 50 pounds If you have a larger county-provided container for automated garbage collection, you may use that as well

∫ Yard waste does not need to be bundled after the storm Place it in piles that

Recovering

After the stor m

can easily be managed by collection personnel with a claw truck

∫ To expedite collection, do not place

From page 11

“They should have let these people on (the island) much sooner,” Mr Johnson said

Ms Johnson said some of those who were rescued in the early moments and days after the hurricane were found by homeowners returning to their property “Some were rescued right away by homeowners,” she said Four days after the hurricane struck, the town fire department announced that the island would be closed off for a week to aid search and rescue efforts During that week, more bodies were found Five days after the beach was closed off, the last body on Fort Myers Beach was found Ms Campbell’s

Mr Johnson said he was pushing town officials to allow residents to have motor homes, trailers or RV’s on their properties to live out of while they repair their homes before black mold settles in “We can work on our stuff,” Ms Johnson said “That’s what everyone wants to do ”

For more than two weeks, there has been no power, internet, sewer or water for most Over the weekend, power began being restored for some Water service is slowly starting to return

Residents have been sharing portable toilets The Johnsons captured rain in bins to use for cleaning

The Johnsons were supposed to go to a family reunion in Illinois the week of the hurricane They were able to save boxes of family photos from their home “They are still wet, we are peeling them off,” Ms Johnson said They hope to get the photos digitized to save them Their children’s youth hockey team jerseys hang o u t s i d e a l o n g w i t h o t h e r i t e m s t h e y s a v e d M o s t l y e v e r y t h i n g w a s l o s t , including Mr Johnsons’ stamp collection They lost a truck though saved a car t h a t M s J o h n s o n p a r k e d a t t h e L e e C o u n t y a i r p o r t T h e i r b o a t w a s unharmed

They don’t know if they will rebuild their house

“We don’t know yet,” Mr Johnson said

They are receiving help from the South G e o r g i a C o n f e r e n c e o f t h e U n i t e d Methodist Church, in the gutting of their home at no cost

Gore said there has been frustration on the island due to what some see as not enough communication from officials

anything beneath low-hanging obstacles like trees or power lines or near things like fire hydrants or mail boxes

After the island was closed for a week and opened back up, the town and Lee County announced that entry would be limited again to Wednesdays through Sundays for residents only from 9 a m to 5 p m to allow debris removal to move quicker Gore said she thinks the town might need the military’s help in quickening the pace of cleanup She said it wasn’t fair to block property owners from their homes for so long. “I think it’s crap. They should still let homeowners come and go,” Gore said “It’s a disaster,” Gore said “We’ve lived here all of our lives and I’ve never seen anything like this ”

Gore said the town should expedite the permitting process to allow property owners to speed up repairs Ms Johnson said the town should use federal money to help p a y f o r t h e i n s p e c t i o n s r e s i d e n t s a r e required to do to hire the engineers and electricians

“You want people to be living here again as soon as possible,” Ms Johnson said

The couple thanked World Central Kitchen for making “outstanding food” for residents staying on the island, while centered at the former Topps lot next to

∫ Food must be removed from any appliance set at the curb Inedible food should be placed with the garbage Disaster debris is collected separately from household garbage by a specialized contractor

Landscaping companies

Landscaping companies hauling vegetative storm debris cleared from residential properties will need a signed declaration from the resident indicating the address where the debris was generated. No debris will be accepted without a signed declaration

To view guidelines so that work crews can quickly and efficiently remove storm debris, visit https://mcusercontent com/656168b9451 60d61770bf02f5/ compresseds/e171fe0 d-5b96-b566-ed0c-0d88fbaeed1b jpg

For solid waste collection questions, contact solidwaste@leegov com

Storm recovery status is updated daily on the county website at www leegov com Regular updates can also be found on Facebook at “Lee County Government” or www facebook com/leecountyflbocc

town hall

Four of the town’s five councilmembers were without a home after the hurricane

Councilmember Bill Veach said his entire home, built about 90 years ago was destroyed by the hurricane However, his garage that was built recently up to the current code, survived intact without any damage inside “My house is a lesson in the new building code,” he said.

Across town, wooden homes took the worst beatings while those made out of concrete largely survived

“We lost some irreplaceable things, antiques from my wife’s family,” Veach said Veach, whose home was right on the Gulf of Mexico side of the island, took a direct hit from Hurricane Ian Based on how well the garage stood up, he is planning to rebuild “I am confident we can withstand this kind of storm ”

Mr. Johnson may not stay on the island but is optimistic on the future, “If you sit and start having pity for yourself, you are never going to get anywhere,” he said

LEE COUNTY GOVERNMENT

WHERE TO GO WHAT TO DO WHO TO SEE

Gulf Coast Har mo nizers ann ounce r etur n with fr ee show

The Gulf Coast Harmonizers in their 30th year entertaining Lee County are bringing back the canceled “Fall Harmony Fest” with a couple of changes After Hurricane “Ian” the community could use some music to lift spirits. The free show will be held Nov 20, at 2 p m at Cypress Lake Presbyterian Church 8260 Cypress Lake Dr , Fort Myers There will be a free will offering that will be shared with Cypress Lake Presbyterian Church to help with damage they sustained from the hurricane

T h e H a r m o n i z e r s a r e l e d b y D i r e c t o r N a t h a n Johnston, member of the 2022 International Quartet

Gold Medal Winners “Quorum ” This unique, 40-plus, men’s a cappella chorus will perform a variety of old and new songs that is sure to captivate the audience through the harmony of it’s “barbershop” style arrangements. Donations can also be made at www gcharmonizers com using the PayPal donate button on the bottom of the main page, Hope to see you there

About Gulf Coast Harmonizers: The Gulf Coast Harmonizers have been entertaining SW Florida since 1992 and is open to men of any age

insidetoday

who have an interest in singing in the barbershop a cappella style of harmony Gulf Coast Harmonizers is a membership organization of singers who meet regularly to rehearse,perform and socialize. Currently the Chorus has over 40 singers from all walks of life, and from all parts of Lee County and surrounding counties The Harmonizers are affiliated with the Barbershop Harmony Society, a 501(c)(3), non-profit educational organization based in Nashville, TN, which supports local nonprofits and youth services To learn more, visit www gcharmonizers com or call 855-425-3631

Edison and Ford Winter Estates announces re-opening of Museum and Laboratory - page 16

Broadway Palm reopens after Hurricane Ian With ‘A Chorus Line’ - page 17

Alliance for the Arts Kicks off Bluegrass Concert Series with Free Concert Nov 6 - 23 - page 18

Edison and Ford Winter Estates announces re-opening of Museum and Laboratory

Edison and Ford Winter Estates is re-opening the east side of the site, which includes the Museum, Laboratory, Garden Shoppe and Museum Store this Saturday, Oct 22 from 9 a m to 5:30 p m Step Into History presentations and phonograph demonstrations will be offered each day Visitors will also get to see all of the antique cars that are normally on the Ford property, as those were moved into the museum before the hurricane A reduced admission ticket will be offered, which includes the Museum and Lab ($15 for adults, $12 for teens (ages 13-19), $8 for children (ages 6-12), and children 5 and younger are admitted free.

The museum features hundreds of artifacts, and examples of both Thomas Edison's and Henry Ford's inventions The Timeline of Innovation depicts inventions that were created in each decade, along with news headlines to capture what was happening in the United States during the time period

A new exhibit, called the Wizard's Workshop will be open in the museum This family-friendly exhibit features hands-on activities and offers the opportunity for anyone to become an inventor as they build and experiment The exhibit is sponsored by WGCU Public Media

The Laboratory is a National Historic Chemical Landmark (the only one in Florida) and is the site where Thomas Edison and his workers tested more than 17,000 plant species while searching for a natural source of latex to produce rubber The Lab features original test tubes, beakers and machines that Edison used

The Garden Shoppe is open and offers a place for locals to purchase exotic ornamentals, Florida natives, f r u i t t r e e s , h e r b s , v e g e t a b l e s a n d b u t t e r f l y p l a n t s Decorative ceramic flower pots, fountains, and garden art pieces are also available New shipments of plants will arrive weekly

In addition, the Museum Store gift shop is open and includes Thomas Edison and Henry Ford keepsakes, kitchen items, Florida-inspired souvenirs, children's games, books, t-shirts and hats Members receive a discount on all retail and garden purchases

The riverside of the property is still being cleared of debris and is expected to open on Saturday, October 29 to coincide with the new Fall Festival This family-

friendly event will take place on the museum side of the property from 9 a m to 4 p m The public is invited to shop craft vendor booths, purchase something to eat and drink from the food trucks, and listen to music Parking is free and there is no charge to attend the festival; however, an admission ticket is required to tour the remainder of the site

Several activities will take place during the Fall Festival, including the Banyan Tree Climb, which is s p o n s o r e d b y t h e F l o r i d a N u r s e r y , G r o w e r s a n d Landscape Association ($45 for non-members; $35 for Edison Ford members); pre-registration is encouraged

as space fills up quickly There will also be a pumpkin patch (cash preferred to purchase pumpkins) with the option to paint the pumpkins, along with kid-friendly axe throwing, archery, face painting, balloon art, fairy hair, and science experiments (additional fee for each vendor).

While staff have been clearing debris from the site, additional work is needed in the gardens Anyone wanting to help restore the gardens, may make a donation through the website at EdisonFord org

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

PHOTOS PROVIDED

The Laboratory at Edison and Ford Winter Estates (below) and Museum (above) will open on Oct. 22.

Broadway Palm reopens after Hurricane Ian With ‘A Chorus Line’

The show must go on, so Broadway Palm is reopening after Hurricane Ian with A Chorus Line playing now through Nov 12

The original production was an unprecedented box office hit receiving twelve Tony Award nominations and winning nine This sensational musical captures the spirit and tension of a Broadway chorus audition

Broadway Palm has been an integral part of Southwest Florida for 30 years and they are committed to aid in the recovery of the community during this devastating time The Broadway Palm team kept very busy before, during, and after the storm by donating their time to local organizations and helping friends, family, and members of the community The theatre was a resource for food and water immediately following the storm and they partnered with World Central Kitchen to amplify efforts In addition, Broadway Palm will be donating a portion of ticket sales directly to local Hurricane Ian relief funds

A Chorus Line explores the inner lives and bittersweet ambitions of professional Broadway performers The show features one powerhouse number after another and is a brilliant fusion of song, dance, and authentic drama. The memorable score includes One, I Can Do That, At the Ballet, The Music and the Mirror, I Hope I Get It, and more! Thousands auditioned, 17 get to the stage, but in the end only eight will win the chance to dance!

Performances are Wednesday through Sunday evenings with selected matinees

Beginning Nov 1, performances are Tuesday through Sunday with selected matinees

Tickets are $55 to $85 with children and group prices available Tickets are now on sale and can be reserved by calling 239-2784422, by visiting BroadwayPalm.com or by stopping by the box office at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers

PHOTOS PROVIDED

A Chorus Line Kayelin Leon as Cassie.

Alliance for the Arts Kicks off Bluegrass Concert Series with free concert Nov. 6

As a small way of giving back to our community during these trying times, the Alliance for the Arts is proud to offer a FREE Outdoor Bluegrass concert on Sunday, Nov. 6 at 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. The concert will be held on our Green Market Stage Gates open at 2 p m with Southwind playing at 3 p m and Bluegrass Central taking the stage at 4 p m Chairs and coolers are permitted

“Things have not been easy for anyone in the area since hurricane Ian,” says Bill Taylor, Producing Artistic Director “ This is our way of offering everyone a free and fun way to relax for a few hours ” Reserve your free ticket at https://www tix com/tickets a l e s / a l l i a n c e f o r t h e a r t s / 3 1 0 7 / e v e n t / 1 2 8 4 7 1 5 , o r b y going to ArtInLee org

The series continues on Dec. 4, with performances on Jan 8, Feb 5, March 5 in 2023 Tickets for the rest of the season are $15 for members, $16 for non-members and are available online at ArtInLee org or by calling 239939-2787

Pre-sale seating is limited to 132 and is first come, first serve In the case of bad weather, the show will be moved indoors to the Foulds Theatre Additional tickets may be available at the door, weather permitting More information, including a list of performers, can be found at artinlee org/bluegrass

About Alliance for the Arts

The Alliance for the Arts is a nonprofit community arts and cultural center located in the heart of Fort Myers, Florida For over 40 years, the Alliance has been charged with the mission to facilitate and nurture the creation, development, promotion and education of arts and culture in southwest Florida For more information, please call 239-939-2787 or visit us at www ArtInLee org

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Bluegrass Central Southwind

Millennial Brewing to host three-day Oktoberfest Oct. 21-23

Millennial Brewing Company will host a three-day Oktoberfest event this weekend, Oct 21 - 23, supporting the work of three local charities and providing a way for the Southwest Florida community – still reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Ian - to come together and heal

The sixth annual event, presented by Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, will be from 4-10 p m Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday and noon-8 p.m. Sunday at the Millennial Brewing location, 1811 Royal Palm Avenue in Fort Myers A portion of the proceeds will go to PACE Center for Girls, Blessings In A Backpack and Valerie’s House

A d m i s s i o n a n d p a r k i n g a r e f r e e w i t h Millennial Brewing Company providing a venue fit for a traditional German celebration Eight authentic house-brewed Oktoberfest beer releases will be on tap for just $5 each – all under a huge Oktoberfest Beer Pavilion Tent There also will be special Oktoberfest Pumpkin Guest Taps, Pumpkin Seltzer and Cider, plus other cocktails. There will be plenty to eat as well, including authentic local German and Bavarian cuisine, including Bratwurst, Schnitzel, Potato Pancakes, Pretzels, Roast Pork and much more Oktoberfest Fusion Cuisine will include Oktoberfest Pizza and Oktoberfest Fusion Schnitzel

There will be a full agenda of live music, Stein Hoisting competitions every two hours, free bounce houses for the kids, axe throwing and

wood chopping, Hammerschlagen Hammer and Nail competitions as well as Pretzel, Bratwurst and Schnitzel eating contests.

Over 500 seats will be provided inside and outside the brewing company A free bring-yourown tent and chair area also will be provided as well as pet and family friendly locations The Wiggle Bar will provide a dedicated pet care and treat area

The Millennial Brewing Company event is among a limited number of Oktoberfest events this year because of Hurricane Ian The two weekend Oktoberfest at the German American Club in Cape Coral – originally scheduled to start this week – was cancelled.

About Millennial Brewing Company

Millennial Brewing is a microbrewery located in downtown Fort Myers and established in 2016 by two Millennials hoping to escape the regular 9-5 Millennial Brewing seeks to provide a comfortable environment where both the novice and beer enthusiast can have a great time, while learning more about craft beer The brewery is known for hosting unique and creative events that often benefit local nonprofits Millennial Brewing has helped raise thousands of dollars for more than 75 different nonprofit organizations through beer donations and sales donations, as well as providing a venue for local causes and nonprofit organizations to raise awareness and funds

City of Cape Coral to host inaugural Trunk-or-Treat

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

t o a l l a t t e n d e e s

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

f o r a l l a g e s . C o s t u m e s a r e e n c o u r a g e d ! V a r i o u s C i t y d e p a r t m e n t s w i l l s t a f f i n f o r m a t i o n a l t a b l e s

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t w w w c a p e c o r a l g o v W e h o p e y o u ' l l j o i n u s f o r a f a n g - t a s t i

9 ■ W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , O c t o b e r 1 9 , 2 0 2 2 f o r t m y e r s b e a c h t a l k . c o m F o r t M y e r s B e a c h O b s e r v e r T h e C i t y o f C a p e C o r a l , a l o n g w i t h t h e C a p e C o r a l P o l i c e a n d F i r e D e p a r t m e n t s , i s h o s t i n g a n i n a u g u r a l T r u n k - o r - T r e a t o n F r i d a y , O c t 2 8 , f r o m 6 t o 8 p m T h e e v e n t w i l l b e h e l d i n t h e C i t y H a l l v i s i t o r ' s p a r k i n g l o t , a t 1 0 1 5 C u l t u r a l P a r k B o u l e v a r d , a n d i s F