Voters returned all three Town of Fort Myers Beach councilmembers who were up for election Tuesday
V
Mayor Dan Allers and Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt to the board, while the race was much closer between the other two candidates for the third slot Councilmember Scott Safford and challenger Greg Scasny
Safford led Scasny with 1,233 votes to 1 ,
Allers was the top votegetter with 2,008 votes
1,921 votes
Results are unofficial until certified T
high turnout among Fort M y
with more than 80% of registered voters casting ballots.
The three incumbents could not immediately be reached for comment
Scasny, a Fort Myers Beach Public Library trustee, spoke out against large development projects being proposed in
Safford had been an enthusiastic supporter of development projects in the town
The town council voted 4-1 to approve
Development project last week by which
w l e d g e d t h e r e w a s a t i e i n t h e v o t i n g d u r i n g a r u n o f f M E R T F m e m b e r R o b H o w e l l w a s i n i t i a l l y d e c l a r e d t h e w i n n e r o f t h e r u n o f f f o r t h e f i n a l s e a t t h o u g h r e c o r d s o f t h e w r i t t e n b a l l o t s r e q u e s t e d b y t h e F o r t M y e r s B e a c h O b s e r v e r s h o w
NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com
Scott Safford
Jim Atterholt
Dan Allers
Fax:
it was the right decision to appoint Ed Rood and not re-appoint Rose Larkin, 16%
∫ No, it was the wrong decision, 81%
∫ Unsure/no opinion, 3%
Current Web Poll
Did the Fort Myers Beach Council make the right decision moving the Seagate Development Group's 17-story condo proposal which requires a height deviation from the town code?
∫ Yes, I support the
∫ No, the town should
Council turns its back on environment
Fort Myers Beach has had some sad moments the last two years Hurricane Ian took the lives of 16 people from the island and the homes of countless others The town’s former Manager Roger Hernstadt lost his home to a fire the day after and then his job at the hands of a new council weeks later Fast forward two years later and Fort Myers Beach received a one-two-three punch from hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton More homes flooded and more damage done And now the island deals with the possibility that the town’s National Flood Insurance Program discount is at risk Some are openly discussing leaving Fort Myers Beach
And amid all of this turmoil, the town is treated to another sad moment as the town council chose to not re-appoint Rose Larkin (and potentially also Rob Howell depending on the outcome of a new vote after a miscount in last week’s voting) to its Marine and E n v i r o
(MERTF) volunteer
This completes a change in focus and a change in mission neither of which are for the better
The action follows a vote last year by the new town council to not re-appoint two volunteers of MERTF, who were full-time residents, with two part-time residents who now often attend MERTF meetings by Zoom
The town council last Monday instead unanimously appointed Ed Rood, whose crusades against the town in order to build a 298-feet boardwalk in the town’s environmentally critical zone divided the community and resulted in years of litigation
A p o l i t i c a l l y - c h a r g e d e n v i r o n m e n t h a s surrounded MERTF ever since it opposed town council actions last year to approve the boardwalk for Mr Rood and Kurt Kroemer in the environmentally critical zone a right prohibited without a special exception permit and a right they had been denied for years by prior councils. Mr. Rood then filed an American with Disabilities Act lawsuit against the town for not approving the permit That lawsuit was tossed in federal court Rood and Mr Kroemer also challenged the state’s ownership of the Little Estero Island C r i t i c a l W i l d l i f e A r e
moved to dismiss) And then after Florida
A
approval of the boardwalk, Rood organized neighbors to block Florida Audubon from utilizing their properties to monitor shorebird nests at a major breeding ground for shoreb i r d s , i n c l u d i n g f o u r t h r e a t e n e d s p e c i
Rood also circulated a petition to remove MERTF Chair Steve Johnson
Mr Johnson withdrew his application to return to the committee last week, which followed the resignation of longtime vice chair Mary Rose Spalletta over the summer Both cited the politicization of MERTF by the
town council and outside interests
Along with Rood, council chose to add to the new council former Castle Beach Condo Board President Sharon Hegstrom, as well as contractor Leo Sand, who operates a construction company in Minnesota while also m a i n t a i n i n g a r e s i d e n c e o n F o r t M y e r s Beach.
The council did return one member Jennifer Rusk and gave two votes to return Howell though that appointment will require a new vote as it turned out Tom Torgerson also got two votes after the Fort Myers Beach Observer filed a Sunshine Law request for copies of the written ballots
Not a single member of the council voted to re-appoint Rose Larkin, a volunteer who lived on the island for 37 years before losing her home to Hurricane Ian Ms Larkin devoted herself to native plantings and the Estero Island Garden Club, with whom she helped p
Recreation Center to The Whale and Times Square
The ascension of Rood to MERTF was a shot across the bow to the town’s founders who worked to protect the island’s natural resources
n d i v i d u a l i s t h r o u g h i t s
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a n d T u r t l e T i m e v o l u n t e e r C i n d y J o h n s o n
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W o o d s o n )
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BUsiness
The Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) presented its 2024 Chapter Awards at a special event honoring excellence in public relations, marketing and communications Held at the Embassy Suites in Estero on Monday, Oct 21, the chapter installed incoming leaders, presented its vision for the upcoming year and recognized members who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the chapter
The event began with a traditional passing of the gavel, led by Teri Hansen, APR, founder and chief creative officer of Priority Marketing and one of the chapter’s charter members Past presidents recounted achievements over more than three decades, followed by installation of the 2024-2025 Board of Directors
Highlighting the chapter's values of Community, Integrity, Learning and Service Leadership, incoming President Lauren Bernaldo APR, CPRC introduced the chapter’s theme for the year: “Engage, Enrich, Explore,” inviting communications professionals to deepen connections, expand expertise and discover new opportunities
Guiding the chapter forward, the evening then turned to honoring standout members whose dedication exemplifies these principles
Rising Star Award – Yliana Vilella, MS, APR, communications specialist at Pushing the Envelope, for her commitment to the chapter Since joining FPRA in 2021, Vilella has exemplified leadership by taking on roles like Hospitality Chair and VP of Membership, creating a welcoming atmosphere for all members.
Chapter Member of the Year – Emily Golden, APR, assistant director of public relations at Priority Marketing, was honored for her exceptional leadership in organizing high-impact chapter events From coordinating a successful Media Breakfast to volunteering as newsletter chair, Golden’s contributions have left a lasting mark on the chapter’s success
Unsung Hero Award – Randy Mitchelson, APR, vice president, sales marketing & public relations at M&M Multimedia was celebrated for his behind-the-scenes dedication and selfless service to the chapter Mitchelson’s steady support and commitment include roles such as Past-President, VP of Communications and Treasurer, making him an indispensable resource and mentor for chapter members
PR Professional of the Year – Mike Jackson, MBA, APR, was recognized for his ethical leadership and significant influence on FPRA Southwest Florida’s initiatives Known for his strategic approach and transparent communication style, Jackson continues to raise the chapter’s professional standards, earning deep respect from colleagues and peers
Friends of Janet Philanthropy Award – Named after Janet Wilson, a longtime chapter member who tragically passed away in 2019, Teri Hansen, APR, founder and chief creative officer at Priority Marketing, was honored for her longstanding dedication to philanthropy within FPRA and the greater Southwest Florida community As a leader with over 40 years in the profession, Hansen has guided her team to support over 200 nonprofits and inspired countless professionals to give back
In addition to presenting the above awards, the chapter also celebrated its members’ recent wins at FPRA’s state Golden Image Awards event in August, which resulted in chapter members receiving five Golden Image Awards, two Judges’ Awards and three Awards of Distinction from the statewide organization Additionally, Priority Marketing received FPRA’s inaugural Silver Pinnacle Award for ‘Medium Agency of the Year ’
For more information about the Chapter, including upcoming events and how to become a member, please visit https://www fpraswfl org/
STAFF REPORT
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has announced a donation of $150,000 to barrier island nonprofit organizations in support of local Hurricanes Helene and Milton relief efforts, including several Fort Myers Beach community organizations.
“This donation reflects our continued commitment to supporting the resilience of our barrier island communities,” said Kyle DeCicco, president and CEO of Sanibel Captiva Community Bank “After enduring two devastating hurricanes in such quick succession, we want to help these communities rebuild and recover As a good community steward, we believe it is important to give back to organizations dedicated to helping these communities thrive as they once again navigate the challenges of recovering and rebuilding ”
The bank’s donation was distributed amongst eight Southwest Florida nonprofit organizations and charitable causes that are serving the ongoing needs of residents and businesses on Sanibel and Captiva islands, as well as Fort Myers Beach The recipient organizations are:
∫ Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce
∫ Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce
∫ Community Housing & Resources
∫ F I S H of Sanibel-Captiva
∫ FMB Strong
∫ Fort Myers Beach Woman’s Club
∫ Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation
∫ Sanibel Community Association
Founded in 2003, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has eight locations open throughout Lee County In Fort Myers, at the bank’s McGregor Branch, located at 15975 McGregor Blvd , the staff is operating out of a temporary mobile banking unit due to major flood damage to the existing building Construction on the new building is
underway and is expected to be completed in 2025 A ninth branch is planned on Fort Myers Beach, expected to open in 2026
The bank is nationally ranked in the top 2% best-perf o
S &
Intelligence out of more than 4,400 banks with assets under $1 billion It is well-capitalized and generates one of the highest returns on equity of all Florida banks The bank employs more than 120 employees, and more than 60% are current shareholders Since 2003, the bank has contributed well over $4 5 million to over 400 local, charitable causes and employees volunteer close to 1,000 hours annually
public, private and charter schools at all grade levels can apply through Dec 13
As many communities continue to
, Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) has extended the Classroom Makeover Grant application deadline to Dec 13, 2024
“We recognize that many schools are facing unprecedented challenges d
y Hurricanes Helene and Milton, and we want to make sure that every eligible school has the opportunity to apply for grants to create state-ofthe-art STEM classrooms,” said Kate C
y engagement for FPL. “We are honored to serve our communities and support educators as they build innovative and inspiring learning envi-
ronments for their students ”
The Classroom Makeover Grants are supported through the company’s charitable arm, the NextEra Energy Foundation, to raise STEM awareness and knowledge and jumpstart
students’ interest in STEM-related
update classrooms with new STEM technology or resources, including
training for teachers
Eligible K-12 public, private and charter schools at all grade levels that are designated Title 1 or serve a minimum of 40% economically disadvantaged students can apply, and winners will be announced in early 2025
Grant applications will now be
, 2024 For more information or to apply for a Classroom Makeover
Grant
PHOTO PROVIDED Chamber caption: Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce of President Jacki Liszak (right) accepts a donation from the Sanibel Captiva Community Bank
Beach Living
FWC calls on boaters to be alert for manatees
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com
T
h e F l o r i d a F i s h a n d W i l d l i f e C o n s e r v a t i o n
Commission is urging local boaters to be on the lookout for manatees as they start their seasonal travels to warmer water sites around the state
As part of Manatee Awareness Month, the FWC is reminding the public that boat strikes is one of the leading causes of death for manatees
Lee County has the second-most manatee deaths in the state this year, second only to Brevard County Lee County has 76 of the 485 manatee deaths recorded in the state this year. While nine of those 76 deaths have been directly attributed to boat strikes, the FWC did not conduct necropsies on 152 of the manatees that died in Florida waters this year Another 33 have no cause While the number of manatee deaths have dropped off the Florida waters since a record-high 1,100 in 2021,
that is also likely due to less manatees
The FWC continues to investigate the high mortality event related to manatees classified as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Manatees were previously considered endangered until 2017 Many of the mortalities in Brevard County is attributed to the loss of seagrass due to pollution - which has caused starvation there among manatees
“As fall temperatures drop, manatees start making their way to Florida springs, power plant discharge areas and other warm-water sites to overwinter until temperatures rise again in the spring,” said Michelle Pasawicz, F W C M
“Manatees need access to water warmer than 68 degrees Fahrenheit to survive ”
Manatees can be challenging to see in the water despite their size Boaters and watercraft operators can better spot manatees by wearing polarized glasses, going slow and abiding by all manatee protection zones
Boat strikes are a major threat to Florida manatees and FWC law enforcement officers patrol state waters, informing boaters of seasonal manatee speed zones and taking appropriate enforcement actions when necessary Boaters and personal watercraft users are reminded to comply with the regulatory signs on waterways
When viewing manatees as they congregate at warmwater sites, it is important to give them space Disturbing manatees at these sites can cause them to swim out of protected areas and into potentially life-threatening cold water Manatees are a protected species and it is illegal to harass, feed, disturb or harm them
If you see an injured, distressed, sick or dead manatee, report it to the FWC’s Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888404-FWCC (3922) so that trained responders can assist Do not try to physically handle an injured or sick manatee yourself, which can cause more harm to the animal and potentially put you at risk of serious injury
FILE PHOTOS
Lee County has the second-most manatee deaths in Florida this year with 76, trailing only Brevard County
This manatee, named MaeLee, was rescued from Matanzas Pass in Fort Myers Beach in 2020 after a boat strike but died a week later at ZooTampa from her injuries. Photo by Nathan Mayberg
Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium, Calusa Waterkeeper team up
Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium and Calusa Waterkeeper are excited to announce a new partnership that will enrich the community and enhance our shared commitment to environmental stewardship Beginning Nov 1, Calusa Waterkeeper will establish a science lab
keep Lee County Beautiful cleans up
STAFF REPORT
Keep Lee County Beautiful, Inc hosted its annual “Monofilament Madness” marine cleanup around Fort Myers Beach on Oct 26, continuing its fight against marine debris Since 1991, KLCB has dedicated this event to removing monofilament fishing lines and other trash from the mangrove areas
Volunteers set out on boats, kayaks, and paddleboards from Salty Sam’s Marina and The Mound House to tackle debris scattered by recent hurricanes The storms carried trash bins, buckets, wood, and even large items like a sleeper sofa into the mangroves Paddlers removed litter from the mangroves, passing bulky items to boaters for transport The cleanup effort included volunteers combing the mangrove area on Mango Street on Fort Myers Beach, collecting hard-to-reach debris left by Hurricane Ian Due to recent storms, KLCB also organized a Fort Myers Beach cleanup launching from the Tunaskin Store
The event drew more than 150 volunteers who removed an impressive 25,000 pounds of debris from the waterways, beaches, and mangroves of the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve. Following the cleanup, volunteers enjoyed an appreciation lunch and after-party at Parrot Key in Salty Sam’s Marina to celebrate their hard work and dedication
Keep Lee County Beautiful is planning more waterway cleanups and encourages everyone to join in preserving Southwest Florida’s beautiful waters and protecting its marine environment To support these efforts, visit klcb org to donate Every contribution, no matter the size, stays 100% local, directly benefiting Lee County KLCB extends heartfelt gratitude to all the dedicated volunteers and generous sponsors who made this event possible including Tunaskin Aquatic Apparel, SWFAEP, Bass Pro, Ron Jons Surf Shop, Surfing Evolution & Preservation Foundation, Waste Pro, WM, Town of Fort Myers Beach, Lee County Solid Waste, LCEC, Southwest Waste Services, Salty Sam’s Marina, Estero Bay Buddies, Coastal Waste & Recycling, The Mound House, Sea Tow, Keep Florida Beautiful, and Keep America Beautiful
About Keep Lee County Beautiful, Inc
Keep Lee County Beautiful, Inc , established in 1989, is the county’s largest volunteer-based community action and education organization. This local nonprofit forms public-private partnerships and programs that engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their community environments For more information, call 239-334-3488 or visit www klcb org
for water quality testing at the Calusa Nature Center. This collaboration represents a significant leap forward in our joint mission to educate, protect, restore, and conserve the unique natural resources of Southwest Florida
Both organizations, united by their names and a long history of advocacy for the environment, are dedicated to the health and sustainability of local ecosystems The presence of Calusa Waterkeeper at the Calusa Nature Center will strengthen collective efforts in education, research, and community engagement
“We are glad to welcome Calusa Waterkeeper to our facility,” said Eric Raddatz, Executive Director at Calusa Nature Center. “This partnership will enhance our educational programs and amplify our voice in advocating for the conservation of our precious natural resources We are all about nurturing nature here, and so are they ”
Waterkeeper’s trained Rangers, monitor and test water quality at more than 30 locations each month across Southwest Florida The new science lab will serve as a hub for water testing, research, data collection and educational initiatives aimed at raising awareness about the
importance of protecting and restoring water quality and local habitats
“This partnership is a natural fit,” said Connie RamosWilliams, Executive Director at Calusa Waterkeeper who once served on the board at the Calusa Nature Center “By collaborating, we can combine our resources and expertise to make an even greater impact on conservation efforts Together, we can inspire our community to take action for a healthier environment ”
Visitors to the Calusa Nature Center will have the opportunity to learn about ongoing projects and initiatives that benefit the community and the environment
Both organizations invite the community to join them in this exciting new chapter, as they work together to pro-
across the region For more information about the collab-
Waterkeeper at (239) 899-1440, email info@calusawaterkeeper org, or visit calusawaterkeeper org You can also email Eric Raddatz at eraddatz@calusanature org, call 239-275-3435, or visit www calusanature org
NATHAN MAYBERG
Comfor table Eagle
An eagle nestles in for the season, enjoying its new digs in a Fort Myers Beach tree.
Learn regional boating differences
STAFF REPORT
Attention experienced boaters: It’s crucial to stay current with changes in navigation and regulations
The National Association of B o a t i n g L a w A d m i n i s t r a
o
s approved Boat America Course, taught by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, is an easy way to stay updated and learn the differences of boating in Southwest Florida
For those aiming to earn the state boating safety certificate, we highly recommend enrolling in our one-day responsible boating class It takes place on the third Saturday of every month from 9 a m to 5 p m
The next session is Nov 16, hosted at the Pine Ridge C
Myers The course will be held conveniently located between the Iona McGregor Fire Station 75 and the Lee County Sheriff's West District Office and right across from the Lee County Tax Office Completing this course
makes you eligible for the life-
Education I D Card
Robert Guenthner, the Flotilla Commander of Fort Myers Beach Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 91, emphasizes the significance
regarding boating hazards, especially those challenging us after
“Attending an in-person class is an excellent opportunity for students to interact, share perspectives, and gain local knowledge
importance of life jackets, risk
exercising sound judgment, along with updates on regulatory compliance,” he said A
Conservation Commission in 2023, there were 659 boating accidents in Florida, resulting in 59 fatalities and 408 injuries Though a boating license is not required, Florida law mandates that anyone born on or after January 1, 1988, who plans to operate a boat in Florida waters with
an engine of 10 horsepower or more must complete an approved boating safety course and obtain the Florida boating safety ID card
Don’t miss this chance to enhance your boating skills and knowledge Enroll today and navigate the waterways safely and confidently! This one-day class costs $45 per person and includes study materials For additional information about boating safety classes or registration for a
Officer, cgaux91education@gmail com, at 239-6906780 option 1, or www Aux91FMB org/Safeboating
About the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the Uniformed Volunteer Component of the United States Coast Guard created by an Act of Congress in 1939 It is comprised of 21,000 members who volunteer their time to support the operation of the Coast Guard, promote and improve recreational boating safety, and provide trained crews and facilities to enhance the safety and security of US ports, waterways, and coastal regions It is the uniformed civilian component of the U S Coast Guard and supports the Coast Guard in nearly all mission
Clement Sentucq, Santiago Falkenhagen and Diego Diecidue.
Alliance for the Arts names winners of Shorts of the Fort film festival
The Alliance for the Arts in partnership
w i t h t h e L e e C o u n t y V i s i t o r a n d Convention Bureau hosted the first annual S h o r t s o f t h e F o r t F i l m F e s t i v a l o n September 20 The public was invited to submit a short film, ranging from 30 seconds to five minutes, that highlighted all that Southwest Florida has to offer. Cash prizes were awarded to winners in each category: Best of the Fest, Top film in each Category: Island Odyssey: films featuring the surrounding islands in Lee County, Beach Bliss: films featuring the vast beach-
e s a n d r i v e r b a n k s i n L e e C o u n t y , Neighborhood Narratives: films featuring any of the towns, hamlets, iconic places across Lee County, Audience Favorite and Best Student Film
Winners:
∫ B e s t S t u d e n t F i l m - D i s c o v e r i n g Together, Directed by: Xavier Matos
∫ Neighborhood Narratives- Ride By, Directed By: Santiago Falkenhagen
∫ Beach Bliss- Cherish, Directed by: Collette Marie Couillard
∫ I s l a n d O d y s s e y - M y M a t l a c h a Courtyard, Directed by: Marta Elva Rangel Gibbons
∫ B e s t o f t h e F e s t - B a c k t o O n e , Directed by: Nathan Wallace, Victor H Muriel
∫ A u d i e n c e F a v o r i t e - R i d e B y , Directed By: Santiago Falkenhagen
PHOTOS PROVIDED
Collette Marie Couillard
Bay Oaks to reopen Nov. 22 Army Corps lowering Lake O heading into dry season
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
r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e C a l o o s a h a t c h e e R i v e r a n d E s t u a r y r e c e i v e f r e s h w a t e r f r o m t w o s o u r c e s : w a t e r s h e d
r u n o f f , w h i c h l a r g e l y c o m e s f r o m p r e c i p i t a t i o n , a n d
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O n O c t 2 6 , t h e U S A r m y C o r p s o f E n g i n e e r s '
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b i l i t y i n t h e L a k e O k e e c h o b e e S y s t e m O p e r a t i n g
M a n u a l ( L O S O M ) t o s t a r t r e l e a s i n g w a t e r f r o m t h e
l a k e t o t h e G u l f C o a s t f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e s i n c e m i d -
J u n e U n d e r L O S O M , i t i s a i m i n g t o r e l e a s e a n a v e r -
a g e o f 2 , 0 0 0 c u b i c f e e t p e r s e c o n d ( c f s ) t o t h e M o o r e
H a v e n L o c k a n d D a m ( S - 7 7 )
T h e A r m y C o r p s a i m s t o u s e t h e d i s c r e t i o n a r y
r e l e a s e s t o l o w e r t h e l a k e t o 1 4 f e e t b y t h e e n d o f d r y
s e a s o n T h e S C C F r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e r e l e a s e s s h o u l d
b u i l d m o r e r e s i l i e n c e i n t o t h e l a k e p r i o r t o t h e n e x t
w e t s e a s o n a n d p r o v i d e n e e d e d f l o w s t o t h e
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w a t e r s h e d r u n o f f i s n o t e n o u g h t o m e e t t h e d e m a n d
I n M a y , t h e l a k e e n t e r e d t h e r a i n y s e a s o n a t a b o u t
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l a k e ' s e c o l o g y , h i n d e r i n g t h e g r o w t h o f s u b m e r g e d
a q u a t i c v e g e t a t i o n a n d p r e v e n t i n g e s s e n t i a l f i l t r a t i o n t o t h e e c o s y s t e m “ I n s t e a d o f r i s i n g i n s t a n t l y f r o m 2 0 2 4 ’ s s e q u e n c e o f t r o p i c a l s t o r m s a n d h u r r i c a n e s a s t h e l a k e h a s
d o n e i n t h e p a s t w i t h s t o r m s l i k e H u r r i c a n e s I a n a n d I r m a l a k e h e i g h t r o s e g r a d u a l l y o v e r t h e s e a s o n , ”
S C C F P o l i c y A s s o c i a t e A l l i e P e c e n k a s a i d “ R e g i o n s l i k e A p a l a c h i c o l a a n d T a m p a B a y s
C F ’ s p r i m a r y c o n -
STAFF REPORT
Town of Fort Myers Beach officials announced that pickleball lessons will resume outside Bay Oaks Recreational Campus on Nov 22, though the rest of indoor programming at the campus currently remains canceled due to damage incurred at the building from Hurricane Ian
The building was damaged by flooding from Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Andy Hyatt has previously said
All fitness classes and programs, pickleball activit
Hurricane Milton
The afterschool program Club Rec has been moved to the Fort Myers Beach Public Library at 2755 Estero Boulevard
Outdoor pickleball lessons will take place Nov 22 from 8 to 9 a m for beginners, 9:15 to 10:15 a m for intermediate players
The cost is $10 per person
To sign up, contact instructor Pam Berzin at 847858 - 9006 or email PamBPickleball@gmail com
c e r n s a r e p r o t e c t i n g t h e h e a l t h o f t h e C a l o o s a h a t c h e e R i v e r a n d E s t u a r y a n d t h e s p e c i e s i n h a b i t i n g t h e s e e c o s y s t e m s , ” P e c e n k a s a i d “ I n h e r e n t i n t h e s e g o a l s a r e e n s u r i n g t h e e s t u a r y r e c e i v e s e n o u g h f r e s h w a t e r ” M o v i n g o u t o f t h e w e t s e a s o n , c o n d i t i o n s b e c o m e m o r e f a v o r a b l e f o r r e d t i d e ( K a r e n i a b r e v i s ) a n d h a r mf u l a l g a l b l o o m s K b r e v i s h a s r e c e n t l y b e e n d e t e c t e d i n v a r i o u s c o n c e n t r a t i o n s o f f s h o r e o f S o u t h w e s t
F l o r i d a B y d r a w i n g w a t e r o u t o f t h e l a k e i n t h e s m a l le r r e l e a s e s , t h e A r m y C o r p s h o p e s t o a v o i d t h e l a r g e r r e l e a s e s t h a t a r e m o r e l i k e l y t o e x a c e r b a t e a
time more than half of the town’s registered voters had already voted
“I can’t tell you how many people called me after that Seagate vote and said ‘I wish I had my vote back,’” Scasny said “It was a shock to a lot of people ”
Despite appearing to trail by 118 votes Tuesday night, Scasny said he was waiting for the results to be declared official before calling his race a loss
Scasny said he was proud of the race he ran and “would do it again ” Scasny called the results “a little disappointing” but said “I will still be a vote to the residents and fight what is trying to come on the island here ”
Scasny said he believed that the majority of residents oppose the “overdevelopment” of the town
“We brought a lot of issues to light,” Scasny said “I think after the last vote with Seagate there are residents that are going to come out in droves to bring common sense to that project ” A
e
Development Group proposal Atterholt, who has also championed development in the town, finished slightly ahead of Safford Safford had been appointed to the town council to fill the seat of former Councilmember Bill Veach Veach resigned over new financial disclosure requirements passed by the state legislature and since retracted
The election, seen largely as a referendum on the pace of the town’s recovery and the size of development resi-
dents want to see, followed two hurricanes in the past month in the aftermath of the town’s ongoing recovery from Hurricane Ian Many residents have still not been able to return to their homes and there is ongoing frustration with the level of flooding in the town even in minor storms due to persistent stormwater drainage issues
Allers and Atterholt had previously been elected by wide margins to the council in 2020 Allers and Atterholt are both councilmembers who are appointed to their ceremonial posts as mayor and vice mayor by the rest of the town council
Other races
In other races across Lee County, it was a red sweep as the two-to-one voter registration held by Republicans was evident in nearly all countywide races
County voters returned Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno to office as well as Lee County District 5
Commissioner Mike Greenwell
Greenwell defeated Democrat Kizzie Fowler after winning a tight primary when challenged by Republican Amanda Cochran this summer
Republican David Mulicka, handily won election as District 3 Commissioner over write-in candidate Jake Cataldo Mulicka, owner of Honc Destruction and husband of State Representative Jenna Persons-Mulicka, w
Thornton
Marceno was recording better than 90% of the vote against a write-in challenge from former Lee County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Michael Hollow Hollow had challenged the ethics of a contract Marceno had engaged in with a social media consultant among other allegations Marceno denied any impropriety
Republican State Representative Adam Botana, who r
Sanibel, easily won re-election to keep his District 80
showed him earning 67% of the vote
Republican State Senator Jonathan Martin, who represents Fort Myers Beach and most of Lee County in District 33, also coasted to victory with 65% of the vote
Republican Congressman Byron Donalds, who represents most of Lee County and Collier County in District 19, was cruising to victory Tuesday night over Democrat challenger Karie Lerner Early tallies showed Donalds winning in a landslide, carrying 65% of the vote
In a statement on his victory, Donalds said “Serving o
Congress has been the greatest honor of my life Thank you to the people of Collier County and Lee County for entrusting me with two more years as your representative. Our national needs real leadership, our federal government needs reform, and the American people deserve leaders that will put them first ”
keeping an eye on red tide in Southwest Florida
v a
C o n s e r v a t i o n F o u n d a t i o n
T h e S C C F r e p o r t e d t h a t r e d t i d e a
h a r m f u l a l g a l b l o o m c a u s e d b y K b r e -
v i s c a n d e v e l o p o r i n t e n s i f y d u e t o m u l t i p l e f a c t o r s : w i n d , o c e a n c u r r e n t s , o r u p w e l l i n g s o f n u t r i e n t - r i c h w a t e r f r o m s t o r m s O
p r e s e n t , p o l l u t e d w a t e r s h e d r u n o f f o r
L a k e O k e e c
S c i e n c e ( N C C O S ) a n d t h e F W C i n d i -
c a t e m u l t i p l e o f f s h o r e s a m p l e s w i t h
v e r y l o w t o m e d i u m r e d t i d e c o n c e n t r a -
t i o n s T h e S C C F M a r i n e L a b o r a t o r y ' s
s a m p l e s f r o m t h e b e a c h o n S a n i b e l o n
O c t 2 9 - 3 0 d i d n o t d e t e c t K b r e v i s “ T h e d y n a m i c s o f t h i s e v e n t a r e h a r d
t o p r e d i c t , ” M a r i n e L a b D i r e c t o r D r
E r i c M i l b r a n d t s a i d o n O c t . 3 0 . “ O v e r
t h e l a s t w e e k t h e b l o o m s e e m s t o h a v e
g o n e f r o m l a r g e r a n d h i g h e r c o u n t s a r o u n d T a m p a a n d w h e r e H u r r i c a n e
M i l t o n m a d e l a n d f a l l i n t h e S a r a s o t a a r e a , t o b e i n g t r a n s p o r t e d s o u t h , a n d n o w i t s e e m s t o b e m o d e r a t i n g a n d g e tt i n g s m a l l e r ”
F i s h k i l l s h a v e b e e n r e p o r t e d a l o n g
B o c a G r a n d e a n d o n M a n a s o t a K e y , b u t t h e y c o u l d b e c o n c e n t r a t e d c a s e s
SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
Seagate
From page 1
to the island they love even though the condo they thought they would be staying in hasn’t been inhabitable since Hurricane Ian.
And when Hurricane Milton came calling and demolished their home that was under construction at the corn e r o f E s t e r o B o u l e v a r d a n d V o o r h i s S t r e e t , t h e Davidsons still hadn’t given up
They love Fort Myers Beach too much It’s why there is a giant sign that says “I Love Fort Myers Beach” outside their property Mr Davidson constructed the sign with the shape of a heart in the place of the word “love ”
But the 17-story high Seagate Development Group condo tower could change their feelings for the beach It could be enough for the Davidsons to take their cherished boat the one that survived Hurricane Ian and all the other hurricanes away from the island They may have to take that boat they dress up every December with bright lights for the Fort Myers Beach Christmas Boat Parade and find a new home because for them, the Seagate development would take the small town charm away from Fort Myers Beach It’s 17-story tower 14 stories higher than town code allows would hover over near their home Mr Davidson said the Seagate property is about 180 feet away from his condo property
The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council’s vote last week to approve the development for a second reading of an ordinance to allow the project to go through, was too much for the Davidsons
“It’s aggravating,” Mr Davidson said “You might as well just give up It’s supposed to be a small town They want to build monster buildings It’s like living in the city We don’t want to live in the city ”
The couple has been staying in New Hampshire while they await a return to the island
After Hurricane Ian, Mr Davidson said he was only able to save his Red Sox shirt and his boat which he found on top of two other boats
Semi-retired, Davidson said the condo he and his wife own incurred about six inches of water after Hurricane Helene and another 16 inches of water after Hurricane Milton while taking out their electrical cabinets
The Seagate Development Group project, as proposed, will include residential towers ranging from 11 stories high to 17 stories high
“It’s crazy,” Mr Davidson said “It wasn’t supposed to be that way Nobody seems to care ”
Davidson expects the project to take years to build out, leaving him and his wife stuck watching and hearing construction for the foreseeable future
Seagate Development Group CEO Matt Price said he expects to build the condo towers in phases The first one would be constructed first and the second one would start construction depending on how many units are sold
Davidson maintains the towers will be too close to Estero Boulevard, blocking his view and the view of neighbors to the Gulf of Mexico
“If you are going to build high-rises, push them back to the rear of the property,” Davidson said He said the developers did not provide enough public benefit in exchange for the deviations they are receiving for the building height
“I don’t care about a water fountain. I don’t care about a park either I have a beach,” Davidson said “The beach is my park Nobody on the island needs another park ” Tom Brady, of Madison Court, said he lives in the “shadow of the building” and said the development should be more spread out so it isn’t as high Brady is also concerned that town councilmembers could be approving the project out of concern’s for the town’s own finances “I don’t want to have a gun held to my head saying ‘we need to approve this development because we are going to go bankrupt ’ Are we going to go bankrupt if we don’t have this thing built? I think it’s nonsense,” Brady said. “I think we are financially viable without this development ”
Ellen Fulcher, who lives on Hibiscus Drive, said “17 stories is too high” when considering why the town incorporated Fulcher said the development offered a limited public benefit
“Everybody says that we need to think outside the box and we understand that Things are going to change,” Fulcher said “That’s too far out of the box ”
“You might as well just give up. It’s supposed to be a small town. They want to build monster buildings. It’s like living in the city. We don’t want to live in the city.”
Dapper Davidson, Fort Myers Beach resident
“I don’t want to have a gun held to my head saying ‘we need to approve this development because we are going to go bankrupt.’”
Tom Brady, Fort Myers Beach resident
Not everybody sees it the same way on Fort Myers Beach
John Munger, who owns property in the town, said the project should be approved because it will improve property values He compared the development to Ocean Harbor further south on Estero Boulevard “This is going to be a tremendous wealth-generator for our community,” he said Munger referred to vacant homes and lots on the island and said the council’s approval of Seagate’s plans would return “confidence” to the island
Fort Myers Beach resident Dawn Thomas spoke in favor of the development at the town council meeting last week Thomas said Seagate Development Group has provided support to the Fort Myers Beach Woman’s Club, an organization of which Thomas is the president. “The elephant in the room is the height of the building,” Thomas said “It’s not intrusive ” Thomas compared the project to DiamondHead Beach Resort, which is 12 stories high “The island needs commercial and residential development,” Thomas said
The majority of the town council has supported the project At a town council meeting that followed a public presentation by Seagate on their plans, Councilmember K a r e n W o o d s o n a
against it
Councilmember John King voted to support the project. “I’ve heard the comparisons to ‘We don’t want it to be Miami ’ I don’t want it to be Mexico Beach either or Matlacha,” he said
There certainly is no shortage of projects being proposed in the town
condo/hotel project Moss Marina has proposed a hotel project Town council recently approved deviations from the town code to allow a hotel at the Myerside property next to the Fort Myers Beach Elementary School Just outside the town limits, on San Carlos Island, a massive hotel and residential project known as Bay Harbor is waiting in the wings
LPA rejects project
The Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency had rejected Seagate Development Group’s plans one week before the town council approved them by a vote of 4-2.
Local Planning Agency Chair Anita Cereceda said the proposed development order was “inconsistent with the comprehensive plan” and for the proposed public benefit not compensating for the height request
Cereceda said the town didn’t get any reassurances from the development order agreement proposed by Seagate Development
“There is no certainty to this plan,” Cereceda said Cereceda said the plans proposed by Seagate allowed for parameters for the developers on what they could build but gave no assurances to the town as to what may be built at the former Red Coconut RV Park.
Cereceda said she didn’t support residential towers of 15 stories or even up to 17 stories high as proposed
“I’m not OK with it It bothers me a lot Do I like the development concept? Yes,” Cereceda said “Do I think the Town of Fort Myers Beach should have 17 stories in it? No I don’t ”
Cereceda said town residents would react negatively to such height “We should make decisions based on the policies we’ve agreed to uphold,” she said
LPA member Doug Eckmann doesn’t believe the developers have provided enough public benefit in exchange for the heigh deviation.
Cereceda said the developers were “pushing the envelope” at a time when residents are “mourning the loss of the town ”
Seagate Development Group CEO Matt Price said the
town council still will have a chance to decide on the project regardless of whether the Local Planning Agency approves it. In response to questions from Cereceda over whether the developers intend to stick to having a restaurant on the property, or if the development agreement will allow for a change in use, Price said he doesn’t want to restrict himself to a restaurant in case the market shifts
LPA member Jane Plummer said she was concerned about how close to Estero Boulevard and Donora Boulevard the development would be
Price said the project was designed to limit traffic around the side streets
Davidson said the approvals have been too quick for him The Margaritaville Beach Resort, which he said he supports, went through a longer review process and faced lawsuits over getting one more story than was allowed by code (four stories), while Seagate is requesting 13 more stories than what is allowed by the town’s local development code
Mike Dagnese, an electrician who has lived on Fort Myers Beach for 41 years near where Seagate’s condo towers will go, said the old Red Coconut RV Park had trailers that were 10 feet high at most Dagnese said the proposed park would not benefit the town since there wouldn’t be any parking for them “They are just trying to sell you,” Dagnese said “Why wouldn’t you put these big buildings in the back?”
“I can see the sunset from my house,,” Dagnese said. “Now I am going to look at a concrete building ” Dagnese said he has photos with his granddaughter in his backyard with “a beautiful sunset” behind them
“It was a friendly beach,” Dagnese said “They knew when they bought it they can only build three stories ” The project did have some support from the public at the LPA meeting
Realtor Alex King said the recent hurricanes were transformational for the island and said there has been a need on the island for four-room homes that buyers are seeking
“I would venture to say we are going to see 40-60 percent of those folks in the ranch homes, split-level homes will be moving away,” King said
“Half our condos are not ready yet The HOA fees are going through the roof,” King said “The average homeowners who came here and bought these ranch homes 20, 30, 40 years ago and these condo owners 20, 30, 40 years ago it’s going to be harder for them to afford it ” King said the new homebuyers will have more income King, who said he lost his cottage and ranch home to Hurricane Ian and fixed it back up, said the town needs to move forward
“I suggest start thinking forward, build toward the new people who are coming. We are going to need a lot more restaurants and larger condos,” King said
Cereceda, who was on the town council that approved Margaritaville, said Seagate’s review was quicker than normal for a project of that size
“Things don’t usually move that quickly,” Cereceda said “I don’t have any explanation for it Of course, this is a development agreement, and we haven’t done one of these before, so maybe development agreements will move this quickly ”
The town council approved a change to its procedures earlier this year, to allow development agreements, which Allers supported.
“The primary difference between a Development Agreement and a CPD (Commercial Planned Development) is the process,” Allers said “A Development Agreement offers a developer a way to see if a project is feasible or not without spending a great deal of time and money on plans and engineering,” he said “If a project is approved through a Development Agreement it still needs to go through the process of getting a land development order and meeting all the requirements w i t h i n a n a p p r o v e d D e v e l o p m e n t Agreement ”
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s , t i r e l e s s , p a s s i o n a t e a n d e n v i r o n m e n t a l l y d e d i c a t e d v o l u n t e e r s I n s t e a d , t h i s c o u n c i l c h o s e t o d i v i d e t h e t o w n u n n e c e s s a r i l y w h e n i t n e e d s u n i t y m o r e t h a n e v e r T h a t i s r e g r e t t a b l e
WHERE TO GO WHAT TO DO WHO TO SEE
Native Portrayals
STAFF REPORT
The Town of Fort Myers Beach and the Mound House will host the M i c c o s u k e e T r i b e o f I n d i a n s o f Florida for a compelling evening of art, film, and conversation that explores the p o r t r a y a l s o f I n d i g
n
u s p e o p
e s i n Hollywood and how Miccosukee artists challenge and reframe these representations
The event begins with an exclusive art e x h i b i t i o n s h o w c a s i n g t h e w o r k o f Miccosukee artists, each offering their unique perspectives on the U S Through their pieces, the artists reflect on themes such as U S pop culture and history Attendees can enjoy light refreshments during the art reception
At 7:15 p.m., the program will continue with an outdoor screening of the critically acclaimed documentary “Reel Injun: On the Trail of the Hollywood Indian” by Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond The film takes a deep dive into how Indigenous peoples have been portrayed in Hollywood films over the last century, offering a critical perspective on the effects these depictions have had on both Indigenous communities and global perceptions
Special commentary from Miccosukee community members will further contextualize the portrayal of the Miccosukee in media, offering insights into how these representations have impacted their identity and culture
This unique event provides a powerful blend of art and film, encouraging participants to reflect on the intersection of pop culture, history, and Indigenous experiences Additional concessions will be available for purchase during the film screening
About Mound House:
About the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida:
American tribe in Florida, with a rich history and a unique cultural heritage The Tribe has played an integral role in preserving the ecology and cultural identity of the Everglades while contributing to the state’s vibrant cultural landscape
For more information about the event, please contact Adam Knight at 239-765-0865
If You Go:
What: Art showcase of Miccosukee Tribe of Indians, screening of film documentary "Reel Injun: On the Trail of the Hollywood Indian"
When:
Friday, Nov 8, 6 to 9:00 p m
Where: Mound House, 451 Connecticut St Fort Myers Beach
PHOTO PROVIDED
Students learn about science during camp at Edison and Ford Winter Estates.
Green Science Camp offered at Edison and Ford Winter Estates
Edison and Ford Winter Estates offers many programs for children throughout the year, including day camps when Lee County schools are closed The Green Science Camp will take place November 2527, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. This camp is for s t u d e n t s c u r r e n t l y i n k
grade
Students will learn in the “living laboratory” of the Estates Using solar panels and electric motors, they will learn about the science of energy and electricity This camp will concentrate on teaching the physics of energy and electronics within S T E A M (science technology, engineering, art, and math) No experience is needed Campers should bring their lunch and snacks
Tuition: Edison Ford members: $135 for each stud e n t ; n o n - m e m b e r s : $ 1 5 0 f o r e a c h student Registration is required To register, visit the website at EdisonFord org
An evening of Art, Wine, and Beethoven at the MACC
Gulf Coast Symphony is excited to launch Art at the MACC, a new quarterly exhibit series at the Music & Arts Community Center (MACC), curated by Lauren Huff Dest The first event, on Saturday, Nov 16, features local artist John Rizza, whose new collection is inspired by live symphony performances
Join us for an exclusive opening reception at 6 p m , with an artist talk at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Gulf C o a s t S y m p h o n y ’ s p e r f o r m a n c e o f B e e t h o v e n ’ s Symphony No 8 at 7:30 p m Complimentary wine and cheese will be served during the reception
Tickets are required for the entire evening, which includes both the art reception and the concert
John Rizza’s work captures the vibrant energy of symphony performances, with bold, expressive paintings inspired by the power and emotion of live music His art has been exhibited at renowned venues like the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center and The Tower Gallery on Sanibel Island, and this exhibit promises to add an exciting visual dimension to the evening.
We hope to see you for this special night of art and music!
For more information and tickets visit gulfcoastsymphony acemlnb com/
The For t Myers Beach Obser ver & Beach Bulletin welcomes news from our community! Send news tips & releases to news@breezenewspapers.com
Calusa Waterkeeper to host build-it-your-
self vertical oyster garden workshop on Nov. 9 at Rusty’s Raw Bar in Estero
Calusa Waterkeeper invites the public to sign up for its highly anticipated Vertical Oyster Garden Workshop scheduled for Saturday, Nov 9, from 9:30 to 11:30 p m , at Rusty’s Raw Bar & Grill in Estero This popular community outreach initiative is part of Calusa Waterkeeper’s ongoing efforts to restore water quality in Southwest Florida, a need that has become even more critical due in part to climate change, increased pollution, and harmful algae blooms
Oysters can play a critical role in maintaining healthy estuarine ecosystems They create habitats for a variety of marine life, support shoreline protection by providing a base for mangroves, and serve as a vital food source for fish, birds, crabs, and other animals Remarkably, each oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water per day, improving water quality
The VOG workshop involves educational and hands-on instruction to build your own vertical hanging oyster gardens using recycled oyster shells from local restaurants that would have otherwise ended up in landfills These shells are strung onto stainless steel flexible cables and suspended from docks, providing surfaces for juvenile oysters and other life to attach and grow Prior to assembly, the recycled shells are bio-cleaned and hole punched
Join Calusa Waterkeeper in this restoration project, and
learn more about our other initiatives to help restore and protect the waters of Southwest Florida
Space is limited to the first 30 registrants A taxdeductible donation to Calusa Waterkeeper of $25 per participant is requested to cover the cost of time and materials
Each guest will get to take their VOG home to hang from their dock Additional oyster gardens are available with a $25 donation while supplies last To register, visit calusawaterkeeper org/vogworkshop
For more information about Calusa Waterkeeper, call 239-899-1440, email info@calusawaterkeeper org or visit calusawaterkeeper org
About Calusa Waterkeeper
Founded in 1995 as the Caloosahatchee River Citizens Association, Calusa Waterkeeper Inc is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection, conservation, and restoration of the Caloosahatchee River and its watershed CWK’s jurisdiction covers four counties in Southwest Florida and encompasses 1,000 square miles of water Through advocacy, education, community engagement, and science-based programs and research, Calusa Waterkeeper strives to ensure clean water for current and future generations that is drinkable, fishable, and swimmable For more information, visit calusawaterkeeper org or call 239-899-1440
Temple Judea welcomes new congregational leader; community invited to Nov. 10 installation
After a decade of service in Israel, a dynamic spiritual leader and multilingual Jewish educator with a musical background is the new rabbi of Temple Judea, Fort Myers’ Conservative synagogue
To formally welcome Rabbi David Arias, Temple Judea is hosting an installation ceremony on Sunday, Nov 10 at noon The public is invited to attend the complimentary event, which includes a ceremony, luncheon, live music and family-friendly activities. To RSVP or for more information, visit www tjswfl org
Arias joins Temple Judea from the Moriah Congregation in Haifa, Israel, leading the country’s oldest Conservative synagogue in its third largest city A native of Chile, Arias earned an undergraduate degree in music composition in his home country before moving to Israel, where he both served in the military and was ordained as a rabbi
opportunity of a lifetime
“We came to Temple Judea, as a family, as Israelis, to bring a bit of the promised land to this corner of paradise in Southwest Florida,” he said “We’ve felt nothing but love since our arrival ”
“From its founding more than 50 years ago, our congregation has both grown and evolved – much as our city, county and region have similarly blossomed,” said Jan Klein, Temple Judea president. “As we look to a future of further growth, investment and continued community service, Rabbi Arias is at the forefront of that effort ”
In addition to his rabbinical duties, Arias has served as a cantor and prayer leader in Jewish communities in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Europe, Israel and now the U S
Arias, who relocated to Southwest Florida over the summer with his wife and young children, calls the move an
“As a rabbi and musician, I love to integrate both worlds and deepen the spirituality of Jewish tradition through its texts and melodies,” he said
Fair at Fenway South returning to JetBlue Park
The Fair at Fenway South will mark its 10th Anniversary and exciting return to JetBlue Park Nov 8-24
After being canceled in 2022 due to Hurricane Ian, this popular community event is coming back a week later than usual because of Hurricane Milton. The fair will take place for three big weekends with a popular assortment of fair favorites including free family entertainment, thrill, amusement and kiddie rides, challenging games of skill, merchandise vendors and delicious fair food
“The Fair at Fenway South has always been about bringing people together and this year that feels more important than ever,” said Brian Schuman, owner of Fair Productions, producer of the Fair at Fenway South “As we celebrate our 10th year at JetBlue Park, we're excited to offer a place where families create memories, friends reconnect, and our community enjoys a great time together We can't wait to welcome everyone back!"
As always, a full schedule of awardwinning entertainment is included with admission including hours of fun shows, educational demonstrations, and thrilling performances daily
This year's lineup includes the Victoria Circus Thrill Show, Dynamo Trick Dogs, Rosaire's Royal Racing Pigs, the Cowtown USA Petting Corral, the Magic of Lance Gifford and a Las Vegas Comedy Hypnosis Show
The Fair at Fenway South also features more than 30 state-fair style amusement rides and a large Kiddieland with a tremendous selection for kids, families and thrill seekers alike
The Giant Ferris Wheel stands over 100 feet tall and the carnival midway will be packed with games, prizes and fun
A Flash Sale will take place Oct 29 that includes discounted $30 admission and unlimited rides, the lowest price for the fair Afterwards, advance sale discounts, unlimited ride wristbands, express entry, half-price BOGO
admission and other deeply discounted deals will be available until the fair opens at 5 p m , Friday, Nov 8, at www fairatfenway com Admission and ride tickets can be purchased on site each day at the fair Fair at Fenway South hours are Thursdays, 5-10 p m , Fridays, 5-11 p m , Saturdays, 1-11 p m , and Sundays, 1-10 p m
Plenty of on-site parking is available at JetBlue Park, located at 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort in Myers
For more information, visit www fairatfenway com For vendor, sponsorship and group sales information, contact info@fairproductions2 com
The Fair at Fenway is proud to donate a portion of the proceeds to the Jordan Schuman Foundation for Kindness, which provides grants, scholarships and donations to charities and individuals in need within the local community
Rabbi David Arias
Lee County Community Band to present Salute to the Military on
The Lee County Community Band will launch its 2024-25 season with “A Salute to Our Military” on November 10 with a concert at Mariner High School, 701 Chiquita Blvd , North, Cape Coral Free of charge (donations welcome), the concert starts at 3 p m
Under the direction of Gil Peltola, the band will invite audience members to take a trip down memory lane with lively marches, old favorites, and patriotic anthems, including “The Blue and the Gray,” “Armed Forces S a l u t e , ” “
Musical Memories of World War II ” The band also will play “Sousa Scramble,” “Patriotic Sing-a-Long,” and “God Bless the USA,” with vocalist Fred Lamb.
The band performs six concerts between November and April; all take place at Mariner High School, beginning at 3 p m Additional concert dates are Dec 8, Jan 12, Feb 16, March 16, and April 13
A legend in Southwest Florida, the 60-member adult band is comprised of career and amateur musicians from all walks of life
F
band org, phone 239-600-9052, or contact the band at Leecountycommunityband@gmail com
United Way and Bay Street Yard to present ‘Celebrity Bartender Battle’ Nov. 13
United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades invites the community to join them for an exciting evening of fun, friendly competition, and philanthropy at the upcoming Celebrity Bartender fundraiser on Wednesday, Nov 13, from 4 to 8 p m at Bay Street Yard, 2136 Bay St , Fort Myers
This lively event promises an unforgettable evening filled with creative cocktails, live entertainment, and the chance to mingle with local "celebrities", all while supporting United Way's annual campaign, "United We're Stronger "
Local celebrities will swap their usual roles for the night as they set up behind the bar to serve drinks, engage with guests, and compete against each other to see which team can raise the most money All tips and 20% of food and drinks sold that night benefit United Way and its programs that support education, financial stability, and health initiatives within our community.
United Way campaign co-chairs Dr Scott Nygaard (Team Hans) and Dan O'Berski (Team Franz) will captain their teams that include: Fort Myers Mayor, Kevin Anderson; Lee County Tax Collector, Noelle Branning;
I t i s r e c o m m e n d e d t h a t p a r t i c i p a n t s b r i n g b i n o c u l a r s a n d d r i n k i n g w a t e r , a n d w e a r c l o s e d - t o e s h o e s G u e s t s
s h o u l d p a r k i n t h e p a r k i n g a r e a d i r e c t l y a c r o s s f r o m
2 1 5 3 L a r c h m o n t A v e n u e ( E s t a t e s ' o v e r f l o w p a r k i n g ) , w h e r e t h e g r o u p w i l l m e e t b e f o r e t h e t o u r s t a r t s
t h r o u g h t h e
p r o p e r t y , w h e r e a v a r i e t y o f b i r d s p e c i e s m a y b e f o u n d
W h i l e b i r d i n g , g u e s t s w i l l a l s o h a v e a c h a n c e t o l e a r n a b o u t t h e E d i s o n a n d F o r d f a m i l i e s ' i n t e r e s t i n
w i l d l i f e , t h e i r e x c u r s i o n s i n t o F l o r i d a ' s s w a m p s a n d
f o r e s t s , a n d h o w M i n a E d i s o n f o u g h t t o p r o t e c t w i l d b i r d s a n d w h a t s h e d i d t o a t t r a c t b i r d s t o h e r o w n p r o p -
e r t y F o l l o w i n g t h e t o u r , p a r t i c i p a n t s w i l l b e p r o v i d e d
w i t h a p a s t r y a n d b e v e r a g e f r o m t h e o n - s i t e B a n y a n
C a f a n d h a v e a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o t a l k w i t h f e l l o w b i r d -
e r s a n d g u i d e s
Bell Tower invites the community to a fun-filled ‘Yappy Hour ’
Bell Tower, a landmark shopping, dining and entertainment destination centrally located in Fort Myers, Florida, invites the community to a fun-filled Yappy Hour from 6 p m to 8 p m on the second Friday of each month Guests are encouraged to bring their furry friends and mingle with fellow dog lovers at this exclusive fundraising event which benefits the Gulf Coast Humane Society Throughout the event, attendees are encouraged to sip, snack and stroll through the center’s shops Many of Bell Tower’s retailers will also have a special Yappy Hour surprise for guests and their dogs Bell Tower Yappy Hours take place each month through the end of the year; check the website for dates and themed event updates These events are free and open to the public; no preregistration is required Alcohol will only be served to those 21 and over with a valid ID To learn more, visit https://bit ly/3y9SEne
Bell Tower is at Daniels Parkway & US 41, Fort Myers
T h e t o u r w i l l t a k e p l a c e o u t d o o r s a n d i s s u b j e c t t o
c a n c e l l a t i o n i f u n f a v o r a b l e w e a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s d e v e l o p
R e g i s t r a t i o n i s r e q u i r e d a t E d i s o n F o r d o r g b e f o r e
N o v e m b e r 1 2 . T h e t o u r d o e s n o t i n c l u d e a d m i s s i o n t o
t h e m u s e u m , l a b o r a t o r y o r h i s t o r i c h o m e s T i c k e t s a r e
$ 1 5 f o r E d i s o n F o r d m e m b e r s a n d $ 2 0 f o r n o n - m e m -
b e r s ( i n c l u d e s p a s t r y a n d b e v e r a g e )
E d i s o n a n d F o r d W i n t e r E s t a t e s i s a t 2 3 5 0
M c G r e g o r B l v d , F o r t M y e r s
On Nov 8 and 9, the 19th SemiAnnual Home & Garden Show will be held at the New Hope Event C e n t e r o f f
Naples
Now in its 19th year, the semiannual Home & Garden Show features more than 72 local and regional companies that display and present products and services to homeowners The event takes place from 10 a m t o 4 p m o n F r i d a y a n d Saturday
“With the recent storms making landfalls on Florida’s west coast we know residents are needing to get their homes back to livable conditions,” said Bill Anderson, president of Expo Management that produces t h e H o m e & G
o address all their home needs and get help deciding which home project to
Lee County Clerk of Courts and Comptroller, Kevin Karnes; United Way Board Members – Beth Hendry, John Clinger, Jay Santos, and many other local favorites Emcee Jonathan Gabel will highlight all the action throughout the evening as the competition gets "pumped up " If you can't make it to the event, you can support your f a v
GoFundMe link For Team Hans visit https://bit ly/BSYTeamHans and for Team Franz visit https://bit ly/BSYTeamFranz
About Edison and Ford Winter Estates
E d i s o n a n d F o r d W i n t e r E s t a t e s i s t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a ll y k n o w n w i n t e r h o m e s i t e o f T h o m a s E d i s o n a n d
H e n r y F o r d M o r e t h a n 2 2 0 , 0 0 0 v i s i t o r s w a l k t h r o u g h
t h e l o c a t i o n e a c h y e a r f r o m a l l a r o u n d t h e g l o b e T h e o r g a n i z a t i o n h a s r e c e i v e d m a n y a w a r d s , i n c l u d i n g t h e
N a t i o n a l S t e w a r d s h i p A w a r d f r o m t h e N a t i o n a l T r u s t f o r H i s t o r i c P r e s e r v a t i o n a n d t h e N a t i o n a l G a r d e n
C l u b s ’ H i s t o r i c P r e s e r v a t i o n A w a r d . T h e p r o p e r t y i s a n o f f i c i a l p r o j e c t o f “ S a v e A m e r i c a ’ s T r e a s u r e s , " a
F l o r i d a H i s t o r i c L a n d m a r k a n d a N a t i o n a l R e g i s t e r
H i s t o r i c S i t e T h e E d i s o n B o t a n i c L a b o r a t o r y i s a
N a t i o n a l H i s t o r i c C h e m i c a l L a n d m a r k T h e s i t e i s o p e n e v e r y d a y e x c e p t T h a n k s g i v i n g a n d C h r i s t m a s f r o m 9
a m t o 5 : 3 0 p m a n d u n t i l 9 p m d u r i n g t h e m o n t h o f
D e c e m b e r f o r H o l i d a y N i g h t s
tackle first And our exhibitors are ready to make that happen for them ” T h e s h o w f e a t u r e s l o c a l a n d regional companies with a wide array of exhibitor booths showcasing produ c t s a n d s e r v i c e s f r o m l e a d i n g brands in home improvement, landscaping, interior design, eco-friendly providers, smart home technology, r e n e w a b l e e n e r g y s o l u
more
Discover the newest innovations and explore diverse solutions for creating beautiful, functional, and sustainable living spaces.
Attendees can make an appointment for new hurricane windows, learn about modern hot tubs, explore m o r t g a g
n d more Live demonstrations and presentations on various topics, home staging tips and interactive technology showcases will also take place
over the two-day event
E x h i
available. Also, attendees can register to win a cruise/vacation giveaway Expo Management Inc was established in Fort Myers in 1987 and specializes in organizing large-scale home and garden shows held in con-
across the Southeast The company h
6 7 2 events over the past 37 years In 2024, they will operate 24 events in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Tennessee
For more information about the H o m e & G a r d e n S h o w , c o n t a c t David Pardi of Expo Management at 239-205-6139, email fldave@expo managementinc com or visit expomanagementinc com
PHOTO PROVIDED
F o r t M y e r s B e a c h O b s e r v e r f o r t m y e r s b e a c h t a l k . c o m W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , N o v e m b e r 6 , 2 0 2 4 ■ P a g e 2 2
WHAT’S HAPPENING
S e r v i c e s a t S t . P e t e r L u t h e r a n C h u rc h
S t P e t e r E v a n g e l i c a l L u t h e r a n C h u r c h i n A m e r i c a a t 3 7 5 1 E s t e r o B o u l e v a r d , F o r t M y e r s B e a c h O u t d o o r S e r v i c e s u n d e r t h e t e n t
E v e r y S u n d a y 9 a m
A l l a r e w e l c o m e , w e a r e p e t f r i e n d l y
2 3 9 - 4 6 3 - 4 2 5 1
s t p e t e r f m b @ g m a i l . c o m
w w w s t p e t e r f m b c o m
Y o u T u b e - S t P e t e r L u t h e r a n C h u r c h F o r t M y e r s
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I n c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h f o r m e r C h a p e l b y t h e S e a a n d
B e a c h U n i t e d M e t h o d i s t C h u r c h
G o l d e n F e s t X I V s e t f o r N o v. 1 7
G o l d e n R e t r i e v e r R e s c u e o f S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a w i l l
h o s t G o l d e n F e s t X I V f r o m 1 0 a m - 2 p m S u n d a y ,
N o v 1 7 , a t t h e L e e H e a l t h S p o r t s C o m p l e x -
H a m m o n d S t a d i u m , 1 4 1 0 0 6 M i l e C y p r e s s P k w y ,
F o r t M y e r s O p e n t o w e l l - b e h a v e d l e a s h e d d o g s o f a l l
b r e e d s , t h e e v e n t i n c l u d e s v e n d o r s , a h u g e r a f f l e , d o c k
d i v i n g , l i v e m u s i c , o t h e r e n t e r t a i n m e n t a n d t a s t y f a r e
F o r d e t a i l s : w w w g r r s w f o r g , i n f o @ g r r s w f o r g o r
2 3 9 - 3 6 9 - 0 4 1 5
G re e n S c i e n c e C a m p o ff e re d
a t E d i s o n a n d F o rd W i n t e r E s t a t e s
E d i s o n a n d F o r d W i n t e r E s t a t e s o f f e r s m a n y p r og r a m s f o r c h i l d r e n t h r o u g h o u t t h e y e a r , i n c l u d i n g d a y
c a m p s w h e n L e e C o u n t y s c h o o l s a r e c l o s e d T h e
G r e e n S c i e n c e C a m p w i l l t a k e p l a c e N o v e m b e r 2 5 -
2 7 , f r o m 9 a m t o 4 p m e a c h d a y T h i s c a m p i s f o r s t u d e n t s c u r r e n t l y i n k i n d e r g a r t e n t h r o u g h f i f t h g r a d e
S t u d e n t s w i l l l e a r n i n t h e “ l i v i n g l a b o r a t o r y ” o f t h e
E s t a t e s U s i n g s o l a r p a n e l s a n d e l e c t r i c m o t o r s , t h e y
w i l l l e a r n a b o u t t h e s c i e n c e o f e n e r g y a n d e l e c t r i c i t y
T h i s c a m p w i l l c o n c e n t r a t e o n t e a c h i n g t h e p h y s i c s o f e n e r g y a n d e l e c t r o n i c s w i t h i n S . T . E . A . M . ( s c i e n c e t e c h n o l o g y , e n g i n e e r i n g , a r t , a n d m a t h ) N o e x p e r i -
e n c e i s n e e d e d C a m p e r s s h o u l d b r i n g t h e i r l u n c h a n d
s n a c k s
T u i t i o n : E d i s o n F o r d m e m b e r s : $ 1 3 5 f o r e a c h s t ud e n t ; n o n - m e m b e r s : $ 1 5 0 f o r e a c h s t u d e n t .
R e g i s t r a t i o n i s r e q u i r e d T o r e g i s t e r , v i s i t t h e w e b s i t e
a t E d i s o n F o r d o r g
E d i s o n a n d F o r d W i n t e r E s t a t e s i s a t 2 3 5 0
M c G r e g o r B l v d , F o r t M y e r s
L o c a l d ro p - o ff l o c a t i o n s
t o o p e n f o r O p e r a t i o n C h r i s t m a s C h i l d
D e s p i t e r e c e n t s t o r m s , v o l u n t e e r s a r e s t i l l p r e p a r i n g
t o c o l l e c t O p e r a t i o n C h r i s t m a s C h i l d s h o e b o x g i f t s d u r i n g N a t i o n a l C o l l e c t i o n W e e k , N o v 1 8 – 2 5 M o r e t h a n 4 , 7 0 0 d r o p - o f f l o c a t i o n s w i l l o p e n a c r o s s t h e
c o u n t r y i n N o v e m b e r , a n d s h o e b o x p a c k e r s c a n f i n d t h e i r l o c a l d r o p - o f f l o c a t i o n s n e a r e s t t h e m
S i n c e 1 9 9 3 , O p e r a t i o n C h r i s t m a s C h i l d h a s b e e n
c o l l e c t i n g a n d d e l i v e r i n g g i f t - f i l l e d s h o e b o x e s t o c h i l -
d r e n i n c l u d i n g m a n y w h o a r e s u f f e r i n g f r o m w a r , p o v e r t y , d i s e a s e a n d d i s a s t e r O p e r a t i o n C h r i s t m a s
C h i l d h o p e s t o r e a c h a n o t h e r 1 2 m i l l i o n c h i l d r e n i n
2 0 2 4 w i t h t h e h o p e o f J e s u s
S h o e b o x p a c k i n g i s f u n f o r i n d i v i d u a l s , f a m i l i e s a n d g r o u p s ! F i n d a s t e p - b y - s t e p g u i d e o n t h e H o w t o
P a c k a S h o e b o x w e b p a g e T h e p r o j e c t p a r t n e r s w i t h l o c a l c h u r c h e s a c r o s s t h e g l o b e t o d e l i v e r t h e s e t a n g ib l e e x p r e s s i o n s o f G o d ’ s l o v e t o c h i l d r e n i n n e e d .
Holiday Nights opens Nov. 29 at Edison and Ford Winter Estates
On Friday, November 29 at 5:30 p.m., Edison and Ford Winter Estates will kick off the 49th annual Holiday Nights celebration with a tree lighting ceremony Guests will have an opportunity to participate in the countdown with Dave Elias from NBC-2 when the Christmas tree on the Ford property is lit with thousands of animated lights
Female vocalists, the American Sirens, will perform shortly after the tree lighting The event is sponsored by FPL, Bob Dean Supply, Neal Communities, Sunbelt Rentals, and TriCircle Pavers
Christmas Eve and Christmas night)
Guided Holiday Tradition Tours will be offered at 6 and 7 p m every night except opening night or visitors can choose to meander at their own pace on a self-guided
December 4, 11, and 18 at 6:30 p m for a special upclose look at the homes' decorated interiors
The family-oriented event includes the Children's Tree Trail, which features 50 trees decorated with handmade ornaments from Lee County school children On Sunday evenings from 6-8 p m , children can visit with Santa and Mrs Claus Then, on Wednesday nights from 6-8 p m , there will be a family science show and families will have an opportunity to learn about the diffraction of holiday lights, the chemistry of slime, and how to drive a robot
There will be holiday music on several nights, including strolling carolers, a pianist, and tenor saxophone player (a schedule is posted on the website, listing the musical talent and other events taking place each night) The Museum Store and Garden Shoppe
will be open until 9 p m each night of Holiday Nights and will be stocked with unique gift items for that hard-to-buy-for loved one
Holiday Nights admission is free for Edison Ford members, $20 for non-member adults, $10 for teens (13-19), $2 for children (6-12), and children five years old and younger will be admitted free Guided Holiday Tradition Tours are $30 for adults, $25 for teens, $18 for children, and $10 for Edison Ford members Inside-the-Homes Holiday Tours are $50 per person Lee County residents with identification will receive $5 off regular-priced Holiday Nights admission on Monday nights Refreshments will be available for purchase on select nights To purchase tickets or v
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PHOTOS PROVIDED
Great children’s book for the holidays available
By ISABELLE WELLS Co-founder of the
t h e i r f u r r y p a l s H e r v i s i t s t o t h e
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s u l t a n t t e a c h i n g o t h e r t e a c h e r s i n n o r t h e r n M i c h i g a n f o r t h i r t y y e a r s T h e t e a c h i n g s u g g e s t i o n s i n c l u d e d i n t h e b o o k , h e l p e d u c a
Meet Bambi. She was scheduled to be euthanized before hurricane Milton and had no where to go We took her and now she is in our rescue and needs a home She is a year old and weighs 33 pounds Great with dogs and people. For more information please call or text Isabelle at 239-2810739. You can visit our site at www.findahomegiveahome com
PHOTO PROVIDED
We are going through lots of litter daily and lots of food so donations would be appreciated as we have not been able to hold any fundraisers due to all the hurricanes we have had and lack of places to hold in the area We hope to hold a silent auction at the Babcock Ranch area in the near future
Moe is an all black male, 8 years old and recently survived a fire in a Cape Coral home. His sibling didn’t make it nor did the owner of the home. He and his brother Curly were adopted when only 5 months old from our rescue. He is a very sweet boy and needs a special home with lots of love He would be happy being the only cat with lots of love and attention but would be fine with another cat in the home
Sabrina is an all black medium-haired female who is only 1
old and had two kittens that are now 3
and affectionate cat as well as super playful Gets along well with all
Smokey is also an all black long-haired fluffy male that keeps to himself. He has a brother that is identical and they are very close as they have been together since birth They are now 18 months old and need a home together
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CompleteRemodeling OfYourHome * AllYourHome I mprovementNeeds * NoJobToSmall * 24HourEmergency Service * ServingAllofLeeCounty * CallJon 239-747-9282 Licensed&Insured jonthehandymancanllc.com
