Neptune gets approval for higher-density rebuild
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com
The Neptune Resort, which traded hands for $27 million a year before Hurricane Ian left the property with catastrophic damage, received approval from the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council for a rebuild that will grant the owners multiple deviations to add density
Commercial Planned Development which will grant the owners plans to double the size of the hotel from 71 rooms to 140 rooms
Fort Myers Beach to host mid night firew orks sho w
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com
The Town of Fort Myers Beach will be hosting a New Year’s Eve fireworks show this Tuesday night, following approval from the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council to fund the show
The fireworks will be shot off from a barge near the Fort Myers Beach Pier, near Times Square and Lynn Hall Memorial park at about midnight
The Matanzas Pass Bridge will be closed to oncoming traffic beginning at 11 p m Tuesday night The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council agreed last month during a management and planning session to close the bridge to oncoming traffic until 1 a m Wednesday at the request of Fort Myers Beach Manager Andy Hyatt
The town’s current announcement for the fireworks show states that the bridge could potentially be closed until 1:30 a.m.
Big Carlos Pass Bridge will remain open
Town officials are encouraging visitors to use LeeTran, Lee County’s public transportation system which will include shuttle
service from the Beach Park and Ride at 1101 Summerlin Square Drive to Times Square
Lee County spokesperson Betsy Clayton said Route 490, which travels between Times Square and the Beach Park & Ride at 11101 Summerlin Square Drive, will run its normal service until the last departure off the beach around 10:30 p m After this final departure from Times Square, a shuttle service will start from the Main Street Park & Ride (at the foot of the Matanzas Pass Bridge) to the Beach Park & Ride until 1 a m Jan 1, following the fireworks festivities.
Lee County’s free open-air beach trams will extend service until 1 a m from Bowditch Point Park to the Fort Myers Beach Public Library
Riders seeking transportation from Fort Myers Beach to the Beach Park & Ride after the bridge closure will have to walk across the bridge to the Main Street Park & Ride to catch the 490 shuttle to the Beach Park & Ride The last shuttle to the Beach Park & Ride will depart the Main Street Park & Ride at 1 a m
One of the oldest family resorts on the island, the hotel dates back to the 1960s
Springboard Hospitality
Among the new additions will be a new restaurant open to the public and tiki bar
Planner Patrick Vanasse, whose firm
The Neighborhood Co is representing the owners in their redevelopment plans, won
Town gets fireworks funding shocker
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers
com
This summer while Town of Fort Myers Beach management made plans for a Fourth of July fireworks show, they were counting on donations from an anonymous donor The same way an anonymous donor had quietly taken care of the cost for the town’s fireworks show last New Year’s Eve
It turns out the “anonymous” donations did not come in for the Fourth of July show, leaving the town’s budget for its fireworks show for both the Fourth of July and its planned upcoming New Year’s Eve show in an approximately $80,000 hole, Fort Myers Beach Community Services Director Jeff Hauge told the town council Hauge informed the council about the budget shortfall while seeking authorization to contract with the same company that handled the town’s last fireworks for a new show to be held this upcoming New Year’s Eve Hauge told the Fort Myers Beach Council that the anonymous donations the town expected did not materialize this summer
“We have a contract signed for the fireworks company and we also have for the barge,” Hauge told the town council during a management and planning session last month
“The issue is the funding We ended up having to pay for all of the funding,” Hauge said “We were basically told that we were going to have a funding source through some donations that we did not get So we ended up paying for the whole pot ”
Holiday miracles Editorial
The holidays of Christmas and Hanukkah coincide this year.
The eight days of Hanukkah begin at sundown today, Dec 25 Christmas Day and continue through Thursday, Jan 2
The holidays have different meanings and they are celebrated with different traditions but they do have something in common: Both mark miracles of faith
For Christians, Christmas celebrates the birth of a Savior, both supreme gift and supreme sacrifice, to provide a path to redemption and reconciliation with God
For Jews, Hanukkah marks the liberation of Jerusalem after a rebellion led by the Maccabees against the Seleucid Empire, the rededication of the holy temple and a single day’s supply of pure oil that nonetheless burned for eight days, a virtual Festival of Lights
Christmas celeberates the birth of Jesus, as the New Testament recounts:
“And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed
(
Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, u n t o t h e c i t y o f D a v
Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:)
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered
And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn
Web Pol l
Previous Web Poll Results
Who do you blame more for the Town of Fort Myers Beach being put on probation and losing its 25% discount through the National Flood Insurance Program?
∫ Town of Fort Myers Beach staff, 49%
∫ FEMA, 29%
∫ Those who did work without permits, 20%
∫ Nobody, 0%
∫ Unsure/no opinion, 2%
Current Web Poll
Are you concerned about the intensity of new development projects in town?
∫ Yes, I am concerned they will overwhelm the town
∫ No, I am not concerned The town needs the development
∫ Unsure/no opinion
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men ” Luke 2:1-14
Hanukkah marks the return of Jewish inde-
See HOLIDAY, page 5
The silencing of Clean Water advocates
In s outhw es t F lorida, where the Caloosahatchee River empties into Pine Island Sound and ultimately the Gulf of Mexico, three citizen advocates for c l e
n g crippling retaliatory financial penalties from their local government
For Dan Carney, Jim Collier and Kevin Sparks being able to cast a line in the waters off Cape Coral is what brought them to buy a home and relocate to the community
“Access to world-class fishing and the environment that supports it,” Dan Carney told the City Council is what motivated him to move to Cape Coral Jim Collier told the Council that he and his wife Cheryl “ have a 20-year history in Cape Coral supporting wildlife and water quality ” Cheryl runs the Butterfly House at Rotary P a r k ; J i m w a s c h a i r p e r s o n o f t h e Waterway Advisory Board. Kevin Sparks noted that he is also “a lifelong fisherman Fishing is what brought me to Cape Coral ”
The three joined with the Matlacha
Civic Association, Calusa Waterkeeper, and the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation to challenge the removal of the Chiquita Lock on the Caloosahatchee
The lock was designed to force water from a portion of the city’s canals to be filtered first through mangroves before reaching the Caloosahatchee, Pine Island Sound, Matlacha Pass, around Sanibel Island and into the Gulf
The city has been trying to remove the
5
Letters to the Editor
Floridians have a right to clean water
To the editor:
Regarding “Be Thankful You Don’t Live in Cape Coral,” a commentary published by the Florida Phoenix concerning the city’s efforts to remove the Chiquita Lock and the challenge filed by a trio of anglers.
This Cape Coral litigation exemplifies traditional environmental law where a win is usually followed by a loss Our own taxpayer dollars are used to silence those who disagree with the profiteering city and developers
In round one, Mike Hannon did a stellar job of assembling plaintiffs and expert witnesses to defeat permit issuance With permit application defects revealed the city knew where they failed and came again. Mike did another fantastic job in round two but the game rules won out
This process is repeated daily across the USA and permits are always assumed to be obtainable and issued It’s a rigged and fixed framework that needs broken We must follow a new paradigm of environmental protections That path leads us to Green Amendments with Rights-based protections either for natural ecosystems themselves aka Right of Nature laws or by
giving ourselves the human inalienable right to clean, pollution free waters and air
Both efforts have gained effective tract i
n
e County in 2020, and now with the 2026 b
v e Floridarighttocleanwater org
Your signatures have the power to amend the state constitution in 2026 to create the law, the tool, the 16-pound hammer to break the traditional playground rules that the legislature and regulatory agencies use that have allowed decades of staged environmental degradation This new law will not happen without your efforts and support We need your time, tangible resources and financial support
State constitutional amendment efforts can cost hundreds of millions of dollars to succeed or even fail as we saw recently Marijuana and Abortion proponents spent over $200 million to fail because of the 6 0 % a p p r o v a l t
h o l d . Floridarighttocleanwater org is very proud of our wholly grassroots, unpaid volunteers that collected 110,000 petitions with just a few thousand dollars; not the $10 million per 100k spent by the 2024 peti-
page 13
Mary Kay Robbins-Kralapp & Howard Simon
Guest Commentary
Holiday
From page 4
pendence over Jerusalem and Judea after the revolt against the Seleucid Empire, which controlled the region after the diss o l u t i o n o f A l e x a n d e r t h e G r e a t ’ s Macedonian Empire The holiday marks the Maccabee victory over the Greek army of King Antiochus IV, which had desecrated the Second Temple
“What is the reason for Hanukkah?
For our Rabbis taught: On the 25th of Kislev begin the days of Hanukkah, which are eight, during which lamentation for the dead and fasting are forbidden For when the Greeks entered the Temple, they defiled all the oils in it, and when the Hasmonean dynasty prevailed against and defeated them, they searched and
Clean Water advocates
lock for years It was never clear whether the city was responding to anything more than boaters who had to suffer the inconvenience of waiting to pass through the lock, slowing their access to open waters Ironically, the city’s chronic neglect and failure to maintain (or upgrade) the lock made it less effective for both navigation and environmental protection
The effort to secure a permit from the Department of Environmental Protection to remove the lock, in place since the 1980s, was denied in 2019 by an administrative law judge who ruled that the permit did not comply with permitting criteria, “particularly compliance with state surface water quality standards ”
The city lost due to concerns about how the removal of the lock would impact nutrient loading (thousands of pounds of nitrogen), saltwater intrusion, groundwater levels, the mangroves that protect homes from storm surge in hurricanes, and further exposure to discharges from Lake Okeechobee that carry toxic
found only one cruse of oil which possessed the seal of the High Priest, but which contained sufficient oil for only one day's lighting; yet a miracle occurred there and they lit (the lamp) for eight days The following year these days were appointed a Festival with the recitation of Hallel and thanksgiving”
From page 4
Caloosahatchee feeding red tide in the Gulf These concerns remain today
The city renewed its attempt to secure a permit from the DEP to remove the lock, this time employing the law firm of Lewis, Longman & Walker, P A , who maneuvered to keep the local environmental groups out of the case, so the fishermen were the only petitioners opposing the city’s application
This time, after numerous depositions and lengthy hearings, the city prevailed the ALJ ruled that the DEP could issue a permit for the removal of the lock
Now the city and its high-priced law firm are seeking to impose the cost of the litigation, including the law firm’s fees on the three fishermen, claiming that their efforts to protect southwest Florida waterways was brought for an “improper purpose” and was frivolous
It is no secret that Florida has a serious water quality problem impacting public health The state has been hit more
than once by the toxic vise of both bluegreen algae and red tide. Gov. DeSantis acknowledged the problem by appointing a task force to provide recommendations for “expediting improvements and restoration of Florida’s water bodies that have been adversely affected by bluegreen algae blooms ” I n
enforcement and where developers control so many city and county commissions, Florida needs volunteer advocates to test and monitor waterways where the state does not.
The three anglers who challenged C
Chiquita Lock are the kind of environmental advocates whose courage to take on city hall should be honored (One of the fishermen, Dan Carney, was recently named Non-Profit Volunteer of the Year b y t h e C a p e C o r
Foundation ) Their efforts to protect safe
“improper ”
Merry Christmas Happy Hanukkah
Happy holidays May 2025 be all you hope it to be
Observer editorial
As brutal as the $2 million dollar penalty to cover a big law firm’s bill would be for the three fishermen and their families, it would be regrettable if the tactic of imposing devastating costs intimidated others from working to save what is left of our over-developed peninsula
has been set up by friends of the fishermen in case the new Cape Coral City Council does not reverse the effort by its lawyers to pursue the crippling financial penalties
Mary Kay Robbins-Kralapp is a member of the Board of Directors of Calusa Waterkeeper Howard Simon is
Advisory Board This guest commentary published in the Miami Herald on Dec 16 )
Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat, 21b
BUSINESS
Doc Ford’s donates to Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation
Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille’s two Southwest Florida locations are gold sponsors of Wines in the W
event raises money for SCCF’s mission of protecting and preserving the region’s coastal ecosystems through science, education and advocacy
“Protecting our coastal communities is an important part of who we are as a company and as a community partner,” said Joe Harrity, a partner with HM Restaurant Group, the parent company of Doc Ford’s. “We are a long-time supporter of the cons
Southwest Florida’s unique coastal ecosystems are what make this area so special for residents and visitors alike ”
The Sanibel Island and Fort Myers Beach restaurants donated $2,500 to Wines in the Wild, an evening at the Bailey Homestead Preserve The event started in 2008 as a welcome-back party kicking off the winter season, where guests stroll t
selected wines paired with cuisine prepared by top local chefs.
The foundation’s environmental and conservation efforts include wildlife and water quality monitoring, land preservation and research programs for sea turtles, shorebirds and aquatic wildlife It also manages more than 2,100 acres including critical wildlife habitats and eight miles of public trails
Doc Ford’s, founded on Sanibel Island in 2003, and HM Restaurant Group support a number of nonprofit organizations dedicated to the environment, conservation and community
Since its inception in 2012, the annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament has raised $1 3 million for conservation and waterquality research at the island’s J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge The 13th annual tournament is May 9
The restaurants also support SanCap Cares and FISH of SANCAP and raise money for children’s hospitals in Fort Myers and St Petersburg and Captains For Clean Water’s water quality initiatives through sales of specialty cocktails at Doc Ford’s Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille is open daily from 11 a m to 10 p m
Chamber gets the holiday hopping
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com
The Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce had the lights assembled for its “Holiday Hop” party like a film studio banquet, though on a slightly smaller scale at its humble 100 Lover’s Lane set.
Still the stars came out from the chamber and its neighbors at the Fort Myers Beach building, including the Alex King Group, State Insurance USA, Sea Gypsy Vacation Rentals and Access Title Agency The event was open to the public, with local Realtors joining a large
group of guests to enjoy a free meal along with a generous portion of pastries fit for the holidays
"We truly have a wonderful partnership between the five businesses that are in the 100 Lovers Lane building," Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak said
Liszak said business is looking "really strong" for hotel and vacation rentals for January "February is starting to pick up," she said
“I think we need to continue getting the word out that
See CHAMBER, page 18
with husband and Town of Fort Myers
Beach
Councilmember Scott Safford
NATHAN MAYBERG
Justin O'Hara, a Realtor with the Alex King Group, with wife Michael O'Hara (middle) and daughter Daphne (right) at the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce Holiday Hop party
Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak (left)
Beach Living
Fort Myers Beach Market organizer Linda Miller is bringing the market back to Moss
Boulevard every Friday and Saturday. The
Santini Plaza on Thursdays
Farmer ’s market switching dates to Moss Marina
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com
The Fort Myers Beach Market is moving again This time, the market is shifting two of its dates each week to property owned by Moss Marina on Old San Carlos Boulevard, across from Smokin’ Oyster Brewery
The market, which had been at Times Square before Hurricane Helene, had previously switched to Santini Plaza for three days a week
While the Santini Plaza Farmer’s Market will continue each Thursday, the Fort Myers Beach Market will shift to the new location off Old San Carlos Boulevard each Friday and Saturday from 11 a m -2 p m , Market organizer Linda Miller said FILE
New town hall has new color
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com
The future Fort Myers Beach Town Hall has undergone a new makeover with a new blue color following a recent paint job Town officials hope to move the town’s offices from the temporary trailers at Oak Street to the new digs at Estero Boulevard and Bahia Via next month
The town purchased the property at 6231 Estero Boulevard over the summer for $7 million
Town officials also announced recently that the town
Histor y salvaged by Chamber
has closed on purchasing the neighboring property of 6221 Estero Boulevard, which was the former home of a 7-Eleven Fort Myers Beach Manager Andy Hyatt said in August that the town had made an offer of $1 7 million for the property, which was accepted
The town intends to use the property, which is currently in disrepair, for parking to service its town hall. According to town officials, the existing building will be demolished Town officials expect to add drainage to alleviate flooding a longstanding problem in the area
Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak said she was able to save this old photo of the Fort Myers Beach Arches, along with another old photo of Fort Myers Beach that had adorned the walls of Charley’s Boat House and Grill for many years before it was demolished after Hurricane Ian
PHOTO
NATHAN MAYBERG
NATHAN MAYBERG
The Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce was able to salvage this old photo of Fort Myers Beach from the wreckage of Charley’s Boat House and Grill.
Welcoming Back SOB
Smokin’ Oystery Brewery, also known as SOB, reopened this past week on Fort Myers Beach for the first time since Hurricane Ian Under new management, the Old San Carlos Boulevard restaurant is currently awaiting its liquor license before it can serve alcohol again.
NATHAN MAYBERG
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 , D e c e m b e r 2 5 , 2 0 2 4 ■ P a g e 1 0
FEMA opens disaster recovery center
S TA F F R E P O RT
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e r y c e n t e r i n F o r t M y e r s t o p r o v i d e
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d e n t s a n d o t h e r F l o r i d i a n s a f f e c t e d b y
H u r r i c a n e s M i l t o n a n d H e l e n e .
S u r v i v o r s o f H u r r i c a n e D e b b y c a n
a l s o b e s e r v e d b y t h e c e n t e r
T h e c e n t e r i s l o c a t e d a t t h e
M u s e u m o f M e d i c a l H i s t o r y - B u i l d i n g
A A , 8 0 9 9 C o l l e g e P a r k w a y i n F o r t
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t i o n a r e f r o m 7 a m t o 7 p m M o n d a y
t h r o u g h S a t u r d a y
S u r v i v o r s d o n o t n e e d t o v i s i t a
c e n t e r t o a p p l y f o r a s s i s t a n c e
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d o w n l o a d i n g t h e F E M A A p p F E M A
d o e s n o t d i s t r i b u t e c a s h a t D i s a s t e r
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e n c o u r a g e d t o a p p l y o n l i n e a
Lee County Senior Games registration open
Lee County Parks & Recreation welcomes all senior athletes to participate in the 2025 Lee County Senior Games, which feature social, recreational and competitive activities
Registration is open Register at www leeparks org/register or call 239-5337275 Registration is $15 per event Participants must be 50 years or older by Dec 31, 2025, and qualifying event top finishers will be eligible to compete at the state level in the 2025 Florida Senior Games
The games will be held Jan 24 through March 9 with eight sports in various locations throughout the county
The Florida Games Series Qualifier Events include: ∫ Table Tennis
Archery
Pickleball
∫ Basketball Shooting
∫ Basketball 3V3 ∫ Swimming
Tennis
Billiards
Participants will receive one shirt that will be distributed at event site Medals will be presented to the first-, second- and thirdplace finishers of each event For event schedule and more information about Lee County Senior Games visit www leeparks org
For additional details about Lee County Parks & Recreation locations, amenities and upcoming events, visit www leeparks org, call 239-533-7275, or email leeparks@leegov com Stay connected on social media by following Lee County Parks & Recreation on Facebook and Instagram
Mound House museum to reopen Thursday
STAFF REPORT
The Mound House museum is expected to reopen Thursday, Dec 26, following renovations that were announced by the Town of Fort Myers Beach.
The museum was scheduled to be closed through Dec 25 while a new Artifact Preservation Center was installed
According to a statement issued by the town, the Artifact Preservation Center will allow the museum staff to expand experi-
ences for visitors, organize and protect artifacts and archives while offering new opportunities for research into the island’s history
Kiosks and hands-on activities will be relocated to other exhibits, according to the town’s new plans
The grounds of the Mound House will remain open with their normal times and the town will still offer guided eco-kayak tours
Danger ahead
Folks walking along Estero Boulevard between Times Square and Margaritaville Beach Resort should use the utmost caution in front of Crescent Beach Family Park where the sidewalk has been closed for weeks since Hurricane Milton
The Florida Department of Transportation has been using heavy equipment for a roundabout project, Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers said
The sidewalk is blocked off by caution tape and the lights on the sidewalk are nonexistent making for some treacherous pedestrian travel Lee County owns Estero Boulevard and Crescent Beach Family Park
The situation is especially risky at night and pedestrians should avoid traveling on the beach side of the sidewalk between Times Square and Margaritaville for the time being
NATHAN MAYBERG
NATHAN MAYBERG
Limited Edition to play New Year’s Eve
Limited Edition, seen performing on Fort Myers Beach at the free Bayside Park Concert Series, will be appearing again at the Bayside Veterans Park stage on Old San Carlos Boulevard this New Year ’s Eve
And then there was light
There are now two temporary light fixtures up near the intersection of Old San Carlos Boulevard and Estero Boulevard The lights were just recently installed One is located next to Surf Style while the other is in front of the Lynn Hall Memorial Park parking lot The traffic light and street lights that were previously at the intersection and along the road have not been replaced at the intersection by Lee County since Hurricane Ian.
School District of Lee County announces hiring incentives
STAFF REPORT
The School District of Lee County is providing new hiring incentives to meet the growing need for Exceptional Student Education (ESE) K-12 teachers, speechlanguage pathologists and school psychologists in Lee County
A $3,000 Relocation Bonus is available to new hires to the school district who are relocating to the area from outside of Lee County. New hires who qualify for the Relocation Bonus must teach a Critical Shortage Area In addition to the Relocation Bonus, the District is also offering Critical Shortage Area Bonuses, including a $3,000 hiring bonus for ESE teachers and a $5,000 hiring bonus for speech-language pathologists and school psychologists District officials announced that the bonuses are being made possible through donations from the FutureMakers Coalition and Suncoast Credit Union,
“We are thrilled for the opportunity to provide this added incentive to support the District’s efforts to recruit for our most critical positions,” said Amanda Guzman,
director of talent acquisition for The School District of Lee County “We appreciate this impactful partnership with the FutureMakers Coalition and Suncoast Credit Union that will help attract highquality educators and staff to the District ”
To qualify for the Relocation Bonus, candidates must be physically relocating from outside of Lee County to reside within the county limits with proof of residency and must commit at least two years of service to the District in a critical shortage area position
To qualify for the Critical Shortage Area Bonus, new ESE teachers, speechlanguage pathologists or school psychologists must complete a bonus application prior to April 30, 2025, must not be currently employed within the District, and must have a start date on or prior to April 30, 2025, in an ESE K-12, speech-language pathologist or school psychologist role
The School District of Lee County is among the largest school districts in Florida with a growing enrollment of more than 99,000 students and 116 schools
NATHAN MAYBERG
LeeTran to provide extended New Year ’s Eve services for Downtown Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach
LeeTran will provide extended transportation services in Downtown Fort Myers and on Fort Myers Beach to accommodate New Year’s Eve festivities
Downtown Fort Myers River District service will include:
∫ The Blue and Gold line trolleys (Routes 500 and 505) will run until 1 a m
Fort Myers Beach Service will include:
∫ The free open-air beach trams will extend service until 1 a.m. from Bowditch Point Park to the beach library
∫ Route 490, which travels between Times Square and the Beach Park & Ride at 11101 Summerlin Square
From page 4
tions campaigns Our volunteers are dedicated and focused on Clean Water and Wetlands protection Please join us to make a law that will alter traditional practices in Florida forever
We are constantly team building and seeking funding solutions and we need your help Everyone agrees clean water is the basis of life, our Florida lifestyles and our economy History will be made as we grow We need more boots on the ground committed to collecting 1,000 petitions per volunteer over the next year in 2025 It’s easy math 1000 volunteers X 1000 petitions/2025 = 1,000,000 signatures > > Clean Waters for Future Generations of Floridians
Are you ready to end Tallahassee malfeasance? Sign the petition, share it ,
Drive, will run its normal service until the last departure off the beach around 10:30 p m After this final departure from Times Square, a shuttle service will start from the Main Street Park & Ride (at the foot of the Matanzas Pass Bridge) to the Beach Park & Ride until 1 a m Jan 1, following the fireworks festivities
Riders seeking transportation from Fort Myers Beach to the Beach Park & Ride after the bridge closure will have to walk across the bridge to the Main Street Park & Ride to catch the 490 shuttle to the Beach Park & Ride. The last shuttle to the Beach Park & Ride will depart the Main Street Park & Ride at 1 a m
LeeTran is the public transit provider for Lee County
Letters
join our 400+ ambassadors and over 300 supporting organizations. Let make it a reality in 2026
Capt. Karl R. Deigert, B.Sc. Pharmacy Chairman, FloridaRightToCleanWater org
Full budget transparency needed To the editor:
I have sent the following to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners Good afternoon Commissioners –
Municipal Services Taxing Unit specifically to handle the County Sheriff’s budget First, let me congratulate you for final-
LeeTran operates 25 bus routes during season and a paratransit service known as Passport LeeTran employs nearly 300 people and has a fleet of 57 fixed-route vehicles, five beach trams, 50 paratransit vans and six microtransit vehicles To learn more about the services offered by LeeTran, or for schedule and fare information, call 239-LEE-TRAN, or visit www RideLeeTran com
To receive updates from Lee County Government, s i g n u p f o r t h e n e w s l e t t e r h e r e : www.leegov.com/resources/newsletters<http://www.leegov com/resources/newsletters> Follow Lee County Government on Facebook, www facebook com/leecountyflbocc
ly speaking out, after six long years, in some manner about the Sheriff, but then again there’s the proverbial line about sinking ships
Now, other than absolving the County Commissioners of any responsibility and adding more jobs at the taxpayers’ cost, what would this do that couldn’t be done by making all county budgets transparent down to line items? I understand your hesitancy/opposition given that to date the
s s i
e r s a n d t h e S
i f f h a v e shown both distaste and disdain for transparency.
Surely you have the apparatus in place to follow spending in real time which should make it quite easy to post the same where the taxpayers can access it EASILY
Commissioner Hamman stated that
other departments have had to cut their budgets to accommodate the meteoric rise in the Sheriff’s budget Were any budgets actually cut or is it that the amount of increase asked for had to be cut?
“Chairman Kevin Ruane said it’s likely any ‘no’ vote by commissioners would meet a similar fate ” It’s hard to imagine any other answer from a Commissioner who has been the recipient of Sheriff Marceno’s PAC’s largess
At some point, someone may find a way to educate the voters about the folly of voting for politicians who have only their own interests at heart instead of the public interest to which they swore an oath
Awaiting your responses, Norman Cannon Fort Myers
Eaglet hatchlings heat up views on SWFL Eagle Cam
By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com
Southwest Florida’s most famous eagle pair are parents once again
M15 and F23 recently saw their two eggs hatch The first egg was laid on Nov. 8 at 2:38 p.m. and E24 hatched on Dec 14 at 4:01 p m Meanwhile, the second egg was laid on Nov 11 at 6:15 p m and E25 hatched on Dec 17 at 5:48 a m
Both eaglets appeared well as mom and dad took turns keeping them warm and feeding them
Fans and followers of the nest off Bayshore Road on the Pritchett property in North Fort Myers got to see everything via the multi-camera Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, now in its 13th season with more than 225 million views worldwide since its inception
Just after noontime on Dec 16, a close-up of the second egg showed the shell weakening and moving as the eaglet inside began to break out Later, E24 may have accidentally broken a hole in the egg during a feeding A close-up showed the eaglet peeking out through the hole
Of course, it is not like in cartoons where the egg cracks and the baby emerges seconds later It took until the following morning before the eaglet was seen for the first time. It was obvious the eaglet had just emerged as its fluff was matted down and it was still partially inside the cracked egg The eaglet was also exhausted, its face down in the nest as it tried to get itself somewhat upright
This is the second season for M15 and F23 as a pair
Last season saw only one egg hatch successfully. The second was prematurely damaged just before its anticipated hatching The second eaglet did not survive It is unknown what exactly happened to cause the egg to become damaged
It should be interesting how the parent pair will raise
two eaglets after only having to raise one their first mating season together last year.
Pritchett-McSpadden said the hatching times were a little disappointing with one hatching while it was still dark, as well as some concern after last year
“It’s so hard because last year we only had one hatch
I was a little nervous this time around, but it’s good to see them successfully hatch,” she said. “Right now, they’re getting the hang of eating, bobbing their heads and gaining weight and strength It’s the best time to tune in for the cuteness overload ”
Read the full article for free by visiting it online at www captivasanibel com
Nominations open for Keep Lee County Beautiful Environmental Stewardship Awards
STAFF REPORT
Keep Lee County Beautiful, Inc announced that nominations are now open for the Environmental Stewardship Awards, which honor outstanding contributions to environmental stewardship and innovation through education and hands-on action within the community
Each year, Keep Lee County Beautiful hosts the Environmental Stewardship Awards to celebrate individuals and groups dedicated to making a positive environ-
mental impact in Lee County This year’s award categories include: Community Impact, Youth Engagement, Environmental Innovation, Environmental Restoration, Environmental Education, Outstanding Site Captain, Outstanding Adoption Group, and Marine Environment Impact
Winners will be chosen by a volunteer panel of judges, with the possibility of multiple winners in each category, though some categories may not yield a winner
Nominations are open until February 1, and eligible projects and activities must have taken place in 2024 A w a
Environmental Stewardship Awards Breakfast on March 6 at the Riverside Community Center. Visit https://bit ly/KLCB Awards for details and to submit a nomination or email Tisha@klcb org with any questions
Keep Lee County Beautiful student art contest open
STAFF REPORT
Keep Lee County Beautiful is accepting entries from K-12 students in Lee County for the "Leave the Scene Clean" art contest
Full-color drawings or paintings of an environmental action such as litter prevention, tree plantings, protecting the e n v i r o n m e n t , r e c y c l i n g , l a n d s c a p i n g , clean-up campaigns and other beautification efforts are among the accepted topics for entries
Deadline for entries is Jan 31
The rules are:
∫ Each entry MUST HAVE completed entry form TAPED ONLY to back side
∫ O n l y O R I G I N A L a r t w o r k w i t h ORIGINAL CONTENT will be accepted
∫ Artwork should be in full color NO WHITE SPACE
∫ H O R I Z O N T A L f o r m a t s o n l y .
Single sheet of 8 5” X 11” paper only
∫ Students may use any 2D medium (i e , crayons, watercolors, pastels, color pencils, etc )
∫ No more than 2 entries per person
∫ No 3-dimensional (sculpture, bas relief) entries
JUDGING: Special volunteer committee of KLCB
∫ Artwork MUST have an ENVI-
RONMENTAL MESSAGE to be considered
∫ Entries will be judged on creativity, originality and focus on the message
∫ Four overall winners and three honorable mentions will be chosen from four groups of grades
What do artists win?:
The four overall winning illustrations will be enlarged and appear on the side of a Lee County Waste Pro truck and printed on reusable tote bags The overall winning and honorable mention artwork will be on public display during April 2025 in honor of earth month All winners will also receive a certificate and prize pack
* A r t w o r k , e x c e p t f i r s t P l a c e a n d Honorable Mentions, will be returned or made available for pick up after winner notification Any artwork not picked up will be discarded after June 1 Winning
schools agree to highlight contest results in school communications
Email Tisha@klcb org with any questions or concerns
What will be accepted:
∫ Environmental Message
∫ Vibrant / strong colors (no white space)
∫ Horizontal designs
∫ Unique ideas
∫ Native animals
What is NOT accepted:
∫ No environmental message
∫ Negative messages
∫ Non-native animals
∫ No brand names
∫ Vertical Designs
∫ D e s i g n s f r o m p r e v i o u s c o n t e s t entries
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA EAGLE CAM
Two new eaglets join the nest on the Pritchett property off Bayshore Road in North Fort Myers
108 teens participate in LEAD Like A Girl conference
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
More than 100 middle and high school girls took part in the LEAD Like A Girl conference held recently at Florida SouthWestern State College
The program, led this go-around by a panel of four women who shared their insights, focused on female empowerment by example
The LEAD Like A Girl effort began eight years ago when some members of the community approached him with the idea, said Marshall Bower, Foundation for Lee County Schools president and CEO
The reasoning behind the program is understanding what real teens face and how they can be empowered to better understand those issues, work through them and talk about them
“It’s about lifting up the female spirit and allowing them to voice what is going on in their lives and learn about becoming the next leaders in the community,” Bower said
LEAD stands for leadership, education, advocacy, and development
The panelists this year included Lee Health Heart Institute VP Chief Physician Executive Dr Malissa J Wood, who spoke about development; School District of Lee County Chief Strategy Officer Dr Jennifer CupidMcCoy, who spoke about leadership; former educator
and Lee County school board member Gwyentta Gittens, who spoke about education; and Quality Life Center
Performing Arts Director Keesha Allen-Thomas, who spoke about advocacy
The panelists shared their experiences and how they got to where they are today
“We try to pick women who are responsible that have a powerful message and are good role models,” Bower said.
The “real meat” of the program was when the 108 middle and high school students had a mentor join their table
“They come up with questions that start conversations around their lives, leadership and situations going on,” Bower said
There also are trained mental health professionals in attendance in case somebody brings up something that
needs additional one-on-one conversations
“It’s a good sharing of thoughts and ideas,” Bower said, adding that the best part is when he receives phone calls from the coordinators sharing the girls continued the conversations on their way back to school “Some of the schools are starting LEAD Like A Girl clubs at the school to continue the conversation.”
This year there were 29 schools represented at the summit, an incredible growth from previous years
The students who attend are chosen by the principal and designated coordinator Bower said they choose four, or five students to participate. The guidelines send a good mix of the student body who can contribute or gain something from the experience
“We did the room all in pink this year We get all the young ladies a tierra every year,” Bower said, adding that they also provide lunch
He said the summit has become more relevant as mental health has become an issue over the years for young citizens
“Mental health and mental well-being are important if we are going to succeed in life,” Bower said, adding that it is important to be both completely healthy physically and mentally.
From this program, Young Men LEAD was introduced and also has been successful
School board discusses healthy, fresh options for school meals
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com
The Lee County School Board continues to ask the food services department to find healthy and fresh options for breakfast and lunch for students
B o a r d M e m b e r J
d
L a n g f o r dFleming said she did not mean to sound harsh, but they can always better their game
“Every one of our schools should have a garden, K-12, frankly,” she said
The board members were given a sample of what is served at the schools at their meeting on Dec 10 Langford-Fleming said she entered the types food from the meal into an app she had on her phone, which showed how many carbohydrates were in the meal
“Some of these kids eat at 10:30 in the morning and are expected to sustain high academic achievement throughout the day,” she said, adding that too many carbohydrates make both children and adults tired
Board Chair Sam Fisher said he has three kids in the district who eat school meals every day
Neptune
From page 1
approval from the town council Town staff had recommended denial based on the deviations from the town’s local development code Vanasse stepped down from his seat on the Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency earlier this year
While the majority of the town council supported the project, Mayor Dan Allers was the lone vote against Allers said there were concerns from neighbors about the expanding size of the beachfront property on Estero Boulevard
Allers pushed the developers to provide a more concrete commitment to providing a public restroom than the $30,000 commitment the developers have promised the town for the property.
“Without really having a strong commitment to what you are willing to do, and the fact your lawyers, your investors are cringing, so are our residents,” Allers said to Adam Valente, president of Continental
The presentation showed examples for breakfast Pop Tarts and donuts, but a healthier version a K-12 line, which means they have to be whole grain, lean protein and lower in fat and sodium
“It’s still a Pop Tart, donuts How can we do better?”, he asked, adding that for some kids, school is where they get their main meal.
District Food & Nutrition Services Coordinator Amy Carroll said the nutrition standards are set forth by the U S Department of Agriculture (USDA) She said there are limits on calories and fats, and beginning next school year, sugar has to be kept within certain restraints
“There are weekly requirements that we have to meet,” Carroll said
She said when they had to move all meal services to the curve during COVID, there was not prepackaged hot breakfast protein items available
“These items are way too high in sugar,” Carroll said “Over the past couple of years, our biggest request is to ‘give us more hot items with protein ’ We are getting more into that ”
She said they are looking into semi-
Hospitality Group
scratch cooking verses heat and serve
“It’s a lot of training Training and baby steps Maybe next semester we can go to two semi-scratch menus,” Carroll said
Food & Nutrition Services Director Kandace Messenger said the breakfast requirements must offer at least five items. including fruits, vegetables, grains, meat/meat alternative and milk She said students must take at least three items, including a half cup of fruit or vegetable
The same stands for lunch A school l u n c h e x a m p l e i n c l u d e s w h o l e g r a i n chicken nuggets, whole grain dinner roll, reduced-sodium tater tots, apple slices and 1% white milk
In addition to free breakfast and lunch, the school district also provides super snacks, an after school snack and supper
Messenger said there are 43 schools enrolled for the super snacks, six for after school snacks, 16 for supper and eight community sites for the after school snack program
She said the super meal is a more substantial meal, but also simple to serve as a snack
“You are asking for a significant ask,” he said
“We are well in the hole financially,” Valente said V alente said they are willing to discuss whether the public restroom will be inside the building or not, but that the $30,000 offer to help build a public restroom was a firm offer
“This was just a little too far for me,” Allers said
“I just can”t get behind it because of the density,” Allers said. “The No. 1 issue is traffic ” Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt said he was concerned about the increased density on the site but said he was convinced that the developers had “ e x t e n u a t i n g c i r c u m s t a n c e s ” d u e t o Hurricane Ian since they had purchased the property a year before the storm
“The post-Ian world is unique and bizarre,” he said “It doesn’t always repre-
“We have feedback from the schools that they were concerned the students did not receive enough food with after school snack,” Messenger said
The school district is getting back to serving fresh fruit and vegetable bars
This is partially made possible through the 14 school gardens located around the district. Carroll said last year the gardens p r o d u c
pounds of vegetables
“The goal is to get them to consistently be able to furnish their cafeteria with that produce and continue to expand,” she said
There was also discussion about vending machines in schools
Carroll said some of the items include Coke and Takis, while others provide water
“They are not to be turned on until 30 minutes after the end of the school day We are finding they are on all day We don’t run the vending machines,” she said of the food services
Superintendent Dr Denise Carlin said vending machines is an opportunity for the district to explore
height, a little bit more density and a little less parking.”
Under the proposal, there would be a parking garage with two levels and four stories for the hotel above that, Vanasse said There will be two pools, like before The owners commit to plant trees, expand plantings and dunes at the public beach access at Delmar Avenue
The owners would also construct 16
Avenue which the town would operate and collect revenue from, Vanasse said Vanasse said the owners will also offer an incentive for guests who stay for three days or more without renting a vehicle to drive in with a $50 beverage credit at the hotel restaurant and a bicycle to to use on the island
Funding
From page 1
Under questioning from Fort Myers Beach Councilmember Karen Woodson at a management and planning session of the council, Hauge said the cost to the town was $80,000
Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Andy Hyatt said the reason for the high cost is the use of a barge
“We can’t shoot them off of the pier anymore,” Hauge said
Hauge said the town’s special events budget for the whole year is between $30,000 and $35,000 “We need to figure out a way, I guess, to either adjust the budget or some other way to be able to fund this We can’t really rely on the donations ”
V i c e M a y o r J i m A t t e r h o l t a s k e d Hauge if the town was already under contract with the fireworks firm
“Did you say that we are already contractually obligated with this firm?”
Hauge replied “We have contracts in place We have not signed the contracts We have them in hand but I need a direction ”
Town officials have disclosed that the firm’s name is Munnerlyn
Last year, for its New Year’s Eve fireworks show, town officials announced they had received an anonymous donation to cover the cost
Chamber
From page 6
we are open for business and reopened. There are quite a few people who have stayed away are starting to come back," Liszak said
Realtor Alex King said that real estate
"We were basically told that we were going to have a funding source through some donations that we didn't get So we ended up paying for the whole pot "
Fort Myers Beach Community Services Director Jeff Hauge
In response to a request for information on the donation submitted by the Fort Myers Beach Observer last year, Hauge only responded by saying “the fireworks are being sponsored by an anonymous donor” after the town’s former communications director Jennifer Dexter had said the details "are still being worked out ”
The town clerk’s office had no information on the donations for the firew
w
request The town clerk’s office and Hyatt did not respond this summer to a request for a copy of the town’s Fourth of July fireworks contract.
No information was ever disclosed publicly about the contract
The Fort Myers Beach Observer had requested a copy of the contract in June No document was released
request for a copy of the town’s contracts for its fireworks from the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve though the town’s o f f i c e s w e r e c l o s e d M o n d a y t h r o u g h Wednesday for the Christmas holiday
A copy of the current or former contract with the fireworks company has not been presented to the town council at any of its meetings over the past month during which the fireworks issue has been discussed, nor has it appeared on the town council’s agenda
Hauge said the cost for the fireworks this New Year’s Eve will be between $30,000 to $40 000
“It’s $30,000 to $40,000, I have to look I think it’s around 35,” Hauge told the council He said the show this year will be shortened by “two or three minutes ”
Hauge said the fireworks and barge company is the same as the Fourth of July fireworks
Atterholt asked Hyatt what the recommendation was for funding
Mayor Dan Allers asked Hyatt if the town can use revenue from its short-term vacation rental money or increased parking revenue that was for meant for workforce housing since “that is obviously not going to happen,” he said
H y a t t s a i d t h a t c o u l d w o r k “ W e should have funds available should we need that,” he said
“I think these special events are crucial to the recovery of the island,” Allers said Allers said the fireworks events should be funded through the parking and short-term vacation rental fees for the future
Allers said he did not know who made the donation to the town last year and who was expected to make the donation to cover the bill this year
Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt asked Hauge if he has looked into drones for a fireworks show Hauge said the cost would be similar at about $70,000 Whether that is for one show or two, was not clarified. Nor was it clear what Hauge’s $80,000 figure would exactly cover as the town council never approved a resolution regarding the fireworks at any meeting
has recently been “picking up.”
In the past three weeks, King said open houses have increased
“We had three properties going into contract this past week,” King said
In another good sign for the real estate m a r k e t , K i n g s a i d a r a n c h h o m e a t Fairview Isles became the subject of a bidding war with offers from multiple parties
Bettina Koss, a Realtor who works with King, said ranch homes are being listed more Buyers are seeking out elevated homes, she said “My phone is ringing non-stop ”
The Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce had a full spread of pastries appropriate for the holidays at their Holiday Hop party open to the public this past week at their 100 Lover ’s Lane headquarters.
NATHAN MAYBERG
The offices of the Alex King Group and Premier Plus Realty Co Both are under one banner and company at their 100 Lover ’s Lane building address
Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak (left) and Chamber of Commerce Events Director Dayla Rumpf
Nina and Alex King.
WHERE TO GO WHAT TO DO WHO TO SEE
Limited
STAFF REPORT
Limited Edition will be performing a free show on Fort Myers Beach Tuesday night on New Year’s Eve to help ring in the new year ahead of the town’s fireworks
The group will be performing at Bayside Veterans park off Old San Carlos Boulevard from 7 p m to 10 p m
The special performances is part of the Bayside Park Concert Series and is presented by the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce Water Foundation and the Town of Fort Myers Beach Title Sponsors are Nervous
Nellie’s, Snug Harbor Restaurant and Wahoo Willie’s
Stage Sponsorships are still available for this show
Bayside Veterans park is located between Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant and Nervous Nellie’s
Lawn chairs and well-behaved pets on a six-feet leash or less are encouraged, however there will be no outside food or beverage permitted. Events are weather permitting and are free to the public
T
encourages visitors to avoid the New Year's Eve rush, come early and support the recovering businesses on Fort Myers Beach by spending the night, doing a bit of shop-
ping, or enjoying lunch or dinner
For information on who is open for business, visit FMB Who is OPEN for Business
For 2025 shows, check the Bayside Park Concert Series website at: Bayside Concert Series for additional performances as the series will continue into 2025 with more bands announced each week. Stage sponsorships are available for each week for 2025 shows Please contact the Chamber for information
For more information, contact the Fort Myers Beach Chamber at 239 454 7500 or visit Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce
A Night of Jazz at Edison and Ford Winter Estates
On Friday, Jan 31, the Edison and Ford Winter Estates will host a jazz concert, featuring Liz "Honey" Heath and a five-piece band Liz Heath sings professionally all across Florida The accomplished band members joining her are Jay Heavelin on upright bass, Brad Brown on piano, Steve Silverstein on drums, and Jay Heath on saxophone The concert will take place on the historic Ford lawn along the Caloosahatchee River Gates open at 6 p.m. and the concert starts at 6:30.
As part of the Rhythm on the River concert series, guests can take in a beautiful river view and possibly see a spectacular sunset Food and beverages will be available for purchase Guests should bring a folding lawn chair and dress appropriately for the weather No coolers or picnic baskets are permitted Free parking is available in the Edison Ford lots only
Individual tickets purchased in advance are $30 for E
Individual ticket holders should bring a lawn chair A VIP seating area may be reserved by the table for $275 (for up to five people); table ticket price includes the use of a table and chairs Purchase tickets at EdisonFord org Edison and Ford Winter Estates is at 2350 McGregor Blvd , Fort Myers
“Hunny” Heath and a five-piece jazz band perform along the river at Edison and Ford Winter Estates
Alliance for the Arts Announces January ACMA & Bluegrass Concerts
Live music is back at the Alliance for the Arts with an exciting lineup of con-
American Community Music Association artists and lively bluegrass shows Tickets are priced at $18 for Alliance members and $20 for non-members To ensure an intimate experience, seating is limited to 1 3 2 a
indoors to keep the music going, rain or shine
Bluegrass Concer t Series
∫ The Flatlanders (OUTDOORS)
Sunday, Jan 12, at 3 p m
T h e F l a t l a n d e r s a r e o n e o f N o r t h
Florida’s top bluegrass and gospel bands, delivering tight harmonies and a hard driving traditional sound with a contemporary edge Established in early 2020, these members were already seasoned veterans in the genre, and are excited to share their gifts as a band The band consists of Brian Andrews, Joey Lazio, Andy Kennan and Matt Melton
Get tickets at https://www.tix.com/
ticketsales/allianceforthearts/3107/event/ 1394512
∫ Low Ground (OUTDOORS)
Sunday, Feb. 9, at 4 p.m.
Low Ground is a dynamic, bluegrassinspired band from South Florida, known for blending traditional styles with modern creativity Their live performances showcase a passion for music and a commitment to honoring the rich histories of Bluegrass, Swing, Folk, Rock, Blues, J a z z , a n d J a m , w
boundaries The band features Paddy K
Trevor Klutz on mandolin, and Nicholas Kiriazis on guitar, delivering a fresh sound that appeals to both traditionalists and those seeking something new
Get tickets at www tix com/ticketsales/ allianceforthearts/3107/event/1394507
The American Community Music Association (ACMA) Concer t
Series
∫ House of Hamill (INDOORS) Sunday, Jan. 26, at 3 p.m.
House of Hamill formed unexpectedly when Rose Baldino and Brian Buchanan first performed together at the 2014 Folk Alliance International Conference after weather canceled flights for Rose’s bandm
t
s T h e i r o n - s t a g e c h e m i s t r y w a s immediate, leading to further collaborations Four years later, they expanded into a trio when a last-minute lineup change at a f e s t i v a l
Pennsylvania, House of Hamill now performs at major folk festivals across the U S , earning recognition with their hit “Pound a Week Rise” and viral success with a violin cover of "Sweet Child O’ Mine," which has over 16 million views
sales/allianceforthearts/3107/event/1389 626
Tickets are $18 for members and $20 for non-members and are available online at ArtInLee org or by calling 239-9392787
Pre-sale seating is limited to 132 and is first come, first serve How reservations work for outdoor concerts: We will be accepting the first 132 people for concert
reservations IF weather threatens the outdoor concert it will be moved to our indoor theatre for general admission seats If there is no weather threat we will sell additional tickets at the door the day of the concert More information can be found at artinlee org/bluegrass
About Alliance for the Arts
The Alliance for the Arts is a nonprofit community visual and performing arts center located in the heart of Fort Myers, Florida Since 1975, the Alliance has been committed to transforming lives and improving community through the arts The Alliance campus and galleries are open to the public from 9 a m to 7 p m Tuesday through Friday, and from 9 a m to 1 p m on Saturdays Located at 10091 M c G r e g o r B o u l e v a r d j u s t s o u t h o f Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers. For more information, please call 239-9392787, visit us at www ArtInLee org, find us on Facebook at http://www facebook c o m / A r t I n L e e o r g o r I n s
https://www instagram com/allianceforthearts/
Brighter Horizons: Bobby Nichols-Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation announces theme, date of 2025 Nichols Cup
T h e B o b b y N i c h o l s - F i d d l e s t i c k s Charity Foundation will hold its 23rd annual Nichols Cup charity events and tournaments Feb 14-17 at Fiddlesticks Country Club in Fort Myers in support of local abused and at-risk children
The theme for the 2025 four-day fundraising event is “Brighter Horizons,” symbolizing a future full of potential and support for local children and a brighter tomorrow where imagination, opportunity and personal growth know no limits
The Nichols Cup is centered around its signature Pro-Am Golf Tournament on Feb 17, but also includes tennis and pickleball tournaments and an elegant gala dinner event featuring live and silent auctions Funds raised from each event go to support six designated children’s charities in Southwest Florida The two primary
Girls, Lee.
raised more than $18 million for abused and neglected children The goal in 2025 is to surpass a collective $20 million to provide more children with a brighter future
“Year after year, the Nichols Cup tour-
incredible support for
than 100,000
Bryan Simmering, president of the Bobby Nichols-Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation. “These are real kids with a real need, and th
We are
thankful to our community, sponsors and donors for
Fiddlesticks Country Club is at 15391 Cannongate Drive
For more information on the Bobby Nichols-Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation, visit NicholsCup.org. PHOTO PROVIDED
Since its inception, the Foundation has
Registration open for Putt and Pub
STAFF REPORT
Spots are now open for teams to join the Fort Myers Beach Woman’s Club's 12th annual Putt & Pub on Saturday, Jan 18
Sponsored by The King Family Foundation, the event will promote and support 10 local nonprofit organizations while supporting local bars and restaurants with a full day of mini putt golf
The Putt & Pub is hosted by the Fort Myers Beach Woman’s Club, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to support all area nonprofits through events and fundraisers
Teams of four will compete in costume for prizes on courses designed by a host of local restaurants and bars There will be prizes for best and worst score, best team name and best costumes There will also be raffle prizes and drink specials at the downtown businesses
“We are proud to be able to support this event once again,” said Alex King, whose foundation is sponsoring the event “For over 60 years, The King Family has
made their home on Fort Myers Beach We are still committed after Hurricane Ian to continue our support We are sponsoring the Fort Myers Beach Women's Club Putt & Pub because we feel that they are the bridge to so many organizations and causes who give back to our island ”
“Each hole is manned by a participating non-profit organization and features drinks specials, games, and other fundraising opportunities,” stated Dawn Thomas, this year’s co-chair and Woman’s Club president “Proceeds are divided between the participating nonprofit groups "
The putting will begin at 10:30 a m An awards cer-
Margaritaville Sun Deck
“This is one beach event you won’t want to miss,” Thomas said.
For more Information on how to participate, visit https://www fmb-wc org
Registration open for 27th Annual Minnesota Twins Golf Classic
The annual event Feb. 13 supports Lee Health Cancer Institute
The Minnesota Twins Golf Classic is set to return for its 27th year on Feb 13, bringing the community together to raise funds for Lee Health Cancer Institute’s lifesaving programs.
This year’s tournament will be from 4 to 7 p m at Topgolf, 2021 Topgolf Way, Fort Myers Golfers of all ages and skill levels are invited to participate in this annual event featuring a s h a m b l e - s t y l e t o
interact with Minnesota Twins celebrities
Proceeds will benefit the Cancer Support Community program at Lee Health Cancer Institute, an initiative inspired by Gilda Radner, the beloved c o m e d i a n a n d S a t u r d a y N i g h t L i v e original cast member
After her ovarian cancer diagnosis in 1986, Gilda found strength in The W e l l n e s s C o m m u n i t y , a s u p p o r tfocused organization that emphasized the importance of addressing the emotional and social impacts of cancer care Her experience sparked a movement to ensure no one faces cancer alone, a legacy that continues today as the Cancer Support Community
This program offers evidence-based support for cancer patients and their loved ones, including support groups, h e a l t h y l i f e s t y l e w o r k s h o p s , s o c i a l a c t i v i t i e s , e d u c a t i o n a l l e c t u r e s a n d community resources for adults all available at no cost to cancer patients With a focus on caring for the whole p e r s o n b e y o n d t h e i r d i a g n o s i s , t h e C a n c e r S u p p o r t C o m m u n i t y f o s t e r s hope, connection, and resilience
R e g i s t r a t i o n a n d s p o n s o r s h i p opportunities are available for the 27th annual Minnesota Twins Golf Classic
I n d i v i d u a l r e g i s t r a t i o n i s $ 2 5 0 Individual golfers will be assigned to a t e a m o f f i v e a n d p a r t n e r e d w i t h a
M i n n e s o t a T w i n s c e l e b r i t y
Registration for a team of five golfers is $1,000, which includes tickets for five players and a Twins celebrity golf partner
All participants receive food and beverages, a gift bag, access to the silent auction, team prizes, and various g a m e s a n d c o m p e t i t i o n s
the evening
Presenting Sponsor for the 2025 tournament is Twins Fantasy Camp Additional sponsorship packages are available
To register, sponsor or learn more, visit LeeHealthFoundation org/Twins
About Lee Health Foundation
Lee Health Foundation raises philanthropic dollars on behalf of private
expand and enhance innovative, lifesaving and preventative programs The Foundation provides financial support
Hospital and Lee Health Fort Myers, opening late 2027, as well as many
Cancer Institute, Lee Health Coconut Point, Lee Health Heart Institute, Lee Health Hospital at Home, Lee Health
Community Health Clinics Over the last year, the Foundation has distributed more than $27 million to support
LeeHealthFoundation org or call 239343-6950 for more information about the role of Lee Health philanthropy in Southwest Florida
Annual Antique Ford Car Show at Edison and Ford Winter Estates
Registration open for antique car owners
E d i s o n F o r d m e m b e r s o r $ 2 5 f o r n o nm e m b e r s T i c k e t s m a y b e p u r c h a s e d o n 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 o r a t t h e t i c k e t c o u n t e r ( p u r c h a s e t i c k e t s f o r t h e
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WHAT’S HAPPENING
Ser vices at Beach Baptist Church Beach Baptist church at 130 Connecticut St, Fort Myers Beach Service at 10:30 every Sunday
All are welcome, we are pet friendly! 239-463-6452
https://beachbaptist org
Tee Off the New Year at Community Cooperative’s fundraiser at Topgolf For t Myers Jan. 9
Kick off 2025 at Community Cooperative’s Tee Off the New Year Fundraising Event, set to take place on Thursday, Jan 9, 5:30 – 8:30 p m , at Topgolf Fort Myers
The event offers a perfect opportunity to start the new year off right by joining community members and friends to make a meaningful impact in the fight against hunger Participants will enjoy an exciting night of golf, food, drinks, and camaraderie – all while supporting those in need throughout the community
All proceeds will go toward supporting Community Cooperative’s hunger relief programs, which provide emergency food, and other services to thousands of families throughout Southwest Florida Your participation in this event ensures that our community's most vulnerable neighbors receive the support they need to thrive
You can reserve a bay today to join the festivities and be part of the solution to hunger and homelessness in Southwest Florida: Reserve a Bay
For more information, contact Jade@Commmuniy Cooperative com or visit www CommunityCooperative com/events/tee-off-the-new-year/
Topgolf Fort Myers is at 2021 Top Golf Way, Fort Myers
Southwest Florida Ag Expo Creative Living competition now open for registration
The Southwest Florida Ag Expo invites residents to participate in the Creative Living Competition, with registration now officially open This unique contest is open to both adults and youth, regardless of 4-H or FFA affiliation, and is an opportunity to display individual creativity and skill
This year's competition features eight divisions, i n c l u d i n g t h e d e b u t o f t h e S T E A M ( S c i e n c e , Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) and Cottage Food divisions. The STEAM division aims to engage participants through educational and innovative exhibits that demonstrate the intersection of creativity and technical skills in various fields The Cottage Food division highlights homemade foods, such as baked goods, jams, and other approved food products that comply with Florida’s Cottage Food Law, showcasing local food-related entrepreneurship
Important details:
∫ Eligibility: Open to residents of Charlotte, Collier, Desoto, Glades, Hendry, and Lee counties
∫ Requirements: All entries must be the original work of the exhibitor. Any items previously exhibited at the SWFL Ag Expo are not eligible for re-entry Rulebook available at swflagexpo com
∫ R e g i s t r a t i o n : V i s i t S h o w m a n a p p t o r e g i s t e r before midnight, Friday, Jan 17, 2025
∫ Admission: One (1) general admission ticket to the SWFL Ag Expo will be provided per exhibitor
This free competition highlights Southwest Florida's rich creativity and celebrates the theme “An Ag-Citing Adventure” through a showcase of local talents Join us
VIP Tour to Flagler Museum and Palm Beach County History Museum
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M a r y L i l y K e n a n F l a g l e r . T h e e x c u r s i o n w i l l i n c l u d e a d o c e n t - l e d t o u r o f t h e f i r s t f l o o r o f t h e h o m e , a n d t h e n g u e s t s c a n t a k e a s e l f - g u i d e d t o u r o f
in this popular event and immerse yourself in the region’s artistic, culinary, and horticultural achievements All entries will be on view at the SWFL Ag Expo, held from Feb 27-March 9, 2025, at the Lee County Civic Center Complex, 11831 Bayshore Road
For more information on the contest rules, division d e t a i l s , a
www swflagexpo com or follow the Southwest Florida Ag Expo on Facebook at www facebook com/swflagexpo Keep an eye on these platforms as additional event details, special promotions and entertainment information will be continuously updated.
MEGAPASS in advance for $30 This pass includes gate admission and unlimited rides on the day of your choice, with sales ending on Feb 27
SWFL Inc.’s Mini Golf Tour nament at Popstroke to be held Jan. 31
SWFL Inc is excited to announce the SWFL Inc Mini Golf Tournament Join us for a day of putting valuable networking opportunities with professionals from across the region on Friday, Jan 31, at Popstroke of Fort Myers
This event is designed to provide attendees with not only a memorable mini-golf experience but also a platform for building meaningful business relationships The tournament kicks off at 10 a m , attendees can anticipate a diverse range of offerings, including raffles, various prizes, refreshments, a luncheon, and more Given the limited availability of twosome slots, we strongly encourage you to secure your place by registering at https://www swfl inc com/2025-mini-golf-tournament Popstroke is an 18-hole putting course built entirely with synthetic turf, incorporating fairways, bunkers, and rough just as you would see on a traditional golf course PopStroke infuses technology within the golf experience to create an interactive and competitive atmosphere for all participants
Twosomes are priced at $250 and can be reserved by
Ella@SWFLinc com Twosomes must be secure by Friday, Jan 24, at noon
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i s o n a n d F o r d W i n t e r E s t a t e s r e s e r v e s t h e r i g h t t o m a k e c h a n g e s a s n e e d e d b a s e d o n a v a i l a b i l i t y
If you'd like to showcase your business at this tournament, we have opportunities for you as well! Partnering with SWFL Inc at our annual golf tournament gives your business the opportunity to expand your reach and amplify your message If you are interested in sponsorship
Ella@SWFLinc.com. We encourage professionals from all sectors to join us for this exciting day of networking and camaraderie Spaces are limited, so be sure to register early and secure your spot on the course We look forward to seeing you there!
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C a l l o u r 2 4 - h o u r h e l p l i n e a t 9 4 1 - 5 6 4 - 5 0 9 8 o r v i s i t w w w S o u t h F l o r i d a A l - A n o n o r g M e e t i n g s a r e h e l d e v e r y d a y i n L e e C o u n t y
A l - A t e e n m e e t i n g s a r e a l s o o f f e r e d f o r a g e s 1 0 - 1 8 .
Happy Holidays from our Rescue to your family!
By ISABELLE WELLS
Co-founder of
If you would like to sponsor and help with any of our pets in foster care please contact Isabelle via text or call 239-281-0739
Iris, a 4-year-old, black-brindle pit-terrier mix, acts like a queen because she’s all personality and will be your new shadow. I would imagine her to be the B E S T e m o
struggling with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and/or sensory issues, as she is a 55 pounds.
Jingles has been in our rescue for the past year. It seems no one wants this great doggie. Hard to believe especially since he is very social, loves everybody and goes to doggie day care three times a week He loves to play Jingles is a terrier mix and, after testing his DNA, we found out he is mixed with shitzu LOL! We are very hopeful we will be able to find his forever home He is fully vetted, only 2years old and 60 pounds
Can you help a senior? Munchie is at the shelter and will be euthanized during the holidays Let’s try to find him a home!!! Owner was hospitalized and never came back to reclaim him and his brother He is very depressed and sleeps most of the day He d
other dogs Munchie is 11 years old, 58 pounds Call/Text Isabelle at 239-281-0739
Raven and Bentley are ready for the holidays and decked out in their Christmas attire They are 5-month-old sibling males and are super sweet and playful Please call to come meet this adorable pair They need a forever home and are ready to go
