Cape Coral Weekend Breeze

Alliance for the Arts collecting ‘Storm Stories’

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers

She said, It became so clear to me that (storytelling) was going to be part of everybody’s process I just thought the arts can act as a point of healing so we should do something about this

It s cathartic to share your account and the emotions involved ”

feelings It is meant to be cathartic and therapeutic and shareable something that we can all relate to in some form or fashion

express

Anyone who experienced Hurricane Ian is invited to participate Both mediums launched earlier this

month “Just tell your story about your experience through and after Hurricane Ian in whatever capacity you feel fit uncensored and unbridled, said Alliance for the Arts Executive Director Molly Deckart It could be stories of resilience or trauma or pain or loss It could be a wide range of

By CJ HADDAD

cjhaddad@breezenewspapers

As a Point of Distribution for FEMA, Deckart was on many calls with response organizations and heard countless stories of both heartache and resilience

Artistic leeway will then be given to local artists to better share these stories with the community This project will culminate in a multi-media, artistic expression e x h i b i t i o n a r o u n d t h e a n n i v e r s a r y i n September 2023 that will run for a month

“I think it’s going to be a project that is an amalgamation of all of the Storm Stories that were captured, Deckart said We re going to have some written words visually on the wall, some stories you can auditori-

c

Online component opens Monday; street fair with exhibits set for Jan 14, 15

Competition Trolley Event on Jan 28

“I think we have a lot to celebrate after the last few trying months due to Hurricane Ian ” said SCHEA spokesperson Shannon Quinn Our community continues to rebuild and come together Many of the participating locations were also affected from the storm and it’s just a wonderful thing to see everyone bouncing back Our community deserves a little normalcy and what better way than to kick off the New Year with a South Cape trolley event?

u t h w e s t F l o r i d a ’ s l a r g e s t s p e c i a l a r t s e v e n t s o n t h e h o r i z o n b u y e r s c a n g e t a h e a d s t a r t o n p i c k i n g u p n e w p i e c e s t o a d d t o t h e i r c o l l e c t i o n o r h o m e T h e C a p e C o r a l A r t F e s t i v a l , p u t o n e a c h y e a r b y t h e R o t a r y C l u b o f C a p e C o r a l i s s e t f o r J a n 1 4 a n d 1 5 f r o m 1 0 a m t o 5 p m e a c h d a y T h e e v e n t i s f r e e t o a t t e n d W h i l e t h e l i v e e v e n t w i l i n f u s w i n g o r g a n i ze r s h a v e c o n t i n u e t h e i r o n l i n e c o m p o n e n t c r e a t e d d u r i n g C O V I D T h e o n l i n e s h o w l a u n c he s J a n 2 a n d r u n s t h r o u g h J a n 3 1 A n y a r t i s t o r c r a f t e r a c c e p t e d t o t h e S t r e e t F e s t i v a l h a s b e e n p r o v i d e d w i t h a n o n l i n e b o o t h f o r t h e e v e n t ’ s v i r t u a l f e s t i v a l T h e v i r t u a l c o m p o n e n t g i v e s p a t r o n s t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o p r e v i e w w o r k s a n d t o s h o p u n t i l t h e e n d o f J a n u a r y “ T h e a r t i s t s l i k e t h e i d e a b e c a u s e t h e y g e t v i e w s a n d p e op l e c a n v i s i t t h e i r w e b s i t e d i r e c tl y , s a i d F e s t i v a l C h a i r B o b W e l s h T h e a r t i s t s a r e g e t t i n g m o r e e x p o s u r e s o i t ’ s d e f i n i t e l y a p l u s f o r t h e m ” O r g a n i z e r s o f t h e f e s t i v a l w i l l w o r k t h i s y e a r t o m o n i t o r e x a c t l y h o w m u c h t h e i r o n l i n e c o m p on e n t d r i v e s u p t r a f f i c f o r t h e i r a r t i s t s a n d t h e e v e n t i t s e l f “ I t w a s c o m p l e t e l y e x p e r i m e nt a l t h e f i r s t y e a r W e l s h s a i d I t s o n o u r r a d a r t h i s y e a r t o g e t s o m e s o r t o f n u m b e r a s f a r a s s a l e s g o f o r t h e a r t i s t s a n d g e t f e e d b a c k f r o m o u r s u r v e y ” T h e o n l i n e c o m p o n e n t i s n a t ur a l l y a g o o d o p t i o n f o r i n d i v i d ua l s w h o c a n t m a k e t h e d a t e s , o r a r e n o t a f a n o f l a r g e c r o w d s A n d y o u d o n ’ t w a n t t o m i s s o u t o n t h e w i d e - v a r i e t y o f s e l e c t i o n s “ T h e r e ' s g o i n g t o b e a l l d i f f e re n t m e d i u m s a v a i l a b l e , f r o m p h ot o g r a p h i c t o s c u l p t i n g t o p o t t e r y- t h e w h o l e g a m b i t , W e l s h s a i d “ T h e r e a r e g o i n g t o b e a l o t o f o p t i o n s f o r e v e r y o n e I t ’ s b e e n t h a t w a y f o r a l o n g t i m e I n f a c t w e v e a d d e d c a t e g o r i e s w i t h t h i s a g e o f d i g i t a l m e d i a A s f a r a s t h e i n - p e r s o n f e s t iv a l C a p e C o r a l P a r k w a y w i l l b e t r a n s f o r m e d i n t o v e n d o r c i t y a n d a n a r t s p a r a d i s e f o r t w o d a y s a s t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f s e l e c t i o n f o r e v e r y e y e i s e n d l e s s H u n d r e d s o f e x h i b i t o r s w i t h t h e c r e a t i v e t o u c h w i l l b e s h o w i n g o f f t h e i r s t y l e a n d c h a t t i n g w i t h a t t e n d e e s a b o u t t h e i r p r o c e s s a n d t h e m e a n i n g b e h i n d t h e i r w o r k s , w h i c h a r e , o f c o u r s e , f o r s a l e W h e n o r g a n i z e r s s a

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Molly Deckart, Alliance for the Arts executive director

Fort Myers High School band to perform in New Year’s Day London Parade

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Eighty-four students and 30 adults from Fort Myers High School arrived in London on Wednesday as they are performing in the 2023 London New Year s Day Parade

The community can watch the parade Sunday, Jan 1, at noon London time, 7 a m E a s t e r n S t a n d a r d T i m e a t h t t p s : / / w w w y o u t u b e c o m / @ l o n d o n p arade or https:/lnydp com/parade-locationtiming/ They all got there today and are very tired ” Fort Myers High School Principal Robert Butz said adding that they landed safely

The community can watch the parade Sunday, Jan 1, at noon London time, 7 a m Eastern Standard

dent to travel, which the students raised over the last couple of years

“They did it with gladness excited to be able to do it and raise money he said of mostly sophomore, junior and senior students

Butz said he is not really sure how the band is selected to perform as the London Parade and committee invite people from around the country He said they gave the band an opportunity 20-odd years ago to perform in the parade

The band as with every other performance prepares in the same way although the London Parade ratchets things up a bit

“There is a little more stress and pressure but it is more on the adults than on the kids The kids are resilient They do what they are told and work hard at it he said We have a phenomenal band director He has done a great job with the kids He works on music and the whole student ”

While the band is in London they will also be doing some sightseeing as they do not return until Jan 3

They are going there to enjoy themselves as well They will tour London and see the whole country It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the kids ” Butz said The thought of his students performing

in London constantly brings a smile to his face especially when someone mentions it in passing

It s awesome You want the kids to act right You want to make sure we represent Fort Myers High School with class and dignity What our kids are going to experience and what they are going to do it’s televised worldwide and millions of people are able to see it, he said, adding that he is as proud as a peacock

Butz said it is not just about representing Fort Myers High School but the School District of Lee County as well as they are a product of the district

H e s a i d h e w a n t e d t o t h a n k Superintendent Dr Christopher Bernier for approving the travel and letting them perform in London

Southwest Airlines expects return to ‘normal operations’ today

B y C J H A D D A D

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New Year: Pub crawl, divine dinners, drinks, fireworks & more

in South Cape and become returning patrons for businesses in the area

Big8 BBQ – Champagne Punch

Cruisers Lounge – Sangria

The Dive – Midnight Kiss

Monkey Bar Steak & Seafood – Mimosa

Ralph s Place – TBD

Rack’em Spirits & Times – Champagne Jello Shots ∫ Rusty’s Raw Bar & Grill – The Sparkling Pineapple ∫ Tiki Bar – Chocolate Peppermint

We love our festive participating locations Quinn said It s always fun to see the creativity in the ingredients and names of each cocktail

The official photo booth is at the South Cape Hub (909 S E 47th Terrace) Snap your pic and upload publicly to Facebook Photos will be posted on SCHEA’s page and the public will vote This is a 21-plus event Valid ID at check-in will be required

Along with getting to taste and sip an abundance of different selections from a wide selection of establishments attendees can have fun on-the-go as trolley trivia from destination to destination is full of entertainment and prizes

Trolley attendees will have access to limo buses and trolleys as they visit each of the nine participating businesses ” Quinn said “Along the way there will be trivia and giveaways as well as a photo booth ”

All locations will be counting down at midnight to welcome 2023 with a roar

There is no specific location for the midnight countdown All of our locations will be celebrating, though!” Quinn said “We hope our attendees just enjoy a night out

T i c k e t s c a n b e p u r c h a s e d o n E v e n t b r i t e a n d a t www southcapeentertainment com

Fireworks at Gather at Tarpon Point Marina & Fathoms at Cape Harbour

The only place to catch fireworks this New Year’s Eve in Cape Coral is at Tarpon Point Marina thanks to Gather

The restaurant will offer a New Year’s Eve special menu featuring charcuterie and cheese boards, roasted beet salad, ahi tuna tatami, spicy shrimp, steak and eggs, caviar, surf and turf, fusilli, seabags, wagyu filet mignon, truffle risotto and delectable desserts The night will end with a fireworks show at the scenic location

Come to Gather because you are guaranteed to have the best meal, and the most amazing mixologist cocktails, said Gather Marketing Director and partner Valeria Zanella Voisin Music by DJ German Garcia is sure to bring a fun environment ”

Reservations are needed and can be made by calling 239-673-9939 Gather is at 5971 Silver King Blvd Suite 116

Fathoms will host a ticketed private event with a prixfixe menu open bar and live music by Soapy Tuna all night Doors will open around 7:45 p m and the night begins with canapes at 8 p m A three-course dinner will be served at 9 with an open bar all night Menu items include a surf and turn entree, pistachio crusted goat cheese salad appetizer, and chocolate and coconut opera desert Tickets are $140 per person

“Come to Fathoms because it’s a private event and you are guaranteed to have an unforgettable night ” said Voisin We have an awesome menu, open bar, and music from Soapy Tuna

To secure a table, call 239-524-0123 Fathoms is at 5785 Cape Harbour Drive #106

Marina Village

The Westin Cape Coral Resort will host special New Year’s Eve events at both Marker 92 and the property’s dockside bar and grill, The Nauti Mermaid

Guests can take part in the 2023 festivities for $125 per person, which includes a full dinner buffet, live 5piece band decadent dessert bar views of striking fire-

works, cocktail and a special midnight toast

We re always thrilled to bring our community and locals together to celebrate the holidays at Westin Cape Coral Resort and our New Year’s Eve celebration will be one for the books ” said General Manager of The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village Barry Kadel Westin Cape Coral Resort is the perfect place to experience the energy of New Year s Eve, especially with the property offering striking views of the evening’s spectacular fireworks display at midnight For locals looking to ring in 2023 in an elevated and spectacular way Westin Cape Coral Resort has you covered

Both events take place from 8 p m to midnight, and reservations are required and can be made by calling 239541-5942

The Nauti Mermaid is at 5951 Silver King Blvd Marker 92 is at 5961 Silver King Blvd

Dixie Roadhouse

One of the most popular party spots in Southwest Florida will host two balloon drops at midnight featuring cash and other prizes

Dixie Roadhouse’s New Year’s Eve bash sees doors open from 7 p m to 3 a m where free party favors a free celebration shot at midnight, and free line dance lessons go down General admission walk-up tickets are $10 from 7 to 10 p m $20 from 10 to 12:30 a m and $10 from 12:30 to 3 a m

Advance reserved tickets are $30 and $35 for walk-up tickets on a first-come-first-serve basis

Reserved seats include (in addition to all the other free stuff): a reserved seat until midnight; the $20 cover charge included in the reserved seat ticket price; your first well drink or glass of wine is free; premium party favors; priority seating line; and guaranteed admission in the event Dixie reaches capacity Reserved seats must be claimed by 10:30 p m or Dixie may sell the seat to someone else If you are running late, please call or text 630-201-1504

T i c k e t s c a n b e p u r c h a s e d o n E v e n t b r i t e D i x i e Roadhouse is at 1023 Southeast 47th Terrace

Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad cj

ly listen to, and we ll have some art inspired by the stories ”

Deckart added the alliance will have featured photography by Kinfay Moroti

He s taken some really powerful images,” she said “Everybody should see those And I think it’s important to mark the anniversary of such a historic storm and look how far we ve c o m e a n d c o n t i n u e t h e h e a l i n g process

While this project already covers all of Lee County Alliance for the Arts plans on expanding this project to the entire state of Florida Deckart is hoping to continue to share Storm Stories beyond the exhibit planned for next fall

“We’re trying to figure out how we can take this on the road ” Deckart said of budding project Whether it s a listening booth or some way that the public outside of Lee County can really access these stories ”

The alliance also is working to archive the anonymous submissions so they can also be consumed on a virtual platform

For the next year, it s going to be this history harvest, and we do want the stories to be shared -- we think it’s important ” Deckart said As far as damage to the Alliance for the Arts building, Deckart said they have not fully recovered, but are thankful no major structural damage took place “We stayed dry We didn’t flood ” Deckart said “It’s been really important for us to help our other arts o r g a n i z a t i o n s W e h a v e a l o t o f (artists from all over) with us right now We had roof damage and windows were blown out but nothing catastrophic

Those interested in becoming a

partner on this project are encouraged to contact Deckart

The Alliance for the Arts is a nonprofit community arts and cultural center It is at 10091 McGregor Blvd in Fort Myers For more than 40 years, the Alliance has been charged with the mission to facilitate and nurture the creation development promotion and education of arts and culture in Southwest Florida For more i n f o r m a t i o n , c a l l 2 3 9 - 9 3 9 - 2 7 8 7

Online Storm Stories submission can b e m a d e b y v i s i t i n g www ArtInLee org/StormStories

Connect with this reporter on Twitter: @haddad cj

f o r m o r e t h a n a h a l f - m i l e a n d o n m o s t o c c a s i o n s m o r e t h a n 1 2 0 , 0 0 0 t u r n e d o u t t o v i e w t h e v a s t a r r a y o f s e l e ct i o n s “ I t ’ s j u s t i n c r e d i b l e w h e r e p e o p l e ’ s m i n d s g o ” W e l s h s a i d “ I l o v e t a l k i n g t o t h e a r t i s t s a n d w h a t t h e i r t h o u g h t p r o c e s s i s o n h o w t h e y ’ v e c r e a t e d s o m e o f t h e s t u f f t h a t t h e y v e c r e a t e d , a n d w h e r e t h e y w e r e g o i n g w i t h i t T h e r e s a l a r g e f e e l f o r t h e w a r m e r c l i m a t e a n d

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

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a n d t o v i e w t h e v i r t u a l m a rk e t p l a c e v i s i t w w w c a p e c o r a l f e s t i v a l c o m C o n n e c t w i t h t h i s r e p o r t e r o n T w i t t e r : @ h a dd a d c j

Time at https://www youtube com/@londonparade, or https:/lnydp com/parade-location-timing/

“Storm Stories” has a dedicated, unmanned voicemail (239-7443047), as well as a way to submit written and recorded responses online, allowing individuals to share their unique experiences and express emotions Anyone who experienced Hurricane Ian is invited to participate

Southwest has set up a page at www Southwest com/traveldisruption for customers to submit refund and reimbursement requests for meals, hotel, and alternate transportation, as well as to connect customers to their baggage

CAPE CORAL BREE ZE RAYMOND M ECKENRODE Publisher VALARIE HARRING, Executive Editor

New beginnings

Count us among those who will be happy to flip the calendar over to 2023

For Southwest Floridians for far far too many of us 2022 will be the year of the hurricane Images shared in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian shocking But for those of us who lived through the devastation, the pictures were mere two-dimensional snapshots of a three-dimensional catastrophe of lost lives both literal and figurative

These are the impacts that will put the Sept 28 storm that roared ashore at Cayo Costa just shy of a Category 5 hurricane in the record books:

Sustained winds at landfall were 150 mph tying at the No 5 spot in terms of strength Storm surge was as high as 18 feet along the coastlines with Fort Myers Beach Sanibel and Captiva inundated with flood waters which also surged up the Caloosahatchee, pouring into homes, including those along the Cape’s Gold Coast and Yacht Club neighborhoods The city of Fort Myers experienced a record storm surge of 7 26 feet while a portion of the roadway leading to the Matlacha bridge washed away with the funky art community and St James City suffering devastating damage to their homes and businesses

There were 144 confirmed deaths in Florida including 67 in Lee County according to the Florida Medical Examiners Commission report released Dec 9 Property damage estimates, which are still being tallied, are collectively in the billions In Lee County alone, Hurricane Ian damaged 50,313 homes destroying 5 076 of them with another 13 532 suffering major damage

FEMA reports there have been 27 303 Lee County claims filed under the National Flood Insurance Program with $1 15 billion paid out for the 14,329 closed thus far Statewide, the number of property claims has hit nearly 1 13 million 102 319 of them in Lee County with 955 852 classified as residential Based on claims so far the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has estimated these insured losses total nearly $20 67 billion

Some are predicting that the total tally could be 10 times that when all is said and done

According to the AccuWeather website AccuWeather founder and CEO Dr Joel N Myers predicts total Hurricane Ian damage tallies will come in between $180 billion and $210 billion

Taken in the context of total losses including damage to infrastructure such as the Sanibel Causeway public buildings and facilities and Florida’s power grid and the numbers strike home

Very close to home

The city of Cape Coral estimates its damages at $86 million

The School District of Lee County puts its tally as high as $273 million

Lee County numbers are still being computed NOAA s Hurricane Ian Special Summary summed up the impact of Ian s direct hit here succinctly:

“ According to state authorities Lee and Charlotte counties were essentially ‘off the grid’ and would likely require a rebuild of the infrastructure to bring the systems back to full capacity Significant parts of many coastal communities, including those along the barrier islands of Captiva, Sanibel, Pine (Island) and Fort Myers Beach, were washed away by the winds and surge The Sanibel Island causeway which provides the only roadway access to the island was partially washed away limiting access to the island by air and boat Similarly, the sole bridge connecting Pine Island to the mainland was destroyed during the storm and residents of the island can only access the island by air and boat ”

And yet and yet here we are just three months after one of our county s worst natural disasters ever with recovery under way

A startling amount of recovery that can only progress

When we recap the process this time next year will we as longtime Lee Countians be happy with all of the “build back better” changes to come in 2023 and beyond Probably not

We expect we ll miss the old locals look of Fort Myers Beach; kitschy, arty old Matlacha; and even, yes, the neighborhood park aspect of the historic Cape Coral Yacht Club

But likely laments aside from we old-timers and Cape pioneers, change, per se, is not bad And building back even building back better can only be a good thing To 2023 and beyond We wish you a very happy New Year And we wish that we as a community remain as strong as resilient, as hopeful as we are today

This week’s poll question:

What do you think of the $1.7 trillion federal spending bill?

∫ I h a v e n o i s s u e s ∫ I t b o o s t s s p e n d i n g b u t a v o i d s a s h u t d o w n s o w e l l O K , I g u e s s ∫ T o o m u c h m o n e y f o r t o o m a n y w r o n g t h i n g s ∫ I m n o t f o l l o w i n g t h i s i s s u e ∫ O t h e r

Previous poll question:

What do you think of the report issued by the House Jan. 6 committee?

∫ A b o u t t i m

Court of Appeal sides with the Conservancy

When the Collier County Board of C o u n t y C o m m i s s i o n e r s a p p r o v e d

R i v e r g r a s s V i l l a g e i n 2 0 2 0 t h e

Conservancy of Southwest Florida along with many others, argued that Rivergrass Village would cost taxpayers millions of dollars, adversely impact our community and wildlife and would greatly exacerbate our worsening traffic situation The Conservancy alone stood up to the County in court, asserting that the County failed to comply with the Florida Community Planning Act

Once in court the Conservancy argued that the County’s comprehensive plan including important traffic laws and the fiscal neutrality rule that applies to rural areas requires villages (and towns) like Rivergrass to cover all costs for infrastructure services and facilities needed to s u p p o r t t h e n e w p o p u l a t i o n T h e Conservancy was preparing to provide substantial evidence to support our claims that Rivergrass will create significant traffic issues and will require huge taxpayer subsidies but we were denied our day in court on these issues

Guest Commentary

W h y ? C o l l i e r C o u n t y a n d C o l l i e r E n t e r p r i s e s (Rivergrass developer) argued that the Conservancy could not challenge Rivergrass based on traffic issues and its cost burden to taxpayers Surprisingly, the County and the developer even argued on appeal that the public could only challenge a development order for impacts created within the development site and that traffic and fiscal neutrality issues are off-site issues This was quite an astonishing argument coming from Collier County Who are they supposed to protect, if not the residents of the County? Moreover the County depends on developer impact fees to pay for improvements necessary to support growth such as new or widened roads added treatment capacity for water and sewer, fire stations, and new schools, all of which are typically built off-site Thus, it would seem to be in the County’s interest that these fees are appropriately calculated Fortunately the Florida appeals Court rejected these baseless arguments and ruled in the Conservancy s favor In their written opinion, the appellate Court stated: T h e q u e s t i o n w e a d d r e s s h e r e i s w h e t h e r t h e

Conservancy’s claims concerning the traffic and fiscal impacts of the Rivergrass Village development could be brought within the ambit of a section 163 3215 action The circuit court concluded that they couldn t We disagree

Therefore, the Court concluded: We are compelled to reverse that aspect of the judgment below and remand for further proceedings

Eastern Collier County has become a focal point for new large-scale developments, so residents of Collier County must have all tools available to enforce comprehensive plan policies In the last three years alone five villages were approved for development in this a r e a ( R i v e r g r a s s , S k y s a i l , L o n g w a t e r , Bellmar, and Brightshore) According to the developers documents, those villages will result in approximately 110 000 new daily vehicle trips and a combined population of 26 000 residents which is greater than the number of people currently living in the City of Naples And this is just the start Developers are looking to this area for much more development possibly thirty-five more villages all within one of the most biologically rich and ecologically important regions in the entire state There is a lot at stake, and developments must be built according to Collier County’s important growth management rules

The Conservancy is very pleased that the appellate court confirmed our legal right to challenge a development order based on traffic and taxpayer costs We are eager to show at trial how Rivergrass fails to comply with the law and will adversely impact the community and the people of Collier County

We thank the thirteen civic and environmental organizations who supported our appeal: Center for Biological Diversity, Sierra Club Florida, Strong Towns, League of Women Voters of Collier County, Florida Rights of Nature N e t w o r k , 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 ,

Calusa Waterkeeper Environmental Confederation of Southwest Florida Cypress Cove Landkeepers Stone C r a b A l l i a n c e G o l d e n G a t e E s t a t e s A r e a C i v i c

Association, and Friends of the Everglades and Tropical Audubon Society represented by the Everglades Law Center

Furthermore we remain grateful to our supporters and members who continue to stand with the Conservancy as we continue our long and distinguished 59-year history of advocating for sustainable development and finding solutions that balance the needs of our growing community with preservation of our natural resources

April Olson is a senior environmental planning specialist with the Conservancy of Southwest Florida

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Say hello before the privacy fence goes back up

To the editor:

H a s t h e h u r r i c a n e d o n e a n y g o o d a s i t r a v a g e d Southwest Florida? Surprisingly yes And it all comes from that old song Don’t Fence Me In

Fences were one of the most damaged items by the hurricane and many are more accurately called privacy fences The name describes its purpose To have a back yard and the people that live there concealed No one can see in and no one can see out However in one case the fence being knocked down allowed a neighbor to meet their neighbor for the first time and guess what They became very good friends In Southwest Florida where the population is 1 5 million, I suspect this has happened many times I am hoping the fences don’t get repaired too quickly for this to happen some more

Shame on FEMA for its denial of DeSantis’ emer gency relief request

To the editor:

President Biden s Federal Emergency Management Agency denied a request from Florida Gov Ron DeSantis in early December for expanded assistance in the wake of damaging hurricanes including Ian for emergency protective measures for a sheltering in home recovery continuation (SHRC) program FEMA argued in its denial letter that this is Due to the limited authorities of FEMA has to approve and pay for this type of work

Apparently this request for expanded assistance denial for housing food clothing etc for our American citizens and taxpayers is because of FEMA’s limited authority REALLY Truly tragic

Remembering back just over a year ago (Aug 21, 2021) of President Biden s missteps and debacle of his botched withdrawal from Afghanistan that was responsible for our nation’s loss of 13 of our precious American servicemen and servicewoman along with many non-Taliban Afghans That was just the tip of the iceberg for this debacle Leaving behind over $7 billion in military equipment that someday may be used by ISIS, al Qaeda or other terrorist groups to kill more Americans and innocent people

President Joe as much as you try to become a hero these days we all know your past for five times evading the draft in the 1960s and 1970s (one more time than Donald Trump by the way) while your fellow countrymen were dying on the battlefields in Vietnam protecting the lives of so many innocent people That alone shows your non-allegiance to this great nation and the non-commitment to the sacrifices your fellow countrymen gave

And, now you again turn your back on your fellow Americans with FEMA s excuse of limited authority while many suffered the catastrophic destruction and devastation from a natural disaster here in SWFL Shame on you

Yet illegal immigration costs the American taxpayers a mind-boggling $134 9 billion annually because of the federal government s ineffective efforts to secure the border

Also over $54 billion from the Biden Administration to assist Ukraine as FEMA denies assistance to those U S citizens who are living in shelters with some only receiving $500 checks from FEMA so far

Of course this is not political and has nothing to do with President Biden s dislike for Florida s Ron DeSantis who hopefully will make his bid for the White House in 2024

If Gov DeSantis a U S military veteran deployed to Iraq in 2007-2008 wins the White House then and only then can our veterans, whose sacrifices to this great nation, put away our T-shirts that say, Only in America can a homeless war veteran sleep in a cardboard box, when a draft dodger sleeps in the White House " Wake Up America!

Gifts, grift and a propaganda sideshow

To the editor:

Happy holidays! Where you can, spend local for a prosperous New Year!

The Federal Reserve has constricted money with a dizzying blitz of rate hikes ignoring the necessity of a time gap between each increase this year Government bonds have raised the rate of return without the Fed buying their ware to entice others to purchase our debt

Congress passed a 4,155-page omnibus spending bill to fund the Federal government through Sept 30 2023

The measure set “discretionary” infrastructure and human needs spending around $773 billion a 6% increase of about $68 billion to keep apace with inflation Defense spending soared to $858 billion, an increase of about 10%, reflecting in part the depletion of military stores in Ukraine At least $50 billion has gone to war for protecting Ukrainian borders while not a extra nickel went to the U S b o r d e r p a t r o l n o r a d j u d i c a t i o n j u d g e s f o r t h e Immigration Service The Ukrainian spending went, not as a loan to be repaid, but a gift No wonder Ukrainian President Zelynskyy sees no reason to negotiate for peace The Senate passed the bill with a bipartisan vote of 68–29 While the xenophobes continue to wave their hands in the air babbling about the Mexican border, remember that not a senator from either party sponsored an extra penny allocated to our own southern border patrol

Of course the BEST way to create a recession is military spending Runner up to that honor is the rapid fire increase of interest rates from the Federal Reserve that has machine gunned the housing industry and dashed the hopes of those in our country who would like to purchase a home The hopes of those who wish to be housed in a home they own with a bank mortgage are crushed in the vice of tight money

While inflation has never been created by higher wages protecting employers from having to share their wildly lavish recent profits with the workers continues to be the talking point The myth of the “inflationary spiral of “high wages continues to be Federal Reserve chair’s propaganda sideshow If it should not be the place of government to interfere unnecessarily in economic matters it follows that it should not be the goal of the government bank to allow employers to demand workers tighten their belt while company profits soar Quick: Name me the empire that crumbled due to an equitable distribution of wealth? OK you got me it’s a trick question because it never happened Yet our Federal government seems intent on fixing this non-problem of workers maybe getting a raise Any number of civilizations have fallen, from ancient Egypt to modern Germany; due to greedy elite hoarding money in the hands of the few Government intervention in capitalism when it happens at all should contribute to a positive social good Instead the Federal Reserve chair continues to prattle about protecting us from the Easter Bunny of wage based inflation instead of over-extended militarism and a monetary constriction of wealth in the hands of an oligarchy of elite

Ellen Starbird Cape Coral

be e mai l e d to v harri ng @bre e z e ne w s pape rs c o m, o r mai l e d to 2 5 1 0 D e l Prado B l v d , Cape Co ral , FL 3 3 9 0 4 A l l l e tte rs and g ue s t o pi ni o ns mus t be s i g ne d and mus t i nc l ude a pho ne numbe r f o r v e ri f i c ati o n purpo s e s Re ade rs are al s o i nv i te d to c o mme nt o n any l e tte r, g ue s t o pi ni o n, o r e di to ri al o nl i ne at: c ape c o ralbre e z e c o m

Florida Press Association

John Benedict Cape Coral

Jack Wagner Cape Coral

April Olson

Has the right to challenge Rivergrass on grounds of traffic and taxpayer impacts

FWC offers safety tips after gator incident on Sanibel

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

T

n

Commission recommended precautionary measures for people when near alligators including in or near water after a man was recently bitten by one

“Serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida, Senior Officer Adam Brown said

He offered the following suggestions to reduce the chances of conflicts with alligators:

■ Keep a safe distance if you see an alligator If someone is concerned about an alligator they should call FWC s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWCGATOR (866-392-4286), and it will dispatch a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to resolve the situation

■ Keep pets on a leash and away from the water's edge Pets often resemble alligators' natural prey

■ Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours and without your pet Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn

■ Never feed an alligator It is illegal and dangerous When fed alligators can lose their natural wariness and instead learn to associate people with the availability of food This can lead to dangerous circumstances for your-

self and other people who could encounter the alligator in the future

The FWC places the highest priority on public safety and administers a Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program The goal is to p r o a c t i v e l y a d d r e s s a l l i g a t o r t h r e a t s i n developed areas, while conserving alligators in areas where they naturally occur ” Brown said “SNAP uses contracted nuisance alligator trappers throughout the state to remove alligators believed to pose a threat to people, pets or property ”

On Dec 15 at 11:06 a m the Sanibel Police Department received a 911 call about a man who was bitten by an alligator in a pond that is adjacent to the location of 2477 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

The FWC reported that the victim was a 25-year-old man When officers arrived on scene, it was determined that the man was using the pond to wash his hands when he was bit police reported The man was able to free himself from the alligator and call 911 Individuals on scene were able to apply a tourniquet

Shell Factory Nature Park reopens

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com

Thursday

The park got the bobcat after someone got the idea of trying to domesticate it and having it as a pet in his house Needless to say it didn’t work When an animal is willing to bite the hand that feeds it it’s a sign that maybe that s not going to pan out

The bobcat, along with more than 500 other animals, were on display after the Shell Factory, just two days after holding a successful fundraiser surprisingly decided to reopen its Nature Park which had been closed since Sept 28 the day Hurricane Ian hit

Remarkably, none of the animals were killed However, much of the park, aviaries and habitats were destroyed

Thanks to some hard work the park was able to reopen albeit quietly and with scant few visitors which made Schneider very happy

It was a matter of what we got accomplished to get the minimal requirements safety wise for the guests to be open ” Schneider said “We met that goal now we can go to our original plan to start rebuilding the habitat we were already planning on before the hurricane ”

Among the things they did was remove the debris and replace the fencing around the perimeter and walkways Some areas in the park are still not accessible, Schneider said

Also some of the keepers at the park were displaced by the storm with several not having come back, which has made it difficult to get into a routine The park needs 12 to 14 keepers to run the place,

which they don’t have yet

That lack of personnel will be felt in the short term as the Nature Park will have to deal with the cold snap that was expected to come late today and into early next week

The habitats will have to be tarped for some animals while others will have to be brought indoors again

Hopefully we can accomplish what we need to do by the end of the coming year, but we have two aviaries that need a total rebuild We ve gotten some nice donations including one of $10 000 to get one of them fixed ” Schneider said

A n n e S h e r i d a n g e n e r a l m a n a g e r o f t h e S h e l l Factory, was also thrilled to have the Nature Park open, the animals even more

The animals are so happy to be back in their homes and having people around them They love the keepers but they love the activity of the kids ” Sheridan said “We still have a lot of work to do but we can do it ”

Fundraising efforts for the Nature Park are ongoing You can donate by going to www shellfactory com

Also opening on Tuesday was the zipline However, not everything survived The Party House which was located next to the Chamber of Commerce office was demolished

It is unknown what, if anything, will replace it

Above, Karen Schneider gives some love to a bobcat at the Shell Factory’s Nature Park Thursday Below, the remains of the Party House at the Shell Factory The structure was demolished after Hurricane Ian

BY CHUCK BALLARO

until medical assistance arrived Police reported that it was determined that the man had sustained a serious injury to his right forearm from the alligator He was subsequently transported to a hospital for treatment by Lee County EMS

T h e v i c t i m ' s m e d i c a l s t a t u s w a s unknown as of press time

The FWC reported that a contracted trapper was dispatched to the scene, where an alligator measuring 9 feet 2 inches was removed from the property It was humanely killed by the trapper and processed Responding assisting agencies included the SPD, Sanibel Fire and Rescue District and Lee EMS, p l u s m e m b e r s o f t h e O r l a n d o P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t Jacksonville Beach Police Department Panama City Police Department and St Petersburg Police Department who were assisting in post-hurricane efforts

“Our paradise island is shared with various wildlife species Please remember to be careful and respect our wildlife in all bodies of water the fire district shared These types of incidents are preventable For more about FWC, please visit https://myfwc com/

Crowther rides her way to world top 10 standing

Local barrel racer earns spot in National Finals Rodeo

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com

Longtime competitor Margo Crowther made qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo in barrel racing one of the items on her bucket list

She not only made that dream come true this month, but also made the most of it, winning nearly $90,000 for 10 days of work in Las Vegas

Crowther made a more than respectable showing at the NFR finishing ninth in the average just out of the money coming in strong the final two days finishing fourth and second Crowther was in contention for the average midway moving up to third place However, she knocked down a barrel in Round 6 and another in Round 8, which resulted in five second penalties for each, dropping her in the standings Several draws where she was among one of the last riders on choppy ground that resulted in finishes just outside the money were also a hindrance

However she did cull a win and one with honors She was t h e J e r r y A n n T a y l o r B e s t D r e s s e d A w a r d w i n n e r f o r attire worn throughout the competition, including a heavily fringed pink shirt with blue fringes She also had a similar short with purple and pink giving her a “Macho Man” Randy Savage look with the huge belt buckle to match

According to the National Cowgirl Museum Hall of Fame, the award is named after the daring trick rider who brought a style, glamour and spirit to the rodeo arena ”

Crowther 37 made the NFR on the strength of a great summer where she won six rodeos including the tour finale in Puyallup Wash

The $96 871 she earned this season put her eighth in the world standings, resulting in her NFR qualification She added nearly $90,000 to that at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, bringing her total to $184,751

Crowther won $22,851 in the final round with a 13 43 second run only 08 seconds behind Hailey Kinsel who won the world championship winning more than $302 172 despite finishing eighth in the average while Shelley Morgan won the average one of only two racers to not tip over a barrel

It was a good year for the North Fort Myers professional barrel racer who had a long ride to Vegas

She made a run at the NFR in 2008, but her mare, Lexus, died of salmonella

She married started a family and took a break She then came back eight years later winning the 2016 WPRA World Finals riding Sissy her current horse

Crowther would dabble with going on the road for the next few years before winning her next huge event the National Barrel Horse Association world championship in October 2021

That win gave her a window of opportunity, and the professional rodeo mom, went all in, bringing her three children with her over the summer starting a little slow before peaking down the stretch with several victories and high finishes culminating with the win at Puyallup

at the Shell Factory Nature Park director Karen Schneider walked up to a bobcat in its cage and began petting it as you would a house cat sitting on your couch

Margo Crowther

PHOTO PROVIDED

Local barrel racer Margo Crowther and her horse Sissy in a recent rodeo competition

SP ORTS

Getting back to more normal winter fishing

s next?

What

Not too many weeks ago a portapottie actually flew by my house at easily over a hundred miles per hour ending up in my neighbor’s tree 10 steps from his mostly glass front door

The past holiday week of 80 degree weather suddenly turned Arctic cold in time for Santa Talk about climate change! Hopefully by the time you read this stable sunny Southwest Florida winter weather will have returned so we can get back to fishing

As the water temps naturally drop so should your retrieve speed One of the hardest things to teach a casting angler is the ability to retrieve a lure slowly I mean slowly Certain baits like plastic shrimp are always deadly slow retrieve lures and in winter, use them even slower for maximum success

Spend some time observing shrimp in a large bait tank as they slowly swim in a straight line through the water column No radical moves jumps or spasms Now, if suddenly freighted, they use that broad tail to instantly jump or dart away from the danger otherwise they move slowly and deliberately from place to place

The following two retrieves always work great for me

Cast out then imitate that super-slow straight line swimming retrieve for 10 feet or so then let the bait fall naturally to the bottom while keeping a close eye on your semi-taunt line as the bait falls towards cover Any tics or jumps of the line means you have a customer so set the hook! One big mistake fake shrimp anglers make is to not let the bait settle all the way to the bottom like a real shrimp seeking cover in the grass

The other successful wintertime method is to cast out and let the bait slowly fall into the bottom cover then gently pop it up realistically with the rod tip just once, then let it settle to bottom again on a closely watched line Take a few slow turns of the reel handle then stop reeling

and repeat this panic and fall retrieve all the way back to the boat

Going to a Hi-Viz colored line like white or yellow is a great angler aide for this type of line watching fishing and doesn t bother the fish one bit, especially using a 36-inch or longer fluorocarbon leader in winter's clear waters

Mastering the deadly ultraslow slow retrieve using these shrimp fakes is very difficult in today’s fast paced world Plastic shrimp are one of the hottest winter lures and produced by several manufacturers in a rainbow of colors although clear natural and glow are my two go-to colors Force yourself to slow down and using lower gear ratio reels can also help One thing for certain, a cold snook isn t going to be chasing down your summer speed-retrieved lure, but might pull the trigger on a slow hopped shrimp swimming close by

The coming weeks forecast of 80 degree temps and light winds looks great for that near or offshore run out to a bunch of hungry bottom fish looking to eat your offerings Kingfish and gag grouper will still be hitting trolled plugs unless the cold snap chased them away This time of year you don’t have to go to the horizon to catch these grouper as they come into as little as 30 feet of water to eat your Mann s Stretch series lures

Inshore look for the trout bite to continue to heat up along with the sheepshead Fish those trout under a bobber with shrimp or better break out the ultra-lites and cast 3-inch soft plastic paddle tails on lite jig heads Trout like minnow imitating flies as well as popping bugs on the surface on warm winter afternoons Sheepies love fiddler crabs, shrimp and oyster bits on small thin wire ultra-sharp hooks Hope everyone has a safe, healthy and happy New Year

Capt George Tunison is a C a p e C o r a l r e s i d e n t f i s h i n g guide Contact him at 239-2829434 or captgeorget3@aol com

Voting underway for Breeze Athlete of the Month for December

Breeze Staf f Repor t

news@breezenewspapers com

Voting for the Cape Coral Breeze Athlete of the Month for December is now open

There were countless top performances from student-athletes in The Breeze coverage area to start the new year and now it s up to readers to decide who will earn top honors for the month

Nominees for December include:

■ Avery Brincat, senior, Island Coast Gators: Brincat notched three double-double performances for a Gators team that went 2-1 for the week Over three games, she averaged 15 3 points per game, 13 rebounds per game, and added 8 blocks and 5 steals

■ Evie McCarthy junior North Fort Myers Red Knights: McCarthy led the Red Knights to a decisive 8-0 win over Island Coast netting four goals and adding an assist for a team off to a hot start at 5-0-2

■ Mario Acosta, junior, Oasis Sharks: Acosta had a great week for a Sharks team that won all three of its matches He netted seven total goals including a four-goal performance versus First Baptist and tallied six assists

■ Justin Lewis junior Mariner Tritons: The talented forward put together three double-digit scoring performances for a Tritona team that went 3-0 over the week Lewis averaged 12 6 points per

Wednesday Boys Basketball M

game 7 6 rebounds per game and 5 6 assists per game over the three contests

■ C a m e r o n F a l l a c a r a , j u n i o r , C a p e C o r a l Seahawks: The Seahawks' leading goal scorer put together two strong performances for her team last week Fallacara turned scored a pair of hat tricks versus Lehigh and Dunbar, adding two assists each game to help lead her team to victory

■ Cameron O Halloran sophomore Bishop Verot Vikings: The point guard turned in two double-digit scoring performances in a pair of Vikings wins last week O'Halloran dropped an impressive 27 points versus Marco Island Academy, adding 5 assists 5 rebounds and 6 steals She followed up with a 14-point game versus Bonita Springs with 3 boards and 3 steals

■ Nicole Bono, senior, Ida Bake Bulldogs: The Bulldogs' leading scorer dropped a season-high 22 points in a 69-39 win versus Oasis adding 8 boards, 2 assists and 2 steals Bono is averaging nearly 13 points per game and 6 rebounds per game this season

Athlete of the Month nominees are comprised of the Breeze s staff-selected Athletes of the Week for that respective month

To vote, visit www capecoralbreeze com and click the Athlete of the Month Vote Now icon along the right-hand side Voting is open until Dec 30 at noon

PREP REPORT

Catholic 2: Mariner (7-3-3) defeated the Eagles

r o m H o

Cape Coral 63, Tampa Jefferson 38: In the NCT Tournament, the Seahawks (6-5) rebounded from a loss Tuesday with a convincing win against Jefferson (1-9) Today's game against Land 'O Lakes Sunlake was next on Cape's schedule

Jacksonville Bolles 67, North Fort Myers 47: Bolles (8-2) rolled past the Red Knights (2-9) in the Kelleher Law Holiday Hoopfest at Golden Gate High School in Naples

Girls Basketball

Cape Coral 37, Gateway 34: The Seahawks opened play in the Lehigh New Year Shootout by getting past the Eagles (5-5) Cape (6-5) was scheduled to face Cypress Lake this morning

New Port Richey River Ridge 73, Cape Coral 68: A fourth-quarter comeback propelled River Ridge (8-4) to victory against the Seahawks (5-5) in the NCT Tournament Cape was scheduled to play Tampa Jefferson Wednesday

South Plantation 66, North Fort Myers 34: At the Kelleher Law Firm Hoopfest at Golden Gate High School in Naples, a 13-1 South Plantation squad dropped the Red Knights to 2-8

Perry (Ohio) 78, Bishop Verot 49: The Vikings fell to 2-6 with a loss to 5-1 Perry in the Daytona Beach Sunshine Classic

Boys Soccer

s Wedn

Cape Coral Breeze Athletes

Capt George Tunison

By ANN BLOCK news@breezenewspapers com

GARDEN CLUB OF CAPE CORAL

Florida in January is a great time to plant bulbs A few examples include amaryllis, rain lily and agapanthus

4) Annuals: This is a perfect time to add color to your gardens with plants that enjoy the cooler weather -- begonias, dianthus, Dusty Miller or Lobelia In your landscape, always remember right plant / right place " It’s winter and our sun has changed positions and we are in dry season Please water daily any plant that you have planted for a month this is true of anything you plant in every month of the year The new plantings need to have a great start Believe it or not, January is a good time to prepare for our next hurricane season Check trees for damaged or weak branches and prune as needed Hire an ISAcertified arborist if you have a large tree you can t handle SAFETY FIRST always! Make sure your irrigation system is running properly for the best efficiency A garden needs to be watered at least twice a week during our dry season which lasts 7 8 months, from Oct 2 to May 27 Winters here are sunny and very pleasant and we’re lucky to have few dreary, gray days Our winter is like a lovely spring day up North I m sure that s why so many of us have moved to our paradise in Southwest Florida I would like to mention that Florida has an Arbor Day in January (the third Friday in January) Florida has celebrated Arbor Day since 1886 Let’s all plant a tree in our yard or community to celebrate Don t forget to save this date for the Garden Club of Cape Coral s biggest fundraiser March in the Park on March 11 at Jaycee Park 4125 S E 20th Place We will have over 1,000 plants for sale and have

National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine to perform at Mann Hall

Community Concert part of the season dedicated to the late Frank Mann

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

While here in America we have dealt with many divisions be they electoral pandemic-related or social and cultural, they can sometimes pale in comparison to the plight of a country like Ukraine which has faced daily bombardments from the onslaught of its neighbor, the Russian Federation Ukraine’s defense of its own existence from the invasion of Russia has united many Americans who were once divided The fight for freedom has long been a cause that unites Americans Music also has the power to unite and on Jan 16 the time-tested force of classical music will be brought to Fort Myers by the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine for a performance that is sure to be electric at the Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College Community Concert Association President Mary Lee Mann said the philharmonic was booked to play the show two years in advance So when a full-scale war broke out earlier this year and Russia stepped up its attacks on its neighbor with a full-scale invasion, Mann said, We were concerned that they wouldn t be able to come Mann said the State Department is sponsoring the performance by the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine ensuring they will be able to make it

We re really looking forward to it, Mann said Mann said the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine played in Fort Myers a few years ago and was a crowd pleaser ”

Mann said the majority of the hall s 1,800 seats are taken by seasonal memberships but there are still lots of good seats available ” Mann said “A lot of people have called and asked” about the show

The Barbara B Mann Hall Performing Arts Hall will also be graced by another special guest 10 days earlier when the New York Philharmonic String Quartet performs Jan 8

“We have two outstanding orchestras that will be playing for us to begin the season followed by three more in February and March We are so happy to back with a full slate of performances for our 2023 season, Mann said

The shows this season are dedicated to Mary Lee s late husband Frank Mann the former state legislator and county commissioner and son of Barbara B Mann

“This season is dedicated to his memory ” Mann said

He loved it, Mann said of the late Mann s affinity for the shows held by the Community Concert Association

He and his brother Pat were there for the first concerts ” she said

A memorial fund has been set up in his name to support the Community Concert Association shows Frank Mann played several instruments including the piano, guitar, standup bass, baritone horn, trumpet and enjoyed singing in his church choir He also played in a bluegrass band

“He liked many types of music ” Mann said “He was an enthusiastic audience member ”

Mann worked with her mother-in-law Barbara B Mann, for 25 years in putting on concerts through the

PHOTO PROVIDED

The National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine will perform at the Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall on the Florida SouthWestern State College campus in Fort Myers on Jan 16

January programs, activities scheduled at Northwest Regional Library in Cape

desk to check in First come, first served

Adult Programs

Books & Bagels

Anne Frank: A Life to Remember, performed by Sheryl Faye

a m , Friday, Jan 13

Amsterdam, as hatred for Jewish people increased Anne Frank and her family went into hiding From July 1942 until their arrest by the Gestapo in August 1944 Anne kept a diary and wrote in it regularly Our story begins July 6, 1942, in the Frank's secret annex hidden by bookcases in the building where Mr Frank worked

Artsy Adult Craft: Poured Paint Project 1 p m , Saturday, Jan 21 Let's kick off the new year with a favorite: poured painting We will go over basic pour painting and try out some differ-

ent options that will provide a variety of

results Dress appropriately as the paint can stain Registration is required

Tea Time Talks 6 p m , Tuesday, Jan 31

Do you enjoy robust, engaging book discussions? Join us and share your latest reading recommendations Tea and cookies will be served

Children’s Programs

Tuesday Edition: Cardboard Challenge 4:30 p m , Tuesday, Jan 3

building things out of cardboard Come with ideas or get creative when you get here All supplies provided For children ages 5-11 Registration begins Dec 6 and is guaranteed only until the start of the program

Kids Read Down Fines 4:30-5:30 p m , Wednesdays, Jan 4, 11

11 a m –noon, Saturday, Jan 21

Children and teens can earn a $2 credit on overdue fines for every 15 minutes they read in the designated area for a total of $8 in one session Please bring your library card

Tiny Tots Yoga 10:30 a m , Monday, Jan 9

Join us for gentle movement stretches poses, and songs in this fun interactive program about new beginnings For children through age 5 with a caregiver No experience necessary Wear comfortable clothing Registration begins Dec 12 and is guaranteed only until the start of the program

Birthday Club 10 a m , Saturday, Jan 14

Is it your child's birthday month? Come celebrate it with us at our monthly birthday bash All supplies and light refreshments provided For ages 1-5 Registration for the birthday child is required and is guaranteed only until the start of the program

Toddler Tales 10:45 a m , Wednesdays, Jan 18, 25

For ages 18-36 months and caregivers Toddlers and caregivers move and groove during this interactive storytime Space is limited Arrive early and visit the children's

Preschool Storytime 10:45 a m , Thursday, Jan 19, 26

For ages 3-5 Children attend this program independently while parents and caregivers wait nearby Space is limited Arrive early and visit the children's desk to check in First come first served

Family Storytime

10 a m , Saturday, Jan 21

For children through age 5 and caregivers Families with young children enjoy a variety of stories songs rhymes and movement

Baby Rhyme Time

10:30 a m , Mondays, Jan 23, 30

For babies up to months Babies and caregivers wiggle and giggle in a supportive environment Space is limited Arrive early and visit the children's desk to check in First-come, first-served

LEGO Club

2 p m , Saturday, Jan 28

Join us for a short story and Lego building activities Legos provided for use during this program

Books and Blankets

6:15 p m , Tuesday, Jan 31

Join us with your blankies and pajamas for this nighttime edition of storytime The whole family is invited to this enjoyable storytime that encourages the development o f p r e - r e a d i n g s k i l l s t h r o u g h s o n g s rhymes fingerplays and stories

Kindness Club 4:30 p m , Tuesday, Jan 10 Join us at the library to create kindness in our community Kids can participate in fun activities designed to encourage kindness and help make the world a better p l a c e F o r c h i l d r e n a g e s 5 - 1 1 Registration begins Dec 13 and is guaranteed only until the start of the program

Teen Programs

Kids Read Down Fines

exploring the relaxing and calming benefits of making your own miniature Zen garden For ages 12-18

Throwback Movie 4:30 p m , Tuesday, Jan 17 Let's flashback to totally ancient classics from the 1980s and 90s Light snacks provided For ages 12-18

Teen Trivia Thursday 4:30 p m , Thursday, Jan 26 Are you smarter than a librarian? Join us in the Teen Zone for trivia snacks and prizes For teens ages 12-18

Tech Tuesdays: Resume Workshop Edition 2 p m , Tuesday, Jan 3 Need help with your current resume? Not sure where to start? Staff at the Northwest Regional Library can help with a one-on-one sessions

T h e N o r t h w e s t R e g i o n a l L i b r a r y i s located at 519 Chiquita Blvd , N , in Cape Coral For more information about a program or to register please call the library at 239-533-4700 Check the Lee County Library System s website at www leelibrary net to find out about programs at other locations Call the host library, or Telephone Reference at 239-479-INFO (4636) for more information about a specific program

To receive updates from Lee County Government, sign up for the newsletter here: www leegov com/resources/newsletters In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act Lee County will not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities in its services, programs or activities To request an auxiliary aid or service for effective communication or a reasonable modification to participate contact Joan LaGuardia 239-533-2314

Changing exhibitions in the Cape Coral Library’s expansive art gallery are sponsored by the Friends of the Cape Coral Library and are designed to afford local artists the opportunity to share their work in this public forum

The library is located at 921 S W 39th Terrace off of Mohawk Parkway and the exhibits will be open during regular business hours From Jan 6-30, the walls of the library gallery will feature artwork by participants in the Arts in Healthcare program at Lee H

work The Arts in Healthcare program at Lee Health changed that in our community by displaying their work in dedicated galleries at each of their four hospitals as well as, the Riverwalk Rehabilitation Center, the Cardiology Center on Bass Road in Fort Myers and the Sanibel-Captiva Trust Company on Sanibel The galleries not only add beauty to the hospitals and facilities, but they also help extinguish old stereotypes about persons with disabilities by highlighting their achievements and reinforcing their significance in our society In addition to rotating artwork through the hospital galleries on a periodic basis the program helps keep the artists up-to date on other exhibitions and educational opportunities

The Lee Health Art by the disABLEd program is delighted to be featured at the Cape Coral Library Gallery during the month of January to showcase their talented artists whose artwork will grace the walls For more information about the pro-

disABILITIES or to purchase an original

Coordinator for Lee Health 239-3432633 art@leehealth org

In the librar y galler y cases

Beautiful fused glass creations by June F Bennett and Judy Van Inwegen will be on exhibit in the lighted display cases for the month of January as well as February

■ Bennett was first inspired by the magnificent stained glass windows of historic buildings in her native England Years later, after moving to the U S and then retiring, she found time to explore her earlier interest She learned both Tiffany and leaded styles of stained glass as well as design and restoration of both methods However once she was introduced to fused glass, it soon became the focus for the future

Bennett studied new techniques and designs with modern glass artists at Miami University; the Bullseye Glass Company in Portland, Oregon; and Warm Glass Studios i n N o r t h C a r o l i n a A n a w a r d - w i n n i n g artist, her work can be seen in exhibitions and juried shows in Southwest Florida She enjoys sharing her knowledge currently teaches glass fusing at the Cape Coral Art Center and is a member of the SWFL Fine Craft Guild

■ Van Inwegen first became captivated by stained glass also until she discovered a skill and enthusiasm for working in fused glass As she describes her experience she studied with the best glass artists from B u l l s e y e G l a s s C o m p a n y a t M i a m i University ” She also attended classes in C o l d w o r k i n g w i t h J o n a t h o n S c h m u c k glass artist and author of the definitive book on the process Van Inwegen s glass art has been accepted into numerous exhibitions and shows in Pennsylvania and Southwest Florida She is a current member of the Southwest Florida Fine Craft Guild and also attends classes at the Cape Coral Art Center

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Glasswork by Judy Van Inwegen

A fused gass creation by June F Bennett

Beware of unsolicited offers to buy your home

I received a text from someone this week offering to purchase my home for $300,000 We experienced some damage on our home, which was built in 2013 Prior to the hurricane similar houses were selling for the high $400s I am tired of dealing with the insurance claims and our damage to our home was over $50,000 Thinking of just selling and moving on, with the buyer taking over the claim Is this a good idea?

Cape’s November condo

As outlined in the market numbers shown below through the month of November the Cape Coral condominium market has gone through some significant shifts in 2022 To begin with, since Jan 4 of this year the number of active condo listings in the Cape through a Realtor in the MLS have increased by 360 percent while the number of overall closed condo sales are down 29 percent

there were only 37 condos in the Cape listed for sale at prices ranging from $155,000 to $995,000 with the median list price at $293,000 At that time, there were 70 condos under contract as pending sales at prices ranging from $155 000 to $995 000

In the overall Cape condo market there were 36 closed sales in the month of November, which was 36 8 percent lower than the 57 closed condo sales in November 2021 but 9 1 percent above the 33 sales in October of this year In the first 11 months of 2022, there were a total of 626 condos sold overall in the Cape, which was down 29 percent from the 882 condo units sold in the first 11 months of 2021

Homing In

Eric P Feichthaler

Real Estate Law

Dear Aaron, Many of my clients h a v e b e e n r e c e i v i n g s i m i l a r u n s o l i c i t e d texts emails and phone calls to purchase homes and vacant land I have also received a text to buy my home There are only two reasons you would receive an u n s o l i c i t e d o f f e r l i k e this, and both of them aren t beneficial to you: Either they plan to purchase your home at an a r t i f i c i a l l y l o w p r i c e and resell it quickly for a nice profit, or they intend to assign their rights under the contract to another buyer and receive a large assignment fee In the latter case, all they need to do is get an owner to sign a contract, and they walk away with money that should be yours The pending insurance claim can be handled a few ways – either the buyer assumes the claim or the owner/seller continues with their claim, even after selling The contract should be clear relating to the rights and obligations of each party If you retain the rights on the claim you will want to have the buyer agree in writing to allow for inspections and to cooperate with the claim In your situation where you want to be done with the house and move on, you could assign the rights on the claim to the buyer However, you will want to raise the price in that situation to account for them getting this additional benefit

As one might expect the postHurricane Ian closed sales for the month of November were even more dismal for condos located on saltwater canals, with sales down 80 percent versus November 2021, and almost 47 percent below October of this year The direct “sailboat” access canal condo segment took the biggest hit with only 3 closed sales in November, posting the fewest number of closed sales in a single month since the last time only three sales were registered in this segment back in July 2012

The rapid deterioration in the number of closed sales in the Cape’s condo market is best illustrated by comparing the 414 overall condo sales in the first half of this year to the 212 sales from July through November When looking back at 2021, with a total of 939 closed condo sales for the year it would be fair to say the slumping sales in the second half of this year has us in a condo sales recession

The one saving grace to the lower number of condo sales, which are on pace for their worst fourth quarter since posting 103 sales in the final three months of 2013, has been the way median condo sales prices have been holding up so far preventing a devastating market collapse and making a recession feel like a slump

As of Monday Dec 26 there were 170 condos listed for sale in Cape Coral in the Multiple Listing Service at prices ranging from $150,000 to $1 995 million, with the median list price for condos remaining at $315 000 A total of 35 condos were priced at $250 000 and under including 12 units listed below $200 000 At the other end of the price spectrum, in our luxury condo segment, a total of 18 condos were listed at $599,000 and above, with six of these units listed at $1 559 million and up Of note, 152 of our 170 active condo listings or 89 4 percent of the Cape’s condo market had list prices of $467 000 and under

There were 59 condos in the Cape under contract with buyers as pending sales on Dec 26, at prices ranging from $149,900 to $2 195 million Of these pending sales, 20 were priced at $250,000 and under, including 10 units under $200 000 A total of 5 condos were under contract at $580 000 and above with 3 of these pending sales between $1 55 million and $2 195 million Of note 52 of the 59 pending sales, or 88 percent of our condo market in the Cape, were under contract for $363,000 or less These lower pending sales prices versus the higher list prices (above) could be the “canary in the coalmine” for condos

This compares to a month ago on Nov 28 when there were 148 active listings in the MLS for Cape Coral condos with a median list price of $315,000, along with 69 pending sales in the pipeline Looking back to Jan 4 of this year,

The November median sales price came in at $308,400 for the overall Cape Coral condo market, which was 32 6 percent above the $232,500 posted in November 2021, and 18 6 percent higher than the $260 000 in October of this year In the first 11 months of 2022 the median sales price averaged $277 150 per month in our overall condo market or 31 2 percent above the average of $211,241 per month in the first eleven months of 2021

Gulf access canal condos

In the Cape Coral gulf access canal condo segment, which includes all “saltwater” canal condos there were only 8 closed sales in November This was 71 4 percent lower than the 28 condos sold in November 2021 and 46 7 percent below the 15 sales in October of this year In the first 11 months of 2022, there were a total of 279 saltwater canal condos sold in the Cape, or 31 3 percent less than the 406 units sold in the first 11 months of 2021

The November median sales price came in at $352 450 for the Cape s saltwater canal condo segment which was 35 8 percent above the $259,500 posted in November 2021, and 17 5 percent higher than the $300,000 in October of this year In the first 11 months of 2022, the median sales price for saltwater condos averaged $329 882 per month or 31 8 percent higher than the average of $250 327 per month in the first 11 months of 2021

Direct sailboat access canal condos

In the Cape Coral direct sailboat access canal condo segment, which is a subgroup of gulf access condos where boaters have no bridges to go under in the canal system, there were 3 closed sales in November This was down 80 percent from the 15 condos sold in November 2021 and 62 5 percent below the 8 units sold in October of this year In the first 11 months of 2022, there were a total of 169 direct sailboat access canal condos sold in the Cape, or 22 1 percent less than the 217 units sold in the first 11 months of 2021

The November median sales price came in at $391 000 for the Cape s sailboat access condo segment, which was 5 8 percent below the $415,000 posted in November

See UNSOLICITED OFFERS, page 5B See NOVEMBER, page 5B

BRIEFS

area professionals honored by EXIT Realty Corp. Inter national

Cape

"The real estate professionals who put the needs of their clients first and who can pivot to meet those needs in a changing economy will always succeed, said Tami Bonnell, co-chair, EXIT Realty Corp International "It's because of the hard work and dedication of our agents and brokerage owners that EXIT has continued to thrive and expand across the US and Canada We are proud of their

accomplishments and we extend our best wishes for their continued success Congratulations to our champions!" EXIT Realty is a full service real estate franchisor with offices across North America For more information, p l e a s e v i s i t w w w e x i t r e a l t y c o m a n d www joinexitrealty com

CRE Consultants’ recent transactions

Bank leased a 2 480-square-foot office space at 14421 Metropolis Ave , Suite 102, Fort Myers, from Advanced Metropolis, LLC Randal Mercer of CRE Consultants negotiated the transaction

Insurance Group leased a 1 153-square-foot office space at 14421 Metropolis Ave Suite 105 Fort

Coral

Jacksonville Florida

Stephanie Doran and Lisa Spagenski sales representatives with EXIT Gulf Coast Realty in Cape Coral were honored with the Bronze Award by EXIT Realty Corp International The award was given in recognition of closing between 25 and 49 real estate transaction sides during the production year July 1 2021 to June 30 2022

Dear Mr Feichthaler:

Aaron M

Bob and Geri Quinn

Housing market in Southwest Florida remains resilient following Hurricane Ian

September 28 is a day that will forever live in the history books as Hurricane Ian made landfall in Southwest Florida The 500-year storm brought with it an astonishing level of devastation and property damage The entire region came to a halt for close to two months as the recovery efforts started, including the housing market For our team, the real estate agent hats were set aside, and we focused on being neighbors first

In the days and weeks to follow while continuing to meet the ongoing needs of friends and strangers our local agents started assessing the impact on real estate There was fear that the property values in Southwest Florida would take a substantial hit following such a major storm There was speculation that the storm would deter buyers and that the market would be flooded with sellers looking to leave the area

What we are seeing however is that the Southwest Florida market is resilient, and the storm has not affected the value of land or undamaged homes As real estate transactions resume listing prices are being adjusted to reflect damage but the average unaffected home values have not changed nor have new construction rates

The amount of standard inventory has also not seen a true increase to meet the continued demand Though it appears as if there are four months' worth of inventory on the market it can be estimated that a conservative 20% of that inventory has storm damage that would limit buyer

potential Houses that have damage will not qualify for most traditional mortgages which will limit the buyer pool Understanding that the market has been skewed with damaged homes coming into the mix, there is still limited inventory for the average buyer that was seen prior to Hurricane Ian

If you are in the market for elusive waterfront or beach property now is the only time you can expect any form of a deal and only if you have the capital to pay cash and the time and tolerance to renovate New beaches are not being created in America and the lifestyle this region offers remains highly desirable

Some of the local markets are even hotter now than they were prior to the s t o r m I n l a n d p r o p e r t i e s s t i l l a l l o w a buyer to be close to the desirable beaches but far enough away that they will not be affected by the impact of expected insurance rate increases There has also been a new group of buyers in the market There are a group of people who have the capital and have been displaced from the islands following the storm are buying as opposed to renting as they wait for their

Aprile Osborne Guest Comment

homes to be rebuilt For those in the market with some time flexibility new construction is something to highly consider There are communities popping up all over Southwest Florida and the price points are either more reasonable or at least comparable to other homes on the market With new construction there is the added benefit of customizing homes to fit the buyer s needs before purchasing which can save the time and money of remodeling an older home Though the market is still hot there is no denying that Hurricane Ian has made a major impact on our area and the effects are still not truly known W h a t i s c e r t a i n i s t h a t S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a r e m a i n s a h i g h l y d e s i r a b l e community and our market reflects the resilience of those who call it home

Aprile Osborne Call it Closed International Realty cofounder, has been a licensed agent in Southwest Florida f o r a l m o s t 2 0 y e a r s N a p l e s - b a s e d C a l l i t C l o s e d

International Realty currently operates in 14 states aprileosborne callitclosed com

From my perspective, home prices have not gone down significantly since the hurricane My perception is that prices have held, and even gone up in certain areas This is likely in part due to the reduction in the number of houses available that were badly damages or destroyed in Lee County Your overall facts as presented indicate the texter is offering you too little, and that you should negotiate for a significantly higher price This is especially true if you assign them rights to your insurance claim Due to the large amount of money involved I would encourage you to seek the advice of an attorney and/or a Realtor to get a good estimate on the value of your home and insurance claim Remember, once you sign a contract, there is no right of recission period in Florida I wish you and all of our friends and neighbors a happy and healthy 2023!

Eric P Feichthaler has lived in Cape Coral for over 35 years and graduated from Mariner High School in Cape Coral After completing law school at Georgetown University in Washington D C he returned to Southwest Florida to practice law and raise a family He served as mayor of Cape Coral from 2005-2008, and continues his service to the community through the Cape Coral Caring Center, Cape Coral Museum of History and Cape Coral Kiwanis He has been married to his wife Mary for over 20 years and they have four children together He earned his board certification in Real Estate Law from the F l o r i d a B a r H e i s A V P r e e m i n e n t r a t e d b y Martindale-Hubbell for professional ethics and legal ability and is a Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator He can be reached at eric@capecoralattorney com or 239-542-4733

This article is general in nature and not intended as legal advice to anyone Individuals should seek legal counsel before acting on any matter of legal rights and obligations

2021, but up 19 8 percent from $326,500 in October of this year In the first 11 months of 2022 the median sales price for condos in this segment averaged $365 927 per month or 12 1 percent more than the average of $326 564 per month in the first 11 months of 2021

Dry lot condos

In the Cape Coral dry lot (non-canal) condo segment there were 22 closed sales in November, which was 15 4 percent lower than the 26 condos sold in November 2021, but 46 7 percent above the 15 sales in October of this year In the first 11 months of 2022, there were a total of 289 dry lot condos sold in the Cape, which was 23 7 percent less than the 379 dry lot condo units sold in the first 11 months of 2021

The November median sales price came in at $287,500 for the Cape’s dry lot condo segment which was 49 7 percent higher than the $192 075 posted in November 2021 and 25 percent above the $230,000 in October of this year

In the first 11 months of 2022, the median sales price for dry lot condos in the Cape averaged $236,161 per month, or 39 7 percent above the average of $169 084 per month in the first 11 months of 2021

The sales data for this article was obtained from the Florida Realtors Multiple Listing Service Matrix for Lee County, Fla , as of Dec 23, 2022, unless otherwise noted It was compiled by Bob and Geri Quinn and it includes information specifically for Cape Coral condominiums townhouses and villas, and it does not include any singlefamily homes, short sales or foreclosures The data and statistics are believed to be reliable however they could be updated and revised periodically and are subject to change without notice The Quinns are a husband and wife real estate team with the RE/MAX Realty Team office in Cape Coral They have lived in Cape Coral for over 43 years Geri has been a full-time Realtor since 2005, and Bob joined Geri as a full-time Realtor in 2014 Their real estate practice is mainly focused on Cape Coral residential property and vacant lots

Myers, from Advance Metropolis, LLC Randal Mercer of CRE Consultants negotiated the transaction CRE Consultants, which provides a full spectrum of commercial real estate and property management services to property owners investors landlords tenants and developers is located at 12140 Carissa Commerce Court Suite 102, Fort Myers For additional information, call 29-481-3800, or visit https://creconsultants com

Babcock Ranch sells 612 acres to Pulte Home Company for $15 million Babcock Property Holdings LLC sold two tracts of land totaling 612 7 acres in Lee County to Pulte Home

Company LLC for $15 million on Dec 8 2022 The transaction was handled by Edward Canterbury of Henderson Franklin law firm Alfred P Dougherty executed the agreement on behalf of Babcock Property Holdings and Naomi Robertson, vice president of Finance SWFL Division executed the agreement on behalf of Pulte Homes

The agreement requires the builder to pay a deferred compensation and marketing fee to the developer upon the sale of each improved residential unit constructed on each lot subject to the terms of the agreement

According to the Lee County Property Appraiser parcel 1 of the sale is 426 1 acres and parcel 2 is 186 60 acres

The values associated with the property are as follows, according to the Lee County Property Appraiser: parcel 1, $21 152 456 and parcel 2 $9 263 197

For additional information about Babcock Ranch which is located at 42850 Crescent Loop Babcock Ranch FL, off State Road 31 in northeast Lee County, visit https://babcockranch com/

F o r m o r e a b o u t P u l t e H o m e C o m p a n y , v i s i t https://www pulte com/

Proper ty insurance issues topic of discussion at next REIS meeting set for Jan. 10 at Pelican Preser ve Clubhouse

Managing risk is a critical issue for real estate development financing and management in Southwest Florida The Real Estate Investment Society will take a hard look at flooding and other property insurance issues at its Tuesday, Jan 10, luncheon meeting, with Brian Chapman, founder and CEO of Chapman Insurance Group, leading the discussion

The program will include updates on recent legislation flood zone mapping risk rating the National Flood Insurance Program and strategies for managing risk Chapman is also expected to offer insight on how lenders, builders and property owners are coping with the challenges

Following his presentation Chapman will respond to questions of specific interest to the real estate investment and development industry Chapman formed Chapman Insurance Group in 2009 to be able to provide a greater range of options to property owners in Southwest Florida The firm has grown dramatically and Chapman has emerged as a leading advisor to the real estate and building industry in the region

The meeting is sponsored by Builders Care and will begin promptly at 11:45 a m , Jan 10, in the Osprey Room at Pelican Preserve s Clubhouse, on Treeline Avenue at Colonial Boulevard one mile east of I-75 exit 136 in Fort Myers

Admission is $30 for members and $45 for guests which includes lunch Reservations are required by Jan 5 and may be made at the REIS website at www reisswfl org

Gulf Coast Village residents contribute

employee appreciation fund

Greater For t Myers Chamber’s Jan 18 luncheon to highlight update on Lee County tourism

The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce’s monthly luncheon on Jan 18 will provide an update on tourism in Lee County post-Hurricane Ian Guests will hear from Brian Ososky, marketing director for the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau in Southwest Florida representing Fort Myers – Islands Beaches and Neighborhoods During the program Ososky will share insights on how the VCB has shifted gears since the storm, provide an update on the current tourism landscape in Lee County and share plans for relaunching marketing efforts designed to draw visitors back to the region Ososky coordinates the day-to-day efforts of a multimillion dollar advertising contract oversees the development of all creative work, and evaluates technology and social media platforms to devise strategies to enhance marketing and branding efforts online Additionally, he reviews market competition and consumer trends ensures all VCB promotional efforts are integrated and strategic

and creates brand position He also has extensive marketing and communications experience through positions with various hospitality travel and performing arts organizations He holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from the University of South Florida in Tampa

The January luncheon will take place from 11:30 a m to 1:15 p m on Wednesday, Jan 18, at Embassy Suites by Hilton Fort Myers-Estero, located at 10450 Corkscrew Commons Drive in Estero Admission is $25 for Chamber members and $35 for future members and includes lunch Sponsorship opportunities are available

To learn more or to register, visit FortMyers org or call 239-332-2930

Professional seminar focusing on public relations responses to Hurricane Ian set for Jan. 10

The Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association will host a professional development panel titled “Navigating the Storm: Hurricane Ian Response Efforts and PR Lessons Learned on Tuesday Jan 10, from noon to 1:30 p m , at the Crowne Plaza Hotel located in the Bell Tower Shops at 13051 Bell Tower Drive in Fort Myers

Working in the midst of Hurricane Ian and the chall e n g i n g w e e k s t h a t f o llowed the following panel of specialized communicat i o n p r o f e s s i o n a l s s h a r e decades of experience in crisis management and comm u n

United Way

WINK News Each panelist will reflect on his or her post-storm

e s p o n s e s w h i l e s h a r i n g valuable lessons learned and how the storm has impacted o n g o i n g c o m m u n i c a t i o n efforts and shaped strategies

The residents at Gulf Coast Village have raised a record $100 000 in personal contributions for the continuing care community’s employee appreciation fund Individual checks were gifted to 277 staff members at Gulf Coast Village

Have you ever wished you could turn back time? To go back to a simpler happy time filled with sock hops, drive-in theaters, muscle cars and thick sideburns? Well get out your poodle skirts and leather jackets!

Cirque Italia’s Gold Unit performers will to take you back to a time when hula hoops and soda fountains were abundant, Elvis Presley dominated the airwaves, greased hair was all the rage and street racing was a parent’s greatest concern! Come along for the ride when a 1950s-obsessed adolescent falls asleep and dreams of living in this revolutionary era

This high-octane show is guaranteed to captivate and engage every kiddo and Daddy-O in the audience

The performances under a white and blue big top tent are set for Thursday, Jan 19, at 7:30 p m ; Friday, Jan 20, at 7:30 p m ; Jan 21, at 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p m ; and Sunday Jan 22 at 1:30 and 4:30 p m at JetBlue Park 11500 Fenway

South Drive Fort Myers

Cirque Italia believes multi-culturalism is one of its strongest assets Its show features performers from Argentina Brazil Romania and many other countries The performers feature master jugglers low wire fanatics, dazzling contortion, wild trampoline antics and even a wheel of death

Cirque Italia’s mission is to provide high-class entertainment suitable for all age groups, where all are welcome at our strictly animal-free shows!

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n v i s i t www cirqueitalia com and make sure to check all of its social media accounts Tickets can be purchased now starting at $10-$50 depending on availability Cirque

Italia offers one free child admission with every full priced paying adult ticket in levels 2 or 3 This offer cannot be combined with any other offers

website (cirqueitalia com/tickets) or by phone at 941-704-8572 Cirque Italia staffers will also respond to text messages

The Diaz Duo performing during a Cirque Italia show The two are part of the team that will be performing under the big top tent at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers

PHOTO PROVIDED

Cultural Park Theatre Company Broadway Series continues with ‘The Sound of Music’ Jan. 12-22

Auditions scheduled for upcoming productions

Singers" by Maria Augusta Trapp this final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein captures a personal tale of growth and hope amidst the horrors of World War II

"The Sound of Music" tells the tale of young postulant Maria

whose free spirit has trouble fitting into the

Florida Gulfshore Ballet announces auditions for upcoming season

Auditions will be held in person in Fort Myers and Miami

Ballet is welcoming aspiring performers to audition to be part of the exciting new company The in-person auditions will be held Thursday Jan 5 in Fort Myers at the Florida Gulfshore Ballet Studios and Jan 7, in Miami at the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts

Florida Gulfshore Ballet will be the first and only professional ballet company in Southwest Florida delivering excellence on stage as well as a commitment to the widest possible public audience

The company is planning its inaugural full season in 2023-2024 with two introductory feature performances in April and May of 2023 in Fort Myers and Naples respectively

Under the direction of local ballet stars and artistic directors of Florida Gulfshore Ballet Iliana Lopez and Franklin Gamero the company will present pieces of worldrenowned choreographer Jimmy Gamonet Originally choreographed for the Miami City Ballet, Concerto por la Donna, Purple

Transtangos will be part of the first program For more information on the auditions please visit https://fgballet com/careers/ or contact Artistic Director Ileana Lopez at ilopez@fgballet com

Lee County Community Band to present ‘New Year, New Favorites’

Jan. 8

The Lee County Community Band will present New Year, New Favorites, a lively fun-filled free concert on Sunday Jan 8 at 3 p m at Cape Coral High School

The program includes Russian Sailors Dance, Jamaican Rhapsody, Bubbling W o o d w

, “Raiders of the Lost Ark ” "Dixieland Jamboree" and more

The 50-member adult band performs six concerts between November and April Programs reflect the band s reputation for lively upbeat music and promise an entertaining mix of new and familiar tunes energetic marches Broadway and Silver Screen hits, solos with vocalists Fred Lamb and Jan Fenn, and a sing-along Band members are musicians from all

heart,

buys the family time to make their narrow escape Their Austrian convictions compel Maria, the captain and the children to flee over the

walks of life who reside in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties The band welcomes new members every year Persons interested in joining may phone Frances Pace at 239-691-3115

Lee County Community Band concerts are free of charge (donations accepted), and open to the public Additional concert dates are Feb 5 March 12 and April 23 All concerts will be at Cape Coral High School 2300 Santa Barbara Blvd one block north of Veterans Parkway beginning at 3 p m

An institution in Southwest Florida, the band enjoys a large loyal and enthusiastic audience at every concert Plan to arrive early for best choice of seating

For additional information, please visit www leecountyband org Southwest Florida Symphony receives $350,000 gift from the L A T Foundation

The Southwest Florida Symphony Lee County s only professional orchestra and the fourth oldest in the state, was recently awarded a $350 000 grant from the L A T Foundation a private foundation based in Westport Connecticut A portion of the

mountains of Switzerland to safety, taking the words of the Mother Abbess to heart: Climb Every Mountain till you find your dream ”

Performances begin Jan 12-22 with shows on Thursday Friday and Saturday at 7 p m and Sunday at 3 p m Ticket prices for adults are at the reduced rate of $26 and can be purchased through the box office 239-772-5862 or on the secure ticketing website at https://secure boxofficeavenue com/culturalparktheatre/Home /Attractions

Food trucks are scheduled for every performance and detailed date and time schedules can be found on their website

Free convenient parking is always available Cultural Park Theatre is located at 528 Cultural Park Blvd , Cape Coral For complete information, please visit www culturalparktheater com

funds were used as part of a $25,000 Giving Tuesday match campaign, which inspired the community to help the orchestra achieve its $25 000 Giving Tuesday goal The remainder will be invested by the symphony s Endowment Foundation to support future growth

The Southwest Florida Symphony made its debut as a community orchestra on April 15 1961 playing in schools and community centers with a roster of only 24 volunteer musicians Today the symphony boasts a roster of 70 world-class musicians, and is Lee County s only fully professional orchestra

The Southwest Florida Symphony’s 62nd year continues the orchestra’s tradition of artistic excellence as newly appointed Music Director Maestro Radu Paponiu leads his inaugural season of spectacular performances

Paponiu the sixth music director in the organization’s history also serves as the associate conductor and youth orchestra director for the Naples Philharmonic in addition to guest-conducting with orchestras throughout the United States and Europe F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e

lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein

Rainer

rules and regulations of Nonnberg Abbey in Austria Commissioned by the Mother Abbess to serve as the governess for seven motherless children Maria transforms the von

Trapp family home from a place of dour rules and regulations to one filled with joy, laughter and music In the process Maria wins the hearts of all seven children - -and their widower father Capt von Trapp With the Mother Abbess blessing, and to the children s delight, Maria follows her

and Maria and the captain marry When the Nazis show up at their door to take Capt von Trapp away it is a family singing engagement that

The Cultural Park Theatre Company in the Cape will be holding auditions at the theater Saturday, Jan 7, from 10 a m to noon, for its Broadway Series productions Adults and teens are encouraged to audition for ensemble and lead/supporting roles in “Pippin ” “Grease ” “Crimes of the Heart and Private Lives More information about specific shows can be

found on the theater website at www culturalparktheater com or call the theater at 239-772-5862 No pre-registration is required; sides will be provided; please have a song (16 b a r s ) p r e p a r e d ( a c c o m p a n i s t w i l l b e available or bring your own track on your phone) and bring comfortable shoes if you are planning on auditioning for a role that requires dance

Alliance for the Ar ts continues the Bluegrass Concer t Series with Jan. 8 per for

mance

Join fellow music lovers for another of the Alliance of the Arts' popular Outdoor Bluegrass concerts Sunday Jan 8 at 10091 McGregor Blvd , Fort Myers The concert will be held on our Green Market Stage Gates open at 2 p m with Lonesome Rangers playing at 3 p m and Frank Corso taking the stage at 4 p m

Chairs and coolers are permitted

The series continues in 2023, with performances on Feb 5 and March 5 Tickets are $15 for members $16 for non-memb e r s a n d a r e a v a i l a b l e o n l i n e a t ArtInLee org or by calling 239-939-2787

Pre-sale seating is limited to 132 and is first-come, first-served In the case of bad weather, the show will be moved indoors to the Foulds Theatre Additional tickets may be available at the door weather permitting More information including a list of p e r f o r m e r s , c a n b e f o u n d a t artinlee org/bluegrass

The Alliance for the Arts is a nonprofit community arts and cultural center located in the heart of Fort Myers For over 40 years the Alliance has been charged with the mission to facilitate and nurture the creation, development, promotion and education of arts and culture in Southwest

Florida For additional information please call 239-939-2787 or visit the Alliance website at www ArtInLee org

Cultural Park Theatre Company welcomes The Atlantic City Blues Brothers Tribute Band

The Cultural Park Theatre Company in Cape Coral will feature The Atlantic City Blues Brothers Tribute Band Friday, Jan 6, at 7 p m ; Saturday, Jan 7, at 7 p m ; and Sunday Jan 8 at 3 p m C o o p e r J o r d a n ( c r e a t o r / E l w o o d ) Andrew Caira (Jake) and Michael Sanders (Monty) bring the Blues Brothers to life in this soul-filled show They'll get the joint jumping with all the hits you know and l o v e

n

o d y t o L o v e ” “Goin’ Back to Miami ” “Soul Man ” Sweet Home Chicago and many more Food trucks are scheduled for every perf o r m a n c e , w i t h S k e w U F o o d T r u c k , Squeezers of Cape Coral and Bubble Buzz joining the party Check their website for details on trucks and times

d i n g “ S o m

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased through the box office 239-772-5862 or o n o u r s e c u r e

https://secure boxofficeavenue com/culturalparktheatre/Home/Attractions Free convenient parking is always available More information can be found on the theater website at www culturalparktheater com

for the future The panel discussion will be moderated

Marketing

This event is ideal for PR and marketing professionals of all experience levels looking to gain knowledge in crisis response and strategic planning, as well as PR professionals seeking new connections within the community Pricing for the luncheon is $38 for members $48 for future members and $25

fpraswfl org/events/navigating-the-stormregistration/ Registration deadline is Jan 5 and seating is limited

The event sponsor is Christina Mehta GRI Realtor

Established in 1938, FPRA is the oldest public relations organization dedicated to developing public relations practitioners who through ethical and standardized practices enhance the public relations profession in Florida The Southwest Florida C

Accounting and Mediation division

University graduate with

experience to the firm in the combined areas of property management and tax Her areas of expertise include individual and business taxation, tax planning, and tax preparation Scott attended Purdue North Central where she studied applied data science and business She brings 30 years of accounting and payroll experience from the banking industry and ten years of experience in medical and general office management Her areas of expertise include AP/AR payroll accounting bookkeeping and financial statements

Chaudhry is currently attending Florida Gulf Coast University to pursue her bachelor of science degree in accounting with a focus in forensic accounting Before joining MNMW she worked as an office assistant for a local law firm Her areas of expertise include internal accounting and customer service functions in retail operations

Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company P A is a public accounting and consulting firm with offices in Fort Myers and Naples Along with traditional tax and accounting services the firm offers a wide range of other services including general business consulting construction business consulting medical practice consulting not-for-profit services, elder services, family mediation services, forensic accounting, and litigation support

www Markham-Norton com for additional

information about the local company

Plumbing Nerds repor ts successful year

Not even the worst natural disaster in Southwest Florida’s history could derail a successful year for Plumbing Nerds thanks to the company s dedication to customers Company records were set in 2022, with a 90 percent increase in business over 2021 and almost doubling staff By creating and sustaining more jobs in the community, Plumbing Nerds has contributed to the growth of Southwest Florida over the past 25 years

A f t e r H u r r i c a n e I a n h i t S o u t h w e s t Florida Plumbing Nerds had the staff and trucks to get on the road quickly and start the recovery process around our area, servicing homes and condos on Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel

The Plumbing Nerds core value of “Do the Right Thing” drives the idea that if they take care of their employees the employees will in return take care of their customers, which has given the Nerds continued focus

Hurricane Ian presented extreme challenges to not only thousands of residents but also for businesses Plumbing Nerds dedication to service and customer satisfaction guided the company through the challenges and into the doors of satisfied customers relying on that commitment timeliness and problem solving

Plumbing Nerds, locally owned and operated since 2007, is fully licensed and insured plumbing and drain experts serving most of Southwest Florida It provides upfront pricing financing and a membership plan

Plumbing Nerds has offices in Fort

Southwest Florida Inter national Airpor t announces traffic totals for month of November

During November, 812,305 passengers

International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers This was a decrease of 18 percent compared to November 2021; however, it was the third-best November in the 39-year history of the airport Year-to-date, passenger traffic is up 3 percent compared to last year

The traffic leader in November was D e l t a

out the top five airlines were S o

(126,103), United (114,598) and JetBlue (91,018)

Southwest Florida International Airport had 7,486 aircraft operations, a decrease of 19 percent compared to November 2021 Page Field (FMY) saw 13 437 operations a 5 p e

c e n

i n c

a s e c o m p a r e d t o November 2021 and the best November in more than 40 years

Southwest Florida International Airport served more than 10 3 million passengers in 2021 and is one of the top 50 U S airports for passenger traffic No ad valorem (property) taxes are used for airport operation or construction

For more information visit flylcpa com or facebook com/flyRSW

Orchestra of Ukraine: Performance at Barbara B. Mann Hall

From page 1B

Community Concert Association

She was somebody who you could learn an awful lot from, she said The New York Philharmonic String Quartet consists of four principal musicians from the orchestra The group, formed in 2017, made its debut as a solo ensemble in John Adams Absolute Jest in New York in 2017 All four members are multiple prize winners and have appeared as conc e r t o s o l o i s t s w i t h t h e Philharmonic and orchestras throughout the world They a r e j o i n e d b y a c c l a i m e d y o u n g A m e r i c a n p i a n i s t Drew Petersen, winner of the 2017 American Pianist Award T h e N a t i o n a l P h i l h a rmonic Orchestra of Ukraine was established in 1902 and h a s h o s t e d s o m e o f t h e world s greatest conductors and musicians in classical music The orchestra is a regular participant in international festivals, has toured e x t e n s i v e l y a r o u n d t h e world and recently completed several highly acclaimed recordings Mann said it “is heartb r e a k i n g t o w a t c h t h e struggle of the Ukrainian people “It’s so inspiring to see their commitment to their country and preserving their identity, she said Tickets are now on sale for each performance at the Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall on the Florida SouthWestern State College c a m p u s i n F o r t M y e r

The

j e c t s a n d m a n y o t h e r outreach programs And we have great time doing it! As the world is celebrati n g 2 0 2 3 , k e e p t h i s i n mind “THERE ARE NO GARD E N I N G M I S T A K E S

to Southwest Florida at affordable prices The association consists of more than 1 200 members underwriters and sponsors To support the Fort Myers Community Concert Association, you can mail a check

to: Fort Myers Community Concert Association P O Box 606 Fort Myers, FL 33902 Telephone: 239-693-4849

Mann Performing Arts Hall

Lee County reminds motorists that tolls will resume on the Sanibel Causeway on Jan. 1

As previously announced Lee County will resume normal toll operations on the Sanibel Causeway at 6 a m Sunday, Jan 1

The county restored tolls to the Cape Coral Bridge and the Midpoint Bridge in November following the suspension of tolls on all three bridges shortly before Hurricane Ian’s landfall Sept 28 The addition of the Sanibel Causeway which was announced Dec 1 completes the restoration

The causeway, which received extensive damage during the storm, reopened Oct 19 The city of Sanibel has announced it will end the requirement for reentry passes on Jan 2 However the city’s curfew will remain in effect between the hours of 9 p m and 6 a m daily A police checkpoint will be in place during the curfew hours For more information, visit mysanibel com

The county’s toll program -- called LeeWay -- will honor its discount programs for Sanibel residents who had them prior to the storm through Jan 31 Sanibel-based

Obituaries

LeeWay customers are asked to renew their programs for 2023 now Typically the annual renewal process takes place in October Sanibel residents with power and internet access can renew online at www leegov com/tolls A phone line for renewal also is available at 239-533-9297 LeeWay is emailing Sanibel program participants this month

Contractors who are doing work on Sanibel should visit the website to obtain a free LeeWay transponder and to deposit funds into an account to avoid paying the $3 administrative fee that is applied to those without transponders

Transponders from other entities such as SunPass and E-ZPass also work Visit www leegov com/tolls for a complete list All three county toll bridges are all-electronic; no cash is accepted

response and recovery for Hurricane Ian visit www leegov com/storm To receive email updates from Lee

Death Notices

County sign up at www leegov com/resources/newsletters Follow Lee County Government on Facebook www facebook com/leecountyflbocc