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3BR/3BA POOL HOME IN VANDERBILT LAKES includes a private pool oasis where you can enjoy al fresco dining, as well as a formal dining option to accommodate your family & guests. Breakfast bar and vast granite counter spaces complete the chef inspired kitchen. Expansive vaulted ceilings & split floor plan. Both lake & pool views. Gated community near Barefoot Beach, Wiggins Pass & Bonita Beach. RSW is only 30 mins away. $839,000
CONTEMPORARY CONDO w/new kitchen appliances & SS counters nestled opposite a stunning 7 mile stretch of powdery white beach. Estero Bay access via walkway to the fishing pier. Pickleball, tennis, shuffleboard, bocce ball, pool, BBQ area. Beach access conveniently located across the street. Balcony doubles as an enclosed Florida room w/ impact sliders, tile flooring throughout, breakfast bar. Upgraded walk-in shower in primary BA; guest BA w/combo tub/shower. Under-building parking. Near Santini Plaza & FishTale Marina. $379,000
BOATING & BEACH COMMUNITY on waterfront peninsula on the south-end of Estero Island. Reside full-time or rent at their discretion. Just across Estero Blvd. from the wide, white beach near Santini Plaza & FishTale Marina. Easy mainland access via Bonita Beach Rd. Spacious, updated 2BD/2BA unit overlooking pool + waterways. Kitchen & baths w/granite countertops, white plantation shutters throughout. Direct Gulf access via Big Carlos Pass. Full-size W/D in unit. Large swimming pool, hot-tub, sundeck. New Tiki hut + BBQ. Turnkey. $459,000
STUDIO STYLE BEACHFRONT CONDO has new kitchenette & remodeled bath. Updated interior includes new impact slider door. All new furnishings + panoramic views of Estero Bay. Soak up the sun by the beachfront pool or walk to the powder white sand beach just downstairs. Dues include electricity, cable + internet access. On-site rental mgt office allows for high potential income. North-end location affords convenient mainland access via Matanzas Pass bridge. TURNKEY. $299,000
PREMIERE LO T with glimpses of the Gulf offers an amazing opportunity to build your island dream residence with only a 2 minute walk to the beach! Ownership in the established Laguna Shores neighborhood offers 2 deeded beach accesses and allows for semimonthly rentals. Lovers Key State Park is just over the Big Carlos Pass bridge to the south, featuring kayak rentals, shelling & nature programs. Easy access to Bonita Springs and Naples. $649,000
Diane LaCorte
Chris Loffreno Allie Henry Charlie Smith
Tracey Gore
Ronald Coveleski Dennis Boback Fran Canario
Rita M. Oben
Summer Stockton
VOLUME 41, NUMBER 24
County commissioners to hold hearing on smoking ban
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
Smoking and vaping on county-owned beaches and at county-owned parks could be banned under an amendment to an existing county ordinance proposed by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners.
The ban would extend to county-owned parks on Fort Myers Beach which includes Bowditch Point Regional Park, Crescent Beach Family Park and Lynn
Hall Memorial Park.
A public hearing has been scheduled for 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, June 17, at the Old Lee County Courthouse on 2120 Main St. in Fort Myers to consider the amendment to the ordinance. Following the public hearing, county commissioners could vote to adopt the amended ordinance.
The ban includes all cigarettes, vaping or other electronic smoking devices.
County commissioners voted to set the public hearing at their June 3 meeting as
Stalemate on Beach School
School Board offers mixed recommendations to superintendent as parents criticize consultant’s report
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
Fort Myers Beach Elementary School parents and community members are slamming a consultant’s report as misleading and erroneous which recommended closing the Fort Myers Beach Elementary School during a presentation at a Lee County School District School Board workshop this past week.
Parents had been concerned about the report’s findings after Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin announced in March
a consultant would be used to give a report on the future viability of the school when parents had been pushing for the school to reopen since Hurricane Milton.
The Lee County School District Board took no action at their meeting this past week on reopening the school following a presentation by their consultant Accenture.
The lack of action followed the report by Accenture, which recommended not reopening the school but instead repurposing the school as a hybrid charter
school operated by the Town of Fort Myers Beach. That is supposed to be the worst-case scenario if the school didn’t meet cost reductions by the 202627 school years based on an interlocal agreement with the Town of Fort Myers Beach that some parents and community members believe the school district is violating.
School Board member Armor Persons
part of a consent agenda approval without any discussion.
Lee County District 2 Commissioner Brian Hamman, whose district covers Cape Coral, said he supported the ordinance.
“Our parks and beaches are special places where families, residents and visitors come to relax and enjoy our beautiful surroundings,” Hamman told the Fort Myers Beach Observer.
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
Almost as quickly as it arose seemingly out of nowhere, the proposal by Town of Fort Myers Beach Councilmember John King for the town to annex San Carlos Island has dissipated.
During a management and planning session this past week, the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council backed off the proposal by King to annex San Carlos Island after Mayor Dan Allers said he wouldn’t support the effort.
Allers said he wanted to keep the “status quo” and that any annexation idea should be brought to the town by the residents of San Carlos Island, not the other way around. “I think that should be initiated by their residents,” Allers said. “Personally, I don’t want to be the one to initiate that study.”
King said the annexation would add population to the town and give the town more control over the way the entrance to the town on San Carlos Island looks. King, who proposed the annexation in April, said he didn’t want to commit the town to spending funds on a feasibility study, which would be required for the annexation.
“I think personally for me, a lot of folks look at that as the entrance to Fort Myers Beach. That is our front door,” King said in April.
King is currently facing a recall petition by a committee of voters in the Town of Fort Myers Beach.
Councilmember Scott Safford had questioned what the boundaries would be and said he would need to see data on what the impacts would be.
San Carlos Island includes the area off San Carlos Boulevard and Main Street before the Matanzas Pass Bridge,
PHOTO BY NATHAN MAYBERG
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Web Poll
Results
Do you support the recall of Fort Myers Beach councilmembers John King and Karen Woodson in order for an early election to be held?
∫ Yes, recall both, 57%
∫ I support the recall of John King but not Karen Woodson, 0%
∫ I support the recall of Karen Woodson but not John King, 0%
∫ No, do not recall either councilmember, 40%
∫ No opinion/unsure, 3%
Current Web Poll
Do you support the Fort Myers Beach Council’s approval of the Arches Bayfront hotel and commercial center?
∫ Yes.
∫ No.
∫ Unsure/no opinion.
Jeannine Joy leads United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades to new heights
President and CEO has been with organization for 30 years
For the past 30 years, the United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades has evolved, shifted and responded to numerous hurricanes, economic ups and downs, a pandemic and other outside forces.
Three decades ago, the nonprofit had just five employees and an annual campaign goal of $2 million. Today, the organization has 80-plus employees whose work is augmented by more than 1,000 volunteers, and the annual campaign goal is a whopping $11.3 million.
The United Way of today looks nothing like it did in 1995.
There has been one constant, though – Jeannine Joy.
Since joining the organization 30 years ago, Jeannine’s efforts to work with partners in the community to realize a shared vision for change and to build solutions that continue to improve lives has been second to none.
When Jeannine started at United Way, she was a campaign associate and served as vice president of resource development and marketing. In June 2019, she was named president and CEO, giving her just nine months at the helm before COVID-19 presented her with an incredibly challenging task – improving the quality of life for everyone when our lives were turned upside down. And then there were hurricanes Ian, Helene and Milton.
Commentary
She brings stability during times of turbulence. She leads successful fundraising initiatives that result in allocation of dollars and resources to 90 Partner Agencies and over 260 programs and initiatives.
Recognizing the impact of rising health care costs, Jeannine helped rescue the WeCare Program and brought it in-house, partnering with local providers to donate millions of dollars of specialty medical care and services to hundreds of local patients who could not otherwise afford treatments.
Jeannine’s beliefs are based on collaborations and partnerships with stakeholders and nonprofits to improve the quality of life for ALL people
No government billboards, not at my expense
To the editor:
All right, let’s get something straight. I’m all for equality. Always have been. Libertarians were out there supporting gay rights before it became “the hip new thing” to support, adopted by leftists everywhere. As Libertarians, our principles of liberty and personal freedom mean that we don’t care who you love or how you live your life. That’s your prerogative.
The government should be as hands-off as possible, letting people make their own choices, free from interference. But here’s where we draw the line: using taxpayer dollars to push political ideology.
So, when I hear about government buildings being used to fly Pride flags, I’ve got to say: That’s just not how it should work. It’s not that I don’t support the cause; it’s that I don’t support government playing political cheerleader for any cause — no matter how noble.
What we have here is simple: Government buildings exist to keep people dry and to make sure the filing cabinets don’t rust. That’s it.
in the local community.
This philosophy was highly visible in perhaps one of her most exceptional efforts at United Way back in 2020. Jeannine was instrumental in bringing Lee County’s first United Way Community Partnership School to realization at Franklin Park Elementary through a collaboration between the University of Central Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University, Lee Health and The School District of Lee County. In fall 2021 a second United Way Community Partnership School was started at Fort Myers Middle Academy, followed by a third school in early 2023 at Colonial Elementary. These United Way Community Partnership Schools have been influential in helping children get the resources they need to further enhance their education.
Also in 2020, Jeannine and her team championed the United Way School Resource Center with The School District of Lee County to provide clothing, hygiene essentials and school supplies. The School Resource Center was significant in helping families during the pandemic in 2020 and after Hurricane Ian in 2022. Now five years later, the program is funded by the United Way Campaigns, generous sponsors and various grants. It has given out over 351,000 items worth more than $9.2 million.
Initiatives and programs such as these have made Jeannine a highly respected member of United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades for the past 30 years. Her efforts have helped countless members of the Southwest Florida region, and for that, we are all thankful. Congratulations on 30 years of outstanding service to the community, Jeannine! We look forward to many more.
Matt Humphreys is Chair of the Board of Directors for United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades. For more information, please visit UnitedWayLee.org or call 239-433-2000.
They’re not meant to be billboards for any agenda, whether it’s LGBTQ, MAGA, or whatever else is the flavor of the day. If you want to wave your flag, good for you — go rent a billboard. Don’t try to hijack my tax dollars to fund your cause.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not about banning things. Libertarians don’t like banning stuff. We aren’t saying, “No, you can’t have your flags.” But let’s get real here — we shouldn’t be spending taxpayer money on identity politics in government buildings. There’s a difference between freedom of expression and shoving an agenda down everyone’s throats with our wallets.
It’s not about LGBTQ rights; it’s about the role of government. Government’s job is to serve the people, and that doesn’t mean promoting one cause over another. If you want to fly a Pride flag, or the “Don’t Tread on Me” flag, or the “Bring Back the ‘80s” flag — go for it, but not with my money. Want to rent some space on a billboard or splash your cause on social media? Have at it. But don’t use my tax dollars to paint the walls of government with whatever political flavor of the week
you’re trying to sell.
Libertarians have always supported equal rights, but our support doesn’t mean we have to let government use our dollars for political theater. This isn’t about what’s right or wrong in terms of cause — it’s about the principle of government neutrality. Taxes are for basic services — not for propaganda.
So, yeah, if you’re looking for a platform for your values, rent a billboard or host a rally — don’t turn my government into a billboard. If we want to keep taxes low, let’s keep government out of identity politics and focus on the essentials: making sure the roads are paved, the lights stay on, and the office supplies don’t get stolen.
Don’t ask me to fund your cause. Don’t ask me to pay for your flag on the government’s wall. That’s not what I’m paying for.
Consider voting Libertarian in the next election — because we believe in freedom, not government-sponsored agendas.
Larry Gillis Director at Large, Libertarian Party of Florida Cape Coral
Matt Humphreys Guest
Beyond a temporary fix: Housing Authority is building lasting solutions
The demand for affordable housing continues to rise across the region as countless families and individuals work to overcome barriers to accessing safe and secure housing.
However, people in need of affordable housing options don’t need a bandage to temporarily fix their problems, but rather a lasting affordable housing solution that empowers them to move beyond their circumstances and thrive.
Serving on the board of the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers for the past seven years, I’ve seen that the Housing Authority is committed to providing just that – a permanent foundation that offers residents stability and opportunities to prosper.
Meg Geltner Guest Commentary
Throughout nearly four decades of notfor-profit work in Southwest Florida, I saw first-hand the need for affordable housing in our region and that there simply was not enough affordable housing in our area. Many of the individuals and families I served over the years barely met the living wage and had a difficult time with stability, especially if they had children. They needed a lot of additional resources and services besides just housing.
The Housing Authority leverages long-time connections with many local nonprofits and resource centers to gather and bring resources directly to residents without them having to leave their community. Throughout this process, the Housing Authority and its partners ensure residents have the resources they need to succeed while the Housing Authority provides and manages the housing component.
Additionally, the Housing Authority offers two programs to its residents including the Jobs Plus Initiative and
the Family Self-Sufficiency program. Jobs Plus addresses employment needs among public housing residents by incentivizing and enabling employment and providing services designed to support job readiness and retention. Jobs Plus works one-on-one with residents, guiding them through the employment process and providing continuous support as residents achieve their employment-related goals.
The Family Self-Sufficiency program is a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development program designed to help public housing residents, Housing Choice Voucher participants and residents of multifamily assisted housing to increase their earnings and build assets and financial capability. Through the guidance of a case manager, residents receive help with job searches, an escrow savings account, credit counseling, budget preparation, homeownership counseling and much more.
Both programs require residents to remain stable and committed until completion. To ensure this happens, the staff works with and regularly checks in with families and holds them accountable in maintaining that stability so the family can function and be successful.
I’ve learned throughout my career that you can have a wonderful nonprofit mission, but an organization cannot accomplish its mission without an impactful leader that can effectively run an organization and deliver true solutions. Drawn to the Housing Authority’s impactful mission and strong executive leadership, I have found my time with HACFM to be both a rewarding and eye-opening experience.
What I’ve seen through the Housing Authority is that it doesn’t just provide people with a bandage. It doesn’t
take residents into its communities with the goal of housing them forever. Staff walk alongside residents to work through each unique situation and provide them with the resources they need to thrive.
Not every situation is the same and shouldn’t be treated as such. Some residents may end up staying in Housing Authority communities due to their age, potential disability, veteran status and other factors that make them more vulnerable. However, the Housing Authority offers its residents paths to become homeowners or become more financially independent. Whatever journey the resident may end up taking, they’ll be provided with options and support to overcome their circumstances.
That’s why I choose to champion the Housing Authority’s mission. I am proud to see how lives can be transformed through the power of a helping hand, and I hope to witness the change for generations to come.
— Meg Geltner has served on the board of commissioners for the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers for seven years. She has been a pioneer in the social work profession developing programs including residential and outpatient services for rehabilitation, affordable housing and a primary care clinic. Her advocacy work both statewide and locally has made lasting changes over the years to the health of the disadvantaged through advocacy, education, and research. The Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers and its nonprofit development arm, the Southwest Florida Housing Foundation, serve as a catalyst for expanding access to safe, stable and sustainable housing throughout Southwest Florida. Together, the organizations support individuals, families and seniors across the region by connecting them with affordable housing solutions and associated programs tailored to their needs. For more information visit HACFM.org.
BUSINESS Chamber of Commerce passes resolution in support of Beach Elementary
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
The Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce has passed a resolution calling upon the Lee County School District Board and Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin to repair and reopen the Fort Myers Beach Elementary School.
The school has not reopened since Hurricane Milton in October. According to the district, approximately $600,000 has been spent on remediation and it would cost about $1.3 million at a minimum to reopen the school. On Tuesday, the School Board was given a presentation by a firm chosen by Carlin to conduct a feasibility of the school in which the consultants claimed that the cost to reopen the school would be far higher without provided any evidence to back up their estimates.
Parents have immediately challenged the contents and data of the report including what they say are inflated cost per student figures and other inaccurate data.
In the resolution voted on by the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce, the data in the report by the consultant Accenture is described by the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce as “flawed, erroneous, and questionable.”
The firm was hired in 2023 by the School Board to work as a consultant on helping to oversee construction and rebuilding projects in the district. They were given a three-year retainer with a $2.33 million contract in 2023, $2.58 contract in 2024 and $1.3 million deal this year. In April, they proposed doing the study on Fort Myers Beach Elementary School for $185,000 after being requested to do so by Carlin.
Carlin has not responded to interview requests from the Fort Myers Beach Observer and did not make any statements at Tuesday’s School Board meeting indicating a desire to reopen the school. She did not respond to an email through her spokesperson asking if she was committed to reopening the school.
The School Board met Tuesday and held a workshop to hear the presentation and board members had mixed opinions about the future of the school, with no action taken to call for reopening the school.
The school district has an interlocal agreement that was signed in 2023 with the Town of Fort Myers Beach which requires the school to be open through at least 2027.
The following is a letter from Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak to the school board and superintendent calling for the repair and reopening of the school:
“The FMB Chamber Board of Directors and I strongly OPPOSE the closure of our FMB Elementary School. The attached Resolution outlines the reasons for our opposition, and we know the document speaks to the feelings of our business community. In addition, we believe that the majority of our island residents and voting population feel the same way (as do many other Lee County residents who attended Beach School throughout the decades).
The Chamber and its membership stand with the Town of Ft. Myers Beach, and we back our FMB Elementary School. We respectfully request that the Lee County School District fund, repair and reopen our school as per the existing Interlocal agreement (ILA). In addition, we feel our community deserves the opportunity to rebuild our school population as agreed upon in the ILA. The FMB Chamber stands ready, along with our business partners, as promised, to do our part to promote enrollment at the Beach School and fulfill the terms of this legally binding agreement.
As always, we encourage dialogue and the use of accurate data to resolve community issues such as this. We look forward to your support and participation in
our School’s path forward and to partnering in the recovery and reopening of our Beach Elementary.”
The entire resolution voted on by the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce is as follows:
FORT MYERS BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE RESOLUTION NO. 25-01 A RESOLUTION OF THE FORT MYERS BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE BOARD OF DIRECTORS URGING THE LEE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD AND SUPERINTENDENT DENISE CARLIN TO SUPPORT FORT MYERS BEACH ELEMENTARY AND UPHOLD THE INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT (ILA) CURRENTLY IN PLACE WITH THE TOWN OF FORT MYERS BEACH.
WHEREAS, the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce is an organization that represents businesses, residents and guests of Fort Myers Beach, Florida; and WHEREAS, the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce is committed to advocating at the local, state, and federal levels to improve Ft. Myers Beach’s quality of life and be a catalyst for positive change impacting business, residents, the environment, and tourism; and WHEREAS, the Lee County School District serves the children of Estero Island, surrounding communities in the 33931-zip code and Ft. Myers Beach businesses and WHEREAS, the Lee County School District is financially sound, fiscally prepared for the future and has metrics in place to continue to serve, educate and protect the children of our island community and WHEREAS, the Ft. Myers Beach community is one
of the largest contributors to the Lee County School District’s Tax base and
WHEREAS, the Ft. Myers Beach community continues to recover and rebuild from Hurricane(s) Ian, Helene and Milton and WHEREAS, there is a legally binding ILA in place between the Lee County School District and the Town of Ft. Myers Beach that outlines the enrollment and rebuilding plan for the Beach School and
WHEREAS, the Beach School and the FMB community have upheld their end of the ILA, increasing enrollment while decreasing the cost per student (metrics set forth by the Lee County School District) and
WHEREAS, a “surprise” consultant report was initiated and completed (without community input or knowledge) that outlines the reasons for a proposed involuntary closure of the Beach School and recommends its closure and
WHEREAS, the results of the report and proposed closure have been based on data that is flawed, erroneous, and questionable and
WHEREAS, the parties affected by the proposed closure (students, parents, employers, town residents, town employees etc.) were led to believe that the closure of the beach school was NOT on the table and
WHEREAS, the closure of the Beach School would place an extreme hardship on island students, families, employers and staff and
WHEREAS, for Resolution NO. 25-01, the definition of Involuntary closure refers to the forced or mandated shutting down of an institution, organization, or facility, without the consent or initiation of those directly operating or affected by it and
WHEREAS, the Town of Fort Myers Beach Town Council has voted unanimously to OPPOSE such involuntary closure, NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce does NOT support the closure of Fort Myers Beach Elementary School (Beach School). We believe this egregious action will cause irreparable harm to the students, residents, and broader community of Fort Myers Beach. The closure of the Beach School will result in longer travel times for very young students, increased costs for families and businesses, and diminished appeal for families living on the island. It would also lead to reduced classroom time, potentially lower test scores, compromised learning outcomes, and increased hardships related to before- and after-school care and activities. The absence of a local school will severely hinder our community’s ability to attract new families to live on the island and will make it significantly more difficult for local businesses to recruit and retain top talent. Most significantly, it would deal a crushing blow to the spirit and heart of our island community.
Therefore, we unequivocally OPPOSE the closure of Fort Myers Beach Elementary School and call upon the Lee County School District Superintendent and School Board to honor the existing Interlocal Agreement (ILA), fund the necessary repairs to the Beach School building, and allow the school to reopen and rebuild its enrollment, as previously agreed.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce on this 1st day of June 2025.”
Jacki Liszak
President and CEO
FORT MYERS BEACH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
100 Lovers Lane, Ste. 3E, Fort Myers Beach, Florida 33931
Jacki Liszak
BEACH LIVING
Sarah Propst, longtime town planning consultant, moving on
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
If it seemed like Town of Fort Myers Beach planning consultant
Sarah Propst was passionate about the island when she made presentations to the town council and Local Planning Agency, and at workshops to gather community input on the comprehensive plan and future strategic planning, it’s because she had an attachment to the island.
Propst, who worked as a planning consultant for the town through the planning firm Axis Infrastructure, grew up visiting Fort Myers Beach. Her grandparents operated Seaside Resort, across from where Publix is now. She recalls visiting the island when there were still dirt roads and many more cottages.
“I grew up coming to the island as a kid,” Propst said. “I grew up going to the beach.”
Her last day as consultant to the town was Friday after eight years working for the town. She is moving to Virginia to take on a planning job there.
Propst will leave a wealth of knowledge about the town behind, including an expertise in the town’s Land Development Code and Comprehensive Plan. She was known for her fastidious attentiveness to its details.
At the last town council meeting before her departure, Propst was showered with compliments by town councilmembers and Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency (LPA) members.
“There are just a few people that are so memorable and have left such a mark. I don’t think ever a group of LPA members have come to pay tribute to an employee and Sarah is worthy of that praise,” said Fort Myers Beach LPA Chair and former town Mayor Anita Cereceda as she stood along with other LPA members in front of the town council.
inform the council and LPA members on “what the code says.”
beach and the people here. “It’s time to move on to another part of my life,” Propst said.
Cereceda said Propst has “helped us and guided us and especially in these last couple of years, you have been a rock for us.”
LPA member John McLean said Propst had brought a “depth of knowledge” to the board.
Jane Plummer said Propst “presents herself so amazingly in everything she does.”
Mayor Dan Allers said Propst “will be missed.”
During her tenure, Propst was tasked with reviewing land development projects and providing town council members and LPA members details of the town’s Land Development Code, and what was allowed under the code in each neighborhood. Sometimes Propst even reminded council members of the proximity of residential neighborhoods to areas where commercial projects were sought or considered.
“A lot of people don’t feel that they have a voice. That’s what good planners do,” Propst said. Propst didn’t see her role so much as being an advocate for or against developments or neighborhoods as much as a duty to
Her role also included explaining to developers what was allowed under the code as they sought more expansive allowances.
Those codes would often lead to town planning staff recommending denial of projects before the Town Council seeking deviations from the Land Development Code and Comprehensive Plan in the town’s planning staff’s view. Most recently, that included the Arches Bayfront hotel and commercial center, which the town council winded up approving anyway despite objections from town planning staff.
“It’s OK for staff to recommend denial and for the council to recommend approval. I’m doing my job,” Propst said.
Propst has a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is currently working on a doctorate in environmental studies through Antioch University.
Propst said she is looking forward to a little bit cooler weather in Virginia though she said she will miss the
Propst is leaving the town as its planning department works with consultants on a review of the comprehensive plan and begins work on a strategic plan. Propst was involved in recent surveys of the community at the town’s public library and at Bayside Veterans Park.
She said the Corradino Group and longtime planning consultant Jason Green will be assuming the rest of the work in tandem with the town’s planning staff that includes Judith Frankel and Jason Smalley.
The community surveys showed that “people want restaurants, things to do, retail, and that people have concerns about height and how much they want to give developments,” Propst said. She there was also a desire amongst residents to have medical facilities.
For future planners, Propst said it “will be important to thread the needle” to find a balance. Propst said the town is in good hands with the current planning staff. “They know what they are doing,” Propst said.
“I’ve really enjoyed working for the community,” Propst said.
NATHAN MAYBERG Town of Fort Myers Beach planning consultant Sarah Propst meets with residents during a public outreach meeting at the reopening of the Fort Myers Beach Public Library in March. Propst is leaving her position after eight years as a consultant to the town.
BANKING IS BACK on Fort Myers Beach!
Fort Myers Beach, we're here!
Our new office is on the way ... in the meantime, our temporary office is open and we're ready to serve you.
For over 20 years, we've proudly served the Southwest Florida community. Now, we're thrilled to bring our trusted, community-first banking services to Fort Myers Beach. Stop in, grab a cookie and experience the SanCap Bank difference today. Visit us Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Inside Access Title Agency 100 Lovers Lane, Suite 205, Fort Myers Beach
Fort Myers Beach Temporary Office
Open Wednesdays, 9:30 am to 2 pm
100 Lovers Lane, Fort Myers Beach (we're on the third floor of the Access Title Agency building)
Locally Owned and Operated
10 Lee County school district to host transportation and maintenance job fair
The School District of Lee County is hosting a Transportation & Maintenance Job Fair for Southwest Florida job seekers from 4 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 17, at the Lee County Public Education Center, located at 2855 Colonial Blvd. in Fort Myers.
With a growing enrollment of more than 100,000 students and 116 schools, the District is seeking skilled professionals that will help keep buildings safe, classrooms comfortable and students on the road to success. The Transportation & Maintenance Job Fair focuses on hiring candidates for specific positions, including assistant supervisors of maintenance, chillwater and HVAC technicians, electricians, glaziers, lift station techs, mechanics, school bus operators and transportation service mechanics.
During the event, candidates have an opportunity to meet with hiring managers and learn about related career
Chamber to hold golfing event
STAFF REPORT
The Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce announced they will be holding a golf tournament at Topgolf in Fort Myers on Aug. 8.
The “Swing out of Summer” tournament will take place at Topgolf at 2021 Topgolf Way in Fort Myers.
Participants can take part individually or as a team with six players.
There will be raffles, a beat the pro contest and a hole-in-one contest with a chance to win $10,000, the chamber announced.
The costs to participate will be:
∫ Team of Six – $1,200 includes premium drink package. Business teams will also have their company logo added to the event page.
∫ Individual player with drink package – $200
∫ Individual player – $150
∫ Spectator with drink package – $100
∫ Spectator – $50
All participants and spectators will have access to Topgolf’s Smokehouse BBQ Buffet, Dessert Trio (donut holes, lemon bar, double chocolate chip cookies), water, iced tea, sodas, and coffee. This event is open to the public. It is not necessary to be a FMB Chamber member to participate.
For more information visit https://www.fortmyersbeach.org/events/6th-annual-golf-tournament/.
For additional questions contact Dayla at events@ fmbchamber.com or 239-454-7500.
paths with the District. Onsite support is also available to walk candidates through the application process.
The District offers flexible hours and a benefits package for full-time employees.
To register for the June 17 event and learn more about available career opportunities, visit LeeSchools. net/Careers.
For support or additional questions, email careers@ leeschools.net or call 239-337-8676.
About The School District of Lee County Lee County Public Schools is the eighth-largest district in Florida and the 33rd largest district in the United States. The District educates more than 100,000 students in grades K-12 and is a model for others in the state and around the nation. With approximately 12,000 full- and part-time employees, the District is one of the county’s largest employers.
Mound House to hold ceremony for new water testing station
STAFF REPORT
The Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce Water Foundation announced that a new public water quality monitoring station will be placed at the historic Mound House as part of collaboration with the Town of Fort Myers Beach and the Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) Water School.
The new water quality monitoring station was made possible through funding from the ROSE Grant Program. The station provides real-time water quality data to the public, helping raise awareness about environmental health and sustainability.
A ribbon-cutting event will be held Saturday, June 14 at 10 a.m. at the Mound House, located at 451 Connecticut Street on Fort Myers Beach. The ribbon cutting will be followed by free admission to the public
for the Mound House for the Second Saturday: Environmental Exploration event.
“This station empowers the public with science,” said Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak. “It reflects our commitment to protecting our waters through
research, outreach, and education.”
The ROSE Grant (Research, Outreach, Stewardship, and Education) is a bi-annual competitive grant by the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce Water Foundation. It funds projects that advance scientific understanding, community awareness, and sustainability initiatives related to local water quality.
The FMB Chamber Water Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and the environmental arm of the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce. The Foundation’s mission is to protect, preserve, and improve the waters of Estero Island and Estero Bay through grants, education, and collaborative initiatives.
For more information about the ROSE Grant, visit https://fmbchamberwaterfoundation.org/rose-grant/.
Mound House Calendar
The Mound House is the oldest standing structure on Fort Myers Beach dating back to 1906, sitting on top of a 2,000-year-old shell mound that was constructed by the native Calusa tribe who lived throughout the region for centuries. The Mound House is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Mound House is located at 451 Connecticut St on Fort Myers Beach and features a museum, tours, gift shop and serves as a public park for picnics and fishing.
Park Hours daily 7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Museum Hours- WednesdaySaturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Calusa Tours
Wednesday-Saturday
11 - 11:30 a.m., 1 - 1:30 p.m.
Discover the incredible history of the Calusa, the original stewards of Southwest Florida, on this 30-minute guided outdoor tour at Mound House. Learn how this powerful and innovative Indigenous society thrived across the region for centuries, leaving an enduring legacy still visible today with their shell mounds. Explore how the Calusa shaped their environment and uncover the stories revealed by archaeologists through hands-on activities such as an atlatl demonstration. The price is free for
Mound House Members and $15 for the public. Price includes museum admission. No reservations required.
Kayak
Tours
Wednesday-Saturday 9 - 11 a.m.
Discover the natural beauty of Florida on a guided kayaking tour of Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve. Visit places only a kayaker can go as you glide over seagrass beds, and paddle through a timeless landscape of native flora and fauna. Kayak Tours included two hour guided experience, kayak, paddle, lifejacket, and museum admission. Secure footwear required, and bottled water strongly recommended. Mound House Members: $15, Public: $45. Register at MoundHouse.org.
Sunset Kayak Tours
Fridays, two hours before sunset. Check MoundHouse.org for times and availability.
Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of a guided Sunset Kayak Tour. Paddle through a pristine landscape as golden hour transforms the Estero Bay into a picturesque wonderland. Your journey concludes at the historic bayside Mound House, where the sun sets behind the museum, creating a stunning backdrop for an unforgettable evening. Kayak Tours included two hour guided experience, kayak, paddle, lifejacket, and museum admission. Secure footwear required, and bottled water strongly recommended. Mound House Members: $15, Public: $45. Register at MoundHouse.org.
Lovers Key State Park to offer summer camps
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Lovers Key State Park will present educational summer camps this June and July, All camps will take place at Lovers Key State Park on Fort Myers Beach. Space is limited for all camps; reservations are required. To register, visit the Friends of Lovers Key’s Eventbrite page: https://loverskey.eventbrite.com
The park offers many recreational opportunities for visitors with disabilities. For accommodations assistance, please contact the park office at 239-707-6328.
Beach Buddies (ages 6-9)
Embark on an unforgettable adventure at Lovers Key State Park! Our summer camp invites children to explore the wonders of Estero Bay and the Gulf of Mexico from top to bottom. Using microscopes, seine nets, plankton trawls, and fishing poles, campers will discover the diverse marine life that calls these waters home. Through hands-on experiments and creative activities, they’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the park’s stunning shores and vibrant aquatic ecosystems. Join us for a summer of exploration, discovery, and fun!
About the Lead Instructor: Susie Hassett
With an M.A. in Science Education and over three decades of experience, Susie Hassett is a true leader in environmental education. She has been teaching in Lee County Public Schools since 1991 and currently serves as an Environmental Education Resource Teacher. Susie has spent years running nature and environmental summer programs, inspiring countless young minds to develop a love for the outdoors. Her extensive knowledge and engaging teaching style ensure an unforgettable camp experience.
Camp Information:
∫ Dates: Monday, June 9 - Friday, June 13
∫ Time: 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
∫ Ages: 6 - 9 years old
∫ Price: $300.00
∫ Location: Welcome & Discovery Center at Lovers Key State Park
Marine Biology Camp (Ages 11-16)
Experience the magic of Lovers Key with an unforgettable summer adventure! Explore the park’s breathtaking coastal islands by foot, kayak, and even flippers as you dive into the fascinating world of marine biology. Wade through tidal pools, paddle through mangrove tunnels, and discover the incredible wildlife that calls these barrier islands home. With dolphins, manatees, and other coastal creatures as your neighbors, every day is a new adventure. Grab your water shoes, swimsuit, and sense of adventure—Lovers Key is waiting.
About the Lead Instructor: John Bailey
John Bailey brings a wealth of experience and passion for environmental education. Holding an M.A. in Educational Leadership, he currently serves as an Environmental Education Resource Teacher and Curriculum & Instructional Innovation specialist for Lee County Public Schools. As a certified SCUBA instructor and dedicated Sea Scout, John has a deep connection to marine ecosystems and outdoor exploration. His expertise and enthusiasm make learning an exciting adventure for every camper.
Camp Information:
∫ Dates: Monda,y June 16 - Friday, June 20
∫ Time: 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
∫ Ages: 11-16 years old
∫ Price: $300.00
∫ Location: Welcome & Discovery Center at Lovers Key State Park
Camp Information:
∫ Dates: Monday, June 23 - Friday, June 27
∫ Time: 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
∫ Ages: 11-16 years old
∫ Price: $300.00
∫ Location: Welcome & Discovery Center at Lovers Key State Park
Young Florida Naturalists (Ages 8-12)
Become a Junior Naturalist and uncover the hidden wonders of Lovers Key State Park! Explore the park’s diverse coastal habitats, discover nature’s treasures, and learn about native plants and wildlife through exciting games and hands-on activities. Join us for a fun-filled adventure where curiosity leads to discovery!
About the Lead Instructor: Shelby Festa
Shelby Festa is a passionate educator with a B.A. in Environmental Studies and a commitment to inspiring the next generation of scientists. As a 6th-grade Science Teacher in Lee County Public Schools, she brings hands-on learning to life, helping students connect with the natural world. Shelby’s enthusiasm for marine and coastal ecosystems makes her an invaluable part of the summer camp team, fostering curiosity and discovery in every camper.
Camp Information:
∫ Dates: Monday, July 7 - Friday, July 11
∫ Time: 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
∫ Ages: 8-12 years old
∫ Price: $300.00
∫ Location: Welcome & Discovery Center at Lovers Key State Park
3000+ sq.ft. Home on a peninsula lot. Uninterrupted 280 degree panoramic Estero Bay views. Privacy & Serenity! 4BD/3.5BA. Open concept. Pool w/spillover spa. 2 car garage. Extended dock w/ lift. MLS#225007611
Fran Myers named Emeritus member of Lee County Tourist Development Council
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
Fran Myers, the former owner of the Red Coconut RV Resort on Fort Myers Beach and a longtime resident of the island, was recognized this past week by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners for her longtime service to the county by being named as an Emeritus Member of the Lee County Tourist Development Council.
Myers, who served for 40 years on the Lee County Tourist Development Council as a voice for Fort Myers Beach, is stepping down from her position.
Myers, who was originally appointed to the Tourist Development Council in 1985, has also served as chair on the Lee County Port Authority Airports Special Management Committee.
In a proclamation read by Lee County Board of County Commissioners Chairman Kevin Ruane, Myers was recognized for playing a “pivotal role” in the development of Lynn Hall Memorial Park and Bowditch Point Regional Park on Fort Myers Beach.
The proclamation commended Myers for being a “passionate and effective advocate for preserving public access and recreational spaces on the island.”
Myers was previously recognized by county commissioners with the Paulette Burton “Citizen of the Year” Award and was honored last year at the Grande Dames Tea for her impact on the community.
Ruane said Myers is a “beacon of civic dedication and whose unwavering commitment has left an indelible mark on Fort Myers Beach and Lee County.”
Myers recalled the turbulations of moving to Fort Myers Beach 50 years ago from Ohio and taking up a residence initially at Times Square with her family.
“I flew into Paige Field about 50 years ago,” Myers told commissioners and those in attendance at the county commission meeting this week. “I actually thought we were going on vacation. We came with about 10 suitcases, three sets of golf clubs and tennis rackets,” Myers said.
“I moved to Fort Myers Beach but what I didn’t realize was I was really moving into the Wild West.”
After buying a building on Times Square, Myers said she and her husband moved with their three children into a two-bedroom apartment with one bathroom.
“I honestly wondered what I had done,” Myers said.
Myers said she was about 300 feet from where Lee County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Dwight Lynn Hall was fatally shot in 1979.
Myers would later be involved in the dedication of Lynn Hall Memorial Park as a county park in his honor and credited Bill Hammond with helping with the establishment of the park and Bowditch Point Regional Park.
“I became a county advocate for changing things on
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Lovers Key State Park will present weekly programs on park history and wildlife throughout the month of June. All programs will take place at Lovers Key State Park on Fort Myers Beach.
Space is limited for all events; reservations are required. To register, visit the Friends of Lovers Key’s Eventbrite page: https://loverskey.eventbrite.com
The park offers many recreational opportunities for visitors with disabilities. For accommodations assistance, please contact the park office at 239-707-6328.
Friday, June 6
Program: Beach and Estuary Walk
Time: 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Location: South Beach
Fee: Free with park entry fee
Instructor: Mitch (ranger)
Description: Join a park ranger for a leisurely walk over the estuary and along the beach to discover the natural treasures of the Lovers Key shoreline. Learn about
Fran Myers was honored by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners as an Emeritus members of the Lee County Tourist Development Council.
Fort Myers Beach,” Myers said.
Myers thanked the county officials and members of the Tourist Development Council she worked with in the past as well as the current councilmembers and administration.
Myers credited Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau Executive Director Tamara Pigott in particular.
“Without Tamara at the head of the TDC, I don’t know what would happen,” Myers said.
Myers and her late husband Tom ran the Red Coconut RV Resort for 40 years before Hurricane Ian destroyed
Lovers Key Calendar
seashells, crustaceans, starfish, and other creatures that can be found in our waters. Participants should be prepared to spend time in the water.
Friday, June 13
Program: Shorebird Stroll
Time: 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Location: South Beach
Fee: Free with park entry fee
Instructor: Mitch (Ranger)
Description: Join a park ranger on a guided walk down the shoreline and discover some of the birds that call the beach here at Lovers Key home. Learn helpful tips about how to identify these challenging birds while learning their diet, behavioral and nesting habits. Space is limited; reservations are required.
Tuesday, June 17
Program: Munchin’ Manatees
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Location: Community Room (Welcome and Discovery Center)
Fee: Free with park entry fee
it. Myers later sold the property to Seagate Development Group.
The Lee County Board of County Commissioners voted during their meeting to replace Myers on the board with Brian Kramer, previously an ex-officio member who is general manager of the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point in Bonita Springs.
Fort Myers Beach is still represented on the Lee County Tourist Development Council by Mayor Dan Allers and Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina General Manager Bill Waichulis.
Instructors: Sarah (Ranger)
Description: Join a park ranger for an interesting and informative lecture on our local, loveable manatees. Learn what these magnificent mammals are all about, and how you can help protect them. Please note, live manatees are not included in this lecture. Space is limited; reservations are required.
Friday, June 20
Program: Walk on the Wild Side
Time: 9:00 am – 10:30 am
Location: Black Island Trail Head (Parking Lot #2)
Fee: Free with park entry fee
Instructor: Mitch (ranger)
Description: Join a park ranger for a guided hike along our Black Island Trail. Learn about the fascinating vegetation and wildlife that reside in our maritime hammock ecosystem, explore our native butterfly garden, and enjoy a little local history along the way. Closed-toe shoes, bug spray, and water bottles are highly recommended. Space is limited; reservations are required.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Fort Myers Community Concert Association announces 2026 schedule
The Fort Myers Community Concert Association has announced their five-concert season for 2026 that includes internationally-acclaimed performers from around the world. All five performances will be at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall starting in January. Among the concerts will be Three Italian Tenors performing February 24 in their first ever North American concert tour. Tickets are now on sale for the five-concert series. Tickets range from $165 for prime orchestra and mezzanine seats to $155 for other orchestra and mezzanine seats, $85 for lower balcony seating and just $65 for upper balcony and are available at https://fortmyerscommunityconcerts.com/ .
The Fort Myers Community Concert Association was founded by the late Barbara B. Mann to bring classical performances to Fort Myers at affordable prices. The concert association is now in its 76th year with 1,200 members and an all-volunteer staff.
All performances will be at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall on the Florida SouthWestern State College campus in Fort Myers.
“Our 76th season brings together musicians from Italy, Spain and the United States for a stellar season,” Community Concert Association President Mary Lee Mann. “Community Concert Association members and guests will love hearing the Three Italian Tenors in their first ever American tour and the return of the Rodney
Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass as well as our other artists.”
All five concerts are included in one ticket price, which ranges from $165 for prime orchestra and mezzanine seats to $155 for other orchestra and mezzanine seats, $85 for lower balcony seating and just $65 for upper balcony. There is limited $165 orchestra seating still available, Mann said.
For membership information, visit https://fortmyerscommunityconcerts.com/ or email MLMannConcerts@ aol.com. Tickets to individual performances are not available at this time.
The five performances all begin at 7:30 p.m.:
∫ Orchestra Manhattan – January 22, 2026. The newly formed Orchestra Manhattan is an all-star ensemble of musicians from the New York-New Jersey area. They spent the 2024-25 season playing Carnegie Hall and continue their musical journey under the direction of Conductor Oliver von Dohnanyi. Joining the performance will be piano soloist Elisabeth Pion.
∫ Orpheus Chamber Orchestra – January 29, 2026. The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra was created in 1972 and made Carnegie Hall its home within its first decade. It quickly became a global sensation through tours of Europe and Asia. Their catalog of recordings includes more than 70 albums of chamber music, including Haydn
symphonies, Mozart concertos, and 20th Century music by Stravinsky, Schoenberg, Ravel and Bartok.
∫ Three Italian Tenors – February 24, 2026. Direct from Rome, Italy, the Three Italian Tenors will present the most famously beloved Italian opera arias ad songs in their first ever North American concert tour. Tenors Giovanni Maria Palmia, Ugo Tarquini and Alessandro Fantoni will be accompanied by Fabrizio Mocata on piano,
∫ Barcelona Flamenco Ballet – “Carmen” – March 3, 2026. The Barcelona Flamenco Ballet addresses the ever-present myth of Carmen in their latest project. Known for its unique blending of traditional flamenco and ballet concepts with new elements for today’s audiences, this recreation of Bizet’s Carmen showcases new elements of flamenco that were previously unknown.
∫ Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass – March 19, 2026. The Rodney Marsalis Philadelphia Big Brass is internationally acclaimed for bringing the joyous experience of great music. The group breaks the usual barriers between genres playing everything from Handel and Sousa to New Orleans traditional. The ensemble is composed of some of America’s top brass musicians, who have appeared on the world’s most prominent stages and performed with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and the Boston Brass.
Ostego Bay Foundation announces camp schedule
STAFF REPORT
The Ostego Bay Marine Science Center Foundation’s summer camp of exploring the Gulf and the outdoors while learning about science, returns to Fort Myers Beach beginning next week.
The camps runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, with all instructional materials provided. The cost is $275 per child.
Transportation must be provided to and from camp including lunch and plenty to drink. A graduation luncheon will be provided by the center on the last day. The camp
is temporarily located at 700 Fisherman’s Wharf, on San Carlos Island.
Field and beach trips will introduce campers to sea grass communities, plankton populations, mangrove tangles and bird nesting areas. The camp’s staff includes state-certified science teachers.
For registration, visit www.ostegobay.org, click on summer camp and then click on the registration application page. For further questions, contact camp director Becky Hill at ostegobaysummercamp@gmail.com or Ostego Bay Foundation President Joanne Semmer at
239-470-4993 or e-mail jj37a@yahoo.com.
The full Ostego Bay Marine Science Center Foundation Summer Camp Schedule is as follows:
∫ June 9 - 13 Sea Stars & Loggerheads
∫ June 16 - 20 Sea Stars & Loggerheads
∫ June 23 - 27 Tiger Sharks
∫ July 7 - 11 Sea Stars/Loggerheads/Sea Stars
∫ July 14 - 18 Sea Stars & Loggerheads
∫ July 21 - 25 Sea Stars & Loggerheads
∫ July 28 - August 1 Sea Stars & Loggerheads
State legislature passes referendum bill on county commissioners
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
The state legislature has passed legislation which will allow Lee County voters to decide in 2026 through referendum if they want to elect Lee County commissioners by district.
The bill still needs the approval of Gov. Ron DeSantis. The governor announced this week he has received the bill.
The bill was introduced by State Rep. Mike Giallambardo (R-Cape Coral).
Currently, commissioners are voted at-large by county voters. Under the proposed law change, if voters approve, commissioners will be voted in only by voters registered in their district beginning in 2028. Voters would not be able to vote for commissioner outside their districts.
Currently, commissioners have to live within their district but are beholden to all the voters in the county.
The bill has been opposed by Lee County District 2 Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass, who said the bill would dissuade commissioners from needing to appeal to all county residents or responding to the concerns of residents outside their district.
The bill was also opposed by District 5 Commissioner Mike Greenwell at its initial introduction in 2023 at a state delegation hearing. A number of residents from Greenwell’s district have publicly supported the bill. An unsuccessful primary challenge to Greenwell from Amanda Cochran in 2024 would have led to his defeat if only the votes from District 5 had been counted.
Giallambardo has pushed the legislation as a way to make the county government more representative. Giallambardo could not be reached for comment as of press time.
Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, whose husband David Mulicka sits on the Lee County Board of County Commissioners, was the lone member of the Lee County state delegation in the state legislature to oppose the bill.
State Rep. Mike
chance to decide if they want to create single-member districts for county
must still be signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Teacher incentives for ‘at-risk’ schools approved
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com
School District of Lee County teachers will get more to teach at schools with greater challenges.
The Lee County School Board on Tuesday approved an incentive package for up to $9,000 for teachers who would like to teach at at-risk schools to help fill instructional vacancies.
Risk ratings are based on students coming in, lower socioeconomic status and students at level 1 in terms of student achievement on state test scores, which range from 1-5.
Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin said the teacher initiative underscores the district’s commitment to two critical strategic priorities – recruiting and retaining high-performing teachers and increasing student achievement.
“It reflects our fundamental belief that great teaching deserves to be recognized and supported in meaningful and sustainable ways,” she said. “It is important to clarify that while we deeply value the important work being done at the bargaining table and we look forward to continuing those conversations as soon as possible, this initiative is statutorily distinct and separate from those negotiations. We appreciate the collaboration of our labor partners. This incentive program stands on its own as a key part of
Smoking ban
our broader district strategy to invest in our people and to support student achievement and ensure that we retain and uplift the incredible talent already working hard across our schools.”
The incentive includes compensation ranges for each risk level – ranging from four – the most at-risk — to one.
For risk level four the total incentive range is from $2,500 to $9,000 — $2,500 is for school level incentive, $6,500 for critical subject/courses and $2,500 for complementary subject/courses.
The risk level three incentive ranges from $2,000 to $6,500 - $2,000 for school level incentive, $4,500 for critical subject/courses and $1,500 for complementary subject/ courses.
The risk level two incentive ranges from $1,000 to $3,500 - $1,000 for school level incentive, $2,500 for critical subject/ courses and $500 for complementary subject/courses.
The risk one level incentive ranges from $0 to $1,000 - $1,000 for critical subject/ courses.
“Whether our teachers are helping students to overcome learning gaps, guiding them towards success in critical academic areas, or inspiring confidence and curiosity, our students succeed because they lead the way,” Carlin said. “Our teachers are truly
From page 1
“We want to keep them clean, safe and enjoyable for everyone which is why we’re looking at banning smoking and vaping in these public spaces,” he said in an email. “This ordinance reflects our commitment to working towards a cleaner,
healthier Lee County.”
The amendment to the ordinance cited a 2019 state statute passed by the state legislature which gives local governments the ability to prohibit smoking and vaping at all county parks and public beaches.
the heartbeat of Lee County schools, and this initiative is one more way we are investing in them.”
The Teachers Association of Lee County sent out a statement Thursday morning, stating that the school board adopted the resolution without engaging the collective bargaining and without notifying the union.
“Let’s be clear – this was not a collaborative effort,” TALC President Kevin Daly said. “TALC contributed to a risk-rating tool months ago, but at no point did the district share or bargain over this new compensation structure. Most educators will receive nothing under this plan. That’s not equity — it’s exclusion.”
Although Florida law allows some discretion in urgent situations, TALC asserts that the district’s decision is a misuse of that authority. The union is “currently reviewing legal options and engaging members in organized response efforts.”
“This is a pay cut for the many, disguised as help for the few,” Daly said. “The district has sent a message that some educators are more deserving than others — and that the voices of teachers, parents, and community members can be ignored. We will not stand for that.”
As of May 29, the Lee County School District had 263.7 instructional vacancies, down from 575.3 total instructional vacan-
cies on April 24.
The north region has 49 instruction vacancies, the east region has 111.5, the west region has 46.2, the south region has 40, and special centers have 17 instructional vacancies.
“Most of the teacher vacancies at at-risk (schools) is in the North and East regions. They are not forced transfers, but financial incentives for teachers based on education risk ratings and critical complementary subject courses,” Carlin said. “This sends a clear and powerful message – teacher incentives are a priority in all of us and united in our care and commitment to this noble profession.”
“In the East Zone there is a tremendous number of students that do not have a teacher. This incentivizes our teachers to work in our highest risk schools and support our students in these critical needs,” Carlin said. “We are still at the table and still bargaining and still working to improve overall compensation.”
Cape Coral and North Fort Myers are in the district’s West Zone.
Board member Armor Persons, whose district is mostly in the East Zone, thinks the incentive plan is really needed.
“It was the same thing last year, and the year before, and year before – all the openSee INCENTIVES, page 18
Unfiltered cigars are exempt under the statute.
If the board approves the amendment, the ordinance will continue to be enforced by Lee County Parks & Recreation. Fines for violators would be $100 for
a first offense, $200 for a second offense and $300 for a third.
If approved by commissioners, the amendment to the ordinance will take effect upon being filed with the Florida Department of State.
PHOTO PROVIDED
Giallombardo introduced legislation which will give Lee County voters in 2026 a
commissioners. The bill
recommended the school district rebuild the school. “I see a pathway for them to be very viable,” Persons said.
Other members appeared less certain following the consultant’s report and Carlin said she would report back to the School Board at another time.
School Board Chair Samuel Fisher said he hadn’t made up his mind on the school. Vice Chair Jada Langford Fleming called for incorporating Beach Elementary School students temporary into Heights Elementary. Board member Melisa Giovannelli said the School Board couldn’t make the decision on its own and needed more community input.
“I see a pathway for them to be very viable,”
The school has not been opened since getting a couple inches of water from Hurricane Milton in October. Students have been attending San Carlos Park Elementary since then.
Bill Ribble, an Estero resident who was elected to the Lee County School District Board in November to represent the School Board district that includes Fort Myers Beach Elementary School, said he considered himself “a corporate
Strategic Plan forum to be held at Bay Oaks
STAFF REPORT
Town of Fort Myers Beach planning staff will be holding a community forum this Thursday at Bay Oaks as part of its strategic plan review.
This will be the final forum for the town’s community input process for its strategic plan.
The meeting will take place Thursday at the Bay Oaks Recreational Campus at 5 p.m. on 2731 Oak St.
To register, visit the town’s website at https://www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov// CivicAlerts.
guy” and “I don’t think we can get back on there. I think we are just going to put good money into bad money.”
Ribble did say, though, that the school district should look at how other school districts have rebuilt in North Carolina and asked about the district elevating its electrical outlets at Fort Myers Beach Elementary School.
Parents were furious with the contents of the consultant’s report which preceded the board’s discussion during a workshop. Parents challenged the report as misleading, questioning the accuracy of the data and its decided advocacy for closing the school. The report has led to a number of questions, including what direction the consultants were given and why the reopening of the elementary school has been delayed for a report when an interlocal agreement between the school district and the Town of Fort Myers Beach requires that the school be open through at least 2027.
Fort Myers Beach Elementary School PTO Vice President Monica Schmucker said parents have been concerned for months as an ad-hoc committee meeting with school administrators have ques-
tioned the delays in repairing the school since Hurricane Milton.
While the district spent $641,000 on remediation and stabilization efforts on the school (the majority of which was covered by insurance) after Hurricane Milton, it has not done the necessary repairs to reopen the school.
School administrators had estimated the cost of the repairs to reopen the school at a low of $1.3 million to slightly more depending on the repairs, up to $13 million if a full rebuild was chosen.
Yet the consultants said they believe the lowest cost to reopen the school would $7.2 million, without offering any data to support their estimates. The consultants referred to a “third party” who works with Miami-Dade schools and cited permit fees, design costs, furniture and contingency costs for repairing the school.
After Hurricane Ian, the school district spent $6 million to repair and reopen Fort Myers Beach Elementary School in a project that was far more extensive than what would be required to reopen the school. That project also included tearing down several buildings.
BEACH SCHOOL, page 17
NATHAN MAYBERG
Beach School From page 16
Schmucker said repairs of the school could include filling in the floors with concrete to prevent future flooding damage.
Schmucker said there is a “lack of accurate information” in the report. “Faulty data in is faulty data out. There are a lot of items in the report that don’t make sense. It doesn’t paint a very complete picture.
“I don’t trust anything in the report,” Schmucker said.
Schmucker said the hiring of the consultant to delay reopening the school and building the cafeteria is a violation of the interlocal agreement.
Fellow parent and ad-hoc committee member John Koss objected to the consultant’s estimate of a cost of $27,000 per student. Back in 2022, the district had estimated the cost per student at $21,000 and since then there has been a number of cuts to staff at the district. Koss believes the number for operations is actually closer to $15,000 but that the district is using other methods to estimate the cost by adding in other costs not related to the day-to-day operations of the school.
School district spokesman Rob Spicker said the figure cited by the consultants is the one submitted by the district to the state. Spicker did not respond to questions as of press time as to which year was being cited or why the figure would have grown since 2022 when personnel has been cut and the district has been merged into San Carlos Park Elementary School.
The district has also not released a copy of its operations budget for Fort Myers Beach Elementary School and budget documents on the district’s website do not list the budgeted cost for the school.
In 2022, the budgeted operational cost of the school was $1.7 million, a figure Koss said is now several hundred thousand dollars less.
The Fort Myers Beach Elementary School has the lowest budget of any school in the district and is its highest performing K-5 school.
The entire Lee County School District budget was $2.9 billion this year, up from $2.5 billion in 2022.
“We cut costs” at Beach Elementary School, Schmucker said.
Former Principal Tracy Kohler told town councilmembers at a recent meeting how she had to let staff go during her tenure at the school in order to meet budgetary goals set by the school district’s administration.
Meanwhile, the consultants hired by the district estimated their report on Fort Myers Beach Elementary School would cost $185,000. The firm is on a three-year retainer the School Board approved in 2023, which has paid them more than $6 million to oversee building projects and services in the district.
The district has budgeted $6 million to build a new cafeteria building for the Fort Myers Beach Elementary School but hasn’t put out the project to bid. The cafeteria is required to be built as part of the interlocal agreement.
“They owe us what they owe us,” Schmucker said.
Schmucker said hurricanes don’t get the school out of the agreement with the Town of Fort Myers Beach to operate the school through 2027.
Parents asked the school district to use $5.8 million that was being planned after Hurricane Ian for portables and to instead build a permanent cafeteria building at a higher elevation with an auditorium. That was codified into the interlocal agreement.
“You don’t get out because of another hurricane. Nothing that Milton brought pre-
vented you from building that cafeteria,” Schmucker told the School Board. “Honor the agreement.”
“You are in charge of our kids’ education. Teach them to have integrity and honor their word,” Schmucker said.
Schmucker said the School Board should give the school portable classrooms in the interim to bring students back to Fort Myers Beach while the board makes a decision on the future of the school.
Carlin, who was elected by Lee County voters in November, made no pledges to reopen the school at this week’s School Board meeting. She has declined multiple request for interviews.
Carlin said she recently met with Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Will McKannay and the town’s legal counsel. Carlin said the meeting was “productive.”
The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council voted to authorize McKannay and the town’s attorneys to contact Carlin and push for the reopening of the school in order to abide by the interlocal agreement.
Beach Elementary School graduate Tessa Schmucker, now a middle school student, asked the board during public comment why the school hasn’t been repaired since Milton and why a cafeteria that was promised to be built this year hadn’t been built per an agreement between the town and school district.
“Don’t your promises matter?” Schmucker asked. “Are you going to teach us that we keep our promises or that your word means nothing?”
Questionable data on past hurricanes
The consultant’s report included some erroneous data including referring to Hurricane Charley as being in 2024 when it was in 2004. The report says that the storm brought six to seven feet of storm surge though it did not damage the school and did not delay its reopening further than any other school in the district. The report also mentions hurricanes Irma and Wilma, which did not bring any significant flooding or damage to the school.
“The amount of risk that this building has of another catastrophic event of having severe damage to the building is pretty much a guarantee,” the report said.
However, between Hurricane Donna in 1960 and Hurricane Ian in 2022, the school never had an extended period of closure from a storm that is being experienced now.
According to the consultants, the School Board spent $9.7 million into the school to be operational since Hurricane Ian though the report is not clear if this is including normal day-to-day operations since the school’s spokesperson Spicker said Hurricane Ian repairs cost approximately $6 million. The report says the district has spent $1.4 million on the school being operational since Hurricane Milton yet the district says it has spent approximately $640,000 on repairs since Milton.
The report at one point says it will cost another $3 million to get it open again though the district has said the lowest amount to reopen the school would be $1.3 million and the consultant’s report has estimated it at $7.2 million up to $9.9 million.
The consultants said another option was to purchase modular buildings for students to attend this fall.
The consultants said they surveyed approximately 700 Lee County residents about the Fort Myers Beach Elementary School and said about half were concerned about the reopening. The report did not include extensive details or data about the survey.
“There are a lot of items in the report that don’t make sense. It doesn’t paint a very complete picture,”
—Fort Myers Beach Elementary School PTO Vice President Monica Schmucker
“I don’t think we have enough community input. We know what Town of Fort Myers Beach wants and I respect that. I think we need to reach out to what Lee County wants. That’s who we count on.”
—Lee County School District Board member Melisa Giovanelli
Beach Elementary School gets support from Persons
The Fort Myers Beach Elementary School did have support from Persons. Persons suggested that the Fort Myers Beach Elementary School could help solve some of the growing pains the district is experiencing in the eastern part of the county. Persons said that Fort Myers Beach Elementary School could follow the model of Sanibel’s K-8 school, where about 60% of students who attend are from off island.
Persons said the town council is working diligently to promote the school.
Persons said the best option would be to put up “a brand new school that will take any surge like all of the new buildings on the beach.”
“I really feel that looking at the Sanibel School, that being our model, it should go very well,” Persons said.
Persons said the district has made it easier for students to attend the school from off island.
The school district’s population was at 80 students before Hurricane Ian after a high of about 150 in the 1990s. The population dipped to about 50 students after Hurricane Ian but climbed back up to 72 after the school reopened. That number has since dropped after Hurricane Milton.
The delays in reopening the school will make it harder for the school to attract new students as the uncertainty grows about its future, Schmucker said.
Fisher asked whether the district can put in concrete slabs, flood vents and raise the electrical outlets to prevent catastrophic flooding damage in the future.
Accenture consultant David Griffith said if the district filled in the flood level with concrete, the damage to the school would be significantly less costly than Milton if a similar storm hit.
Giovanelli said she believed the thoughts by Persons was “valuable” but said “this decision should not just be a board decision.”
Giovanelli said, “I don’t think we have enough community input. We know what Town of Fort Myers Beach wants and I respect that. I think we need to reach out to what Lee County wants. That’s who we count on.”
Giovanelli said the School Board needs to reach out to local businesspeople and Realtors for input.
Parents speak out
Fort Myers Beach Elementary School parent Jennifer Tardiff-Paradiso said the small classrooms at Fort Myers Beach Elementary School have helped her daughter learn.
She said teachers there “gave her the care and her attention she needed.”
“We lost everything in Hurricane Ian - not just photos and clothes – churches homes, the pier everything,” Tardiff-Paradiso said. “The school was still there.”
Tardiff-Paradiso said, “Our entire community rallied around our families because they knew instinctively we would need the school to care for our most vulnerable.”
Koss said the process by the school district has not been inclusive or transparent.
“It feels like the lesson this district it wants to teach its students is to not honor agreements,” Koss said.
Allers called upon the School Board to give guidance to the superintendent to “take closing the school off the table and that will ease tension.”
Alexis Cooper, a parent of Fort Myers Beach Elementary School students, called on the school district to “give us our school back. Stop busing us to different schools.”
Cooper called the school district’s handling of the school as “institutional negligence.”
Schmucker said she was most concerned about statements made by School Board member Jada Langford Fleming about repopulating Fort Myers Beach Elementary School students into Heights Elementary School in Fort Myers this year, thus taking away the identity of the school.
Schmucker said that proposal was the “least in touch with our community.”
Fort Myers Beach Elementary School staff would in effect no longer be identified with the Beach School.
“We will basically lose our Fort Myers Beach identity,” Schmucker said.
The Fort Myers Beach Elementary School wasn’t the only issue on the school board’s agenda on Tuesday. Faculty union members were not happy about a contract agreement.
While Fort Myers Beach Elementary School parents spoke up at the School Board meeting to save their school, a large number of residents from Alva spoke out against a $400 million bond issue the School Board was planning to vote on that night which includes building a school in their community to support the Lehigh Acres community. Residents warned it would harm the environment and would create dangerous conditions and longer travel for students, and would be a waste of money.
Alva residents questioned whether the school was part of a plan to develop Alva, a rural area with a sensitive environment with a large community of residents weary of development proposals.
The $400 million bond includes the new East High School NNN in Alva, as well as Cypress Lake Middle School and Hector Cafferata Jr. K-8 schools rebuild.
Meanwhile, the School Board on Tuesday voted to issue up to $400 million in bonds for the potential construction of three new schools including a new school in Alva that is opposed by many in the community. A large group of residents attended Tuesday’s School Board meeting to oppose the new school building that they say will be located in an unsafe area for motorists in an environmentally sensitive area with wetlands that is far away from where many of the Lehigh Acres students live.
Several board members expressed hesitancy with approving the bond but ultimately voted for the resolution pending future discussion.
Southwest Florida’s awaited rainy season gets underway
By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com
As Mother Nature showed last week, the Southwest Florida rainy season is officially upon us.
According to the National Weather Service (NWS), rainy season in Southwest Florida officially runs from May 15 to Oct. 15. Being located in what is referred to as the subtropics, during the late spring and summer months, the tropical climate shifts north. NWS officials stated that when combined with the influence of surrounding oceans and daily sea breezes, thunderstorm season is about.
“The rainy season can begin abruptly in some years and the onset can take weeks to develop in other years. There are several factors that need to come together for daily thunderstorms to occur. Therefore, the beginning of the rainy season is usually a transition period rather than a single date,” they shared. “Similar to hurricane season, the rainy season may occur before or after the aforementioned dates.”
NWS officials stated that rainy season usually has three phases:
∫ Late May through June is the period
Incentives
when severe storms are most likely. Hail, damaging winds and waterspouts are common, in addition to heavy rainfall and frequent lightning.
∫ July through early September is when rainy season peaks. While the overall threat for severe weather diminishes, heavy rainfall and seasonal river flooding remain significant hazards, along with frequent lightning.
Rainy season is typically accompanied by an increase in humidity with persistent dew point values above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. The location and timing favored for thunderstorm development on any given day changes based on the position and strength of the Bermuda High. Thunderstorm season is also most active when sea surface temperatures surpass 82 degrees offshore, and not just along the coast, and when moisture aloft increases. Officials state 55-70% of annual rainfall occurs during June through September.
∫ Mid-September through early October is the “wind down” phase and tends to have higher rainfall variability due to potential tropical systems and early-fall cold fronts. For more information, visit www.weather. gov/tbw/rainyseason.
From page 14
ings are in the East Zone comparatively to the other zones. I definitely support this,” he said.
Carlin said teachers have an opportunity now to say they would like to be a teacher at one of these at-risk schools and be eligible to receive those incentives.
“That is why the timeliness is key. They have an opportunity in the transfer period to transfer,” she said.
Board member Melisa Giovannelli said the district is in a critical situation right now.
“We are trying to have teachers in those high-need schools and lots of those schools
Loggerhead sea turtle nests
Fort Myers Beach
Nests: 37 False crawls: 150 Nest relocations due to beach renourishment project: 12
Bonita Beach
Nests: 80 False crawls: 233
Nesting data source: Turtle Time
Editor’s note: Loggerhead sea turtles are threatened in the United States and protected under the Endangered Species Act. The sea turtle nesting season on Fort Myers Beach runs through Oct. 31 and a town ordinance requires that all outdoor lights be turned off from 9 p.m. through 7 a.m. except for shielded amber, downward-directed lights. All blinds and curtains must also be shut from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. Beach furniture should be removed from the beach before dusk and holes should be filled in on the beach.
San Carlos Island
including the areas around Buttonwood Drive to Hurricane Pass. While the area has the same ZIP code as Fort Myers Beach and identifies as Fort Myers Beach loosely, it is an unincorporated part of Lee County outside of the town’s limits.
There did not appear to be any groundswell of support for the annexation. The island is home to many prom -
From page 1
inent businesses and the local shrimping industry. Bay Harbour Marina Village, a proposed residential and commercial development, has been approved off Main Street though construction hasn’t yet begun. The annexation would have meant a new layer of taxation for properties on the island.
Any annexation would have required a referendum.
where the need is in the East Zone – it is very difficult, and it costs a lot in gas and time to get there. I don’t know how else we can get people there if we don’t compensate them,” she said. “Right now, we have to focus on our student’s needs and that is a critical situation. We don’t even know if this will be the answer, but the option that we have at the moment. Student achievement is only going to be the measurement of our success and if it doesn’t happen, we are in trouble.”
Place
FORT MYERS
Community Thrift Store
15501 Old McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33908
Fort Myers CVS
15550 San Carlos Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33908
Gavin’s ACE Hardware
16025 San Carlos Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33908
Gulf Point Square
15660 San Carlos Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33908
Love Boat Ice Cream
16475 San Carlos Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33908
McGregor Bar & Grill
15675 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33908
Pickles Pub
15455 Old McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33908
Walgreen’s
15601 San Carlos Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33908
Walters Automotive
15135 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33908
FORT MYERS BEACH
Chamber of Commerce
100 Lovers Lane, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
CVS Store
7001 Estero Blvd. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Bonita Bill’s
702 Fisherman’s Wharf, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Diamond Head (Lobby)
2000 Estero Blvd. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Doc Ford’s
708 Fisherman’s Wharf Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
FMB City Hall
2731 Oak St. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Lahaina Realty
6035 Estero Blvd. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Lani Kai
1400 Estero Blvd. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Lighthouse Restaurant/Bar
1051 5th St. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Loffreno Real Estate Inc, 7317 Estero Blvd. C1, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Matanzas Inn
414 Crescent St. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Nervous Nellies
1131 1st St. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Parrot Key
2500 Main St. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Pincher’s Crab Shack
18100 San Carlos Blvd. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Pink Shell Resort
275 Estero Blvd. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Post Office
200 Carolina Ave. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Santini (Marina) Plaza
7205 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Sea Gypsy
1698 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Snook Bight Marina/Junkanoo’s
4765 Estero Blvd. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Summerlin Café
11370 Summerlin Square Drive, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Sunflower Café
11410 Summerlin Square Drive, Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Sunset Grill
1028 Estero Blvd. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
(News box out front)
Snug Harbor
645 San Old Carlos Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Parking Lot BOX
Tina’s Dive Bar
19051 San Carlos Blvd. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Wahoo Willie’s
645 San Old Carlos Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Wal-Mart
17105 San Carlos Blvd. Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
7/11
7120 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
WHERE TO GO WHAT TO DO WHO TO
Fort Myers Beach Art Association dives into summer show
Looking for something cool to do in June? Dive into a world of color at “Splash”, a refreshing new art show celebrating the talent of local artists hosted at the Fort Myers Beach Art Association’s new gallery going on now through June 28.
This exhibition invites the community to cool off, slow down, and soak in the beauty of original paintings that capture the spirit of the Sunshine State.
The beautiful new gallery sits between shady trees near the Prawnbroker restaurant and Blu Sushi at the Cypress Square plaza in Fort Myers.
The Fort Myers Beach Art Association’s gallery is a working gallery operated by member artists. The gallery is home to dozens of works of art as well as workshops and workspaces. Whether you’re a seasoned collector, casual art lover, or simply looking for a cool place to unwind, “Splash” promises a breath of fresh, creative air to celebrate the beginning of summer.
For more information, visit https://fortmyersbeachart.com.
If You Go:
What:
Fort Myers Beach Art Association summer art show “Splash”
Where:
Fort Myers Beach Art Association’s 13451 McGregor Blvd, Unit #1, Fort Myers
(Cypress Square shopping center, next to the Pawnbrokers Restaurant)
When: Now through June 28 on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m.
“Radiance” by Paul Mollon, is one of these many artworks that will be shown at this month’s Fort Myers Beach Art Association show./PHOTO PROVIDED
Shell museum reopens first phase of Great Hall
By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
Continuing with its phased reopening in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in 2022, the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium on Sanibel recently reopened its new Great Hall of Shells.
On May 24, Phase 1 of the exhibit space — the first of two phases — was unveiled.
The Great Hall of Shells has been the permanent exhibit space for shells since the museum first opened in 1995. Following significant damage from the storm, the museum embarked on a full redesign and reinstallation of its shell exhibits and the Great Hall.
“We want the Great Hall of Shells to endure as among the finest and most extensive public exhibitions of shells in the world,” Executive Director Sam Ankerson said. “Sanibel and Southwest Florida is the rightful home for an exhibit like this, and we welcome everyone to come experience this big first step in that direction.’’
BAILEY-MATTHEWS NATIONAL SHELL MUSEUM & AQUARIUM
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium on Sanibel recently reopened the first phase of its new Great Hall of Shells and exhibits in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in 2022.
The reopened exhibits feature extraordinary shells from all over the world, highlights selected from the museum’s collection of nearly 600,000 shells. The shells are exhibited for maximum visual appeal with custom cabinetry, lighting and mounts that present the specimens individually as gems and treasures of nature.
“Our goal is to convey to visitors the stunning beauty and diversity of shells, and important roles that the mollusks that make them play in biodiversity, natural history and our environment,” curator and Science Director Dr. José H. Leal said. “We are thrilled with the result and can’t wait for visitors to enjoy these exhibits.”
He noted that there are a lot of new items and they were talking about refreshing the space before Ian.
“The goal was to renew the exhibits anyway,” Leal said. “So that was one of the few positives or outcomes of the storm.”
The exhibit themes include global biodiversity, shapes and colors, and time and evolution.
“The idea that Sam had was to have as many shells as possible,” he said, adding that they showcase what kind
of mollusks make the shells, the evolution of mollusks and more. “So we could show to the public how diverse, how beautiful the shells are — and why species are different in different areas.”
There are special focuses on groups like cones, cowries, volutes, murexes, scallops and carriers.
“The choice was based on the uniqueness, the beauty of those particular groups,” Leal said. “Favorite or classic groups for collectors for great reason. Because of the shapes, the colors, the textures.”
The Phase 2 exhibits are under construction and will open later this summer.
They will include exhibits of Southwest Florida shells, world record-sized shells, land snails and fossils, along with shells in human creativity and culture, the Calusa, and conservation and environmental issues as they relate to mollusks.
“The second phase will be more involved than phase one,” he said. “We explore and we explain more.”
Some of the pre-hurricane exhibits will be recreated, including the favorite sailor’s Valentines.
One of the new areas will include the section devoted to conservation and environmental education.
“We talk about invasive species and the loss of habitat and climate change,” Leal said. “All those things affect the lives of mollusks and shells.”
Once the Phase 2 exhibits are installed, the museum’s rebuilding from Ian will be complete.
The public is encouraged to swing by the only U.S. museum devoted solely to shells and mollusks.
“We have one of the best and well-known museums,” he said.
The museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The cost of admission is: $18 for adults; $15 for seniors and veterans; $10 for ages 12-17, students and educators; $5 for ages 5-11; and free for ages under 5, museum members and active military.
For more information, visit ShellMuseum.org or call 239-395-2233.
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium is at 3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel.
Captivaville Songwriters Weekend to return to resort
By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The ‘Tween Waters Inn & Marina on Captiva will present its seventh annual Captivaville Songwriters Weekend on June 13-15, featuring live musical entertainment, coastal fun and summer energy.
The festival will open with the Friday Night Kick-off Party on June 13 from 5:15 to 8 p.m. Hosted by Sheena Brook, it will include individual music sets by the participating artists and a jam session. Saturday Poolside will take place on June 14 from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., followed by Sunday Brunch by the Pool on June 15 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“It’s Captiva’s largest music festival, featuring local singer-songwriters for 72 hours of sun, fun, outstanding live music and the biggest party of the summer,” Sanibel Captiva Beach Resorts (SCBR) shared.
The lineup of artists for this year’s event will include Brian Sutherland, Sheena Brook, Bridgette Tatum, Caleb Neff, Gable Bradley and Paige King Johnson.
The SCBR provided the following bios for each:
∫ Sutherland: Part Americana singer-songwriter with a clever left hand on the guitar, part classical cellist, sideman musician, storyteller, father and husband who happens to love billiards, bourbon and a new song. Raised on the Southwest Florida
beaches and brought up in bars packed with tourists and passerby’s, Sutherland honed his craft for storytelling. He knew if he could keep a crowd of parrotheads and pirates, he could do it anywhere.
As a sideman, Sutherland played with a slew of marquee acts like The Beach Boys, Michael Ray, Clemons Road and Blessing Offor. After moving to Nashville in 2017, he has penned hundreds of songs and showcased on every major stage the city has to offer. His most recent album, “Sounds Like Love,” was celebrated with a performance at the famed Bluebird Cafe.
∫ Brook: Singer-songwriter and recording artist who has entertained audiences for decades throughout the United States. Her music and live performances are captivating, as she shares her personal journeys through life, love and loss. Brook is a favorite at song festivals across
the country and has brought her interview show, “Golf Kart Karaoke,” along with her. She has curated her own festivals and events as well that include: women empowerment group the F.E.M., LGBTQ+ Pride rounds, and other themed and featured shows. Brook was selected for NBC’s season 12 of “The Voice,” where she was hand-picked by Adam Levine. She has moved on to partner with several multi-platinum songwriters and artists who have evolved her unique songwriting style with tracks such as “Piece Of Me,” “Tongues Of Angels” and her latest single, “Bad Bitches Like Me.”
∫ Tatum: In 2009, the native of Florence, South Carolina, co-wrote the Most Played Song on Country radio stations across the United States. A tremendous achievement for any songwriter, “She’s Country” — recorded and released
by Platinum-selling country superstar Jason Aldean — held the No. 1 position on the chart for two consecutive weeks, reached 1-plus million plays, and out sold every genres’ ringtones. Tatum launched SoNash Publishing in 2022 and recently exited to start Tatum Town, continuing efforts of inspiring artists through production, mentoring, management and development.
∫ Neff: The lead singer-guitarist of the band Rosaline and the owner of Juniper Recording, a studio where he has produced for artists as diverse as the Freecoasters, Electric Mud, Moonstone Riders, Sun State Blues, Roxx Revolt and the Velvets, Kyle Anne, Sheena Brook, Katie Lyon, Keefe Klug and Slimtronic 5k. Neff and Rosaline also regularly feature on recordings, on stage and on tour backing up many of these artists and others. Whether as performer or producer, his dream is to be one of the pieces of connective tissue that helps the vibrant, original music scene in Southwest Florida continue to thrive.
∫ Bradley: “Lawless” is his truth — his first full collection of songs to be released that represent the most authentic music he has made to date. Bradley grew up around both country and rock music — his grandmother’s carnival featured a young Johnny Cash back in the day, while he remembers being excited by the Lynyrd Skynyrd and
See CAPTIVAVILLE, page 23
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Feisty and Hilarious ‘Sister’ Returns to Florida Rep for “’Til Death Do Us Part: Late Nite Catechism 3” June 11-July 3
Florida Repertory Theatre will present “‘Til Death Do Us Part: Late Nite Catechism 3,” an interactive comedy by Maripat Donovan, in the ArtStage Studio Theatre June 11 through July 3. Tickets are $67 and may be purchased online at www.floridarep.org or by calling the box office at 239332-4488 or toll-free at 877-787-8053.
GCWA 2025 Annual Writing Contest accepting entries through June 30
The Gulf Coast Writers Association (GCWA) is pleased to announce the opening of its annual writing contest and accepting entries through June 30.
The challenge includes three genres, Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry, and caters to aspiring writers worldwide. Last year’s winners crossed the globe from Southwest Florida to Wales, U.K.
Each category offers first, second, and third-place prizes--$200, $75, and $50, respectively. Winners will be notified on or before Aug. 15, with a celebration scheduled at the GCWA September meeting on Sept. 20. To learn more, read previous prized stories, and submit yours, please visit the contest section of www.GulfWriters.org.
Time Capsule exhibit on display at Sanibel Historical Museum and Village
The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village reported that the city of Sanibel’s Time Capsule is on display from now through July 31 in the Shore Haven Welcome Center on Sanibel.
Previously located at City Hall, the time capsule was opened on Nov. 5 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sanibel’s incorporation. It was sealed and buried in 1984 on about 10th anniversary of incorporation as the city’s leaders wanted to acknowledge their decade of achievements and advise citizens, as well as to congratulate and encourage the future city administration and community.
The village noted that many letters and photographs
Captivaville From page 22
AC/DC coming out of the speakers of his dad’s and uncles’ muscle cars.
∫ Johnson: After spreading her wings with her debut single, “Water Down The Whiskey,” climbing to the No. 29 spot on Music Row charts, the seven-time Carolina Country Music Award winner and Angier, North Carolina, native moved on to her next projects with the release of her radio-charting singles “Just Like You,” “Baby Don’t,” “Famous Enough” and more that completed her debut album, “Honky Tonk Heart.” Alongside country-legend Pam Tillis, Johnson made her first Grand Ole Opry appearance after
from island clubs and nonprofit entities were placed in the capsule. A selection of the items is included in the exhibit at the welcome center.
To view a PowerPoint presentation of the capsule’s contents, visit mysanibel.com.
For more information, visit www.sanibelmuseum.org.
The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village is at 950 Dunlop Road, Sanibel.
Lee Health, FGCU conducting joint study
Lee Health and Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) are jointly exploring opportunities to improve healthcare, wellness and support services provided to persons living in Southwest Florida with an Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) diagnosis, as well as their families and caregivers.
Officials reported a recent market study that was conducted uncovered the potential to improve services to this segment of the local population that will help them thrive more successfully in the community.
The organizations are conducting a survey to learn more directly from this population on how they can enhance and expand services that will be most impactful to them. The survey links are as follows:
∫ Caregiver, advocate or family member of an individual diagnosed with IDD:
∫ Individual diagnosed with IDD: https://fgcu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/ SV_0650f7LZhTKjZX0
Officials noted that for reference, the organizations are defining intellectual and developmental disability as disorders that are usually present at birth and affect the physical, intellectual and/or emotional development of the person throughout their life. Common examples are autism, cerebral palsy, down syndrome, spina bifida, childhood acquired brain injury and other genetic disorders.
creating multiple music videos which premiered on Country Music Television, RFD-TV, Heartland TV and Newsmax.
Among other projects, she was named the first musical ambassador for the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and worked alongside it to promote agriculture through her music and travels. Johnson has also shared the stage with many great artists over the years such as Kane Brown, Randy Houser, Clint Black, Oliver Anthony, Joe Nichols, Kylie Morgan, Tracy Byrd, Ian Munsick, Gabby Barrett, Diamond Rio, Scotty McCreery and more.
Resort guests will receive free admis-
Religious Services
Services at Beach Baptist Church
Beach Baptist church at 130 Connecticut St., Fort Myers Beach Service at 10:30 every Sunday
All are welcome, we are pet friendly! 239-463-6452
https://beachbaptist.org
Services at St. Peter Lutheran Church
St. Peter Evangelical Lutheran Church in America at 3751 Estero Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach
All services now inside the sanctuary.
All are welcome, we are pet friendly 239-463-4251
stpeterfmb@gmail.com
www.stpeterfmb.com
YouTube - St Peter Lutheran Church Fort Myers Beach FL
In cooperation with former Chapel by the Sea and Beach United Methodist Church.
Services at St. Raphael’s Episcopal Church
St. Raphael’s Episcopal Church welcomes the public each Sunday at 10 a.m. for services in its parish hall at 5601 Williams Drive in Fort Myers Beach.
For more information regarding services, contact 239-463-6057 or email office@straphaelschurch.org
Al-Anon, Al-Ateen meetings
Are you concerned with a friend or family member’s drinking? Let us help.
Call our 24-hour helpline at 941-564-5098 or visit www.SouthFloridaAl-Anon.org. Meetings are held every day in Lee County.
Al-Ateen meetings are also offered for ages 10-18.
sion.
Beginning on June 9, single-day passes will be available to the public.
The passes cost $100 per vehicle and will offer access to the pools, restaurants, marina, beach access and spa, as well as all of the amenities, including kayaking, biking, private beach access and more.
The community is invited to secure their festival passes.
“What I love about Captivaville is how it brings people together in such a laidback, joyful way,” SCBR Board Chairman
Tony Lapi said. “There’s something special about hearing great music with friends all around. It’s one of those weekends you look forward to all year.”
To purchase a single-day pass, call 239-472-5161, ext. 1.
For more information about the festival, visit https://tween-waters.com/event/ seventh-annual-captivaville-songwriters-weekend/.
The ‘Tween Waters Inn & Marina is at 15951 Captiva Drive, Captiva.
We are still in need of fosters
By ISABELLE WELLS Co-founder of the Find a Home, Give a Home pet rescue organization of Fort Myers Beach
Fostering is a wonderful way to help others. All expenses paid. You only have to give love. Call Isabelle at 239-281-0739. Maybe you are on the fence and not sure if you want to adopt, so the best way is to try it out and see if having a pet is for you. Foster and decide if you would like to keep the dog or cat. Either way you will learn a great amount and who knows you may fell in love. People always ask me: How do you do it? Well I am actually honored to have had so many pets in my life. Helping them has been such a joy. I just concentrate on the new ones who needs a hand when one leaves.
Find A Home Give
A Home Pet Rescue
Spotlight on a cute little one!!!!
Rorie was adopted 12 years ago and was brought to the shelter even though our adoption agreement requires us to get any dogs we’ve adopted directly back. Rorie is 13 years old and 49 pounds. She has major health issues and was probably given table scraps. She is obese and has Cushing’s disease. It is very sad for her and she is constantly panting all day long. Her pet parent was brought to the hospital and could not take care of her any longer. Please consider helping Rorie. She is now a hospice case. For more information, please call/text 239-281-0739 or email us at pets@findahomegiveahome.com.
Follow us on Facebook at Find A Home Give A Home Pet Rescue and see all the amazing pets we saved these past few months
Please note our new PO Box #864, Bonita Springs, Fl 34133 You can also make a donation at www.findahomegiveahome.com using the donation tab using PayPal
Please make sure you do it through “Friends and Family” so there is no fee and all the donation comes to us directly.
Save Our Strays Feline Rescue Fort Myers Beach
In need of kitten food
By Jo Knobloch Founder
We are in need of wet and dry kitten food as we are now in kitten season which doesn’t seem to ever end. Any donations can be dropped off at the Book Nook in Santini Plaza on south end of Ft. Myers Beach or delivered to the rescue. call for info. 239-851-3485. We also need people to come play with kittens as want them to get used to
of Save Our Strays Cat Rescue a 501c3 organization on Fort Myers Beach
seeing others. Please call if you can give an hour or two a week to help at the rescue.
If you are seeing or feeding any stray cats or kittens on the beach, please call us so we can rescue and find homes for them. We also are in need of feeders for a few locations on and near the beach. Food can be provided. Not many
left since hurricanes but those that made it need fed daily. Doesn’t take long to do and we need cats on the beach to keep rats away. They need food and water daily. Call 239 851 3485 if you can spare an hour or two a week to help out.
Ozzie is a charming black and white 18-monthold male cat with white chest. He is very sweet and affectionate and needs a permanent home. He loves to be pet and is very playful.
Mango is a male orange tabby 5-month-old kitten with beautiful markings. He loves to play and run with his siblings. Orange kittens are hard to find but currently we have 3 available for adoption.
Lexie is a gray/white 3-year-old small female who mothered 7 kittens and is more like a kitten herself. She loves to chase and play, is spayed and ready for her forever home.
