082725 Fort Myers Beach Observer/The Beach Bulletin
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CLEARED LOT IN 55 + COMMUNITY where you can put your new manufactured home nestled within the coveted Thunderbird Community! Community center, pool & shuffleboard. One of the few communities where you own the land. Low HOA fees! Conveniently located 10 minutes from the Gulf beaches within biking/walking distance of Publix, Target, restaurants, shops & more! Concrete driveway. Don’t miss out, make an offer! $55,000
VIEW SUNRISE OVER THE BAY from this large balcony above the waterfront. The dolphins & manatees cruise by just below your balcony and into the Bay as they ride the boat wakes out to the Gulf. 2 BR/2 BA first floor unit has spacious living/ dining area w/triple stacking sliders from the living area and primary BD opening to the large screened balcony. Granite countertops in kitchen w/open bar seating to the living area. Electric roll down shutters on all windows & balcony. $499,900
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Chris Loffreno Allie Henry Charlie Smith Rita M. Oben Tracey Gore Summer Stockton Ronald Coveleski Dennis Boback Fran Canario Diane LaCorte
Voted Best Real Estate Company 2021
Town makes applications available for trailer extensions
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
The Town of Fort Myers Beach has announced that the application form for emergency temporary placement permits for trailers is now available for residents and business owners seeking an extension past the town’s Sept. 23 deadline.
To receive an extension from the town, trailer owners need to show a hardship for why they need the trailers as they rebuild from Hurricane Ian. There are estimated
to be more than 150 trailer permits for residents and more than 50 for business uses in the town.
Among the allowable hardships are:
∫ Delay in processing Elevate Florida application
∫ Delay in obtaining construction mortgage or refinancing
∫ Delay based on an inability to find licensed professionals to rebuild
∫ Delay due to a dispute with a licensed building professional or insurance
adjustor/carrier
∫ Delay due to the lack of available equipment/materials to complete construction
∫ Hardship due to inability to sell property
∫ Hardship due to inability to secure alternative location to operate business or residence
∫ Hardship due to delay in permitting process
∫ Hardship due to extended family
Disorientation Crisis
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
Hundreds of loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings have died on Fort Myers Beach this season in what is the worst disorientation crisis on the island for threatened sea turtles since Turtle Time began its monitoring and conservation efforts in 1989.
The cause? Violations of the town’s sea turtle lighting ordinance which prohibits unshielded, non-amber LED outdoor lighting from dusk until dawn and which requires shades and curtains to be closed from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m.
Hatchlings attracted to the light are breaking out of their nests and, instead of going into the Gulf, are heading towards the light of buildings where they will die due to dehydration, predation or, if they cross Estero Boulevard, will face the crush of motor vehicles.
For more than 35 years, Turtle Time founder Eve Haverfield has been out protecting turtle nests on Fort Myers Beach and protecting the hatchlings of threatened loggerhead sea turtles. Sea turtles are protected under the Endangered Species Act.
When Haverfield first started out on Fort Myers Beach in 1989 after years of working over on Sanibel, the lighting disorientations were so bad that she was spending mornings scraping off dead sea turtle hatchlings from Estero Boulevard.
As Turtle Time’s conservation efforts grew more successful and its educational outreach efforts helped diminish the disorientations, the gruesome stories of the disorientations became a flashback to a different, more disorganized time on the island before incorporation and where protecting sea turtle nests had not been as much of a priority.
illness/death of property or business
Other hardships can be identified as well and will be reviewed by Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Will McKannay. If McKannay denies the hardship request, a permit holder can appeal to the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council.
All permit holders will be required to submit an action plan to eliminate or resolve the hardship or removal of the trailer, subject to six-month updates
Supervisor of Elections receives recall petitions
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
The office of the Lee County Supervisor of Elections confirmed receipt of the recall petitions for Town of Fort Myers Beach councilmembers John King and Karen Woodson on Friday, setting in motion a 30-day window for the signatures to be certified.
The committees to recall King and Woodson turned in more than 600 petitions with signatures to recall King and Woodson.
The recall committees were led by former Fort Myers Beach Mayor Ray Murphy and former Town of Fort Myers Beach Councilmember Bill Veach.
The committee to recall King submitted 609 petitions while the committee to recall Woodson turned in 610 petitions, Lee County Elections Office Communications Director Gaby Aguirre said.
The committees needed to gather 505 signatures from 15% of the town’s electorate to force a recall during a second round of signature collection. They had previously obtained more than 450 signatures in the first round, when they were required to obtain 337 signatures to capture 10% of the electorate.
There are more than 3,300 registered voters in the Town of Fort Myers Beach, according to the Lee County Elections Office.
If the Lee County Supervisor of Elections certifies at least 505 of the submitted petitions, King and Woodson would have five days to resign and vacate their seats or a recall election would be scheduled to take place between 30 and 60 days on whether to recall King and Woodson. If King or Woodson resigned, the town council could vote to name their replacements. If voters recalled King and Woodson, another election would be held within 60 days to decide their seats. At
Beach Kids Foundation gives out scholarships
STAFF REPORT
The Fort Myers Beach Kids Foundation recently awarded their annual scholarship awards with a dinner for students and family members at the Island Pancake House on Fort Myers Beach.
The foundation awarded $21,000 in scholarships including two special scholarships in honor of the late Fort Myers Beach residents Tom Myers and Roxie Smith. Myers and Smith were the co-founders of the Beach Kids Foundation along with Fran Myers. Myers and Smith have granddaughters serving on the Beach Kids Foundation board.
In attendance at the scholarship ceremony was Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District Assistant Chief Christopher Armiger and six other firefighters who brought with them student Chris Prisco, who received an additional scholarship in honor of Tom Myers. Prisco will be attending Florida SouthWestern State College. Prisco is undergoing an internship at Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District Station 33.
The Beach Kids Foundation also recognized Armiger with an award.
Sarah Swiersz earned a special scholarship in honor of Smith.
To qualify for a scholarship, a student needs to live on Fort Myers Beach or have a parent or grandparent that lives on Fort Myers Beach.
The Beach Kids Foundation recently held a back to school “backpack event” where Fort Myers Beach students received their school supplies and a backpack of their choice.
“We love the kids and will continue to support them anyway we can and through their school years,” Beach
Kids Foundation Board member Deborah Groll said.
The following students were honored with scholarships by the foundation:
∫ Chloe Brown
∫ Connor Amos
∫ Mallory Amos
∫ Aiden Fancher
∫ Maryn Fancher
∫ Cameron Fancher
∫ Bobbi Leonard
∫ Sarah Swiersz
∫ Noah Lukow
∫ Kailyn Haataja
∫ Jillian Haataja
∫ Kai West
∫ Luciano Gilberti
∫ Dusty Swyer
∫ Joseph Ueker
∫ Evan Yelle
∫ Mary Weber
∫ Chrisopher Prisco
∫ Lara Grace Stam
The Beach Kids Foundation is planning to hold a pickleball fundraiser, pancake breakfast, and its annual holiday drive.
For more information, contact Deborah Groll at 239850-6322 or by email at summerinoh@aol.com.
The Beach Kids Foundation named two special scholarships this year in honor of co-founders Tom Myers and Roxie Smith. A brief biography of each and their contributions are listed below:
Roxie Smith
Roxie Smith first came to Fort Myers Beach in 1950
as a 16-year-old. Her parents bought their first piece of property on the island that year; eventually building what became the original Pink Shell Cottages and resort. She served for more than 27 years on the Lee County Tourist Development Council. She also served on the Florida Commission on Tourism. She immersed herself in the Fort Myers Beach community becoming a community activist and business leader, serving on the Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency and Fort Myers Beach Chamber Foundation, Friends of Matanzas Wilderness Preserve and Estero Island Historic Society. Smith was one of the founding members of the Beach Kids Foundation. Her legacy continues to this day as both her daughter and granddaughter are directors on the Beach Kids Foundation board. To honor her memory and to keep her legacy alive for generations her family has started this special scholarship fund.
Tom Myers
In the 1970s, Tom Myers made Fort Myers Beach his home and quickly became a devoted advocate for the community—especially its natural beauty and environmental well-being. A tireless volunteer, Myers served on the Board of the Matanzas Pass Preserve and was instrumental in pioneering beach renourishment efforts that have helped preserve our shoreline for future generations. Myers and his wife Fran operated the Red Coconut RV Park for many years and supported the Beach Kids Foundation. Tom was not only a champion of the environment, but also a beloved husband, father, and grandfather. In honor of his recent passing and in recognition of his enduring contributions to our island, an additional $1,000 award will be granted to a deserving applicant who embodies Tom’s spirit of community and conservation.
Live Music BEACHFRONT
Check out our September entertainment at CabaÑas Beach Bar + Grille and CŌste Island Cuisine
Fridays
steve mcdougall band, 4-7pm
Saturdays
9/6 matt lee duo, 1-4pm | fractal brothers, 5-8pm
9/13 edison + the rum runners, 1-4pm kinetic souls, 5-8pm 9/20 pipe dream, 1-4pm | matt newbold, 5-8pm
SUNDAYS
9/7, 9/14, 9/21 CROSSROADS, 2-5pm
7-10pm
Wednesdays
9/10 deano + Marvilla 9/17, 9/24 classic roses
Thursdays lonza
Fridays
9/12, 9/19 pearl + CJ 9/26 barry lawrence
Join us for island hopper songwriter fest september 26-28
Saturdays dockside duo
Sundays 9/14, 9/21, 9/28 david rojas
Entertainment schedule subject to change
OPINIONS
Fort Myers Beach, FL 33931
Phone: (239) 574-1110
Fax: (239) 574-5693 Web: fortmyersbeachtalk.com
Publisher Raymond M. Eckenrode reckenrode@breezenewspapers.com
Production manager Rob Braitling rbraitling@breezenewspapers.com
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Circulation (239) 574-1936
Classified/Display Advertising (239) 574-1110
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Keep cool without stressing your wallet
If you’ve been outside lately and felt like you were sitting in a sauna, you’re not alone.
The sun is working overtime, and Southwest Florida’s summer heat is giving new meaning to the phrase “hot enough to fry an egg on the asphalt.” While the temps are reaching record highs, your electric bill doesn’t have to be soaring.
The following are smart tips to keep your cool — and your cash:
Thermostat challenge
Set the thermostat to 78°F when home and nudge it up a few degrees when away. Every degree lower increases cooling costs up 8%.
Fantastic surprise
Ceiling fans don’t cool rooms, they cool people. Turn fans off when leaving the room. Be sure they’re spinning counterclockwise in summer to push that cool air down.
Sun block
Close window coverings during the warmest part of the day. Better yet, invest in reflective window film.
Cooking coolness
Fire up the grill and skip the oven. Opt for the microwave or go full fresh with fruit, salad and sandwiches!
Seal the deal
Leaks around doors and windows let cool air out and warm air in. A little weather stripping goes a long way.
So if you play your cards right, you don’t have to sweat your electric bill just because the sun’s flexing its muscles. With five smart moves, you can manage energy usage, and your budget. Stay cool, Southwest Florida. We’ve got this.
For more energy-saving tips, visit lcec.net and enroll in SmartHub if you are an LCEC member.
Karen Ryan is director of public relations for the Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC). It serves Sanibel and Captiva, as well as Ave Maria, Cape Coral, Immokalee, Lehigh Acres, Marco Island, North Fort Myers and Pine Island. For more information, visit https://www.lcec.net/.
When seconds count, whole blood saves lives
The Lee Health Trauma Center sees nearly 5,000 patients every year, and every patient that paramedics rush into the trauma center needs immediate attention. Earlier this year, the Lee Health Trauma Center began an initiative that is saving lives — it’s called whole blood. By adding whole blood instead of the standard blood components, like individually transfusing red blood cells, clotting factors and platelets, it makes the trauma center more efficient when caring for the critically bleeding patient.
Lee Health is the first health system in the Southwest Florida region to implement plans utilizing whole blood for trauma care. Whole blood streamlines the transfusion process, making treatment faster and more efficient, and the blood is from a single donation. These factors are important in a trauma center, where time is critical for the bleeding patient.
As the only state-approved Level II trauma center between Sarasota and Miami, Lee Health treats everyone in a five-county region with highly trained healthcare professionals surrounding a critically bleeding trauma patient and the experts to back up the most niche injury needs. The cutting-edge resources and technology have provided expert emergency care for more than 30 years to the region. The trauma center currently averages around 400 patients each month. That makes the center one of the busiest centers in the state.
What is whole blood?
Whole blood is what flows through our veins. It contains red cells, clotting factors and platelets. It can be transfused into a single patient or separated into its specific
components, helping multiple patients from one donation. Whole blood is what you see as it comes out of your veins at the donation centers. It’s also what comes out of a critically bleeding trauma patient.
That very thought you are having now is what makes whole blood the best treatment for a bleeding patient. We don’t bleed individual components like red blood cells, clotting factors or platelets. It’s all mixed together in the life-sustaining Kool-Aid called blood!
Whole blood was used during World War II to treat battlefield injuries. Over time, the technology to separate components and advances in storage led to the widespread use of single blood components (red cells, plasma, et cetera) tailored to the patient’s specific needs.
Benefits of whole blood vs. component blood
According to the Mayo Clinic, about 15% to 20% of trauma patients receive transfusions, and 3% receive massive transfusions.
Since whole blood only requires one transfusion, it decreases exposure for critical patients, such as pediatric, transplant and oncology patients.
For patients with severe bleeding, whole blood has been shown to improve survival rates and simplify the transfusion process. Additionally, using whole blood early in the field before patients arrive at the trauma center has also been shown to increase surviv-
ability. Since late 2024, Lee County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) teams have been trained and equipped to administer whole blood transfusions to trauma patients who are hemorrhaging before they are transported to the hospital. This was made possible in partnership with Lee Health.
How a trauma center uses whole blood
Some of the main reasons a trauma center uses blood products or whole blood are to stabilize the bleeding patient while surgeons work to stop the site of bleeding.
The trauma center at the Gulf Coast Medical Center serves only the most complex and life-threatening cases, with more than 90% involving blunt trauma from falls, motor vehicle accidents and motorcycle crashes.
Treatment administered during the first hour following severe injury can mean the difference between life and death. This includes whether the patient requires blood products like whole blood.
If you’re interested in donating blood, all blood donated to the Lee Health Blood Center helps patients within the health system. For more information, contact the Lee Health Blood Center at 239-343-2333.
To learn more about Lee Health’s trauma services, visit www.leehealth.org.
Dr. Joseph Lewis is a trauma surgeon with the Lee Health Trauma Center. For more information, visit https://www.leehealth.org/.
Karen Ryan Guest Commentary
Dr. Joseph Lewis Guest Column
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
Margaritaville serves up meals with Community Cooperative
Margaritaville Beach Resort Fort Myers Beach traded sandy shores for community spirit on Aug. 21 as team members joined forces with Community Cooperative to host a special “Cheeseburger in Paradise” event at Sam’s Community Cafe & Kitchen in downtown Fort Myers while helping to feed the needy.
The resort’s food and beverage team, human resources staff and general manager came together to serve grilled cheeseburgers, coleslaw, fresh fruit, salad and chips to more than 150 clients, volunteers and staff at Community Cooperative. To complete the Margaritaville experience, guests were greeted with colorful leis and treated to the sounds of Orlando Phillips on the steel drums, bringing the island vibes to life.
The idea for the event began more than a year ago, when Margaritaville team member Kyle French first shared his “Cheeseburgers in Paradise” vision with the resort’s human resources department.
On Thursday, that vision came to life in a way that not only nourished the community but also lifted spirits. Before lunch was served, French gave a short speech, noting how meaningful it was that the timing aligned with the upcoming Jimmy Buffett Day celebration on Aug. 29.
“Community Cooperative is so thankful to partner with Margaritaville Beach Resort Fort Myers Beach for this fun and meaningful event,” said Tracy Siekman, COO of Community Cooperative. “Beyond serving delicious meals, they created a memorable day filled with joy, music and connection for our clients and volunteers.”
The partnership was part of Margaritaville’s nationwide Day of Giving, a series of community service projects leading up to Jimmy Buffett Day. Resorts and properties across the country are participating to honor Jimmy Buffett’s legacy of joy, community and giving back.
“Margaritaville is all about creating fun, memorable experiences,” said Yenier Gonzalez Marrero, general manager of Margaritaville Beach Resort Fort Myers Beach. “Being able to share that spirit with Community Cooperative as part of our Day of Giving is a powerful reminder that paradise isn’t just a place — it’s the joy we create when we come together. We’re proud that our
team gets to give back twice in two weeks in Jimmy’s honor.”
About Community Cooperative
Since 1984, Community Cooperative has worked to effectively eliminate hunger and homelessness in Southwest Florida while simultaneously inspiring and supporting sustained positive change in its clients by delivering innovative food, education, and social service programs. With a dedicated team of volunteers, board of directors and staff, Community Cooperative stays com-
mitted to its core responsibility to collect and distribute resources through a strong and viable network of community partners. Community Cooperative is an exemplary steward of the resources entrusted to it and serves clients with compassion and integrity. Through collaboration and ongoing education, Community Cooperative supports and strengthens those whose lives have been affected by hunger and homelessness, ensuring that they have access to the resources necessary to transform their lives with dignity.
For information, visit CommunityCooperative.com.
PHOTOS PROVIDED
BEACH LIVING
New weight room at Bay Oaks
The weight room at Bay Oaks Recreational Campus reopened this month after being closed since Hurricane Milton washed out and damaged the equipment in the building. The town has replaced all of the equipment in the weight room. The fee to use the weight room is $7 for town residents with a membership and $10 for non-residents.
The weight room is open Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
10 Fort Myers Beach Art Association’s new show opens this week
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
The latest showcase from the prolific Fort Myers Beach Art Association will be on display at their new art gallery as part of their “Anything Goes” show which opens this Thursday.
The art exhibit, which runs from Aug. 21 to Sept. 19 at the Cypress Square shopping plaza off McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers, will feature a diverse collection of artwork from oil and acrylic paintings to jewelry, photography, digital art, as well as watercolors and pastel paintings. The exhibit will also highlight intricate collage pieces, hand-pulled prints, serigraphs, woodcuts, and the rich textures of batik.
Curated to celebrate diversity in both style and technique, “Anything Goes” “encourages artists to push creative limits and invites viewers to engage with art in its many forms — from tactile, handcrafted objects to cutting-edge digital creations,” Fort Myers Beach Art Association publicity director Susi Wigenroth said. “The result is a visually stunning, thought-provoking experience that showcases the power of artistic exploration.”
The association’s new gallery is located at the corner of McGregor Blvd and Cypress Lake Drive in Unit #1 next to the Prawnbrokers Restaurant. The association lost their home on Fort Myers Beach due to Hurricane Ian. Since then, the group had been holding art shows at various locations around the county while fundraising for a new home. They have since settled on leasing space at Cypress Square, which is also a working gallery for the association’s artists. The association still hopes to one day reopen their gallery on Fort Myers Beach.
For more information on the “Anything Goes” show, visit www.fortmyersbeachart.com or contact publicity@ fortmyersbeachart.com.
RIGHT: “Surfboard” by Mina Bobel FAR RIGHT:“Rainforest Necklace” by Tamara Culp
Art association planning Plein Air Show
The Fort Myers Beach Art Association will be holding its “Plein Air Show,” a new art exhibit that opens Thursday, Sept. 25t, at the member -wned and operated gallery of the Fort Myers Beach Art Association at Cypress Square Shopping Plaza in Fort Myers.
This exhibition brings together a diverse group of artists who all paint directly from life, creating works that are both vibrant and deeply rooted in place. Plein air describes the act of painting outdoors with the artist’s subject in full view. Plein air artists capture the spirit and essence of a landscape or subject by incorporating natural light, color, and movement into their works. While plein air painting is rooted in
direct observation, it also involves artistic interpretation and personal expression. For Plein Air Show, all featured works were created with a commitment to authenticity: at least 80% of each painting was completed outdoors and from direct observation. The result is a dynamic collection of landscapes, urban scenes, and moments in time that reflect the immediacy and energy of painting on location.
Featured artwork is by artist Dana Enders who is one of the leaders of the Plein Air Painting group run through the Fort Myers Beach Art Association. Artist Tamara Culp also leads the group who meet on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The exhibit will run from Thursday, Sept. 25, to Friday, Oct. 24, at the Fort Myers Beach Art Association gallery, at 13451 McGregor Boulevard next to the Prawnbrojwr. Exhibiting artists may be present, and there may be plein air demonstrations taking place during the run of the show.
For more information, visit Website: fortmyersbeachart.com or contact publicity@ fortmyersbeachart.com
“Koreshan Golden Hour” by Dana Enders
School District to host Social Lee: Coffee & Careers
The School District of Lee County will host Social Lee: Coffee & Careers on today, Aug. 27, from 9 to 11 a.m. to provide insight on career opportunities within the District.
The informational event will allow participants to speak with the talent acquisition team and learn more about open positions within the District for the upcoming academic year. Attendees will also be able to walk through becoming certified to teach in Florida. The event will take place at Panera Bread, located at 5037 S. Cleveland Ave. in Fort Myers. To register, visit LeeSchools.net/Careers.
The School District of Lee County is among the largest school districts in Florida and the United States with
a growing enrollment of more than 100,000 students and 116 schools. New hires will receive support and necessary resources that will enable them to succeed upon entering the field of education. The District offers a competitive and comprehensive compensation plan for its employees, and additional benefits and earning opportunities are also available via advanced degree supplement, summer school, athletic coaching and more. Upon hire, a personal benefits selection process will be made available to eligible employees.
For support or additional questions, email careers@leeschools.net or call 239-337-8676. To learn more about available career opportunities, visit LeeSchools.net/Careers.
NATHAN MAYBERS
Turtle Time volunteer Cindy Johnson holds up a baby loggerhead sea turtle hatchling that was tangled up in the roots of a disoriented nest on Fort Myers Beach.
Crisis
From page 1
Haverfield did not expect that this year the group she co-founded would be responding to more deadly disorientations than ever before.
Hundreds of hatchlings have been lost in the worst disorientation year on record since Turtle Time began keeping track more than 30 years ago.
There have been 27 nests that have disoriented, which is nearly half of the 56 nests that have hatched. Turtle Time has documented 113 loggerhead sea turtle nests this year, which is the second-most nests but, due to the disorientations and several washed out nests recently, it has turned into a nightmare of a year for the organization.
The most disorientations before this year was 17 in 2023, and this season is not over yet.
A loggerhead sea turtle lays between 90 to 120 eggs in a nest. During a disorientation, some of the hatchlings will head to the
Gulf like they are supposed to while some will become distracted by wavelengths of light shining from homes, businesses and other buildings and will instead heads toward the light. They will end up on Estero Boulevard, crushed by cars or get stuck in drain pipes or otherwise die of exhaustion. If they are lucky, they will end up in a pool where Turtle Time will respond and pick them up.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this.
Before Hurricane Ian, there would be occasional disorientations caused by homes or businesses that violated the town’s sea turtle lighting ordinance.
The ordinance restricts any home or business from shining visible light towards the beach from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. All blinds and curtains must be shut. Outdoor lights must be shielded amber LED lighting that is downward directed in order to prevent disoritentations. Haverfield says any amber LED
Loggerhead sea turtle nests
Fort Myers Beach
Nests: 113
False crawls: 314
Relocated nests: 44
Hatched nests: 56
Disorientation of nests: 27
Bonita Beach
Nests: 187
False crawls: 384
Hatched nests: 120
—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.
lights should be Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation certified as recommended on the website of the FWC.
Unfortunately, Hurricane Ian knocked down so many buildings and the island lost so many dunes, that much of the beach where the sea turtle nests are located became exposed. Whereas once the beach was protected from lighting by homes, dunes and vegetation, much of that has been lost. Now, buildings across the street on Estero Boulevard and down side streets that never were visible before can now interfere with hatchlings.
Haverfield and Turtle Time volunteer Cindy Johnson says there is an even bigger problem now that they have been working with town officials to address.
New construction, rebuilds and repairs have led to new lighting plans for buildings new and old that have introduced more lights that don’t abide by the turtle lighting ordinance and which aren’t amber LED lighting to avoid interfering with nesting and hatchlings.
Two properties in particular, which Turtle Time does not wish to name in hopes that town officials will be able to quickly quell the lighting problem, have installed new lights since Hurricane Ian near the center of town towards which they believe turtles are being lured.
27 disorientations
Over the past week, there has been a sea turtle hatchling disorientation almost every night.
On Tuesday morning, one nest on the southern side of Fort Myers Beach near the Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area completely disoriented towards two condo buildings.
Johnson documented both buildings with what she alleges are multiple light violations the night before.
Johnson, Turtle Time volunteers, residents and vacationers at the condo buildings along with a worker were able to find and save 25 of the 90 hatchlings that disoriented. Some were found in pools, about 10 were found in electrical rooms, while a worker found some in a sewer. None of the others were found and there were no tracks to the Gulf, meaning they either died of dehydration or were consumed by birds who can easily spot them once dawn breaks.
One recent disorientation occurred mid-island where a nest of hatchlings split, with some going straight into the Gulf and the rest following what Turtle Time believes were lights from a condo building and another property mid-island where new lighting has gone up.
Some of the turtles that went toward the
See CRISIS, page 13
This nest on Fort Myers Beach disoriented this past week, with dozens of turtles heading away from the Gulf and many dying.
The lines to the Gulf show which hatchlings from a disoriented nest went the right way into the water while others went away from the Gulf towards the light.
NATHAN MAYBERG
Of the 56 loggerhead sea turtle nests on Fort Myers Beach that have hatched this year, 27 of the nests had hatchlings that were disoriented by lights on the island, leading to hundreds of deaths.
Crisis
From page 12
lights went over a berm and ended up in three residential pools where they were luckily saved. Others were found on Estero Boulevard crushed by vehicles. One was killed by a ghost crab. Others likely died of dehydration or other causes.
Why did some go to the Gulf like they were supposed to while others went in other directions? Sea turtles act independently, Johnson said. They don’t all follow each other. Once they break away from the nest, they are on their own and will largely stay that way as they reach the Gulf and throughout their lives aside from mating.
In addition to the 81 hatchlings from the disorientated nest, 11 had to be removed by Turtle Time volunteers after they were stuck to the roots in the nest. Johnson and Haverfield released the hatchlings that night. One of the heroic actions Turtle Time makes is inspecting all of the nests after they hatch to ensure that all of the hatchlings made it out. Turtle Time will release those that didn’t make it out at night in order to protect them from being caught by birds during the day. Turtle Time inventories the nests and makes reports to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Johnson said the disorientations are especially tragic for sea turtles since only one to four in 1,000 make it to adult maturity due to the threats from sharks and other sea life in the Gulf. “We’re not very good at conserving our turtles on Fort Myers Beach,” Johnson said.
Enforcement
The Town of Fort Myers Beach relies on Environmental Projects Coordinator Chadd Chustz to monitor the island for lighting violations, to notify residents and property owners where violations are occurring, and to correct them.
Back in 2022 during a spate of seven disorientations, the town issued 220 warnings for lighting violations. Of those violations, the town issued 44 citations with a total of $19,050 in fines.
Currently, there are 41 open lighting cases according to Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Will McKannay. Though Chustz didn’t respond to how many of those included citations or fines, McKannay
Turtle Time founder Eve Haverfield holds up the crushed sea turtle hatchlings that were disoriented and run over by vehicles on Estero Boulevard.
responded on behalf of the town’s management by saying the town will “likely resolve approximately 90% of these through proactive outreach, including phone calls and emails. For non-responsive properties, we will escalate enforcement by issuing formal notices of violation, which can lead to penalties if not addressed.”
Haverfield said that while the town used to have two people dedicated to dealing with the lighting ordinance, the enforcement and monitoring is now largely dealt with solely by Chustz.
“If necessary, cases are referred to our code compliance department,” McKannay said.
While Turtle Time is routinely documenting lighting violations at night, they lack enforcement capabilities which only the town can enforce.
Haverfield said Turtle Time ideally hopes that lighting issues at different buildings be addressed in May and June before the hatching of the nests begins in July.
Johnson said one new beachfront building being constructed on the southern side of the island has been photographed full of lights at night.
New Town Manager taking the problem seriously
McKannay is taking the sea turtle issue seriously. He has a familiarity with sea turtles from his Army background. In response to the disorientation crisis.
“The Town is aware of increased sea turtle disorientations this season, including tragic incidents where hatchlings reached Estero Boulevard. We are actively working with Turtle Time and other partners to monitor and address these issues,” McKannay said.
“Disorientations are largely due to lighting violations and the loss of vegetation from Hurricane Ian, which has made artificial lighting more visible — even from properties not directly on the beach,” he said.
McKannay said the town is engaging property owners quickly when violations are observed and issuing notices and escalating penalties for non-compliance.
“Our focus right now is on rapid response to lighting near nests that are close to hatch-
ing, which requires daily monitoring and coordination. While we are making steady progress and the community has been largely responsive, new lighting issues continue to emerge — sometimes from properties as far back as the Bay.”
Haverfield and Johnson believe this is one of the most important proactive steps the town can make. They want town staff to review lighting plans for all new construc-
See CRISIS, page 14
McKannay said town officials are conducting weekly inspections and follow-ups, and plans to have staff review lighting plans and post-construction compliance more thoroughly.
NATHAN MAYBERG
From May 1 through October 31, all homes and buildings must close their shades and curtains, and turn off outdoor lights from dusk (9 p.m.) until dawn at 7 a.m. Only outdoor lights that are shielded, downwar-directed amber or red LED lights are allowed.
Crisis
From page 13
tion more carefully to ensure new projects, especially those with detailed lighting plans, are reviewed to ensure any outdoor lighting is shielded, amber LED lighting in order to comply with the town’s turtle lighting ordinance to avoid future disorientations.
Haverfield said the town needs an organized plan for reviewing lighting so that property owners and electrical engineers know what kind of lighting they need and that the town reviews the lighting when it is installed to ensure it is compliant.
“We urge all residents and businesses to follow the Town’s Sea Turtle Lighting Ordinance,” McKannay said. “Use amber or red LED bulbs, shield interior lights, and avoid flashlights on the beach at night. There are still over 50 nests left to hatch this season. Your lights can save lives.”
On Tuesday, the town sent out an advisory to the public about the spate of turtle disorientations and a reminder about the town’s turtle lighting ordinance. The letter was focused on local contractors working on construction site, reminding them that any outdoor lighting, including construction lighting must be downward-directed, shielded, long-wavelengths amber, orange or red LED bulbs.
The town advises the public to install blackout curtains or blinds on beach-facing windows and to turn off unnecessary lights inside that could be a distraction to sea turtles from the beach.
Every building on Fort Myers Beach is required to abide by the lighting ordinance
No property on Fort Myers Beach is immune from the sea turtle lighting ordinance. Every property and home is subject to the sea turtle lighting ordinance. Due to the loss of buildings from Hurricane Ian, many more homes on Fort Myers Beach have the potential to cause a disorientation than ever before.
Some hotels have been proactive about the situation, with the Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina conducting a full overhaul of its lighting in recent years with a grant from the Sea Turtle Conservancy to install turtle-friendly lighting outdoors. The resort also installed turtle-friendly tinted windows which negate the need for residents to remember to close their curtains at night or turn off their lights.
The DiamondHead Beach resort spent $1
million to install turtle-friendly windows and new sliding glass doors at a .28 tint which will prevent indoor lighting from interfering with nesting and hatching threatened sea turtles. The resort also installed turtle-friendly lighting in its parking lots.
Some condo buildings have signs in their elevators reminding vacation renters about the sea turtle lighting ordinance but it doesn’t always work.
Disorientations preventable
“It’s been a dismal year,” Haverfield. Most frustrating for Haverfeld is that “it’s preventable.”
All it takes is for property owners and those visiting the island to keep off outdoor lights or shield them with amber LED lights which can be found on the FWC’s website or at Home Depot.
Haverfield said lights from construction equipment and other new lighting from new construction is a likely culprit of the increased disorientations.
Haverfield said she is hopeful that the town’s efforts to work with property owners and contractors will bear fruit and end the lighting disorientations.
In addition to the deadly disorientations a storm over the weekend likely led to several nests being washed out and lost. Three nests washed away in the storm, which means 300 or more hatchlings likely died.
It’s hard to know exactly how many hatchlings were lost as Turtle Time can only count the dead bodies it finds, not the ones that get lost under buildings, in drainage pipes or in vegetation or who are captured by birds and other animals.
“We just have too many disorientations,” Haverfield said.
“It’s disheartening when so few survive to adulthood and we can’t even get them out to the Gulf,” Haverfield said.
“The elephant in the room is we don’t have dunes and dune vegetations so a lot of light is visible that never was,” Haverfield said. “A lot of people on side streets who never had to be concerned about lights are now sending light towards the beach.”
Haverfield says Turtle Time doesn’t want anyone to be unsafe, just to use safe lights. Haverfield said property owners should use amber LED lights but she said many new outdoor lights going up are white LED lights, which are the cheapest and most dis-
“We urge all residents and businesses to follow the Town’s Sea Turtle Lighting Ordinance. Use amber or red LED bulbs, shield interior lights, and avoid flashlights on the beach at night. There are still over 50 nests left to hatch this season. Your lights can save lives.”
—Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Will McKannay
“It’s a real sad, lost year for the hatchlings. Hopefully we can make it up next year.”
orientating light for turtles.
Relocations
Turtle Time has relocated 44 nests this season due to the beach renourishment project, which is finally wrapping up this week, nearly seven months after it was supposed to be completed. The project caused major disruptions to nesting sea turtles due to the piping spread out along the beach. The piping led to a record number of false crawls by nesting sea turtles, who turned away from the piping. There have been 314 false crawls this year, which is about double compared to a normal year though last year there were 238 false crawls, which is when the beach renourishment project began. The numbers suggest an uptick in false crawls since Hurricane Ian as well caused by the loss of buildings and vegetation that previously blocked lighting . There were 201 false crawls in 2023 after Hurricane Ian and 158 in 2022, before Hurricane Ian. There were 130 false crawls in 2021.
The berm that was put up by the town after Hurricane Ian “saved us,” Haverfield said.
Turtle Time was able to relocate the nests near the berm, where the beach sand is elevated. In many other places around the beach, the sand is flat which leaves the turtles unable to lay their eggs.
The good news
There is some positive news though. The town’s lighting project is currently underway. The state approved more than $7.7 million for turtle-friendly lights along Estero Boulevard and side streets on Fort Myers
—Turtle Time founder Eve Haverfield
Beach.
The 113 nests on Fort Myers Beach this year is the most since there was a record of 132 nests in 2020. The number of nests on Fort Myers Beach has risen dramatically in the past decade, average more than double to triple the number of nests that were seen on the beach 15 to 20 years ago. When Haverfield started, there were just a handful of sea turtle nests on Fort Myers Beach. Haverfield and Johnson credit the increased nests to educational efforts which have significantly reduced lighting on the beach at night. Nesting sea turtles will hesitate to nest where there is lighting at night. Sea turtles will also return to nest from where they hatched. It can take 20 to 30 years for loggerhead sea turtles to reach sexual maturity to reproduce. Many of the sea turtles nesting now are the products of conservation efforts from Turtle Time taken over the past 35 years.
“We are committed to protecting our sea turtles and will continue to enforce the ordinance with urgency and consistency,” McKannay said.
“It’s a real sad, lost year for the hatchlings,” Haverfield said. “Hopefully we can make it up next year.”
The public should never interact with a nesting sea turtle or hatchlings. If hatchlings should end up on your property or in a pool during a disorientation, contact Turtle Time at 239-481-5566. One of the dozens of Turtle Time volunteers on Fort Myers Beach will respond.
“This is a magnificent island we have,” Haverfield said. “We are part of an international effort to save them.”
PHOTO PROVIDED
Loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings disoriented by lights from buildings on Fort Myers Beach last week ended up this beachfront pool.
Town sets town hall opening date
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
Technically, the new town hall at 6231 Estero Boulevard on Fort Myers Beach is open — for employees, though not exactly for the public.
That will change officially on Wednesday, Sept. 10, when the town will hold a grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new town hall from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony will include refreshments and guided tours for the public.
Town Hall operations for residents are still located out of Bay Oaks where three town employees handling permitting and utilities are working, In addition to parks and recreation staff, Fort Myers Beach Communications Director Nicole Berzin said.
The town moved its town hall operations temporarily to the Bay Oaks Recreational Campus after moving out of its temporary trailers to make way for a Bay Oaks debris removal project that will lead to the installation of pickleball
An evacuation plan, containing details and current emergency contact information, is also required for an emergency extension.
A permit fee will also be required to be paid.
The application forms can be found on the town’s website at: https://www.fortmyersbeachfl.gov/1069/ Building-Services-Applications-Forms
The town had originally notified the public that Sept. 23 would be a hard deadline for the owners of trailers to keep their vehicles on their properties though officials said there could potentially be exceptions.
The deadline is based on a date set by the state marking three years since the declaration of a state of emergency for Hurricane Ian.
The town’s counsel Nancy Stuparich has since said that the town can set its own date based on a resolution passed by the town council to make exceptions for hardships. Stuparich and McKannay have said they do not believe this will interfere with FEMA floodplain
Recall From page 1
that point, they could run to defend their seats from any challenge.
The initial recall election, if held, would likely be sometime between October and November. The subsequent election could potentially be held as late as January. King and Woodson’s terms expire in November of 2026.
King and Woodson are facing a recall because organizers of the effort allege that they worked together in violation of the town’s policies and the Sunshine Law in an attempt to replace former Town Attorney John Herin Jr., and violated town policies by allegedly accepting gifts from parties seeking land use approvals
courts and a walking path.
The town was also looking to comply with FEMA deadlines to be out of the trailers. The town had been leasing the trailers since the state stopped covering the cost of renting out temporary trailers the town was using in 2023 after Hurricane Ian.
The Town Hall work remaining to be completed on the first floor is A/C duct work, elevator work, audio/visual equipment installation, painting and other work, Berzin said.
The town purchased the new town hall property at 6231 Estero Boulevard near Bahia VÅia last year for $7 million to convert from an office building to a new the town hall with funds from the state legislature for the new town hall. The town also acquired the former 7-Eleven property next door for $1.7 million to use for parking.
The town has since knocked down the 7-Eleven building and turned that property into additional parking for town hall.
regulations for which the town has been working to comply with in order to get off probation and back into the National Flood Insurance Program. The town lost its 25% insurance discount last year when it was put on probation by FEMA.
Under a resolution approved by the town council last week, the new extensions could last until 2027. McKannay said the extensions were needed due to a significant number of homeowners still recovering from the damage to their properties from Hurricane Ian.
In a letter sent to town property owners and residents on Monday, the town manager’s office said the town acknowledges “the incredible strength, resilience, and patience demonstrated by our island throughout the ongoing recovery” and “expresses the Town’s sincere gratitude for the community’s cooperation as the rebuilding of Fort Myers Beach moves forward.”
The notice informs residents and businesses that Temporary Placement Permits are set to expire on Sept.
from the town.
Woodson is separately accused of violating the Sunshine Law by discussing the Fort Myers Beach Pier with Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt, while King is separately accused of working to remove town employees.
The allegations have led to a lawsuit by King and Woodson through a shared ttorney to stop the recall effort. Both King and Woodson have denied all of the charges as false through their lawsuit to stop the effort.
King and Woodson were granted approval by the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council to have their attorney fees paid by
23, 2025 and reminds trailer owners that the town has established a pathway for property owners facing certain hardship situations to apply for a permit extension under defined conditions.
“We are committed to supporting our residents and businesses as we continue this challenging but hopeful journey together,” McKannay said.
McKannay said the resolution approved by the town council last week “provides a fair and compassionate opportunity for those who need more time due to ongoing hardship.”
Property owners are encouraged to act before their permit expires to avoid possible referral to the Code Enforcement Department, which may result in daily fines and other penalties if no action is taken.
For more information visit www.fmbgov.com or contact the Town’s Community Development Department at (239) 765–0202.
the town ahead of their filing the challenge to stop the recall, for which they have submitted more than $11,000 in fees to date. The resolution approved by the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council allows for King and Woodson to be reimbursed for “reasonable attorney fees” in defense of the recall effort. Veach has criticized the town’s approval of paying attorney fees beforehand, questioning whether the town was giving the councilmembers a blank check to pursue litigation.
Murphy and Veach recently responded to the lawsuit by King and Woodson to stop the recall in Lee County Circuit Court through Miami Lakes attorney Mike Pizzi. Pizzi sought to dismiss the lawsuit in his
filing.
In their lawsuit, King and Woodson charged that the recall complaints did not provide enough specific information about the allegations, contended that the allegations should have been reported to the state ethics commission first, and were too vague.
The lawsuit response by Murphy and Veach maintained that the recall is not a trial but an electoral process, and that by state law recall allegations are limited to 200 words.
Under state law, the grounds for setting a recall are limited to allegations of malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty and incompetence.
Southwest Florida chapter of Florida Public Relations Association recognized with awards
The Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) and its members were recognized with multiple awards at FPRA’s Golden Image Awards and Pinnacle Awards Gala held Aug. 5 at the Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando as part of the PR & Comms Summit, a three-day public relations, comThe award ceremony is conducted annually to recognize outstanding public relations programs in Florida and to encourage and promote the development of the public relations profession. Winners demonstrate the very best examples of innovation, planning and design.
The Southwest Florida Chapter itself won awards across several divisions and categories, including two Golden Image Awards of Distinction and three President’s Awards.
“These awards are a testament to this board’s dedication, commitment to members, and service to our profession and community,” said Southwest Florida Chapter President, Lauren Bernaldo, APR, CPRC.
This year, the awards presented included: Judges’ Award, for entries that demonstrate outstanding return on investment; Judges’ Creativity Award, for entries that demonstrate outstanding creativity; Award of Distinction, for excellent and high scoring entries within each category; Golden Image Awards, for the highest scoring entry in each category; Grand Golden Image Awards, for the top entries in the Collateral of Public Relations and the Digital Tools of Public Relations divisions; and the Dick Pope All Florida Golden Image Award, for the top entry in the Public Relations Programs division.
Awards Recognitions:
Division A: Public Relations Programs
Public Service Category:
∫ Priority Marketing received a Golden Image Award for “No Soldier Left Behind: Warrior Homes of Collier Battles to End Veteran Homelessness.”
Promotional/Marketing Category:
∫ Pushing the Envelope received a Golden Image Award for “Mondays are for Friends and Fine Dining.”
Integrated Marketing Category:
∫ Priority Marketing and Lee County received a Golden Image Award and Judges’ Creativity Award for “Gnome Matter What! Lee County Fertilize Smart Awareness Campaign.”
Special Event Category:
∫ Southwest Florida Chapter of FPRA, FPRA Student Chapter at Florida Gulf Coast University, and the Department of Communication and Philosophy at FGCU received an Award of Distinction for “Soaring Connections.”
Other Category:
∫ Collier County Supervisor of Elections Office received a Golden Image Award and Judges’ Award for “Vote-byMail Voter Education & Promotional Campaign.”
∫ Pushing the Envelope received an Award of Distinction for “Welcome Home, Welcome Back.”
∫ Southwest Florida Chapter of FPRA Credentialing Team received an Award of Distinction for “Enhancing
the Accreditation and Credentialing Process.”
Division B: Collateral Tools of Public Relations
Brochure Category:
∫ Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold Marketing and Public Relations received a Judges’ Creativity Award for “Wellen Park Model Home Showcase Tour Book.”
News Release or Pitch Category:
∫ Lee County Government received an Award of Distinction and Judges’ Creativity Award for “Lee County Government Meteorologist Pitch –Flood/Surge Awareness.”
Other Category:
∫ Keagan Giblin & Vanessa Caporale received an Award of Distinction and Judges’ Award for “Collier County Solid Waste.”
Division C: Digital Tools of Public Relations
Online Audience Engagement Category:
∫ Pushing the Envelope received a Golden Image Award and Judges’ Award for “Subscriber Splash.”
∫ Priority Marketing received an Award of Distinction for “Bigham Bling! Influencer and Social Media Campaign.”
Website Category:
∫ LCEC Public Relations Team received a Golden Image Award for “LCEC Website Refresh.”
∫ Lee County Tax Collector received an Award of Distinction for “LCTC Connect.”
Pinnacle Awards
∫ Priority Marketing received the Gold Pinnacle Award for Medium Agency of the Year.
President’s Awards
FPRA State President Julie Frey, APR, CPRC, presented the chapter with the Chapter Management Award, Membership Retention Award and Time is Now Award, for exemplifying the state theme throughout the last year.
For more information about the Golden Image Awards, visit https:// goldenimageawards.org/, and for information about the Pinnacle Awards, visit https://goldenimageawards.org/pinnacle-awards/.
About the Florida Public Relations Association
Established in 1938, FPRA is the oldest public relations organization dedicated to developing public relations practitioners, who, through ethical and standardized practices, enhance the public relations profession in Florida. It is comprised of 15 professional and 14 student chapters throughout the state, providing professional development, networking and professional recognition opportunities. The Southwest Florida Chapter serves professionals in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. For additional information, please visit the Southwest Florida Chapter of FPRA website at www.fpraswfl.org.
Shorebird nesting largely down this year
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
Despite a beach renourishment project over the past two years that interfered with the start of shorebird nesting season this season on the southern end of Fort Myers Beach, shorebirds were determined to nest on the island though nesting numbers are largely down for the two largest nesting species on the island.
The numbers documented by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Florida Audubon show what the agency considers to be a successful year for some of the state’s threatened birds although the numbers are down in some cases.
Fort Myers Beach historically is the only island south of the panhandle where all four of the state’s threatened birds nests. While black skimmers and least terns had successful nesting seasons this year, snowy plovers showed mixed re-
sults. American oystercatchers were not recorded to have nested on the island this year for the second year in a row.
Breanna Frankel, a Southwest Florida critical wildlife area biologist for the FWC, called this season’s shorebird nesting on Fort Myers Beach “incredibly successful despite the bird populations being drastically different than last year.”
Black skimmers had a good year though not as big as last year. The FWC documented 130 chicks that have successfully fledged and there are still around 100 chicks that are close to fledging but still using the colony, Frankel said. There were more than 500 nests documented on Fort Myers Beach last year.
The FWC documented 800 black skimmers on the island this year on Fort Myers Beach, which was down from 1,300 last year. The number of black skimmers in 2024 was double the year
before on Fort Myers Beach.
For least terns, more than 100 chicks have successfully fledged and there are still around 80 flighted chicks using the colony posting area on the south end of the beach at Carlos Pointe. There were 287 least tern nests counted last year. There were approximately 350 adult least terns counted this year, which is less than the roughly 450 counted last year.
The least tern figures are still higher than 2021 and 2022.
For snowy plovers, the FWC recorded three snowy plover nests with six chicks successfully fledging. There are three checks also from a fourth nest that have not yet taken flight.
Last year, the FWC counted 10 snowy plover nests but only one fledging.
In 2023, there were 20 snowy plover nests counted.
Wilson’s plovers, considered an imperiled species, saw 10 chicks fledge from seven nests. Of the seven nesting attempts, two were abandoned. One nest hatched but the chicks were immediately predated, Frankel said.
“Part of this year’s success was how well the stakeholders worked with FWC staff during the off season,” Frankel said. “There were scheduled meetings to discuss previous issues and work out partnership agreements and we have received overall positive feedback so far.”
Frankel credited beach groomers with assisting with FWC postings for the nesting shorebirds and for helping with communications with property owners.
“While FWC staff understand the consistent concerns with colony postings versus beach use, we did everything in our power to mitigate these concerns during this season. This includes pulling postings that have not been in use for a certain amount of time this late in the season, shrinking the colony as certain
areas were not in use, and more. We truly want to work with stakeholders as we continue this partnership in the future to ensure success for the birds and humans,” Frankel said.
The FWC also conducted herbicide treatment at the beginning of the season which resulted in 3% vegetation growth within the treated area throughout the season thus far, Frankel said.
“None of the regrowth included sandspurs, so that in itself is a win,” Frankel said.
The biggest threats to snowbirds cited by Frankel are off-leash dogs scaring off birds. Dogs are not allowed in the Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area at all and off-leash dogs are not allowed anywhere on the beach.
Paragliders have also scared off nesting birds, officials said.
Most of the nesting activity has been around Carlos Pointe Beach, an area near the Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area on the southern tip of the island. The nesting area is roped off so that the nesting activity is not interfered with.
There have been no documented nests for American oystercatchers for the second year in a row. In 2023, one American oystercatcher nest was counted in the Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area.
The nesting activity of shorebirds has faced significant hardships over the past two years between the beach renourishment project as well as a sand hauling project last year which introduced heavy machinery and trucks throughout the nesting habitat of the shorebirds.
Last year’s sand hauling project and beach renourishment project impacted the southern section of the island near where the vulnerable solitary snowy plovers typically nest early in the season.
LEARN MORE
Heartworms pose huge health risks for pets. Fortunately, protecting them from infection is simple. Heartworms are one of the most common and serious health threats faced by pets. According to the American Heartworm Society, more than a million U.S. pets are infected with heartworms, and incidence numbers are rising –even though heartworms are easily prevented. To equip pet parents to provide the protection their four-legged family members need this summer and year-round, the American Heartworm Society is sharing five vital facts about this deadly threat.
1. A single infected mosquito can spread heartworms to multiple pets. Heartworms aren’t spread from one pet to another. Instead, they are transmitted when a mosquito feeds on an infected animal, such as a dog, coyote, fox or wolf, then later feeds on other susceptible animals and pets. Within months, heartworms grow from tiny larvae into foot-long adult worms that live in pets’ hearts, lungs and blood vessels.
prefer feeding on pets with heartworms over pets that don’t harbor them. Finally, mosquitoes are opportunistic pests that require only small amounts of standing water – including puddles or half-full watering cans – to breed.
3. Heartworms aren’t just going to the dogs. While dogs are highly susceptible to heartworm infection, cats and ferrets get heartworms, too. One thing all three species have in common is that they can become very ill, and even die, if infected with heartworms. That’s why the American Heartworm Society recommends heartworm screening and year-round prevention for all pets.
2. Heartworms are found throughout the United States. Warm, humid locales such as the Gulf States and Southeastern U.S. are widely known as hotbeds of heartworm infection, thanks to the presence of mosquitoes that thrive in these conditions. However, heartworms have become increasingly common in regions such as the Southwest, Pacific Northwest, Upper Midwest and New England. One factor supporting broader transmission is the practice of transporting homeless dogs for adoption from areas of the country where heartworms are extremely common to locales that formerly had few cases. Studies also suggest that mosquitoes
4. There’s no “season” for heartworms. While the risk of heartworm spread is greatest for pets from spring through fall, experts advise that pets be maintained on heartworm prevention year-round. Estimating when the first and last mosquito of the so-called season will appear is a dangerous guessing game, given the volatility of weather conditions in even the coldest parts of the country. Furthermore, buildings, parking lots and other structures in city and suburban communities can create sheltered “heat islands” with significantly warmer conditions than surrounding open areas. Mosquitoes also survive and thrive by relocating indoors or taking refuge in garages and crawl spaces when temperatures drop.
5. Prevention beats treatment every time. While heartworms in dogs can be treated, treatment can be expensive and requires multiple veterinary visits and months of activity restriction. Cats and ferrets, meanwhile, have no medications to cure their heartworms, because the treatment used in dogs is not safe for them. Fortunately, heartworms can be prevented with veterinary-prescribed medications that are safe, effective and affordable.
– Courtesy StatePoint
5th annual Aloia Roland Fish Like MADD Inshore Fishing Tournament to be held in October
Aloia Roland proudly announces the 2025 Fish Like MADD Inshore Fishing Tournament, presented by Golden Boat Lifts. A charitable catch-photo-release event to be held Oct. 24–25 at Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant. All proceeds support Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and its vital efforts to end impaired driving, support victims, and educate
Von Arx Wildlife Hospital remains open during Conservancy’s Nature Center closure for maintenance
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida Nature Center will be temporarily closed for annual maintenance from September 2 to September 29, while the von Arx Wildlife Hospital will remain open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. to continue handling wildlife admissions and rehabilitation needs.
Administrative offices will remain open as usual during the Nature Center closure. Normal operating hours at the Nature Center are expected to resume at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 30.
More than 4,000 injured, sick, and orphaned native animals are admitted to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital each year. Most of those injuries stem from interactions that involve humans — including car strikes, domestic pet attacks, window collisions, fishing line and hook injuries, gunshots, and toxicosis.
If you find injured or orphaned native wildlife, contact the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at (239) 262-2273.
youth in Southwest Florida and beyond.
Alcohol-related traffic deaths jumped to more than 13,000 for the first time since 2006. 13,384 people were killed in alcohol-related traffic crashes in 2021 – that’s one person every 39 minutes and 37 people a day killed by someone’s choice to drive drunk. In 2022, Alcohol Consumption was the #1 contributing factor in fatal boating crashes.
The annual Fish Like MADD Inshore Fishing Tournament is a community-driven virtual fishing tournament that raises awareness about drunk driving and underage drinking while uniting community members around MADD’s mission. Since it was established in 2020, this event has raised more than $70,000 that stays in the Southwest Florida community to save lives and support victims of drunk driving. Every dollar donated remains in Southwest Florida to provide victim services and prevention education at no cost.
Event Highlights:
∫ Dates & Agenda
Friday, October 24 (6:30 PM – 7:30 PM): Captain’s meeting and kick-off party at Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant.
Saturday, October 25: Tournament and Award Ceremony
∫ Lines in at 7 AM; tournament fishing across Southwest Florida’s inshore waters
∫ The tournament will take place between 7AM4PM in Southwest Florida’s inshore waters
∫ Award Ceremony will take place at 7PM. Tournament winners will be announced as soon as every team returns.
∫ Format & Rules
∫ Participants compete in a catch-photo-release format using the iAngler app, targeting snook, redfish, and sea trout. Teams consist of 2–6 anglers
fishing from the same boat, and photos must clearly show length measurement against official tools. In the “Inshore Slam” format, the winning boat is determined by the total length of the longest fish of each species submitted; in absence of all three, total length decides the winner.
∫ Entry Fees & Prizes
Entry is $400 per team (up to 4 anglers, including captain); $100 per additional angler.
Cash prizes include:
∫ 1st Place – $3,000
∫ 2nd Place – $2,000
∫ 3rd Place – $1,000
∫ 4th Place – Free boat entry into next year’s tournament
∫ Location
Held at Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant, located at 645 Old San Carlos Blvd, Fort Myers Beach, FL—the launch point and social hub for the tournament.
For more information about the 5th annual Aloia Roland Fish Like MADD Inshore Fishing Tournament, please visit https://give.madd.org/event/aloia-roland2025-fish-like-madd-inshore-fishing-tournament/ e669756.
ABOUT MADD
Founded by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to protect families from drunk driving and underage drinking. MADD also supports drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge, serving one person every nine minutes through local MADD victim advocates and at 1-877-MADD-HELP. Learn more at www.madd.org or by calling 1-877-ASKMADD.
WHERE TO GO WHAT TO DO WHO TO SEE
Bayside Park Concert Series expands
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
The Bayside Park Concert Series has been such a success for downtown Fort Myers Beach businesses that the business community is partnering to grow the series by having two days of music at the Old San Carlos Boulevard park.
The series will now have a show every Friday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. The first show will be Friday, Aug. 29, with the group Smack Daddy.
The Sunday shows will continue each week from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. This week’s Sunday show will feature the band Grand Slam. Bayside Veterans Park is located off San Carlos Boulevard between Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant and Nervous Nellies.
Peter Ennis, a partner in the downtown Fort Myers Beach businesses Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant, Wahoo Willies Tiki Bar & Grill and Smoking Oyster Brewery, has been involved in organizing the shows.
“The Sunday concert series has been great to bring the locals and tourists together to enjoy a free concert on the back bay,” Ennis said. Ennis said the concerts boost business for all the restaurants nearby. The park is centrally located downtown, just a short walk from Times Square and Lynn Hall Memorial Park.
The concert series is a partnership with the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Fort Myers Beach, Gulf Coast Business Bank, the Alex King Group and King Family Foundation.
Ennis said the aim of the series is to bring together
locals and tourists to the area.
Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak said “anything the island can come up with that will draw additional folks onto the beach is a good thing. Especially this time of year.”
Liszak said the tourism business throughout Florida has been down and tourism from Canada is also.
“We need to encourage activities that will entice guests onto the island, hopefully to spend a night or two, but if not, at least to grab a bite to eat, listen to some music and grab some down time,” Liszak said. “Shout out to the businesses that are working together to make this happen and thank you to all that come out to sponsor and enjoy the shows.”
Bayside
Bongo’s
Cabanas Beach Bar & Grill
Coste Island Cuisine
Dixie Fish Co.
Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille
Jack’s at the Pink Shell
Junkanoo
Coastal
Coastal Vacation Properties
Distinctive Beach Rentals
Diamondhead Beach Resort
Edison Beach House
Gulf Waters RV Resort
Gullwing Beach Resort
Hilton Seawatch on the Beach
LeeAnn’s Paradise Vacation Rentals
Lighthouse Island Resort
Lover’s Key Resort
Luxury Vacation Rentals
Margaritaville Beach Resort FMB
Marina Village at Snug Harbor Matanzas Inn
ParrotEyes Vacation Rental
Cruisin
Copacetic Sailing Day 5 Charters
Estero Island Parasail
Everglades Day Safari
Excursions Marina
PET PALS
By ISABELLE WELLS Co-founder of the Find a Home, Give a Home pet rescue organization of Fort Myers Beach
For the past 14 years (and counting!), we have been rescuing alongside you — together helping countless dogs and cats find hope and loving homes. It has been a long road filled with challenges, but also with incredible rewards.
Rescue is often seen as glamorous, but the truth is far from it. It means countless hours on the phone with people surrendering their pets, working with shelters, coordinating with fosters, and handling the needs of veterinarians. It’s hard work, but the joy of seeing happy pets matched with happy families makes every moment worthwhile.
We could not do this without your ongoing support. A heartfelt thank you also goes to our local newspaper and the writers who have shared our mission and stories over the years. Here’s to continuing this journey — saving one life at a time.
Please consider fostering!
Island pets seeking forever homes
14 Years of Rescue — Thanks to You
Meet Charlie
This tiny fellow — a 3.5 lb Shih Tzu — recently found himself in a shelter with a broken leg. Charlie is only four months old, full of sweetness, and, unfortunately, had a rough start. We aren’t sure what happened, but it seems he may have fallen or been dropped. Thankfully, he was brought to the shelter, and the very same day we were able to welcome him into foster care.
Charlie is now under the care of our veterinarian and will need 6–8 weeks of cage rest before he’s ready to run and play again. Once he’s fully healed, this adorable little guy will be available for adoption.
If you’d like to support Charlie’s recovery and help with his vet care, please reach out to Isabelle at 239-281-0739 or email us at pets@findahomegiveahome.com. Every bit of kindness helps us give dogs like Charlie the chance they deserve.
You can also make a donation at
Please make sure you do it through “Friends and Family”
Meet Louie
Many dogs never make it out of the shelter, and we want to share the story of little Louie — a 35 lb French bulldog mix, about 5 years old. Louie was adopted once, but sadly returned. He would do best as the only dog in the home, but he has no issues with people and is full of love to give.
Unfortunately, in some shelters, dogs like Louie don’t get another chance on the adoption floor if they don’t get along with other dogs. But we believe every dog deserves a second chance at happiness. If you would like to open your heart and home to Louie, please contact Isabelle at 239-281-0739. Together, we can make sure this sweet boy finally finds the forever family he deserves.
Save Our Strays Feline Rescue Fort Myers Beach
Need fosters
By
Knobloch
people to come play with kittens. We can use cat trees if anyone would like to donate any. Our cats love them and we are in need of some new ones as they get a lot of use.
Amber and Peaches are two female torti-calico mixes that are 18 months old and absolutely gorgeous. They need to be adopted in a home together as are quite bonded. They are very playful and love to be petted and played with. Come and meet these beautiful gals and give them a forever home. Jinx and Sasha are two beautiful shiny black kittens. Jinx is the male and Sasha is female. They are siblings and enjoy playing together but can be adopted separately if have other cats for them to play and run with. Stop in and see these two sweet beauties. They are fully vetted and ready for a forever home.
Jo
Founder of Save Our Strays Cat Rescue a 501c3 organization on Fort Myers Beach
UPCOMING EVENTS
‘It’s Time for a Jurassic Safari’ presented by IMAG Science Sept. 6
The IMAG History & Science Center invites families, friends, and kids of all ages to “Science Saturday at the IMAG” as it presents “It’s Time for a Jurassic Safari” on Saturday, Sept. 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bringing inspiration to life, “Science Saturdays at the IMAG” are fun-filled, family-friendly programs that feature the science, technology, engineering, and math of various select topics. During “Science Saturdays at the IMAG,” guests participate in hands-on activities, work on special take-home projects, get engaged in interactive displays, and enjoy learning about the topic of the day while having fun.
Excite your imagination and let’s have fun with fossils. Planned for our “It’s Time for a Jurassic Safari,” we will explore geological time periods of the Earth’s earliest history, its dinosaurs, and how they are named. And we will also explore the world of fossils, how they are formed, and what we can learn from them. For activities, you and your children will have fun designing and naming your own dinosaurs, making dinosaur prints and bookmarks, making fossil-rubbing art, and other engaging activities. We look forward to having you join us for this creative Saturday of fun.
The IMAG is at 2000 Cranford Ave., Fort Myers. For more information, please call: 239-243-0043 or visit: theIMAG.org.
Fort Myers’ Sweetest Concert Series
This fall, the Gulf Coast Symphony is launching something new–Apple Pie Concerts–afternoon events that combine intimate performances with engaging talks, followed by coffee, tea, and (of course) a slice of apple pie enjoyed with fellow music lovers.
Our aim is simple: to create warm, welcoming concerts that bring people together–whether you’re a lifelong classical fan or just curious to learn something new. These gatherings are informal, friendly, and designed to make world-class music accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
The idea is inspired by a beloved tradition in the Netherlands, where musicians bring performances into community spaces and share apple pie with the audience. We’re excited to bring that same spirit of connection and hospitality right here to Fort Myers.
Our very first Apple Pie Concert: ∫ Thursday, Sept. 25 at 2 p.m. at the Music & Arts Community Center
Trumpet Talk: An Apple Pie Concert Kick off the series with Trumpet Talk featuring Cindy Scaruffi-Klispie, a world-class trumpeter who has per-
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. Services 9 a.m.
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
formed with the Chicago Symphony, Boston Symphony, and Rome Opera. Cindy will take you on a fascinating journey through the history of the trumpet, performing music that showcases its power and beauty, and sharing stories from her extraordinary career–all accompanied by Julie Carver on piano.
Come for the music, stay for the pie–and leave with a new favorite way to spend an afternoon. Reserve your slice at gulfcoastsymphony.org/.
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
Professional
Engineer II, Transmission Design, LCEC, N. Fort Myers, FL. Responsible for all phases of designing mid to high voltage electrical transmission line systems for the electric utility industry. Perform duties associated with all phases of transmission line design work, including line routing, tower spotting, electrical design, structural design, foundation design, and permitting, for line voltages through 138kV; Investigate system reliability, maintenance/operational issues; recommend corrective action. analyze planned transmission outages; report on impacts to transmission grid reliability. Evaluate/resolve real-time operational T&D System issues. Provide technical support to other LCEC employees/contractors to ensure safe, reliable/efficient operation of LCEC’s electric system. Bachelor’s Degree, or foreign equivalent, in Civil or Structural Engineering or related field. Minimum of 2 years experience in job or related power transmission design engineering position. Must have knowledge of: transmission and distribution design and Data Analytics. Send resume by Email to: greg.stouffer@lcec.net. or by mail to LCEC, 4980 Bayline Drive, N. Fort Myers, FL 33917
Handyman
Old San Carlos Blvd. next to Snug Harbor Waterfront Restaurant
Wahoo Willies
WATERFRONT PRIVATE EVENTS
Bayside Private Events at Bonita Fish Company offers a space that blends laid-back atmosphere with legendary service. Whether you’re planning a casual get-together or a big celebration, we’ve got the space, the flavor and the team members to make your event memorable.
700 Fishermans Wharf, Fort Myers Beach
Owned & Operated by HM Restaurant Group
Contact Private Events Manager Joe Sletten at joesletten@hmrestaurantgroup.com or 239-788-4067 to start
