091025 Fort Myers Beach Observer/The Beach Bulletin
DOUBLE LOT in the mid-island addresses of Fort Myers Beach. This vacant single family residential property is steps away from the Gulf beach and features an extremely large, oversized space in which to create a new family estate, with room for a pool + spa. The northern ‘Time Square’ area is a short drive by car, bike, or trolley. Lovers Key State Park is just over the Big Carlos Pass bridge to the south, featuring kayak rentals, shelling + nature programs. $745,000; $699,000
EXCEPTIONAL BEACH FRONT PROPERTY in a prestigious south end location, zoned single family, directly on the newly restored, expansive southern beachfront where nothing comes between you and the sunset at your doorstep! Close to Santini Plaza, w/convenient access to Bonita Beach & Naples via Big Carlos Pass. Over the bridge on Lovers Key you’ll find Flipper’s on-the-Bay for fine dining, as well as the state park for kayaking, shelling and nature tours. $2.9m
ELEVATED COTTAGE ON CANAL just a short walk to the beach. 2BD/2BA TURNKEY residence is recently upgraded. Both ensuites have walk-in closets. New dock, 7000 LB boat lift, quick access to Gulf waters. Workshop & storage area, automatic irrigation system with a well, new 200 AMP electrical service to the house, generator interlock kit, instant water heater. Room for parking & entertaining downstairs. Rental potential. $719,000
GULF FRONT 2BD/2BA w/southern exposure offers fabulous views from your enclosed 6th floor balcony. Newly remodeled kitchen, SS appliances, granite countertops and a breakfast bar that opens up to the dining/living area. Both baths have updated tilework, cabinetry & shower doors. Open concept living area, natural light + coastal inspired décor, plantation shutters, roll down blinds. $649,000
1BD/2BA offers an extended vista along Estero Bay to Lover’s Key and the gorgeous Gulf. This renovated condo has a screened balcony overlooking the resort style pool and bay for spectacular sunrise energy. Dolphins & manatees regularly ply the waters below you. A brief 0.5 mile walk due west brings you to the newly widened Gulf beach across from Santini Plaza. $357,000
ESTERO COVE HIGH FLOOR facing toward Gulf! Experience the Southwest Florida world-famous sunset in the comfort of your living room. This open-design contemporary inspired condo has new kitchen appliances, SS counters, tile flooring & breakfast bar. 2BD/2BA Primary ensuite features upgraded walk-in shower. Opposite the beach near access, w/walkway to bayside pier. Pickleball, tennis, shuffleboard, bocce ball, pool, BBQ area. Under-building parking. $379,000
BAYFRONT
Chris Loffreno Allie Henry Charlie Smith Rita M. Oben Tracey Gore Summer Stockton Ronald Coveleski Dennis Boback Fran Canario Diane LaCorte Voted
Second round of petitions certified for recall election
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
The Lee County Supervisor of Elections has verified that the committees to recall Fort Myers Beach councilmembers John King and Karen Woodson have collected enough signatures to force a recall election.
King and Woodson have until the end of the week to resign or a recall election will be scheduled.
The office of the Lee County
Supervisor or Elections verified 564 signatures to recall Woodson and 561 signatures to recall King. The committees needed 503 signatures from Fort Myers Beach registered voters to force a recall.
King and Woodson said they will not resign their seats.
“I will not resign because I have done nothing wrong,” King said. “A lie told often enough doesn’t make it the truth. It’s telling that the recall
ABy NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
mid the worst and most deadly disorientation of threatened loggerhead sea turtles on Fort Myers Beach since Turtle Time began tracking the protected species on the island in 1989, one of the most disheartening aspects of the crisis for Turtle Time founder Eve Haverfield has been how preventable the disorientations largely are.
Hundreds of dead hatchlings this year have been blamed by Turtle Time on lighting violations – which the conservation organization believes is due to a combination of new lighting
plans, an ignoring of the town’s turtle lighting ordinance and the loss of buildings from Hurricane Ian leading to new light reaching the beach.
One example can be found at 6550 Estero Boulevard at the Seawatch timeshare building. The property was cited by the town on May 13 for lighting violations in a case that technically remains under investigation though Town Environmental Projects Manager Chadd Chustz said the violations are clear.
Yet despite the town warning Seawatch, a timeshare building at 6550 Estero Boulevard, of lighting violations in May
See
chairs are fighting legally to not have to show proof of any wrongdoing. The chair’s say they didn’t want to punish us with ethics complaints, but if they would have filed it with the Ethics Commission and we were found guilty, the Governor could remove us and it would have cost the taxpayers nothing. There is no proof,” King said.
“I have no intention of resigning,” Woodson said. “I trust that the courts
DeSantis vows to end all vaccine mandates in schools
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
In a move that threatens to be the most comprehensive deconstruction of the public health system in Florida schools since vaccinations of schoolchildren became required across the nation decades ago, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced this past Wednesday that he has ordered the Florida Surgeon General to end all mandates of vaccines for schoolchildren to attend Florida’s schools.
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo said he would be acting with the Florida Department of Health to begin ending mandates for the vaccines that the department controls under Florida law, and that approval from the Florida legislature would be needed for the rest.
The moves announced by DeSantis and Ladapo would seek to end vaccine mandates for schoolchildren for a whole host of diseases and infections from polio to chickenpox, smallpox, influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus and hepatitis.
None of the vaccines targeted are for the COVID-19 vaccination, which is not required to attend Florida schools.
During an appearance in Hillsborough County, DeSantis and Ladapo described the new policy in terms of “medical freedom” with DeSantis also giving a long overview
VACCINE, page 19
John King Karen Woodson
Gov. Ron DeSantis
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
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Postal Information: Third class postage paid at Fort Myers Beach, FL. Permit 521. FL.
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Cape Coral Breeze, 2510 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral FL 33904.
Web Poll
Previous Question
Should temporary trailers be given more time past the Sept. 23 deadline?
∫Yes, owners should have more time to rebuild their homes and businesses, 51%
∫ No, three years is enough time, 49%
∫ No opinion/unsure, 0%
Should there be more fines for those violating the town’s turtle lighting ordinance? ∫
Ensuring smooth and successful elections
Although the 2026 midterm elections are a year away, my team and I are preparing at every level to ensure a smooth and successful election process.
We are updating our poll worker lists and Election Day procedures manual and actively recruiting for the upcoming year.
Elections would not be possible without the incredible work of our dedicated poll workers! If you are looking for a rewarding way to contribute to your community, I invite you to join our team. You can complete the poll workers application on our website at www.lee.vote.
excellent working condition. We will repeat this process in 2026 before the election season begins.
Network security continues to be a top priority. I am pleased to share that our security and defense system received high marks from a recent Department of State evaluation. We will uphold those strong protections and implement new measures when needed. Visit our website to learn more about the many safeguards we have in place to ensure secure and accurate elections.
general elections (or an intervening election) and have not updated their voter registration. Voters receiving the notice must respond promptly to prevent voter registration issues and help keep our voter rolls current for the upcoming elections.
Make your voice heard! Now is the perfect time to get election-ready. If your address, name, party affiliation, or your Florida’s driver’s license or ID number has changed, please take a moment to update your voter registration with our office. If you plan to vote by mail, you must renew your request with our office, as all requests from previous years have expired. Request your vote-bymail ballot and ensure your voter registration is up-to-date at www.lee.vote.
Our election preparation also includes routine maintenance of our voting equipment. This involves verifying inventory and a thorough inspection. Voters can trust that every piece of equipment is accounted for and in
In other news, we are on track to complete the second phase of our voter registration list maintenance. On Sept. 15, we will mail an “Address Confirmation Final Notice” to approximately 32,000 voters. Per state law, these notices will be mailed to voters who have not voted in the last two
We are ready to assist you. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at elections@lee.vote or 239-533-8683.
Tommy Doyle is the Lee County Supervisor of Elections. For more information, visit https://www.lee.vote/ or call 239-533-8683.
Protect your property with free, fraud alert service
Protecting your property is one of my top priorities. And I hope it is one of yours too.
It’s a sad reality, but unfortunately thieves are stealing properties — and it’s even happening in our community. Property fraud occurs when someone uses a forged deed to sell or transfer property that does not belong to them. Under current Florida law, our office must accept a deed if it meets the statutory requirements — even if we suspect it may be fraudulent. That is why I am doing everything I can to help you protect your property. Criminals shouldn’t be able to steal your home.
Earlier this year, a Fort Myers man was arrested for attempting to steal a property by filing a fake deed in the Lee Clerk’s Official Records Department. Shortly after that, a woman was convicted in a 2023 case involving her trying to file multiple false deeds at the clerk’s office to steal properties from the homeowners. Recently, a Marion County woman was sentenced to five years in state prison for filing a false document to try and steal a home.
These recent incidents and others across the state show the importance of the Lee Clerk’s Property Fraud Alert.
I really encourage you to take a few minutes and register for our Property Fraud Alert, if you haven’t already. It is a free service that helps protect your home, land or business from property fraud by letting you know within 24 hours if someone has filed a deed under your name. That quick notification allows you to act fast, so you can immediately alert law enforcement.
Signing up for the Property Fraud Alert is extremely easy. It takes less than two minutes and can even be done on your phone. You just need to enter your name and email address. That’s it. If you would like to include your property’s parcel number for additional alerts, you can do that too. To sign up, visit leeclerk.org/ fraudalert. You can register personal names, business names, trusts and individual parcels to receive alert notifications. Even if your personal or commercial property is held in a trust, it can still be registered for the Property Fraud Alert. Just follow the step-by-step instructions
Guest Commentary
on the website.
While there are companies out there that charge for this service, it is important for you to know that our office offers it for free. I highly discourage you from paying for this kind of service from a company you may see advertised on TV or online. These are for-profit entities that sometimes make guarantees they cannot fulfill. The Lee Clerk’s office launched the Property Fraud Alert service in 2019, and more than 70,000 Lee County property owners have registered. There are approximately 550,000 parcels of land in Lee County, and my goal is for every Lee County property owner to be registered.
You can learn more about this ongoing problem and how our office is working to prevent it at leeclerk.org/fraudalert.
Kevin Karnes is the Lee County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. For more information, visit https://www.leeclerk.org/.
The views expressed on the Opinions pages are just that — opinions. These pages are intended to convey a range of viewpoints; opinions printed on this page do not necessarily reflect the views of this newspaper. Opposing views are welcome. Letters to the editor or guest columns may be e-mailed to nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com. All letters and guest opinions must be signed and must include a phone number for verification purposes. Readers are also invited to comment on any letter or editorial opinion online at: fortmyersbeachtalk.com.
Tommy Doyle Guest
Kevin Karnes
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
Matanzas on the Bay reopening as ‘On the Bay’
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
Matanzas on the Bay, which has been closed since Hurricane Ian, will reopen under new management and ownership in early October under the new name “On the Bay.”
The owners of the Crescent Street restaurant, who bought the property in 2023, have continued to operate Petey’s Upper Deck, the casual pizza restaurant upstairs. They have also set up tables and seating downstairs overlooking the bay.
The iconic restaurant, which has been operating since the 1970s, was purchased as part of a $7.5 million land deal. An ownership group tied to a real estate investment firm based in Naples, purchased the land from Doug Speirn-Smith, who ran it for almost 30 years. The new owners have ties to Bonita Springs, Fort Myers and Pinellas Park businesses.
Long known for its fresh-from-the-Gulf menu, its new owners said in an announcement that guests “can expect the same charm that has made it a community icon for decades.”
The menu will once highlight local seafood, including Gulf shrimp and fresh catch dishes, alongside signature items that regulars have missed. But with a new look comes new creations from Chef Jose Rivera.
With live music scheduled every day, On the Bay will bring back its signature blend of great food, great views, and lively entertainment.
“We’ve completed extensive renovations on the restaurant. On the Bay has always been about more than just dining. It’s a place where people gather, celebrate, and make memories by the water,” said General Manager
Fort Myers Beach restaurants to participate in Sizzle dining festival
By CJ HADDAD and NATHAN MAYBERG news@breezenewspapers.com
Four Fort Myers Beach restaurants are taking part in an annual food extravaganza this month to help aid Blessings in a Backpack of Southwest Florida, a group dedicated to addressing child hunger.
Sizzle Dining runs through Sept. 30 and features 127 restaurants throughout Lee County and Collier County.
The four restaurants on Fort Myers Beach participating in the event are: Fresh Catch Bistro, Junkanoo Below Deck, JWB Grill and Pinchers.
All four of the restaurants are offering menus tied to the event, with the prices ranging from $29 to $49 per person, depending on the restaurant.
Fresh Catch Bistro is offering a highend, seafood-heavy three-course dinner menu for $49 topped off with a choice of limoncello cake or chocolate overload cake.
At Junkanoo Below Deck, a two-course lunch for $29 will get you your choice of either fried calamari, firecracker shrimp or grouper bites for the first course, and either fried shrimp, teriyaki salmon, white fish Rockefeller or black and blue skirt steak for the second course.
JWB Grill offers diners a large variety of options for their three dinner courses priced at $49, from seafood to salads, filet mignon, chicken, Italian food for the first and second courses, and finishing with dessert choices of chocolate cake, key lime pie and raspberry sorbet.
At Pinchers, there will be several seafood options for a three-course dinner
menu priced at $29, starting with soup or salad for the first course, five different choices of seafood entrees for the main course and topped off with key lime pie.
For every Sizzle Dining meal purchased, $1 is donated for Blessings in a Backpack of Southwest Florida, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit that feeds local elementary school children who face food insecurity on weekends.
“We’re very excited to be able to finally kind of see what this could turn into for our community,” said Sizzle Dining Founder Guy Clarke of the longest-length event yet. “At this level — this isn’t just a weekend event anymore, it’s really taken on the essence of what a true community event could be at this level. It’s great to help the community out, and it’s great to see it will help the children out.”
In 2024, the event sold more than 62,000 meals in its three-week run.
“It’s not just a dining experience,” Clarke said. “It’s an opportunity to dine with purpose, supporting the hospitality industry while directly impacting the lives of children in our community.”
There are no passes or tickets required to participate. Diners simply browse the list of participating restaurants online, make their reservations, and go enjoy their meals, knowing that every bite supports a great cause.
Clarke said dining in the month of September also provides a boost during the slow time of the year, and has a ripple effect beyond just the restaurants.
“This is probably one of the worst summers that I’ve seen since the 2008 crash,”
Clarke said. “We’re hoping that enough people come out. Out of all the times we’ve asked for support and for people to participate, this year truly, really matters. Restaurants need the help this year.
“The trickle-down effect not many people realize. The dishwasher gets extra hours, the servers make extra money, the uniform company has to clean more uniforms, the linen company has to rent more linen for the tables because they’re being turned quicker. Even the boutiques benefit, because when you’re going out to dinner, you have to go out and get that dress. I don’t think a lot of people realize how much this helps the community beyond the surface.”
Each participating location will offer special Sizzle Dining menus, so customers can try different types of food may normally be outside their comfort zone price-wise.
Sizzle Dining was founded in Naples in 2016 by Clarke, who also is the creator of BaconFest Naples along with his wife Erin Clarke, a culinary school-trained chef and restaurant management consultant. The promotional event originally launched with 26 restaurants as dinner-only.
“Between the restaurants saying they’re going to extend their menu, and the consumer saying they need more time to go try all of these places, and us getting more restaurants on board, it was just a natural growth,” Clarke said. “It’s really amazing to see the balance of growth between the consumers and restaurants.”
Clarke said teaming up with Blessings in a Backpack is a no-brainer, and some-
thing that he resonates with from his youth.
“They’re fed during the week with a free lunch program, but what happens when they go home and have to make it through the weekend?” he said. “That’s where Blessings jumps in and says, ‘hey, we’re here to help you.’ The more money we give Blessings, the more kids we can feed.
“If you’re going to go out and indulge, and we’re blessed to be able to eat at these restaurants, it’s nice to know while we’re helping these places and people, that we’re helping the children, too.”
Beyond the obvious charitable component and discounted menus, Sizzle Dining is a great way to explore new spots and possibly find a new favorite restaurant.
“You’ve got all of these restaurants fighting for your attention and they’re coming out with the best of the best on their menu,” Clarke said. “They’re putting their best foot forward to shine and show off a little bit. The consumer gets to benefit because if they’ve never been to a place, more than likely this is going to be one of their better menus that they’re trying to put out there. That makes it exciting as a foodie. What a great time to experiment.”
To see the full list of 127 participating restaurants throughout the region, visit sizzledining.org and make your reservation directly with each restaurant. For more information on Blessings in a Backpack, visit swfl.blessingsinabackpack.org.
Eddie Parisi. Private party spaces will also be available for groups looking for a waterfront setting to host events, meetings,
and celebrations. The restaurant is located at 416 Crescent Street on Fort Myers Beach.
NATHAN MAYBERG
Matanzas on the Bay is scheduled to reopen on Fort Myers Beach in early October as “On the Bay.”
BEACH LIVING
Betty Simpson, longtime civic leader on Fort Myers Beach, dies
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
Betty Simpson, who was one of the first chairs of the Town of Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency, and who was a longtime leader in the town’s civic and community affairs after incorporation, died this afternoon.
Simpson served on the town’s incorporation committee 30 years ago, taking an active role in the town’s vote and pursuit of incorporation, and then actively participated in its formation and early organization.
As recently as May, Simpson was still serving on the town’s Cultural and Environmental Learning Center Advisory Board.
Simpson had previously chaired the town’s Bay Oaks Recreational Advisory Board, served on the Fort Myers Beach Public Library Board and was a former Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District Commissioner, and was one of the instrumental figures behind the town’s acquisition of the Mound House, among many other roles. Simpson was also involved in a number of local civic organizations.
Simpson had recently attended the town’s reopening of the Fort Myers Beach Public Library, an institution that she long supported through her service on the Friends of the Library Board.
A retired Realtor, Simpson was originally from South Dakota. Her daughter Julie Davis Hull announced Simpson’s death on Facebook. Simpson had been ill in recent weeks, according to Hull.
Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency Chair Anita Cereceda said Simpson played a leading role in the town, particularly during the town’s formative years. Cereceda said Simpson may have attended more town council meetings than almost any other person in the town’s history.
“She is somebody who had such an impact on the community, somebody who was in integral part of our community,” Cereceda said. Cereceda said Simpson’s impact on the community was so large that “it can’t be measured.”
Cereceda said she had seen Simpson a times in the last couple weeks before her death. “It’s just sad to lose somebody like Betty,” Cereceda said. “She always had a smile on her face.”
Cereceda said that Simpson was “a very good friend to me.” Cereceda said that Simpson was always straight-forward when giving advice.
Cereceda said that Simpson played an active role in looking out for the community’s interests before and after
to celebrate the town’s anniversary at
incorporation through her contacts around the county. “She was a dynamic, energetic mover and shaker,” Cereceda said.
Simpson also helped begin a tradition on Fort Myers Beach on the first day of the town’s incorporation on Jan. 1, 1996, passing out cupcakes that she and other members of the town’s incorporation committee made. The tradition would continue for decades at Times Square, as dozens of cupcakes were handed out to visitors at Times Square.
Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers said Simpson was “a remarkable woman who poured her heart into
Premier Mobile Health Services to offer mobile medical clinics
STAFF
REPORT
Premier Mobile Health Services, a nonprofit health clinic that brings essential medical care to those in need across Southwest Florida, will be holding a mobile medical clinic on Wednesday, Sept. 10 at 820 Buttonwood Drive.
The mobile health clinic will take place from 9 a.m. to. 1 p.m.
Premier Mobile Health Services provides health care services to the medically vulnerable and those most at risk of developing and experiencing long-term illnesses and hospitalization.
Services include early-detection health screenings, blood pressure and diabetes checks, drug screenings, basic metabolic profiles, nutrition counseling, basic vaccinations, health education, school and sports physicals for children, as well as acute and
chronic disease management.
The mobile medical clinic welcomes walk-ins.
The mobile medical clinic is also open several days each week at Mount Hermon Ministries on 2856 Douglas Ave. in Fort Myers. Appointments can be made by calling 239-222-1829.
Patients without insurance and those who provide proof of income below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines are provided care at no costs; others in need pay on a sliding scale based on income.
The mobile clinic includes an onsite pharmacy and point-in-care laboratory for immediate analysis of test results. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call 239-288-7949. Additional information, the monthly mobile clinic schedule, can be found online at PremierMobileHealth.org.
everything she did. A true community leader whose presence touches so many lives. She will be deeply missed.”
“Betty was at every opening, every function. Not to see her is going to be really strange,” Cereceda said. Hull announced that viewing will be held Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m. at Shikany’s Funeral Home, 28300 South Tamiami Trail, Bonita Springs. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held this Friday at 2:30 p.m. at St. Leo Catholic Church, 28290 Beaumont Road, Bonita Springs, Florida. A celebration of life will follow on Friday at 4 p.m. at St. Raphael’s Episcopal Church Hall on 5601 Williams Drive in Fort Myers Beach.
All Clear
FILE PHOTO
Betty Simpson (second from right) hands out cupcakes
Times Square in 2022 with Town of Fort Myers Beach officials and staff.
NATHAN MAYBERG
The pesky speed bumps on Hurrican Pass Bridge that were actually pieces of plywood and steel plates covering recently poured concrete for the bridge joints, are now gone after the Florida Department of Transportation crews completed work there
SEPTEMBER 3-30
• 239 NAPLES, THE
• A TABLE APART
• ALICE SWEETWATER’S BAR & GRILLE
• AMBER COVE
• ANGELINA’S RISTORANTE
• AQUA BONITA
• AQUA ON FIFTH
• ARTISAN EATERY
STEP ONE Go to SizzleDining.org or scan QR code below.
• BACKWATER JACKS @ BONITA BAY MARINA
• BALEEN @ LAPLAYA BEACH & GOLF RESORT
• BARBATELLA
• BAY HOUSE, THE
• BELLINI’S FORT MYERS
• BHA BHA! PERSIAN BISTRO
• BICYCLETTE COOKSHOP
• BISTRO 821
• KABAB SPOT
• KEEWAYDIN’S ON FIFTH
• LA FONTANELLA RISTORANTE - BONITA
• LA FONTANELLA RISTORANTE - FORT MYERS
• LAKEHOUSE KITCHEN & BAR, THE
• LATITUDE 26 @ THE HYATT NAPLES
• LIMÓN ROOFTOP BAR
• LIMONCELLO
• LOCAL, THE
• LODGE, THE
• LOLA 41
• LOWBROW PIZZA & BEER
• LULU’S KITCHEN
• M & M’S CAFE @ TIN CITY
• M WATERFRONT GRILLE
• M’XUMA TACOS MEXICAN GRILL
STEP THREE
STEP TWO Browse menus and pick your restaurant. Make your reservation and enjoy!
• BISTRO LA BAGUETTE
• BLACK FOREST GERMAN RESTAURANT
• BLACKBIRD MODERN ASIAN
• BLANC
• BLEU PROVENCE
• BOATHOUSE ON NAPLES BAY, THE
• BONE HOOK BREWERY AND CRAFT KITCHEN
• C LEVEL BAR & RESTAURANT
• CABOS CANTINA TACO & TEQUILA BAR
• CAFE NORMANDIE
• CAFFÈ MILANO
• CAMPIELLO
• CAPONE’S COAL FIRED PIZZA
• CHEZ GUY PARISIAN BISTRO
• CHOPS CITY GRILL - ALL LOC.
• CIBAO GRILLE
• CJ’S ON THE BAY
• CLAW BAR, THE @ BELLASERA RESORT
• COAST @ EDGEWATER BEACH HOTEL
• CONTINENTAL, THE
• COTE D’AZUR
• DEEP LAGOON SEAFOOD - ALL LOC.
• DEL MAR
• DISTRICT
• EL GAUCHO TRATTORIA
• ENZO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANT
• ESTIA
• FATHOMS
• FIRESTONE GRILL ROOM, THE
• FLACO’S MEXICAN RESTAURANT
• FLEMING’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE
• FRESH CATCH BISTRO
• FRESH CATCH INLAND
• GATHER
• GRAPPINO & THE BAKERY AT GRAPPINO
• HAMPTON SOCIAL, THE
• HANGOUT BY TWO GUYS, THE
• HOGFISH HARRY’S @ PARK SHORE RESORT
• ITALIAN DELI AND MARKET
• IZZY’S FISH & OYSTER
• JUNKANOO BELOW DECK
• JWB GRILL @ MARGARITAVILLE
• MARTIN FIERRO ARGENTINEAN STEAKHOUSE
• MEDITERRANO
• MELTING POT, THE
• MINI BAR, THE
• NAPLES COASTAL KITCHEN
• NEXT DOOR
• NOSH ON NAPLES BAY
• OAR & IRON RAW BAR & GRILL - FORT MYERS
• OAR & IRON RAW BAR & GRILL - NAPLES
• OASIS THE KITCHEN LOUNGE - AVE MARIA
• OLD VINES NAPLES AT MERCATO
• OLDE FLORIDA CHOP HOUSE @ TRIANON HOTEL
• PAELLA’S MEDITERRANEAN FUSION
• PAZZO! CUCINA ITALIANA
• PEZZO PIZZA + BAR
• PHUZZY’S BOAT SHACK - ST. JAMES CITY
• PINCHERS - ALL LOC.
• PJK NEIGHBORHOOD CHINESE - NAPLES
• PJK NEIGHBORHOOD CHINESE - ESTERO
• REAL SEAFOOD COMPANY
• ROOSTER FOOD+DRINK, THE
• ROY’S RESTAURANT
• RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE
• SAGE ON 47TH
• SAM SNEAD’S TAVERN
• SAN MATTEO ITALIAN RESTAURANT & BAR
• SAVOUR RESTAURANT
• SEA SALT
• SEASONS 52
• SHULA’S STEAK HOUSE @ HILTON NAPLES
• STONES THROW
• SYDNEY’S PUB @ TIBURÓN GOLF CLUB
• TABERNA OLE
• TAP 42 CRAFT KITCHEN + BAR - NAPLES
• TARPON BAY @ HYATT REGENCY RESORT
• TEXAS TONY’S
• TWO MEATBALLS IN THE KITCHEN - ALL LOC.
• U.S.S. NEMO
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San Carlos Island business owners embracing county’s public boat ramp plans
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
Two of the major business anchors along Main Street on San Carlos Island are feeling positive about Lee County’s plans to develop a public boat ramp at the end of the street near the San Carlos Boulevard intersection.
The Lee County Board of County Commissioners voted last week to authorize closing on the former Olsen Marina at 1100 Main Street on Fort Myers Beach for $1.9 million. The county’s plan is to merge the former shipyard that was used for boat repairs with the neighboring Semmer family parcel for a public boat ramp.
The Olsen Marine Holdings LLC parcel is the smaller half of the planned purchase at 28,358 square feet of land owned by Olsen Marine Holdings LLC. The acquisition of the former Semmer Electric building and dock space would bring the total acreage to about two and a half acres. The Semmer family property is listed at $7.45 million and became available after the death of Semmer Electric founder Bill Semmer.
Further down Main Street is Salty Sam’s Marina, a much larger property that includes boat slips and the Parrot Key Caribbean Grill.
Salty Sam’s Marina owner Matt Hanson said he is supportive of the county’s plans for a boat ramp if done with the proper planning.
“The County’s purchase of land on San Carlos Island to develop a public boat ramp certainly aids local boating access,” Hanson said. “As Southwest Florida continues to grow, access points to the water are critically needed. A well-designed ramp has the potential to bring more boaters into the area, benefiting nearby businesses like Salty Sam’s Marina, Parrot Key Caribbean Grill, and the soonto-open Marina Cantina. It’s an opportunity for more visitors to discover everything our waterfront has to offer.”
Hanson said he believes Main Street will need “long-overdue improvements” to support the project. If so, he said the plans could be “another win for the community.”
San Carlos Island he said, “could benefit from refreshed infrastructure, better traffic flow, and a more welcoming entrance to Fort Myers Beach.”
Hanson is concerned though, that San Carlos Boulevard
is “already a heavily trafficked corridor, especially during peak season. Sending even more traffic toward the Beach and this new ramp in the form of large trucks with trailers, often slow-moving and difficult to maneuver, is bound to increase congestion,” he said.
“Ultimately, we’re hopeful that if the project moves forward, it does so with thoughtful planning and infrastructure upgrades,” Hanson said.
Lee County Commissioner David Mulicka, whose district includes Fort Myers Beach, promoted the deal to county legislators and county government officials in order to place a public boat ramp there.
The county was given a $7.5 million state grant last year to rebuild San Carlos Maritime Park further down Main Street. The park housed Trico Shrimp and shrimp boats. There is also an old school building there. The
county had been considering a public boat ramp there but there is not enough room, Mulicka said. Mulicka said the county is replacing and expanding about 400 feet of new heavy-duty seawall, new boat docks for barges and shrimp boats and a new parking lot with drainage and other site improvements with the grant to fund those improvements. The county also uses the boat ramp there. Mulicka said the docks at the park will remain accessible for shrimp boats. “We support the shrimping industry there,” Mulicka said.
Mulicka said there could ultimately be 38 trailer parking spaces across two and a half acres for the new public boat ramp. “The whole point was our access to waterways for recreational public benefit I think is huge,” he said.
See BOAT RAMP, page 20
NATHAN MAYBERG
The Semmer and Olsen marina properties off Main Street on San Carlos Island are being targeted for acquisition by Lee County for a public boat ramp.
12 Fort Myers Beach Art Association show running through next week
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
The latest showcase from the prolific Fort Myers Beach Art Association on display at their new art gallery as part of their “Anything Goes” show has one more week to run.
The art exhibit, which runs through Sept. 19 at the Cypress Square shopping plaza off McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers, features 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.
Nests: 187
False crawls: 386
Hatched nests: 150
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. 25, at the member -owned 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, located 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.
—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.
For more information, visit Website: fortmyersbeachart.com or contact publicity@ fortmyersbeachart.com
RIGHT: “Surfboard” by Mina Bobel FAR RIGHT:“Rainforest Necklace” by Tamara Culp
“Koreshan Golden Hour” by Dana Enders
Town budget hearing to be held Thursday
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
A Town of Fort Myers Beach Council budget hearing set for this Thursday at 5:01 p.m. in the town’s new town hall chambers is expected to include discussion on approximately $1.2 million in new spending cuts that town staff has identified that could potentially make up for a $1.2 million budget hole.
The $1.2 million budget deficit led to the town council voting 4-1 last month to increase its millage rate.
The town council still has time to lower the amount of its millage rate or not change it all, from the current rate of .99 mills per $1,000 of assessed property value. Under the tentative 26% millage rate hike approved by the council, the millage rate would increase to 1.255 mills per thousand dollars of taxable property value.
Last month, Town of Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers encouraged town staff to consider more charges for visitors to the town to make up for an approximately $1.2 million budget hole that has led to a tentative millage rate hike of 26%.
Councilmember John King had also called for increased charges for visitors to the town and a hiring freeze. King was the
lone vote against the millage rate hike.
The town has been dealing with a number of budget difficulties including an $11.9 million loan from the state after Hurricane Ian that is still due, increased law enforcement charges of approximately $155,000 to cover details for the town’s Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve fireworks show, an increase in legal services expenses from $349,000 to $465,000 along with revenue shortfalls. The town did see an increase of $670,000 in real property tax value assessments this year, though, which will increase the town’s tax base though its expenses rose more than $800,000.
The plans expected to be discussed on Thursday include turning the town’s fireworks costs over to the private sector.
Requests to the town for more specific information regarding budget projections and programs led to the town issuing only basic budget information. Finance Director Joe Onzick did not respond to messages seeking more detailed comments on the town’s budget or questions regarding why certain budgeted items were seeing large discrepancies from the amount budgeted for the current fiscal year to what actual spending and revenues were.
A request to town officials and the town’s attorney, Vose Law Firm, for why the legal services are budgeted to increase by $116,000, were also not responded to.
Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers said Tuesday “It’s too early to determine what, if any, increase will be decided. Staff is currently finalizing their recommendations for our discussion this Thursday night.”
Allers had previously expressed apprehension about funding the increases security expenses from the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for fireworks detail unless other revenues from visitors were found. Allers also questioned town staff if it could eliminate the $250,000 line item that the town has had in its budget since 2022 for a planned community policing program which would increase the presence of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office on the island. The Sheriff’s Office already has regular patrols in the town and the town also pays extra for traffic patrols during its busy tourist season.
Preliminary budget changes from town staff would make cuts to staff and programming at the Bay Oaks Recreational Campus and at the Mound House. The cuts include the elimination of $200,000 budgeted for special events at Bay Oaks.
The town received a $1.2 million matching grant from the state in the recent budget session to cover repairs to the south water tower, road infrastructure and stormwater improvements. The grant requires the town to match the $1.2 million with its own spending though it is not clear based on statements made by Onzick if this budget addresses that.
Due to increased revenues, about $1.5 million less from the state bridge loan can be used this year compared to last year when the town used the loan to make up for losses of revenue.
Among the losses in revenue, is funding from Tourist Development Council funds for two neighborhood service rangers which now have to be funded through town taxes.
The town has 69 full-time employees, which is down about 18 employees from last year. That includes unfilled positions that were eliminated. The town has 14 vacant positions that are being advertised.
Following Thursday’s budget hearing, a second and final budget hearing will be held Sept. 24 at the new town hall at 5:01 p.m.
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,
Badass Coffee
Bayside Sports Bar & Grill
Bongo’s Beach Bar & Grill
Buffalo Grill
Cabanas Beach Bar & Grill
Cold Stone Creamery
Coste Island Cuisine
Dixie Fish Co.
Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille
Jack’s at the Pink Shell
Junkanoo Below Deck
Coastal Concrete Services
Current Riders FMB
Erickson & Jenson Seafood Packer Fort Myers Beach &
Caribbean Beach Club
Coastal Properties of SW FL
Coastal Vacation Properties
Distinctive Beach Rentals
Diamondhead Beach Resort
Edison Beach House
Gulf Waters RV Resort
Gullwing Beach Resort
Hilton Seawatch on the Beach
Adventure Water Sports
Cruisin Tikis Fort Myers Beach
Copacetic Sailing
Day 5 Charters
Estero Island Parasail
Everglades Day Safari
Excursions Marina
Fort Myers Beach Sea and Sun Rental
Fun’N’Sun Beach & Bike Rentals
Gulf Coast Tiki Tours & Yacht Charters
Kathy Nesbit Vacation Rentals
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
Gypsea Tours
Holiday Water Sports
Island Carts FMB
Just Livin’ The Dream Charters
Kayak Excursions
Key West Express
Mid-Island Watersports
Mound House
Nautical Tiki Cruises
OB Beach Tours
Paradise Parasail Holiday Inn Express & Suites
From page 1
will recognize the false allegations rule accordingly.
King and Woodson have filed a lawsuit to stop the recall. Their lawsuits name former Fort Myers Beach Mayor Ray Murphy, who heads the committee to recall Woodson, and former councilmember Bill Veach, who heads the committee to recall King.
Murphy, who headed the committee to recall Woodson, said the collection of the signatures was “quite an accomplishment. Just think what we could have done in the season.”
Murphy credited those who volunteered to collect the signatures and who he said “hustled their tails off in the hot summer sun to go door to door. It’s not easy.”
The task of the committees to collect signatures within a two-month timeframe faced some significant hurdles as a large percentage of the town’s registered voters spend their summers up north.
Veach said “gathering these petitions during mid-summer when most people are gone was a testament to the unpopularity of these two.”
This was the second round of petitions that the committees needed to collect to force the recall.
The original ballot collection required signed petitions from 10% of the town’s registered voters, which the recall committees exceeded. With approximately 3,300 registered voters in the town, the committees needed 337 signatures and collected more than 450.
For the second round, the committees needed 503 signatures on the petitions which now included a response from King and Woodson to the petitions.
Fort Myers Beach resident Steve Johnson said “The determination of this team to put out such (an) effort during the dog days of summer is nothing less than spectacular. The source of their commitment was grounded in the desire to return our Town Council back in to a representative government of the people. The over-
whelming response that petition gatherers received was that the Town Council needs to perform their functions in the sunshine and to represent their electorate.”
Following the collection of signatures in the first round, King and Woodson won approval from the town council to have their “reasonable attorney” fees to defend themselves against a recall. King and Woodson subsequently filed suit against Murphy and Veach, in a case currently being heard in Lee County Circuit Court. King and Woodson are asking the court to intervene to stop the recall.
So far, King and Woodson have billed the town a total of more than $12,000 to reimburse them for legal fees.
King and Woodson are challenging the allegations in the recall petitions, declaring the accusations false. In the recall petitions, King and Woodson are accused of violating the Sunshine Law and accepting unreported gifts from developers seeking land use approvals from the town. King and Woodson are accused of violating the Sunshine Law and town policies for allegedly working together to seek a replacement for former Town of Fort Myers Beach Attorney John Herin Jr. in 2023. King is separately accused of working to remove town employees. Woodson is separately accused of violating the Sunshine Law by speaking with Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt about the Fort Myers Beach Pier.
In their lawsuit, both declare all charges false and vague without evidence. The attorney for Murphy and Veach has responded that the state recall petition limits the petitions to 200 words and that they are not required to prove the charges in order to force a recall.
In the event King or Woodson were to resign, the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council could appoint a replacement to fill the remainder of their term through November of 2026.
If not, a recall election would be held within 30 to 60 days on whether King or
Woodson should be recalled.
According to state statute, in the absence of a resignation, Lee County Circuit Court Chief Judge Frank Porter will assign a date for a recall election.
According to state statute, the ballots for the recall election will ask voters whether to recall King or Woodson.
“If an election is held for the recall of members elected only at-large, candidates to succeed them for the unexpired terms shall be voted upon at the same election and shall be elected in the same manner as provided by the appropriate law for the election of candidates at general elections. Candidates shall not be elected to succeed any particular member. If only one member is removed, the candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected to fill the vacancy. If more than one member is removed, candidates equal in number to the number of members removed shall be declared elected to fill the vacancies; and, among the successful candidates, those receiving the greatest number of votes shall be declared elected for the longest terms. Cases of ties, and all other matters not herein specially provided for, shall be determined by the rules governing elections generally.”
The statute says, secondly, that “if an election is held for the recall of members elected only from districts, candidates to succeed them for the unexpired terms shall be voted upon at a special election called by the chief judge of the judicial circuit in which the districts are located not less than 30 days or more than 60 days after the expiration of the recall election. The qualifying period, for purposes of this section, shall be established by the chief judge of the judicial circuit after consultation with the clerk. Any candidate seeking election to fill the unexpired term of a recalled district municipal official shall reside in the district represented by the recalled official and qualify for office in the manner required by law. Each candidate receiving the highest number of
Baseball on the beach
Students from Florida Gulf Coast University play a game of stickball on Fort Myers Beach on Labor Day.
NATHAN MAYBERG
votes for each office in the special district recall election shall be declared elected to fill the unexpired term of the recalled official.”
According to the statute, “when an election is held for the recall of members of the governing body composed of both members elected at-large and from districts, candidates to succeed them for the unexpired terms shall be voted upon at a special election.”
If only one of the councilmembers is voted to be removed from office, the vacancy created by the recall shall be filled by the town council. Candidates to succeed them for the unexpired terms shall be voted upon at the same election.
If an election is held for the recall of members elected only from districts, candidates to succeed them for the unexpired terms shall be voted upon at a special election between 30 to 60 days after the first recall election. Each candidate receiving the highest number of votes for each office in the special district recall election shall be declared elected to fill the unexpired term of the recalled official.
If King and Woodson are recalled, the candidates who succeed them will serve for the remainder of their term, which expires in November of 2026.
Town officials have not yet made clear whether they believe the state statute that applies to a recall election in this case would require just one election or two separate ballots on two separate election dates.
The office of the Lee County Supervisor of Elections referred questions to the Town of Fort Myers Beach Clerk’s Office, who redirected questions back to the state statute.
A message seeking clarification left with the town’s legal counsel at the Vose Law Firm, was not returned.
According to the office of the Lee County Supervisor of Elections, this would be the first recall election the office has handled.
Turtle lighting
From page 1
- the violations have reportedly persisted and allegedly have not been corrected.
No fines have been issued against the property.
Most noticeably, the timeshare building has large blue lighting up and down the front of its building facing the street. The building also has the lights of its lobby on each floor on at night, which is all viewable from the street without any shades closing the lobby lights. In addition, the front entrance lobby is lit up on the ground floor with white lights, all in violation of the town’s sea turtle ordinance, Fort Myers Beach Environmental Project Manager Chadd Chustz and Turtle Time say.
While the town said Seawatch has been made aware of it and a permit application for new exterior lighting was made, the ongoing lighting problems have not been corrected, officials said.
“Seawatch Resort’s management has been made aware of the lighting code violations,” Chustz said. “The blue LEDs down the façade of the building, and landscape uplights are not authorizable per The Town’s Sea Turtle Conservation Code.”
Haverfield and Turtle Time volunteer Cindy Johnson said the lighting issues began when Seawatch reopened this winter with new lighting. The timeshare building had been closed since Hurricane Ian.
While the lighting technically faces away from the beach and toward Estero Boulevard, Haverfield said the lighting reflects toward the beach. Regardless of which way the lighting faces, unless it is shielded and downward directed LED lights (which the lights at Seawatch deemed to be involved in is not), the lights remain in violation of the town’s lighting ordinance, officials said.
Johnson said the light contributes to ambient light visible from the beach to the turtles.
Johnson said there were two deadly disorientations around Seawatch after hatchlings went backwards from their nest towards the building, instead of walking into the Gulf.
Elizabeth Rasmussen, a corporate communications specialist for Hilton Grand Vacations which manages the property, said in response to questions via email that “”We are working closely with the city and our contractors to address this situation and have made several changes since this spring, including turning off select lights during turtle season and replacing other lighting fixtures. We also use turtle rated bulbs in the lobby area. We will continue working to address any issues needed to best protect the turtle habitat.”
“It’s unfortunate when a property is responsible for multiple disorientations,” Johnson said. “I know that Seawatch is willing to be sea turtle compliant.”
Johnson said she blames the town more than Seawatch for not having acted quicker to put a stop to the lighting.
“Seawatch Management submitted a permit application for exterior lighting for staff review,” Chustz said. “Seawatch Staff has indicated they are committed to coming into compliance with an approved exterior lighting plan.”
Yet the question remains as to how the town cited the property just two weeks after nesting season began in May, yet was unable to put a stop to the lighting nearly four months later when nesting season is in full swing.
Johnson said that not all the lights on the property are in violation. Safety lights in the parking lot were in compliance with the town’s sea turtle lighting ordinance.
Meanwhile, bright lights from the lobby on every floor remains on at night, according to Turtle Time.
“Why are they still on?” Johnson asked.
Despite longstanding educational and outreach efforts, the town has had 30 disorientations this year – almost double the record number, in a year when a large number of the town’s condo and timeshare buildings have not even reopened since Hurricane Ian, and several major resorts remain as vacant lots.
Hundreds of hatchling deaths have been blamed on the disorientations.
Unshielded outdoor lights that are not downward-directed and red or amber LED lights as classified by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, are prohibited on Fort Myers Beach from May 1 to Oct. 31 from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. All windows and screens must be covered by shades or curtains during those times.
All exterior lights that are directly or indirectly visible from the beach must be a long wavelength bulb (amber/ red/>560nm LED). Fixtures should be downward directed and shield the light source. Examples of appropriate lighting can be found at: https://myfwc.com/conservation/you-conserve/lighting/criteria/certified/
The town’s response to turtle lighting violations has taken a reversal of a course since 2022, when the town issued 220 warnings for lighting violations. Of those violations, the town issued 44 citations with a total of $19,050 in fines.
Last year, there were only five lighting ordinance cases open by the town as the town operated under new management following Hurricane Ian.
As of last week, there were 44 open lighting cases in the town, according to Fort Myers Beach Manager Will McKannay. McKannay has vowed to take the turtle disorientations and lighting violations seriously and threatened harsher actions for properties that don’t comply. As of last week, no fines have been issued by the town this year for turtle lighting violations.
“The disorientations and hatchling losses are very unfortunate. It’s been a struggle not only for our residents but also for our wildlife as we continue to recover from Hurricane Ian,” Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers said.
“It’s important that we all do our part to help minimize these losses. We can make a difference through ongoing education and, if needed, increased enforcement. Together, we can work to protect our natural environment and support the recovery of our community.”
Vaccine
on his opposition to COVID-19 vaccine requirements and restrictions.
Ladapo in his speech, repeatedly railed against what he called the “insanity” of the medical profession and vaccines, comparing them to slavery multiple times. Ladapo also called government requirements for vaccines “nonsense.”
Ladapo said he would work with the Florida Department of Health and DeSantis to end all vaccine mandates in Florida.
“All of them, every last one of them,” Ladapo said.
Ladapo said “every last one of them is wrong and drips with disdain and slavery.”
Ladapo said there were a half dozen vaccines mandated by the Florida Department of Health that he would ensure “would be gone” and that the rest would have to be reversed by actions from the state legislature.
“Who am I as a government or anyone else, or who am I as a man standing here now to tell you what you should put in your body?” Ladapo said. “I don’t have that right. Your body is a gift from God, what you put into your body is because of your relationship with your body and your God. I don’t have that right.”
Ladapo said it’s “immoral” for government to “tell you what you put in your body.”
State Sen. Jonathan Martin and Rep. Adam Botana, who represent Fort Myers Beach, did not return messages seeking comment on the vaccination plan by DeSantis. State Rep. Mike Giallombardo and Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, who also represents part of the county in the state legislature, did not respond to emails seeking comment.
“Who am I as a government or anyone else, or who am I as a man standing here now to tell you what you should put in your body?”
—Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo
“Vaccines for childhood diseases have been proven safe and effective, protecting not only the vaccinated children but also our seniors and those who are immunocompromised and may be at increased risk for serious consequences of preventable illness,”
—Lee Health Chief Medical Officer Iahn Gonsenhauser
School District of Lee County spokesman Rob Spicker said “The School District of Lee County follows the laws and guidelines from the State of Florida. When new regulations are released, we will review them and update the district’s health and safety protocols if necessary.”
Lee Health statement
Vaccines currently required by the School District of Lee County
Childcare and/or Family Daycare
∫ Diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis (DTaP)
∫ Inactivated polio vaccine (IPV)
∫ Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)
∫ Varicella (chickenpox)
∫ Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib)
∫ Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV15/20)
∫ Hepatitis B (Hep B)
Preschool Entry
∫ DTaP
∫ IPV
∫ MMR
∫ Varicella
∫ Hib (influenza)
Lee Health issued a statement in response to the plan to end vaccination requirements for schoolchildren through Chief Medical Officer Dr. Iahn Gonsenhauser: “Vaccines for childhood diseases have been proven safe and effective, protecting not only the vaccinated children but also our seniors and those who are immunocompromised and may be at increased risk for serious consequences of preventable illness,” Gonsenhauser said. “Diseases like polio and measles have been effectively immunized out of the broad population to benefit everyone. Lee Health continues to strongly encourage parents to vaccinate their children.”
Gonsenhauser said the policy change by DeSantis would not impact how Lee Health will advise.
∫ Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV15/20)
∫ Hepatitis B (Hep B)
Kindergarten through 12th Grade
∫ Four or five doses of DTaP
∫ Four or five doses of IPV
∫ Two doses of MMR
∫ Three doses of Hep B
∫ One Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap)
∫ Two doses of Varicella (kindergarten effective with 2008–2009 school year, then an additional grade is added each year thereafter). Varicella vaccine is not required if there is a history of varicella disease documented by the health care provider.
Additional Requirements: 7th Grade
In addition to compliance with all other immunization requirements, children entering, attending, or transferring to the 7th grade in Florida schools must complete the following:
∫ One Tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis (Tdap)
“While requirements and mandates may change, our commitment to providing trusted guidance does not. We encourage families to use reliable sources of information to empower their own healthy choices because they are healthy choices, and not for any other reason. These steps are important to protect individual health and the health of our community,” Gonsenhauser said. “Lee Health remains focused on providing high-quality care and trusted medical guidance based on scientific research for the people of this community.”
MAHA Commission
In his speech, DeSantis
SCCF: How we protect sea turtles, shorebirds
The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) reported that it takes a lot of work and manpower to protect sea turtles and shorebirds on the islands, especially during the nesting seasons.
Sea turtle surveys
Every summer from April 15 through October, the SCCF patrols 18 miles of beachfront shoreline on Sanibel and Captiva to conduct sea turtle nest monitoring activities.
To complete the roughly 180 surveys covering six months, it takes a large team of permanent and seasonal staff and 80-90 volunteers. Over 5,000 volunteer hours are documented in a typical year to accomplish the goals of its nest monitoring program.
Shorebird surveys
The SCCF shorebird team includes two full-time staff and one seasonal intern who are tasked with regularly monitoring the islands, plus several sites in the surrounding area, for state-threatened snowy plovers and other nesting shorebirds.
A large colony of least terns nested on the Causeway Islands this year, and the team coordinated a stewardship program comprised of 31 volunteers who helped monitor
Vaccine
From page 19
also announced he would create a Make America Healthy Again (MAHA commission) that he said would be a “working group that would recommend state-level integration of these Make America Healthy principles. Those principles as I mentioned are individual medical freedom, informed consent, parent rights and also market innovation.”
The commission will be chaired by First Lady Casey DeSantis along with Lt. Gov. Jay Collins, and will include Ladapo, Florida Department of Children and Families Secretary Taylor Hatch, Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Shevaun Harris, Department of Elder Affairs Secretary Michelle Branham and Department of Environmental Protection
Boat ramp
and protect the nests and chicks from May until August.
Nest relocations, beach construction monitoring
“Our regular monitoring surveys comprise only a singular facet of our objectives undertaken in a given nesting season,” SCCF’s Coastal Wildlife Director and Sea Turtle Program Coordinator Kelly Sloan said. “This year, for example, our team is also under contract with the Captiva Erosion Prevention District to conduct sea turtle nest relocations in advance of an upcoming beach renourishment project. While many of the regular monitoring responsibilities remain, these surveys require us to relocate all nests laid on Captiva.”
The relocation undertaking requires additional coordination and manpower, and the SCCF’s normal staff has tripled on Captiva this season to include four additional interns. Additionally, more frequent shorebird surveys are required on the island to ensure that protected species are not using the habitat prior to project commencement.
Many smaller-scale beach construction projects requiring monitoring by the SCCF also occur during the course of the nesting season. These include projects such as dune crossover repair and construction, plantings, and other emergency
Secretary Alexis Lambert. DeSantis said the commission will also include “experts in the field” of vaccine safety, nutrition, health and family practice.
The objectives of the commission include promoting clean, safe and nutritious food, improving transparency and accountability in healthcare, working on causes of chronic diseases and “restoring trust in the medical field.”
DeSantis said the commission will prioritize reforms, reduce regulatory burdens and hold actors accountable while fostering incentives for healthy living and innovation.
Mrs. DeSantis also said she was concerned about the long-term implications of pharmaceuticals and vaccine schedules. “If you are eating fruits and vegetables, you
From page 11
In May, county commissioners approved a $4.4 million purchase of Mullock Creek Marina in south Fort Myers for a public boat ramp. The county also operates seven other public boat ramps, having recently reopened the Punta Rassa Boat Ramp. “I would like this to be the Punta Rassa Jr.,” Mulicka said.
Mulicka said a public boat ramp would provide a lot of benefits to county residents.
“You have to live on the water, have a lift behind your house or put it in a facility that has a forklift or boat storage warehouse. Most residents have a boat on a trailer,” he said.
Mulicka said the site of a new public
boat ramp would be an ideal location. “When people come here they want to get on the water. These public access points are critical,” he said.
Mulicka expects the public boat ramp to boost local businesses. He also expects some infrastructure improvements along Main Street to make it wider and drainage improvements that are in the works to help alleviate flooding issues on the narrow road and to make it safer. “All of that area has to be wider and raised,” he said.
Between the $7.5 million for the improvements to the maritime park, nearly $10 million in the property acquisition and other planned improvements to Main Street, Mulicka said “We are going to
work following hurricanes. All such projects require monitoring and additional staff time to minimize impacts to sea turtles and shorebirds.
Research
“On top of monitoring and beach construction surveys, our team also conducts several different research projects during any given season,” Sloan said. “This year, we attached satellite tags to five nesting loggerheads to track their movements and evaluate how water temperature affects movements and behavior. We are also continuing an intensive project investigating how red tide toxins affect health, fitness and survival of hatchlings.”
The SCCF reported that a successful sea turtle or shorebird nesting season is reliant on many different aspects of monitoring and research, each with many moving parts. Planning, coordination and lots of hard, intense work are all condensed into the nesting season. Through its staff, seasonal employees and volunteers, all of the demanding work can be accomplished.
For information about supporting the SCCF’s work by adopting a sea turtle or shorebird, visit https://sccf.org/ get-involved/species-adoption-programs/.
can reverse a lot of these chronic conditions,” Mrs. DeSantis said. She also said intermittent fasting was beneficial. “If it is as beneficial as some who have touted its unparalleled success, why aren’t talking about this more?”
The office of Gov. Ron DeSantis did not reply to a message seeking comment on the next steps for the implementation of his plan to dismantle the vaccine requirements for schoolchildren. The office also did not respond to questions about a report by the Florida Center for Government Accountability that Ladapo had already begun to take actions that would remove requirements for schoolchildren in December for four vaccines against Hepatitis B, chickenpox, influenze and the Pneumococcal
shot that fights the bacteria that causes pneumonia, meningitis and other bacterial infections. The reported cited a Florida Department of Health representative as its source.
The moves follow U.S. Senate hearings last week in which Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has promoted anti-vaccination theories, took stern questions from senators about his views and actions. Last month, the director of the Centers for Disease and Control (CDC) Susan Minaret was fired and hundreds of other staffers at the CDC have also been fired this year since Kennedy was appointed by President Donald Trump.
The Lee County Board of County Commissioners voted to authorize the acquisition of the former Olsen Marina on Fort Myers Beach for $1.9 million.
spend 20 to 25 million dollars total to enhance that whole entranceway area,” he said. “It’s going to be a real transformation for that area.”
Grant Erickson, owner of Erickson & Jensen Seafood a little bit down the road on San Carlos Island, said he supports the county’s plans for a public boat ramp.
“I think it’s the right spot for it,” Erickson said.
Erickson said he is awaiting county movement on the county’s other property to bring back more docking space for shrimp boats. “We’re moving along but it’s still quite the struggle,” Erickson said of the shrimp business.
Erickson said there are not enough docks for shrimp boats.
“I have boats that want to come into San Carlos Island but there is not enough room for them to park,” Erickson said. Erickson said the shrimp docks that he rebuilt after Hurricane Ian represent only one-third of the shrimp boat docks that stood before the hurricane.
Erickson said county work on the property that has supported Trico Shrimp Co. “can’t come soon enough.”
Mulicka said he hopes the new public boat ramp will become a “landmark destination for the county.”
NATHAN MAYBERG
WHERE TO GO WHAT TO DO WHO TO SEE
Entry deadline nearing for refuge’s photo contest Page 22
Dozens of musicians to perform across Lee County venues at Island Hopper
By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
Asprawling buffet of music is sharping up for this year’s annual Island Hopper Songwriters Fest. More than 60 performers and 80 free performances are expected at 20 venues between Fort Myers Beach, Cape Coral, Fort Myers and Captiva beginning Friday, Sept. 19.
There will also be nine ticketed performances headlined by country music artist Chris Young, who will close out the festival on Fort Myers Beach at the Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina’s pool party on Sunday, Sept. 28.
The festival will feature “top-tier talent,” said Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau Communications Manager Miram Dotson. The festival is a collaboration between the county’s tourism bureau, Broadcast Music Inc. (BMI) and iHeart Radio.
“Last year was such a testament to the love for the event,” Dotson said. Hurricane Helene had struck just days before the big pool party finale. “Everybody thought it was going to get canceled and the Pink Shell staff cleaned everything within a week. I was just blown away,” Dotson said. “That is so Fort Myers Beach.”
Two years earlier, the Island Hopper Songwriter’s Festival had closed out at the Pink Shell Beach Resort before a packed pool party just days before Hurricane Ian struck.
“The fans come out,” Dotson said. The festival attracts a lot of in-state visitors. The Tampa region in particular attracts a lot of festivalgoers, Dotson said. There are a lot of locals who come out to the shows as well as some country music fans from the Midwest.
“The idea is to get people to come in the slow season and boost tourism,” Dotson said. “The hotels will do special deals.” For example, those staying at the Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina on Sept. 28 will also get to see the pool party show for free.
Young’s hits include “Getting You Home (The Black Dress Song),” for which he was nominated for a Grammy Award. His numerous other hits which he sang and cowrote include “I’m Comin’ Over,” “Voices” and “Think of You.”
The festival is known for celebrating up-and-coming artists and this year they include Adriana McDonald, a Punta Gorda-based musician who plays with the group Shy Blossom. She and her group Shy Blossom have recorded songs with David Abruzzese, the former drummer of Pearl Jam.
McDonald will perform two free live shows during the festival. Her first show will be at the Nauti Mermaid in Cape Coral on Monday, Sept. 22, at 6:30 p.m. She will also be playing the High Tide Social House on Tuesday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m..
Among the new shows this year will be Alair Custom Home’s “Canvas & Chords” experience on Saturday, Sept 27. The show will feature a performance by Katrina Cain and Danny Myrick at a custom home built by Alair Custom Home at 15 Bayview Blvd. on Fort Myers Beach. Local artist Lacy McCrary will be painting during the performance. That show starts at 4 p.m. with tickets on sale through the Island Hopper website. The show will benefit SWFL Reefs. “It will be a unique experience,” Dotson said.
While most of the artists who perform at the festival are based in Nashville, the festival also celebrates local musicians like Sheena Brook. The Lee County resident “has been with us from the beginning,” Dotson said.
Brook will be giving five free performances, with one on Fort Myers Beach and the rest on Captiva Island. Brook will be at South Seas on Friday, Sept. 19, at 8:30 p.m., at The Green Flash on Saturday, Sept 20, at 4 p.m., KeyLime Bistro on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 8 p.m., ‘Tween Waters Island Resort and Spa on Sunday, Sept. 21, at 3 p.m. and at Margaritaville Beach Resort on Fort Myers Beach for a free show on Friday, Sept. 26, at 4 p.m.
Brian Sutherland, who grew up in Fort Myers, now is based in Nashville where he has had success as a solo artist. He is a returning performer for the Island Hopper. He will be playing four free shows on Fort Myers Beach from Sept. 26-28 with stops at the DiamondHead Beach Resort, Margaritaville, Bayside Veteran’s Park and the Yucatan Beach Stand Bar & Grill.
As the name in the festival indicates, the Island
Hopper is about celebrating the songwriters.
Among the songwriters appearing in Captiva is Bobby Tomberlin, who co-wrote the Barbara Streisand song “I’d Want It To Be You” and who has also had his songs performed by Dolly Parton, Faith Hill, Kenny Rogers, Jerry Lee Lewis, Diamond Rio and Darryl Worley.
Tomberlin will be three free shows on Captiva, with stops at the ‘Tween Waters Island Resort and Spa on Friday, Sept. 19, at the South Seas on Saturday, Sept. 20, and The Green Flash on Sunday, Sept. 21.
Dylan Altman, who had written No. 1 hits for Tim McGraw, Jake Owen and Jason Aldean, will perform free shows on Captiva starting at The Green Flash on Sept. 19. ‘Tween Waters Island Resort and Spa on Saturday, Sept. 20, and KeyLime Bistro on Sunday, Sept. 21.
Adam Craig, who has written songs for George Strait and Blake Shelton, will be performing numerous shows on Fort Myers Beach from Sept. 26-28 including stops at Bayside Veteran’s Park, Margaritaville and the Yucatan Beach Stand Bar & Grill.
A full list of the arts and venues participating in the Island Hopper Songwriter’s Festival can be found at: https://www.island-hopperfest.visitfortmyers.com.
Dotson said the goal of the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau is to attract visitors to Lee County to attend the festival and stay at local hotels. Dotson said the bureau hopes the festival will help bring back visitors who may have not returned since the hurricanes that have hit the area the last few years.
“A lot of our guests look forward to this event,” said Katja Kunz, marketing director for the Pink Shell Beach Resort and Marina.
Kunz said the resort is looking to sell out though there are still some rooms available.
“We are grateful to be able to be part of this memorable countywide event,” Kunz said.
Dotson said that closing out the festival on Fort Myers Beach at the Pink Shell Beach Resort each year helps bring the community together.
“Fort Myers Beach is a special place,” Dotson said. “There is something special about the community.”
Chris Young Sheena Brook
Entry deadline nearing for refuge’s photo contest
By STAFF REPORT trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The submission deadline for the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge’s annual contest for amateur photographers who enjoy capturing shots of nature and wildlife is set for Sept. 15.
Sponsored by the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge, the 33rd annual “Ding” Darling Amateur Photo Contest opened on July 15 to non-professional photographers.
All entries must be submitted electronically.
The cash award prizes have increased this year to $500 for first place, $300 for second place, $200 for third place and $50 for honorable mentions. Award payouts have nearly doubled from past years.
The complete contest rules are as follows:
∫ There is a $25 per person entry fee that provides you with a membership to the DDWS and is used to defray the cost of the contest. One fee covers two entries per person.
∫ Only amateur (all ages) photographers are eligible to enter (may not possess a professional photographer tax identification number for the sale of photographs).
∫ Photos must be taken at the refuge and have been taken within two years of entry date.
∫ Each person may enter up to two photos but is eligible to win only one award.
∫ Photos must be submitted electronically via email to ddamateurphotocontest@ dingdarlingsociety.org. Each photo must be a JPEG file of at least 3000 x 2400 or four megabytes. Panoramic photos are not
allowed.
∫ Photos that have won awards in previous DDWS photo contests may not be resubmitted.
∫ Judging will be anonymous. Please do not put your name or anything that will identify you on your photograph.
∫ Judging criteria: Technical excellence (sharpness, lighting, composition and exposure); originality/creativity; interest; and ability to be reproduced for publication.
∫ Only limited image modifications are permitted. Minor manipulation should be used only to produce a more natural-looking photograph. Cropping is allowed but adding any elements not existing in the original scene will not be accepted. Judges, at their discretion, will disqualify any photos that appear to be manipulated beyond these guidelines.
∫ All photo files will become the property of the DDWS. Photos may be used by the DDWS in any way with appropriate credit given to the photographer.
∫ First, second and third place winners and honorable mentions will be formally announced in late October.
∫ The contest’s three judges will include a refuge staff person, professional photographer and member of the Sanibel community.
For an entry form and more information, visit dingdarlingsociety.org/photo-contests.
Entries must be emailed by Sept. 15.
Entrants can pay by sending a check made out to the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society, P.O. Box 565, Sanibel, FL 33957, with a memo “for photo contest” or online at tinyurl.com/dingphotofee.
First place last year went to Wayne Kliewer, of Clinton, New Jersey, for his photo titled “Pretty in Pink.”
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 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 kickoff 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 7AM - 4PM 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-roland-2025-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-ASK-MADD.
WAYNE KLIEWER
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
Adopt a sweetheart
By ISABELLE WELLS Co-founder
note
Meet Charlie, left, a sweet 1.5-year-old Goldendoodle looking for his forever home! About 60 pounds of love, Great with dogs of all sizes - gentle, friendly, and ready to be your best friend- handsome and full of personality. Charlie would make a wonderful companion for the right family.
For more information, please text or call 239-281-0739.
Help us find Charlie the loving home he deserves!
Meet a wonderful little lady, right, who ended up in a shelter and is in need now of a home. Tess is social and is great with other dogs and cats. She is fostered in Naples and shares her house with cats and an other little female also for adoption by the name of Emma. Tess is 18 pounds. She is a cuddler, loves to be in your lap in the recliner or curled up next to you on the couch. Tess is 3 years old. If you are interested please call or text 239-281-0739
Please make sure you do it through “Friends and Family”
Surrendering of cats part 2
There are still way too many cats being surrendered by owners mainly due to moving. If someone is ill, that’s one thing but not finding a place to rent that accepts cats is unacceptable as there are many apartments that do accept pets. You might have to do a pet deposit but the cat or cats will remain with its owner. It is way too difficult to expect cats that have been in a home environment for many years to be all of a sudden dropped off at a shelter (and never, never do
that if a kill shelter).
Also, please never just leave your cat behind when you leave where you have been living. This is abuse and cruel as they now have no food or shelter. There is also a problem of seniors wanting to adopt young kittens. It is best if over 70 to adopt older cats that need homes — maybe their owner passed away or they were lost outside. We have cats that are 6, 10 and 18 that are wonderful and healthy cats that just
Hannah and Holly are 6-month-old female kittens from a litter of seven. They are both very sweet and affectionate. They are very playful and love to be held and are ready for a forever home. They get along great together and would be a perfect pair to add to your home.
need a loving home. Cats can live to be in their 20s if well care for so you have to ask yourself if you are going to be able to take care of a kitten for possibly 20-plus years. If no children or relatives to take them should you become ill, this becomes a problem to rehome them and very hard on the animal. If you are older, please adopt older cats that need homes to live out their life.
Derek is a male 6 month old gray/ white striped kitten. He has a white tip on the end of his tail the same as his mom and is also from the litter of seven. He is very playful and affectionate and loves to chase the laser light and kitten balls. He gets along great with all the other kittens as well as adult cats.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Shell club to hold annual show at TCH
The Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club announced that its annual Sanibel Shell Show will return on March 5-6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and March 7 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Community House (TCH) on Sanibel.
“This world-renowned shell show will feature the very best of artistic and scientific competitions, as well as exquisitely crafted shell creations for sale, shell sales and fabulous vendors,” it said.
The club continued that the event will reunite with the 89th annual Shell Festival and be presented as the 89th Sanibel Shell Show and Festival, hosted jointly with the Sanibel Community Association.
TCH will offer family-friendly activities, such as daily scavenger hunts, a kid’s activity area, face painting and living shell exhibit to entertain and educate youth about conchology and seashells.
“Bring your family to join in the fun,” the club said.
The proceeds will support the club’s grants program and TCH’s programs and operating budget.
The club’s annual grants are given toward education and research in the fields of conchology and malacology, as well as for conservation and water quality projects, primarily in Southwest Florida.
For more information, visit http://sanibelshellclub.com.
The Community House is at 2173
Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.
September events to support families navigating pediatric cancer
The Lee Health Foundation reported that many community events are planned during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in September to support Barbara’s Friends — Golisano Children’s Hospital Cancer Fund.
Clips for Cancer at Bell Tower Shops will be held on Sept. 20, where pediatric cancer patients and survivors will shave the heads of community members inside Dave & Buster’s. Kicking off at 10 a.m., it will offer free family-friendly activities, including games, animal encounters and a Touch-a-Truck with local first responders.
The community can also get involved and support local pediatric cancer patients at Clips for Cancer by becoming a shavee to have a Barbara’s Friends kid shave your head. Register for $25, set a personal fundraising goal and create a fundraising page to support the cause before the event.
Additional community events benefiting Barbara’s Friends include:
∫ 3 Pepper Burrito will donate 100% of proceeds from kids’ meals sold in September.
∫ Mel’s Diner will host a pancake breakfast on Sept. 19 from 7 to 11 a.m.
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
at its five locations.
Funds raised in September will help families with children receiving cancer treatment at the Golisano Children’s Hospital by providing gas cards to make sure kids can get to and from the hospital for daily treatments, paying for med-
ications that insurance will not cover, or purchasing meals so parents can stay with their children during treatment.
For more information, visit BarbarasFriends.org or contact Justin. Brand@LeeHealth.org.
Schools/Instruction
SAN CARLOS BAY SAIL & POWER SQUADRON IMPORTANT NOTICE !
Fort Myers Beach Power Squadron Again Offering Safe Boating Classes Open To The Public. America’s Boating Course. This boating safety course is designed for individuals operating all types of watercraft. This course covers boating safety, basic navigation aids, and safe boating techniques.
SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION
EARNS YOU A FLORIDA
BOATER ID CARD. The upcoming classes are scheduled for Saturday Oct 4 & 11 and Dec 6 & 13, 2025. Each class will last 4 hours per day. We aim to help new boaters and those new to the area navigate our shallow waters, to local marinas and water-accessible restaurants. Our unique program, LOCAL WATERS/LOCAL CHARTS, offers this service. This class is taught on Saturday mornings for 4 hours. OUR NEXT CLASSES ARE : October 18 and November 15, 2025 To register call 239-466-4040. Leave a message and our registrar will contact you! Join the fun at: Fort Myers Beach Classroom / Squadron Office located at 16048 San Carlos Boulevard, Fort Myers, Fl.33908. We would love to meet you and answer all your boating questions!
Wanted To Buy
CASH PAID
I BUY Houses & Real Estate Any Condition Probate - Foreclosure Vacant - As Is I Also Buy Notes - Mortgages Settlements - Annunities Ken 239-295-3820 KenBuysEverything.com
Pets & Supplies
Wanted: Yellow lab puppy. Please call Nancy at 239-789-7238.
I will Come To You To See It Quick & Easy Sale. CASH ON THE SPOT! Vince~941-301-9946~Local
Annual
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WATERFRONT PRIVATE EVENTS
AT BONITA FISH COMPANY
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.
Book Bayside Private Events at Bonita Fish Company today! Contact Private Events Manager Joe Sletten at joesletten@hmrestaurantgroup.com or 239-788-4067 to start planning an unforgettable event.
