Life on Fort Myers Beach

TOP LOCAL NEWS

Raise and Ride The Arches

The Fort Myers Beach Arches stood on what is now San Carlos Island for 55 years before they were removed to make room for the Matanzas Pass skybridge in 1979.

“Today we hoist the arch pieces that are in a large pile at the former subcontractor’s home at an undisclosed location,” Lawrence Cremia explained. “We hope to reassemble the remaining pieces, like a giant jigsaw puzzle, to see what individual ones remain, with the help of the University of South Florida (USF) History Department students who will accompany us.” “We are in reality raising the arches today for the first time in nearly 40 years,” added Jane Luchi enthusiastically! “Once we determine how much of the original stones remain, we will know what we need to bring the arches back to life!” The USF students will take the information and conduct as a class project a 3D imaging process on Monday, January 21. “This will not only recreate the arches,” said Lawrence, “but they have historic photographs that show its actual location, including buildings that still exist today for comparison purposes, to determine its exact spot, so we can recreate everything to scale. As for the pieces we will examine today, we don’t actually know what is there, so the 3D imaging will determine that.”  FULL ARTICLE & RESOURCE

Town Council Election in March

Qualifying Deadline Approaches

Next week is a big week for our Town. By Friday afternoon, January 18, 2019, Islanders will know who will be on the ballot for Town Council seats #1 and #2 that will be decided on March 5, 2019. Those seats are currently held by Dennis Boback and Tracey Gore. Qualifying week begins at noon on Monday, January 14 and closes at noon on Friday, January 18. By noon Friday, candidates must have all required forms and payment submitted. Who can run? A candidate for Town Council must be a resident of the Town and a registered voter and must have resided within the corporate limits of the Town for a minimum of one year prior to qualifying for election. The first thing any candidate must do is appoint a campaign treasurer and designate a campaign depository. In addition there are residency forms to complete along with Statement of Candidate forms, financial disclosure forms and ongoing campaign treasurer reports, among a long list of required forms. What’s it cost? Candidate costs are based on the annual salary of a council member – $16,800. The full qualifying fee of 4% of that salary is broken down into a 3% filing fee and a 1% election assessment. If qualifying by petition (Fifty petitions were due December 17, 2018), the 3% filing fee is waived. The 1% election assessment can also be waived in cases of proven financial hardship. So, candidates will pay anywhere from $0 to $672 in order to appear on the ballot.  FULL ARTICLE & RESOURCE

FUN ISLAND EVENTS

• Friday, January 25th

NAUTICAL MARKET & BOAT SHOW 

9am-5pm, Lovers Key State Park. the Lovers Key Nautical market and Boat Show will also have a Seafood Festival this year. Head to this show Jan 25 - 27 for everything you need on the water!

ALLIGATOR PROGRAM
10am, Lovers Key State Park. Join a Park Ranger for an interesting talk about local alligators. Learn why alligators are an important part of the SWFL ecosystem, what makes them so incredible and why they are misunderstood. Learn how to safely co-exist with alligators and how to protect them. Reservations required. Free with Park entry. 239-463-4588.

FOODS THAT DEFINE FLORIDA
10:30am, Beach Library. Join the Estero Island Historic Society for a presentation by Gary Mormino on, “The Ten Foods that Define Florida.” A frequent contributor to the Tampa Bay Times, and author of Land of Sunshine, State of Dreams: A Social History of Modern Florida, Mormino will explore the most iconic floods of the Sunshine State. All EIHS public meetings are free of charge and open to the public. Donations are welcome.

• Saturday, January 26th

NAUTICAL MARKET & BOAT SHOW 

9am-5pm, Lovers Key State Park.

 

POKER RUN 

9am, Bridgette’s Place, Indian Creek Plaza. Restore the Arches is sponsoring a fundraising Poker Run for Cars or motorcycles. Ride starts ad ends at Indian Creek Plaza, 17284 San Carlos Blvd. Music, Food trucks, Raffles and a Silent Auction. Proceeds support the imaging of remaining pieces of the iconic FMB arches in preparation for restoration of the arches. For more information, see Restore the Fort Myers Beach Arches on Facebook.

ART SHOW
10am - 3pm, FMB Art Association Gallery. 

OFFSHORE BOAT RUN
11am, Sanibel Bridge. The Fort Myers Offshore Club, a non-profit club for offshore boating enthusiasts, will hold a fun run to the Naples Hyatt. Boats meet on the south side of the Sanibel bridge at 11am and head to the Naples Hyatt for lunch. Free for club members. $100 for non-members. To learn more about joining this offshore boating club, visit ftmyersoffshore.com

FESTIVAL OF ARTS
1-4pm, FMB Art Association Gallery. Free reception and admission. Dillman’s Art Workshop Retreat of Lac du Flambeau Wisconsin and Fort Myers Beach Art Association welcome you to a Festival of the Arts, a free and fun afternoon. Demonstrations by acrylic and watercolor artists.
 

SUNSET CELEBRATION
5-10pm, Times Square. Gather in Times Square to watch the sun set and enjoy food & fun, plus a free live music concert. 

• Sunday, January 27th

NAUTICAL MARKET & BOAT SHOW 

9am-4pm, Lovers Key State Park.

FEATURED PROPERTY LISTINGS

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128 Gulfview AVE Fort Myers Beach, FL, 33931

 

Move right into this updated spacious turnkey 3 Bedroom 2 1/2 Bath Beach home with 2nd floor open floor plan on an oversized lot surrounded by lush Xeriscape landscaping adding to the peaceful & serene setting & views. Short walk to the Beach, close to Publix Grocery Store & Restaurants located at the South end of the Island. Fenced yard, tile throughout 2nd floor except master bedroom, new roof 2016, upstairs a/c replaced approximately 5 years and so much more! Square Footage per 9-7-16 Appraisal. 

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Lahaina Realty on Fort Myers Beach  239-994-4572  Follow this link to search for all properties for sale in South West Florida www.fortmyersbeachwaterfront.com 
For a free evaluation of your home or condo current value go to www.FreeFortMyersHomeValues.com you will receive 3  recent property sales and 3 current properties for sale, and the current market value of your property. Receive a Free Home Warranty, value $450.00, with each property purchase or listing above $150,000  

 

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