March 30, 2022 / Issue #2022-13

THE GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP IS THIS SATURDAY, April 2, 2022, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Limited spots are still available.  Register  today and be a part of the largest cleanup in Lee County keeping our community clean & pristine!

Lee County Solid Waste’s fourth annual Donated not Wasted campaign starts soon to encourage seasonal residents and visitors to donate unopened pantry items before returning North.

Drop off unopened canned or dry goods between Monday, April 4, and Monday, April 18, at any library or Lee County Recreation Center. The Fort Myers Beach drop off location is the FMB Library at 2755 Estero Boulevard.

Since the program’s inception, more than 15,000 pounds of food has been diverted from potential disposal and sent to the Harry Chapin Food Bank. This is enough food to provide 12,660 meals.

For more information, visit www.leegov.com/solidwaste or call 239-533-8000.

Lee County has launched a new resource for property owners and potential property owners. It provides information about utility providers, public safety agencies, evacuation zones, flood zones, school zones, and more.

It’s a resident information tool, accessible on the leegov.com homepage or by visiting leegov.com/tools. Once there, enter the address of your home or the home you are interested in purchasing. 

Put "IF FOUND" stickers on your personal watercraft

If you have a kayak, canoe, or paddle board of any kind, the Coast Guard and other public safety agencies want you to secure them properly and add an IF FOUND sticker to them.

This sticker can quickly help first responders to "loose watercraft" calls determine that you are safely on shore and avoid an unnecessary rescue effort. 

Flotilla 91 D7
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
Serving the areas in and around Ft. Myers Beach, Fort Myers & Sanibel Island

Cruiser's Appreciation Day was a rousing success! 

First outdoor movie at Bay Oaks Recreational Campus was "The Goonies" last Saturday

Ground-clearing began this week

for the construction of the new entrance
off Estero Boulevard to Bay Oaks Recreational Campus. 

It’s archaeology month in Florida
Read more on the WGCU website

The Town's Mound House is an important archaeological and historic site as well as a great place to visit.

The history of the Mound House Museum and Cultural Environmental Learning Center is connected to Southwest Florida's first inhabitants - the Calusa Indians. The house sits atop their 2,000 year old shell mound surrounded by beautiful gardens and Estero Bay.

Estero Bay also has the distinction of being the  first aquatic preserve  in Florida.

This month at Mound House

March 31 through April 9, 2022

April 2022  Outdoor Nature & Education Events

Caloosa Carvers at The Mound House host free public carving demonstrations on the first and third Tuesday of each month through tourism season from 9 a.m. to Noon. 

The next Caloosa Carvers Mound House program is on Tuesday, 
April 5  followed by last sessions on April 19.

In addition to their free public demonstrations, these talented woodcarvers provide the Mound House with hands-on educational tools for school groups and the general public.

www.moundhouse.org

Ribbon cutting for the completion of the Estero Boulevard Improvement Project 

A large crowd gathered this morning to officially mark the completion of the Estero Boulevard Improvement Project.

Town Mayor Ray Murphy spoke on behalf of Town Council during the presentation that included Lee County and project officials.

To learn about the project, visit  https://refreshfmbeach.com/

It’s time to recognize outstanding citizens, groups, organizations and businesses
 Nominations for annual awards set by Town Council are due being accepted in the following categories:

Learn about the Citizens of Distinction awards

Nomination form for Citizens of Distinction

Nomination form for Stewardship Award

 Friends of the Mound House live auction, strolling supper fundraiser on April 8

Friends of the Mound House, a nonprofit organization that supports educational programs and events at Mound House, invites the public to its upcoming live auction and strolling supper fundraiser on Friday, April 8.

 “Artful Intersection 3.0” will be from 7 to 9 p.m. outside on the grounds of Mound House at 451 Connecticut Street in Fort Myers Beach. Tickets are $75 a person and can be purchased online.

The live auction will include unique items such as material carved out of the Mound House Strangler Fig from the Caloosa Carvers, original artwork, and more.

Mound House is the oldest standing structure on Fort Myers Beach dating back to the 1920s. It is a property of the Town of Fort Myers Beach with the mission to preserve, interpret, and share 2,000 years of cultural and environmental history of Fort Myers Beach and Southwest Florida.

Mound House sits atop a 2,000 year old Calusa Indian shell mound and opened in 2015 as a museum and cultural experience after undergoing restoration. The grounds include an observation pier over Estero Bay, a kayak launch, and historic gardens with a variety of native plants, birds, trees, butterflies, and other wildlife.

Tours of the House are conducted Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A shop with unique gift items is also open during museum hours.

Sign up now  for summer camp at Mound House 

Two sessions will be held during the weeks of July 11 and July 18. From guided tours and beach walks to kayak eco-tours and a unique archaeological experience, explore the history of the 2,000 year old Calusa Indian Shell Mound and the surrounding natural environment while having great summer fun.

Bay Oaks Social Seniors Upcoming Events 

Environmental education booth schedule

Representatives from the Marine Resources Task Force (MRTF) are hosting a pop-up educational booth at various locations around Town

Only people-powered devices can be operated on the sidewalks and beach

At last week’s Town Council meeting, after a second reading and public hearing, amendments were adopted to the bike safety ordinance 22-04 (Traffic and Vehicles – Chapter 28.)

In general, these amendments mean that only wheeled transportation vehicles/devices that are people-powered, not electric powered, are permitted to be ridden on the sidewalks or beach.

The amendments officially prohibit “motorized micro mobility devices” such as scooters, skateboards, hoverboards and other one-wheeled devices. The Town’s bike ordinance already included electric bikes that are not in manual mode from being used on the sidewalks or beaches.

These amendments do not apply to electric wheelchairs. They are permitted on the beach and sidewalk.

In a meeting in February of this year, Town Council adopted another amendment to the bike safety ordinance that requires working lights and bells to be on all bicycles. For the public's convenience, bells and lights are available for purchase at Town Hall.

Violations of these new regulations are enforceable by a $50 fine per occurrence. 

Bicycle bells & lights for purchase at Town Hall

Looking for a spot to park your bicycle in the Downtown District?

A new bike rack has been installed next to the Matanzas Pass Bridge in the Downtown District that can hold up to 55 bikes.

Are you a prospective or current property owner with questions about the Town's building, planning and/or zoning codes? 

Spruced up Beach Access at Seaview

BEFORE

AFTER

Keep up on the schedule of Town Council and advisory committee meetings

View the meeting calendar on the Town's website

Upcoming meetings

The Town of Fort Myers Beach has partnered with DemandStar which is open and accessible to all businesses and gives instant access to RFPs, RFQs, and ITBs 

Read more about bids and proposals