Wednesday, October 25, 2023

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

County’s Tourist Development Tax revenue to fund four projects on Fort Myers Beach

The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted on Tuesday of last week to fund four projects on Fort Myers Beach totaling $1,534,924.

The funds will be from Tourist Development Tax revenue and are in the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Lee County budget. They are to be used for maintenance of beach park facilities, public accesses, boardwalks, restrooms, and equipment. The Town will have agreements with Lee County that authorize the work and allow for reimbursement.

The four Town projects are:

Beach and shoreline maintenance, including portable air conditioned restroom trailers at Newton Beach Park - $1,196,600
Replacement of restroom trailer at Palm Avenue Beach Access - $10,100
Public beach access boardwalk replacements - $323,761
Newton Beach Park shade structure - $4,463

Funds for beach and shoreline maintenance are typically awarded to the Town each year.

Funds allocated this year for the public beach access boardwalk replacements are for eight beach accesses that were destroyed by Hurricane Ian in September 2022. These accesses are 14, 15, 17, 24, 25, 26, 27 and Newton Beach Park. Specifically, funds are for permitting and construction of three boardwalks - 24 (Pompano Street); 26 (Chapel Street); and 27 (Mango Street.)

The Commissioners also awarded Tourist Development tax funds to other government and community agencies in Lee County. See the full list and read Lee County’s press release here.

The Town’s Mayor Dan Allers represents the FMB Town Council on Lee County’s Tourist Development Council (TDC), which reviews requests for funds and makes recommendations to the Commissioners on how to allocate them. Learn about the TDC here.

“We are grateful to the Lee County Commissioners and the Tourist Development Council for recommending and approving each of our requests for these funds,” said Mayor Dan Allers. “They are critical in our ongoing work to restore and rebuild Fort Myers Beach, as is our partnership in general with Lee County and its various programs.”

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Mound House hours expanded

to four days a week

That's one more day to dig deeper into Fort Myers Beach's 2,000 year history

Museum and museum store is now open

Wednesdays through Saturdays

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Closed Sunday to Tuesday

The grounds will continue to be open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Mound House will also expand its programming by offering its popular guided Eco-Kayak Tours on Saturdays and Wednesdays at 9 a.m. These expert led tours take participants through mangroves tunnels and hidden inlets of Estero Bay Encounters with dolphins, manatees, raccoons, stingrays, tarpon, rosette spoonbills, herons, along with other birds, are common.

Mound House members save at $20 per tour. Regular price is $50 per person. To register, visit www.MoundHouse.org.

Mound House also offers daily guided Shell Mound tours that include a tour of the site, hands-on replica artifact demonstration, and atlatl spear throwing! Learn about the Calusa - the first residents of Fort Myers Beach - and how this indigenous nation constructed large shell mounds and ruled southern Florida for nearly 2,000 years.

Check www.MoundHouse.org for more information and tour times. Reservations are not required.

Events and Programs at Mound House in November

Mound House Lecture Series: The Calusa Legacy

Presented by Dave Scheidecker, Research Coordinator for the Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Tribal Historic Preservation Office

Tuesday, November 7, 5:30 - 7 p.m.

What is the continuing legacy of the Calusa? Learn more about the connections of the Calusa people to the broader area during the Ancestral period, and the legacy of the Calusa ancestors within the Seminole Tribe in current times.

Dave graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a B.A. in History, and from Texas Tech with a Master’s in Anthropology. He has worked on historic and prehistoric archaeological sites in Texas, Ecuador, and Zimbabwe before returning to Florida. Dave has been with the THPO since 2015.

Mound House members save at $7 per person. Regular admission is $15 per person. Price includes lecture, museum admission, and complimentary light food and drinks. Register at www.MoundHouse.org.

Small Business Saturday

Saturday, November 25, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Shop small and shop local at the Mound House Museum Store on Small Business Saturday. The Museum Store will be offering 20% off storewide! Mound House members will save an additional 10% off! The Museum Store features curated items with a focus on history and nature including toys, jewelry, home décor, books, wellness, bird-friendly coffee, local honey, and more.

Eco-Kayak Tours

Wednesdays and Saturdays, 9 - 11 a.m.

Explore the winding mangrove creeks and go places only a kayak can go on this guided eco-tour of Estero Bay. This beginner friendly tour allows you to experience and learn more about the natural beauty of a mangrove estuary and the history of the area.

Mound House kayak tours are conducted in accordance with Florida Society for Ethical Ecotourism guidelines. All paddling and kayak safety equipment is provided. Ages 12 and up. Weather permitting. Maximum of 12 paddlers per tour. Shoes required, and water is strongly recommended. Mound House members save at $20 per person. Regular price is $50 per person. Register at www.MoundHouse.org.

Shell Mound Tours

Select times Wednesday – Saturday. Check www.MoundHouse.org for times.

Discover the archaeology and history of the site and learn what clues were uncovered about this 1,600-year-old shell mound. This hands-on tour will explore the environmental and cultural history of the site and feature replica artifact demonstrations. Mound House members save with free tours, and regular price is museum admission + $5. No reservation required.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Do you live off the island?

Work on the beach?

Consider enrolling your elementary-age children at the Fort Myers Beach Elementary School!

Schedule a visit to meet the teachers and talk more about this one-of-a-kind school.

Terry Jacobs, School Information Specialist

239-463-6356

Terryaj@LeeSchools.net

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Take the Pub Passport adventure

Purchase a $25 pub pass from the Fort Myers Beach Woman's Club and enjoy drink and food specials from 12 FMB bars and restaurants until December 31!

Click here to learn more

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

FIGHT THE BITE!

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

County’s Tourist Development Tax revenue to fund four projects on Fort Myers Beach

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Mound House hours expanded

to four days a week

That's one more day to dig deeper into Fort Myers Beach's 2,000 year history

Museum and museum store is now open

Wednesdays through Saturdays

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.Closed Sunday to Tuesday

The grounds will continue to be open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Events and Programs at Mound House in November

Mound House Lecture Series: The Calusa Legacy

Tuesday, November 7, 5:30 - 7 p.m.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Do you live off the island?

Work on the beach?

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Take the Pub Passport adventure

Purchase a $25 pub pass from the Fort Myers Beach Woman's Club and enjoy drink and food specials from 12 FMB bars and restaurants until December 31!

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

FIGHT THE BITE!

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Closed Sunday to Tuesday