|
August 24, 2022 / Issue #2022-34
|
|
|
|
|
It's hurricane seasonEven though we have not experienced as many storms so far this season as we have during past seasons, the most active period often tends to be from now through November.
|
|
|
|
|
|
We are EXCITED for the official ribbon cutting to open Bayside Park! Please join us!
|
|
|
|
|
The event will feature Mayor Ray Murphy with Vice Mayor Rexann Hosafros and Town Councilors Dan Allers, Jim Atterholt, and Bill Veach. FMB’s own singer/songwriter Ms. Sheena Brook will also appear as the event’s musical guest.
The newly-redesigned park includes several enhanced features such as a shaded platform for entertainers, shade sails, a ground covering of environmentally-friendly turf and refurbished brick pavers, benches and a small brick wall for seating. It also includes drinking water fountains for people and dogs as well as a filling station for water bottles, and multicolored changeable lighting. A rain garden with native plants and shell ground coverings is prominent at the front of the park, and new trees are along the sides. The Town’s new logo is reflected in the colors of the shade sails and etched on the metal trash cans and tree grates.
Bayside Park sits where what was commonly known as the swing bridge, the Island’s second drawbridge, was connected. The park now is in the shadow of the iconic Matanzas Pass Bridge, dubbed the sky bridge, that was built in 1978 to replace the swing bridge.
The redevelopment of Bayside Park is the first of the Town’s big three projects to be complete.
|
|
|
|
|
Read more about these projects and others around Town.
|
|
|
|
|
|
It's sea turtle nesting season 70 nests on FMB have hatched
Turtle hatchlings are starting to emerge from their nests.
PLEASE do your part to keep the beach dark so they make it safely across the sand to the Gulf - close curtains at dusk, turn off outside lights that are not turtle-safe, do not use flashlights or phone lights on the beach, fill in holes on the beach and remove items from the beach.
WE ALL - residents, visitors, property owners, business owners - have responsibilities in this season to keep the beach safe for nesting turtles and their hatchlings.
|
|
|
|
Several turtle hatchling disorientations have happened recently on FMB. Please do your part to save the sea turtles! 1) Draw your curtains after sunset 2) Turn off unnecessary lights 3) Use the proper long wavelength lights that are downward directed and shielded from the beach.
|
|
|
|
Sea Turtle Nests are hatching on Fort Myers Beach. Unfortunately, some of them are going the wrong way due to lights from houses, condos, and resorts.
The hatchling in this picture and others were found under condos and houses after being disoriented by the property's lights. Some were rescued but many likely perished due to predators, exhaustion, and dehydration.
It is so important that visitors and owners draw their curtains at sunset to shield interior lights that can cause disorientations of sea turtle hatchlings. Cooling sand after the sun goes down cues the hatchlings to emerge.
The Town also requests property owners and managers on the beach to turn off unnecessary lights and/or convert exterior lights to long wavelength bulbs in downward directed fixtures that shield the bulbs from the beach. Long wavelength light is on the ROY side of Rainbow’s ROYGBIV, whereas white light contains the entire spectrum.
Loggerhead Turtles are protected by the Endangered Species Act, Florida’s Marine Turtle Protection Act, and The Town of Fort Myers Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Code. The Town considers disorientation of sea turtle hatchlings from man-made lights as an irreparable and irreversible violation with a fine of up to $5,000.
|
|
|
|
|
Fort Myers Beach
Distance: 7 miles
Nests: 109 NNE*: 158 Nests Hatched: 70
*NNE stands for Non Nesting Emergence which means that the turtle crawled ashore but did not nest. Bonita Beach (2 miles long) 283 nests; 180 Hatched
|
|
|
|
|
Enjoy the FMB Community Pool's new obstacle courseFun for all ages and the entire family!
|
|
|
|
Swimmers can play and exercise on the inflatable obstacle course and even race one another. Visitors must be able to swim on their own to use the course. The course has a tunnel for swimmers to either go through or climb, a trampoline, and a slide to cool off afterwards.
The course will be set up in the pool on these dates: August 29 - September 5 September 26 - October 2 October 24 - October 30 November 21 - November 27 December 26 - January 2
|
|
|
|
 NEW! Obstacle course at the FMB Community Pool on select dates
|
|
|
|
|
We are already thinking about Halloween Put Friday, Oct. 21 on your calendar and plan to bring the entire family in their favorite costumes to Fright Night at Bay Oaks.
Keep up with the Town’s social media, website, and this newsletter for reminders as the day draws nearer.
We are seeking volunteers NOW for this popular event.
Interested in volunteering in the haunted house or haunted trail, assisting with games, handing out candy or other event necessities?
Call Bay Oaks at (239) 765-4222
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Did you know?
You can ask the Lee County Mosquito Control District to service an area where you are noticing mosquito activity even though the district has a regular schedule to service all areas of Lee County.
Make a service request online or call (239) 694-2174
|
|
|
|
|
|
Labor Day trash pick-up delay Lee County Solid Waste Management wants you to know that garbage, recycling and yard waste collections in the Town will take place one day after the regularly scheduled collection day for the entire week beginning Monday Sept. 5. Regular collection schedules resume on Monday, Sept. 12.
|
|
|
|
|
|
No pickleball on Wednesdays
|
|
|
|
Per an interlocal agreement with the Beach Elementary School, the school will be using the Bay Oaks gym on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. Pickleball will not be able to played by the public in the gym during that time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plants along Estero Boulevard keep growing and blooming
|
|
|
|
|
THANK YOUfor all your help in keeping trash cans away from plants and for not using fertilizers. These baby plants will take awhile to mature and be stable.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hiring part-time Museum Visitor Services Retail Associate at Mound House
Great for an Islander! The person in this position will have a unique role as the public face and first point of contact for visitors to the Mound House. Seamless customer service that maximizes our guest's experiences in the museum and the store is a must!
Job Description
|
|
|
|
|
The Stories Beneath Our Feet exhibit, located in the Underground Archaeological Museum at the Mound House, will be closed to the public from Monday, Sept.19 through Monday, Sept. 26 for maintenance. The Main Museum will be open during this time and all visitors who pay museum admission will receive a museum admission pass to return to the Mound House to view the underground Archaeological Museum when it reopens.
All scheduled programs will continue to be offered as listed on the Mound House September calendar.
Weekly Events August 25, through September 3
September 2022 Calendar Summer lecture series continues in September
The iconic Mound House, one of Southwest Florida’s most-beloved historic attractions that traces its roots to the ancient Calusa of over 2,000 years ago, is inaugurating a new Summer Lecture Series. The series is for adults only with a wine and refreshments reception at 5:30 p.m. and the lectures from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Due to limited seating, advance registrations are necessary by the Monday before each lecture. Make reservations by calling 239-765-0865. Cost is $7 for Mound House members and $12 for non-members.
September 13 Reservations due by September 12 Yvette Carrasco, Environmental Educator Butterflies by the Bay
|
|
|
|
Adam Knight, Museum Educator, presented the first lecture in the summer series on July 13 to a full house. The topic was "Rancho Reality: US Latino Settlement in SWFL".
|
|
|
|
Mound House is partnering with Holbook Travel to host a trip to Mexico in February of 2023.
Details
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SAVE THE DATE
The Fort Myers Beach Fire District is planning a community event for Saturday, Oct. 15, for Fire Prevention Week, which will include the Town and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office. Watch the Fire District’s Facebook and Twitter social media pages for details.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Environmental education pop-up booth hosted by the Marine and Environmental Resources Task Force
Representatives from the Town's Marine and Environmental Resources Task Force (MERTF) are hosting a pop-up educational booth at various locations around Town throughout the month.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Some seats on each of the Town's advisory boards and committees expire by the end of September every year and members must re-apply.
Community members interested in serving as volunteers to advise and support the work of Town government are encouraged to apply. The boards and committees exist to advise Town Council about Bay Oaks Recreational Campus, the Matanzas Pass Mooring Field, Mound House, Newton Beach Park, finances, island preservation and history, marine resources, anchorage, nuisance abatement, and public safety.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ATTENTION BUILDING CONTRACTORS
|
|
|
|
|
Effective June 21, 2022: All new application submittals must be done through the Request Portal. Any new applications sent to buildingpermits@fmbgov.com will be returned.
Effective June 21, 2022: All inspections will need to be requested through the Permit Portal. If you need your access code, please email inspections@fmbgov.com
|
|
|
|
Effective September 22, 2022, all contractors registered with the Town MUST be a licensed contractor through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Contractors licensed through the Lee County Contractor Licensing Board will not be allowed to register with the Town or apply for building permits.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Keep up on the schedule of Town Council and advisory committee meetingsAll meetings are at Town Hall, 2525 Estero Boulevard
Live and recorded meetings can also be viewed on the Town of Fort Myers Beach YouTube channel. Live meetings can be watched on Comcast Channel 98 View the meeting calendar on the Town's websiteUpcoming meetings
Monday, September 5 - Town Hall CLOSED in Observance of Labor Day
Tuesday, September 6 / 9:00 a.m. Bay Oaks Recreational Campus Advisory Board (BORCAB) MeetingThursday, September 8 / 3:00 p.m. Town Council Meeting
Thursday, September 8 / 5:01 p.m. Town Council Budget Meeting
*Meetings are subject to change. Please refer to the agendas posted on the Town's Website.
Town Hall is open for walk-in service from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Appointments are strongly encouraged to minimize wait times. Call 239-765-0202 to schedule an appointment with the appropriate department.
|
|
|
|
|
Status of bids and proposals
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
Currently open for bid:
ITB-22-26-UT - Tier 1 Side Streets Water and Stormwater Improvements The scope of the project includes but is not limited to: the installation of potable water, stormwater improvements and potentially wastewater infrastructure improvements as well as road and right-of-way restoration along Town owned streets
RFQ-22-25-AD - Ongoing Miscellaneous Professional Services Town of Fort Myers Beach anticipates seeking professional consultant services for the purpose of assisting the Town with miscellaneous professional services.
Currently under review:There are no bid opportunities currently under review.
|
|
|
|
|