INSIDE: Legal Notices
www.capecoralbreeze.com
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
$1.00
Longtime Fort Myers Beach restaurant to close Bonita Bill’s property first used as fish house in 1926; fundraiser set By NATHAN MAYBERG
nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
Bonita Bill’s Waterfront Cafe, a hallmark on Fort Myers Beach for decades, will close on Sunday, Jan. 5. A fundraiser will be held at the restaurant Saturday, Jan. 4, and Sunday, Jan. 5, to support the staff at the waterfront restaurant on San Carlos Island run which was run for more than three decades by the late Bill Semmer.
NEWS OF NOTE
The Fisherman’s Wharf property is under contract to be sold as part of several San Carlos Island properties owned by Semmer's estate. Semmer died in January of 2023, just months after Hurricane Ian damaged the restaurant’s docks and closed it down. The restaurant triumphantly reopened in March 2023 after repairs were made while a boat remained lodged on its docks —becoming a tourist attraction. “It’s a lot to take in,” said Semmer's
daughter Katie Reynolds. She helped oversee repairs to the restaurant and its reopening after Hurricane Ian. “It’s hard to imagine Bonita Bill’s is not going to be there anymore,” she said. “The reason I am closing is the estate made the decision to sell it,” Reynolds said. “It was a labor of love. A lot of blood, sweat and tears.” Right now, all Reynolds can think about is helping to find the staff jobs after the
Homeless Service Day and Veteran Stand Down Jan. 25 at Next Level Church
By CJ HADDAD
cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com
sued the group off the island. The robbery took place on the island in a residential neighborhood where the victim told investigators he intended to purchase a pair of sneakers Christmas Eve afternoon.
A Cape Coral man was arrested after barricading himself inside a garage following an alleged domestic assault. Christopher Peel, 42, was arrested on one count of false imprisonment and one count of battery stemming from an incident that took place Dec. 26. Cape Coral Police Department officers were called out to a residence near Northwest 15th Avenue and Northwest 2nd Terrace just before 5 p.m. Thursday for a domestic disturbance. Police said a 9-1-1 call reported that Peel "was battering a woman he was in a relationship with." CCPD officials said once officers arrived, Peel "barricaded himself in the garage and refused to cooperate." CCPD's Violent Crimes Unit took over the investigation, with the victim telling detectives that Peel had "physically battered her during an argument and blocked her from leaving the residence." CCPD officials said the victim had "minor but visible injuries and was not required to go to the hospital." The victim told law enforcement that when Peel learned that police were on their way, he locked himself in the garage. Police officials said Peel made statements that "he would only leave the home in a body bag." CCPD officials said due to Peel's
See ARMED ROBBERY, page 4
See CAPE MAN, page 4
Staff and volunteers at the Cape Coral Animal Shelter made Christmas special again this year by presenting gifts to all the dogs and cats housed at the center over the holiday. PHOTOS PROVIDED
Deputies arrest three following Legal Notices . . . . 5-8 armed robbery on Fort Myers Beach Local Tides . . . . . . . 3 INDEX
Sports . . . . . . . . . . . 3
7
48445 46010
See BEACH RESTAURANT, page 4
Cape man charged after barricading himself inside garage
A Christmas treat
The Lee County Homeless Coalition and the Lee County Continuum of Care will be holding their Homeless Service Day and Veteran Stand Down Saturday, Jan. 25, at Next Level Church at 3637 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, in Fort Myers. The opening ceremony will begin at 8:45 a.m. Volunteers are needed for the event. You can register a table for a group up to six or volunteer individually. Help is needed for a point in time survey, guides, parking lot attendants, holding valets and any other tasks needed. Contact Cheri Arnold at ess@homelesscoalition.net. The Lee County Homeless Coalition provides a variety of services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, including traffic court, food, hygiene kits, hair cuts, medical care, VA benefits and referrals for substance abuse addictions and mental health counseling. Please visit https://leehomeless.org/
restaurant closes. She has started a GoFundMe page for the workers and will be holding a fundraiser on closing weekend Jan. 4-5. An online store is also being launched to support the staff, with an auction planned of Bonita Bill’s memorabilia. “I am trying to rally the community around the staff to help find them new positions,” Reynolds said. Reynolds said the Bonita Bill's staff are “superstars” who will help any local business who hires them.
By NATHAN MAYBERG
nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
Three young males were arrested Christmas Eve by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office after they allegedly were part of an armed robbery on Fort Myers Beach. The arrest involved a chase after deputies pur1