WEEK OF FEBRUARY 8, 2023
VOLUME 38, NUMBER 6
Beach Elementary talks go private By NATHAN MAYBERG
nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
Talks between the Fort Myers Beach community and Lee County School District have moved behind closed doors via an ad-hoc committee into the district’s offices. The discussions, which started in December at the former Skip One Seafood Restaurant on San Carlos Boulevard in
Fort Myers Beach with a few dozen community members seated at tables with district Superintendent Dr. Chris Bernier and school board trustee Chris Patricca, are now being held privately with a small group of community members and district officials. A Zoom call was held last week according to several people involved. The committee was set to meet again today in
the district offices in a meeting closed to the public and media. The committee includes parents John Koss, Monica Schmucker, Jenny Tardiff and Patrick Vanasse, Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt and Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak. Meeting with the committee on the Zoom call last week were school district’s Chief of Staff Michael Ramirez,
Chief Operating Officer Jeff Wagner and Superintendent’s Office Coordinator Dr. Adam Molloy. The same working group was scheduled to meet again Wednesday. Atterholt said the decision to take the talks private through the committee came about after “the parents agreed, along with the superintendent’s team, to put together a smaller more manageable working See TALKS, page 2
Fatal crash at Summerlin Road intersection By NATHAN MAYBERG
nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
Going to the White House Fort Myers Beach Chamber President Jacki Liszak to be guest of First Lady at State of the Union speech by President Joe Biden By NATHAN MAYBERG
nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
ort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce President Jacki Liszak received the message in a text late Friday night. She was wanted at the White House to be a guest of First Lady Jill Biden for dinner and as her guest at her husband President Joe Biden’s State of the Union speech to the Congress and American people at the House chamber Tuesday night.
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insidetoday
Liszak, contacted Tuesday before the big event, didn’t believe it at first. “It’s not funny to make a joke like that,” she said. Though initially skeptical the text might be a spam message, she soon received an official follow-up email from First Lady Biden’s assistant indicating the message was very real. She was soon on the phone confirming details. “I don’t know why they chose me,”
Liszak said. Liszak had met President Biden and the first lady when they visited Fort Myers Beach shortly after Hurricane Ian hit. She evidently left an impression. “I am super excited. I’m a little bit in awe and I’m cognizant of the responsibility I have to represent Fort Myers Beach,” Liszak said. Liszak met the Bidens among a large group of people on Fort Myers Beach days after See LISZAK, page 2
A Canadian man driving a sport utility vehicle was killed turning off the Summerlin Road intersection toward Fort Myers Beach on San Carlos Boulevard when his vehicle collided with a Lee County transit bus Friday afternoon. Two others were left in critical condition by the wreck, according to a statement issued by the Florida Highway Patrol. The driver of the SUV, a 77-year-old male from Amherstburg in Ontario, was pronounced deceased after being transported to an area hospital. One of the passengers of the SUV, a 76-year-old female from Amherstburg, was transported to Gulf Coast Medical Center in critical condition. Another passenger, a 71-year-old female from New Jersey, was also listed in critical condition. The driver of the bus, a 52-year-old male, escaped with minor injuries. There were no passengers on the bus at the time of the crash, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The collision occurred at approximately 4 p.m. The SUV was attempting to make a left turn onto San Carlos Boulevard from Summerlin Road when it collided head-on with the bus. Fort Myers Beach Fire District crews responded with Lee County EMS and Iona‑McGregor Fire District to the accident, said Christopher Armiger, Fort Myers Beach Fire District Assistant Chief of Support Services. “Fort Myers Beach Engine 32 and Rescue 32 performed extrication on scene and transported one patient from the scene,” Armiger stated. Lee County Communications Director Betsy Clayton said there would be no comment on the county’s transit bus being involved in the accident since the matter was still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
Guest Commentary................................4 Beach Living...........................................8 Business..................................................5 Beach Bulletin................................13-18
Classifieds.............25