WEEK OF NOVEMBER 30, 2022
VOLUME 37, NUMBER 49
Shrimp boats getting back in water By NATHAN MAYBERG
nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
It’s been two months since Hurricane Ian and three of an estimated 45 shrimp boats have made it off the land off Fort Myers Beach and back into the water with the third — an approximately 80-feet-long, 160-ton steel boat named “Miz Shirley” making it back into the bay Tuesday.
Double E after the cranes put it back in the water. TRACEY GORE
The return of the shrimp boats to water has been a Herculean effort that has made colossal strides in recent weeks but is still far from complete. The first shrimp boat to make it off Erickson and Jensen’s property was one of the company’s 11 shrimp boats — “Double E.” Grant Erickson and his family have been in the shrimping business
on Fort Myers Beach for approximately 70 years. They have operated a shrimping business at its present location on Shrimp Lane off Main Street in San Carlos Island since 1964. “It’s a slow process but it’s happening,” Erickson said. Steve Beyel of Beyel Brothers Crane & See SHRIMP BOATS, page 2
Community Foundation, Woman’s Club looking to help By NATHAN MAYBERG
nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
Students, parents, community ask board to clean, rebuild elementary school By NATHAN MAYBERG
nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
ort Myers Beach Elementary School students took a graduate class in civics Tuesday when they joined their families, school staff and members of the community in speaking up at a meeting of the Lee County School Board meeting to save their school amid concern over whether the board and administration will act to rebuild the school after it suffered damage from Hurricane Ian. A lack of remedial work inside the building since Hurricane Ian has led to increasing worries that the district is not moving quickly to help clean and repair the building while other schools they say are less hard hit have been re-opened. More than 30 people spoke at the school board meeting, including three elementary school students, a couple staff members, many parents and members of the community. Jesse Field, a parent of two students at Beach Elementary School, said he and his family moved from California to Florida during the covid pandemic.
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insidetoday
What are we supposed to tell our kids that have been through so much? Hey, when things get hard, you are supposed to just give up? My job as a father is to raise strong women and that is exactly what I'm going to do. They know that tough times never last, tough people do. We really hope you do what's right." — JESSE FIELD, Father of two Fort Myers Beach Elementary School students “Once we came over the bridge to Fort Myers Beach we thought we hit the lottery,” Field said. He said educators went above and beyond to help his two daughters receive a proper education. Field noted that the school has been named a school of excellence by the State of Florida four years in a row. “We should be figuring out a way to save a huge asset, not a way to shut it down,” he said. “What are we supposed to tell our kids that have been through so much? Hey, when things get hard, you are supposed to just give up? My job as a father is to raise strong women and that is
exactly what I’m going to do,” Field said. “They know that tough times never last, tough people do. We really hope you do what's right.” Lee County Schools Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier said options on whether to rebuild the school or pursue See BEACH SCHOOL, page 3 Fort Myers Beach Elementary School students and their families voiced their support for rebuilding and saving their school at a meeting of the Lee County School Board Tuesday last week in Fort Myers. NATHAN MAYBERG
If you have a Fort Myers Beach address in the 33931 ZIP code on island or off, the Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation and Fort Myers Beach Woman’s Club wants to find you and help you. The two organizations have raised more than half a million dollars since Hurricane Ian for their 33931 #WeAreFMB Fund. More than 800 residents have been sent an eMastercard worth $500 to help with expenses incurred from Hurricane Ian. They also have grossed more than $20,000 on the sale of #WeAreFMB Resilient shirts and hats with more continuing to be sold. Out of more than $525,000 raised, Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation President Robin Bush said there are still enough funds to help another 100-200 households. The organizations joined forces in the aftermath of Ian and have been sending out $500 eMastercards to each household in the 33931 ZIP code that applies. As long as individuals have a Fort Myers Beach address on their license with the 33931 ZIP, whether it is on San Carlos Island or down further off San Carlos Boulevard, the Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation and Fort Myers beach Woman’s Club will provide one card per household. “We joined forces right after Ian came through,” Bush said. “We have two larger nonprofits joining together instead of competing for resources.” Donations have arrived speedily. Bush said checks have ranged from $25 to $20,000 from individual donations, nonprofits, concerts, events and event schools. “We’ve paid over See HELP, page 5
Letters to the Editor.....................................................4 Beach Living.................................................................8 Web Poll........................................................................4 Beach Bulletin.......................................................11-18 Business.......................................................................6