WEEK OF DECEMBER 21, 2022
VOLUME 37, NUMBER 52
Remediation begins on Beach School workshop of the Lee County School Board in which a majority of the school board expressed support for restoring and rebuilding the school while some members expressed concern over the school’s enrollment and its future viability. Bernier said the district would
By NATHAN MAYBERG
nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
County Schools Lee Superintendent Dr. Chris Bernier announced this past week that the remediation and restoration of Fort Myers Beach Elementary School will begin. Bernier made the declaration at a
be contracting with a company for the remediation work, having declined a free offer from another contractor. The decision followed a meeting Bernier had with officials from the state’s division of historic resources. The original 1947 building of Fort Myers Beach Elementary School is on the National Registrar of Historic Places. Bernier said two of the school’s four
newer outer buildings will have to be torn down due to damage from Hurricane Ian. During the meeting, a majority of school board members indicated a willingness to repair and reopen Fort Myers Beach Elementary School though it had not yet decided on what form the school will reopen in and when. They also floated ideas about See REMEDIATION, page 3
DeSantis pledges trailers By NATHAN MAYBERG
nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
Holiday light and video show Friday Staff Report here will be a brighter Times Square Friday on Fort Myers Beach when a holiday light and video show sponsored by the Barefoot Event Group takes place. The free show, being put on in conjunction with the Town of Fort Myers Beach, will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. “Light Up Times Square” will feature a synchronized Christmas light, music and video show created by Fort Lauderdale-based Epic Outdoor Cinema for one night only, said
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insidetoday
Barefoot Event Group organizer Janeen Paulauskis. Attendees must bring their own chairs to the free event, Paulauskis said. “Light Up Times Square warms the heart of everyone who is working to put together on this one of kind of event to bring back what Fort Myers Beach has always been known for -- community, fun and a kind of special found only on this island,” Paulauskis said. “Special thanks to Twilight Features for donating this spectacular light event to our area.” There will be a food truck on site.
The Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation, Estero Island Historical Society and Lorna Littrell Photography will be present. Parking will be available at the Sunset Beach Tropical Grill property. For more information, call 239-208-5574. A holiday light show will be held at Times Square on Fort Myers Beach this Friday. PHOTO COURTESY OF TWILIGHT FEATURES
Gov. Ron DeSantis visited Fort Myers Beach Friday and announced that the state will begin issuing trailers to those whose homes are being rebuilt due to damage cause by Hurricane Ian. Appearing at the Yucatan Beach Stand on San Carlos Boulevard, DeSantis said he has instructed the Florida Division of a Emergency Governor Management Ron DeSantis “not to wait on FEMA and to get trailers to those properties immediately.” Both the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Florida Division of Emergency Management have trailer programs for those whose homes are being rebuilt due to damage from Hurricane Ian. Because most homes on Fort Myers Beach are located in a flood plain and high hazard area, state and federal regulations currently don’t allow trailers in those locations. At an informational meeting last week, State Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said the state had to follow the same regulations as FEMA in the placement of trailers. Guthrie said Friday that he told DeSantis the state could issue trailer but might not be reimbursed for them if it didSee TRAILERS, page 7
Editorial..............................................................4 Business.......................................................................6 Web Poll........................................................................4 Beach Bulletin.......................................................9-17