INSIDE: Legal Notices
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Wednesday, December 25, 2024
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North Fort Myers Chamber finds new home Closing of the Shell Factory forces search for a new location By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
The new year will bring changes for the North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce. “We are very fortunate to have a 20year relationship with the Shell Factory. It was perfect for us,” North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Wendy Murray said. The chamber’s office was still located at
the Shell Factory in December, although the attraction closed earlier this year. The chamber will move to its new location, Paradise Vintage Market, 13821 North Cleveland Ave., North Fort Myers, with an anticipated move in date the first week of January. The chamber's February Business After Hours will take place at the new welcome center. “I had about six offers of places to move
to and we decided that will work,” Murray said. A major perk of having the Welcome Center at Paradise Vintage Market is its hours have been expanded, there is plenty of parking and great visibility on U.S. 41. The new hours will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week. “The staff there will be ambassadors for us,” Murray said, adding that the commu-
School District issues survey on later starting times for high, middle schools
NEWS OF NOTE Lee County Community Band to present ‘Timeless Broadway’ Jan. 12 The Lee County Community Band will present “Timeless Broadway,” a lively, fun-filled, free concert Sunday, Jan. 12, at 3 p.m., at Mariner High School, 701 Chiquita Blvd., N., Cape Coral. The program includes Best Broadway Marches; Rock, Roll and Remember, a tribute to Dick Clark; Highlights from South Pacific; New York: 1927, a whimsical sound picture of New York City as cars began filling the city’s streets; Highlights from West Side Story; Sounds of Simon and Garfunkel, and The Pink Panther. Lee County Community Band concerts are free of charge (donations accepted), and open to the public. Additional concert dates are Feb. 16, March 16, and April 13. All concerts will be at Mariner High School at 3 p.m. For more, visit www.leecountyband.org, please call 239-600-9052 or visit Leecountycommunityband @gmail.com.
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nity can come in and get what they need. “It’s going to be a great win-win for both of us. We hope we will be able to bring people into to see Paradise Vintage Market. There are wonderful stalls at the market.” North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce President and Board Member John Gardner said it’s amazing how much activity Paradise Vintage Market receives. “It’s a bustling little facility,” he said. To contact the NFM Chamber, please call 239-997-9111 or visit its website at https://nfmchamber.org/
Recently-passed state law calls for adjustments for secondary students By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
Fort Myers Beach to host midnight fireworks show By NATHAN MAYBERG
nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
he Town of Fort Myers Beach will be hosting a New Year’s Eve fireworks show next Tuesday night, following approval from the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council to fund the show. The fireworks will be shot off from a barge near the Fort Myers Beach Pier, near Times Square and Lynn Hall Memorial park at about midnight. The Matanzas Pass Bridge will be closed to oncoming traffic beginning at 11 p.m. Tuesday night. The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council agreed last month during a management and planning session to close the bridge to oncoming traffic until 1 a.m. Wednesday at the request of Fort Myers Beach Manager Andy Hyatt. The town’s current announcement for the fireworks show states that the bridge could potentially be closed until 1:30 a.m. Big Carlos Pass Bridge will remain open. Town officials are encouraging visitors to use
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LeeTran, Lee County’s public transportation system which will include shuttle service from the Beach Park and Ride at 1101 Summerlin Square Drive to Times Square. Lee County spokesperson Betsy Clayton said Route 490, which travels between Times Square and the Beach Park & Ride at 11101 Summerlin Square Drive, will run its normal service until the last departure off the beach around 10:30 p.m. After this final departure from Times Square, a shuttle service will start from the Main Street Park & Ride (at the foot of the Matanzas Pass Bridge) to the Beach Park & Ride until 1 a.m. Jan 1, following the fireworks festivities. Lee County’s free open-air beach trams will extend service until 1 a.m. from Bowditch Point Park to the Fort Myers Beach Public Library. Riders seeking transportation from Fort Myers Beach to the Beach Park & Ride after the bridge closure will have to walk across the bridge to the Main Street Park & Ride to catch the 490 shuttle to the Beach Park & Ride. The last shuttle to the Beach Park & Ride will depart the Main Street Park & Ride at 1 a.m.
The School District of Lee County sent out an email Friday asking families to take the time to fill out a survey concerning later start times for middle and high school. The Florida Legislature, in 2023, passed HB 733, a law that requires later start times for secondary students. “Under this law, middle schools must start no earlier than 8 a.m. and high schools no earlier than 8:30 a.m. By changing start times for high schools, earlier elementary start times would be needed to accommodate scarce transportation resources,” the survey states. “To accommodate for these early start times, projected bus pick up times would be an hour to two hours before the start time.” The School District is seeking feedback to share with the Legislature. The School District is not implementing any time changes at this time. The survey will ask parents what grade their child is in, followed by a question that targets concerns about changing bus pickup/start times, as well as an opportunity to write concerns about school start times. Parents also will be asked how the change will impact their child’s transportation needs, would a later start time improve, or worsen child’s overall well-being and how will the change in time will affect their daily routine. The survey can be taken at https:// tejoin.com/scroll/484708768. Changes must be implemented by July 1, 2026.