Fort Myers Beach News - Island Sand Paper

1 week ago, 05/10/2012 at 3:46pm

Should the Town order a referendum on the Consumption on Premise (COP) in the Environmentally Critical (EC) zone?

The LPA has been looking at this issue for the last four years. Town staff has expended thousands of hours of research on the issue. Town Council has held two Public Hearings already and devoted several more hours to discussion. A COP task force has been formed to gather further information.

And now there are calls for a referendum.

Usually, you hear calls for a referendum from those who feel they are not being heard and who are absolutely convinced that they are in the majority and will prevail if only everyone were given the opportunity to vote.

Referendums can be problematic. They need high voter turnout to be effective and truly representative of the will of the people, not just the group that calls for the referendum. Unless they are offered during a scheduled election, getting people to vote is a challenge. We struggle to get people to go to the polls when it’s a general election. Hold it after the general election this November and you’ll be dealing with voter fatigue.

When should we hold this referendum? Summer? Do that and risk disenfranchising those who travel during the summer. Winter? You may be accused of trying to stack the ballot box with the votes of part time visitors swayed to change their voter registration so they can have a voice on this issue. Read more...

Issue 587

1 week ago, 05/10/2012 at 4:24pm

School Year Wrapping
Up in Grand Style

School children on Fort Myers Beach are anxious to reach the end of the current school year and get busy with fun, summertime activities. None are more excited than the outgoing fifth graders at Fort Myers Beach Elementary, who graduate May 24th and prepare for the transition to middle school.

Summer Johnson, a Fort Myers Beach fifth grader, is headed next school year to Lexington Middle School, 16351 Summerlin Road, along with many of her classmates. She chose Lexington because it's a "nice school” and her friends are going there. Johnson looks most forward to making new friends at the off-island school located closest to the beach. Before attending her first classes there, she plans to travel to Canada and Puerto Rico to visit family.

Johnson's classmate, Allison Graeber-Witt, is also headed to Lexington, where both her brother and sister attended. She said her siblings had a good experience there and she likes the middle school's "sports focus.” Graeber-Witt looks forward to "meeting new people and playing volleyball, soccer and track.” She has travel plans over the summer break to include a one or two-week trip to New York. Her summer plans include Vacation Bible School at a church near Iona, as well. Read more...

School’s Out

School's Out for Summer-Almost

In less than two weeks, summer officially begins when Lee County Schools, including our Beach Elementary School lets out for the summer. The ringing of the final bell before Memorial Day is the payoff for that early August 8th start date last year which gave the kids only 8 weeks of summer break. This summer will stretch almost 11 weeks from final bell on May 24 to first bell on August 8. That final bell means lazy days of summer fun ahead and there's no better place to spend a week or more than at summer camp! This summer offers lots of fun things to do right here on island. We've gathered information on Island Summer Camps for parents and kids so it's all in one place. (For more on this story subscribe to the Island Sand Paper)

Expansion Ahead

Expansion Ahead
for Chuck's Last Stop

Chuck Bryan, owner of Chuck's Last Stop, got some good news at Monday morning's lengthy council meeting when the council passed a resolution approving a zoning expansion that will allow the restaurant to increase the size of its parking lot and create an area for outdoor seating. The council also agreed to hold a workshop to look at options for gaining control of the traffic problems at Seafarer's. (For more on this story subscribe to the Island Sand Paper)

Traffic Safety

1 week ago, 05/09/2012 at 11:17pm

Traffic Safety Committee
Looks at Solutions

The recently formed traffic safety committee held it's second meeting on Tuesday afternoon where they listened to a report from Captain Matt Powell and Lee County Sheriff's Officer James Butler, a presentation from Andrew Cochrane about a successful crosswalk program on Marco Island and ideas for education and awareness from Lt. Ron Martin of the Fort Myers Beach Fire Department and resident Marilyn Henkel.

"I've been getting a lot of emails from folks concerned about traffic safety, ” said Mayor Larry Kiker, who is serving as chairman of the committee. "It's been great to listen to all the different ideas.”

Captain Powell and Officer James Butler then told the committee about what they discovered in their research into state statutes regarding pedestrians and studies on crosswalks. Read more...

Busy Weekend for Beach Little League

2 weeks ago, 05/08/2012 at 5:43pm

Busy Weekend for
Beach Little League

This Saturday a great time to have a great time and take in a ballgame.

Bay Oaks Rec Center will host five big games this Saturday as the Fort Myers Beach Little League season enters its home stretch.

The Beach is fielding nine teams in five different baseball and softball divisions, playing foes from Bonita Springs, San Carlos Park, Lehigh Acres, Alva, Immokalee and LaBelle. Games take place on the fields at Bay Oaks almost nightly between March and June.

This Saturday May 12 is an especially busy day. Things get underway at 9 a.m. on Wade Jenkins Field with the Beach T-ball Cubs and Cardinals squaring off. The little field will see two more Beach teams at 2 p.m. as the Beach Minor (7-11) Dodgers and Rays continue a season-long rivalry. Read more...

Estero Island's attractive features, including miles and miles of white, sandy beaches, have captured the imaginations of visitors from near and far.

This week’s Back Page Girl is Chelsea from Ft. Myers. Chelsea likes drawing, music, fishing and going to the beach and spending time with her niece, Anna. Click on the image to enlarge it. If you'd like to become a Back Page Girl click here...

Should the Town Council order a referendum on the COP issue (expanded alcohol sales on bars' private property along the beach)?

Yes
No
I don't care.
Results

Space Shuttle Discovery was successfully launched on it's final mission Thursday 24 February 2011. The shuttle is carrying the Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module, or PMM, to the ISS - International Space Station. The PMM is loaded with supplies, experiments and equipment. The Humanoid Robotic Astronaut Robonaut 2, or as friends nickname R2, is the first robot of its kind to fly into and work in space and is going to become a full time crew member. (Video courtesy of: Ken and Dee Platt)