July 17, 2025 • 18 mins
The vibrant renewal of Fort Myers Beach takes center stage as Jacki from the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce joins host Cabo Jim to share the island's remarkable renaissance story. Their conversation paints a picture of a community rebuilding with purpose—where each new structure contributes to a colorful, resilient future while honoring the island's storied past.
Jacki reveals exciting developments transforming the seven-mile paradise: Neptune Resort's complete rebuild, Moss Marina becoming the ambitious Arches Bayfront, and the Whale Bar & Restaurant nearing completion with roof and windows now installed. These commercial projects coincide with an explosion of residential construction where vibrant beach cottages—now elevated on stilts—dot every street with tropical hues of pink, blue, teal, and yellow. The rebuilding showcases innovative approaches to flood mitigation, with businesses like the recently opened Beach Bar designing spaces where water can safely flow through during storms.
Despite being in the quieter summer season, Fort Myers Beach buzzes with activity. The Gulf waters shine with exceptional clarity—a testament to environmental initiatives like the newly opened C-43 reservoir reducing Lake Okeechobee runoff. The Chamber's Water Foundation has funded a sophisticated monitoring station at Mound House that tests water quality every ten minutes, with data available worldwide. Visitors can enjoy water sports, fishing charters, parasailing, and uncrowded beaches with special summer rates at hotels and restaurants.
Looking ahead, the island calendar brims with exciting events: Mullet Madness Weekend featuring food and fashion contests, the Island Hopper Singer-Songwriter Festival in late September, American Sand Sculpting Championship in November, and the beloved Christmas Boat Parade in early December. Every Sunday evening, free concerts at Bayside Veterans Park bring the community together in celebration of island life.
Ready to experience Fort Myers Beach's revival firsthand? Whether you're planning a weekend getaway or considering making this slice of paradise your home, there's never been a more exciting time to discover what makes this resilient community so special.
FMB Chamber
Jacki Lisak
100 Lover's Lane Fort Myers Beach 33931, FL
(239) 454-7500
info@fmbchamber.com
fortmyersbeach.org
#visitfmb
#fmbchamber
#fortmyersbeach
#SunshineState
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Fort Myers Beach Good Neighbor
podcast, where the sun's alwaysshining and the stories are even
brighter.
Each episode we bring youcloser to the neighbors, local
legends and beachside businessesthat make Fort Myers Beach the
slice of paradise we all love.
Pull up a beach chair, grab adrink and let's meet the people
who make this island feel likehome.
We want to send out some islandlove to Eric Tibbs from Edward
(00:21):
Jones State Insurance, usa andHome Well Care Services Fort
Myers.
Love to Eric Tibbs from EdwardJones State Insurance, usa and
Home Well Care Services FortMyers.
They are the businesses thatallow us to share the soul of
our community with everylistener, from local stories to
the positive vibe of island life.
Here's to celebrating all thatmakes Fort Myers Beach the slice
of paradise we all love.
Here's your host, cabo, jimSchaller.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Welcome good neighbors to the Fort Myers
Beach Good Neighbor Podcast.
Today we have Jackie from theFort Myers Beach Chamber Welcome
.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Good morning, good neighbors.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
How are we?
Speaker 3 (00:50):
doing today.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
We are awesome.
It's a good day at the beach,right.
Any day is a good day at thebeach.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
It's always a great day at the beach.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Right, right, even though it is rainy season now,
we are getting so much neededrain.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
We need the greeneryery, but it's absolutely
beautiful right now.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
The sun's shining and the tropics have been
relatively quiet this year sofar.
So we're keeping our fingerscrossed that it kind of remains
this way.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
But so far they've been kind.
Let's keep the street going yep, yep, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
so I want to introduce you, obviously, but I
started this podcast for thereason of giving back to the
Fort Myers Beach community andsharing the stories of what's
going on and kind of bringingthe community together, and I
want to have you on as a regularguest to help share some of
that insight of what's going onand where we can help and where
we need to focus some of ourtime and energy.
(01:43):
So let's jump right in and youknow.
Share away with where we shouldbe focusing on and what's going
on well.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Thank you for that.
I appreciate it and, and, um,you know, I think, as you know
and I say it quite often, youknow it's easy to do things when
you love them and clearly Ilove this community, I love this
Island, you know love thepeople that are on it and we
have such a great story to shareout there, and it's an absolute
honor and a privilege to beable to to not only live on this
(02:14):
seven miles of paradise, as wecall it, but it's also a
privilege to work here.
I'm blessed that I have a lessthan one mile commute every
morning to my office, which isamazing, and the entire way I
get to look at this gorgeousGulf water on one side and the
back bay on the other.
So I want to take anopportunity to share that with
(02:37):
folks that are out there andremind people who do live in our
community how lucky we all areto be here, despite everything
that's happened.
We, we all, are to be here,despite everything that's
happened.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
We are so lucky.
Yeah, we've kind of I want tosay you know, clean the slate a
little bit down here, butthere's a lot of rebuilding
going on and things are changing.
But, um, we can't forget thepast.
But at the same token, we needto move forward.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
So I know, there's a lot going on on the beach right
yeah, so true, don't they saythe one constant is change.
I mean it happens all the timeright, and since the dawn of
time here on the island, whenthe Caloos Indians were here,
it's been nothing but changing.
Obviously, since then, and partof what I hope to share with you
and through your podcast andwith our friends and neighbors
(03:20):
and maybe future residents andguests, is that our island,
while it's changing now and itis very different than it was
three years ago and even beforeCOVID five years ago there's so
much opportunity here and somany great things here, but I
want to recognize that.
But I also don't want us toforget our past and our history
(03:41):
and who we are and where we camefrom, and I would love to
explore with you through thispodcast and in other ways, to
remember those people who haveleft an indelible mark on this
community through their serviceand through living here and
through being a part of, youknow, living on Fort Myers Beach
.
So that's, I mean, those arethe kind of fun things to share,
(04:02):
not only what's in our futurethrough our front windshield,
but let's look a little bit inour rearview mirror and honor
and acknowledge those who havecome before us.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
And we don't want to lose those stories, because
there's a lot of great storiesout there that you know if
they're not told, if they're notshared they're going to be
forgotten and we don't want toforget that.
So very true yeah, it's so verytrue.
Talked with a number of peoplealready and it's just, it's just
so interesting of you know whatlife was like back in the day,
or how did this become this, youknow?
(04:32):
Uh, it's just, I love that typeof stuff and that's the stuff I
want to share with ourlisteners.
And you know, like you said,people that live here, uh,
tourists or future residents.
You know anybody.
So there's a lot going on asfar as rebuilding too.
Is there anything new that'sgoing on that we can kind of
(04:52):
focus on?
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Yeah.
So looking, you know, obviously, on our windshield at the
future, we have got quite a fewlarge, really inclusive projects
and some large and some somemedium sized projects
commercially that are on ourhorizon, that have been approved
, that are coming, things likethe the Neptune resort, you know
, for a complete rebuild in aresort style, the Moss Marina,
(05:15):
which will become ArchesBayfront and that's going to be
a very large resort and Marinastyle entity that will anchor
our back Bay on old San CarlosBoulevard.
So we'll have, you know,obviously, the revitalization of
time square on the front with,hopefully, our new pier coming
along and it is moving.
It's moving at a snail's pacebut it's coming.
So you know that will anchorthe front on the Gulf and then
(05:38):
arches on the back on the Bay.
You know, with them comingalong, a water taxi is what
we're being told and has beentalked about, which will tie
together all of the Back Bay andMarina properties and the
different places like MountainHouse and Fishtail Marina down
on the South End and hopefullyallow for some movement of our
folks back and forth on thewater instead of just on the
(06:01):
boulevard.
So those are super excitingthings.
The Whale Bar and Restaurant isout of the ground.
The roof's on.
They're putting the windows in.
As we speak you can tellthey're working furiously.
I'm hearing a opening sometimein the fall.
They were hoping for September,but I'm not sure if we'll make
that.
So I'm expecting certainlybefore the end of the year.
(06:22):
Super exciting.
Big shout out to Don and MikeMiller for their vision with
that, and perseverance,obviously, is the word of the
island.
It's patience and perseveranceare my two P's that I'm saying
all the time.
So that's coming along.
The fire station Station 31, isclicking right along.
We're talking about a toppingout ceremony and and that's
(06:44):
super exciting and we'll anchor,obviously, our safety services
at the center of the island.
Um gosh, what am I missing?
Pink shell has an expansionproject that's been approved
moving forward.
The lighthouse resort.
Kiki bar has an expansionproject moving forward.
Interiors unlimited.
Down toward the south end isfinishing their building.
(07:04):
They should be hopefully openby the end of the year, maybe.
Santini Plaza continues towelcome new tenants, commercial
tenants in there, and of course,every street has a new house on
it.
Every single street has atleast one new house either up
done or in the process on it.
That alone is mind boggling, andyou know when you go off the
(07:26):
island in the morning you seethe work trucks coming even in
slow season loaded up with allthe things that are going to the
different houses and buildings.
It's pretty exciting.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
And the one thing I really like about.
You know it's changing,obviously, but the one thing I
really enjoy is the look of thenew houses and the new buildings
.
It's very beachy, very tropical, very colorful, so it's adding
a burst of life into thecommunity.
I love it.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
It is true, there's a couple of streets especially
that are super colorful withthese fun pinks and blues and
teals and greens and yellows andpurples, and so that's really
kind of neat to see and thehouses look like our little
cottages, but they're just alittle bit higher up in the air.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
So you know it's been a better view up there.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Yeah, yeah, there you go, and I love to see the
creative ways that people areaddressing the flood mitigation
and resiliency issues.
You know, for example, thebeach bar that just had their
ribbon cutting and openingcelebration over fourth of july.
They've built their building upon the 19 foot.
You know stilts, essentiallypilings that if a storm is
(08:34):
coming in they can take all ofthe things on their ground floor
.
They're on trailers, they'lltrailer them out.
They open up the the roll downshutters and just let the water
wash through.
It's really, I mean, it's justwe're addressing, we're being
creative and finding new ways toto address these challenges
yeah, and be safer movingforward.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
So we don't have a situation like we had here.
So a lot of new things comingwith the businesses, but then we
also have there are businessesthat are up and running right
now and reason people shouldcome to the Island.
Now I know it is it's offseason, but people still should
come down.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Right, right, we are open for business.
I mean, folks need to come,especially if you want to
staycation.
Right now there are great dealson the Island.
There are dining discounts,there's all kinds of happy hours
.
Every night of the week there'sa special somewhere.
The hotels, resorts, vacationrentals are all offering really,
really great prices for a longweekend stay or a midweek stay.
(09:35):
Gosh, reach out.
Right now.
We are open.
All of our water sports arerunning.
All of our tours and charterboats are running.
Key West Express is running.
Our shrimp docks are bringingfresh shrimp in every single day
.
So get on out here and enjoysome summertime fun.
Our water is beautiful, it'snice and warm.
And gosh the wildlife.
(09:56):
I see a ton of wildlife allover the place.
So we've seen, obviously,everything turtles, manatees,
you know, manta rays, all kindof fish out there.
People are fishing, you knowparasailing, jet skiing, having
a great time in the summer.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
so come on out and it's the best time to come down,
because I'm a people person.
Yes, I like people.
But you know, when I'm at thebeach sometimes I like to be a
little quiet and it's nice tocome to the beach and have a
little plot to yourself, withoutpeople on top of you.
And I'll tell you one thing youknow, the water is probably the
clearest.
I've seen it in a long time.
(10:30):
I was in the Gulf last weekendand I was up to my waist and I
could see my feet clearly, whichyou haven't been able to see
for a long time and I'm likeit's just the color's beautiful
you haven't been able to see fora long time and I'm like it's
just the color's beautiful,everything's just beautiful
about it.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
So I love it.
I love it.
I'll be at the beach thisweekend.
Very encouraging because, youknow, despite the fact that we
are having rain now, we do getwater from the Caloosahatchee
River.
Right, you can still see theclarity of the water and that's
a shout out to the work that'sbeing done with, you know,
cleaning the everglades andcleaning, like okchobe and the
c43 reservoir, which just openedthis week officially uh, the
(11:05):
governor did the running cuttingout there.
That is absolutely affecting ourwater quality.
And when you come over the skybridge, there are teals and
blues and greens.
We have color water right nowyep, and I love it.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Yeah, that reservoir has been a lifesaver.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Like I, we're not getting all that wash up from
the collision like we normallydo, so it's made a big
difference and a lot ofcommitment there with the Army
Corps and the South FloridaWater Management District, but
shout out to them there.
You know they're all workingtogether to help us downstream
and it's very much appreciated.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
And talking about water quality, you just
something just happened thebeach on the backside with the
water quality.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
Yeah, at the Mound House, the chamber has a water
foundation.
It's our 501c3 arm that willhelp folks who are studying,
watching, monitoring, testingwater on or around Estero Bay
(12:07):
and Estero Island.
Only so we were able to fundthe Moundhouse, who's working
with FGCU to put a watermonitoring station in the docks
at Mound House on the back bay.
And what most folks don't knowis there's a series of water
monitoring stations that run allalong through Estero Bay, from
down in Bonita Beach up towardsSanibel, and this station that
(12:28):
the Chambers Water Foundationfunded helped to plug a hole
that we had in that monitoring.
So it is testing real-timetesting water 24 hours a day,
every 10 minutes, and you canactually log on to your computer
any time of the day or nightand get real-time data as to
what's going on with the water.
In the back bay, right behindthe mountain house, you can get
temperature, salinity,alkalinity, phosphorus, nitrogen
(12:52):
what kind of and I'm noscientist, so don't hate me on
this but what the turbidity ofthe water is?
uh you know whether there's bluegreen algae there?
All of these great things andfolks are using that all over
the world to study our our waterand keep an eye on the water in
our back bay watershed.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
It's really fascinating that is lots of good
things going on on the islandhere.
I love it.
So looking forward.
What do we have to look forwardto?
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Wow, so a lot of great events coming up through
the end of the summer, into thefall, of course, into the winter
season.
I know we have a group that'sgoing to be doing a Mullet
Madness weekend on Fort MyersBeach.
It's the small business group Ithink they're trying to
remember they just formed.
They're putting this eventtogether.
It's something new for us andlots of activities Everybody's
(13:43):
invited to join on in, both forus, you know, businesses and
residents and guests.
So if you Google Mullet Madness, fort Myers Beach, that
information will come up.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
And it's not about haircuts, right.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Yeah, yeah, well, it's food and fashion.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
So it's food and fashion, all right.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
So you can participate in the mullet toss
while wearing your mullet and Ithink there's going to be a
twinning contest with withpeople and their pets that look
the most alike with theirmullets on.
So you know there's anopportunity to be twinning with
your pet.
They're going to have mullettosses and mullet dips and
mullet dishes, and so it shouldbe a really, really fun weekend.
(14:25):
So the group that's doing thatis what's Up, fmb, and if you
Google them that informationwill come up.
I know that the CommunityFoundation is working on a pub
stroll.
October the 25th, I believe, istheirs.
We will have our officialkickoff of American Sand
Sculpting Championship onOctober the 24th at
Margaritaville.
(14:45):
We'll be in an evening openhouse.
Everyone is welcome to come,there's no charge and we'll be
unveiling the first sculpturethere.
And then we'll have a series ofthings through the month of
October leading up to sandsculpting, which will be
November the 20th through the24th.
So that will be at the DiamondHead Beach Resort, but we will
have satellite sculptures inother areas for you to explore
(15:08):
and see.
And then, of course, the boatparade the Christmas boat parade
will come right behind that.
That'll be the first Saturdayin December Don't quote me, I
think it's December the 6th, sothat'll be coming up pretty
quickly.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
So that's just a smattering, that's just a small
smattering of all that will begoing on.
Is there a songwriter series,too?
That's going on?
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Yes, oh my gosh yes, please forgive me, I forgot
about that.
That's the Island HopperSinger-Songwriter Festival.
Our island will be hosting thatthe last weekend in September,
but remember it does start theweekend before in Captiva.
It spends a few days in CapeCoral, a few days downtown Fort
Myers and then it comes to usfor the last weekend in
September with the final show atthe pink shell pool party,
(15:49):
which is always a huge hit maker.
So you know, don't forget aboutthat going on.
And obviously if you GoogleIsland Hopper, fort Myers beach,
that'll give you all the datesand times.
It'll also hook you into what'shappening on Captiva, cape
Coral and Fort Myers.
And those, don't forget, thoseare the folks who write the
songs and sometimes they performtheir own songs.
(16:09):
But, many of these people arethe ones who write the big hits
that we all listen to.
Just somebody else sings thatballad or that melody or that
song for them.
But you meet people here that afew years from now, all of a
sudden they're pretty famous andyou're like oh my gosh, I saw
them at the Island Hopper Right.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
You look at people like Chris Stapleton, who wrote
a million songs for a lot ofpeople and now he's a big star
himself.
It's crazy how talented thesepeople are.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
Yep, and he was here.
And then also every Sundayevening, don't forget, we still
have our free concert seriesthrough the summer at the
Bayside Veterans Park.
That's in conjunction with therestaurants down there Nervous
Millies, Wahoo and Snug Harbor,along with the chamber in the
town of Fort Myers Beach.
And Alex King Realty is, ofcourse, you know, sponsors us
through the rest of the year onthat.
(16:56):
So that's free.
Come on down, and I'm hearingthrough the grapevine that
Lighthouse has a reggae showright after that, so you can
come to the free show and thengo over to the lighthouse and
finish your Sunday night outwith some reggae.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
The after party.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
There we go.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
We love it.
Lots of good things to do atthe beach.
I know we're on spend of mytime anyways, so Jackie it's
been a pleasure.
Thank you again for the update,and we're going to do this on a
regular basis, so we'll haveyou back on, but we'll see you
at the beach soon, okay.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Sounds great.
Look us up, always happy tohelp Take care.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Thanks for tuning in to the Fort Myers Beach Good
Neighbor Podcast, wherecommunity meets paradise.
If you love what you heard,share it with a friend and keep
the good vibes going Until nexttime.
Stay sunny, stay salty and keepbeing a good neighbor.
Also, to nominate your favoriteneighbors, local legends,
heroes or island businesses tobe on the show, go to
CaboWaboGymcom.
(17:48):
That's CaboWaboGymcom, or call239-427-4100.
We want to send out some islandlove to Eric Tibbs from Edward
Jones State Insurance USA andHome Welfare Services Fort Myers
.
They are the businesses thatallow us to share the soul of
our community with everylistener, from local stories to
the positive vibe of island life.
Here's to celebrating all thatmakes fort myers beach the slice
(18:10):
of paradise we all love.
Welcome to the Fort Myers Beach Good Neighbor
podcast, where the sun's alwaysshining and the stories are even
brighter.
Each episode we bring youcloser to the neighbors, local
legends and beachside businessesthat make Fort Myers Beach the
slice of paradise we all love.
Pull up a beach chair, grab adrink and let's meet the people
who make this island feel likehome.
We want to send out some islandlove to Eric Tibbs from Edward
(00:21):
Jones State Insurance, usa andHome Well Care Services Fort
Myers.
Love to Eric Tibbs from EdwardJones State Insurance, usa and
Home Well Care Services FortMyers.
They are the businesses thatallow us to share the soul of
our community with everylistener, from local stories to
the positive vibe of island life.
Here's to celebrating all thatmakes Fort Myers Beach the slice
of paradise we all love.
Here's your host, cabo, jimSchaller.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
Welcome good neighbors to the Fort Myers
Beach Good Neighbor Podcast.
Today we have Jackie from theFort Myers Beach Chamber Welcome
.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Good morning, good neighbors.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
How are we?
Speaker 3 (00:50):
doing today.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
We are awesome.
It's a good day at the beach,right.
Any day is a good day at thebeach.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
It's always a great day at the beach.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Right, right, even though it is rainy season now,
we are getting so much neededrain.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
We need the greeneryery, but it's absolutely
beautiful right now.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
The sun's shining and the tropics have been
relatively quiet this year sofar.
So we're keeping our fingerscrossed that it kind of remains
this way.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
But so far they've been kind.
Let's keep the street going yep, yep, absolutely.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
so I want to introduce you, obviously, but I
started this podcast for thereason of giving back to the
Fort Myers Beach community andsharing the stories of what's
going on and kind of bringingthe community together, and I
want to have you on as a regularguest to help share some of
that insight of what's going onand where we can help and where
we need to focus some of ourtime and energy.
(01:43):
So let's jump right in and youknow.
Share away with where we shouldbe focusing on and what's going
on well.
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Thank you for that.
I appreciate it and, and, um,you know, I think, as you know
and I say it quite often, youknow it's easy to do things when
you love them and clearly Ilove this community, I love this
Island, you know love thepeople that are on it and we
have such a great story to shareout there, and it's an absolute
honor and a privilege to beable to to not only live on this
(02:14):
seven miles of paradise, as wecall it, but it's also a
privilege to work here.
I'm blessed that I have a lessthan one mile commute every
morning to my office, which isamazing, and the entire way I
get to look at this gorgeousGulf water on one side and the
back bay on the other.
So I want to take anopportunity to share that with
(02:37):
folks that are out there andremind people who do live in our
community how lucky we all areto be here, despite everything
that's happened.
We, we all, are to be here,despite everything that's
happened.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
We are so lucky.
Yeah, we've kind of I want tosay you know, clean the slate a
little bit down here, butthere's a lot of rebuilding
going on and things are changing.
But, um, we can't forget thepast.
But at the same token, we needto move forward.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
So I know, there's a lot going on on the beach right
yeah, so true, don't they saythe one constant is change.
I mean it happens all the timeright, and since the dawn of
time here on the island, whenthe Caloos Indians were here,
it's been nothing but changing.
Obviously, since then, and partof what I hope to share with you
and through your podcast andwith our friends and neighbors
(03:20):
and maybe future residents andguests, is that our island,
while it's changing now and itis very different than it was
three years ago and even beforeCOVID five years ago there's so
much opportunity here and somany great things here, but I
want to recognize that.
But I also don't want us toforget our past and our history
(03:41):
and who we are and where we camefrom, and I would love to
explore with you through thispodcast and in other ways, to
remember those people who haveleft an indelible mark on this
community through their serviceand through living here and
through being a part of, youknow, living on Fort Myers Beach
.
So that's, I mean, those arethe kind of fun things to share,
(04:02):
not only what's in our futurethrough our front windshield,
but let's look a little bit inour rearview mirror and honor
and acknowledge those who havecome before us.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
And we don't want to lose those stories, because
there's a lot of great storiesout there that you know if
they're not told, if they're notshared they're going to be
forgotten and we don't want toforget that.
So very true yeah, it's so verytrue.
Talked with a number of peoplealready and it's just, it's just
so interesting of you know whatlife was like back in the day,
or how did this become this, youknow?
(04:32):
Uh, it's just, I love that typeof stuff and that's the stuff I
want to share with ourlisteners.
And you know, like you said,people that live here, uh,
tourists or future residents.
You know anybody.
So there's a lot going on asfar as rebuilding too.
Is there anything new that'sgoing on that we can kind of
(04:52):
focus on?
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Yeah.
So looking, you know, obviously, on our windshield at the
future, we have got quite a fewlarge, really inclusive projects
and some large and some somemedium sized projects
commercially that are on ourhorizon, that have been approved
, that are coming, things likethe the Neptune resort, you know
, for a complete rebuild in aresort style, the Moss Marina,
(05:15):
which will become ArchesBayfront and that's going to be
a very large resort and Marinastyle entity that will anchor
our back Bay on old San CarlosBoulevard.
So we'll have, you know,obviously, the revitalization of
time square on the front with,hopefully, our new pier coming
along and it is moving.
It's moving at a snail's pacebut it's coming.
So you know that will anchorthe front on the Gulf and then
(05:38):
arches on the back on the Bay.
You know, with them comingalong, a water taxi is what
we're being told and has beentalked about, which will tie
together all of the Back Bay andMarina properties and the
different places like MountainHouse and Fishtail Marina down
on the South End and hopefullyallow for some movement of our
folks back and forth on thewater instead of just on the
(06:01):
boulevard.
So those are super excitingthings.
The Whale Bar and Restaurant isout of the ground.
The roof's on.
They're putting the windows in.
As we speak you can tellthey're working furiously.
I'm hearing a opening sometimein the fall.
They were hoping for September,but I'm not sure if we'll make
that.
So I'm expecting certainlybefore the end of the year.
(06:22):
Super exciting.
Big shout out to Don and MikeMiller for their vision with
that, and perseverance,obviously, is the word of the
island.
It's patience and perseveranceare my two P's that I'm saying
all the time.
So that's coming along.
The fire station Station 31, isclicking right along.
We're talking about a toppingout ceremony and and that's
(06:44):
super exciting and we'll anchor,obviously, our safety services
at the center of the island.
Um gosh, what am I missing?
Pink shell has an expansionproject that's been approved
moving forward.
The lighthouse resort.
Kiki bar has an expansionproject moving forward.
Interiors unlimited.
Down toward the south end isfinishing their building.
(07:04):
They should be hopefully openby the end of the year, maybe.
Santini Plaza continues towelcome new tenants, commercial
tenants in there, and of course,every street has a new house on
it.
Every single street has atleast one new house either up
done or in the process on it.
That alone is mind boggling, andyou know when you go off the
(07:26):
island in the morning you seethe work trucks coming even in
slow season loaded up with allthe things that are going to the
different houses and buildings.
It's pretty exciting.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
And the one thing I really like about.
You know it's changing,obviously, but the one thing I
really enjoy is the look of thenew houses and the new buildings
.
It's very beachy, very tropical, very colorful, so it's adding
a burst of life into thecommunity.
I love it.
Speaker 3 (07:52):
It is true, there's a couple of streets especially
that are super colorful withthese fun pinks and blues and
teals and greens and yellows andpurples, and so that's really
kind of neat to see and thehouses look like our little
cottages, but they're just alittle bit higher up in the air.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
So you know it's been a better view up there.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Yeah, yeah, there you go, and I love to see the
creative ways that people areaddressing the flood mitigation
and resiliency issues.
You know, for example, thebeach bar that just had their
ribbon cutting and openingcelebration over fourth of july.
They've built their building upon the 19 foot.
You know stilts, essentiallypilings that if a storm is
(08:34):
coming in they can take all ofthe things on their ground floor
.
They're on trailers, they'lltrailer them out.
They open up the the roll downshutters and just let the water
wash through.
It's really, I mean, it's justwe're addressing, we're being
creative and finding new ways toto address these challenges
yeah, and be safer movingforward.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
So we don't have a situation like we had here.
So a lot of new things comingwith the businesses, but then we
also have there are businessesthat are up and running right
now and reason people shouldcome to the Island.
Now I know it is it's offseason, but people still should
come down.
Speaker 3 (09:12):
Right, right, we are open for business.
I mean, folks need to come,especially if you want to
staycation.
Right now there are great dealson the Island.
There are dining discounts,there's all kinds of happy hours
.
Every night of the week there'sa special somewhere.
The hotels, resorts, vacationrentals are all offering really,
really great prices for a longweekend stay or a midweek stay.
(09:35):
Gosh, reach out.
Right now.
We are open.
All of our water sports arerunning.
All of our tours and charterboats are running.
Key West Express is running.
Our shrimp docks are bringingfresh shrimp in every single day
.
So get on out here and enjoysome summertime fun.
Our water is beautiful, it'snice and warm.
And gosh the wildlife.
(09:56):
I see a ton of wildlife allover the place.
So we've seen, obviously,everything turtles, manatees,
you know, manta rays, all kindof fish out there.
People are fishing, you knowparasailing, jet skiing, having
a great time in the summer.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
so come on out and it's the best time to come down,
because I'm a people person.
Yes, I like people.
But you know, when I'm at thebeach sometimes I like to be a
little quiet and it's nice tocome to the beach and have a
little plot to yourself, withoutpeople on top of you.
And I'll tell you one thing youknow, the water is probably the
clearest.
I've seen it in a long time.
(10:30):
I was in the Gulf last weekendand I was up to my waist and I
could see my feet clearly, whichyou haven't been able to see
for a long time and I'm likeit's just the color's beautiful
you haven't been able to see fora long time and I'm like it's
just the color's beautiful,everything's just beautiful
about it.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
So I love it.
I love it.
I'll be at the beach thisweekend.
Very encouraging because, youknow, despite the fact that we
are having rain now, we do getwater from the Caloosahatchee
River.
Right, you can still see theclarity of the water and that's
a shout out to the work that'sbeing done with, you know,
cleaning the everglades andcleaning, like okchobe and the
c43 reservoir, which just openedthis week officially uh, the
(11:05):
governor did the running cuttingout there.
That is absolutely affecting ourwater quality.
And when you come over the skybridge, there are teals and
blues and greens.
We have color water right nowyep, and I love it.
Speaker 2 (11:17):
Yeah, that reservoir has been a lifesaver.
Speaker 3 (11:19):
Like I, we're not getting all that wash up from
the collision like we normallydo, so it's made a big
difference and a lot ofcommitment there with the Army
Corps and the South FloridaWater Management District, but
shout out to them there.
You know they're all workingtogether to help us downstream
and it's very much appreciated.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
And talking about water quality, you just
something just happened thebeach on the backside with the
water quality.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
Yeah, at the Mound House, the chamber has a water
foundation.
It's our 501c3 arm that willhelp folks who are studying,
watching, monitoring, testingwater on or around Estero Bay
(12:07):
and Estero Island.
Only so we were able to fundthe Moundhouse, who's working
with FGCU to put a watermonitoring station in the docks
at Mound House on the back bay.
And what most folks don't knowis there's a series of water
monitoring stations that run allalong through Estero Bay, from
down in Bonita Beach up towardsSanibel, and this station that
(12:28):
the Chambers Water Foundationfunded helped to plug a hole
that we had in that monitoring.
So it is testing real-timetesting water 24 hours a day,
every 10 minutes, and you canactually log on to your computer
any time of the day or nightand get real-time data as to
what's going on with the water.
In the back bay, right behindthe mountain house, you can get
temperature, salinity,alkalinity, phosphorus, nitrogen
(12:52):
what kind of and I'm noscientist, so don't hate me on
this but what the turbidity ofthe water is?
uh you know whether there's bluegreen algae there?
All of these great things andfolks are using that all over
the world to study our our waterand keep an eye on the water in
our back bay watershed.
Speaker 2 (13:11):
It's really fascinating that is lots of good
things going on on the islandhere.
I love it.
So looking forward.
What do we have to look forwardto?
Speaker 3 (13:21):
Wow, so a lot of great events coming up through
the end of the summer, into thefall, of course, into the winter
season.
I know we have a group that'sgoing to be doing a Mullet
Madness weekend on Fort MyersBeach.
It's the small business group Ithink they're trying to
remember they just formed.
They're putting this eventtogether.
It's something new for us andlots of activities Everybody's
(13:43):
invited to join on in, both forus, you know, businesses and
residents and guests.
So if you Google Mullet Madness, fort Myers Beach, that
information will come up.
Speaker 2 (13:53):
And it's not about haircuts, right.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
Yeah, yeah, well, it's food and fashion.
Speaker 2 (13:59):
So it's food and fashion, all right.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
So you can participate in the mullet toss
while wearing your mullet and Ithink there's going to be a
twinning contest with withpeople and their pets that look
the most alike with theirmullets on.
So you know there's anopportunity to be twinning with
your pet.
They're going to have mullettosses and mullet dips and
mullet dishes, and so it shouldbe a really, really fun weekend.
(14:25):
So the group that's doing thatis what's Up, fmb, and if you
Google them that informationwill come up.
I know that the CommunityFoundation is working on a pub
stroll.
October the 25th, I believe, istheirs.
We will have our officialkickoff of American Sand
Sculpting Championship onOctober the 24th at
Margaritaville.
(14:45):
We'll be in an evening openhouse.
Everyone is welcome to come,there's no charge and we'll be
unveiling the first sculpturethere.
And then we'll have a series ofthings through the month of
October leading up to sandsculpting, which will be
November the 20th through the24th.
So that will be at the DiamondHead Beach Resort, but we will
have satellite sculptures inother areas for you to explore
(15:08):
and see.
And then, of course, the boatparade the Christmas boat parade
will come right behind that.
That'll be the first Saturdayin December Don't quote me, I
think it's December the 6th, sothat'll be coming up pretty
quickly.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
So that's just a smattering, that's just a small
smattering of all that will begoing on.
Is there a songwriter series,too?
That's going on?
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Yes, oh my gosh yes, please forgive me, I forgot
about that.
That's the Island HopperSinger-Songwriter Festival.
Our island will be hosting thatthe last weekend in September,
but remember it does start theweekend before in Captiva.
It spends a few days in CapeCoral, a few days downtown Fort
Myers and then it comes to usfor the last weekend in
September with the final show atthe pink shell pool party,
(15:49):
which is always a huge hit maker.
So you know, don't forget aboutthat going on.
And obviously if you GoogleIsland Hopper, fort Myers beach,
that'll give you all the datesand times.
It'll also hook you into what'shappening on Captiva, cape
Coral and Fort Myers.
And those, don't forget, thoseare the folks who write the
songs and sometimes they performtheir own songs.
(16:09):
But, many of these people arethe ones who write the big hits
that we all listen to.
Just somebody else sings thatballad or that melody or that
song for them.
But you meet people here that afew years from now, all of a
sudden they're pretty famous andyou're like oh my gosh, I saw
them at the Island Hopper Right.
Speaker 2 (16:26):
You look at people like Chris Stapleton, who wrote
a million songs for a lot ofpeople and now he's a big star
himself.
It's crazy how talented thesepeople are.
Speaker 3 (16:35):
Yep, and he was here.
And then also every Sundayevening, don't forget, we still
have our free concert seriesthrough the summer at the
Bayside Veterans Park.
That's in conjunction with therestaurants down there Nervous
Millies, Wahoo and Snug Harbor,along with the chamber in the
town of Fort Myers Beach.
And Alex King Realty is, ofcourse, you know, sponsors us
through the rest of the year onthat.
(16:56):
So that's free.
Come on down, and I'm hearingthrough the grapevine that
Lighthouse has a reggae showright after that, so you can
come to the free show and thengo over to the lighthouse and
finish your Sunday night outwith some reggae.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
The after party.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
There we go.
Speaker 2 (17:08):
We love it.
Lots of good things to do atthe beach.
I know we're on spend of mytime anyways, so Jackie it's
been a pleasure.
Thank you again for the update,and we're going to do this on a
regular basis, so we'll haveyou back on, but we'll see you
at the beach soon, okay.
Speaker 3 (17:25):
Sounds great.
Look us up, always happy tohelp Take care.
Speaker 1 (17:28):
Thanks for tuning in to the Fort Myers Beach Good
Neighbor Podcast, wherecommunity meets paradise.
If you love what you heard,share it with a friend and keep
the good vibes going Until nexttime.
Stay sunny, stay salty and keepbeing a good neighbor.
Also, to nominate your favoriteneighbors, local legends,
heroes or island businesses tobe on the show, go to
CaboWaboGymcom.
(17:48):
That's CaboWaboGymcom, or call239-427-4100.
We want to send out some islandlove to Eric Tibbs from Edward
Jones State Insurance USA andHome Welfare Services Fort Myers
.
They are the businesses thatallow us to share the soul of
our community with everylistener, from local stories to
the positive vibe of island life.
Here's to celebrating all thatmakes fort myers beach the slice
(18:10):
of paradise we all love.
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