Signs will mark and block off the area where turtles have laid their nests. FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE / COURTESY PHOTOS Sea turtles are starting to make their way to Florida beaches for their nesting season. Sea turtles typically return to nest in March along Florida’s southeast Atlantic coast from Brevard County south to Broward County, while nesting begins on Gulf Coast or North Florida beaches in April or May. People can play a big part in helping to protect vulnerable nesting sea turtles this spring and summer while visiting Florida’s coastal habitats. Because our state’s shorelines prov ..read more

Ortiz Avenue widening project begins Work will begin this month to widen Ortiz Avenue from Colonial Boulevard to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard im Fort Myers. The project will widen the roadway from two lanes to four. It will include a 6-foot sidewalk on the east side of the road and a 10-foot paved trail on the west side of the road. On-road bike lanes will also be incorporated. New street lighting will be installed, and a grass median will separate traffic. No changes will be made at the roundabout intersection with Hanson Street. The contractor will reconstruct the road with drainag ..read more

  When fishing for tarpon this season, be sure to heed the advice of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). FWC consulted partners, including charter captains, Salt Strong and Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, to create a comprehensive list of best fishing practices to guide anglers looking to target tarpon. Recommendations focus on what gear to use, fighting techniques, handling tips and release strategies. By following these practices, anglers can quickly and confidently reel in tarpon and help one of Florida’s most iconic saltwater fish species survive release. Gear ..read more

LARC’s Aiming for Ability clay shooting tournament takes place on May 3. Last year, the event raised $25,000. Get ready to fire as the Lee Association for Remarkable Citizens (LARC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing support and opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), will host the sixth annual “Aiming for Ability” Clay Shooting Tournament. The event will happen on Friday, May 3, outdoors at Sarasota Trap Skeet & Clays in Nokomis. All proceeds will benefit LARC’s programs and services that help individuals with IDD achieve. Last ..read more

The Lee County Black History Society’s “Youth Innovation Night Unleash Your Super Powers” encouraged people to dress in superhero costumes to discover their unique superpowers. COURTESY PHOTO The Lee County Black History Society, in partnership with the Edison Awards and The Lewis Latimer Fellowship Program, offered “Youth Innovation Night: Unleash Your Super Powers” on April 16 at the Williams Academy Black History Museum in Fort Myers. The event featured a panel of Latimer Fellows from the Lewis Latimer Fellowship Program, a national program dedicated to providing access and mentorship to ..read more

Bank of the Islands announced it donated more than $400,000 to local organizations. COURTESY PHOTO Nonprofits and community leaders received more than just praise when the Bank of the Islands hosted a reception earlier this month. The bank announced it has donated more than $400,000 to island organizations since Hurricane Ian devastated the area. That figure is even higher than the goal for the bank’s “We Love Our Islands” program. “This Evening of Appreciation is our opportunity to celebrate all of you and the work you do,” said Bank of the Islands President Robbie Roepstorff. “Sanibel and ..read more

  Dear Readers, I thank you deeply for your letters — of any opinion or persuasion — especially those delivered without name-calling or invective. Here are some recent ones, abridged only for length. I look forward to hearing from you again. — Roger Williams Re: “Test Them,” April 3 FROM: Louise Foley Hello, Mr. Williams, I just read your commentary in the April 3-9 edition of Florida Weekly and so agree with everything you wrote… “I do believe every elected official should be required to take a several day seminar covering the Bill of Rights and the US Constitution before being sworn i ..read more

UF/IFAS wildlife biologist Michelle Bassis holds a large female Burmese pythons captured near one of their tagged male pythons in the Everglades Francis S. Taylor Wildlife Management Area. UF/IFAS / COURTESY PHOTO A team of UF/IFAS and USGS scientists are on the search for pythons, employing new tactics and equipment in the next phase of a large-scale python telemetry scout project launched last year. The goal of the project is to study Burmese python biology and movement patterns as they leverage state-of-the-art radio telemetry technology during the species’ mating and breeding season to l ..read more

Millions in money, jewelry and even gold are up for grabs. Could you cash in? An unexpected windfall could be waiting for you, courtesy of the state of Florida. It may be money, or it could be gold but it’s waiting to be claimed by its owner. We even uncovered cash that most likely belongs to former President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis. The state is not suddenly exhibiting a new-found sense of generosity. This is unclaimed property that already belongs to you, that is owed to you, but you may have forgotten about it or didn’t even know it existed. According to the Division of Unclaim ..read more

The Southwest Florida Heart Ball sold out even before The American Heart Association sent official invitations. It raised more than $700,000 to help fight heart disease in Southwest Florida. COURTESY PHOTO Organizers say the Southwest Florida Heart Ball will make a big difference in fighting heart disease in our community. The event brought in more than $700,000 and was the most successful since 2020. This year’s campaign was chaired by Dr. Iahn Gonsenhauser, chief medical officer at Lee Health. “The support for this year’s Heart Ball was incredible, and I’m grateful to have been a part of t ..read more