New councilmembers sworn in; Jon McLain named mayor and Joanne Ribble named vice-mayor on April 5, 2023
New councilmembers sworn in; Jon McLain named mayor and Joanne Ribble named vice-mayor on April 5, 2023 Councilmembers front row, left to right: Dist. 1 Vice-Mayor Joanne Ribble; Dist. 3 Mayor Jon McLain; Dist. 5 Rafael Lopez. Back row, left to right: Dist. 4 Lori Fayhee; Dist. 2 Larry Fiesel; Dist. 7 George Zalucki; Dist. 6 Jim Ward. The meeting started with the Honorable Elisabeth Adams, 20th Judicial Circuit Judge, reading the Oath of Office to the councilmembers for District 3 Jon McLain, District 4 Lori Fayhee, District 5 Rafael Lopez and District 7 George Zalucki. This was followed by [...]
Downtown Estero and Williams Road rezoning on the agenda for the Planning, Zoning & Design Board on April 11, 2023
Downtown Estero residential The Board will start their meeting at 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, with public hearings for development orders for Downtown Estero’s infrastructure and residential development on a 34-acre site located on the east side of US 41, north of Broadway and east of Broadway Shoppes. The third public hearing will be for the Village-initiated rezoning of the 9000 Williams Road property, located north of Williams Road and east of the railroad right of way. This will be followed by an update on development projects in Estero. The full agenda is available here. Meetings are held in the Council [...]
Public meetings to be held on River Ranch Road Improvements Project and Village Center Hub Project on April 6, 2023
The Village will be conducting two separate public meetings on April 6. The first will address the River Ranch Road Improvements Project and will be held from 4:30 – 6 p.m. at Room 103A of the Estero Community Recreation Center, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd. Residents will have an opportunity to review plans, make comments, and speak with members of the project team. A second public meeting will be held with an update on the progress related to the Village Center Hub project and potential family entertainment partners. The Public Information Session will be held from 6 – 8 p.m. at [...]
“Outlaws, Highway Men & Villains of Florida” will be presented at the Estero Historical Society on April 22
Local historian Jacob Winge will discuss how Florida has been a refuge for outcasts and scoundrels for centuries. There’s William Bowles, who, as a teenager, was recognized by King George III in 1781 as Chief of the Embassy for Creek and Cherokee nations, and who (with British backing) would raid Spanish ships and found the State of Muskogee. There are also modern villains like Charles Ponzi and the Tamiami Trail Strangler. Winge, a fifth-generation Floridian who has been presenting living history reenactments and other types of historical programs since his teens, is one of the Estero Historical Society’s popular presenters. [...]
New councilmembers to be sworn in at the Council meeting on April 5, 2023
Four councilmembers will be sworn in at the beginning of the meeting at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday. They include: District 3 Jon McLain, District 4 Lori Fayhee, District 5 Rafael Lopez and District 7 George Zalucki. This will be followed by the election of mayor and vice-mayor. Action items include resolutions for obtaining state funds for Sandy Lane bike/pedestrian improvements and replating of Tract “F1” and Tract “L6”, Rivercreek, on Corkscrew Road. There will also be workshops on Senate Appropriations/Legislative – UEP Status, Vieste, LLC, and Florida Department of Transportation I-75. The full agenda is available here. Meetings are held in [...]
Chamber music to be featured in historic Art Hall on April 2
The Koreshan Music Salon, featuring musicians from the Naples Philharmonic, will present Beethoven’s Romance for Violin and Piano in F-Major, and his Serenade for String Trio in D-Major Op. 8 in their concert at the Koreshan State Park’s historic Art Hall starting at 3 p.m., Sunday, April 2. Following a short intermission, they will perform Haydn’s Piano Trio in E-major. Performing artists include Boris Sandler on violin, Bella Gutshtein on piano, Adam Satinsky on cello and Patricia Vance on viola. Concert tickets are available at $25 per person; this price includes entrance to the park. Reservations may be made here. [...]
Corkscrew Road Widening Update from Lee County March 24, 2023
On Friday, March 24 and Monday, March 27, during the daytime hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., motorists should expect the driveway at The Shoppes at Grande Oak (Publix) for Corkscrew Road to be closed for crews to complete underground utility work. To access the shopping plaza, drivers should turn north onto Ben Hill Griffin Parkway and turn right into the plaza. The contractor continues work outside of the travel lanes. This work includes installing drainage, earthwork, clearing & grubbing, prepping for sod. Crews continue work on the box culvert near the wildlife crossing. This week the bridge crews will [...]
Donated not Wasted – Food-rescue campaign begins as seasonal residents head north
Donations to be accepted at Estero Recreation Center March 27 through April 10 Lee County Solid Waste’s fifth annual “Donated not Wasted” food rescue campaign encourages seasonal residents and visitors to donate unopened pantry items before returning north. Since the program’s inception, 25,385 pounds of food has been diverted from potential disposal and sent to the Harry Chapin Food Bank – enough food to provide more than 21,000 meals to residents. Join Lee County Solid Waste, Harry Chapin [...]
Septic tanks need regular maintenance
Septic Tanks need regular maintenance to be efficient, clean and safe for everyone. Be sure to have your system and drain field checked, especially if you have an older installation. Poorly functioning systems drain excess nutrients into our waterways, which feeds the algal blooms we all dread. For more ways to ensure your septic system is safe and efficient, see our flyer.
Doggie Field Day coming to Estero Park on March 30, 2023
National Walk in the Park Day on March 30 would be even better celebrated with a best friend. Lee County Domestic Animal Services, along with Lee County Parks & Recreation, will host the first Doggie Field Day 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, March 30, at Estero Park, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd. All proceeds from a $5 donation will go directly to the Animal Care Trust Fund which was established in 2002 to provide specialized care and services to stray animals of Lee County. Activities will include a relay race, obstacle course, solo cup search and sniff, relay dog wash, as [...]