Save the date: Light up Estero on December 3
The annual Light up Estero is scheduled for 4 – 7 p.m., Saturday, December 3, at the Ocean Church parking area, 22100 Tamiami Trail. This year’s theme is “Unity in the Community” to honor those who helped with our recovery from Hurricane Ian. There will be bounce houses for the children, food trucks, holiday music performed by the New Horizons of Southwest Florida Choir, Christmas carol sing-along, lighting of the Christmas tree and, of course, the arrival of Santa and Mrs. Claus via an Estero Fire Rescue fire truck. While the event is free…net proceeds from the event will be [Read More.]
GO Divas provided beautiful music while helping those in need enjoy Thanksgiving
Gulfshore Opera Divas performed a beautiful, lively musical program featuring music by such composers as Mozart and Handel to Paul Simon and Carole King to benefit Southwest Florida’s largest Thanksgiving outreach mission Feeding the 5000*. The GO Divas received a standing ovation by concertgoers at their first concert at the Estero Lamb of God Church. The Gulfshore Opera plans a second concert at this church in March when they will be performing songs of Ireland. To learn more about the Gulfshore Opera, whose offices are located here in Estero, go to their website here. *Feeding the 5000: Thanksgiving Outreach is [Read More.]
Corkscrew Road widening project update from Lee County November 12, 2022
The following work activities are scheduled to occur, however unforeseen underground conditions and weather may affect this schedule. Beginning Monday, November 14 through Friday, November 18 during the nighttime/overnight hours of 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.,crews will be removing and installing utilities under the Bella Terra driveway. During this time, one half of the driveway will remain open to two-way traffic. This is work is scheduled during nighttime hours and both the entrance and exit are expected to be open during the daytime hours. Beginning this week, motorists should expect dump trucks pulling in and out of traffic near the driveways of The Preserve [Read More.]
Lee County Solid Waste to resume yard-waste collection next week
Lee County Solid Waste announced that containerized yard waste collection will resume in all county-served areas beginning Monday, November 14. Residents are asked to use containers, paper lawn and leaf bags or clear plastic bags to set vegetative material – including palm fronds – curbside on their regular collection day. Black plastic bags and bundled yard waste will not be collected with curbside yard waste at this time. Those items will be collected at a later date by the storm-debris contractor using specialized equipment. Residents are asked to keep their containerized yard waste separate from any hurricane debris piles.
Council to conduct a workshop on utilities expansion following their meeting on November 16, 2022
Council will start their meeting at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, addressing the Greater Estero Chamber of Commerce’s financial support for strategic plans for future growth and impact. They will then review a resolution for Village Attorney and a final budget amendment, then conduct public hearings for Milan Villas rezoning, flood hazard reduction standards and adopting the new Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Council will then conduct a workshop for an update on utility expansion projects. The full agenda is here.
Council conducted budget hearings on November 9, 2022
Public Budget Hearings Resolution 2022-33 – final millage rate Council approved this resolution adopting the ad valorem taxes for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 at a millage rate of 0.75 mills, which is a reduction from the prior year’s rate of 0.77. Council has voted five times to reduce the tax rate since incorporation, making Estero’s tax rate the lowest in Southwest Florida. Resolution 2022-34 – Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget Village Manager Steve Sarkozy gave a short presentation on the FY 2022-2023 budget commenting on the fact that the Village is debt-free, having paid off the loan for the Estero on the River [Read More.]
AT&T Cell Tower and Market Place at Coconut Point among presenters to the Planning, Zoning & Design Board on November 8, 2022
At the start of the meeting, it was announced that the Board’s vice-chair Marlene Naratil has submitted her letter of resignation from the Board. Her home was devastated by Hurricane Ian, so she is moving from Estero. Public Hearings AT&T monopole location The first public hearing addressed a special exception to allow a 100-foot-tall AT&T wireless telecommunications facility on the Bonita Springs-Estero Elks Lodge property at 3231 Coconut Road. The applicant had revised their original application from 149 feet to a 99-foot monopole with a 1-foot lightning rod for a total height of 100 feet. Space will be made available [Read More.]
Important information about possible Tropical Storm Nicole impacts
Document this storm separately Should you have any damage as a result of Tropical Storm Nicole, it is imperative that the damage be documented separately from damage as a result of Hurricane Ian. These would be two separate applications for relief from FEMA. Here’s the latest information that we have available at this time. Anticipated impacts: Based on the latest forecasts, it’s anticipated that Nicole will be a Category 1 hurricane when it makes landfall on the east coast of Florida sometime Wednesday or Thursday. 2 to 4 inches of rain with localized flooding is expected in Lee County. No [Read More.]
Coco Art Gallery grand reopening November 9
The Art Council of Southwest Florida (ACSWF) is announcing the official grand reopening of its COCO Art Gallery at the Coconut Point Mall in Estero on November 9th from 5-7 PM. This event will be co-hosted by the Estero Chamber of Commerce. Judi Fuchs, 2nd Vice President of the Art Council and Estero Gallery Director, offered the following about the event, “Our volunteers and contractors spent many weeks working tirelessly to renovate our gallery space. We are very proud of the team’s effort and want to celebrate its reopening in memorable fashion.” The evening will include the unveiling of [Read More.]
Council to conduct budget hearings on November 9, 2022
Council will start their meeting at 5:05 p.m., Wednesday, with public hearings to set the millage rate and adopt the final budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023. The full agenda is available here. Meetings are held in the Council Chambers, Village Hall, 9401 Corkscrew Palms Circle, near the entrance to the Estero Park. Residents may view the meeting here and provide public comment by utilizing the eComment Card on the Village website. Comments must be received by noon one day before the actual meeting and they will be distributed to the Council but will not be read at the meeting.