Good morning, Fort Myers.

The Edison Awards are moving forward with a master plan for the Innovation Walk, which will feature large sculptures and link downtown with Edison & Ford Winter Estates.

Perkins&Will, a Florida design firm, leads planning following a grant and community outreach.

A new downtown farmers market will launch Saturday, Jan.

17, stretching from Monroe + First to Broadway + Main and run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through April. City Council will approve the management agreement with Local Roots LLC on Jan. 5 as the company has signed 42 vendors.

The Fort Myers Beach Observer and Beach Bulletin are reviving the Best of Fort Myers Beach awards with online & paper ballot voting from Jan.

21 to Jan. 30. Winners will be announced on March 25 with a banquet held the day before the results are published.

Florida tourism in Q3 2025 increased to 34.339 million visitors from 34.239 million last year, even as Canadian visits dropped to 507,000 from 597,000 — lawmakers will review Visit Florida's funding proposal on Jan.

13.

Cyber scammers have prompted local experts to urge residents to use password managers and multi-factor authentication to protect personal data.

Florida ranked third in cyber incident complaints in 2024 and the advice is part of a push for better online safety as 2026 begins.

The Fort Myers Beach Public Library at 2755 Estero Blvd will host a free training on invasive plants on Saturday, Jan.

10 at 10:00 a.m. where Master Gardener Volunteers will show residents how to spot and manage harmful species to protect local ecosystems.

Cheyenne Smith, from a Cape Coral family, delivered the first baby of the New Year at HealthPark in Fort Myers at 12:49 a.m. and the healthy girl weighed 7 lb (11 oz).

On Christmas morning, Ted Stegner got his condo keys back after living in his van for more than three years because the Seven Lakes Association replaced the controversial waiver with a new owner acknowledgment form (which drops liability claims and offers a one-year warranty), letting him finally return home.

The News-Press and Naples Daily News named CSN's Sienna Audrey and Mariner's Angel Cruz as the 2025 SWFL Cross Country Runners of the Year, and readers can vote online until Wednesday, Jan.

7 (9 a.m.) to confirm the picks.

Cops n Joggers 5K Family Fun Night

6-12 p.m. — Downtown Jewelry & Watch Company — $30 Adult/$20 Youth — Participate in a family-friendly 5K night race benefiting local heroes with food, music, and activities for all ages.

2026 Highlander Golf Classic

11 a.m. — Bonita Bay Club — Entry Fee Required — Swing into action at a charity golf event benefiting cancer care and support.

2026 Gulf Coast Boating & Marine Expo

9 AM–5 PM (Jan 15-17), 9 AM–4 PM (Jan 18) — JetBlue Park — Free entry — Explore versatile boats perfect for the Gulf Coast lifestyle and enjoy exclusive incentives on upgrades.

2026 Gulf Coast Boating & Marine Expo

9 a.m.–5 p.m. — JetBlue Park — Free entry — Celebrate the Gulf Coast’s boating culture with a range of boats and marine technology.

Candlelight Concert: Queen vs. ABBA

8:30 p.m. — Music & Arts Community Center - Gulf Coast Symphony — Tickets selling fast — Experience a magical candlelight concert featuring the hits of Queen and ABBA.

The Creative Collective

7-9 p.m. — Florida Gulf Coast University — Free entry — Gain insights into creating impactful content through a Christ-centered lens with award-winning professionals.

Yacht Rock Revue Concert

6-9 p.m. — Caloosa Sound Amphitheater — Food concessions available — Drift away to the smooth classic sounds of Yacht Rock with live tunes from the 70s and 80s.

Candlelight Concert: Tribute to Taylor Swift

6-7:04 p.m. — Music & Arts Community Center - Gulf Coast Symphony — Tickets available — Experience Taylor Swift's music in a captivating candlelit setting.

Little Women - The Musical

7:30-10:30 p.m. — Players Circle Theater — Cost Info Not Provided — Experience the beloved tale brought to life in this epic musical.

Candlelight: Tribute to Adele

6:00 – 6:59 PM — Florida Repertory Theatre — Check event page for ticket prices — Experience a magical candlelight concert honoring the music of Adele.