Friday, March 13th, 2026
Good morning, Fort Myers. Here's your local news at a glance for Friday, the 13th of March.
COMMUNITY NEWS
- ➤ A proposed 150-ft cell tower in Bokeelia sparked debate among Pine Island residents over its planned location. A public hearing on Wednesday had developers touting improved wireless service while neighbors opposed its visibility along a busy road — public input resumes Friday for a final decision. WINK News
CULTURE NEWS
- ➤ Fort Myers and nearby communities celebrate St. Patrick's Day with events. Fort Myers Brewing hosts a festival from today through Sunday at Commerce Lakes Drive, while a downtown bar crawl and block party offer live music and Irish treats, and similar gatherings are planned in Bonita, Naples, and Cape Coral. The News-Press
- ➤ Southwest Florida’s brewery scene is thriving this month with new openings and awards. Resurgence Brewing opened a 15000 sqft taproom in Fort Myers, while Anarchy Ale Works in Alva celebrated its grand opening with a March 21 St. Patrick’s celebration; Fort Myers Brewing won six medals at state championships. The News-Press
- ➤ Tim Jaeger, director at Ringling College (art educator), chose 43 artworks for the 40th Annual All Florida Exhibition that explore identity, history and place. The show is on view at the Alliance for the Arts through March 28. WGCU
EDUCATION NEWS
- ➤ The School District of Lee County will reassign ESE students to cluster schools to boost support and resource efficiency, and principals are calling parents today to announce new placements at North Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh Senior and Bonita Springs High Schools as part of a two-year rollout. Cape Coral Breeze
ENVIRONMENT NEWS
- ➤ The Climate Prediction Center issued an El Niño watch on March 12 while La Niña still lingers — scientists expect the warming to boost wind shear and help quiet the hurricane season this summer. Forecasts from AccuWeather and Colorado State University will add further details soon. The News-Press
GOVERNMENT NEWS
- ➤ The City of Fort Myers announced plans to demolish City of Palms Park for a 200,000 to 300,000 sqft indoor sports facility to boost local tourism — City Council will consider the demolition contract in April. WINK News
- ➤ Fort Myers Beach is conducting a survey to assess public interest in a water taxi service that may ease island traffic. Some council members questioned if the survey questions target visitors rather than residents, and MERTF and the Anchorage Advisory Committee will meet in May to discuss guidelines. Beach Observer and Beach Bulletin
- ➤ On Thursday, Florida airports reported TSA wait times averaging under 15 minutes despite staffing shortages from the government shutdown—Southwest Florida International in Fort Myers saw longer lines due to spring break travel while expedited services stayed operational. The News-Press
-
Annie Houston Screw Cancer HoopFest
8 AM – 4 PM — Wa-Ke Hatchee Park — Entry fees support cancer research — Celebrate basketball while honoring the legacy of Mrs. Annie Lois Houston.
-
John Legend Live Performance
7-10 p.m. — Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW — Ticket prices vary — Experience the soulful sounds of EGOT-winning artist John Legend in an unforgettable concert.
-
Willy Chirino Concert
9 p.m. - 12 a.m. — Caloosa Sound Convention Center — Tickets available — Enjoy the vibrant Cuban rhythms of Willy Chirino live in concert.
-
Fort Myers Food Pantry
3-6 p.m. — 507 Center Rd — Free entry — Receive free bread, produce, dried goods, and hygiene products for those in need.
-
The Collectible Buyer Road Tour
9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. — DoubleTree by Hilton Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops — Free admission — Bring your collectibles for cash offers and free appraisals from seasoned experts.
-
The Odd Couple
6:30-7:30 p.m. — Fort Myers Theatre — Check event page for cost — Witness the hilarity that unfolds when a messy slob and a fastidious neat freak become unlikely roommates.
-
The Simon and Garfunkel Story
7-11 p.m. — Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall — Ticket prices vary — Experience the musical journey of Simon & Garfunkel with live performances and captivating visuals.
-
Celtic Woman: A New Era
8-9:30 p.m. — Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW — Ticket prices vary — Experience a captivating performance blending traditional Irish music with contemporary arrangements by the globally celebrated ensemble Celtic Woman.
-
Time to Paddy 5K, 10K & Lucky 13.1
8 AM – 12 PM — South County Regional Park — Entry fee varies — Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with family-friendly races featuring swag, chip-timing, and awards.
-
Kimberly Akimbo
7:30 p.m. — Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall — Tickets from $62.12 — Experience the Tony Award-winning musical about growing up and family dynamics with humor and heart.
No new real estate listings today. You can submit one here.
No new job posts today. You can submit one here.
No new community announcements today. You can submit one here.
TODAY'S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
The only true failure is abandoning your principles.
Know who said this? Send us an email!
Reveal the authorAbout Daily Fort Myers
Welcome to the Daily Fort Myers, your community newsletter that's anything but snooze-worthy, packed with positive, impactful local news + events across the Fort Myers, Florida community. If you like the Daily Fort Myers, support us by subscribing to our email newsletter and sharing us with your friends and family in Fort Myers.
Advertising Opportunities
Advertising with us will make sure you stay at the top of everyone's mind—in Fort Myers and across Florida. You can learn more here. We'll work together to build a custom plan to hit your goals this year.
Alternatively, you can submit events, announcements, real estate listings, and job postings. We'll include them in our newsletter on whichever dates you like.
Community, delivered
Our hyper-local media company activates communities through daily email newsletters that curate the most positive, impactful local news + events – all for free.
Subscribe to Daily Fort Myers
A free Fort Myers community newsletter.
- Daily local news
- We curate the most positive, impactful local news + events.
- 6AM City
- A publication of 6AM City, the nation's leading local newsletter-first media network. Nominate your city.
© 6AM City Inc. 2025. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms of Service. Questions? Contact us here
Sitemap: https://dailyfortmyers.com/sitemap