Good morning, Fort Myers.

At the service garages of Sam Galloway Ford in Fort Myers, Community Cooperative held its 23rd annual soup kitchen benefit on March 5, raising over $1.3M to fight hunger and homelessness in Southwest Florida (nonprofit since 1984).

On March 20, the Bobby Nichols-Fiddlesticks Charity Foundation awarded over $1.5 million in grants to six local charities at its annual Nichols Cup event, boosting its total fundraising for at-risk children in Southwest Florida to nearly $22 million.

The Florida Blue Foundation donated $500,000 to help build a new Hunger Action Center for Harry Chapin Food Bank + the 110,175 sqft facility under construction at the southwest corner of I-75 and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard will double food capacity when finished in late 2026.

On Tuesday, Gulf Coast Humane Society brought Fifi, a 7-year-old German Shepherd weighing 70 pounds, into the studio at 2010 Arcadia St., where she is now available for adoption.

The center is also teaming up with Club Pilates for a pup-ilates adoption event at Edison Mall.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Tuesday morning at Matlacha Community Park to celebrate 100 years of Matlacha and complete reconstruction of Little Pine Island Bridge, a $65 million project begun after Hurricane Ian, with Florida Department of Transportation crews finishing tasks+securing the bridge for future storms.

Two airlines will offer new nonstop flights from RSW for spring break travel as JetBlue will fly to Buffalo three times a week starting March 26 and Frontier will connect to Indianapolis twice a week beginning March 27 — boosting service during the busy season.

A rare sawfish nursery in the Caloosahatchee River faces threats from development and rising sea levels — its mangrove islands are eroding while construction pressures risk losing key pupping areas.

Joe Cavanaugh of Calusa Waterkeeper warns that protecting this habitat is vital for the endangered sawfish population.

Gov. DeSantis signed a bill on March 24 that provides $31 million in stopgap funding for the AIDS Drug Assistance Program to keep HIV medication available for over 11,000 clients until June 30 (the emergency measure came after recent program cuts threatened access).

Spring training wrapped in Fort Myers as fans enjoyed unique ballpark experiences last Tuesday at Hammond Stadium.

JetBlue Park generated about $69.5 million in taxable revenue over nine weeks, boosting local growth and setting the stage for more community events.

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.

ASAP Peer Support Training

9 a.m.-5 p.m. — Lee County Public Safety Center Annex — Early Bird $650 — Enhance your peer support skills with specialized trauma training for first responders.

Chris Cope Stand-Up Comedy Show

7:30-10:30 p.m. — Snappers Comedy Club Fort Myers — Ticketed event — Enjoy a night of laughter with comedian Chris Cope, fresh from Hollywood.

Parkinson's 5K & Wellness Walk

8-11 a.m. — Hammond Stadium — Registration fee applies — Participate in an uplifting wellness walk to support those affected by Parkinson's disease.

Candlelight: The Lord of the Rings Tribute Concert

6-7 p.m. — Music & Arts Community Center - Gulf Coast Symphony — Limited Edition Tickets Available — Celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings with a string quartet performance of its iconic music.

Madagascar Jr | Homeschool

6:00 PM – 7:30 PM — Fort Myers Theatre — Check event page for ticket info — Enjoy a musical adventure with Alex, Marty, and friends as they escape from Central Park Zoo to Madagascar.