Good morning, Fort Myers.

Local residents raised $25,240 in 12 days for the Fort Myers Beach VFW to help keep the 86-year-old organization open after high repair bills from recent hurricanes — a successful fundraiser that reached its goal ahead of schedule.

A Mayor’s show will be held on October 19 featuring veteran interviews and local food sales to further support the VFW.

Hundreds of volunteers will be needed for the 35th Annual Sandsculpting Championships on Fort Myers Beach from November 20th through the 24th—organizers said they rely on them to keep the event successful for more than three decades.

The League of Women Voters of Lee County will host Embracing Differences: A Path to Stronger Communities on Nov.

1 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Collaboratory, 2031 Jackson St., Fort Myers to discuss inclusion, equity, and diversity. The event will also be available virtually (Zoom links will be emailed two days before and on the day) and is planned to address current challenges (organizers hope to foster greater unity).

Construction near the mangroves at Tarpon Point Marina is adding 41 boat slips to expand capacity from 225 to 266 as boaters look to more docking options after damage from Hurricane Ian.

Many residents worry this work may affect an endangered sawfish nursery in sensitive wetlands—officials say the project follows all environmental safeguards.

Researchers have developed a machine learning model that runs every Sunday to forecast red tide blooms along Southwest Florida's coast—its one-week forecasts show 73% accuracy and four-week forecasts reach 84% accuracy.

Water managers are expected to use the predictions to plan for high red tide conditions by the end of October—helping local communities prepare for potential impacts.

Fort Myers Beach is moving ahead with plans to rebuild Times Square after Hurricane Ian, as the local planning agency approved the first building that will have an ice cream shop + living space upstairs.

The project now awaits town council approval and will use new flood-resilient building codes to guard against future storms.

City leaders in Cape Coral announced plans to break ground on a $225M rebuild of the Yacht Club that will be completed in phases by 2030 — the project will add a modern marina, community center, restaurant, and resort-style pool.

The rebuild is funded by a public service tax, a city loan, and other revenue while local residents expressed mixed reactions about the high cost and extended timeline.

Motorists in east Lee County are urged to follow detour signs as the Lee County Department of Transportation begins phase III of the Buckingham and Gunnery roads roundabout project; beginning October 22nd, northbound Gunnery Road traffic will face lane reductions with southbound drivers directed to detour via Buckingham Road—further changes are expected in November. Work will run on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.—the project is planned to complete in spring 2026.

Publix voluntarily recalled Rich & Creamy Vanilla Ice Cream on Tuesday after a half-gallon container with a mismatched lid may contain an undeclared egg allergen—customers in affected Florida locations and other southeastern states should return the product for a full refund.

No illnesses were reported from the recalled product.

Crews broke ground on Legacy Point, a 373-unit mixed-income community in Fort Myers’ Dunbar neighborhood on Thursday morning as part of the Greater Dunbar Initiative.

The project led by the Southwest Florida Housing Foundation—adding features like a clubhouse, walking trails and a commercial area for healthy food access—is expected to complete its second phase in two years with at least $48 million in federal grants.

At FGCU, 100 student volunteers welcomed athletes with disabilities at Adaptive Sports Day — featuring tennis and waterskiing — to build self-esteem and lower stress.

The event followed NIH research that shows team sports help the mind and build sportsmanship.

Let's Sing Taylor - A Celebration of Taylor Swift

8-9:30 p.m. — Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW — Ticket prices vary — Experience an evening of live band performances paying tribute to the iconic music of Taylor Swift.

Ryan Bingham & The Texas Gentlemen Live

7:30-9 p.m. — Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW — Ticket info not specified — Experience the authentic sound of Grammy-winning artist Ryan Bingham and his captivating storytelling through music.

The Rock Orchestra By Candlelight

8:00-9:30 p.m. — Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW — Check for pricing — Experience a spellbinding fusion of classic rock and metal anthems performed by a captivating orchestra in candlelight.

Rodney Carrington Live

7-9 p.m. — Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall — Ticket prices vary — Experience the hilarious and multi-talented comedian known for his chart-topping comedy albums and engaging performances.

Fort Myers Halloween Pub Crawl

4:30-9 p.m. — City Tavern — Tickets available online — Enjoy a spooky night filled with contests, prizes, and ghoulish fun in your best costume.

Awakening Events - Christian Music Concert

7-11 p.m. — Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall — Ticketed event — Experience uplifting performances at this exciting Christian music concert.

Fall Festival & Trunk or Treat

6-8:30 p.m. — Fort Myers Stars Complex — Free admission — Celebrate Halloween with activities like Trunk or Treat, games, and family-friendly entertainment.

Strangelove - Depeche Mode Tribute Band

7:30-9 p.m. — Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall — Starting at $43.01 — Experience a pitch-perfect tribute to Depeche Mode that spans their iconic career.

Child's Anthem - The Music of Toto

7:30-9 p.m. — Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW — Starting at $51.54 — Enjoy a captivating tribute to Toto featuring some of Nashville's finest musicians.

Clay Walker Concert

6-8:30 p.m. — Caloosa Sound Amphitheater — General admission free — Rock out to a night of 90's country revival with Clay Walker and special guest Drake Milligan.