Good morning, Fort Myers.

At a birthday lunch, 88 year old Jan Hughes shared her secret to a beautiful life by crediting her faith and family with giving her strength.

She has witnessed Fort Myers grow over 62 years.

Gracie, a three-legged rescue from a North Fort Myers hoarding case, is now ready for adoption after receiving in-house surgery funded by the Animal Care Trust Fund.

She appeared at the Lee County Commission meeting Tuesday and awaits a new home in the community.

ECHO in North Fort Myers will host Growfest on Oct.

24 at its Durrance Road farm with 15 percent off plant and seed sales and free tours, aiding local farming efforts. Its annual conference, Rooted Resilience: From Soil Health to Community Wellbeing, is set for Nov. 10-12 at the Gulf Coast Hotel and farm.

Residents can shop for pumpkins at the Church of the Nazarene (6781 Bayshore Road), open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day except Sunday until Halloween.

Families may also take photos on a hay couch built by the church as part of the annual fundraiser.

Southern Fresh Farms is hosting its Fall Festival on weekends in October at 8500 Penzance Blvd., featuring pumpkins, hayrides, local vendors, and live music—plus a special Boo at the Farm Halloween celebration with trick-or-treat stations on Saturday, Oct.

31 from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission and parking are free.

Estero-based Hertz Global Holdings made an $80.89 million equity investment in its subsidiary (Oro Mobility) to expand its fleet management business.

The company said the move was part of its plan to grow beyond its rental car operations.

An 11-year-old North Fort Myers boy who uses cochlear implants and relates to Iron Man may star in a Stan Lee comic after his mom entered him in the Stan Lee Super Kid competition.

The contest may inspire other kids—voters can decide his future appearance.

On Wednesday, Oct. 21, the Powerball jackpot reached $635 million with a cash option of nearly $268 million after 29 rollovers, and a Fort Myers ticket from Racetrac won $1 million in a previous drawing.

The next drawing is on Saturday, Oct. 24.

Lee County approved a $991,000 contract to install concrete mats at the Punta Rassa boat ramp to shield it from storm damage, with installation scheduled for spring 2027 to protect the ramp and nearby bridge for boaters.

Victor Arias, a 65-year-old attorney (with 35 years of legal experience), is running for the District 19 congressional seat and plans to boost affordable housing and lower prescription prices for seniors in Fort Myers.

He has served on local boards and aims to build bipartisan solutions for community needs.

A free panel discussion to help seniors and families navigate the healthcare maze is scheduled for today from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Collaboratory in Fort Myers & featuring healthcare, elder law and community experts, with refreshments provided & Legacy Senior Advocates behind the event.

Cape Coral residents weigh mixed views on a $30 million incentive for HCA to build a new hospital with 100 care beds + shorter emergency room waits.

The city council approved the plan on Wednesday, though some question taxpayer use.

UnitedHealthcare patients at Lee Health can apply for a continuity of care option that extends in-network benefits until Jan.

30 (eligibility varies by diagnosis and is determined by UnitedHealthcare). Patients are advised to call the number on their plan ID card for assistance.

Pat Neal's Foley Branch LLC is planning to build up to 350 clustered homes on 178 acres south of Palm Beach Boulevard in Alva.

The plan includes 100,000 sqft of commercial space and preserved wetlands (except a minor impact area) and will require county plan amendments before moving forward.