Town turns 21

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Gretchen Johnson, Dottie Pedone, Lorrie Wolf, Johanna Campbell, Betty Simpson and Joan Huyette are the famous cupcake ladies who proudly celebrate the town's birthday each year.

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Olivia Cahill of Illinois enjoys her cupcake.

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The Bay Oaks Recreational Campus will be hosting a pickleball tournament Saturday.

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Brinly, Clark and Tatum McKenney of Ontario, Canada, make their selections.

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As a group of volunteers prepared a table full of treats, the line of visitors was forming, and hungry eyes watched the clock.

But first, they had to sing happy birthday to Fort Myers Beach.

The Town of Fort Myers Beach celebrated its 21st birthday of incorporation Saturday and followed its annual tradition: handing out free cupcakes and cookies in Times Square to visitors and passers-by.

Five women have been a central part of this tradition, volunteering their afternoon on New Years Eve each year to welcome folks to their town.

The group started with town residents Lorrie Wolf, Betty Simpson, Gretchen Johnson, Cheri Smith, Johanna Campbell, Judy Fitzsimon, and Barbara Keen. They used to bake the cupcakes each year, but a few years ago the town stepped in and purchased the treats instead. Wolf said she didn’t miss the work of trying to bake so many cupcakes.

These core women have continued each year, and even have added a new member to the club. Dottie Pedone only has two years under her belt, so she’s still called the “new one.” Her inaugural year in the tradition was last year when her friend, Wolf, said they needed help at the tent on New Years Eve.

“It’s a great group of ladies. They’ve got so much spunk,” Pedone said.

The town also celebrated with an open house and free admission to Bay Oaks pool. Staff gave tours of the facility and opened up the gym for games.