Beach weekends are beginning to heat up again
There will be something to do for most anyone this weekend on Fort Myers Beach as summer moves into autumn and signals a busier activity schedule for residents and visitors alike.
One can enjoy a street market Key West-style, participate in a benefit poker run, help clean up the beachfront and streets, cast a line in area waters during a fundraising fishing tournament as well as a post-party at a Beach restaurant, paddle in a cardboard boat race or bird watch at a nearby beach with a guide. Oh, and remember to save some strength for a trolley-riding, restaurant-hopping, appetizer-munching experience Tuesday evening as well.
It’s time to get out and shake those mid-September blues. Season is just around the corner.
Key West Street Market and Biker Poker Run
Santini Marina Plaza will again come alive on Saturday for the Key West Street Market and Biker Poker Run.
More than 30 street vendors are gearing up for the market event to be held in the plaza parking lot at 7205 Estero Blvd. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The restaurants of Santini Marina Plaza will be serving Key West-style food and drinks in the lot as well. Legacy of Steel, featuring Harold Antoine as lead steel pannist, will provide island-style music to suit the theme.
Also in the plaza, a commemorative t-shirt will be sold for a $10 donation to Harry Chapin Food Bank.
More than 100 bikers are expected to take part in the poker run that will be led by Capt. Morgan Bowden of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and his team including Lena Neroni, Mike DeCarlo and Adrienne Gettman. Admission to the event is one non-perishable food item.
A benefit for the Harry Chapin Food Bank and hosted by the south end plaza, this portion of the dual event involves many volunteers aiding at different sites along the run’s course.
Sand Bar & Grille will host the bikers before (breakfast and pre-ride meeting at 9:30 a.m.) and after (post-ride reception; raffle of donated items) the poker run. The first stop of the bike course is Coconut Jack’s Tiki Bar followed by Sandy Parrot, Nick & Stella’s Sports Bar, Bayside Grille and Junkanoo before returning to Sand Bar & Grille.
Event coordinator Bonnie Roberts would like to extend thanks to her team of volunteers and the head of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office for support in the event and benefit.
“We want thank Sheriff Mike Scott for being the wind beneath the wings of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and their support of the Harry Chapin Food Bank,” said Roberts. “I have an amazing team of volunteers for this event.”
Roberts is lining up another event called the Howl-oween Pawsitively Awesome Pet Parade and Street Market at the plaza on Oct. 22.
“Start planning the costume for your pet,” said Roberts.
Florida Coastal Cleanup
Sponsored by Keep Lee County Beautiful and coordinated by the Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation, the Florida Coastal Cleanup is a National Cleanup of waterfront communities on Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m.
Beach organizers encourage any and all volunteers to come down to Estero Island and help in the cause to clean up the beachfront. The check-in point will be at Beach Elementary School. Pizza, sodas, and water will be offered when participants check in with their trash to be weighed and categorized by members of FMBCF. Beach students who participate will sign in with Mrs. Cribbs and be rewarded with an ice cream party put on by the Foundation on the following Monday.
The Coastal Cleanup is the only cleanup where trash is collected and recorded. The data cards are then sent to the Ocean Conservancy where the information is used in the development of new environmental protection acts and change the behaviors that cause marine debris in the first place. The data cards are designed to have groups of 4 working together, 3 to collect litter and debris and 1 to record the findings.
Latex gloves will be handed out; however some of the marine debris will be rough so please feel free to bring work gloves.
According to FMBCF member Alice Plaatje, who has been working on this event since 1995, the Pilot Club coordinated this event from 1985 to 2009 when the Foundation took over. The Pilot Club began the event 2 years before KLCB. It was the first service project the local Pilots did on the beach.
“People are more aware of how long debris takes to break down. KLCB, the Pilot Club and now the Beach Foundation, have raised the public awareness of the trash buildup and how it affects the wildlife-in particular the shore birds. Although less discarded trash is found each year, many bags are still being collected,” said Plaatje.
Foundation Board Director Alicia Steinhagen is heading this year’s event.
Fillet and Release Tournament comes to area
The seventh annual Fillet and Release Tournament is coming to Southwest Florida on Saturday, with a cash pay out of $7,250, including a benefit fundraiser for Hope Hospice. A post-party for all interested residents and visitors will be at the Matanzas Inn Restaurant.
The Tournament has a shotgun start at 7 a.m. at the middle span of the Sanibel Causeway (bay side – north). Anglers are allowed to fish in any water they choose, but cannot wade. Each boat has to be seen pulling into the dock at Matanzas Inn by 3 p.m. that same day.
This is a light tackle inshore tournament for ladies and gentlemen. All scoring will be done on the anglers’ honor. First place winner will be given a lie detector test at the weigh-in. Winners will be determined by total weight of redfish or spotted sea trout caught.
Check in is from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m.; any boat not checked in by 7:30 a.m. will be disqualified. Any boat caught fishing before 7 a.m. will be disqualified.
Call Ralph Andrew at 222-6787 or Amy Andrew at 940-4473 for questions. Visit website www.filletandrelease4hospice.com for more information
Entry Fee is $250 per team with a maximum of 4 anglers per boat. A member of the team must be present at the captains’ meeting. You must be paid in full at the captains’ meeting at Bahama Breeze at the corner of Six Mile Cypress and US 41 in Fort Myers. Meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. on Sept.16.
“Over the past 7 years, we have raised more than $17,000 for Hope Hospice. It’s a fishing tournament for people who are not professional fishermen. Weekend warriors are welcome,” said Amy Andrew. “All the anglers’ money that they put in goes straight back to them. The raffle that we have at the weigh-in is how we gather our donations for the money for Hope Hospice.
Andrew is inviting anyone and everyone to come to Matanzas Inn at 3 p.m. for the party portion of the event.
“It’s not just a fishing event. It’s going to be a big party at Matanzas Inn. We encourage everyone to come out, buy raffle tickets, hang out, listen to live music and raise money for Hope Hospice.”
Cardboard Boat Races
Young and old boating enthusiasts will need paint, glue, duct tape and some reinforced cardboard to participate in the Cardboard Boat Races on Saturday. The event, which has witnessed a three-year hiatus, is hosted and sponsored by Surf Club and begins in the Gulf off of Beach Access #36 at 10 a.m. It is expected to run until 2 p.m.
The course route will extend to The Cottage and back. Event coordinator James Byrne said Boy Scout Troop 999 will help man the event and proceeds will be split between the Beach boy scouts and Beach Elementary School.
There will be four different classes: age 11 and under; age 12-15; age 16 and older; and business/organizations. Awards will be given out to first, second and third places as well as overall best looking, ugliest, titanic (first to sink) and last to float (whichever boat stays afloat through the whole event). The last award will be linked with a “free for all” where participants can try to sink each other once the race is completed.
Byrne can be reached for questions and entry information by calling 410-7367. Fees are $10 for the two youngest divisions; $15 for age 16 and older bracket; and $25 for business/organizations to compete.
To create a boat, one to use cardboard, tape, glue and polyurethane. Boat regulations restrict two-part epoxies and fiberglass resins. You can row, paddle or sail your creation.
The resurrected event involves the Beach children as well as benefits them.
“This is a community event and open to the public,” said Byrne. “It is for kids and adults. I would like to thank all of the businesses and organizations that donated to this event.”
Bunche Beach offers bird-watching paradise
Experience the beautiful birds of Bunche Beach with a bird patrol guide on Saturday, at 8 a.m. Interested participants are asked to meet in the parking lot at Bunche Beach located off Summerlin Road at the left end of John Morris Road.
This event is excellent for both migrant and resident wading and shorebirds working the mudflats at low tide due to the diversity of micro-invertebrates. For more information, call 707-3015. The event is free and provided in cooperation with Lee County Parks and Recreation, though there may be a parking fee.
Bring binoculars, sun protection, shoes that can get wet, a bottle of drinking water, your curiosity and love of nature.
Go to www.birdpatrol.org to learn more.
“You can expect a wonderful expert bird guide with some of the best in the area for local and extensive knowledge on this tour,” said Lee County Parks and Recreation Land Stewardship Coordinator Terry Cain. “If you are a beginning bird watcher, moderate bird watcher or expert bird watcher, you will get a wonderful amount of information. Bunche Beach is one of the only places in Southwest Florida that you can find such a diverse species of shore birds. Our guides are the best in the area.”
Tickets still available for Chamber’s Tapa Hop
There is still time to get tickets for the Greater Fort Myers Beach Area Chamber of Commerce 2011 Fall Tapa Hop on Tuesday, Sept. 20.
Get your tickets before Sept. 19, for $30 at the FMB Chamber office. Knock off another $5 ($25) by registering and purchasing tickets with an online special at www.fortmyersbeachchamber.org. Contact the FMB Chamber office by email frontdesk@fmbchamber.com or be phone at 454-7500.
The annual event, which begins at 5 p.m. and ends at 9:30, features six Beach restaurants offering fare to those who have signed up. The restaurant tour begins at Parrot Key Caribbean Grill at Salty Sam’s Marina then moves via trolley to Nemos On The Beach, Yucatan Beach Stand, The Sandbar & Grille and Junkanoo’s On The Beach and returns to the Salty Sam’s Marina property at Big Game Waterfront Grill.
The trolley ride includes a poker run. Interested residents and business members can win great prizes with a Grand Prize Giveaway at the end of the ride. One will be asked to vote for your favorite restaurant.
The Tapa menu is as follows:
n Parrot Key Caribbean Grill: Calamari, Conch Fritters and Shark Bites;
n Nemos On The Beach: Shrimp Mancini, Pizza and Smoked Tuna Dip;
n Yucatan Beach Stand: Chicken Quesadillas, Tortellini w/Chicken and Popcorn Shrimp.
n The Sandbar & Grille: Chicken Wings and Pizza.
n Junkanoo On The Beach: Mini Chicken Cordon Blu, Potato Skins, Egg Rolls, Conch Fritters, Quesadilla Chips and Hot Dog Nuggets.
ice-cream, chocolate sauce and caramel sauce).
n Big Game Waterfront Grill: the Biggest Little Sundae (fried dough sections topped with vanilla
Tickets, which include trolley ride and food at each stop, will be sold at the door the night of the event for $35. Availability is limited.
The Greater Fort Myers Beach Area Chamber of Commerce sponsors the event.