Local News in Lee County

SOCIETY: Whataburger Fort Myers grand opening celebration

Events honoring 9/11 in Marco Island, Naples and Bonita Springs

Marco Island hosts 9/11 Naples Memorial Stair Climb This fifth year of the annual Naples Memorial Stair Climb is held by Hilton Marco Island, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 13 for a venue change of the year. Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa, 560 S. Collier Blvd., Marco…

Brotherly harmonies come to life with ‘Forever Everly’

Step back in time with a unique musical and film perspective inside the lives of the infamous rock ‘n’ roll duo Don and Phil Everly in Florida Repertory Theatre’s production of “Forever Everly: The Everly Brothers Rockumentary”. Defining the sound of a generation, this brotherly…

Engineering a new kind of donut

Matt Derr and Ted Fitzpatrick were college friends at Carnegie Mellon, where they studied engineering. After graduating, they headed into high-stress jobs; Derr in civil engineering and Fitzpatrick in mechanical engineering. Now, they both want a new career, one that is fun and…

What goes with what

My last column delved into the so-called “rules” about how to pair wines with various types of food and cuisines and how breaking those rules can lead us to new culinary experiences and discoveries. It’s an extensive (and sometimes controversial) topic, so I decided to seek out…

The Naples Players presents ‘Rocket Man’

The Naples Players presents Steven Dietz’s bittersweet comedy-drama “Rocket Man,” starting Wednesday, Oct. 21 and running through Sunday, Nov. 22, in the Price Studio Theater. TNP’s 73rd season is presented by Porsche Naples. The funny, yet contemplative, play follows Donny, a…

Naples-based Avow hospice expands into Lee County

The not-for-profit organization known for hospice and home health acquired a property at 14590 Hope Center Loop in Hope Preserve, Fort Myers, representing an important step in the organization’s continued expansion of services for patients and families throughout Southwest…

The wait is over — Sizzle Dining is served

Sizzle Dining, Southwest Florida’s premier culinary fundraiser, is now underway, with 137 restaurants from Marco Island to Babcock Ranch serving specially priced menus through Sept. 30. The milestone 10th year marks the first time the event spans the entire month of September,…

Saving Great Art

Art restoration rarely begins with the whack of a hammer. The conservation or restoration of any art — of any objects deemed worthy of sharing across time — requires sophisticated skill, delicacy and experience. Until something happens, that is. When a man named Laszlo Toth hid a…

Pirates of the Floridians

Argh! Thomas Lockyear has told all the great pirate stories. Well, not quite all of them. He’s setting out to tell more ahead of International Talk Like a Pirate Day—a day where, at Fort Myers Beach, pirates plan to plunder the seas together and invite landlubbers to join them.…

Pouring passion into homemade wine

Many of us, when asked to consider the art of wine making, may remember the black and white television episode of Lucille Ball, and the riotous comedian dancing barefoot through a vat of dark grapes. While images of the iconic red head, coated in grape juice, left an indelible…

Fort Myers Brewing launches Sundown Concert Series benefiting pediatric cancer research

Fort Myers Brewing Company is bringing live music back to the taproom every Saturday this fall with the launch of its new Sundown Concert Series. Running from Sept.12 through October 17, the six-week series pairs local and regional musical acts with specialty craft brews,…