By: James Kennedy | East Lee Wildlife Stewardship Group On December 7th, the Alva Museum will host Joe Johnson, a local cattleman, storyteller, and folk artist. He will share stories from his upbringing and experiences as a cowboy in Southwest Florida. Additionally, the museum will have some of his pen-and-ink folk art drawings on hand […]
Month: November 2024
Who Will Save America
By: Butch Swank | butch@goodladandswank.com | President, SWFL Business Alliance & Owner, Goodlad & Swank Insurance, LLC I want to talk about the idea of agency and its opposite, victimhood. Merriam-Webster defines agency as the capacity, condition, or state of acting or exerting power. Ok, so you’re wondering, where the hell is Butch going with […]
It’s a “NO” Vote for the Mine on CR 78
October 22, 2024, saw a packed house at the Hendry County Board of County Commissioners meeting regarding the rezoning of the property located at 7800 CR 78. The owner of record, R&R Harvesting, wished to rezone the 267-acre property from General Agriculture (A-2) to Planned Unit Development (PUD) to allow for mining on the property. […]
A Time for a Change
By: Joseph Maguire Change—to exchange one thing for another thing, especially of a similar type. Just over a year ago, the Lee County School Board decided to push forward with phase 1 of building High School NNN in Alva. The rallying cries of need, time to complete, and growth were cited across the board as […]
1st Annual Autumn in Alva Fall Festival
By: James Kennedy | East Lee Wildlife Stewardship Group On October 26th, the Alva Museum welcomed residents from Alva and neighboring communities to the first annual Alva Fall Festival. The event was a tremendous success, enjoyed by over 200 attendees. Participants had the chance to roast hot dogs, make S’mores, go on hayrides, and explore […]
Fire Up the Fun: Transform Your Backyard With a Magazine-Worthy Fire Feature
By: Joshua Yates | Owner, Valor Construction From the dawn of civilization, mankind has gathered around fire for warmth, cooking, and protection. However, the benefits of fire have not been limited to just heat, light, and food preparation; it also provides a space for vulnerability and community as we circle up around the flames with […]
An Ode to the Opossum
By: Kara Tyler-Julian | Biologist If you have a yard, a garage or spend any amount of time outside, chances are you have encountered our only native marsupial species, the Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana). Many people may experience negative emotions when they encounter opossums, as they do have an unfortunate appearance that can elicit feelings […]
Why on Earth Plant Native?
By: Marlene Rodak | President, Coccoloba Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society Here is a question to ponder: according to Zoe Schlanger in her book, “The Light Eaters”, “If weighed, plants would amount to 80% of the Earth’s living matter.” Is that shocking? These incredible plants turn the sun’s rays into energy to create […]
Unexpected Journeys
By: Crystal Jones | Alva Church of God Sometimes, we need to be reminded just how much He loves us and is with us during the most difficult times in our lives. When the unexpected phone call occurs, the negative medical report, when the rug has been yanked out from under our feet when our […]
Why Is Buckingham Getting Flooded While Our Aquifers Are in a Steady Decline?
By: Philippe Maillard Buckingham, also known as Twelve Mile Creek or Orange River, was settled by people of British ancestry who referred to their community as Buckingham after Buckingham Palace in England. It is an unincorporated community with the Orange River cutting through the area. Orange River used to be named “12 Miles Creek” until […]