By: Katrina Salokar In East Lee County, the ties that bind our neighborhoods, businesses, and individuals are stronger when we break bread together. Enter Meeting in the East – Family Dinner, a monthly gathering hosted by the Building Industry Alliance SWF /Custom Home Builders Association, (BuildingSWFL.com) and the Southwest Florida Business Alliance (SWFLBA.com), every fourth […]
East Lee News
Different Doesn’t Have to be Divisive – A Lesson for Governance
By: Joe Maguire As a young child, the pinnacle of important conversation comes up, “What is your favorite color?” This question, while seemingly simple through the rear view of history, forms our earliest understanding of choice, social consequence, and different opinions. What is my favorite color, and the more important question, Why is it my […]
Lee County Public Safety Center Hosts Business Emergency Preparedness Workshop
By: Chad B. White In advance of the 2025 hurricane season, Lee County’s Horizon Council Business Issues Committee hosted a Business Emergency Preparedness Workshop at the newly expanded Lee County Public Safety Center in Fort Myers. The event offered local business owners firsthand insight into preparing their operations and employees for potential natural disasters while […]
Fresh Cuts & Full Hearts: Country Cuts Hosts Back-to-School Bash
Country Cuts brought the buzz—literally and figuratively—at this year’s Back-to-School Free Haircut Day on Sunday, delivering nearly 100 haircuts in just a few hours. Boys from Kindergarten to 12th grade lined up for their fresh start to the school year, with free school supplies handed out to set them up for success. “It was awesome—never […]
Protecting Pets from Bufo Toads: What Every Pet Owner Should Know
By: Dr. Veja Tillman, DVM | Just 4 Pets Veterinary Wellness Center Bufo toads—also known as cane toads or marine toads (Rhinella marina)—pose a serious threat to pets, especially dogs and cats. These large, toxic amphibians thrive in warm, humid areas like Florida, Texas, and Hawaii, and are known for secreting a potent toxin that […]
East Lee High School Location & Community Impact Survey
TAKE THE SURVEY LINK East Lee County News is asking for your input on an important community decision affecting Lehigh and the East Zone—where the next high school should be located and how that choice impacts daily travel and family life. We will forward the survey results to Lee County School Board officials and publish […]
The Alsatian and the Pioneer’s Daughter: The Story of Fichter’s Creek
By: James Kennedy | Alva Museum As a writer for The News-Press, local resident Betty Hawkins captured many in-person interviews that reflected the history and development of Southwest Florida. With permission from her estate, we wanted to share some of the tales from her collection Twice Upon a Time: Stories of Southwest Florida’s Early Settlers. […]
River Oaks Preserve – Estero’s Natural Gemstone
Charlie Vavrina and Marlene Rodak | The Coccoloba Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society It’s Tuesday morning and Florida Gulf Coast University students are arriving at River Oaks Preserve to earn required Service-Learning hours. They are greeted by a volunteer who quickly puts them to work. Today, the ground is moist from a soaking […]
The Long Road to Representation: Lee County’s Push for Single-Member Districts Heads to the Ballot Box
By: Katrina Salokar, East Lee County News In the heart of one of Florida’s fastest-growing counties, a decades-long fight for fairer, more accountable local government has reached a turning point. For more than 75 years, Lee County’s five county commissioners have been elected in countywide (at-large) races—even though each commissioner represents a distinct geographic district. […]
School Plan Puts Politics Over Students
$400M School Bond Advances Without Oversight—Community & Students Left Behind By: Concerned Residents of East Lee County For several years, residents of East Lee County have spoken out about the lack of transparency and accountability in how the School District of Lee County sites new schools. Despite attending town halls, submitting public comment, meeting with […]
