SANIBEL MASTERS ART FESTIVAL FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WITH KATIE GARDENIA AND MANY OTHER GREATS

“Sanibel Turtle Garden,” an acrylic on wood painting by artist Teri Causey, has been selected as the poster image for the Annual Sanibel Masters Art Festival, which will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on FRIDAY Nov. 25 and SATURDAY the 26th at the Sanibel Community House. The festival features 75 terrific artists. The proceeds from the event benefit the programs at the Sanibel Community House and BIG ARTS, a home for all the arts.  Admission is free, but donations are accepted at the gates. As a special treat, the BIG ARTS Chorus will perform a preview of their holiday concert at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 26.  For more information, visit boulderbrookproductions.net or facebook.com/boulderbrookart.

Regarding this years poster art: The festival hs used a similar type of underwater sea turtle image for the past three years, and this year when we saw the vibrant colors of Teri’s painting, we immediately selected it. The color palette of the painting offered us a chance to freshen up the design. The new colors are so varied from the past that it allowed us to create a similar poster but something that really looks new and fresh. Sanibel Island has a fondness for turtles and we like to keep the poster for this event from changing too much, so that it is recognizable each year.  Many guests have started a Sanibel Masters Art Festival poster collection. Signed posters will be available for the first 50 visitors to Teri’s booth.

ALSO CHECK OUT THIS EXCITING NEWS:

She’s a baker, artist and former Bubble Room restaurant owner. And, now she’s an author.

Katie Gardenia, one of the most prominent Sanibel-Captiva area residents, recently released “A Bubble Moment,” a combination cookbook and coffee table book sure to delight residents and visitors to the area. She will sign her book, and sell her fabric sculpture and fiber art pieces, during the Sanibel Masters Art Festival being held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25 and 26 at the Sanibel Community House.

For years, Gardenia owned the whimsical Bubble Room restaurant on Captiva Island. It was famous for serving the biggest slices of homemade cake, with wedges that looked as if they were designed for an art gallery. In her book, she shares al her recipes including red velvet cake, bubble bread, and orange crunch cake. But, she emphasizes, it’s more than a cookbook. The four-color, hardcover, 117-page book chronicles the history of the Bubble Room building, the people who came in and out of its door, the people who helped create it, long and tall stories, local color, her original recipes, old photos, and page after page of handmade collages. As the reader travels through the story, they will come upon handmade paper pages that have “secret envelopes” that were artfully hand stamped, chalk colored, that are waiting unveil more information.

Jennifer Valiquette Submitted these great pictures of Dolphins playing in the water ways.Thanks Jennifer!

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WONDERFUL MOON……….(photo credit: Kevin Stahl)

AHHH………..GOTTA LOVE THE SANIBEL CAUSEWAY! (photo credit Kevin Stahl)

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FORT MYERS BIKES HIT SANIBEL ISLAND (photo credit: Kevin Stahl)

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Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival 

Paddling around the causeway is one way to clear your mind, while the northerners are breaking out there snowmobiles, we’er breaking out our kayaks.  http://www.calusabluewaypaddlingfestival.com/  Photo Credit: Kevin Stahl 

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Hanging out on Fort Myers

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Welcome to the 2011 Oktoberfest!

Florida’s biggest and most original Oktoberfest

- Our 26th Year! – The German-American Social Club of Cape Coral

We had so much fun with all the great people! Thank you! What a pleasure it was to cover this event!!!   This was a great! (Photo credit: Kevin Stah)l click below to see more and download for free. :

Lakes Park announces winners of “Scarecrows in the Park” celebrity-judged contest,
invites the public to vote and help determine winners

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Oct. 20, 2011) – Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation announces the  winners of the “Scarecrows in the Park” contest chosen by local celebrity judges during the “Scarecrows in the Park” kick-off event held on Friday, Oct. 14. The winners were selected from three categories: Gulf Coast Orthodontics’ scarecrow “Scared Straight” was selected “Most Creative,” the award for “Best Company Correlation” was given to Coral Veterinary Clinic for their scarecrow “Walking the Doc’s,” and Girl Scout Troop 858, sponsored by Miller, Helms & Folk, swept the “Best Youth-Created Entry” with “Samoa-crow.”  Lakes Park invites the public to cast their votes to help determine the grand winners. The contest is part of the annual Lakes Park “Fall Festival and Halloween Extravaganza,” which continues through Halloween, Oct. 31. Celebrity judges and festival attendees vote for their favorite scarecrow to determine the winners.

“The contest and festival are off to such a great start,” says Marsha Asp, chairperson for the Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation. “During our opening weekend, more than 1200 attendees cast their votes for their favorite scarecrow. That exceeds our vote total for the entire two weeks last year! We can hardly wait for next weekend.”

In addition to “Scarecrows in the Park,” the festival includes a pumpkin patch, bounce houses, hayrides, and a Halloween Express train.

The Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation established in 2004 by a group of Lee County business leaders and dedicated citizens who recognize Lakes Park as an extremely important green area in Lee County. The foundation’s main focus is to assist Lee County Parks and Recreation in the continued implementation of the $30 million Lakes Park Master Plan, enhancing the park’s environmental aesthetics, wildlife habitat and recreational amenities for the community to enjoy for many years to come. Currently, the Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation is focusing its fundraising on creating a botanical garden at Lakes Park.  For more information on the foundation, visit www.LakesParkEnrichmentFoundation.org.

BEAUTIFUL FULL MOON Photo Credit: Kevin Stahl

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22ND Annual “Ding” Darling Days : photo credit Kevin Stahl

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Snow birds back…………….PHOTO CREDIT: KEVIN STAHL

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Rain makes beautiful things happen!

Indian Creek Pet Hospital dog and cat needs a home . For more info: http://www.indiancreekvet.com/Indian Creek Pet Hospital dog and cat needs a home

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Beautiful pictures of Florida

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It is 7:00 a.m. on Sept. 18 on the beach at South Seas Island Resort, and you are eagerly and anxiously awaiting the start of the race.  You’ve trained, you are ready.  The air horn sounds and you are off.  It’s all good.

You are standing at the intersection of Captiva Drive and Andy Rosse Lane on a warm morning on Sept. 18 watching and cheering as 500 cyclists ride by.  Some ride like the wind and others and working very hard with less forward motion.  It doesn’t matter, you cheer for all of them.  It’s all good (and there is no charge for spectators).

You more than anyone know about doing more with less.  At CCMI you are facing more hungry people and emptier shelves.  You know that Galloway Captiva Tri will help fill those shelves.  It is all good.

You are filling cups with water and watching the runners on the beautiful golf course path. It is a beautiful day and you are helping 500 people make their dreams a reality.  It’s all good.

You are the Lee County economy, facing one of the bleakest months of the year.  Over 600 people from throughout Florida as well as Georgia, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana come to race in September.  It’s all good.

You are not a great runner, but your best friend is and your cousin is a fast swimmer.  Together you make an awesome team that is out to have a good time and a good race. It’s all good.

You are a six-year old still wearing your race tee shirt and medal from the kids’ tri yesterday. You are watching Dad race, feeling very proud.  It’s all good.(Well mostly all good, there is one really angry three-year old who wanted to race, but has to wait until he is six).

You are watching your significant other racing, knowing that he or she is no longer a couch potato –he or she has lost weight, gotten in shape, and turned his or her life around.  The family doctor is thrilled.  It’s all good.

On Sept. 17, more than 100 children will compete in two age groups in a mini-tri beginning at 8 a.m.  Everyone who finishes will receive a medal.  The purpose is to encourage lifetime fitness and family fun.

On Sept. 18, more than 500 people ages 14-75+ will compete to swim 440 yards, bicycle about 10 miles, and run 3.1 miles on Captiva Island to raise funds (to help the needy)and have fun.

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Galloway Captiva Triathlon at South Seas Island Resort

The Galloway Captiva Triathlon at South Seas Island Resort is a weekend family, fun and fitness event comprised of two children’s triathlons on September 17 (Ages 6-9:100 yard swim, 1.5 mile bike, 0.5 mile run; Ages 10-13:200 yard swim, 3 mile bike, 1 mile run) and an adult sprint length triathlon on September 18 (Swim 440 yards [0.25 mile], Bike 10 miles, Run 3.1 miles [5K].)  All events will take place on Captiva Island.  For more information go to www.captivatri.org

About our race charity:  CCMI

CCMI provides more than 14,000 meals each month through their Soup Kitchen and Meals On Wheels programs. The nonprofit agency also educates 40 children in their Community Montessori Preschool, provides weekend backpacks full of food to more than 2,500 children each school year and oversees a mobile food pantry, everyday choice marketplace and cafe.

For more information, visit www.ccmileecounty.com<http://www.ccmileecounty.com

Wanna go wind surfing? This is super coolphoto credit: Kevin Stahl

Enjoying the Beach over the Labor Day Weekend

BEACH BOARD SURFING…………..FORT MYERS

CONGRATS TO HEATHER AND JASON ON THE UPCOMING WEDDING! COOL FORT MYERS BIKERS

Beautiful views

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FORT MYERS VIEW FROM THE BOATphoto credit: Capt. Mick  of  New Moon Sailing

MUSIC WALK Celebrates 1 Year Anniversary

The monthly Music Walk returns August 20th to the downtown Fort Myers River District for its 1 Year Anniversary. Music Walk started in August of 2010 and was modeled after the extremely successful Fort Myers Art Walk. Over a dozen restaurants, bars, and galleries became Music Walk venues, and a massive outpouring of local musicians continue to perform month after month. The interest and attendance in the event has only grown since the first Music Walk in August of 2010, with the off-season summer months being just as busy as the traditional in-season months.

Music Walk founder and chairman of the event, Andy Howl, who co-owns HOWL Gallery/Tattoo, attributes the success of the event to the area’s need for more monthly entertainment options and a untapped grass roots music culture. “I think Fort Myers has the potential to be a magnet for art and music, it just takes the right timing and mixture of people to make it happen. Downtown Fort Myers has everything to be a state-wide destination for art and music.”

The first 400 attendants of the 1 Year Anniversary on August 20th will be able to get a free Music Walk guitar pick manufactured by Clayton Guitar Picks. Guitar picks will be evenly distributed among the venues. Additionally, a limited edition 1 Year Anniversary button will also be available at the venues. Blue Music Walk balloons will decorate the historic downtown streets. Visit the Music Walk website for a list of venues. www.fortmyersmusicwalk.com

The 3rd Saturday event features live music at over a dozen venues, including restaurants, galleries, and bars, plus street performers all over the beautiful downtown streets. Music Walk venues showcase a variety of music, from punk, rockabilly, indie, reggae, and folk, to piano, steel drums, and more. The event is the largest of its kind regionally. Music Walk is an all ages event that starts at 7 p.m. and goes until 10 p.m. or close at many venues. Free parking available.

Music Walk partners and venues include: HOWL Gallery/Tattoo, Spirits of Bacchus, Space 39, Red Rock Saloon, United Cafe, French Connection Cafe, Enjewel, Happenings Magazine, Hotel Indigo, Twisted Vine Bistro, Indigo Room, Harborside Event Center, Coloring The World, City Tavern, Downtown House of Pizza, World Famous Cigar Bar, Hideaway Sports Bar, Morgan House, The Veranda Restaurant, Market America Realty, Syzygy Gallery, Main Street Antiques, WinkNews6, Classic Rock 94.5, Cool Hand Luc’s, and AmeriDry.

Each month brings more people to Music Walk, with an estimated 4,000 attendees to the July event. Music Walk is organized by Andy Howl with help from Dee Hohimer, Suzy Lewis, and Jamie Kuser of Happenings Magazine.  Music Walk is a River District Alliance event. The River District Alliance is a non-profit organization that manages events and unifies business owners in the Fort Myers River District.

Dragon fruit cacti in bloom now in Southwest, Fl.

Dragon fruit cacti in bloom only at night time! In daytime the blossoms are completely closed. The cactus blossom pictures below are made from a time before sunrise until about less than one hour after sunrise. The  dragon fruit flowers normally bloom before 10:00 pm, and they start closing up by daylight.  Sunrise was delayed by approx half an hour due to a nearby hill and due to slightly cloudy sky that early morning. Check out the pictures below that I took from start to finish of a dragon fruit flower blooming.

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Check out the big piece of coral.

Bananas that grow in Ft. Myers , Fl.

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Another beautiful day on the Beach

Just hanging out on the dock at Fort Myers/Punta Rassa

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YARD SALE:

THIS IS HIGH QUILITY STUFF!! ANIQUITE AND COLLECTABLES, UNIQUICE/NATIVE ARITFACTES, CARS, HIGH END CLOTHING, AND MISC.  SATURDAY JULY 30^th AT 918 MAIN STREET, SANIBEL ISLAND FLORIDA 33957, 7 AM.  SHARP. BE SURE TO GET THERE EARY TO GET WHAT YOU WANT. THIS WILL GO VERY FAST. Click below to see more items:

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Fort Myers, Pine Island Sound

If you are looking for some great canoeing or kayaking, Pine Island Sound it the place to do it. Here is a photo we took while getting a birds eye view from a helicopter. There are so many great water ways here in Fort Myers, if you have a chance to check them out, please do so!

Fort Myers Camping Fishing, Koreshan Park

Throughout its history, Florida has welcomed pioneers of all kinds. Cyrus Reed Teed was probably the most unusual, bringing followers to Estero in 1894 to build New Jerusalem for his new faith, Koreshanity. The colony, known as the Koreshan Unity, believed that the entire universe existed within a giant, hollow sphere. The colony began fading after Teed´s death in 1908, and in 1961 the last four members deeded the land to the state. Today, visitors can fish, picnic, boat, and hike where Teed´s visionaries once carried out survey experiments to prove the horizon on the beaches of Collier County curves upward. A boat ramp and canoe rentals are available. Visitors can take self-guided tours of the settlement or a ranger-guided tour. For overnight stays, the park has a full-facility campground. Campers can enjoy campfire programs every Saturday night from January through March. Located on U.S. 41 at Corkscrew Road.

Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach Palm Trees

We thought you might enjoy the reminder of how beautiful it is here in Fort Myers and the Fort Myers Beaches. Today is a great day to hit the beach, causeway and catch some sunshine. Send us your photos.

If you want to look at more photos of Fort Myers Beaches, click here for our Beach tag.

CONGRATULATIONS to the Grand Prize Winner Scott Howells of the 94.5 The Arrow weekend getaway!

You can listen to the winners call by clicking the link below.

Grand Prize Winner 94.5 The Arrow

4th of July Fort Myers Beach Parade
4th of July Fort Myers Beach Parade

photo credit: Brandon Durazzo

Junkanoo Fort Myers beach barJunkanoo Fort Myers beach bar

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Fort Myers Beach

Great day at the Beach. Gotta love the weather.  Click below to see more:

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So what do you think Lisa Schuman and Corinne Batista aka Beekeepeers would be doing on a Friday morning? Beehives! Check out these girl and how you can do it yourself.

Cool plants on Fort MyersCool plants on Fort Myers

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DOA Lures’ Jerry McBride pressures a redfish at Ding Darling.
DOA Lures’ Jerry McBride pressures a redfish at Ding Darling.

Now this is some super cool fishing by Jerry McBride! The coolest new thing, fishing via Kayak………..

“911 River Rally at Sunsplash Family Water Park”

The Communications Training Team of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office invites the public to the second annual “911 River Rally”, being held on Saturday, June 18, 2011, at the SunSplash Family Waterpark in Cape Coral.

The event is a duck race fundraiser, aimed at raising money to send Lee County Sheriff’s Office 911 Professionals to advanced communications training classes and activities. The race begins at 5 P.M., when plastic ducks are released into the Lazy River. The first one to finish will receive a prize of two-hundred dollars ($200). In addition, second place will receive a one-hundred and twenty-five dollar ($125) prize, third place receives seventy five dollars ($75) and the last duck to finish receives fifty dollars ($50). A total of 2000 ducks will be available for the race.

Ducks can be purchased for two dollars ($2) each or three for five dollars ($5), by calling the Lee County Sheriff’s Office at (239) 477-1213 or (239) 477-1222. They can also be purchased at SunSplash beginning at 10 A.M. the day of the event. A total of two-thousand ducks will be available for the race.

Photo Credit : Madilyn Mangas

Check out the beautiful flowers all over Fort Myers

Tickets still available for Lakeside Country Bash

Award-winning country artist Darius Rucker to headline May 15 concert at Lakes Park

FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 6, 2011) – Advance tickets are still available for the third annual Lakeside Country Bash to be held on May 15 at Lakes Park. Award-winning country music artist Darius Rucker, who recently hit the top of the Country Singles Chart for the fifth time with his latest single titled “This,” will headline the outdoor concert. In addition to Rucker, performers include Uncle Kracker, American Idol season nine runner-up Crystal Bowersox, and the Dirt Drifters.

Proceeds benefit the Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation. Tickets for the concert are $40 in advance and $45 at the gate. Advance tickets are available online at www.ticketmaster.com, at Lakes Park, Estero Community Center and North Fort Myers Community Center. In addition to tickets can be purchased at Hooters of Fort Myers, Port Charlotte, Fort Myers Beach, Naples and Cape Coral, along with Harley-Davidson of Fort Myers and Naples. Advance ticket purchase is strong recommended as the two previous concerts sold out prior to the event. Gates open at 3 p.m., with the first performance beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Event sponsors include “Gold Buckle” sponsor Lodge Construction, Inc., “Silver Buckle” sponsor Dodge, and “Bronze Buckle” sponsors Seminole Casino, Sam Galloway Ford/Lincoln, Orthopedic Specialists of SW Florida, Cat Country 107.1, Florida Weekly, Waterman Broadcasting, Priority Marketing, Century Fence and Happenings Arts & Entertainment magazine.  This year’s “Saloon Sponsor” is Budweiser.

For sponsorship opportunities and additional information contact Vicki Baugh at 239-851-5294 or vlmbaugh@aol.com. For more information on the upcoming concert, visit www.lakesidecountrybash.com and tune in to Cat Country 107.1, Kix 92.9 and 106.5 WCTQ.

The Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation established in 2004 by a group of Lee County business leaders and dedicated citizens who recognize Lakes Park as an extremely important green area in Lee County. The foundation’s main focus is to assistLee County Parks and Recreation in the continued implementation of the $30 million Lakes Park Master Plan, enhancing the park’s environmental aesthetics, wildlife habitat and recreational amenities for the community to enjoy for many years to come. Currently, the Lakes Park Enrichment Foundation is focusing its fundraising on creating a botanical garden at Lakes Park.  For more information on the foundation, visit www.LakesParkEnrichmentFoundation.org.

Check this cool plant out………….Check this cool plant out………….

We think succulent???

Fort Myers Miracle and HTC

Contact info: Joy J. Donahue
Community Relations Coordinator
Miracle Professional Baseball
14400 Six Mile Cypress Pkwy.
Fort Myers, FL 33912
Ph:  (239) 768-4210
Fax: (239) 768-4211