These gentle Manatees need your help    You may have seen the friendly sea walrus along the South West Florida Coast and along Estero Bay.. Take a look with real player as a  mother manatee is slowly swimming with her offspring:  Manatees if you don't have real player click here to download it. These are mammals and they can be present mostly during the warmer days of summer.Some of the large ones can also be sighted during the winter,They can be over 10 feet and 1000 pounds and they are an endangered specie. There are a few guidelines when encountering them. Do not feed them ( same for dolphins ) Do not approach them closely Obey no wake zone And please do not try to swim with them!       So when you are boating along the coast of South West Florida be cautious. These great gentle cre... 11/23/2007

              Like many dog owners I take my dog pretty much everywhere. I live on island in Florida called Fort Myers Beach and we even are allowed to bring our dog there which is pretty cool because she likes to swim and chase egrets and what not.She is a water dog. A Rhodesian ridge back of 96 lbs and at 8 years old in pretty darn strong health but lately she has not been herself.                                             After trial and error I finally found the problem.Dogs have that nasty habit of sniffing and licking most things in nature. That is normal. We are there to make sure they don't do something stupid and even though we have a leash law on the island, 96 lbs lion hunter Miss red is a hard one to control. I was looking at some lawn and noticed the landscapers had just ... 11/20/2007

      As I was cruising along Estero island or Fort Myers Beach I saw a garage sell sign and it took me to a 2 hectares property which covers one whole block and ends up with its south side on a gulf access canal. It is indeed a Florida cracker house.These days we migth call them Beach cottage or Beach Bangalow. It has all the details of the pre-air conditioning architecture with the many windows, the board and batten structure,  the slopped front roof which covers the front porch and of course the chimney. The home dates from the 1930's and needs some work to say the least. Ii took you back to when Fort Myers Beach had a wooden bridge and the Florida Homesteaders lived the simple life of fishing and had to go to Fort Myers for better jobs and the wives had only one or 2 summer dresses.... 11/18/2007

Century 21 Had a regional promotion whereby anyone stopping at any of our " OPEN HOUSES " over the weekend could register to win free gas for one year !   Some of my visitors did not seem too excited about the offer, most did.  Our agents had quite a few of our listinjgs open on either Saturday or Sunday.  Most reported better turnout than in recent weeks.  Of those attending my opens I really felt the quality was much improved !  Hope all of you are seeing improvements in your markets !!!   Good selling to you. 11/18/2007

Fort Myers Beach has a new condo.They started building it in 2006 and it was just recently finished. Yes, they took their time or the town took their time with the permits.Either way it was well worth the wait. Its located mid island near Publix and accross from the Gulf. It means it will take you 1 mn at most to reach the Guf access on Newtown beach. There seem to be a new trend in Fort Myers Beach. Developpers seem to be attracted to smaller plush complexes with mediterraneen/Italian architectural influences mixed with Floridian know how at its best. The complex is indeed small with 2 separate buildings joined by a heated pool in the center.There are only ten units and these range from 1000 sf for a 2/3 to over 1100 for a 3/2. Don't let it fool you.The interior are plush and the line... 11/17/2007

The 2007 Annual Fort Myers Beach Sand Castle Contest was held at the Fort Myers Beach Holiday Inn Nov 8 - 11, 2007.  This years event drew an estimated 75,000 visitors to our island paradise !  The weather was perfect and competitors came from all over the 50 states and internationally.  Skill levels included everything from professional sculptors to the youngest kids.  Competitors tell us that they really like the fine sugar white sand ( and who doesn't ? )  and the way it packs and sculpts.  The festival is an excellent excuse to party and enjoy the beach.I hope you like the pics as much as I enjoyed taking them !                           I hope to see you at next year's annual sand sculpting contest.  Enjoy !!! 11/15/2007

Saturday November 17, 2007Fort Myers Beach8 AM START    $60/player includes Lunch at the South Beach Grill, cart, on-course beverages.Event is held at the Fort Myers Beach Golf Club.  For entry info call:  239  454-75001st, 2nd & 3rd Place Mens1st Place Ladies MixedJoin us for Fun, Prizes, Cash      Other choices include a ( $5/ball ) ball drop.  This challenging executive course is fun to play and offers golfers of all levels a chance to play well and have a good time.  Weather is expected to be perfect and the course is in excellent shape.  Call for late registration details. 11/14/2007

Hello Folks,This morning I went down to the beach to check out the Fort Myers Beach 21st Annual Sand Sculpturing contest. I believe this was going for three days starting Friday and running through today. I know on Saturday was the day for the Master Sand Sculptures and Sunday was Amateur day.I tried to go early Saturday afternoon, but turned around because of traffic. It was just taking Tooooo long to get anywhere on Estero Blvd, which is the main street on Ft. Myers Beach. So this morning I went at 8:30am and beat the crowd..... WOW, A beautiful morning here in Florida, in the High 60's / Low 70's and sunny.I've been living and vacationing down here in Southwest Florida for the past 10 years, but this was the first time I've ever gone to such a competition. To me it is simply amazing ... 11/11/2007

  Fort Myers Beach Pilot Club Annual Fall Fundraiser                                                                                 Blue Jeans & BBQ's   Looking for a terrific night out and a great cause to support ?       Set aside Saturday Nov 3, 2007 from 5:30  until  9 PM.   Held at ST. Raphaels Church on Williams Drive, Fort Myers Beach.The annual Fall fundraiser for the Fort Myers Beach Pilot Club has selected as a theme for this years event:  Blue Jeans and BBQ's.  Funds raised will help support the Alzheimer Association, Lions' Camp, Ruth Cooper Center, BrainMinders, Alvin Dubin Center, Fort Myers Beach Library, Lee County Coastel Clean-up, Special Olympics and others.  Tickets are available at the door for $ 25 .  Call Barb for more details : ( 239 ) 269 - 3282Scheduled events... 10/25/2007

If you happen to be at the Fort Myers Holiday Inn this Sat & Sun, Oct 20,21 you might wonder why there are 250-300 racing sailboats on the Gulf of Mexico.  The answer would be that sailboat racers from 8-18 and representing Florida and severtal northern states converge on Fort Myers Beach for the annual  Junior Olympic Ssailing Regatta.  This will be the 3rd straight year gor the event to be held at the Holiday Inn on Fort Myers Beach.  Sailors and support crews find it it a perfect fit.  Several classes and age ranges will be competing for medals and the pure joy of it.  Races start at 10 AM on Satuday and 8;30 AM on Sunday.  For additional information call event official Steve Olive @ 239  340-2345.  10/18/2007

Changing seasons here in Fort Myers Beach, Florida is very different than my home state of Michigan.  Fall was always my favorite season in Michigan: cooler nights, U of M football and, of course, unbelievable fall colors.  If you have never seen the real Fall colors but have seen some of the pictures on calendars, etc I can tell you the real thing is so much better.  But I digress.Fall here on Fort Myers Beach means cooler weather, more " Snow Birds " returning to our island paradise and more friendly faces walking the beach.  I love to walk the beach and watch the animals which ply its shores: dolphins, shore birds and various shelled creatures.  Shelling here is almost a major industry.  But my favorite time is in the evening - knowing the worlds most gorgeous sunsets will be my rewa... 10/17/2007

The 2007 Fort Myers Beach Sandcastle Contest will be held Nov 8 - 11.  It will be held on the beautiful wide sandy beach between the Holiday Inn and The Outrigger.  This annual event attracts amazing sand sculpters from around the country and is certain to be jam packed again this year.Special areas are set aside for the professionals as they slowly build intricate designs with specially treated sand.  Several skill levels will be represented with prizes and awards presented at the end of the event.I have included several pictures from the 2006 event just to wet your appetite for more.  Plan to arrive early as parking will be at a premium.  I volunteer at the Holiday Inn, anchor site for the event, and paid parking fills up quickly.Of course, if you know of anyone wishing to buy or sell... 10/12/2007

The 2nd Annual Fort Myers Beach Pirate Festival was held last Sat & Sunday, Oct 6 & 7.  The event was held near the downtown area and included vendors, sand scultor exhibit, amazingly authentic pirates in full costumes, stage shows and skits.  All in a very family friendly atmosphere.  Our beautiful ( though warm ) weather brought out the crowds from locals to visitors from all over.  Age appropriate activities and drawings provided fun for all ages.  I will try to post some of my pictures from the event later.  If interested contact me and I will send all that I have.  Be sure to out this on your events calandar for next year.  Arrgh ! Mates !!!     10/10/2007

The Fort Myers Beach realtor group had a scheduled meeting last week at The English Pub on Estero Blvd.  The day before the luncheon meeting organizers were called to say the popular Pub was closing !  A note was taped on the door indicating it would be closed for only a few days.  Local rumor and employee feedback indicate it may have closed its doors for good.  Too bad, really.  Driving by on any given day it always seemed to have a steady clientele.  I recently went to the Friday gathering place where you could enjoy free roast beef sandwiches with any of their excellent beers.  I have had lunch and dinner here as well and thought the Pub was a terrific addition to the local restaurant scene.  Lets hope they get this act back together !!  10/05/2007

Fort Myers Beach 2nd Annual Pirate Festival will be held Saturday & Sunday, Oct 6 & 7 from 10 AM - 5 PM.  It will be held on Old San Carlos next to the bridge on the north end of the island.  Parking will a bit of a challenge so visitors might want to consider taking the trolly. All the usual vendors and booths will be there catering to every taste.  Treasure hunts for kids and adults will be held with a Grand Prize for the adult treasure hunters valued over $3500.  On-stage entertainment for all ages, pirates and visitors dressed like pirates of old make people watching more fum.  Dig out that old pirates costume and join the fun.  Proceeds help support the Lion's Club kids project.  Follow this link for times and details:  www.fmbpiratefest.com  10/05/2007

This was taken a few weeks ago in front of the Gulf of Mexico at the Lanai Kai Hotel. Some visitors and residents took some time off to kick back and smell the roses. Many danced and it didn't matter if you didn't dance well. No problem here.Next time I'll try not to dance at the same time I film! This band kept this up beat style for most of the gig and also had to sing a few Bob Marley favorites like "redemption" and No woman No Cry" but most fo the time they just moved along in that intoxicating reggae beat that makes you want to dance and just enjoy the moment. The crowd of Fort Myers Beach seemed to enjoy forgetting their problems and mixed it up with the band with some screams and singing. The band is telling us that to worry is a big waste of time. It is so simple that it is bril... 08/28/2007

 Yesterday I posted about my neighbors'  15 ft boat almost sinking in front of our house.  We noticed it in time and started to pump it out.  He loses patience and tries to hoist it with the davits on his seawall.  Of course it was too heavy still and the weight collapsed the davit !  During our struggles to further pump out the boat I was so startled by a movement in the corner of my eye that I almost fell into the canal.  Of course it turns out to be a Manatee !   Sorry, no camera handy.  We both got a good laugh out of that.  As he was entering the water to inspect the boat I reminded him " Be careful, this is the height of Manatee mating season !"   LOL So, we moved his other boat ( 30 ft twin engine Carver ) off the lift it was on to make room to lift the smaller boat and make repa... 08/17/2007

In the dogs days of a Florida summer, it is fun to look back at this past Fort Myers Beach Winter.In southern Florida, we don't experience cold fronts, but rather "cool fronts".As the night gathers dust, the temperatures fall into the low 50's and the air is chilly when I awaken.  I turn the heat on while I shower and dress myself in a pin striped pantsuit for work.  My husband places a shawl around me before I step out of the door.  When I step out of my offce door at ten o'clock to indulge in my first cigarette of the day, I find the sun shining brightly and the warmth of the Florida sun has caused the temperatures to rise to nearly 70.  At lunch,  I write a poem: GODDESS OF THE SUNFebruary cool fronts blow inand out of a Florida island,The women wear sweatersOver their bikinisAll exc... 08/07/2007

PART I             When we  first purchased our yellow pine constructed, yellow hued beach cottage on this small island community called Fort Myers Beach or Estero Island back in 1999, I took stock of the extensive, unattended landscaping that we had inherited and sprang into action. As the house had been vacant for months before we took charge of it, half of the landscaping was dying and the other half was overgrown.  We needed a lawn mower, shovels, large and smaller clippers for the tropical trees and bushes . . . . and gardening gloves. I sent him off to Home Depot.            The prior owners had planted on either side of the front steps, just beyond the white wood railings, sea grape trees, in good color and condition.  I encouraged their continued presence and  growth by engaging... 08/06/2007

Our market here on Fort Myers Beach has been in a major correction for the last 18 months or so.  Al of us have had to find new and more effective ways to be successful in this challenging market.  Our office probably does as well as any on the island and we struggle to sell the many listings we have.  Well, July was a pretty interesting month for us.  We more than doubled our production ! Not at the level of a couple of years ago but certainly a significant improvement.  Not saying that this is the proof we have been looking for that we have found the bottom ( or the bottom has found us ) but it was an excellent month with more listing activity, strong sales, walk-ins, showings, etc.  Heres' hoping that we may have put the worst of it behind us and this is a start of a return to normal... 08/04/2007