Happy Friday, Fort Myers. In today’s edition: Quick help for lost pets, 50th annual holiday nights celebration, A Christmas Story, and more. Let’s get to it!

— Cait Baker

📰 In the news

Quick help for lost pets: North Fort Myers Fire Control District stations 1, 2 and 3 scan animals for microchips 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., helping reunite pets and owners in North Fort Myers — see participating stations and hours.

Expanded help for neighbors: The Salvation Army will break ground Dec. 16 on a five-year Center of Hope campus in Fort Myers, beginning Phase 1 with new facilities including a hurricane-rated shelter — see what’s planned and when.

City debates marina path forward: Permitting delays keep Suntex’s Fort Myers Yacht Basin redevelopment on hold. A past federal shutdown slowed the Army Corps, and councilors consider a performance bond amid promised water-quality gains — see what’s holding it up.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175 per month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Identity theft is up 25%: Last year, Americans lost $12.5 billion to ID theft & fraud, and the stories behind those numbers are brutal. My friend just told me his dad’s on his fourth replacement credit card. Other folks have woken up to empty bank accounts or their personal info dumped online after a breach. Aura catches these kinds of attacks early by monitoring for new accounts, weird money movements, leaked data, and other red flags so you’re alerted before things blow up — learn more about it here.

Highlights this week

• Experience Gulf Coast Jazz Collective holiday concert
• Experience Holiday Lights at Calusa Nature Center
• See A Christmas Story live onstage
• Explore revamped 50th Holiday Nights celebration
• Capture holiday pet photos with Santa
• This pet insurance plan reimburses up to 90%
• A tiny hearing aid is taking the US by storm

🫶 We got your back

A jolly night out: South Cape’s inaugural Sleigh the Holidays Pub Crawl is set for Dec. 20 from 7 to 11 pm. Expect drink and appetizer samples at multiple stops, limo bus shuttles, and a costume-friendly vibe. Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 day of. It is 21-plus, with a photo booth contest. Find times, perks and pricing.

Dolphin decor and nativity: Matlacha’s 40-year luminary tradition returns Dec. 24, with 2,000 bags lighting the streets at dusk. Volunteers can meet at 2 p.m. at the Green lot (11681 Island Ave.) to assemble luminaries. A 7-foot tree will anchor the block. Donations are being collected this month to cover costs after recent hurricanes. See how to participate.

New cut energy: If frizz and Florida humidity are staging a coup, Bellisimo Salon delivers thoughtful consultations, expert color (yes, balayage), and pro picks like Davines and Olaplex, all backed by 30+ years of local know-how. You’ll leave lighter, smoother… convincingly like you woke up this way.

Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I decided to take Hers’ online quiz. They recommended a Biotin + Minoxidil green-apple gummy for regrowth and overall hair health. The whole thing was surprisingly easy: just verify who you are and a licensed provider signs off. Here’s the quiz if you want to check it out.

Makeup that actually works: My sister and I were talking the other day about how the makeup we used in our 20s… just doesn’t work now that we’re in our 30s and 40s. Laura Geller’s entire makeup line addresses this shift, with formulas that smooth, brighten, and actually stay put. If you’re in the same boat, their curated kits are worth a look.

📆 Around town this weekend

All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirely outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.

Today

🐻 Teddy Bear Toss @ Hertz Arena | Friday (12/12) at 7:30pm – Bring a teddy, cheer the Blades, then launch that fuzz onto the ice after Blades’ first goal. Every bear heads to Golisano’s Children’s Hospital and other local hospitals, so it’s chaos with a conscience. Prefer the couch, catch it on Heroes & Icons Network.

🎸 Fleatwood Mac – The Fleetwood Mac Tribute @ Mango Rita’s Rhythm House | Friday (12/12) at 8:00pm – Think you still know every word to Rumours? Fleatwood Mac brings the chills, the harmonies, and all the sing-alongs to Mango Rita’s, where every seat feels front row, dinner and drinks keep coming, and VIP lounges make you feel like Stevie’s favorite neighbor.

This weekend

🔔 Rockin’ Around the Bell Tower @ Bell Tower Shops | Saturday (12/13) at 8:00am – Lace up and head to Bell Tower for a festive 5K or a no-judgment 1-mile, then brag about cardio before the cookies. Expect a fleece blanket, a Santa hat, a medal-slash-ornament, coffee, and breakfast with Santa, plus a toy drive that makes a real local impact.

🎄 ChristKindlMarket (Christmas Craft Market) @ German American Social Club | Saturday (12/13) at 12:00pm – Skip the mall and wander a ChristKindlMarket at the German American Club on Pine Island Road, complete with handmade gifts, local vendors, and cozy holiday vibes. Hosted by LLSN, food trucks roll in for grazing, and it feels like a festive field trip for grownups.

🎄 Deck the Halls @ Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall | Saturday (12/13) at 7:00pm – Whether you’ve been humming Sleigh Ride since Halloween, or need a nudge into cheer, Gulf Coast Symphony at Barbara B. Mann delivers classics, an aerial violinist, and Santa. Janice Martin soars through Tchaikovsky, Polar Express, and Carol of the Bells. Festive, parking stress not included.

🛍️ Sanibel Community House December Arts & Crafts Fair @ Sanibel Community Association “The Community House” | Sunday (12/14) at 9:00am – Holiday shopping at Sanibel Community House means one thing: handmade everything, zero mall music. Browse local art, tropical decor, ornaments, jewelry, pottery, and baked goods, then leave with your list handled, your sanity intact, and the satisfaction of supporting locals at a free event.

🎅 Santa is Coming to the Studio! @ Love + Light Studio | Sunday (12/14) at 10:25am – Santa’s trading the mall chaos for a cozy stop at Love + Light Studio, with a new Santa. Think calm photos, twinkly vibes, and minimal bribery with candy canes. Booking is open, so you can skip the lines, and keep your sanity.

🎤 Jerron Paxton @ McCarthy’s Marina | Sunday (12/14) at 4:00pm – Think you know blues from the good old days? Jerron Paxton shows up with songs that sound 1928, jokes that land 2025, and a grin that says he knows better. It’s old-time jazz and blues with bite, heart, and no museum glass.

Next week

🎇 50th Annual Holiday Nights Celebration @ Edison and Ford Winter Estates | Monday (12/15) at 5:30pm – Trade the mall for a stroll through the Edison and Ford gardens, where thousands of lights, historic decorations, and a revamped 50th-year glow do the heavy lifting. Expect kid-made ornaments on the Tree Trail, carolers, Santa on select nights, and excellent gift-hunting.

🎁 A Christmas Story @ Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre | Tuesday (12/16) at 7:30pm – Nothing says holiday season like watching Ralphie chase that Red Ryder on stage, complete with leg lamp, pink bunny pajamas, irritable mall Santa, and a triple dog dare. Big splashy numbers, familiar laughs, and zero assembly required. Bring the kids, or your inner nine-year-old.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🎶 Live music & entertainment

• 12/12 The Dazzling DelRays @ Nauti Parrot Oasis – 7 pm
• 12/13 Joe Fernandez Solo Guitar @ Hooked Island Grill – 12 pm
• 12/13 Meet Loaf (Meat Loaf tribute) @ Mango Rita’s Rhythm House – 8:30 pm
• 12/16 Telekinetic Yeti and more @ Nice Guys Pizza – 9 pm
• 12/17 Steve Luongo Project @ Old Mill Playhouse – 6 pm
• 12/18 Back Country Boys @ Backyard Social – 6 pm
• 12/18 Bryan Ruby @ Fort Myers Brewing – 6 pm
• 12/19 Fort Myers Music Walk 2025 – 6 pm
• 12/19 Chase Skinner @ Cass Cay Restaurant – 6 pm
• 12/20 Limited Edition FL @ Mango Rita’s Rhythm House – 6:30 pm

🏠️ Price is right – Fort Myers edition

How it works: We’re going to give you some facts about a home for sale, including a picture of the outside, the kitchen, and one additional room. Your job? Guess how much it’s listed for (preferably before you click to find out).

Listed by: Christopher Cioffi (No Nonsense Real Estate PA)

Heritage Farms showpiece on 1.37 acres, 15 minutes to Fort Myers Beach, reimagined with a yearlong $650K renovation. Over 4,200 square feet with impact windows, new roof, whole home reverse osmosis, and fresh A/C. Outside, an 18×42 pebble pool glows with color LEDs beside a pool bath, fire pit, and tree swings.

Inside, plank floors, wood feature walls, and LED baseboard accents frame a brick fireplace and a quartz kitchen with an island and two refrigerators. Pocket sliders open to a covered lanai. Primary suite adds a screened garden, plus an in law suite with kitchenette. AG 2 zoning.

Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →