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Happy Friday, Fort Myers. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Fort Myers Buzz serve up everything you need to know for the weekend ahead.
In today’s edition: Bus stop safety cameras, a Billy Joel tribute concert, a charcuterie board workshop, and more.
Let’s get to it.
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Revitalization effort gains momentum: Latimer Crossing, a 92‑unit mixed‑income development in Fort Myers, is welcoming residents with first priority for those displaced from Southward Village. Phase Two, Legacy Point, is slated for spring 2028 — read the full story.
Bus stop safety push: Lee County is installing cameras on more than 650 school buses to cite drivers who ignore stop arms. The 30-day warning period is underway with $225 fines starting December 8 — see when fines start.
Trail connectivity plans advance: Fort Myers has broken ground on a 10-foot-wide, $1.3 million path along Hill Avenue linking McGregor Boulevard and U.S. 41, an early step toward connecting with John Yarbrough Linear Park — see the route and timeline.
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.
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Fort Myers’ quiet dog park with room to run
Fort Myers dog people know Barkingham Dog Park inside Buckingham Park. Since 2001, it’s nailed the basics: a roomy off-leash area plus primitive trails for on-leash sniffari laps. Shady pockets and open stretches keep things moving.
Your pup gets to zoom, and you get a breezy walk that isn’t the same old sidewalk loop.
It’s straightforward and low-key, no gimmicks, just space to sprint and then change pace on the trails. Heads up: in soggier months, puddles happen, which most pups consider a feature.
Give your co-pilot something to wag about and make a quick trip to Barkingham Park at Buckingham Park for a little reset.
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Advertising with us is as easy as it gets. Fill out this quick form and we’ll get you in an upcoming edition!
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🫶 We got your back
Interlocal agreement approved: Fort Myers approved funding to keep the free downtown River District trolleys running. Routes 500 and 505 will operate Nov. 20 through April 22, 2026, with four trolleys daily about 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. No service on Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s Day. Total cost: $711,867. See routes, hours and cost.
Rebuilding assistance within reach: Fort Myers still has $1.73 million from Florida’s Hurricane Housing Recovery Program to fix Ian-damaged homes, and it’s urging homeowners to apply. Help is for owner-occupied, homesteaded properties with household income at or below 120% of the area median. Since 2022, $1.37 million aided 12 families. Spanish-language assistance available. Learn if you qualify and apply.
Classic date-night vibes: In historic downtown, The Veranda spans two turn-of-the-century homes, serving polished Southern plates and a deep wine list. Settle in, share dessert, and let the evening glide into that easy “we should do this more often” feeling.
An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.
Need new windows? It’s not the most glamorous upgrade, we’ll admit. But newer windows = lower energy bills and a subtle (but definitely noticeable) glow-up. If you’ve been putting it off or waiting for the right moment, Renewal by Andersen is offering a discount that just might seal the deal. Check it out here.
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🤝 Introducing local deals (just for you)
We’re launching a brand new segment to bring you exclusive local offers from trusted businesses right here in Fort Myers. Think of it as your inside pass to the best local finds, discounts, and experiences.
The kind only available to Fort Myers Buzz readers.
Know a local business you love? Send ’em this newsletter and encourage them to get involved.
Own, manage, or market a local business? We’d love to feature you here for free. The only catch? Your deal has to be genuinely valuable and exclusive to our readers.
Email us 👉 [email protected] to get started.
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📆 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.
Have an event to share? Submit it here for free →
Today
😊 Smiles for Miles Charity Event @ Nauti Parrot Oasis | Friday (11/7) at 6:00pm – Do a good deed without the awkward bake sale. This Veterans charity event brings the community together for a gathering that actually matters, with tickets through the Smiles for Miles Foundation or the venue. Show up, support those who served, feel good, repeat.
🎶 First Friday Concert Series: Streetlife Serenader @ Gulf Coast Town Center | Friday (11/7) at 7:00pm – First Friday brings a Billy Joel love letter, courtesy of Tampa’s Streetlife Serenader, a tight band led by Jonathan and steeped in the ’70s hit parade. Think Grammys, radio gold, and crowd-wide singalongs. Skip the shag carpet, bring your chorus, they handle the nostalgia.
This weekend
🎲 Books, Puzzles & Board Games Swap| Saturday (11/8) at 9:00am – Whether your shelves are groaning or your puzzle drawer is a hazard, bring your gently used books, puzzles, and board games to swap for fresh finds. Trade one-for-one, keep or donate leftovers to The Heights Foundation, and call it guilt-free decluttering.
🥳 Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County’s 50-Year Celebration @ Park Meadows Club | Saturday (11/8) at 6:00pm – Think you know Park Meadows? Come toast 50 years of the Boys & Girls Clubs with cocktails under the stars, dinner, a quick victory lap of memories, and tours of the newly reimagined flagship. Tickets are $250, civic pride included, parking-lot small talk optional.
🎤 Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone @ Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall | Saturday (11/8) at 7:30pm – Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone returns to Barbara B. Mann for an all-the-hits, one-night rewind, the sing-along you actually know. I’m Into Something Good, Mrs. Brown, Henry VIII, the whole jukebox, served with that Brit charm. Call it nostalgia therapy, and bring the good knees.
🧀 Charcuterie Board Workshop @ RAD Corkscrew Winery | Sunday (11/9) at 12:00pm – Finally, edible homework. Learn the Grazing Haus way at RAD Winery in Estero during a hands-on workshop with everything needed to build a board for two, wine for purchase, and no judgment on how much prosciutto counts as decor.
🎬 A Night at the Oscars – Gulf Coast Symphony @ Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall | Sunday (11/9) at 7:00pm – Roll out the red carpet for a live soundtrack of Hollywood’s greatest hits—glamour without the long acceptance speeches. Expect swoon-worthy strings, bold brass, and those “I know this one!” themes from iconic films.
Next week
📄 Intro to Origami with Joanne Stratos @ Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens | Tuesday (11/11) at 10:00am – If you’ve been craving a hobby that doesn’t involve folding laundry, come fold paper with longtime local Joanne at The Pergola. It’s beginner friendly, with essential folds, materials included, and your ticket gets you The Gardens admission, plus the Origami in the Garden exhibition.
🏃 Veterans Day 5K @ Fort Myers YMCA | Tuesday (11/11) at 6:30pm – Think your morning walk needs better views? Swap it for a 3.1-mile out-and-back over the Midpoint Bridge, starting and finishing on the Fort Myers side. Pre-race vibes, awards, and post-race fun at the Fort Myers YMCA, and proceeds support their financial assistance program.
🇺🇸 Patriotic Concert @ The Tribby Arts Center | Tuesday (11/11) at 7:00pm – Whether you know Sousa from the Star-Spangled Banner, this Veterans Day salute brings soaring vocals from Heather Ivy with the Southwest Florida Concert Band. Expect goosebumps, familiar anthems, and a proud crowd that sings on key, or at least loudly. Bring tissues, and patriotic spirit.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 11/7 Andy Shaw Band @ Backyard Social – 6 pm
- 11/8 Andy Shaw Band @ Fort Myers Brewing – 6 pm
- 11/9 All Rise Revival @ Buckingham Blues Bar – 4 pm
- 11/12 Rob Benton @ Bay Street Yard – 6 pm
- 11/12 ACMA Songwriters @ Koreshan State Park – 7 pm
- 11/13 Beach Fly and more @ The Ranch – 7 pm
- 11/13 Thunderstruck (AC/DC tribute) @ Mango Rita’s – 8 pm
- 11/14 Badfish and more @ The Ranch – 7 pm
- 11/16 Limited Edition Duo @ Slipaway Food Truck Park & Marina – 5:30 pm
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🏠️ 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: Sean Cohane (TSJ Real Estate Advisors)
Fully remodeled 4-bed, 4-bath in Fiddlesticks Country Club, on a premier lot with 290-degree golf and lake views. At 3,904 square feet of living space, it pairs travertine, engineered wood, LED lighting, and dual-zone comfort with an open plan.
Quartz and cherry in the chef’s kitchen meet pocket sliders to a screened lanai with resurfaced pool and spa, summer kitchen with Bull grill, pergola seating for eight, firepit, outdoor TV, and billiards. Primary suite gets dual walk-ins and an oversized shower, plus wet bar, 2.5-car garage, storm shutters, generator, floor safe, and a spot north of the flight path.
Make your guess, then (and only then)… see how much it costs →
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