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Good morning, Fort Myers! In today’s edition: Valerie’s House gala raises $641k, Burroughs Home reopens, a candlelight tribute to Queen, and more. Let’s get to it!
— Cait Baker
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📰 In the news
Second annual gala’s growing impact: Valerie’s House’s Sunset Soirée in Fort Myers raised $641,000 to support grieving children and families, and featured a message from Florida Senate President Ben Albritton and a live auction — get all the event details.
Milestone for a cherished landmark: Fort Myers’ historic Burroughs Home is set to reopen after Hurricane Ian repairs, with a refreshed roof, paint, and porch, coinciding with its 125th anniversary and celebrating the city’s heritage — learn more about the restoration.
Evening of giving back: The Heights Foundation’s 18th annual Love Your Neighbor gala is Feb. 1 at The Heights Center, with Florida Trust Wealth Management sponsoring and chef Harold Balink, live music, and auctions — get all the details.
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.
Protect your nest egg: Savvy investors are turning to gold amidst today’s inflation, national debt, and market uncertainty for a reason. It holds its value when everything else feels shaky. Case in point: it’s up ~62% since this month last year. If you’re curious about adding it and other precious metals to your portfolio, American Hartford has a super helpful guide that covers everything you need to know. It’s free, and definitely worth a read — check it out here.
*We do our best to avoid paywalled articles. If any slip through, let me know which ones and I’ll permanently remove them from our source list!
Highlights this week:
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🫶 We got your back
Traffic changes ahead: FDOT District One is holding a pre-construction meeting today at Riverside Church for planned upgrades at the Daniels Parkway interchange, Exit 131. An open house starts at 6 p.m. Work includes rebuilding I-75 ramps and adding new ramp signals. A virtual meeting follows. Get details on both meetings.
Curiosity kickstarter: If your week needs a little “how does that even work?” energy, IMAG History & Science Center delivers hands-on exhibits, a stingray touch tank, live science shows, and a 3D theater. Effortless way to wow kids and your inner one, whether you stay for an hour or the afternoon.
Burrito night, leveled up: Whether you’re keeping it simple or loading every topping, 3 Pepper Burrito Co. nails the build-your-way thing with hand-rolled burritos, fresh-pressed tortillas, and house-made salsas. Multiple Fort Myers locations make dinner easy when life calls for something warm, flavorful, and fast.
Thinning hair? Same: I’ve been shedding a lot, and recently noticed my ponytail feeling thinner. After way too much panic-Googling, I discovered Keranique’s hair regrowth system. Everything with them is surprisingly easy: no quizzes, no pills, no choosing between dozens of products. Just grab the kit and follow the instructions. The best part? It’s $75 off right now, you’ll get three free gifts, AND you’ll get your money back if you don’t love the results.
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📆 Around town this weekend
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All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.
✂ Winterfest 2 Day Crop @ All Souls Episcopal Church | Friday (1/9) at 12:00 PM – Two days of guilt-free scrapbooking to kick off 2026, with pizza one night, lunch, dinner, demos, prizes, and the rare joy of leaving your table set up without anyone touching it. Spots go fast, so claim yours, bring your stash, and settle in.
🎶 Cinnamon Crows @ Palmetto Palms RV Resort | Friday (1/9) at 5:00 PM – Cinnamon Crows bring the tunes to Palmetto Palms for a residents-only shindig, equal parts backyard concert and block party. Expect lawn chairs, sing-alongs, and that neighbor who secretly shreds. Bring your best porch small talk, leave the drama at the gate.
🎓 Arthur Addison Scholarship Concern @ Unity Christian Church Disciples of Christ | Friday (1/9) at 7:00 PM – Celebrate Deacon Arthur Addison with an uplifting church concert that funds $1,000 scholarships for local students. Expect choirs, praise dancers, soloists, and community spirit, the kind that actually pays tuition, and if you can’t make it, donate from the couch.
🏡 Home & Garden Shows @ Caloosa Sound Convention Center | Saturday (1/10) – Thinking about finally tackling the patio or paint color? Fort Myers’ Home & Garden Show gathers fresh ideas, clever gadgets, and local pros under one roof. Wear comfortable shoes, browse, and leave with inspiration, samples, and the nagging feeling you might start another project.
🌊 State of Our Water Quarterly Speaker Series @ Fort Myers-Lee County Garden Council | Saturday (1/10) at 9:30 AM – Bring your coffee for a dive into smalltooth sawfish, the sharky neighbor with a hedge trimmer for a snout, as Dr. Gregg Poulakis explains why our Caloosahatchee is recovery central. Calusa Waterkeeper flags development impacts, shares how you can help, and gives a waterway update.
📖 Little Women @ Players Circle Theater | Sunday (1/11) at 3:00 PM – Trade your usual reruns for Little Women at Players Circle Theater here in Fort Myers, a warmly staged take on the March sisters, ambition, and stubborn hearts. Ideal for book-club veterans, reluctant romantics, and anyone who appreciates good manners, better dialogue, and a tasteful cry.
👑 Candlelight: Tribute to Queen @ Florida Repertory Theatre | Sunday (1/11) at 6:00 PM – Fort Myers gets downright regal with a candlelit tribute to Queen, set in one of those jaw-drop venues you forget we have. Think live strings, flickering glow, and all the hits you secretly belt in the car, tastefully reimagined. Grab tickets, bring a friend, bask.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
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📣 Own or manage a local business?
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How it works:
- Sign up (it takes less than 5 minutes)
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Everything you share is reviewed, and approved submissions are automatically considered for future newsletters. AKA… your business has a much higher chance of being featured in front of thousands of Fort Myers locals who live, shop, eat, and share good things with their friends.
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📻 Fort Myers report
Weather forecast
Today – High: 83°F – Low: 63°F – Precip: 0%
Areas of fog before 10am. Sunny, with a high near 83. East wind 2 to 6 mph. Later: Patchy fog after 4am. Mostly clear, with a low around 63. East southeast wind around 5 mph.
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Tomorrow – High: 83°F – Low: 64°F – Precip: 1%
Patchy fog before 7am. Sunny, with a high near 83. Southeast wind 5 to 8 mph. Later: Patchy fog after 4am. Mostly clear, with a low around 64. East southeast wind around 6 mph.
This house is wild
Colonial Shores convenience meets coastal access in this 4-bed, 3-bath, 2,730-square-foot plan. An expansive great room links dining and a granite kitchen with stainless appliances, pantry, breakfast bar, and nook. A flexible den sits off the foyer. Eight-foot sliders open to a lanai with updated no-see-um screens.
Two suites anchor the plan. The primary adds walk-in closets, a tiled shower, soaking tub, double sinks, and direct pool access. The second suite’s bath also serves the pool. Upgrades include engineered hardwood, a new pool heater, Aqualink controls, a pump, an awning, electric shutters, and a Halo filtration system. Minutes to Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel.
Take a peek inside →
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