FortMyersBeach.news FREE Volume 20, Number 04 “By Islanders, For Islanders” January 24th, 2020 Who Prays for You? The Poor Clare Nuns of San Damiano Monastery By Janet Sailian most isolated community [email protected] within our larger island com- munity. Have you ever driven When I phoned the past the beautiful grounds of monastery recently, Sister the Church of the Ascension Mary Frances Fortin, O.S.C. on Fort Myers Beach and (Order of St. Clare), the Ab- wondered about the modest, bess, agreed to meet with me pale-yellow building tucked so I could glimpse and share beneath trees on its south- what the Poor Clare Nuns ern side? Set apart from the and their cloistered life are grand church and its adja- about. Warm, gracious and cent administrative building, open, Sister Mary Frances the San Damiano Monastery spent more than an hour with of St. Clare is home to six me in the monastery sitting nuns of the Order of St. Clare room on a sunny, mid-Janu- - “contemplative nuns who ary day. A simple, decorative live a life of prayer, commu- metal barrier separated us, nity and joy,” according to the emphasizing the separation Poor Clare Sisters website. of cloistered Poor Clares As an 11-year Fort from the world outside. Myers Beach resident, and “We take perpetu- before that a part-time visitor al vows of poverty, chastity, ever since my parents (Har- obedience and enclosure,” ry and Jean Gottlieb) bought Sister Mary Frances ex- a Gulf-front cottage property plained. “Our little corner of here in the mid-1950s, this the world limits the distrac- Jewish-raised resident has tions of the external world so long been curious about the we can focus The monastery chapel welcomes visitors to prayer or reflection. Cont’d pg.18 Christmas Bird Count Ambitious Council Agenda Estero Bay Circle Reinstated Walkover, Parking & More By Gary Mooney to the front of the meeting: “A Re- [email protected] quest for a Rehearing of the Dune Walkover for 8150 and 8170 Estero The Town Council of Fort Boulevard.” At its November 18, Myers Beach tackled an ambitious 2019 meeting, Council after a near- agenda at its meeting on Tuesday ly three-hour hearing voted 3 to 2 morning, January 21, with roughly to deny a Special Exemption to the 35 people in attendance at the start. LDC in the Environmentally Criti- Council member Joanne Shamp cal Zone for a dune walkover and was on an excused absence, mean- boardwalk for Texas Hold ‘Em LLC ing all unanimous votes were 4 to 0. and Squeeze Me Inn LLC at 8150 & Of the nine scheduled Public 8170 Estero Boulevard, with May- Hearings, two received postpone- or Anita Cereceda, Shamp, and ments. Publix Supermarket volun- Council member Rexann Hosafros tarily pulled its Second Reading & against and Vice Mayor Ray Mur- Final Hearing for its Commercial phy and Council member Bruce Planned Development Ordinance Butcher in favor. to add a liquor store to its 4791 Es- During Public Comment, Black skimmers, and laughing gulls in the late afternoon. Photo by Penny Jarrett. tero Boulevard location. Town Staff Kurt Kroemer, Managing Partner requested and Council unanimous- for Squeeze Me Inn, and Edward By Penny Jarrett Canada and other countries in the ly concurred to reschedule the Sec- Rood, Managing Partner of Texas Western Hemisphere to count ev- ond Reading & Final Hearing for Hold ‘Em each spoke, leading Town From December 14, 2019 – ery bird they see or hear within a the Land Development Code (LDC) Attorney John Herin, Jr., to cau- January 5, 2020 the National Audu- given circle on a given day. Amendment Ordinance for “Fenc- tion Council, “all you can consider bon Society held its 120th Christ- Each count takes place in es, Walls and Entrance Gates” to today, in making your decision on mas Bird Count (CBC). Started in an established 15-mile wide diam- Monday, February 3. their request, is what they submit- 1900 on Christmas Day by ornithol- eter circle. Volunteers through a ted in writing, per your Town Code, ogist Frank Chapman, with 27 ded- cooperative effort set out to get the DUNE WALKOVER and all other statements you should icated birders, this Christmas Bird best species’ identifications and REHEARING not consider in their request.” Three Count was the beginning of what is count of birds in a single 15-mile others spoke, two against a rehear- now a massive effort by thousands diameter circle. The day’s count Council moved one of the ing and one in support. Staff rec- of volunteers across the U.S., gives an indication of Cont’d pg.20 three Administrative Agenda Items ommended Council Cont’d pg.14 JOHN R. WOOD FEATURED WEEKLY LISTING Veronique Pascual REALTOR® 239.691.7442 SANTINI PLAZA 7205 Estero Blvd #11, Fort Myers Beach Grandview at Bay Beach 401 • $1,578,500 239.990.2580 JohnRWoodFortMyersBeach.com Page 2 The Island Sand Paper FortMyersBeach.news Jan 24, 2020 Located Behind Publix at Snook Bight Marina Departs From 4765 Estero Blvd. Fort Myers Beach COME SEE OUR EXCITING CHANGES & NEW MENUS! We’ve been busy this summer upgrading everything from the interior to our menus created by Executive Chef Oscar. Come experience the new Bayfront Bistro & Bar! 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I don’t know exactly how replace its outdated school desks, long these desks have been here, and once she learned about this, a because I am only in my second local gym owner took it upon her- year at Beach School, but I can self to provide the funds necessary safely say they have been here to purchase brand new desks for a very long time; probably for de- each and every pupil! cades.” “I am a member of the Beach Principal Karen related, Kids Foundation” related Tiffany “the Beach Kids Foundation is al- Kersten, the 22-year owner and op- ways so great to the school. Last erator of Hammerhead Beach Gym year they reached out to us and at 3051 Estero Boulevard. “Fran asked our pressing needs, and I Myers of the Red Coconut RV Park, expressed that the school and kids who helped found the BKF, asked could really benefit from some new me to join. Being a small business school desks, and they said they owner, I did not know how much would see what they could do. I time I would have to commit to it, heard back from them a month or but like many people on this island, so later that Tiffany from Hammer- I love the Beach School, as it does head Gym said she could take on such an outstanding job in taking that project. Our initial hope was care of our children, and many of Displaying one of the desks in need of replacement are, from left, 5th Grade that they could replace the desks them need so much because most Teacher Danielle Sheckler, Office Manager Renee Mulloy, Principal Karen Manzi in one or two classrooms this year, of the parents work in the service and Resource Teacher Mimi Smith. then maybe another one or two industries that keep our tourism classrooms over the next sever- economy humming, so I just had to desks, and thought, ‘I can take that this much; please match it,’ and al years, as desks for each class serve, and it turns out I am having on!’” they did. What is amazing is that, cost roughly $100-per-child, but a great time.” Her initial goal was to raise to my knowledge, not one single the Foundation told us she secured Tiffany learned about the enough to buy new desks for two member has kids or even grandkids enough for all the classrooms all at school desks issue while at a classrooms, figuring that she would in Beach School, although several once, and that was so exciting!” Beach Kids Foundation meeting. need roughly $3,800 so Tiffany put are former Beach School kids, as The Beach School hopes “I saw a list of school needs, and out the word to her Hammerhead are a few of my coworkers, but the that the new desks will feature a right around this time, everyone Gym members for help, “and dona- school’s reputation is so excellent plastic top that the kids can write on else was working on the Founda- tions started rolling in and kept up! that everyone wanted to be a part with dry erasable markers, “so they tion holiday activities to benefit the Before you knew it, in just a couple of this, as it is such a great school. can work right on them, then erase kids, like preparing for the annual of months, we had enough for new I am so proud of their accomplish- and start all over again,” said Prin- fundraiser at the DiamondHead desks for the entire school, raising ment and generosity!” cipal Karen.