Ft Myers Beach - Good Neighbor

A fifty-cent toll changed the fate of Fort Myers Beach. When early developers Thomas Phillips and Jack Delisle couldn’t get county funding for a bridge, they sold bonds, built their own, and rolled open a brand-new future in May 1921. From that moment on, everything accelerated: beachside casinos, bathhouses, and a handful of hotels welcomed the first waves of visitors, while locals still steered...

Dolphins surface, the sky turns copper, and a high-deck cruiser glides from the back bay toward the Gulf—this is where a community’s comeback takes shape. We sit down with Scott and Rob of FinnSeeker Coastal Cruises, two longtime friends who turned a storm-shelved dolphin boat into a polished, family-first experience for Fort Myers Beach. They walk us through the real work behind the romance: buyi...

A beach town doesn’t just rebuild with lumber and plans—it rebuilds with food, laughter, and neighbors who show up. We sit down with Scott and Trina, the duo behind Detroit Dawgs on Fort Myers Beach, to trace how a Midwest classic became a coastal staple and how a “let’s try it” plan grew into a full-time love story with the community. We start with roots: travel nursing, hurricane relief, and the...

Step onto the dock with us and feel the Fort Myers Beach breeze as we tour Snug Harbor alongside Chef Rizzo. We wander the waterfront, talk shop about seafood handled the old-school way, and chase the kind of bay views that turn an ordinary meal into a memory. From dolphins putting on a show to boats pulling up right to the venue, this is coastal dining as a full-senses experience. We dig into the...

Every lot on Fort Myers Beach tells a different story—and that’s exactly why building or buying here demands a smarter playbook. We pull back the curtain on island new construction, the realities of flood and wind insurance, and how local permitting truly works when staff, forms, and standards shift in real time. From navigating setbacks and drainage plans to decoding rental rules across the islan...

More years are meaningless if you can’t use them. We dig into the difference between chasing longevity and building a healthy lifespan you can feel—walking stairs without pain, lifting groceries with ease, and getting on the floor with grandkids and standing back up strong. With Dr. Greet’s guidance, we separate hype from evidence. We call out the buzzwords that muddy judgment—anti-aging, age reve...

Sunshine, real talk, and a path to the front door. We sit down with loan officer Jonathon Steele from Premier Mortgage Resources to demystify today’s Southwest Florida housing market and share practical steps that help renters become owners. From post‑Ian realities to shifting inventory and calmer rates than last year’s peak, we unpack what actually moves your monthly payment—and why chasing yeste...

Boats, sunshine, and a blue-sky forecast can hide the most dangerous risk on the water: what you don’t know. We sit down with the Coast Guard Auxiliary from Fort Myers Beach to explore how prevention, education, and a few smart habits do more to save lives than any siren or spotlight. From slow speed zones that protect manatees to free vessel safety checks that catch expired gear before it matters...

A coastline that once stretched 40 miles farther west. Cities made of shells. A prophet who promised to rise again—and a hurricane that stole his tomb. We open our new series by tracing the improbable birth of Fort Myers Beach, from shifting sands and mangrove roots to the people who carved a life from tides, storms, and stubborn hope. We start with the island’s geology, where ice ages and current...

Sunshine, salt, and a plate full of decisions—that’s the sweet spot we find at Nervous Nellie’s on Fort Myers Beach. We pull up a chair on the bayside and chase two very different margaritas while lining up crispy shrimp and blackened mahi tacos to see what truly hits that Tuesday stride. First, we break down the millionaire margarita, a masterclass in balance: fresh lime and lemon for clean acidi...

A century-old cottage with a six-foot storm line, a rare rain barrel that once caught every drop, and neighbors who refused to let their stories wash away—this is how Fort Myers Beach remembers. We sat with Janet Gottlieb and Ellie Bunting of the Estero Island Historical Society to trace the island’s long arc from the Calusa empire to Hurricane Ian, and to show how real preservation happens: one a...

Want to know what it really takes to bring back the places you miss on Fort Myers Beach? We sit down in Times Square with Dennis Wagaman of The Pier Group to pull back the curtain on commercial rebuilding—how professionals balance passion, policy, and pro formas to deliver restaurants, retail, and gathering spots that last. Dennis explains why “rebuilders” face a unique cost stack on the island: c...

Sunlight on the bay, a breeze at your back, and a captain who turned crisis into momentum—this is the story behind Pelican Bay Charters on Fort Myers Beach. We sit down with Captain Rob to trace his journey from Indiana winters to Gulf Coast waters, and how Hurricane Ian reshaped not just the shoreline, but his entire business model. What started as intimate private charters now spans BYOB tiki cr...

Tired of juggling seven logins just to answer one jobsite question? We sit down with the founders of ForgeOPs, a construction platform built by a 20-year GC, a veteran developer, and a systems pro who turned hard-earned lessons into a cleaner, faster way to run projects. Together we unpack why scattered tools stall momentum, how last-minute owner changes ripple through schedules, and what it takes...

Sunshine tells one story here, grit tells the other. We sit down with Alex King—whose family roots on Fort Myers Beach stretch back to 1958—to explore how legacy, technology, and community leadership helped reshape an island market after Hurricane Ian. Alex walks us through his path from national marketing and early Trulia/Zillow adoption to building a team that sells more than listings: they sell...

Boats gliding past the deck, live music drifting from the park, and a kitchen turning out plates that taste like a celebration—this is the bayside energy we love. We sit down with General Manager Danny Timothy of Nervous Nellie’s to trace a remarkable journey from storm damage to a full-scale comeback and two record seasons. Danny takes us inside the 15-month rebuild after Hurricane Ian, the tough...

The storm took the building, but the community kept the art alive. Join us as we sit down with Sylvia Montgomery and Suzan Lanz from the Fort Myers Beach Art Association to explore how a 1951 plein air tradition weathered Hurricane Ian, found a bright new home at Cypress Square, and transformed recovery into a creative movement. From a cozy hut on Denora Street to a modern gallery buzzing with wor...

Sun on the water, coffee on a balcony, and a quiet stretch of sand just steps away—this conversation with Tim Malbon of the Best Western Plus Beach Resort reveals what it really takes to protect a slice of paradise. We talk candidly about the day Hurricane Ian put feet of water on the second floor, the months of hard choices that followed, and the culture that kept longtime staff and loyal guests...

Ever wondered why your premium climbs while your claim stalls? We talk with public adjuster and attorney John Jacobsen, a former insurance insider who now fights for homeowners across Southwest Florida, to reveal how property claims really get decided—and how you can tip the scales in your favor. John breaks down the insuring agreement at the core of every policy, the role of documentation and lin...

If you’ve ever wondered how to find a builder who actually shows up, stands by their work, and treats you like family, you’ll want to meet Jadyn Henderson. We welcome the COO and cofounder of Lifestyle Design Homes to share how a family-run company delivers affordable luxury, keeps timelines tight, and stays anchored in the communities they serve. Jadyn walks us through the full scope of their wor...

Storms don’t schedule appointments, but smart preparation does. We sit down with Kim Crispino of Titan Residential and Commercial to unpack a practical roadmap for Florida homeowners and business owners: document what you have, fortify what matters, and only hire people who will still be here when the warranty needs them. Kim explains how her team serves the entire state with verified crews, clear...

Sunshine isn’t just a forecast—it’s a way of building a life. We sit down with Valerie Carouthers to unpack her full-circle journey: growing up on Fort Myers Beach, swearing she’d never return, then finding her way back after gray winters and closed doors taught her what really matters. The thread running through her story is simple and powerful: community happens when people meet often, move toge...

Sunrise on Fort Myers Beach tastes like warm tortillas and bright mango. We head to La Ola Surfside in Times Square for a quick, flavorful morning session where breakfast tacos meet a mango margarita and local stories meet the sea breeze. This stop brings together the comfort of eggs and sausage, the pop of cheddar jack, and the spark of fresh salsa with a tropical pour that balances sweetness, ci...

What if the real clock on your life isn’t your age, but your strength? We sit down with Dr. Ivan Bracic, clinical director of Novaré Medical and Wellness in Fort Myers, to unpack why muscle, balance, and nerve health are the foundation of longevity—and how neighbors can rebuild capability without surgery or pills. From the first beach walk after pain to the confidence of standing up without armres...

A blueprint for kinder leadership and sharper communication, told through the journey of speaker and author Annie Meehan. We sit down with Annie, a Certified Speaking Professional, to unpack how she transformed a personal story into actionable strategy that audiences can use right away—especially when attention is short and expectations are high. From weathering the loss of 110 bookings in 2020 to...