Civic & Community Center: ‘I’m sold on North Fort Myers —The Opportunity Side of The River’
The winds of change are slowly, almost imperceptibly, starting to whisper through this community. Some people are starting to realize that there has been a slow but steady decline in the last 10 years to the commerce and appearance of this town, and are starting to do something about it.
First of all, I want to announce and acknowledge the generosity and public-mindedness of Scott Carter and Ric Pritchett of Carter-Pritchett Advertising, Inc., commonly known as Carter Outdoor for donating the use of a billboard to the NFM Civic Association for a pro bono campaign promoting North Fort Myers. North Fort Myers seems to have no distinct identity of its own – no promotional materials, no public relations campaign, never before its own billboard. The message will read: “I’m sold on North Fort Myers -The Opportunity Side of The River” with NorthFortMyersCivcAssociation.com displayed along with the photo of a local business owner/manager as part of the billboard design. Stay tuned to this column to find out the first business participant whose picture will be displayed.
On July 16 I took a tour of our town with Eric Berglund, the new executive director of the Southwest Regional Economic Development Alliance and he has promised to assist us in any way he can.
The Civic Association, at its last meeting of July 14, passed motions as follows: a.) to apply in co-operation with the SW Regional Planning Council, for a grant to prepare and print a promotional brochure with pictures designed to attract residents, visitors, businesses and industry to NFM and to solicit contributions towards its cost; b.) That it sponsor a business seminar in the future; c.) that it renew its website for two years; d.) that it sponsor, endorse and support a NFM Farmer’s Market to be operated by Local roots, LLC at a site selected and presently under negotiation, to open in October. The speaker at this meeting was Erin Hardy of Oceana, who came down from Oceana to address us on the objections to offshore oil drilling, seismic air gun blasting and fracking.
Upcoming speakers are as follows:
Sheriff Mike Scott on Friday, July 31 at noon at Road 41 Grill, 13351N. Cleveland Ave., Rt. 41 south of Hancock Bridge Parkway, discussing Fighting Crime in NFM and the functions of his office. Public invited-Come meet, listen, ask questions. Lunch available but not required.
Dave Paschall, new head of Lee County Code Enforcement at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Civic Association, the second Tuesday of each month, August 11, 7 pm at Recreation Center, Business 41 south of Littleton behind the Library.
Immediately before that meeting the NFM Community Planning Panel will meet at 6 pm to consider two applications. The public is invited. And finally I am looking for a volunteer to help me post things on the Civic Association website, at your convenience. Please help.
PUBLIC APATHY IS THE PLAGUE OF THE 21ST CENTURY! VOLUNTEER-IT’S GOOD FOR THE MIND AND THE HEART.
Contact me at 239-823-3631 or mike-land@live.com if you have some event, project or idea that you would like in this column, or with any comments or questions.