Influential Councilwoman & Educator Honored at STARS Renaming Ceremony

FMPD to Get State-of-the-Art Cameras & Equipment

142 new body cameras and Tasers are on their way to the Fort Myers Police Department.  In January, City Council approved a $1 million investment in state-of-the-art equipment for FMPD patrol officers over the next five years. The contract will also provide replacement cameras with the latest technology after 30 months.
The purchase completes the City's 2014 goal of equipping all patrol officers with body cameras within three years. The cameras will help provide evidence during investigations, promote officer safety, and improve community relations, transparency and accountability.

Celebrating MLK Day… the Fort Myers Way

January 16 was a beautiful and memorable day to honor the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. A sold-out crowd at Harborside Event Center attended the 10th Annual Unity Breakfast, hosted by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. – Xi Omicron Lambda chapter. The breakfast was marked by moving and inspirational music, speeches, honorees and memories of Dr. King.
Following the breakfast, more than 600 marched from Dunbar to Centennial Park to honor the day. At the park, a multicultural festival included vendors, local entertainment and inspiration from community leaders and clergy.
While MLK Day in the City was celebratory and upbeat, every person involved also felt the true meaning of the day.

Sculpture Exhibit Earns Another Stay Downtown

The monumental 23-piece iron sculpture exhibit by internationally-renowned artist Edgardo Carmona will remain in the River District through May.  
JAXI, developers of Allure condominiums, brought the "Allure Your Senses" exhibit to downtown in January of 2016 through a private-public initiative. The artwork is placed in various downtown spaces.
Each piece weighs anywhere from 200 pounds to more than half a ton, and many of the sculptures are 7 to 10 feet tall. The exhibit in Fort Myers is the North American debut for this collection. Prior to that, it was on display in Paris.

Get a Birds' Eye View of Fort Myers

The world is getting a birds' eye view of the beauty of the City of Fort Myers. A combination of drone technology and social media is providing real-time aerial videos that reveal the city from 10 feet to 300 feet in the air in a split second.
To watch the videos, which started on January 17, just “LIKE” and follow the City of Fort Myers Facebook page, and you will receive notifications when live action shots are being broadcast worldwide.
Main Sail Video Productions is using the newest, safest methods of licensed drone technology to capture never before seen views of the City of Palms, offering a glimpse of the community known for being authentic, diverse, welcoming, and historically significant.
You can view, like and share the video clips. Viewers who “like” one or more of the aerial video tours in the two-month long series will be eligible for a prize giveaway.

Festival Season in Fort Myers

The 14th Annual Caloosahatchee Celtic Festival opens with a preview party at Harborside on Friday, Jan. 27 at 5:00 p.m.  The fun continues at 11:00 a.m Saturday, Jan. 28 in Centennial Park.  Enjoy ten hours of non-stop Celtic music from Albannach, The Screaming Orphans, Rathkeltair, West of Galway, Marcille Wallis & Friends and the Kellyn Celtic Arts Irish Dancers, plus food, drinks, Celtic crafts and more! Visit the Parks & Recreation Facebook page for details and admission.

More Festival Fun:

City of Palms is Tree City USA

With a nickname like “City of Palms,” it’s no surprise that Fort Myers is a perennial recipient of the Arbor Day Foundation’s “Tree City USA” distinction.  For the 25^th consecutive year, the Foundation has honored Fort Myers for its commitment to effective urban forest management.
“Fort Myers believes in the value of trees as part of the fabric of a community,” explains Richard Moulton, Interim Director of Public Works. “Last year, the City began establishing a second generation oak hammock at Shady Oaks Park, which was opened 46 years ago. This will ensure that the next generation of citizens will enjoy the shade of oak trees at this community facility.”

DiCristofalo Named Interim Fire Chief

The City of Fort Myers announced that Vincent DiCristofalo has been appointed as Interim Chief of the Fort Myers Fire Department.  DiCristofalo has been a firefighter for nineteen years. He held the rank of Division Chief of Training with FMFD at the time of the move to Interim Chief status. This follows the retirement announcement made recently by departing Chief Trenton Bowen.
Prior to starting his career as a firefighter, DiCristofalo served in the U.S. Army as a medical specialist. DiCristofalo joined the FMFD in 2000.

B2B Luncheons at SWFL Enterprise Center

Join other local businesses, entrepreneurs and managers at the SWFL Enterprise Center on the third Wednesday of every month at 11:30 a.m. for a Business to Business luncheon. Enjoy networking, light lunch, and guest speakers discussing important business topics. 
The luncheon is free-- please RSVP through the SWFEC Facebook page or by calling (231)321-7085.

City Elections in 2017

Now Hiring: The City of Fort Myers

Work at the City you love!  The City of Fort Myers is now hiring for positions in several departments, including public works, community development, information technology, recreation, police, and more.
The City offers excellent benefits including a pension plan, employer-paid health insurance, and a cafeteria insurance contribution that may be used to offset the cost of additional benefits, such as dental, vision, long-term disability insurance, or life insurance.
Current job openings and an online application can be found by visiting the City's employment opportunities webpage.

Dip, Duck, Dive and Dodge

Cranes and Bulldozers and Permits, Oh My!

Construction season is in full swing in Fort Myers. Across the city, 83 permits were issued in December for construction projects valued at $25,000 or more.  The majority of these permits were for new homes. The total value of these projects is estimated at more than $21.7 million dollars. Our City is growing!

Curtains Up on FREE Movies in the Park

Our Recreation Division is pleased to present this season’s series of FREE Movies in the Park! Bring your lawn chairs or blankets, enjoy family activities up to one hour before “show time.” Onsite parking is free and concessions only $1. Please note that children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, call 239.321.7530.