This Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 2,000 luminaries will light up the streets of Matlacha. This 40-year tradition began in 1985, thanks to Yvonne Roach who organized the event.
At 2 p.m., neighborhood Santa’s elves were set to gather at the Green lot at 11681 Island Avenue to assemble the luminaries. The luminaries will then e delivered throughout the streets by volunteers.
At dusk, neighbors will be lighting the candles. For further merriment, please turn Christmas music 106.3 FM on your outside radio.
The Luminary Committee will also have a 7-foot Christmas tree placed mid-Island Avenue to enhance celebrating the 40 years.
This annual Christmas Eve celebration is a success ...
Lee County government has launched a new online tool to help the community stay informed about active nuisance accumulation cases underway through the Code Enforcement process.
Nuisance accumulation refers to the buildup of materials, debris or other items on private property that create unsafe or unsanitary conditions, attract pests or negatively affect surrounding properties.
The Nuisance Accumulation Story Map enhances public transparency with case locations and status updates. It is intended to answer the most common questions that people ask about code enforcement on a simple site that is always available.
The site also offers an overview of Code Enforcement operations, ...
Next month’s roster of activities at the Pine Island Public Library offers topics for all ages. The following programs are free to the public.
Adult Programs
DIY Plant Pots
Noon Wednesday, Jan. 7
2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 24
Decorate your very own mini terracotta pot and take home some dirt and seeds for your new addition. Dress for mess, as paints may stain. All materials provided. Patrons may only register for one class in this series. Registration is required.
Puzzle Race
1-4:30 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 10
Do you love jigsaw puzzles? Teams of up to four people will compete in a 500-piece puzzle race. Complimentary refreshments will be provided and prizes will be ...
The Church of God of Prophecy will be hold its next chicken dinner Jan.10. The dinner will be takeout only, no dine in. The price is $10 per dinner — chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn or green beans, dinner roll and dessert. Chicken is fried in peanut oil. Gluten free and baked chicken available upon request.
Call your order in to (239) 283-2128, quantities limited. Pick-up 12:30-3 p.m.
The church is located at 15146 Stringfellow Road, Bokeelia.
Alcoholics Anony-mous meetings are held weekly on Pine Island:
United Methodist Church, 5701 Pine Island Road
• Tuesday at 9 a.m.
• Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.
• Friday at 10 a.m., women only
• Friday at 3:30 p.m.
Fishers Of Men Lutheran Church, 10360 Stringfellow Road
• Monday at 7 p.m.
• Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
• Thursday at 8 p.m.
• Saturday at 8 p.m.
On the 12th day of Christmas, Sunday, Jan. 4, Fishers of Men Lutheran Church, at 10300 Stringfellow Road, St. James City, invites the public to “A FESTIVE CHRISTMAS FINALE” in the sanctuary beginning at 4 p.m.
Come join this post-Christmas program to sing all our favorite Christmas carols, have fellowship and light refreshments.
This Christmas carol sing-along is open to all islanders and friends.
For more information, please contact the church at (239) 283-1170.
First Baptist Church of St. James City is having its Christmas Candlelight Service Wednesday, Dec. 24, at 6 p.m.
If you are looking for a Christmas Eve Service, please join us. Everyone is invited.
First Baptist Church of St. James City is at 3417 8th Ave., St. James City. For more about the service or the church, call (239) 283-0982.
A Lehigh Acres man has been sentenced to 60 years in prison after his 40-count conviction of child pornography possession.
Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that the Office of Statewide Prosecution secured a 60-year prison sentence for Phuc Minh Tran, 38, after he was convicted on 40 ...
The search for missing Fort Myers boater Randall Spivey and his nephew Brandon Billmaier was called off by the U.S. Coast Guard after sunset on Monday, three days after the search started.
The two had been missing since Friday when they left Fort Myers to go on a deep-water fishing trip. The ...
Lee County Parks & Recreation invites community members to share their favorite memories from past fairs and Southwest Florida Ag Expos as part of a special photo exhibit celebrating this year’s theme, “Roots ‘n’ Rides: A Celebration of Tradition.”
With friends and families ...
Mother Nature is forecasted to give us warm and nice weather through the Christmas holiday. Perfect for boaters taking time from work, and visitors and relatives visiting for the holidays to enjoy our outdoors.
If you are looking to put some meat on the table, pick a day with a low ...
National Newspaper Week wrapped up Saturday with, no doubt, a typical end-of-week collective sigh by those of us working a beat.
Our numbers have dwindled — an 80% decline from 800,000-plus newsroom jobs in 1990 to around 86,000 in mid-2025, according to ReportEarth — but still, papers ...
