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Thursday, November 5, 2026

Fort Myers commits $1.9 million to a new Edison and Ford Winter Estates welcome center

Plus, Cape Coral's Saturday waste drop-off and a free Connection in the Park.

The 5AM Cape Coral team1 story11 sources4 min read

Fort MyersTop story

Fort Myers commits $1.9 million to a new Edison and Ford Winter Estates welcome center

The welcome center, by the numbers

$5.9 million
total cost of the welcome center
$1.9 million
in city funds approved Nov. 2
200,000
or more visitors each year, per promotional literature

If you visit the , a new welcome center is on the way. Fort Myers City Council approved $1.9 million in city funds Nov. 2 toward the $5.9 million project, and groundbreaking is expected in December.

Estates CEO Michael Flanders told council members it's the first new building on the 20-plus-acre property at 2350 McGregor Blvd. since a museum went up in the 1960s. Board Chair Cole Peacock called it "the crown jewel in this community." The two-story center is planned near the museum.

  • Includes: reception areas, galleries, offices, covered gathering areas
  • Opens: in about a year
  • Holiday Nights: Nov. 27 through Jan. 3, except Dec. 24 and 25

Construction is expected to start soon after Holiday Nights begins

  1. Nov. 2Fort Myers City Council approves $1.9 million in city funding.
  2. Nov. 27Holiday Nights begins at the Estates.
  3. Early Dec.Workers are expected to begin construction on the center.
  4. Jan. 3Holiday Nights ends.

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News Notes · More

Waste drop-off

Cape Coral's next Household Chemical and Bulk Waste Collection Event runs 7 to 11 a.m. Sat., Nov. 7, in the City Hall parking lot at 1015 Cultural Park Blvd. Bring a photo ID with a Cape address or a current Cape utility bill. Cape Coral Breeze

The waste drop-off runs four hours Saturday morning

Cape Coral City Hall parking lot, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd.

Midnight6 a.m.Noon6 p.m.7 a.m.to 11 a.m.
  • 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.Household chemical and bulk waste drop-off
Date
Sat., Nov. 7
Bring
Photo ID or Cape utility bill

Source: Cape Coral Breeze

View as table
WhenWhat
7 a.m. to 11 a.m.Household chemical and bulk waste drop-off
DateSat., Nov. 7
BringPhoto ID or Cape utility bill

Connection in the Park

The ARCHway Institute's second annual Connection in the Park is Nov. 7 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Cultural Park. It's free and open to the public. Cape Coral Breeze

Prep football

Cape Coral beat Mariner 56-13 in the Black and Blue Bowl to improve to 8-2. It's the Seahawks' third straight year with eight wins, and the FHSAA will release the playoff brackets Nov. 6. Cape Coral Breeze

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Around Florida · More

Sanibel housing

Up to $9.75 million in federal disaster recovery money for 39 affordable rental units on Sanibel Island survived an attempt to pull it. Lee County Commissioners then delayed a decision 30 days for talks with the city. Florida Politics

NeoGenomics

Fort Myers-based NeoGenomics reported a third-quarter net loss of $7.5 million, down from $27.1 million a year earlier, as revenue rose 11% to $209 million. President Warren Stone is scheduled to succeed CEO Tony Zook in January. Gulfshore Business

NeoGenomics' quarterly net loss shrank to $7.5 million

Source: Gulfshore Business

View as table
Value
Third quarter, a year earlier$27.1 million
Third quarter$7.5 million

Target

Target bought 21 acres in eastern Lee County for a new store at the upcoming Creekside Marketplace project. The News-Press

Diaper Drive

Lee County's first-ever Diaper Drive, run with Healthy Start Southwest Florida, collected more than 14,500 diapers and related items in October. The donations had a retail value of $5,222. Florida Weekly

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

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The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.

— Sylvia Plath

Things to Do

Things to Do

Cape Coral, FL

Thursday, Nov. 5

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Around the Block

Around the Block

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Neighbors

Has anyone gotten their new tax bill ?

“I was floored, they devalued my home by $50,000 but my taxes went up $1,000 ! never in 36 1/2 years has it risen so much.I have been in 3 homes all on direct access water until Hurricane Ian which is when we decided to move to dry land, it's a larger much newer home than we were in backed up to the old golf course…”

— A neighbor, Banyan Trace

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The Wrap

Birds of a feather get a room at the , where The Birds of Southwest Florida exhibit is open in the Edison Caretaker's House today from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It's free. A perfectly good excuse to look up for a change.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Cape Coral approves Costco incentive, fires city manager

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  2. Florida Politicsfloridapolitics.com
  3. Gulfshore Businessgulfshorebusiness.com
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  5. Cape Coral Breezecapecoralbreeze.com
  6. Cape Coral Breezecapecoralbreeze.com
  7. Florida Politicsfloridapolitics.com
  8. Gulfshore Businessgulfshorebusiness.com
  9. The News-Pressnews-press.com
  10. Florida Weeklyfloridaweekly.com
  11. Cape Coral events calendar5amcapecoralfl.com

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5AM Cape Coralto me · Thurs., Nov. 56:00 a.m.

Fort Myers commits $1.9 million to a new Edison and Ford Winter Estates welcome center

Plus, Cape Coral's Saturday waste drop-off and a free Connection in the Park.

The TLDR

  1. Fort Myers commits $1.9M to Edison and Ford welcome center
  2. Cape Coral's waste collection event is Sat., Nov. 7
  3. Cape Coral beat Mariner 56-13 in the Black and Blue Bowl
Read this edition

More stories this week

From 5AM Cape Coral’s other editions

All the news
SportsFGCU women's basketball bounces back with an 89-59 win over Arkansas State in its home openerThe Eagles (1-1) bounced back Saturday with an 89-59 win over Arkansas State at Alico Arena. Tuesday's 79-50 loss at Indiana came with just three made threes in 26 tries. Karina Gordon hit five by herself.High School FootballCape Coral High is the No. 8 seed and travels to No. 1 Armwood in the playoffsIf you're following Cape Coral football, the bracket is out. The FHSAA released it Fri., Nov. 6, and Cape Coral enters Class 5A Region 3 as a district champion but the No. 8 seed, so it draws No. 1 Armwood, which is 9-1. In all, 14 Southwest Florida programs made the field.Veterans DayCape Coral's Veterans Day Parade steps off Saturday at 11 a.m. on Cape Coral ParkwayIf you're heading to the parade, it steps off at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 and travels west on Cape Coral Parkway from Cape Coral Street to Chester Street. "This is the only parade in Lee County," city Special Events Coordinator Todd King said. More than 20 local veterans and organizations will march, led by grand marshal Gordon "Gordie" Allam, who served from 1958 to 1962.

Around Cape Coral

From Gulf Coast News and Weather, Pembroke Pines News and 2 more newsrooms, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

More local news
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    Neil Simon fans have one more day to catch The Star-Spangled Girl at Florida Repertory Theatre. The fast-paced romantic comedy wraps up its run Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Historic Arcade Theatre in downtown Fort Myers.

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    Also reported byCape Coral Breeze

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    Do you have a picture from paradise you'd like to share with Tropicalia readers? We'd love to print it. Email photos to tropicalia@news-press.com. Be sure to include your full name, where you took the picture and what kind of camera or phone you used. Get snapping!

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