News and Posts
Bonita Estero Rail Trail Bond Passes: What’s Next for the BERT Project in Estero and Bonita Springs?
Voters have approved a $35 million bond issue to fund the acquisition and initial development of the Bonita Estero Rail Trail (BERT). This landmark decision secures the crucial funding required to acquire the 11.4-mile unused rail corridor, paving the way for a major regional multi-use trail.
The Seasonal Surge: Why Traffic Congestion in Estero Has Become a Community Crisis and What We Can Do About It
Congestion is now a public safety issue, an economic drag, and a growing threat to the quality of life for year‑round residents in Estero, FL.
Why Lifelong Friendships Matter for Healthy Aging in Estero
Research consistently shows that maintaining lifelong friendships improves physical health, emotional well-being, cognitive function, and longevity.
East Corkscrew Education and Community Survey: a Joint Community Meeting of Engage Estero and the East Corkscrew Alliance
When ThursdaySeptember 24, 20266:00 pm Where Estero Fire Rescue Station 4518743 Corkscrew Road, EsteroAcross from Verdana RSVP REQUIRED Engage Estero and the East Corkscrew Alliance will host a joint community meeting on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 6 pm at the...
Why Does Estero Have Five ZIP Codes Instead of One?
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ $variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_date","settings":{"before":"Published ","after":" by Engage Estero","date_format":"default","custom_date_format":""}}})$...
How Technology Improves Traffic in Greater Estero
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Key Take-Aways Lee County is using advanced traffic management technology to improve congestion in the greater Estero area. The County's Centracs Advanced Transportation...
Protecting Our Estero: Public Health, Infrastructure, Increasing Weather Extremes,
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Introduction Americans disagree about many things, but one principle has long united us: important decisions should be based on evidence. Whether we are choosing medical...
Prostate Cancer: What You Need to Know Pt. 2
A diagnosis of prostate cancer often raises an immediate question: “What treatment is best for me?”
Invasive Species & Native Landscaping in Southwest Florida
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Written by guest author Brandi Freeman, FGCU Southwest Florida’s natural beauty depends on a delicate balance of native plants, wildlife, and ecosystems. But across Lee...
The Estero River as Gateway: Opening the Door to Our Hidden Estuary
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Most people in Estero live just a few miles from one of Southwest Florida’s most remarkable natural treasures — the Estero Bay Estuary. Yet for most, it remains unseen and...
Heat, Shade & Tree Canopy: Why It Matters for Estero’s Future
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Guest author Brandi Freeman, FGCU As Southwest Florida continues to experience hotter and longer summers, conversations about growth, landscaping, and development are...
Engage Estero’s Accomplishments The First Six months of 2026!
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Introduction If you’re feeling like the first half of 2026 flew by in the blink of an eye, you’re not alone. Yet in that short time, Engage Estero has been hard at work —...
Southwest Proton
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ A News Update for June 2026 Written by Allan Bowditch, President, Engage Estero and Dr Shannon MacDonald, Medical Director at Southwest Florida Proton. Introduction...
Village of Estero Updates Its 5‑Year Capital Plan
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ New Funding Tools Fuel Big Moves in Parks, Traffic, and Utilities Introduction The Village of Estero has released its updated 5‑Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)...
Waste & Recycling Realities in Lee County
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Guest author Brandi Freeman, FGCU Recycling plays an important role in protecting Southwest Florida’s environment, conserving natural resources, and reducing landfill...
A Heartfelt Thank You to Lanell and Jim Shields
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Every community has those rare individuals whose presence quietly lifts everyone around them. For Estero, Lanell, and Jim Shields have been exactly that, steady hands,...
Prostate Cancer
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ What you need to know! Part 1- Diagnosing Written by Allan Bowditch, President, Engage Estero, and Dr. Paul Rodriguez, MD, Urologist Introduction There has been...
Coconut Point Proposal: How Estero Residents Can Actually Influence the Outcome
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Introduction. As debate intensifies over the proposed five-story apartment development at Coconut Point, many residents are asking an important question: But can the...
Multiple Sclerosis in Southwest Florida: What you need to know and Where you can get help
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable chronic disease of the central nervous system. The central nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves....
Traffic Emissions Near Schools: A Public Health Concern
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Written by guest author Brandi Freeman, FGCU Traffic congestion during school drop-off and pick-up times is a familiar sight throughout Lee County, especially near schools...
The Doctor Dilemma
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Understanding the Shortage and What it Means for You in the Future Introduction Patients in Southwest Florida are running into a combination of physician shortages,...
Engage Estero Is Seeking Its Next Generation of Board Leaders
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Estero didn’t become what it is today by accident. It was carefully and deliberately shaped by residents who stepped forward, got involved, and gave back. Over the past 26...
Why Resident Influence on Development in Estero Is Sometimes Limited
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Understanding the true factors behind development choices. Many residents have long been concerned about the pace of development taking place in Estero and along East...
Leadership on Traffic Issues is Needed And It Starts With Us
If you live in Estero, you don’t need a study to tell you traffic is worsening. You feel it every day on I-75, Corkscrew Road, U.S. 41, and the backroads that used to be shortcuts. Growth is accelerating, infrastructure is struggling to keep up, and safety concerns...
Coastal Resilience: Preparing Southwest Florida for the Future
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Written by guest author Brandi Freeman, FGCU Southwest Florida’s coastal communities face ongoing environmental challenges, including hurricanes, storm surge, and rising...
Myth vs. Fact: Navigating Environmental Claims in Our Community
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Written by guest author Brandi Freeman, FGCU Conversations about growth, development, wildlife, flooding, and water quality are becoming increasingly common across...
Signal Timing vs Road Widening at East Corkscrew Road
Signal Timing vs Road Widening at East Corkscrew Road Introduction In recent years, East Corkscrew Road has become a major commuter conduit due to housing development, easy access to Interstate 75, and a lack of alternative east-west roads. The once quiet, local...
Estero Residents Deserve Answers Regarding the I-75 Planned Expansion
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ A Most Pressing Issue Is Traffic Safety And Congestion At Engage Estero’s April 17 Community and Member Meeting, residents gathered to discuss one of the most...
Estero River Park at Village Council Workshop
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ The following comments were made in a presentation at to the Village of Estero Council on May 6, 2026. “The Village is advancing the strategic redevelopment of the...
Estero High Seniors Recognized
Estero High Seniors Recognized Senior Awards Night was held at Estero High School on Wednesday, May 6th for the Class of 2026. Many academic, athletic and technical education awards were announced and presented. The event started with a welcome by Principal Jennifer...
Improving Physicians’ and Pharma Companies’ Ability to Provide Optimal Solutions For Cancer Patients
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Who and what is NEOGenomics? The company, based in Fort Myers, is a premier cancer diagnostics company specializing in cancer genetics testing and oncology data...
How Did we Get Here? Transportation in Estero & Southern Lee County
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Introduction On April 17, more than 130 residents packed the room for Engage Estero’s transportation forum. Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive...
Concerns Expressed by Residents Along East Corkscrew Road
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Introduction Understanding East Corkscrew Residents: Key Insights from the 2026 Community Survey Residents of East Corkscrew Road in Estero are among the fastest-growing...
Larry Kiker Preserve
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ The Larry Kiker Preserve, which was originally intended for conservation, is currently being redesigned as a large water management project to help alleviate the problems...
Corkscrew Road: The Land Remembered
Up to 52 million taxpayer dollars were budgeted for the expansion of Corkscrew Road, but up until now, residents have seen nothing but traffic and nuisance in return. Before Fort Myers and Corkscrew Road became what it is today, there was a rugged settlement of...
FGCU Engineering Students Bring Estero’s Future to Life
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ On April 17, 2026 at the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagle X Poster Exhibition, innovation and community collaboration were on full display. The annual event featured...
In Memory: Lou Frattarelli
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Hearing of Lou’s passing has brought deep sadness to all of us at Engage Estero. It is difficult to put into words the sense of loss we feel—not only for a dedicated...
East Corkscrew Road
East Corkscrew Road was erected in the 1930s, and in the early 2020’s, major expansions were implemented, transferring it from two to four lanes (2 on both sides). This change is due to the increasing population in Lee County. In another Engage Estero article it...
The Unseen Water Map: Wetlands, Drainage, Storm-Water Systems, Flood Concerns
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ East Corkscrew Road has continued to grow with improved accessibility and supported economic expansion. Due to the increase in new housing, commercial spaces, and road...
Southwest Florida Is Busy Again! So, Why Does the Southwest Florida Economy Still Feel Unsettled?
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ If you've driven down U.S. 41, tried to secure a dinner reservation during peak season, or navigated the bustling traffic around Coconut Point, RSW, or Corkscrew Road,...
Where do Residents think the Village of Estero should Prioritize Its Efforts?
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ The Engage Estero Survey (March 2026) Executive Summary The Engage Estero survey, conducted in March 2026, gathered responses from 664 residents to identify key priorities...
Keeping Estero Beautiful: A Tribute to Julie Yellig and Our Adopt-A-Highway Volunteers
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ On Saturday, March 14th, the Estero Recreation Center was filled with a well-deserved sense of community pride as Julie Yellig hosted a pizza party to recognize the...
Understanding the Ecology and Function of Estero’s Storm Water Ponds
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Spring 2026 FGCU Student Essay Series East Corkscrew became a channel for conveying water because of increased development and stormwater systems and channel runoff...
Resident Information Tool
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ I have authored a few articles in the past for Engage Estero titled, “Where do I Live?”. This was necessitated resulting from numerous conversations with Greater Estero...
Why is our infrastructure lagging behind residential and commercial development?
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Introduction Many planners and researchers would say that Southwest Florida (SWFL) shows a larger-than-average disconnect between private development and public...
Sustainability in Estero
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Our guest author this semester is Brandi Freeman, a senior at Florida Gulf Coast University majoring in Health Science. Her column will focus on sustainability - the...
Engage Estero is putting its money where its mission is
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ This spring, we’re sponsoring a $1,000 scholarship for an Estero High School senior who writes the winning essay on the history of governance in the Village of Estero. In...
Important Update from the East Corkscrew Alliance and Engage Estero
$variable({"type":"content","value":{"name":"post_title","settings":{"before":"","after":""}}})$ Introduction. February was a busy month, with many meetings among the East Corkscrew Alliance (ECA), Engage Estero, and senior officials at the county and local government...
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