Now You Know: Pay-by-plate parking launches Monday; more

Will Watts
·4 min read

Lee County will launch a new parking payment system, Text2Park, at select Lee County beach locations starting Monday, to allow patrons the convenience to pay for parking from their mobile device.

The updated system features a convenient, cashless pay-by-plate system. This means visitors will no longer need to visit a kiosk or display a parking receipt on the dashboard of their vehicle. Directions will be displayed on each parking space sign. Parking is $2 per hour, with the ability to add additional time.

The beach locations implementing pay-by-plate parking are:

  • Bonita Beach Park, 27954 Hickory Blvd., Bonita Springs

  • Bonita Beach Access #1, 27890 Hickory Blvd., Bonita Springs

  • Bonita Beach Access #10, 26082 Hickory Blvd., Bonita Springs

  • Bowditch Point Park, 50 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach

  • Lynn Hall Memorial Beach Park, 950 Estero Blvd., Fort Myers Beach

  • San Carlos Bay-Bunche Beach Preserve, 18201 John Morris Road, Fort Myers

Park staff will be available throughout the rollout of this system to assist guests and a video explaining the new pay-by-plate process will be available at leeparks.org/beaches.

Residents and visitors are advised that beach parks have not been restored to pre-Hurricane Ian conditions. Some amenities such as restroom facilities, piers and walkovers have not been repaired or replaced at this time. For more information on facilities and available amenities, visit the Park Progress Map tool at leeparks.org.

For more information about Lee County Parks and Recreation locations, amenities and special events, visit leeparks.org, call 239-533-7275, email leeparks@leegov.com or visit leeparksandrecreation on Facebook and Instagram.

Bonita Springs-Estero Christian Women’s Connection welcomes you to season’s first luncheon

The Bonita Springs-Estero Christian Women’s Connection welcomes you to season’s first luncheon from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., Friday, Oct. 13 at The Club at Grandezza, 11481 Grande Oak Blvd., Estero.  Cost: $35. Reservations and cancellations must be received by Oct. 6.

Tables will be assigned for all guests. If you wish to be seated with friends, submit all names and checks together, plus contact name and phone and any food allergies.

Reserve with a check(s) payable to BSECWC and mail to: BSECWC, 20071 Seagrove St. #1003, Estero, FL 33928; call Nancy with questions at 520-904-2913. Checks must be received by deadline to reserve.

Guest speaker is Lynn Eastman. She shares her story, “When the perfect life becomes a nightmare, then what?”

More: cwcflorida.org.

SWFL Inc.’s annual golf tourney

SWFL Inc. says this year’s annual golf tournament will take place on Oct. 13 at the prestigious West Bay Club. This tournament offers an opportunity for participants to forge meaningful connections in person while engaging with professionals from across the region.

Attendees can anticipate a diverse range of offerings, including raffles, various prizes, refreshments, a luncheon, and more. Given the limited availability of foursome slots, we strongly encourage you to secure your place by registering at swflinc.com/golf-tournament.

The golf tournament will begin with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. Foursomes are $800 and can also be reserved by contacting Alex Rodriguez, membership experience coordinator at 239-992-2943 or Alexa@SWFLinc.com. Space for your foursomes must be secured by Oct. 6 at noon.

Kava Culture announces winners in recipe contest

Kava Culture recently announced six mixologist winners from Southwest Florida in its first Fall for Kava recipe contest.

Nichole Grothaus is one of the winners of the Kava Culture’s “Fall for Kava” recipe contest.
Nichole Grothaus is one of the winners of the Kava Culture’s “Fall for Kava” recipe contest.

Winning drinks have names like “Maple Coffee Cake,” “Chocolate Pumpkin” and “Washington Apple.”

"The Fall For Kava contest winners thought a lot about the flavors of fall and ‘poured’ their best into these new drinks,” said Jacqueline Rusher, CEO of Kava Culture and Botanical Brewing Company in Cape Coral. “Florida may not be about fall leaves, but we use crushed leaf for an extra mood-enhancing, alcohol-free experience. There’s no better way to welcome fall!

Corporate leaders and store managers chose the following Kavatender winners: Tyla Gonzalez (Botanical Brewing Taproom, Cape Coral), Nichole Grothaus (Downtown Fort Myers), Melissa Zarrilli (Clearwater), Koda Brightbill  (Botanical Brewing Taproom, Cape Coral), Gene Bailey (Key West), and Elijah Grant (Winter Springs).The contest challenged Kavatenders (Kava Culture and Botanical Brewing bartenders) to create drinks that followed specific flavor profiles: pumpkin spice, salted caramel, coffee, apple cinnamon, Autumn chai, and maple.

All of the winning non-alcoholic drinks will be featured on fall menus from through Nov. 24 at all corporate and franchise Kava Culture and Botanical Brewing Taproom locations.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Now You Know: Pay-by-plate parking launches Monday; more