- Captiva Island: September 17-19, 2021
- Downtown Fort Myers: September 20-23, 2021
- Fort Myers Beach: September 24-26, 2021
Image Credit :The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, fortmyers-sanibel.com.
2020 Island Hopper Songwriter Fest postponed due to COVID-19 concerns
Island Hopper Songwriter Fest is a 10-day music festival in Southwest Florida. It draws some of country music’s greatest singer-songwriters from Nashville and nationwide. But The 7th Songwriter Fest has been postponed this year due to COVID-19 concerns.
It showcases more than 80 artists in over 100 shows, most of which are free and in small, intimate venues across Captiva Island, Fort Myers Beach and in downtown Fort Myers.
“After extensive consideration, and in light of the COVID-19 virus, we felt this was the most prudent way to proceed,” said Tamara Pigott, executive director for The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel. “We are just as disappointed as our songwriters and fans but we’re looking forward to next year.”
The new dates of the music festival will be as follows:
Image Credit :The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, fortmyers-sanibel.com.
Image Credit :The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel, fortmyers-sanibel.com.
Crazy Cape Coral Fishing Capers make national news
Fishing tales are usually taken with a pinch of salt, but thankfully this incredible Cape Coral story was caught on camera. And the crazy incident involving 2 fishermen overboard, a rod and a 450-pound Goliath grouper has now made national news!
Day tripper Mike was fighting a land a fish of a lifetime Friday aboard Chew On This Charters with Captain Ben Chancey out of Cape Coral when the unbelievable tale happened.
Mike lost the fishing rod overboard, but fellow angler Jenny managed to use the anchor to retrieve the rod and allow Mike to finish reeling up the still-hooked fish.
Chancey explained to USA Today/For The Win Outdoors that about 20 minutes after the fishing rod was lost, Jenny said she could see it on the bottom in the crystal clear, 40-feet deep water and asked nearby boaters for goggles. One boater had some and passed them to her.
“Jenny was planning to dive down 40 feet to get the rod,” Chancey said. “I decided to drop the anchor down so she could follow the line to the rod and reel. While I was explaining what was going on , Jenny hooked the rod with the anchor and started pulling the rod up. The giant Goliath grouper was still hooked on the line.”
Jenny’s boyfriend Eric, who arranged the surprise trip for Mike’s 30th birthday, helped clear the anchor and line, and Mike finished reeling up the grouper.
“We are calling it the unforgettable fishing miracle,” Chancey stated.
New Fort Myers café and cat adoption center are a purr-fect combination!
It was scheduled to open in January, but permit delays and a global pandemic delayed the opening of SW Florida’s only cat café to June.
Last week, however, the Gulf Coast Town Center café was finally able opened its doors and welcome its first customers.
The Cattyshack Cafe is a coffee shop and lounge with a separated area (Mulligan Room) dedicated to interacting with adoptable rescue cats and kittens. The entry fee into the Mulligan Room is $15 per person for a 50 minute reservation.
Almost everything is cat themed from the drinks to the decor.
Owners Andrew Townsend and Amber Redfern visited 20 cat cafes in six states and saw what worked and what didn’t work. They then put those lessons to use in Cattyshack.
Lee County has an issue with feral and unwanted cats and kittens awaiting adoption. Cattyshack cafe seeks to address this problem and according to their website there has been quite a few success stories in the first few days of opening with a total of 49 adoptions in the first four days including kittens, adults and even a 9 year old senior, Kiki.
It is not just the cats who the owners hope will benefit from visiting the café – owners Andrew and Amber hope that humans will see benefits too. They hope that renters will find solace in sharing a coffee with a feline companion if they can’t keep a cat at home, and also claim it is a very relaxing place for those seeking some peace and tranquility. Not to mention that it is a unique venue for business events.
Cattyshack Cat Café is located at 9901 Gulf Coast Main St., Suite D-140, in Gulf Coast Town Center, near Outback, Sports Clips and The Cigar Bar. To learn more, visit facebook.com/CattyshackCafe or cattyshackcafe.com.
Title photo – Facebook Cattyshack Cafe
Title photo – Facebook Cattyshack Cafe
Cape Coral police seek suspect in attempted homicide
The Cape Coral Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit is looking for a man suspected in an attempted homicide.
The suspect is Juan Kendrick Nieves who is aged 47, 5’8” 185 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen driving a red 2018 Chrysler Pacifica bearing Florida tag 6999VC. He is wanted in an attempted homicide investigation, and is considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information on Nieves or his whereabouts is asked to please contact the Cape Coral Police Department at (239) 574-3223 or 911. You can also submit an anonymous tip at www.capecops.com/tips or https://new.tipsubmit.com/en/create-report/anonymous, send us a message through our social media platforms or call Crimestoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS.
The Epic Rise of Rugby in Florida
Youth and High School rugby has seen significant growth in Florida, with British and Australian expats starting up clubs that the High School and College players can now feed into. A barefoot beach rugby 7s competition in Fort Myers Beach is now in its 18th year. So how has Rugby gained such a healthy foothold in the Sunshine State?
By Phil Taylor
When you mention rugby it is not usually followed by the word Florida but it is a word you will hear more and more with the rise in popularity of the game across the State and an annual beach rugby 7s event (Beerfoot 7’s Beach Rugby Tournament) scheduled to be held in Fort Myers Beach on August 15th. Just how did rugby manage to find a home in the Sunshine State?
United States and the world of rugby
Rugby is no stranger to America as it was first played in 1875, between McGill and Harvard, but the sport suffered in the early 1900s due to popularity in American Football. Despite winning a gold medal at both the 1920 and 1924 Olympics, the game did not enjoy a renaissance until the 1970s; when the national association was formed in 1975. The USA have also appeared at all Rugby World Cups, apart from one, since the World Cup started in 1987.
The sport in the USA, although not as popular as many other sports, has enjoyed a resurgence especially with the sport recognised as an Olympic sport since 2016. Rugby Union and rugby sevens is shown on NBC and ESPN since 2010 (ESPN in 2016). The United States are being considered as hosts for the 2027 Rugby World Cup as popularity continues to rise in the country.
Why Florida?
With a number of expats residing in Florida the game is promoted by many British people who have decided to live in the Southern state. There is also a large Southern hemisphere influence with people from Australia and New Zealand also promoting the game.
The game is very similar to American Football. There is a natural enticement and fans can relate to the sport just in the way baseball fans do with cricket. The natural running style and the ability to make strong tackles really resonates with Floridians.
There is a big push from the State of Florida at the moment to encourage residents to become involved with the sport. The Florida Youth Rugby Union was formed in 2007 to promote and facilitate the development, growth and enjoyment of Rugby for Youth and High School athletes across Florida. The FYRU is work in partnership with both USA Rugby and the Florida Rugby Union to achieve the goal of having 5,000 registered players by the end of 2020.
The youth drive by the state of Florida is also supported by the fact that they aim to have all adult rugby clubs linked with a youth side as well. With 57 clubs in the state from high school to college to adult men and women’s teams, there is a strong plan in place for the sport to be incredibly popular and help the national game in the future.
College progression
In the USA, attending college can be a pathway to a very good future for sports players. In many cases, sports personalities have gone through the college system to play professionally. Rugby in Florida is looking to do exactly the same as other sports in the country.
According to the Florida Rugby website the FRU state, “Our objective for creating the Florida Collegiate Conference is to provide conditions where growth can occur for all the College teams in Florida.” They have recognised that the if they are able to put dedication into the sport at college level then professionally they will benefit.
The FRU are also wanting to develop a higher level of collegiate play, that will result in the ability for our teams to compete against the best Colleges in the country. Not only are they looking to benefit within the state, but they want to compete on a similar level to other states with the popularity rising in the country and at college level. In 2010, there were 854 college clubs registered with USA Rugby and over 32,000 registered college members.
Playing catch up
Rugby does struggle alongside other sports in the country, so the game is effectively playing catch up and having to prove itself alongside these other sports, to show that they are capable of challenging and getting people interested in rugby .
With that comes an intense training schedule so that rugby coaches are able to implement a plan that can challenge across the board at all levels.
Former rugby director, Fabian Pourrain, has a developed a training plan that encourages youth players to use the ball more and replicate the physical side of the game at the same time. “I developed this method as athletes in the US are not trained physically for the sport from young age. I consider critical that during the training, the player has constant contact with the ball and at the same time reproduce the physical intensity of a game.”
He also states the process of how a player can benefit, “This is a training in intervals of high intensity for sports of high performance. This is done by alternating periods of cardiovascular of high intensity at 80%-90% of our Maximum Cardiac Frequency (FCMax) followed by short periods of cardiovascular exercises at a moderate frequency, around 50%-60% of our FCmax and low between 25%-30% of our FCMax”
Can rugby be successful in Florida?
The main objective of rugby in Florida is to keep the popularity of the game rising and have more and more members signing up to clubs to either play or help the clubs run effectively. Rugby is an incredibly social sport and there are many variations in which people can participate find enjoyment.
However, life is financially tough for many sports associations this year. As a result of the COVID-19 lockdown, in late March USA Rugby filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with debts of more than $6m. It is expected to be financially secure, however, after the pandemic is over and the organisation is restructured.
COVID has severely impacted incomes for all sports teams. To meet this challenge, the Florida Rugby Union & Florida Youth Rugby Union has created a ‘Return to Play Stage’ guidelines and a COVID policy to help guide teams through the complicated process of returning to play rugby in Florida.
The FRU are doing all the right things by securing the game during the pandemic, promoting youth teams and supporting clubs at all levels in the state.
As a result of these efforts, the sport of rugby can only grow in Florida, and we may yet see a world-class club side emerge in the Sunshine State in the very near future.
Why Florida?
With a number of expats residing in Florida the game is promoted by many British people who have decided to live in the Southern state. There is also a large Southern hemisphere influence with people from Australia and New Zealand also promoting the game.
The game is very similar to American Football. There is a natural enticement and fans can relate to the sport just in the way baseball fans do with cricket. The natural running style and the ability to make strong tackles really resonates with Floridians.
There is a big push from the State of Florida at the moment to encourage residents to become involved with the sport. The Florida Youth Rugby Union was formed in 2007 to promote and facilitate the development, growth and enjoyment of Rugby for Youth and High School athletes across Florida. The FYRU is work in partnership with both USA Rugby and the Florida Rugby Union to achieve the goal of having 5,000 registered players by the end of 2020.
The youth drive by the state of Florida is also supported by the fact that they aim to have all adult rugby clubs linked with a youth side as well. With 57 clubs in the state from high school to college to adult men and women’s teams, there is a strong plan in place for the sport to be incredibly popular and help the national game in the future.
College progression
In the USA, attending college can be a pathway to a very good future for sports players. In many cases, sports personalities have gone through the college system to play professionally. Rugby in Florida is looking to do exactly the same as other sports in the country.
According to the Florida Rugby website the FRU state, “Our objective for creating the Florida Collegiate Conference is to provide conditions where growth can occur for all the College teams in Florida.” They have recognised that the if they are able to put dedication into the sport at college level then professionally they will benefit.
The FRU are also wanting to develop a higher level of collegiate play, that will result in the ability for our teams to compete against the best Colleges in the country. Not only are they looking to benefit within the state, but they want to compete on a similar level to other states with the popularity rising in the country and at college level. In 2010, there were 854 college clubs registered with USA Rugby and over 32,000 registered college members.
Playing catch up
Rugby does struggle alongside other sports in the country, so the game is effectively playing catch up and having to prove itself alongside these other sports, to show that they are capable of challenging and getting people interested in rugby .
With that comes an intense training schedule so that rugby coaches are able to implement a plan that can challenge across the board at all levels.
Former rugby director, Fabian Pourrain, has a developed a training plan that encourages youth players to use the ball more and replicate the physical side of the game at the same time. “I developed this method as athletes in the US are not trained physically for the sport from young age. I consider critical that during the training, the player has constant contact with the ball and at the same time reproduce the physical intensity of a game.”
He also states the process of how a player can benefit, “This is a training in intervals of high intensity for sports of high performance. This is done by alternating periods of cardiovascular of high intensity at 80%-90% of our Maximum Cardiac Frequency (FCMax) followed by short periods of cardiovascular exercises at a moderate frequency, around 50%-60% of our FCmax and low between 25%-30% of our FCMax”
Can rugby be successful in Florida?
The main objective of rugby in Florida is to keep the popularity of the game rising and have more and more members signing up to clubs to either play or help the clubs run effectively. Rugby is an incredibly social sport and there are many variations in which people can participate find enjoyment.
However, life is financially tough for many sports associations this year. As a result of the COVID-19 lockdown, in late March USA Rugby filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection with debts of more than $6m. It is expected to be financially secure, however, after the pandemic is over and the organisation is restructured.
COVID has severely impacted incomes for all sports teams. To meet this challenge, the Florida Rugby Union & Florida Youth Rugby Union has created a ‘Return to Play Stage’ guidelines and a COVID policy to help guide teams through the complicated process of returning to play rugby in Florida.
The FRU are doing all the right things by securing the game during the pandemic, promoting youth teams and supporting clubs at all levels in the state.
As a result of these efforts, the sport of rugby can only grow in Florida, and we may yet see a world-class club side emerge in the Sunshine State in the very near future.