June ECCL Monthly Meeting The June 11, 2021 meeting of the ECCL was held virtually on Zoom. The featured speakers speakers were Alexis McLennan, Public Information/Public Education Director for San Carlos Fire Rescue; David Willems, Public Works Director of the...
May ECCL Monthly Meeting The May 14, 2021 meeting of the ECCL was held virtually on Zoom. The featured speakers speakers were Village councilmember Jim Ward, Estero Fire Rescue's Susan Lindenmuth, and Vice President of Lee Health Coconut Point Alex Greendood. You can...
Prepared by the ECCL’s Health Council and the “Fall’s” Sub-Committee More people over 65 in Lee County die from a fall than all people who die in a motor vehicle crash. One in four people over 65 will fall each year. Lee Health Emergency Departments have over 1000...
2021 ECCL Scholarship AwardeesGroup photo: Left to right: Mike Wasson, Blake Chapman, Pamela Mueller, recipient Brian Robinson, Gail Langner, recipient Mary Sue Burun, Vicki Risko and Mark Novitski. ECCL, Estero Historical Society, and Estero Chamber of Commerce...
The team of volunteers participating in ECCL’s Adopt a Highway initiative have collected well over two tons of rubbish which has included litter, tires, pieces of metal and other miscellaneous items since they started the program in October last year. This weekend’s...
Bicycle Safety in the greater Estero area More and more adults and children are enjoying biking in the greater Estero area. The ECCL fully supports the initiatives of the Village in extending bike lanes and looking at new opportunities for those who enjoy...
On Saturday April 17, 2021 Lee Health hosted a drive-in “Health Fair” at their Coconut Point complex. The aim was to increase awareness of the many advanced services available, their integrated approach to preventive healthcare as well as their state-of-the-art...
Governor DeSantis appointed the Blue Green Algae Task Force in 2019 to “ensure that objective and sound science informs Florida’s environmental decision-making process.” They made their recommendations, and the resulting proposed legislation is currently being...
Lee County's mapping department has released an online resource for reviewing, locating, and determining the status of development throughout the county, including projects within Estero. The resource provides planning documents, mapping, a brief description and...
The Calusa Waterkeeper conducted an assessment to understand the factors contributing to water quality impairment in Florida. The "Water Quality Impairment Status and Trends of Southwest Florida Counties - 2018-2020" assessment is essential for determining pollution...
A short time ago, the ECCL released an important document that outlined the organization's strategic plans for the next five years. If you have not yet seen this document, you can access it by clicking here. A key focus within the plan will be Safety, one of the six...
Nancy O'Malley has taken on the role as the ECCL Environmental Council Chairperson, after Joe Micelli stepped down to spend more time lecturing at FGCU. Nancy, now retired, served as Chief Payment System Integrity Officer for MasterCard. She was responsible for...
The Estero Council of Community Leaders (ECCL) is extremely pleased to announce the appointment of Frank Moser to The ECCL Board of Directors. Frank Moser is a resident of Rapallo at Coconut Point. After graduating from Penn Technical Institute with a degree in...
Mark Ruset will take on the responsibilities for Safety as co-chair with Lou Frattarelli who will continue as co-chair of Transportation. These combined responsibilities represent an important step in the coordination the ECCL’s initiatives to improve the safety of...
We are closing in on TWO Tons of Rubbish Cleared from Hwy 41 in Estero by ECCL’s Volunteers over the last six months! The ECCL has been working with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to help clean Hwy 41, between the Vines entrance (Breckenridge Road)...
https://estero-fl.gov/lee-commissioners-award-contract-for-first-phase-of-corkscrew-road-widening/ On March 16, 2021, the Lee Board of County Commissioners awarded a contract for the first phase of widening Corkscrew Road east of Ben Hill Griffin Parkway to four...
The ECCL endorses the following article prepared by John Cassani the Calusa Waterkeeper. A key strategic focus for the ECCL is also water quality, pollution and the sustainability of our water supply. This becomes more and more important as our population in the...
March ECCL Monthly Meeting The March 12, 2021 meeting of the ECCL was held virtually on Zoom. The featured speaker was Matt Feeney, Assistant Manager of the City of Bonita Springs. You can watch the video or read the summary below. 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:05 Welcoming...
It was a beautiful morning for volunteers to work their magic along Hwy 41 over the weekend. Many drivers, walkers, and bikers were honking and calling out “thank you,” which was very rewarding for the Adopt a Highway team organized by ECCL’s Julie Yellig. The...
Two of the key areas that the ECCL focuses on concerning our vision, "To make the greater Estero area the best place to live, work, and play," are Healthcare and Safety. With this in mind, the ECCL considered a recent article published by Kaiser Health Newsworthy of...
It’s frightening to witness someone at home who has collapsed. If they’re not breathing or gasping for breath: call 911 and immediately begin CHEST COMPRESSIONS. Watch the 30 second New York-Presbyterian Hospital YouTube video, “Everyone Can Save a...
The February 12, 2021 meeting of the ECCL was held virtually on Zoom. The featured speaker was Mary Gibbs, Community Development Director for the Village of Estero. You can watch the video or read the summary below. The video timeline is divided into topics so you can...
The ECCL wishes you a Very Happy New Year, and we hope that you continue to stay safe and well and benefit from the COVID vaccine "rollout" as soon as possible. We are pleased to provide you with the first of four planned GECR Reports for 2021. Our objective is to...
Over the past few weeks, the ECCL has taken the initiative on proposing a small "Veterans Community Pocket Park" in Estero. Several local organizations, including members of the Estero "Village" Council, expressed their interest and support for this initiative. The...
On behalf of the many individuals and businesses that have expressed their gratitude to the Village Council for distributing many thousands of masks to residents and 300 commercial hand sanitizers to small businesses, the ECCL applauds the recent initiative. The...
The January 8, 2021 meeting of the ECCL was held virtually on Zoom. The featured speaker was Lee County Commission Chairman Kevin Ruane. You can watch the video or read the summary below. https://youtu.be/e_LQkJW78ZU President Jim Gilmartin opened the 200th membership...
By Mark Novitski, ECCL As we prepare ourselves for the next 5 years of construction on Corkscrew Rd between Ben Hill Griffin and Alico Rd., there are a few items to keep in mind: Road detours and uneven pavement require more attention and slower speeds Workers and...
Volunteers Beat the Record! The team of volunteers participating in ECCL’s Adopt a Highway initiative this weekend helped to collect 600 lbs. of rubbish from Estero’s stretch of Hwy 41, bringing the total amount of litter collected over the last three months by...
“You never spend more money than you make! You never spend more money than you make!” This enthusiastic chant is performed often and quite loudly in every one of Amy Kuchenbecker’s Junior Achievement (JA) sessions at Three Oaks Middle School. Making 8th graders, a...
The December 11, 2020 meeting of the ECCL was held virtually on Zoom. Featured speakers were Dr. Ana Puszkin-Chevlin, Regional Director, Growing Climate Solutions – Path to Positive; and Jodi Walborn, Policy and Worksite Co-Lead, Blue Zones Project – SWFL.. You can...
43% of all Estero’s Covid-19 cases have occurred in the last 6 weeks1Don't Let Your Guard Down! Wear a Mask! The ECCL and the Estero Chamber would like to thank the vast majority of residents in the greater Estero area for observing the Centers for Disease Control and...
Many Congratulations!! 420 lbs. of Rubbish Collected on Hwy 41 in Estero on November 21st by Our Local Volunteers! Following the successful work in October of those who helped the "Adopt a Highway" initiative headed by Julie Yellig and her team of volunteers and...
FGCU named best public school in Florida for undergraduate entrepreneurship By Kyle McCurry Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) has been named the top public college or university in Florida for undergraduate entrepreneurship studies, according to The Princeton...
The November 13, 2020 meeting of the ECCL was held virtually on Zoom. Featured speaker was Estero Councilmember Jon McLain speaking on transportation issues. You can watch the video below. A summary of the contents is provided below....
In 2004 and 2007, following their historic World Series wins, Red Sox owners, management, and players, along with Massachusetts General Hospital representatives, visited Walter Reed Medical Center and met hospitalized Veterans of the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan....
Brought to you by the ECCL During the recent October 9 "virtual" ECCL's Monthly Meeting, Steve Sarkozy, Estero Village Manager, spoke about the Village's purchase of 67.5 acres at the northeast corner of Corkscrew and US 41. Mr. Sarkozy summarized the steps that are...
Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida and The ECCL Hosted First-Ever Virtual Gala earlier this year at The Club at Grandezza. FORT MYERS, Fla. (October 28, 2020) – Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida and The Estero Council of Community Leaders (ECCL) hosted a...
The ECCL support of the “Adopt a Highway” initiative headed by Julie Yellig and her team of volunteers started the cleanup of Hwy 41 over the weekend (October 24). The ECCL is working with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to help clean an approximate...
After three years of negotiation with Bonita’s Zoning and Planning Office and the Bonita Springs Council, London Bay Homes was given the “green light” at Wednesday’s (October 21st) council meeting to proceed with their Bayview development at the western end of Coconut...
Key Points from the ECCL's Monthly Meeting Report October 9th (Reporter Karen Katz) President Jim Gilmartin called the meeting to order and there followed a moment of silence for COVID-19 victims. Kyle Coleman, Estero Deputy Village Manager, spoke about the Estero...
Help Us Keep Estero Looking Beautiful The ECCL (as the adopting organization) is working with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to recruit and coordinate groups of volunteers to help clean an approximate four-mile section of Tamiami Trail. Including both...
https://youtu.be/PNrj0LTQoTE The monthly Membership Meeting of the ECCL was held virtually on Friday, 9/11 at 10 am. Pres. Jim Gilmartin welcomed the participants and Mark Novitski led a moment of silence in memory of 9/11. Speakers Chief Scott Vanderbrook of Estero...
The Estero Council of Community Leaders (ECCL) is extremely pleased to announce the appointment of Allan Bowditch, Former CEO Martin Hamblin Healthcare, as its Chief Communications Officer. In his role at Martin Hamblin Research’s Global Healthcare Division, he was...
Dear Community Residents & Businesses, In two weeks, the start of one of the most, if not the most, uncertain school years in our lifetime will begin. This comment is not hyperbole. The first day of school in our Estero area will be Monday, August 31. On this day,...
The Estero Council of Community Leaders (ECCL) is delighted to announce the appointment of Melva Borley to the ECCL Board of Directors. Melva was born and raised in Washington, DC, and at 15, was awarded an academic scholarship to the prestigious Emma Willard Prep...
Ever wonder why the traffic seems to be getting worse on Corkscrew Rd east of Ben Hill Griffin? The below chart identifies the current homes built and occupied, and the potential homes to be built in the next 5 years. The Phase I expansion/widening of Corkscrew Rd...
Ever wonder why we need to build new schools in south Lee County? The linked infographic identifies K-12 students in the Estero Area and South Lee County. This information will be used in the Village of Estero Community database so new residents can determine...
The Estero Council of Community Leaders (ECCL) is extremely pleased to announce the appointment of Rachel Pierce to the ECCL Board of Directors. Rachel Pierce is proud to call Estero home with her husband and four young children. She specifically picked Estero for its...
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