Oct. 31, 2005 -
FORT MYERS BEACH HOSTS 19TH ANNUAL AMERICAN SANDSCULPTING CHAMPIONSHIP FESTIVAL

(FORT MYERS BEACH, FLA) (October 31, 2005) -
Fort Myers Beach will come alive with creations of natural beauty made from sand and water when the 19th Annual American Sandsculpting Championship Festival takes place Wednesday, November 9th thru Sunday, November 13th, 2005. Master, Florida State and Amateur sculptors will compete for cash prizes and trophies as they put their imaginations and artistic talents to work building their masterpieces, which will range from the amazingly beautiful to the wonderfully whimsical, to the cleverly comedic.

A Greater Fort Myers Beach Area Chamber of Commerce event, the Sandsculpting Championship Festival is being presented this year by Lennar Homes. Site sponsors include the Outrigger Beach Resort, Pointe Estero and Gull Wing Beach Resorts and the Holiday Inn on the Beach. Master participants from throughout the United States and Canada will be competing at the Outrigger and Holiday Inn and the Amateur Competition will be held at the Outrigger. This perfect family event, with demonstrations, numerous individual competitions to watch, begins on Wednesday and will continue through Sunday.

For the fourth year in a row, Sand Magic Village, sponsored by General Motors, an area featuring exhibits from local businesses and area crafters, will be on display Friday, November 11th from Noon until 5:00 pm, Saturday, November 12th from 9:00am - 5:00pm and Sunday, November 13th, from 10:00am - 4:00pm on the beach at GullWing Beach Resort and Pointe Estero Beach Resort.

The American Sandsculpting Championship Festival is not only a great time for participants, it is also a fantastic spectator event. The excitement of the festival attracts over 50,000 people each year, eager to cast their vote for who they think deserves the honor of the People's Choice Award. Because of the sugar fine white sand Fort Myers Beach is famous for, the Fort Myers Beach Sandsculpting Competition is one of the premier professional competitions in the world.

Additional sponsors of the Sandsculpting Championship Festival include the Beaches of Fort Myers-Sanibel Tourist Development Council, General Motors, 101 Things to Do, the Fort Myers News-Press, Publix, Town of Fort Myers Beach.

The 19th Annual American Championship Sandsculpting Festival event goers will be able to ride the Lee Tran Trolley from Summerlin Square Shopping Center and Lover's Key State Park to the event. Parking and the Trolley Ride is free! Five trolleys will transport folks on Saturday starting at 11am until 9pm and Sunday from 11am until 6pm.

For competition rules, registration information, a complete calendar of events and additional information on the 19th Annual American Sandsculpting Championship Festival, call the Chamber office at (239) 454-7500 or log on to the event's website at www.sandfestival.com.

Oct. 25, 2005 -
BEACHES OF FORT MYERS & SANIBEL REOPENS FOR BUSINESS Area Sustained Minimal Structural Damage, Rebounds Quickly for Visitors

Fort Myers, FLA (Oct. 25, 2005) - With the sun shining once again, The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel have instituted immediate recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma and are once again welcoming visitors.

While there are some downed trees and damaged signage, no major structural damage has been reported in the destination. The Southwest Florida International Airport reopened for business this morning, once power was restored. The facility sustained no damage from the storm.

Power is being restored rapidly to the area, and hotels that have not already reopened will do so as soon as they receive power.

The Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau is advising travelers to check with individual airlines for specifics regarding their flight schedules and with hotels for their status when planning upcoming visits to the area.

The Bureau is posting regular updates regarding storm recovery efforts to its Web site at www.FortMyers-Sanibel.com so visitors planning a vacation to the area can consult the site for the area's latest developments. They also can call 888-231-5320 for details.

Oct. 25, 2005 -
The Southwest Florida International Airport has reopened for business and flights have resumed as of 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, October 25.

Power is being restored to the area fairly rapidly, and hotels will reopen as soon as their power returns. Travelers should check with individual airlines for specifics regarding their flight schedules and with hotels for their status when planning upcoming visits to the area.

While there are some downed trees and damaged signage, no major structural damage has been reported in Lee County, home to the Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel.

For more information visit www.LeeIslandCoast.com.