Snapshots of July 4: Fort Myers Beach fills up

Crowded Fort Myers Beach EVAN WILLIAMS / FLORIDA WEEKLY The Gulf of Mexico finally appeared over the crest of the bridge. The line of traffic inched slowly down to Fort Myers Beach on the afternoon of July 4.

North Fort Myers resident Mitch Oltean, a 69-year-old volunteer for the Lee County Sheriff's Office, helped direct the cars onto Estero Boulevard. Standing by the busy street at around 3 p.m., he described the day with a single exclamation: "Hot!"

Mr. Oltean added, "We're making sure the people enjoy themselves and that their stay is pleasant."

Coming to the beach is a tradition for many visitors on July 4. LaBelle resident Delilah Garza brought her 5-year-old son. "We do this every year," she said.

Brittany Hogg, 16, and her mother, Debbie Hogg, 50, come to Fort Myers Beach every year for the holiday from Pittsburg, Pa. "We've been coming here forever, and continue the tradition with our kids," Debbie Hogg said.

"My favorite part is the shopping — the Times Square area," Brittany Hogg said.

In the cool, smoky sanctuary of the Cigar Hut, Fort Myers Beach resident Stephen Light, 47, smoked an Independence Day stogie. During an unsuccessful but spirited run for town council last year, he admitted to occasionally skinny dipping in the Gulf of Mexico. Mr. Light said he still does on occasion.

"Even when there's no full moon, there's a full moon," his friend remarked.

Outside the Hut, Estero residents and high school sweethearts Tyler Davis, 19, and Courtney Hall, 16, walked together by the beachfront shops along Estero Boulevard. "I just came to be here with everybody else and see what's going on," Mr. Davis said.

They walked by Fort Myers Beach resident Mike Sippel, a 44-year-old parking attendant with sunglasses, a beard and doo-rag. "All our lots are full, man" Mr. Sippel said. "I've got one more car to go and I'm done."

The busy day was a success for business owners. At Going Wild, a trendy boutique shop that also does temporary henna tattoos, 34-year-old owner Ron Amsalem was selling baby turtles. He breeds them at his home, a 5-acre spread off Corkscrew Road. People drifted off the beach into his shop and looked at the babies in back. In clear tanks: silver dollar-sized box turtles, snapping turtles, soft shell turtles, and the bestselling yellow belly sliders.

"The day is going great," said Mr. Amsalem. "We're selling a lot of turtles."

Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Herb Acken was just down the street in a booth, selling Hawaiian-style shaved ice. As a political advocate for Fort Myers Beach, Mr. Acken added that funding to help restore the beach will be an issue this year. The money will come from the bed tax, as well as the state and federal government. "We are in the process of trying to get a renourishment program done," he said.

Mr. Acken wore an American flagimprinted cowboy hat. He handed over cupfuls of sweetened ice — in flavors like passion fruit, green apple and strawberry — to Kevin Li, 40, his wife and three young children. They live in Tampa.

"We were here (to get shaved ice) in the morning and came back again," Mr. Li said.

"The heat helps sales," Mr. Acken said.