Member News

FORT MYERS, FLA., August 13, 2018 –  Three Lee County students were among six scholarship recipients honored by The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Florida Southwest Chapter August 9 at a special presentation hosted by Richlin Interiors at Miromar Design Center in Estero.
Financial assistance totaled $6,000 to six students who are either enrolled in a Bachelor of Architecture or a Master of Architecture program at a university or college.  The scholarships are funded through local member donations and dues.
“We have a very vibrant and thriving building and architecture industry in Southwest Florida and we want to help our local students and let them know that we are here as an organization to support them now and in the future,” said Art Castellanos, president of the AIA Florida Southwest Chapter.
Scholarships were presented to:
 

• Allie Stefanick of Fort Myers, a $2,500 scholarship to assist in her architectural studies at the University of South Florida in Tampa;
• Christian Alonso of Bonita Springs, a $1,500 scholarship to continue his studies toward a  Master of Arts degree in architecture at the University of Florida in Gainesville;
• Sydney Matsumoto of Fort Myers, a $500 scholarship to continue her studies toward a Master of Arts degree in architecture at the University of Miami.
• Dylan Scallan of Naples, a $500 scholarship to study architecture at the University of Florida;
• Kaci Seitzinger of Naples, a $500 scholarship toward a Bachelor of Arts degree in architecture at the University of Florida; and
• Emma Pritchett of Port Charlotte, a $500 scholarship to pursue a degree in architecture at the University of South Florida in Tampa.

The AIA Florida Southwest is the local chapter of the American Institute of Architects and consists of 140 architect members and 100 allied and associate members in Southwest Florida.  For more information, visit WWW.AIAFLASW.ORG.

NAPLES, Fla., (August 14, 2018) – GATES Construction has begun building a new Animal Hospital at Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens. Named the “Glass Animal Hospital” in honor of its primary benefactors, Denny and Tanya Glass, the new 1-story, 9,144 SF animal hospital will feature a surgical suite, treatment room, hospitalization rooms, necropsy room, diagnostic lab, pharmacy, ICU and hospitalization holding areas, outdoor run area, and administrative rooms. Construction has begun and is slated for completion winter 2019.  Design services are provided by Architects Unlimited.
Celebrating 25 years in south Florida, GATES Construction provides construction management, general contracting and design-build services.  Their diverse portfolio of commercial, healthcare, multi-family, club and hospitality, institutional and special projects showcases numerous landmarks successfully constructed over the past quarter of a century.  As Florida’s premier builder, GATES serves its clients from offices in Bonita Springs, Sarasota and Palm Beach Gardens, and operates throughout the Southeast United States and Latin America.  For more information on GATES, please call (239) 593-3777 or visit the website at www.GATESinc.com.

 
NAPLES, Fla. – Aug. 13, 2018– Gulfshore Life magazine was named the Magazine of the Year at the 2018 Florida Magazine Association’s (FMA) annual conference at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek.
For more than four decades, Gulfshore Life has been producing award-winning content to readers throughout Southwest Florida. This year, Gulfshore Life also won FMA Charlie Awards for best overall magazine in its category, best photo essay, and best feature writing.
David Sendler, Editor-in-Chief of Gulfshore Life magazine, said, “We are honored and humbled to be named The Magazine of the Year by the Florida Magazine Association for the second year in a row-and you can bet that we’re working harder than ever every day to live up to that standard.”
The Florida Magazine Association received more than 500 entries into this year’s contest. A panel of 13 judges from across the United States selected Gulfshore Life to receive the top award.
Gulfshore Life, Inc., owned by Open Sky Media, also produces Gulfshore Business, Gulfshore Life, At Home, Healthy Life, Health Source, and theSouthwest Florida Guide to the Arts, in addition to such custom publications as Naples Health, Naples Realtor, Naples on the Gulf, Summer Guide, Celebrate, Connect, and Downtown Naples. Open Sky Media publishes city and regional magazines in Oklahoma City, Austin, and San Antonio.
AboutGulfshore Life
Gulfshore Life, which debuted in 1970, captures the vibrant spirit, style and natural beauty of Southwest Florida, from Fort Myers and Cape Coral to Naples and Marco Island. Its coverage of local news, community issues, personalities and pursuits, from arts and entertainment to fashion, real estate and the luxury lifestyle, helps residents and visitors understand and enjoy the region.
 
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Ft. Myers, FL – August 15, 2018 – Indie movie lovers don’t want to miss TGIM’s September showcase! Help hosts Eric Raddatz and Melissa DeHaven, plus judges John Davis, Jason Drew, and Marc Collins, select films for viewing at the 2019 Fort Myers Film Festival. Screen some of this season’s best films on Monday, September 3rd! The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center is located at 2301 First St. in the historic downtown Fort Myers River District.
 
Get a look at how the Fort Myers Film Festival views submissions for independent films and participate in the selection process! Have a say whether or not they should make final programming. Come out and see short indie films submitted to the Fort Myers Film Festival every first Monday of the month in season at TGIM. The house opens for cocktails at 6:30pm and show starts at 7pm. Each indie film to view comes from a different writer and director. This makes for a truly eclectic line up of original filmmaking! Enjoy cocktails, live entertainment during intermission, and the judges comments on the films all evening long.
 
The Fort Myers Film Festival is an Intelligent independent filmmaker’s preferred event to create, unite and showcase the finest artistic cinematic works. FMFF is celebrating nearly a decade of the finest indie films on the planet. The Fort Myers Film Festival’s 9th annual festival will be held in the sunny, beautiful SW Florida region in April 2019 at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, Alliance for the Arts, Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, Library and Imaginarium with parties and dinners at Twisted Vine Bistro, Firestone and other select venues. For more info, visit www.sbdac.com.
 
 
 
 
 

FORT MYERS, Fla – August 13, 2018 – Broadway Palm proudly presents Circus Transformus playing August 25 and August 26, 2018. This visually stunning, contemporary circus performance incorporates dance, acrobatics, aerial arts and other skilled acts. With dozens of talented artists, Circus Transformus aims to entertain AND inspire its audience to rise to the challenge of healing our planet Earth.
Circus Transformus tells the story of a young girl who awakens to find her world on the brink of disaster. She teams up with an unlikely group of allies to combat the forces that threaten her planet. But can they save it before it’s too late? This original story features a cast of local acrobats, aerialists, contortionists, fire performers and more and is a celebration of the awakening of the human spirit.
Producing Circus Transformus is Will Prather, owner of Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre along with Christar Damiano and Carla Hyde, who are also the show’s creators and directors. Damiano and Hyde have a combined circus experience of over 50 years and are both passionate about environmental activism. Damiano has performed across the globe in such places as Mexico, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, India, Thailand and Hawaii. Hyde has delighted audiences since 1987 with her aerial artistry performing with the world renowned Flying Espanas and the Flying Lunas in circuses across the US, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Join Broadway Palm as they inspire audiences to Be The Change with Circus Transformus playing August 25 and August 26, 2018.  Performances are Saturday, August 25 and Sunday, August 26. Doors open for the Saturday performance at 6 p.m. with a preshow in the lobby, Hors d ’Oeuvres are at 7 p.m., the performance begins at 8 p.m. and there will be an after party with DJ Groove Chemist and a dessert bar until 12 a.m. Doors open for the Sunday performance at 4 p.m. with a preshow in the lobby, Hors d ‘Oeuvres are at 5 p.m. and the performance is at 6 p.m. This production is intended for mature audiences; parental discretion is advised. Tickets are $50 to $65 and can be reserved by calling (239) 278-4422, by visiting BroadwayPalm.com or by stopping by the box office at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.
 
 
 
 

CUTLINES:
Photo 1: Shell Point Retirement Community’s assisted living residents recently crafted and personally delivered handmade onesies to newborn children at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.
 
Photo 2: Shell Point resident, David Ammerman, decorates a newborn onesie to be donated to Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.
 
Photo 3: Residents of Shell Point Retirement Community recently decorated onesies for newborn children at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.
 
Shell Point assisted living residents donate handmade onesies for newborn children at Golisano Children’s Hospital
 
FORT MYERS, Fla. (Aug. 13, 2018) – Assisted living residents of Shell Point Retirement Community recently gifted handmade onesies to newborn children at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.
 
Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, the only pediatric hospital of its kind located between Tampa and Miami, opened a new building just over a year ago at Lee Health’s HealthPark Medical Center. The 128-bed, seven-story facility is designed to make children feel like they are in a fun, safe space – rather than an institutional setting. The building is filled with bright colors, activities and interactive stations for both patients and visitors.
 
“We appreciate when members of our community give back in support of Golisano Children’s Hospital, especially when it is intergenerational,” says Carly Majewski, Golisano Children’s Hospital NICU nurse manager. “To have Shell Point residents spend time decorating and personalizing these outfits to give to our smallest and most vulnerable patients speaks volumes to their kindness and generosity.”
 
This project is part of Shell Point assisted living’s Giving Back program series, which connects assisted living residents with ways to participate in community and social involvement initiatives that benefit local nonprofit organizations.
 
“Few activities offer as much happiness and fulfillment as using our time and efforts to help when needed,” said Amanda Pendergast, assisted living activities leader at Shell Point. “Many of our residents have worked with children in the past and were passionate about continuing that admirable work.”
 
 
 

TICKETS ON SALE FRIDAY, AUGUST 17 AT 10AM
 
 
(Fort Myers, FL) – Bob Dylan and his Band will perform at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW on Tuesday, October 23 at 8PM. Tickets go on sale Friday, August 17 at 10AM and can be purchased at the Box Office, online at www.bbmannpah.com or call (239) 481-4849. The Fort Myers concert is presented by AEG Presents and PFM.
Bob Dylan has remained, along with James Brown, the most influential American musician rock & roll has ever produced. Inscrutable and unpredictable, Dylan has been both deified and denounced for his shifts of interest, while whole schools of musicians took up his ideas. His lyrics — the first in rock to be seriously regarded as literature — became so well known that politicians from Jimmy Carter to Vaclav Havel have cited them as an influence.
By personalizing folk songs, Dylan reinvented the singer-songwriter genre; by performing his allusive, poetic songs in his nasal, spontaneous vocal style with an electric band, he enlarged pop’s range and vocabulary while creating a widely imitated sound. By recording with Nashville veterans, he helped give rise to Seventies country-rock. In the 1980s and 1990s, although he often seemed to flounder, he still had the ability to challenge, influence, and surprise listener — something he did more reliably in the late 1990s and 2000s, when he recorded some of the greatest music of his career.
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Performance Date / Time:           Tuesday, October 23 – 8:00PM*
Ticket Prices:                                     $129.50*              $99*      $69*
 
                                                                *All shows, dates, times and ticket prices are subject to change.
 
 
 
 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Aug. 13, 2018) – Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, is dedicated to fighting for full and fair restitution on behalf of every client. The firm recently helped a Clewiston woman and her husband obtain a $900,130 verdict in their favor after her insurance company, Geico, proposed a settlement of only $15,000 for injuries and damages caused by an underinsured motorist.
Kari Maynor sustained serious shoulder, wrist, neck and back injuries on Oct. 2, 2014, when the driver of an SUV pulled out in front of her and crashed into the mid-size car she was driving east on Sugarland Highway in Clewiston. The wreck led to permanent injuries, surgeries, repeated therapies and the loss of one of her jobs.
“The compensation should equal the loss,” trial attorney P.J. Scheiner said. “This wreck had a profound effect on Kari’s life, and the verdict reflects that.”
After the crash, and because of her injuries, Maynor was unable to perform at the same level in her primary job as the owner of Maynor Lawn Care. She was the sole provider for her family because her husband is disabled, and the worry that they might lose their family home led to a medical diagnosis of depression and anxiety for her.
“Kari was under a lot of pressure to perform,” Scheiner said. “It’s hard enough to run a family lawn care business – the stress on Kari to run the business and support her family while struggling through serious physical injuries caused by the carelessness of someone else was really overwhelming.”
Maynor sought compensation through the underinsured motorist provision in her policy with Geico after the insurance company of the driver who caused the crash made an offer of $50,000 — a figure Maynor knew would be insufficient to cover her lifetime treatment costs. Scheiner, attorney Ben Russell and the rest of the Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner team worked for more than three years following the $15,000 offer from Geico.
“Everyone in business — whether you’re an attorney or an insurance company — has an obligation to do right by their clients,” Scheiner said. “We take that seriously.”
Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, was founded in 1971 by Bruce L. Scheiner and his wife, Cheryl Scheiner. Both continue to work alongside their son, P.J. Scheiner, who joined the firm as a trial attorney in 2007.
Today, Bruce and P.J. work side by side in the negotiating room and the courtroom, where they fight to secure full and fair restitution for each and every client they have the privilege of representing. Bruce Scheiner still hand selects each case the firm accepts, personally assembles the team best able to see the case through to settlement or trial, and oversees every case from intake to resolution.
Associates and Bruce L. Scheiner, Attorneys for the Injured, has the knowledge, experience and resources to handle all types of personal injury and wrongful death claims for clients across the state of Florida, including trucking accidents, boating accidents, airplane accidents, nursing home neglect and abuse, construction accidents, defective product claims, premise liability claims and injuries to children.
Call 1-800-283-2900 or visit www.blslawyers.com.
Every case is unique, and the results in one case do not indicate the quality, value or potential outcome of any other case.
 
 

IMMOKALEE, Fla. (August 10, 2018) – Jay Goldberg Events and Entertainment presents Air Supply in concert. The super duo of Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock will perform their iconic music at Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee on Saturday, January 12 at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Tickets are available now starting at $85 for reserved seating and can be purchased online at www.jaytv.com, at the casino or by phone at 800-514-ETIX(3849).
A “Lost in Love” VIP ticket package also will be available for $159 per person and will include one premium reserved seat in the first 12 rows, an invitation to soundcheck with a Meet & Greet to follow for photo opportunities with Air Supply, and an exclusive VIP swag bag.
Air Supply was already a hit in their native Australia when they burst onto the American music scene in 1980 with the chart-topping single “Lost in Love,” which was quickly followed by “All Out of Love.”  Seven top-five singles later, Air Supply at that time had equaled The Beatles’ run of consecutive top five singles. The albums “Lost in Love,” “The One That You Love,” “Now & Forever,” and “The Greatest Hits” sold in excess of 20 million copies. “Lost in Love” was named Song of the Year in 1980, and, with the other singles, sold more than 10 million copies. Singles “Lost in Love”, “All Out of Love”, “The One That You Love”, “Sweet Dreams”, and “Making Love Out Of Nothing At All” have each achieved multi-million plays on the radio. Air Supply’s trademark sound – Hitchcock’s soaring tenor voice and Russell’s simple yet majestic songs – delights audiences around the world as the duo continue to tour on a regular basis.
Concert attendees must be 21 years of age or older.
About Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee
Open 24/7; 365 days a year, Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee is Southwest Florida’s premier gaming and entertainment destination. The 51,000-square-foot plus casino offers 1,300 slots, including Tarzan, Wheel of Fortune and Crazy Money, and 38 live table games including Blackjack, Mini-Baccarat, Pai Gow, Let It Ride, Three Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, Blackjack Switch and Spanish 21. Dining options include the award-winning 1^st Street Deli, Asian fusion restaurant Lucky Mi Noodle House, and The EE-TO-LEET-KE (“The Camp”) Grill. Nightly entertainment is highlighted by the Zig Zag lounge, home of the Zig Zag Girlz, “where the party never ends” featuring nightly live entertainment and no last call. Additional entertainment and events are held at the Seminole Center, an indoor/outdoor special event center featuring state-of-the-art sound and lighting system designed by Technomedia Solutions. The new Seminole Casino Hotel is the first upscale hotel to open in or near Immokalee and offers suites and deluxe guestrooms with modern décor and features, plus amenities including a swimming pool with adjacent private Seminole Chickee cabana huts, 24-hour fitness studio, free Wi-Fi, and desk concierge services.
Located at 506 South 1^st Street in Immokalee, Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee is easily accessible to all of Southwest Florida via I-75 and Southwest Florida International Airport is only a 45-minute drive from the casino. Located between Miami and Naples, north of Alligator Alley on Highway 846, it is five blocks south of Highway 29. Approximately 30 minutes from Naples and Fort Myers, the casino is a 90-minute drive from Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee participates in the Seminole Players Club Wild Card Rewards Program whereby players earn and redeem comp dollars at all Seminole Casinos in Florida. For more information, call toll-free (800) 218-0007 or visit moreinparadise.com  or facebook.com/SeminoleCasinoHotel/.
 

CAPE CORAL, Fla. (Aug. 9, 2018) – Gather is heartbroken to see toxic algae and red tide fouling our beautiful Southwest Florida waterways. The waterfront dining spot counts its blessings that it hasn’t affected the water at its Tarpon Point Marina location or at sister restaurant Fathoms, but the people behind Gather are nonetheless committed to helping solve the water crisis.
During August, Gather will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from sales of a special cocktail and summer shandy to Captains for Clean Water, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Southwest Florida waterways.
Gather is also running an enticing food promotion to go along with the drinks. Every Thursday starting at 3 p.m., tacos are just $3. Plus, there’s a way to score a free taco. Just take a picture of your Gather taco, post it to Facebook and tag Gather. Thursdays also feature $5 margaritas from 3 p.m. on, just one of many reasons why the restaurant on 5971 Silver King Blvd. is the place to be.
Live music from the high-energy duo Stolen Fruit will enchant your on Saturday, Aug. 11 from 8 -11 p.m. There’s even more live music from 8-11 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 15, when the acoustic sounds of Obe Gonzalez will waft through the evening air.
Saturday, Aug. 18 will be a special day, as Gather waits until 5 p.m. to open in advance of the enticing Oyster Social, which starts at 7 p.m. The one-of-a-kind event will feature food from the Rollin’ Raw Bar, while Gather’s acclaimed mixologists will be handle the drinks and the eclectic Jeff Lyons will serenade with live music.
Gather’s mixologists will be back at it on Saturday, Aug. 28 for another Bartender’s Dinner. Flaming libations, coffee-infused concoctions and spicy spirits from senior mixologist Jeremy Vincent will take center stage, complementing exquisite fare from Gather Sous Chef Tim Hessenbrunch. Get a taste of Southwest Florida’s newest mixed drink sensation, called Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magic, as well as other favorites, like the Carbonated Cosmo and the Hibiscus Fizz, all prepared by Jeremy and his team. RSVPs are required at 239-673-9939.
The next night, Sunday, Aug. 29, is Gather’s can’t-miss monthly wine-tasting. Six wines and assorted cheeses are available for just $30 from 5-6:30 p.m. As with the Bartender’s Dinner, RSVPs are required at 239-673-9939.
All month long, Gather is the place to be for lunch, with an unbeatable soup-and-sandwich deal running from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Don’t miss these mouthwatering combos:
Tuesdays: Lobster bisque and lobster cake sandwich
Wednesdays: Tomato basil and grilled cheese
Thursdays: Clam chowder and croissant BLT
Fridays: Chili and chicken wrap
Gather’s hours changed on Aug. 7. The restaurant will be open from 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and from 11:30 a.m.-late Friday. The breakfast crowd is invited on Saturdays, when Gather is open from 8 a.m.-late, and also on Sundays, with hours running from 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Gather is closed on Mondays.