Member News

$30,000 Grant Check to be presented to help women with education for a career in healthcare
 FORT MYERS, Fla. (Sept. 28, 2018) – The Women’s Legacy Fund (WLF) of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation will hold its 2018 Fall Breakfast for Contributors and Friends on Thursday, Oct. 18 from 8:30 to 10 a.m.
The event is being hosted by the I Will Mentorship Foundation and will be held at 3903 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. in Fort Myers. The cost is $20 per person. Prima Donors are complimentary.
In addition to breakfast, the event will include facility tours, a program and interviews with students from I Will Mentorship, a foundation that empowers youth to make positive life choices through Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture and Math (STEAM) based learning and evidence based mentoring programs focused on increasing academic achievement, strengthening community and providing exposure to opportunities to improve socioeconomic mobility.
The WLF will also present their 2018 grant check to the Career Pipeline for Women in Health Care program, a program focused on enrolling women in underserved and underemployed communities in health science education programs at the two Lee County technical colleges, Fort Myers Technical College and Cape Coral Technical College. The 2018 Contributors to the Women’s Legacy Fund voted in the spring to design a multi-year grant process in which a three-year partnership would form with an organization that would satisfy the chosen cause area: Increase access and attainment to educational opportunities for women and girls. This inaugural year for the Fund’s first three-year grant and partnership is the largest grant to date at $30,000.
The Women’s Legacy Fund is a group of women who combine their contributions in this collective philanthropy initiative to foster the immersion of women in philanthropy and develop the region’s next philanthropic leaders.
Since its inception, the WLF has been able to provide more than $200,000 in grants to benefit people and communities in Southwest Florida including this year’s grant of $30,000. Currently, the Fund has $860,670 in endowment that will continue to help fund local issues now and in the future.
Contributors to the WLF give a minimum of $250 each year ($100 for women younger than 25). The first half of contributions is pooled for the purpose of immediate annual grants, while the second half is pooled into the WLF’s endowment fund which provides additional grants to be made both now and in years to come. Prima Donors are local women who have contributed $10,000 or more to the WLF endowment and are committed to making an impact in their community through charitable giving.
To attend please RSVP by October 10 and purchase tickets, please visit floridacommunity.com and click on the Quick Link on the home page, or contact Sydney Roberts at (239) 274-5900 or [email protected]
 
About the Southwest Florida Community Foundation
The Southwest Florida Community Foundation, founded in 1976, cultivates regional change for the common good through collective leadership, social innovation and philanthropy to address the evolving community needs in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. The Foundation partners with individuals, families and corporations who have created more than 400 philanthropic funds. Thanks to them, the Foundation invested $6.3 million in grants and programs to the community. With assets of more than $126 million, it has provided $79.9 million in grants and scholarships to the communities it serves since inception. The Foundation is the backbone organization for the regional FutureMakers Coalition and Lee County’s Sustainability Plan. The Southwest Florida Community Foundation’s regional headquarters are now located in the historic ACL Train Depot at Collaboratory in downtown Fort Myers, with satellite offices located on Sanibel Island, in LaBelle (Hendry County). For more information, call 239-274-5900 or visit www.floridacommunity.com

FORT MYERS, Fla – September 12, 2018 – The Off Broadway Palm Theatre kicks off its season with Don’t Dress For Dinner playing now through November 10, 2018. Marc Camoletti’s wildly funny comedy was nominated for two Tony Awards and was a long running hit in London. Don’t Dress For Dinner is sure to serve up a night full of twists, turns and laughs!
When Bernard’s wife decides to visit her mother for a few days, he makes plans to spend a romantic weekend with his chic, new, Parisian mistress in his charming converted French farmhouse. He invites his friend Robert as an alibi, but when his wife finds out Robert will be in town, she changes her plans for a surprise tryst of her own. Throw in a cook with the same name as a mistress and an evening of sidesplitting confusion ensues as Bernard and Robert improvise at breakneck speed!
Directing Don’t Dress For Dinner is the Off Broadway Palm’s Artistic Director, Paul Bernier. Bernier’s directing credits include the hits Unnecessary Farce, The Savannah Sipping Society, The Dixie Swim Club and The Odd Couple, among many more. The cast includes Off Broadway Palm favorite Kelly Legarreta, most recently seen in The Savannah Sipping Society, along with Rachael Endrizzi, Michael H. Heath, John Keckeisen, Katie Pankow and Ken Quiricone.
Don’t Dress For Dinner is playing at The Off Broadway Palm Theatre now through November 10, 2018. The Off Broadway Palm is an intimate 100-seat theatre, located in the main lobby of Broadway Palm. Performances are Wednesday through Sunday evenings with selected matinees. Ticket prices range from $39 to $59 with group discounts available for parties of 20 or more. Tickets are now on sale and can be reserved by calling (239) 278-4422, visiting BroadwayPalm.com or in person at 1380 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.

Wynonna & The Big Noise to Perform at Seminole Casino Hotel
Saturday, Oct. 13
Jay Goldberg Events and Entertainment presents an evening with Wynonna and The Big Noise live in concert at Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee on Saturday, Oct. 13 at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Advance tickets are on sale now for $75 and are available at the casino, on jaytv.com or by calling 800-218-0007. Attendees must be 21 years of age. Respected by the millions of fans who are drawn to her music and undeniable talent, Wynonna’s rich and commanding voice has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide during her remarkable 34-year career. As one-half of the legendary mother/daughter duo “The Judds,” Wynonna was once dubbed by Rolling Stone as “the greatest female country singer since Patsy Cline.” The iconic performer has received more than 60 industry awards, with countless charting singles, including 20 No.1 hits such as “Mama He’s Crazy,” “Why Not Me,” and “Grandpa, (Tell Me ‘Bout The Good Ole Days).” Wynonna and her band The Big Noise, led by her husband/drummer/producer, Cactus Moser, released their debut full-length album in February 2016 via Curb Records to critical acclaim.
 
October 2018 Live Music Schedule
At Zig Zag Lounge
 
Performances are at the Zig Zag Lounge. No cover for live entertainment. TVs throughout the Zig Zag bar air sporting events and other entertainment. Zig Zag Lounge is Southwest Florida’s premier destination to catch your favorite teams during the NFL season. Entertainment is subject to change. For complete details, visit moreinparadise.com.
 

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, 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 recently renovated EE-TO-LEET-KE (“The Camp”) Grill. Seminole Casino Hotel’s nightlife 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. 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 private cabanas, 24-hour fitness studio and free Wi-Fi.
 
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 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/.

Local Roots commits to no plastic straws
 FORT MYERS, Fla. (Sept. 27, 2018) – As Fall approaches it means that local farmers markets will once again begin operation and for the 11^th year Local Roots will be operating five local markets come October.
In addition to their all-year market at the River District Farmers Market, open every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Local Roots will kickoff the season with their Lakes Park Farmers Market on October 3 that will be open each Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. until April 24. The market is located at 7300 Gladiolus Drive in Fort Myers. Parking is free for those attending the market.
The River District Farmers Market is located just under the U.S. 41 bridge on the corner of Heitman and West 1st Street next to Caloosahatchee River in Centennial Park in downtown Fort Myers. Parking is available under the bridge, street parking and in the nearby City of Palms Parking Garage.
Other markets beginning in October include Coconut Point, Bonita Springs and Sanibel.
On Oct. 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Coconut Point will host a weekly market until April 25 in the Panera Bread parking lot of Coconut Point Mall at 23106 Fashion Drive in Estero. The market will be closed on Thanksgiving but will open on Nov. 21 for attendees to stock up for the big day.
The Bonita Springs market will begin on Oct. 6 and run until April 27 from 8 a.m. to Noon at the Promenade at Bonita Bay at 26795 South Bay Drive in Bonita Springs.
Beginning on Oct. 7 until May 26, the Sanibel Island Sunday Farmers Market will take place from 8 a.m. til 1 p.m. at Sanibel City Hall located at 800 Dunlop Rd. The market will be closed on Veteran’s Day but will operate instead on Monday, Nov. 12.
Offerings at each market include:  Fresh produce, flowers, cheese, breads, BBQ, coffee, tea, pickles, pizza, farm fresh eggs, guacamole, soap, pasta, acai bowls, and lots of ready made foods to eat at the market or take home.
For the first time, all Roots Farmers Markets will implement a no plastic straws policy.
“Like our local islands and many other retail venues across the state, we have gone to no plastic straws,” said Betsy Ventura, who, along with Jean Baer, owns Local Roots, LLC and will run the market each week. “Plastic straws are a huge use of plastic waste and have a damaging impact on our environment. Plastic straws kill thousands of marine animals and seas birds and many rescued animals have ingested plastic.”
Baer and Ventura said that the goal of each of their markets is to strengthen the surrounding community by showcasing vendors who are selling produce and artisan products that are grown or produced locally. Products are packaged by owners in an environmentally friendly way, and the locations of markets are clean, safe and reflect a community atmosphere.
Local Roots manages eight seasonal markets in Lee County. The River District Farmers Market is their only market that runs all year.
For further information, contact the website at www.BuyLocalLee.com.

September 27, 2018 –FORT MYERS, FLA – Hodges University announced that Joshua Carcopa has joined as registrar for the university.
“Josh brings extensive university experience in strategic planning, management and operational expertise in student services,” said Dr. John Meyer, president, Hodges University.
Prior to joining Hodges University, Carcopa was the director of enrollment services at LPF Services in Lenexa, Kansas. In his more than 10 years of experience, his roles have included registrar, associate registrar, and transfer and prior learning assessment manager.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in English literature from the University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg before graduating with his master of business administration in international business from the University of Wales, Swansea, United Kingdom.
He is a member of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning.
Hodges University, a regionally accredited, private nonprofit institution founded in 1990, prepares students to leverage higher learning in their personal, professional, and civic endeavors. With over 10,000 graduates having a 93 percent rate of continued success in careers, Hodges is recognized for developing programs that are uniquely designed and delivered to serve a diverse adult learner population. With campuses in Naples and Fort Myers, Florida, Hodges provides flexible day, evening, and online classes taught by world-class faculty for undergraduate and graduate degrees. Hodges is also designated as a Hispanic serving institution, and is a member of the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU). More information about Hodges University is available at Hodges.edu.

SARASOTA, Fla., (September 27, 2018) – GATES Construction is pleased to announce the addition of Darryl Piearcy as Superintendent. Piearcy will be responsible for daily onsite supervision of GATES’ projects, including quality control, safety, security, project close out, and transition planning. He has over 20 years construction experience in multifamily, hospitals, government facilities, hotels, and commercial retail centers. Piearcy will be based out of GATES Construction’s Sarasota office.
Celebrating 25 years, GATES 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.

September 27, 2018 – Fort Myers, FL – October’s Art Walk honors downtown Fort Myers arts and culture! Celebrate 10 Years of Art Walk and the annual Dark Art exhibition with live music, interactive games, food, drinks, and performances. Take part on Friday, October 5th from 6pm – 12am. The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center is located at 2301 First St. in the historic downtown Fort Myers River District.
The October art shows open with a bang! The first floor Grand Atrium will feature Dark Art, a spooky and strange group art show presented by Syzygy. On the second floor, take part in 10 Years of Art Walk, celebrating downtown Fort myers decade of cultural development.
Outside SBDAC, attendees can enjoy performances from 6pm – 10pm. Experience a traditional Polynesian dance at 6:20pm. Then, at 6:40pm see a performance from Gulfshore Ballet. Afterward, City of Fort Myers officials and Rivier District partners will offer up some interesting info about downtown’s past and future. A fire spinning performance by Fiero will complement the evening’s music from Strange Arrangement, starting at 8pm.
Dark Art celebrates the weird, quirky, and macabre with performances and interactive entertainment in the Grand Atrium. Wicked Apple Art will be demonstrating a live body paint session on the main stage, while local artists like Dharma LeFevre paint live around the main gallery. There will also be tarot readings by Shelby Elmore throughout the night, plus an interactive escape room puzzle from Brainstorm Bonita. At 9pm, Pixel Winters and Company perform a dark, strange burlesque revue featuring some of your favorite local performers, like Kitty Purrl and Freckles Galore.
In the Capital Gallery, commemorate 10 Years of Art Walk. This exhibition pays tribute to the artists, businesses, and galleries that helped create one of downtown’s favorite monthly events. The exhibition features Claudia Goode and Annette Brown, Jamie Kuser and Kathy Kuser, Andy Howl, Jeff and Dale Ocasio, Christina Jarmolinski, David Acevedo, David and Lily Hackett, Brooke Anderson and Suzanne Brown, Marc Harris, Ollie Gentry, Terry Tincher, and Stephen Blancett. From 6pm – 8pm, hear music from a String Trio. Stick around for the after party from 10pm – 12am, featuring a Jazz Trio, hors d’oeuvres, and cocktails.
This is a city-wide event is not to be missed! To learn more about Dark Art or 10 Years of Art Walk, visit www.sbdac.com or call 239 333 1933.
Sponsored by Galeana Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram of Fort Myers
Friday, October 5, 2018
Dark Art | Grand Atrium: 6pm – 10pm
10 Years of Art Walk | Capital Gallery: 6pm – 12am
October Art Walk Celebration | Front Steps of SBDAC: 6pm – 10pm
$1 Donation Entry

Fort Myers, Florida — The law firm of Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., is pleased to announce that Attorney Austin Turner was appointed serve on The Florida Bar Environmental and Land Use Law Section (“ELULS”) Committee. The ELULS Committee studies proposed legislation affecting the use of land, assists with CLE programming to educate Florida lawyers, and facilitates discussions on innovative and emerging ideas pertaining to land use law.
Turner concentrates his practice in the areas of land use and environmental law. He counsels clients on land use entitlements, such as comprehensive plan amendments, Developments of Regional Impact (“DRIs”), variances, and other zoning related matters which commonly arise for property owners. Turner advocates on behalf of clients before agencies including the Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He also contributes to the firm’s Legal Scoop on Southwest Florida Real Estate blog.
Turner currently serves on the Management Committee for the Urban Land Institute (“ULI”) Southwest Florida District Council and the Leadership NEXT Committee for the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the local Real Estate Investment Society, Lee Building Industry Association, Lee County Bar Association, and Young Lawyers Division.
Turner received his undergraduate degree from the University of Central Florida (B.S.) and his law degree from the Florida State University College of Law (J.D., summa cum laude). He can be reached at 239.344.1178, or via email at [email protected].
Henderson Franklin is the largest, locally-based law firm between Tampa and Miami with over 55 attorneys dedicated to providing a wide range of legal services in the areas of business and tax planning, estate planning, family law, business and civil litigation, eminent domain, intellectual property, workers’ compensation, employment law, real estate, and land use and environmental law. Since 1924, Henderson Franklin has been assisting clients to build their homes, businesses, and communities in Southwest Florida. Henderson Franklin operates offices in Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, Naples and Sanibel Island. For more information on Turner or Henderson Franklin, please visit www.henlaw.com.

Busy South Fort Myers restaurant hiring for all positions
FORT MYERS, Fla. (Sept. 24, 2018) – While other restaurants have been scaling back in the off-season, Society is continuing to grow and is in immediate need of additional employees.
On Wednesday, October 3, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Society located at the Bell Tower Shops, will be hosting a job fair to interview potential employees. This modern American restaurant features multilevel dining and bar options from al fresco dining on the patio, banquette seating in the main dining area, the vibrant rooftop Treehouse with live music as well as their private dining spaces.
According to Brad Cozza, owner/partner of Society, they will be hiring for all including hosts, cocktail servers, servers and server assistants, bartenders, barbacks, dishwashers, back of house positions and more.
“With our expanded entertainment schedule and hours and our growing dining, private banquet and party business, we are in immediate need of additional friendly, qualified staff to help us meet the needs of our patrons,” said Cozza.
Society serves lunch daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with light bites available from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Dinner is served from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays with a late-night-bites menu available on weekend nights.
For more information, visit www.societyfortmyers.com or call 239-334-0900.