Member News

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 3, 2018) – Shell Point Retirement Community continues the Concerts & Conversations program of its 2017-2018 Concert Series with a performance by cellist Evan Drachman at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25 at the Grand Cypress Room at The Woodlands at Shell Point. As part of the Concerts & Conversations program, guests can enjoy fellowship and a dessert reception with Drachman following the concert. The event is open to the public, with tickets available for purchase online at www.shellpoint.org/concerts or by phone at 239-454-2067.

Drachman possesses in abundance two qualities for which his grandfather, cellist Gregor Piatigorsky, was revered: the ability to make the cello imitate the human singing voice and, even more importantly, the ability to tell a story.

Born in Boston, Drachman studied at the Peabody Conservatory of Music and the New England Conservatory of Music. Since graduating from the Curtis Institute of Music in 1998, Drachman has appeared regularly as a soloist with orchestras, as well as giving recitals and chamber music performances across the United States. Internationally, he has performed in India, Great Britain, Sweden, Italy and Canada, also touring the Far East as a soloist with the Chinese-American Symphony during recitals in Hong Kong and Macau.

For this performance, Drachman will be accompanied by Victor Santiago Asuncion on the piano. Victor serves on the chamber music faculty of the Aspen Music Festival and School.

About Shell Point Retirement Community           

Shell Point Retirement Community, founded in 1968, is a nonprofit continuing care retirement community located in Fort Myers, Florida. Shell Point offers independent retirement living, assisted living, and skilled nursing care for its 2,400 residents in an active, resort-style environment. Lifestyle amenities include deep-water boating access, six public restaurants, a championship 18-hole golf course, and many other recreational and educational activities. Learn more at www.shellpoint.org or 1-800-780-1131.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 2, 2018) – More than 135 of the best synchronized skating teams in the Eastern Region will compete in Lee County for the U.S. Figure Skating 2018 Eastern Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships, taking place Jan. 17-20 at Germain Arena in Estero. This is Lee County’s first time hosting the championship event, which is expected to draw more than 2,000 skaters to Southwest Florida, including a local team from the Florida Everblades Figure Skating Club.

A popular discipline within U.S. Figure Skating and around the world, synchronized skating uses the same judging system as singles, pairs and dance. It is characterized by teamwork, speed, intricate formations and challenging step sequences. During the Eastern Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships, teams consisting of 8-20 skaters are contending in preliminary, pre-juvenile, open juvenile, open collegiate, open adult and open masters levels. Teams are vying for a spot in the 2018 U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships, which takes place in Oregon late February.

The event is anticipated to bring 8,000 competitors and spectators to Southwest Florida, generating an estimated 7,000 hotel room nights and $4 million in direct visitor spending.

Qualifying rounds will be held on Wednesday and Thursday leading up to the competition’s championship rounds, which will kick-off with an opening ceremony at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday. All teams will perform a free skate with required well-balanced program elements, and teams at the junior level will also perform a short program. For more details and the full event schedule, visit www.easternsynchrosectionals.com.

Daily and full-week admission is available online through Ticketmaster at www.germainarena.com. Daily tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for youth ages 6-12. Discounted rates are offered for seniors and active military, and admission is free for children under 5 years of age.

About Lee County Sports Development
Lee County Sports Development was created in 2003 to meet the growing demand for sports development in Lee County, and is recognized by the Florida Sports Foundation as one of the state’s 25 Regional Sports Commissions. The Lee County Sports Development office leads the recruitment and implementation of amateur and professional sports events and activities in Lee County, with the goal of providing economic impact to Lee County. Through local partnerships with Lee County Parks & Recreation and others, the Lee County Sports Development office provides services designed to address the needs of local, national and international sports entities including housing, access to venues, event management, transportation assistance, event promotion, marketing and local sponsorship opportunities. For more information, call 239-533-5273 or visit www.leegov.com/sports.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (January 2, 2018) – Pure Florida has launched a new website at www.PureFL.com. The mobile friendly website features easy navigation for booking reservations and fully integrates both locations in Naples and Fort Myers as well as the film consulting division, Marine Team Consulting International. To celebrate the website launch, Pure Florida is offering 15% off all experiences, excluding private charters, by entering offer code SAVE15 for online reservations experienced before February 15, 2018. Reservations for experiences with Pure Florida can be made online at www.purefl.com or by phone at 239-263-4949 for the Naples location or 239-919-2965 at the Fort Myers location.
Visitors to Pure Florida Naples location will enjoy cruising on the M/V Double Sunshine along the Gordon River out to the Gulf of Mexico and along the way enjoy historical and ecological narration of the area, wildlife sightings and entertaining stories about the gorgeous mansions along the way.  While Pure Florida cannot guarantee animal sightings in the wild, the captain will alert passengers to dolphins, eagles, manatee, native birds and more.Cruises set sail daily at 10 a.m., 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and sunset cruises departing one hour before sunset. Adult admission is $39.00 during the day and $42 for the sunset cruise. Children’s admission is $19.50 during the day and $21 for the sunset cruise. Drinks and snacks will be available for purchase on-board.
Also available in Naples are Coastal Calm Bay and Deep Sea Fishing.  Coastal Calm Bay fishing ($89 per adult and $59 per child) is great for a family with young children who want to capture the magic of fishing.  Pure Florida’s Deep Sea Fishing excursions ($99 per adult and no fare for children) are for the more adventurous fishing enthusiasts who love the open waters. Private fishing charters can go out as far as 60 miles offshore and shared fishing charters as far as 20 miles offshore.  All Pure Florida fishing excursions are full service.  All licenses, equipment and bait is available. Reservations for experiences at Pure Florida’s Naples location can be made online at www.purefl.com or by phone at 239-263-4949.
Guests in Naples can also enjoy a unique experience with a 3-hour Eco-Shelling Cruise to Keewaydin Island ($64 per adult and $44 per child).  This relaxing experience offers time on the island to collect island treasures, take in a walking tour with an experienced Pure Florida Captain, and time to dip your toes in the water.  Also, Jet Boat Odin Thrill Rides spin guests with 360 degree turns, with speeds up to 35 mph. This eco-experience is by far a favorite among the most adventurous. Jet Ski and Boat Rentals are also available to enjoy the waters at your own leisure.
Guests visiting Pure Florida Fort Myers will enjoy cruising past the beautiful Edison & Ford Winter Estates, Downtown Fort Myers and seeing wildlife native to the river islands and bird rookeries while enjoying narration on local history, wildlife and ecology provided by Coast Guard certified captains. While Pure Florida cannot guarantee animal sightings in the wild, the captain will alert passengers to dolphins, eagles, manatee, native birds and more. Adult admission is $32.50 during the day and $35 for the sunset cruise. Children’s admission is $16.25 during the day and $17.50 for the sunset cruise. Refreshments will be available for purchase on board.  Hurricane Deck Boat Rentals also available in Fort Myers as well.  Reservations for sightseeing, sunset tours and boat rentals with Pure Florida Fort Myers on M/V Edison Explorer can be made online at www.purefl.com or by phone at 239-919-2965.
About Pure Florida
Pure Florida is a water attraction company helmed by father-and-son duo Captains Lance H. and Harry Julian.  The company offers a variety of unique eco-excursions for its visitors that incorporate maritime history, tourism, sightseeing and entertainment. Pure Florida features 19 vessels for sunset and specialty cruises as well as boat and jet ski rentals, fishing charters, group events and educational field trips for schools and students from marinas in Naples and Fort Myers.
In addition to Pure Florida, the founders are also partners in Marine Team International and Pure Image Productions, providing professional marine consulting, television and video production and photography services. With a long history in maritime productions, Lance and Harry Julian have helped to create some of the most memorable water scenes in film production, with credits including “Titanic” and “Waterworld,” and television credits such as the reality show, “Survivor.” As the fourth and fifth generation working within the maritime industry, Lance and Harry Julian enjoy sharing their passion and expertise with fellow adventurers in the Southwest Florida area. For more information, visit www.PureFL.com or call its Naples location at 239-263-4949.

Bonita Springs, Riverside Park, January 28, 2018– From 10am-4pm, more than 8,000 SWFL Floridians and visitors will celebrate the best of all things plant-based in beautiful and sunny SWFL. This year’s VegFest promises to be the biggest and best yet with more food vendors, a kid’s area with activities, and inspiring, informative speakers including Gene Baur, from Farm Sanctuary, cooking demonstrations, and an appearance by local celebrity Morgan Wright, American Ninja Warrior.
During this day-long celebration, more than 100 exhibitors, partners, and sponsors will showcase a wide range of products, services and resources to help Floridians discover the joys and benefits of plant-based eating — for our health, the planet and animals.
VegFest attendees will have the opportunity to:

• Sample free delicious vegan cuisine
• Learn from expert chefs hosting cooking demos
• Meet adoptable animals from local animal rescues
• Hear from nationally renowned speakers
• Enjoy live performances from local musicians
• Participate in the Fitness Activities including yoga, tug of war and more

The event is free, family friendly and open to everyone, and the first 500 attendees get a free 2018 commemorative VegFest tote bag. Onsite parking is available and there is a free bike valet.
Sponsors for the SWFL Vegfest include: Lee Health; CHIP-Complete Health Improvement Program; The Blue Zones Project; Pyure Brands; Ada’s Natural Market; Prawn Broker; Markham Norton Mosteller Wrights & CO, PA;  Jason’s Deli; Natural Awakenings and Whole Foods

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 1, 2018) – Leadership NEXT, a professional organization for advancing business leaders in Southwest Florida, brought to you by the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, will kick off the year with a special tour of the new Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. The program will take place on Jan. 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. at 9981 S. HealthPark Drive in Fort Myers
Having opened in the spring of 2017, Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida is the only acute care children’s hospital between Tampa and Miami. The 292,000-square-foot state-of-the-art pediatric center of medical excellence offers 128 patient beds throughout its seven-story tower to serve children and families from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. Made possible after a successful $100 million capital campaign, Golisano Children’s Hospital is often referred to as “the hospital the community built”.
Attendees of the program should arrive in the main lobby for opening remarks by Armando Llechu, chief administrative officer for Golisano Children’s Hospital, followed by tours of the Hematology & Oncology Center, Pediatric Intensive Care, and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
After the tour, guests are invited to a garden networking reception with refreshments compliments of program sponsor, HBK CPAs & Consultants.
Leadership NEXT is free to attend for members of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce and $10 for future members. All guests are highly encouraged to register in advance at www.fortmyers.org and should bring a valid driver’s license for check in upon arrival.
Leadership NEXT is a premier networking group for advancing professionals in Southwest Florida. More than 50 guests representing a variety of businesses and industries throughout the region regularly attend the monthly programs designed to provide valuable information and foster collaborative working relationships. Programs take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month. The location will change every month based on the program topic. Follow “Leadership NEXT” on Facebook to learn more.
About the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce:
The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, Inc. represents over 900 businesses, professionals, and individuals throughout Lee County. The Chamber provides opportunities for members to network with other business people, participate in meaningful committee work, become better educated through various Chamber-sponsored programs and communicate one-on-one with community leaders. Ten percent of all membership dues are returned to the community for education-related projects, scholarships, and workshops. To learn more, visit www.fortmyers.org.

This year will be our 16th Annual Gumbo Fest here at The Shell Factory & Nature Park. It will take place Sunday January 28th 11 am – 6 pm. As always there will be Free Admission to the festival. Live Zydeco music all day, Tons of festival food, Vendors of all types, Children will receive free admission to the Nature Park with a paid adult, and more fun for the whole family. Proceeds benefit The Nature Park Education Foundation. Presented by Sam Galloway Ford.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 2, 2018) – Stevens Construction has completed construction management services for a 41,432-square-foot, multi-specialty medical office for Lee Health, announced Mark Stevens, company president.

Developed by Summit Management Group of Naples, Lee Health is leasing the four-story medical facility, which houses a convenient care on the first floor, cardiology on the second and third floors, infectious disease services on the third floor and pulmonary on the top floor.  Located at 13340 Metro Pkwy., all offices are now welcoming patients.

Completed via the tilt-wall method, the medical office features a contemporary design with a porte-cochere entry accented with porcelain tile. The project was completed with a tight schedule and delivered to the client in less than a year.

The Stevens Construction team includes Mike Brooks as project manager, JJ Slaugh as lead superintendent, Joe Luft as assistant superintendent and Sue Ziegenfus as project administrator.  GMA Architects was the architect of record. Studio+ provided the interior design.

With offices in Fort Myers, Orlando and Tampa Fla., Stevens Construction specializes in providing construction management, general contracting, and consulting services to clients and design professionals. Other services include site and design team selection, budgeting, project scheduling, permitting, cost and quality control, and warranty service. The company builds commercial, healthcare and hospitality facilities. For information, visit www.stevensconstructioninc.com or call 239-936-9006.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (December 29, 2017) — on January 17, children and their parents are invited to be some of the first to test the new activities in the Smithsonian Spark!Lab at Edison & Ford Winter Estates for national Kid Inventors’ Day. The event will run from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and offers free admission to the museum.
The Edison “Wild Wizards” will start the event with a series of interactive science experiments and presentations. Afterward, guests will be invited inside the museum to experiment in the Spark!Lab. The lab is a hands-on, interactive exhibit for families and children with five different invention stations. The new activities include “Invent-A-Vehicle,” “Flying Machines,” and “High Wire Driver.” Groups and individuals alike can have fun inventing at each station.
In the activity “Invent-A-Vehicle,” visitors first sketch and then build a vehicle out of reusable materials and components. The activity encourages collaboration, imaginative play and even real functional testing.
At the “Flying Machines” station, visitors engineer flying objects using various construction materials. The inventions are then tested and tweaked to improve the distance or height achieved during flight. Challenge cards encourage visitors to create inventions that fly like a rocket, bird, airplane or hot air balloon.
“High Wire Driver” is an activity where visitors use a variety of building supplies and simple motors to invent devices that can roll along a cable, suspended above a table or work surface. This station allows participants to create imaginative high wire driving cameras, cable cars or even an overhead cash carrier.
Kid Inventors’ Day celebrates children’s achievements and encourages creativity. The date, Benjamin Franklin’s birthday, honors the childhood inventor who invented swim flippers when he was just 12 years old. Other notable childhood inventions include the popsicle, trampoline, ear muffs and Braille.
Thomas Edison, another childhood inventor, created a lab in his parent’s basement when he was just 10 years old. He often took things apart to see how they worked. When he was 12, he started publishing a newspaper and sold the publication to train passengers.
The Smithsonian Spark!Lab encourages children of all ages to be creative and think like an inventor. Edison Ford is one of only nine museums in the country to have a Spark!Lab. For more information, visit EdisonFordWinterEstates.org or call 239-334-7419.