Member News

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. (Nov. 12, 2019) – Shangri-La Springs, a historic property in downtown Bonita Springs, will share the bounty of its nearly 5 acre on-site organic garden with a rare plant, seed and produce sale Friday, Nov. 22 from 10 am. to 2 p.m.
The sale on the lawn in front of the main building will include:

• A variety of potted perennial vegetables, herbs and select fruit trees
• Select annual vegetable starter trays
• Seeds
• Fresh organic farm produce

All items will be sourced from the certified organic garden, which provides produce for the onsite restaurant, Harvest & Wisdom. Cash only prices will depend on the container size of the plants and range from $3 to $20. Limited quantities will be available. Call 239-949-0749 for information.
About Shangri-La Springs
Built in 1921, Shangri-La Springs offers a variety of unique services including a stately property with an organic garden, fitness studio, organic restaurant, full-service organic spa, gift shop and event and wedding venue rated GOLD in the Naples Daily News 2019 Best of Bonita/Estero. The Blue Zones Project recognized organization specializes in offering guests a nexus of beneficial practices, activities and engagement opportunities that include wellness classes, art shows and special programs. A range of natural and organic treatments and products including facials, massages, eucalyptus steam room, far infrared sauna and private garden lounge are offered at the Spa at Shangri-La Springs, which was rated SILVER for Day Spa in the Naples Daily News 2019 Best of Bonita/Estero. The organic farm-to-table restaurant Harvest & Wisdom, with an ever-changing menu crafted with produce fresh from the on-site garden, locally sourced organic proteins and organic beverages, is open Tuesday-Saturday for lunch. In addition, the historic property is undergoing interior renovations to open as a full-service boutique hotel that will feature 21 guest rooms, outdoor dining area and conference room in the Great House. Renovations are also underway for six guest rooms located in Villa Ascona, a building positioned near the property’s courtyard, perfect for spa weekends or bridal party accommodations. Shangri-La Springs is located at 27750 Old 41 Road in Bonita Springs. For more information call 239-949-0749 or visit www.ShangriLaSprings.com.

Fort Myers and Washington D.C. (Nov. 12, 2019) – Earn to Learn FL has announced Synovus as the Branded Wine Exclusive Sponsor for its 2020 Mentors of IMPACT recognition event on Feb. 19.

Mentors of IMPACT is an annual program that honors men and women at the pinnacle of their careers or community service who have elevated the lives of others through mentoring.

Synovus Financial Corp. is a financial services company based in Columbus, Georgia, with approximately $47 billion in assets. Synovus provides commercial and retail banking, investment and mortgage services through 297 branches in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee.

“Synovus has generously supported Earn to Learn FL since its inception, and the company’s commitment to our mission is one of the reasons we’ve been so successful,” said Brenda Tate, founder and CEO of Earn to Learn FL. “Contributions from Synovus and our other corporate partners have helped eliminate financial barriers to higher education for many students.”

Earn to Learn FL is a matched-savings program that offers personalized financial capability training and success coaching to students across Florida. The ultimate goal is for students to graduate with minimal or no debt.

Eight individuals will be recognized at the Mentors of IMPACT event: Alise Bartley, Ph.D. (Mental Health Crusader), Kellie Burns (NBC2), Joe Catti (FineMark Bank), Myra Daniels (Philanthropist), Gail Markham (Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Company, P.A.), Michael Martin, Ph.D. (Florida Gulf Coast University), Susan McManus (Champions for Learning) and Mark Stevens (Stevens Construction).

The Mentors of IMPACT reception will be held from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 19 at The Club at Mediterra, 15755 Corso Mediterra Circle in Naples. Individual tickets are $400 per person and can be purchased online at EarnToLearnFL.org, and include a cocktail reception, gourmet dinner, networking opportunities and a keynote address by Babcock Ranch Founder Syd Kitson, chairman and CEO of Kitson & Partners.

Additional sponsorship levels are still available and include reserved seating, media recognition and promotion in publications and at the event.

For more information, please visit EarnToLearnFL.com or email Brenda Tate at [email protected].

About Earn to Learn FL

Earn to Learn FL empowers low-to-moderate income students in Florida to earn college degrees and professional certifications with little or no debt through matched-savings, personalized financial capability training, and success coaching. Eligible students who establish a habit of saving for higher education can receive matching funds for financial assistance provided by Earn to Learn FL supporters committed to enhancing workforce development and the economic well-being of Florida communities. For more information, please visit EarntoLearnFL.org or call 239-908-0301.

WHO:  Alliance for the Arts
WHAT: On Saturday, Nov. 9, 2019, the Alliance for the Arts welcomed more than 300 artists, arts supporters, beer lovers and cultural philanthropists to its Arts On Tap Fundraiser. Arts On Tap, now in its third year, is a lively fundraiser for the Alliance for the Arts featuring the craft of local brewers and culinary artists.
Shattering internal goals, the event raised over $64,000. All funds directly support the Alliance’s mission to transform lives and improve our community through the arts. Since 1975, the Alliance’s year-round schedule of events have become a staple for the community through engaging gallery exhibitions, inspiring art classes from fine art life drawing to the art of beer-making and stimulating theatre productions that range from the classics to the cutting edge. Proceeds support a creative hub that spurs and supports self-expression, access and equity, imagination and individuality by connecting our community through the arts.
Partygoers enjoyed spectacular live entertainment from musician Jenny Ve as well as unlimited tastings from participating breweries and restaurants, Ciro Quintana’s Confessions of a Cuban Artist gallery exhibition, twisted pub games, a silent auction and a raffle.
Participating crafters include Big Blue Brewing, Coastal Dayz Brewery, Eight Foot Brewing, Fort Myers Brewing Company,  Millennial Brewing Company, Momentum Brewhouse, Palm City Brewing, and  Point Ybel Brewing Company.
This year included tasty treats from culinary favorites The American Grilled Cheese Kitchen, Downtown House of Pizza, KiKi’s Desserts, Kings Kitchen, Nice Guys Pizza, Seminole Casino Hotel and The Standard.
Arts on Tap is sponsored by Briers CPA, Custom Packaging and Products , Dorcey Law Firm, EnSite, GMA Architects & Planner, Owen-Ames-Kimball Company, Priority Business Solutions, Megan & Jon Romine, Seminole Casino Hotel and Winged Foot Title.
WHEN: Saturday, November 9, 2019 from 7 – 10 p.m.
WHERE:  Alliance for the Arts located at 10091 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33919
About Alliance for the Arts
The Alliance for the Arts is a nonprofit community visual and performing arts center located in the heart of Fort Myers, Florida. Since 1975, the Alliance has been committed to transforming lives and improving community through the arts. The Alliance campus and galleries are open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays, located at 10091 McGregor Boulevard just south of Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers. For more information, please call 239-939-2787, visit us at www.ArtInLee.org, find us on Facebook (www.Facebook.com/ArtInLee.org),  Instagram (@AlliancefortheArts) or follow us on Twitter (@ArtInLee).

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Nov. 11, 2019) – Blessings in a Backpack partnered with McLeod’s Construction, Paint & Restoration to pack more than 500 meals for local school children that otherwise may go hungry. The two organizations gathered on Thursday, Nov. 7 at McLeod’s offices to pack nutritious, kid-friendly meals for Franklin Park Elementary students to take home on the weekends, a time frame the federal free and reduced-price school lunch program doesn’t cover.
Along with McLeod’s Construction, Paint & Restoration; Lee County Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass and the Tommy Bohanon Foundation helped to make this event a huge success.
Blessings in a Backpack feeds more than 4,600 children in Lee and Collier counties. That number continues to grow with more donations. A tax-deductible donation of $100 provides a child with food on the weekends for an entire school year. The organization seeks volunteers and corporate partners as well. Visit blessingsinswfl.org to see how you can make a difference.
Blessings in a Backpack helps prevent hunger
Blessings in a Backpack steps up where federal aid stops by feeding children on the weekend. Every Friday afternoon, children receive packages filled with nutritious, kid-friendly, ready-to-eat food items. Students return to school every Monday morning with a full stomach and an eager mind. In partnership with Lee and Collier county schools, Blessings in a Backpack has helped dramatically improve test scores, reading skills, behavior and general health.
Kids are our future; you can help secure theirs. A $100 donation will feed a child for one full school year. Donations of all sizes are welcome through the donations portal at blessingsinswfl.org or via mail at P.O. Box 61402 Fort Myers, FL 33906. All contributions are tax-deductible.

FORT MYERS, FLA., November 6, 2019 – Angela Frink, APRN, of Physicians’ Primary Care of Southwest Florida has earned certification as a Certified Lactation Counselor.
The certification is awarded by the Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice to professionals who have demonstrated the necessary skills, knowledge and attitudes to provide clinical breastfeeding counseling and management support to families who are considering breastfeeding or have questions about lactation.
Frink completed 52 hours of training and passed an examination based upon her workplace competencies.
She assists pediatricians in the Cape Coral office of Physicians’ Primary Care of Southwest Florida at 1261 Viscaya Parkway.
Frink is a graduate of Florida Gulf Coast University, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing and her Master of Science degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
She has more than 12 years of nursing experience, including two years in management positions prior to earning her degree as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse, which is the new title for what was formerly known as ARNP.
Physicians’ Primary Care of Southwest Florida, a physician-owned and operated medical practice, was formed in 1996 by many long practicing local physicians and has grown to become the largest physician-owned primary care practice in Southwest Florida.
Offices are conveniently located in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and Lehigh Acres.  For more information, visit www.ppcswfl.com.
 
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FORT MYERS, Fla. (Nov. 8, 2019) – Zawyer Sports, owner of the Fort Myers Miracle baseball club and Jacksonville Icemen hockey team, as well as operator of spring training for the Minnesota Twins and Hammond Stadium, has announced a new management team for the growing company.

Andrew Kaufman, CEO of Jacksonville-based Zawyer Sports, has named Bob Ohrablo as president of Zawyer Sports. Ohrablo will oversee operations for both the Miracle and Icemen, as well as future Zawyer Sports business interests.

Ohrablo has 36 years of experience operating professional sports franchises and was a founding partner of the Orlando Solar Bears and Jacksonville Icemen hockey teams, which both compete in the East Coast Hockey League (ECHL). Prior roles include executive director of strategic partnerships for Visit Orlando, chief operating officer and managing partner for the Solar Bears, consultant with Whalers Sports and Entertainment, vice president of marketing for Laminate US, director of new business development for the Florida Panthers/Sunrise Sports and Entertainment, chief operating officer for the Syracuse Crunch, director of marketing for the Kansas City Blades, executive vice president for the Phoenix Roadrunners, sports information director for Binghamton State University and ticket manager for the New York Sets, which later became the Apples.

A Floridian for the past 19 years, Ohrablo earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Binghamton University and a master’s degree in business administration from Nova Southeastern University’s H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business.

“We will focus on continuing to create an affordable, family-friendly environment for Miracle fans in Southwest Florida while being a strong community partner for local organizations,” Ohrablo said. “I am proud of the work our team has accomplished in other markets and look forward to directing a long and exciting future of baseball in Fort Myers. I am also grateful for the support and encouragement we’ve received from our great partners, the Minnesota Twins.”

Kaufmann formed Kaufy Baseball, LLC in September 2018 before acquiring controlling ownership of the Miracle in January 2019. Kaufmann created SZH Hockey, LLC in May 2019 and acquired the Jacksonville Icemen in July 2019. Zawyer Sports is the corporation that oversees the two LLCs.

The Miracle are the Class-A Advanced Affiliate of the Minnesota Twins and have played at Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers since 1992. The team won Florida State League championships in 2014 and 2018, and claimed the first half division title in 2019 while averaging 1,909 fans per game for the season, third among 12 FSL teams.

The Icemen formed in 2017 and play in the South division of the East Coast Hockey League as an affiliate of the NHL’s Winnipeg Jets and AHL’s Manitoba Moose. Home games are played at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville. The Icemen qualified for the ECHL playoffs in 2019 and finished third in attendance among 27 teams in the ECHL, averaging 5,993 fans per game.

Chris Peters, formerly the president and general manager of the Miracle, has been promoted to vice president of corporate partnerships and baseball ventures for Zawyer Sports. He will oversee sponsorship sales and services for both Zawyer Sports teams.

Scott Einhorn, who directed day-to-day sales and marketing operations for the Icemen, will perform the same duties for both Zawyer clubs.

Lauren Muni, who was director of marketing for the Icemen, will fill a similar role and responsibilities for both Zawyer teams.

Additionally, Zawyer Sports has promoted Judd Loveland, the Miracle’s assistant general manager for the past two seasons, to the position of general manager for the Miracle. He will manage day-to-day operations for Hammond Stadium as well as team operations, and have a key role in all decisions impacting the Miracle franchise.

“By operating the two organizations as one, we are able to bring a diverse, talented leadership team to both organizations,” Kaufmann said. “Miracle fans are among the most loyal in all of minor league baseball, and I’m excited for what’s to come as we prepare for the 2020 season.”

Kaufmann created the name “Zawyer” by combining the first names of his two children, Zachary and Sawyer.

About the Miracle

The Fort Myers Miracle are the Class-A Advanced Affiliate of the Minnesota Twins and have played home games at Hammond Stadium since 1992. The Miracle won the 2018 Florida State League Championship, the team’s second title in five years, and won the first half division title in 2019. Notable Miracle alumni include Joe Mauer, Jose Berrios, Byron Buxton, Miguel Sano and Torii Hunter. Follow the Miracle online at MiracleBaseball.com or through its social media channels: Twitter (@MiracleBaseball), Instagram (fortmyersmiracle), Facebook (Fort Myers Miracle) and Snapchat (ftmyersmiracle). For questions or ticket information, call the Miracle at 239-768-4210.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Nov. 7, 2019) — Shell Point Retirement Community’s skilled nursing center, The Larsen Pavilion, recently earned multiple recognitions for its high quality of care and overall performance ratings by Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).

“We are honored to receive these rankings,” said Christy Skinner, senior director of healthcare at Shell Point. “It shows that our resident care and quality are among the best based on national and federal ratings, which are not easy to obtain. This is a major achievement, and we are proud to have earned these recognitions.”

Newsweek and global data research firm Statista Inc. evaluated more than 15,000 nursing homes to establish a ranking of “Best Nursing Homes” in the U.S. Factors included overall performance ratings, staffing, reputation and health inspections, as well as quality measures of resident care.

Among the 54 best nursing homes recognized in Florida, Shell Point ranked number four on the list.

U.S. News & World Report included Shell Point’s 219-bed Larsen Pavilion skilled nursing facility in its 2019-2020 Best Nursing Homes report, which is based on the community’s high performance ratings in short-term and long-term care, as well as patient satisfaction.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) credited The Larsen Pavilion with a coveted five out of five star rating overall, as well as five out of five stars in the categories of quality measures and staffing. The ratings provide potential residents and their families with an easy-to-understand assessment of nursing home quality, and to make meaningful distinctions between high- and low-performing nursing homes.

Located in the Waterside Medical Complex on The Island at Shell Point, the 219-bed Larsen Pavilion skilled nursing facility offers personalized and compassionate healthcare. The Larsen Pavilion also provides memory care for medical conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or stroke-related dementia. Its state-of-the-art Rehabilitation Center offers inpatient and outpatient rehabilitative and individualized therapy to the Southwest Florida community, as well as to Shell Point residents.

The Larsen Pavilion welcomes individuals from anywhere in Southwest Florida and is Medicare-approved. For information about admissions in the Larsen Pavilion or for outpatient services through Shell Point’s Rehabilitation Center, call 239-415-5432.

Shell Point Retirement Community, founded in 1968, is a nonprofit continuing care retirement community (CCRC) located along the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers, Florida, just two miles before Sanibel Island. Shell Point offers independent retirement living, assisted living, and skilled nursing in an active, resort-style environment for 2,500 residents. To learn more, visit www.shellpoint.org or call 1-800-780-1131.