Member News

Fort Myers mayor Randy Henderson is hosting a complimentary breakfast for the community on Monday, December 16 from 7:30AM to 9:45AM at the Crowne Plaza Bell Tower to share updates about advances on crime.
 
The event schedule is:
 
7:30 AM, Meet & greet networking with breakfast buffet
8:15 AM, Program begins
9:30 AM, Audience Q&A and closing remarks
 
 
The Crowne Plaza is located at 13051 Bell Tower Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33907.
 
This event is complimentary, however reservations are required 

ORT MYERS, FL (Dec. 13, 2019) – As a tribute to at least 23 homeless individuals who have lost their lives while living on the streets or in shelters in Lee County this year, the Lee County Homeless Coalition will host its 23rd annual Candlelight Vigil on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. The community is encouraged to gather on the steps of the Old Lee County Courthouse located at 2120 Main Street in Fort Myers to mourn those who have passed. The memorial event is also intended to educate and inspire the public to support the community’s need for more affordable housing, shelters, living wages and accessible health care.
 
The Candlelight Vigil will include remarks by Lee County Homeless Coalition representatives, Janet Bartos, executive director, and Amy Davies, Board Chair. An opening prayer will be presented by Rev. Christian Maxfield of All Souls Episcopal Church. Taps will be performed by Harvey Charter, Commander Victor Paul Tuchman Post 400 Jewish War Veterans.
 
The Lee County Homeless Coalition is a nonprofit organization comprised of community and faith-based service providers, local businesses, people who are currently experiencing or who have experienced homelessness, and other advocates committed to ending homelessness. The Coalition’s mission is to advocate, educate and promote awareness of issues and obstacles facing homeless individuals in Lee County through community collaboration, planning, and implementing solutions.
 
To learn more about how you can help join the fight against homelessness, contact Janet Bartos at 239-322-6600. For more information on the Lee County Homeless Coalition, visit www.leehomeless.org.
 
-END-
 
Media Contacts:
Janet Bartos, Lee County Homeless Coalition, [email protected], (239) 322-6600
 
 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (December 13, 2019) – Calling all super heroes! Students, mentors and businesses are wanted!  Join LARC (Lee Association for Remarkable Citizens) for the 2^nd Annual Job-A-Palooza, the ultimate ‘speed-jobbing’ experience!  Job-A-Palooza will be held at Crowne Plaza Fort Myers Bell Tower, 13051 Bell Tower Dr., Fort Myers, FL 33907, on Saturday, January 18^th, 2020 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
 
At Job-A-Palooza, students ages 14 to 21 with disabilities can discover their superpowers and meet local employers while peer-mentors assist them in navigating this exciting job fair experience. Students will explore job skill stations from local businesses in industries such as retail, food service, administration, automotive and more. There will be demonstrations, friendly competition activities, awards and more.
 
“We could not be more excited about Job-A-Palooza,” said Angela Katz, LARC Development Director.  “Job-A-Palooza gives individuals with disabilities the opportunity to showcase their abilities to potential employers and for the employers to see how capable the individuals are.”
 
Job-A-Palooza is just one of the ways LARC helps people enter the workforce.  LARC’s Supported Employment program offers job seekers with job placement assistance, training and support to those who are hired.  Employment Specialists partner with businesses to discover and help create career opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
 
“LARC is a training center for success,” said Kevin Lewis, LARC Executive Director.  “When individuals receive the training and resources they need, capabilities naturally surface and lives change for the better.”
 
Space is limited and students must pre-register for the event by visiting www.larcleecounty.org or calling Pamela Jenkins at 239-334-6285 x226.  Through the generous support of the Arc of Florida and Vocational Rehabilitation there is no cost to participate and lunch is included.
 
Businesses can be super heroes by providing a work station to help students learn about work opportunities in our community, gain insight into their own potential, and be a part of the future workforce.
 
Mentors are needed to help students compete and develop job skills.  Mentors can earn a $100 Visa gift card.  Mentors must pass a Level II background check to participate.  To register or learn more about business and mentor opportunities, visit www.larcleecounty.org or call Angela at (239) 334-6285 x 229.
 
About LARC
 
Established in 1954, LARC Inc.’s mission is to empower and support individuals with disabilities and their families to reach their full potential. LARC is a 501(c)3 that provides programs and services for approximately 300 local men and women annually. The nonprofit offers youth programs, vocational training, community residential services, and a vast array of other state-of-the-art community inclusion services on a full-time, year-round basis.  LARC’s main campus is located at 2570 Hanson Street, Fort Myers, and has a satellite campus in Bonita Springs.  LARC also operates two Residential Group Homes located in Cape Coral and North Fort Myers.
 
 
 
 
 
 

At its meeting in Panama City Beach, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved several rule changes for spotted seatrout. Spotted seatrout are one of Florida’s most popular inshore fisheries. Based on the results of a recent stock assessment and after hearing concerns from anglers, FWC worked with stakeholders to create a suite of regulatory changes that would benefit the spotted seatrout as well as continue to provide quality fishing opportunities.
The following rules will go into effect Feb. 1, 2020:

• Creating two new zones by splitting the Northwest spotted seatrout management zone into the: (See maps below.)
  • Western Panhandle (Escambia County through the portions of Gulf County west of longitude 85 degrees, 13.76 minutes but NOT including Indian Pass/Indian Lagoon).
  • Big Bend (remaining portion of Gulf County plus Indian Lagoon, and Franklin County through Fred Howard Park Causeway in Pinellas County).
• Creating the renamed South Florida zone (Fred Howard Park Causeway in Pinellas County near the Pasco County line through Broward County) and Central East zone (Palm Beach through Volusia counties) by moving the boundary between the southern management zones. (See maps below.)
• Reducing bag limits
  • Western Panhandle: five to three fish.
  • Big Bend: no change (remains five fish).
  • South Florida: four to three fish.
  • Central East: four to two fish.
  • Northeast: six to five fish.
• Modifying the recreational slot size limit from 15-to-20 inches to 15-to-19 inches total length.
• Allowing one seatrout over 19 inches per vessel (currently per harvester).
• Prohibiting captain and crew from keeping a bag limit on a for-hire trip.
• Re-establishing the February recreational closure in the Western Panhandle zone and the November-December recreational closure in the Central East zone.
• Reducing the current daily commercial limits to 50 per harvester and 100 per vessel.
• Removing an unnecessary commercial reporting form.

Learn more about spotted seatrout by visiting MyFWC.com/Marine and clicking on “Recreational Regulations” and “Spotted Seatrout.”

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Dec. 12, 2019) — Over 1,100 toys sure to bring smiles to precious faces arrived in a caravan of vans and cars at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida on Dec. 10 thanks to the generous hearts of several Southwest Florida businesses.
MY Shower Door / D3 Glass organized a special toy drive and partnered with Golisano Children’s Hospital, CONRIC PR & Marketing, Brown and Brown Insurance of Fort Myers and Naples, Audi of Fort Myers, Kindleigh, Two39 Work Group and Tommy Bohanon Foundation to collect a variety of unwrapped toys for children of all ages. The Southwest Florida community also stepped up to contribute presents after several public service ads were provided for free by the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. The original goal of 500 presents was easily exceeded after MY Shower Door / D3 glass vice-president Keith Daubmann increased the ask to 1,000 presents.
The participating companies joined together to deliver the gifts to Golisano and carefully place them around the decorative Christmas tree in the main lobby. Chief Administrative Officer of Golisano Children’s Services Armando Llechu and many other Lee Health and Golisano employees were there to greet and take pictures with all of the people who made the special delivery.  Santa’s special helpers from Golisano were then delivering the toys to the hospital’s Snow Pile Room for grateful families to pick their special presents.
“The giving of these companies to bring joy to the children who deserve to have smiles on their faces is always heartwarming,” said Connie Ramos-Williams, president and founder of CONRIC PR & Marketing. “This is a special time of year and we love coming together to help make the holidays a little more special for others.”
“You feel wonderful and proud when people step up to help those in their own community,” said Bill Daubmann, president of MY Shower Door / D3 Glass.
The toy drive was in honor of Emma Larson, the infant daughter of MY Shower Door / D3 Glass company controller Jared Larson and his wife, Liz, a nurse at Gulf Coast Medical Center. Emma died two years ago from a rare birth disorder called trisomy 18 or Edwards syndrome. She spent nine days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Golisano before going home. She lived for 22 days.
“Jared and I are overwhelmed with gratefulness in keeping Emma’s legacy alive and being able to help so many families,” Liz Larson said. “In the Snow Pile Room, the parents get to go pick out presents for their children, in the hospital, and their children who are not in the hospital, to make sure they can feel that joy that’s so important, especially at Christmas time. And then, of course, this amazing hospital. It is just incredible.”
MY Shower Door / D3 Glass
MY Shower Door opened its first frameless shower door showroom in Naples in 2003, with manufacturing component D3 Glass starting in 2013. Since then, the company has grown to seven Florida showrooms with over 100 employees. MY Shower Door / D3 Glass is owned by the Daubmann family of Bill and Donna Daubmann along with sons Keith and Doug. The Daubmanns have been involved in the frameless shower door industry since the mid-1980s, revolutionizing the design, installation and marketing of their products and services. They have received local, regional and national recognition for their business accomplishments and products, including the “Business Ambassador” award from then-Gov. Rick Scott. MY Shower Door / D3 Glass was named the 2019 Industry Appreciation Award winner as Manufacturer of the Year. The company is also a four-time recipient of the INC 5,000 “Fastest Growing Companies in the United States.” For more information, email Bill Daubmann at [email protected] or call 239-689-8402.

Bear management facts:

1. Commissioners approved the updated Bear Management Plan, which reflects a comprehensive, science-based approach.
2. FWC staff will continue to focus on reducing human-bear conflicts by promoting the use of bear-resistant trash cans and removing bears that pose a safety threat.
3. There was no proposal to hunt, but it is an important tool in the toolbox for managing bear populations.
4. FWC staff will continue to explore options on population management in the future, knowing bear hunting could be added to an agenda by an FWC chairman.
5. FWC staff will continue education and outreach to the public in general and regarding human-bear conflict and population management.

“We’re proud to have approved a world-class plan for bear management in Florida,” said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Chairman Robert Spottswood. “This represents a comprehensive, science-based approach. We will continue to prioritize public safety while we manage bear populations”
What about a hunt?
While there was no proposal to hunt at the December Commission meeting, we can’t predict what a future Commission or Chairman might decide to do. Today, our Commission approved a world-class, science-based Bear Management Plan.

 Lane snapper will close Dec. 13-31 in Gulf of Mexico state waters. This closure is consistent with a similar closure in Gulf federal waters and is being done at the request of federal fishery managers. The closure is a result of information indicating the federal quota has been exceeded.
To learn more about the closure, visit Fisheries.NOAA.gov/bulletin/recreational-and-commercial-harvest-lane-snapper-federal-waters-gulf-mexico-will-close

At its December meeting in Panama City Beach, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) presented trophies to the first-place winners of the 2019 Lionfish Challenge. The Lionfish Challenge awards participants for their efforts in removing lionfish from Florida waters. Participants who remove the most lionfish are crowned the Recreational Lionfish King or Queen and the Commercial Champion.
In the recreational category, this year’s first-place winner and Lionfish King is Ken Ayers of Bay County with 1,194 lionfish removed. In the commercial category, this year’s first-place Commercial Champion is Joshua Livingston of Okaloosa County with 3,192.8 pounds.
“We are always amazed at the hard work and dedication of those who are actively removing lionfish from Florida waters,” said Eric Sutton, FWC executive director. “FWC cannot control the lionfish population alone, and it is your efforts that are at the heart of keeping lionfish populations in check. Thank you.”
Lionfish are a nonnative invasive species that have a potential negative impact on Florida’s native wildlife and habitat.
Also included this year was a new largest and smallest lionfish component, with prizes up to $3,000. Ron Surrency of Duval County had the largest lionfish at 434 millimeters (about 17 inches) and Nikkie Cox of Franklin County had the smallest at 37 mm (about 1 ½ inches).
Final Stats

• 23,451 lionfish removed.
• 349 people registered.
• 148 people submitted lionfish (134 recreational, 14 commercial).
• The Lionfish Challenge ran from May 18-Sept. 2.

Background
The Lionfish Challenge rewards harvesters with prizes for their lionfish removals. This year, participants who submitted the largest and smallest lionfish were eligible to receive up to $3,000 in cash prizes. The Lionfish Challenge could not be possible without support from the following sponsors: American Sportfishing Association, Yamaha Motor Company, Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County and National Marine Manufacturers Association. Thanks to these and the Lionfish Challenge Raffle sponsors including Florida Underwater Sports, Toothless Life, Lionator Pole Spears, Neritic Diving, Stream2Sea, ZooKeeper and Customatic Optics. Learn more at FWCReefRangers.com.
Facebook
Facebook.com/FWCReefRangers
Websites
FWCReefRangers.com
MyFWC.com/Lionfish

Note to Media: The tip-off party is set for the 47^th Annual Culligan City of Palms Classic. Sponsors, board members and media are all invited to Bahama Breeze for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres to celebrate the 47^th year of this outstanding tournament in Southwest Florida.
 
Another star-filled lineup of teams and players round out the field for this year’s tournament. Nine of the top 25 teams in the nation will take part, bringing with them seven of the top 25 players in the Class of 2020.
 
The tournament President Bill Pollock, Vice President Donnie Wilkie, Executive Director John Naylor, board members and sponsors will all be available for photos and interviews.
 
We look forward to seeing you there.
 
WHAT: Tip-off party for the 47th Annual Culligan City of Palms Classic
 
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
 
WHERE: Bahama Breeze, 14701 S Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers, FL 33912
 
WHY: To meet and greet sponsors, board members and media for the annual tournament that will take place Wednesday, Dec. 18 – Monday, Dec. 23 at Suncoast Credit Union Arena
 
CONTACT: Josh Milton, CONRIC PR & Marketing, 239-690-9840, [email protected]