Member News

(Fort Myers, FL) Called “One of the most unique theater troupes in the country.”  by Good Day Atlanta, and direct from its ongoing sold out performances in multiple cities and states and 6 months of online streaming performances, Victorian Horror Troupe Phantasmagoria is proud to bring the eleventh main stage installment of their long running critically acclaimed series, to the 2020 Halloween Season, their first ever Virtual Online Theatre Event!
The brand-new PHANTASMAGORIA XI “Plague Tales” thunders onto the virtual stage with 5 newly told Tales of Terror!  Haunted Storytelling, “Phantastical” dance, explosive stage combat, puppetry, projections, Fire Dancing, Aerial arts and much, MUCH more combine to create a tapestry of elegant and whimsically macabre horror!
Join Phantasmagoria’s evocative troupe of storytellers, dancers, and chorus as they embark on their all new dark journeys through literary tales of terror, horrific folk stories, legends, and myths. From Edgar Allan Poe to Robert Louis Stevenson, to a mythical Plague Maiden and more this show is sure to set the tone for a truly Phantasmagorical Halloween season!
NOTE: Elements of horror – Recommended for children 8 and up.  
Ticket price is $20* and will be available online at www.bbmannpah.com.
*Ticket price does not include processing fee and sales tax
PHANTASMAGORIA XI “Plague Tales” will begin their Virtual Online Theatre Event performances mid-October in a variety of online venues. The virtual tour will include varied counties in Florida and across the US, with YOU the audience able to choose which venue and dates you wish to view and support! (Since it is Virtual and online you can get your tickets through ANY of them!)  Each venue will share in the box office as well as a portion of the proceeds from each venue going to a designated charitable organization.
SHOWINGS AND DATES OF VIDEO STREAMING:
IN FLORIDA
Orlando, FL/Orange County @ Phantasmagoria Oct 15 – 18 (Premiere)
Tampa, FL/Hillsborough County @ The Tampa Theatre Oct 15 – 18
Ocala/Marion County @ The Reilly Arts Center Oct 22-23
Sanford, FL/Seminole County @ The Wayne Densch PAC Oct 23 – 24
Eustis/Lake County @ Bay Street Players Oct 24 – 25
Coral Springs, FL/Brevard County @ Coral Springs Center for the Performing Arts Oct 29 – 31
Fort Myers, FL/Lee County @ Barbara B. Mann PAH Oct 29-31
Ticket price is $20* and will be available online at www.bbmannpah.com.
*Ticket price does not include processing fee and sales tax
Deland, FL / Volusia County @ The Athens Theatre Oct 31^st (With Live showing and appearance)
(NOTE: For info and ticket links as they go live visit www.phantasmagoriaorlando.com)
TICKETS: Ticket pricing may vary based on specific venue and will be available on a per household/device basis. A percentage of sales to go to charities chosen by Phantasmagoria and the individual Venue.
TO FIND OUT MORE VISIT PHANTASMAGORIA:
www.facebook.com/PhantasmagoriaOrlando
www.phantasmagoriaorlando.com
Twitter and Instagram: @phantasorlando

(Fort Myers – October 8, 2020) – The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center is seeking organizations and individuals to participate in the Bountiful Blessings Thanksgiving Outreach.  Since 1999, the program has provided the ingredients so families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood can make a traditional Thanksgiving meal in their own homes to share with their families.  In 2019, partner agencies, businesses, philanthropic organizations and more than 100 volunteers provided turkeys and groceries to more than 300 families benefitting approximately 1,500 unique individuals.
“Holiday memories often center around a meal; the joy of preparation and being together as a family,” said Kathryn Kelly, president and CEO of The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center. “But, purchasing the ingredients for a holiday meal can be a large financial burden for many.  Thanks to the generous support of our neighbors, we are able to provide that experience for the families in the Harlem Heights community.”
300 turkey are being provided for the outreach.  Golisano Children’s Hospital is donating 225 turkeys and Gecko Hospitality is donating 75.
The greatest need is for rice, canned vegetables (green beans, peas, corn and mixed vegetables) or monetary donations to purchase those items. Additional food items needed include canned yams, boxed stuffing, boxed potatoes, boxed corn muffin mix, canned gravy, cranberry sauce and cake mix.
Donations can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. until Wednesday, November 18.  The outreach event will be held on Saturday, November 21. COVID safety precautions will be in place. The Heights Center is located at 15570 Hagie Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33908.
Volunteers are needed on Friday, November 20 and Saturday, November 21. Contact Melissa Barlow at (239) 482-7706 or [email protected] to sign up for a time slot.
Organizations and individuals interested in donating can contact Melissa Barlow at (239) 482-7706 or [email protected].
All donations are tax deductible.  Monetary donations can be made on the web at www.heightsfoundation.org/donate.
About the Heights Foundation and the Heights Center
The Heights Foundation works to build self-sufficient families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood.  The mission is to support education and wellness, promote family and community development, and provide the benefits of enrichment and the arts.  The Heights Center, supported by The Heights Foundation, is a place for Education, Opportunity, and Enrichment.   GLAD Kids is a child care and pre-k center serving more than 80 children birth-five.  The Harlem Heights Community Charter School serves kindergarten through fifth grade.
Harlem Heights was originally settled as a rural agricultural community.   Approximately 780 children live in a mixture of single-family homes and multi-family apartments. Demographically, the population is approximately 70% Hispanic, 20% African-American, and 8% Caucasian. The poverty rate for children in Harlem Heights is more than twice the county average, with family income 40% below the county average. Families are not able to easily access family support services located in downtown Fort Myers, and benefit greatly from programs located within the neighborhood.

Fort Myers, Florida — Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., is pleased to announce that attorney David Ledermann has joined the firm’s Business & Tax Department. He will be based out of the Fort Myers office.
Ledermann brings twenty-plus years of experience in the employee benefits field. His representations involve tax-qualified retirement plans and nonqualified deferred compensation arrangements, as well as group health plans and other employer-provided welfare benefit plans. He addresses benefits issues from plan design, drafting and implementation to dealing with the complexities of benefits programs in the context of business mergers, acquisitions, reorganizations and other transactions.
A significant part of Ledermann’s practice involves advising clients concerning compliance with the myriad complexities of the two principal federal laws affecting the provision of employee benefits, ERISA (the Employee Retirement Income Security Act) and the Internal Revenue Code. He is well versed in the requirements and application to employers of the Affordable Care Act. Ledermann also assists organizations with the recruitment and retention of executive and managerial talent through various forms of deferred compensation arrangements. As necessary, he represents clients before government agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service, the United States Department of Labor and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
Ledermann attended Oakland University (B.S., magna cum laude) and Michigan State University (M.S., Physics) before earning his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School, and subsequently, an advanced degree from the University of Miami School of Law (LL.M., Taxation). He is admitted to practice in Florida, Pennsylvania and Michigan. He may be reached at 239-344-1192 or by email at [email protected].
Henderson Franklin is the largest, locally-based law firm between Tampa and Miami with 60 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, and Naples. For more information about Ledermann or Henderson Franklin, please visit www.henlaw.com or connect with us on social media on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram.

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. (Oct. 2, 2020) — The Shell Factory & Nature Park will host the CrocaGator National Bullying Prevention Month Event to encourage children to speak up, reach out, and be a friend. On Saturday, October 17^th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., FREE admission for kids into the Nature Center! Must be accompanied by an adult.
Activities for school-age guests include:

• Tie dying a CrocaGator shirt
• Sidewalk chalking and poster signing anti-bully pledges
• Taking pictures with and receiving autographs from CrocaGator Sonny
• Free slice of pizza for all children that participate (while supplies last)
• Free Anti-Bullying bracelet with a secret message
• Viewing a plant project donated by World Farms in Naples
• Face painting
• Sitting in on a book reading of “You’re a Bullied CrocaGator” (occurring every 30 minutes)
• Meeting the “You’re a Bullied CrocaGator” author Kenny Rager (complementary anti-bullying bookmarker)
• Discounts from The Shell Factory throughout the day

Throughout the day, the Nature Park & Environmental Education Foundation and You’re a CrocaGator will host this FREE family event!  Give a small donation and receive a plant of your choice. Meanwhile, The Shell Factory will provide giveaways and event participation bracelets to all children as well as raffle off a one-on-one encounter with a sloth, under the supervision of a park trainer.
The Shell Factory asks children to wear orange to support National Bullying Prevention Month, as it is inspired by a nationwide campaign that brings bullying prevention to the forefront. Founded in 2006 by PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, it is now recognized by hundreds of schools and organizations via educational and awareness-related activities every October.
For more information, visit ShellFactory.com. Call 239-738-1327.
About the Shell Factory & Nature Park
Recently celebrating its 80^th anniversary, The Shell Factory & Nature Park has been entertaining children and the young at heart, with something for everyone. The sought-out attraction provides a full day of fun, including amusement-style rides, arcade games, 50,000 square feet of gift shops and much more. The Nature Park offers over 400 critters, birds, reptiles and fish, with a variety of critters from an armadillo to a zebra. Visit ShellFactory.com.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (October 7, 2020) – As we now get more accustomed to the new norms under COVID-19, business leaders must effectively work to manage the learning function of their organizations rather than react to the day-to-day changes of the pandemic. This month’s Association for Talent Development (ATD) webinar on Wednesday, October 28 from 12 -1 p.m. will bring to the forefront the key to effective learning management.
When leading all or portions of a learning organization, it is easy to be pulled in many directions by stakeholders and corporate initiatives. Susan Minaya, COO and Chief Learning Strategist of Minaya Learning Global Solutions, will be speaking on how to develop and leverage a learning strategy to manage the learning function. It is also a tool for building stakeholder collaboration and managing learning expectations.
Susan’s presentation aligns with two domains of the ATD Capability Model:  Impacting Organizational Capability and Building Personal Capability.
After the session, attendees will be able to:

• Explain the value of a learning strategy,
• Identify what type of learning strategy is needed for the organization,
• Develop a needs assessment plan to inform the strategy and
• Leverage the strategy to plan and managing learning with business stakeholders.

Registration for this online program is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Members are allowed one guest for free. Students are $10. Register online at: www.atdswfl.org. Deadline to register is Tuesday, October 27. This session is eligible for 1 ATD Educational Credit.
 About Association for Talent Development Southwest Florida Chapter (ATDSWFL)
Association for Talent Development Southwest Florida Chapter (ATDSWFL) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization established in 1990 and dedicated to the advancement of the learning and development profession and its practitioners. For more information about ATDSWFL or becoming a member, please visit www.atdswfl.org.

(Fort Myers, Fla. – October 6, 2020) — The Heights Foundation fifth annual benefit golf tournament “Swing Fore The Kids” at Old Corkscrew Golf Club raised $50,000 for The Heights Foundation’s programs..  The programs work to build strong, self-sufficient families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood of Fort Myers.  The event included lunch, after golf hors d’oeuvres, auction and awards. Sponsors included Five County Insurance (presenting sponsor) and Entech.
Marshall Crosby, Mike Claman, Butch Moore and Matt Verrecchia were the flight one winners.  Doug Johnson, Ryan Atwood, Ryan Smith and Steve Palmer were the flight two winners.
“The poverty rate for children in Harlem Heights is more than twice the county average,” said Jim Sanger, Chief Operating Officer of The Heights Foundation.  “This tournament supports programs at The Heights Center including School Success and our enriching summer camp.”
The Heights Center is located at 15570 Hagie Drive, Fort Myers 33908.  For more information call (239) 482-7706or visit www.heightsfoundation.org.
About the Heights Foundation and the Heights Center
The Heights Foundation works to build self-sufficient families in the Harlem Heights neighborhood.  The mission is to support education and wellness, promote family and community development, and provide the benefits of enrichment and the arts.  The Heights Center, supported by The Heights Foundation, is a place for Education, Opportunity, and Enrichment.   GLAD Kids is a child care and pre-k center serving more than 80 children birth-five.  The Harlem Heights Community Charter School serves kindergarten to fifth grade.
Harlem Heights was originally settled as a rural agricultural community.   Approximately 780 children live in a mixture of single-family homes and multi-family apartments. Demographically, the population is approximately 70% Hispanic, 20% African-American, and 8% Caucasian. The poverty rate for children in Harlem Heights is more than twice the county average, with family income 40% below the county average. Families are not able to easily access family support services located in downtown Fort Myers, and benefit greatly from programs located within the neighborhood.

October 6, 2020, Fort Myers, FL – PureNative is a Premium Hemp Extract company from Fort Myers, Florida that is breaking the current market barriers as the company grows, formally introducing Carson Brock as the Business Development Director. Carson Brock is bringing his strong and diverse skill set from Music City, his hometown, to beautiful Southwest Florida.
Cole Peacock, Co-Founder stated “We are excited to bring Carson’s talent to the team. Carson’s skills were exactly what we were looking for to continue to grow the company as industry leaders .Pure Native is excited to expand into new markets with new partnerships, our ambassador program, new product lines all while maintaining a focus on health and wellness.”
Carson Brock, PureNative Director of Business Development stated, “Pure Native is set for rapid growth by marrying premium products, vision, and leadership in the CBD industry. At Pure Native, I get to work with smart and talented people and creatively collaborate in creating a memorable and versatile brand. I am grateful for the opportunity to apply my years of sales and leadership experience to this company.”
PureNative lifestyle brand has rolled out Seed & Bean Market’s most unique products such as Vitamin C or Melatonin gummies infused with fast absorbing NANO-CBD. Both PureNative and Seed & Bean Market are founded by the same group of business and cannabis enthusiasts. Co-founder, Cole Peacock is also a member of Florida’s Inaugural Hemp Advisory Committee, giving the group of professionals a political edge to help promote safe standards for hemp in the state of Florida.
Link to spending the day with Holly Bell: https://seedandbeanmarket.com/seed-bean-market-of-c3-spent-the-day-with-holly-bell-floridas-director-of-cannabis/

Fort Myers, Fla (October 6, 2020) – The US Sailboat Show would have kicked off in Annapolis, MD, on October 8 but like most events in 2020 that attract a large audience, the Show has been postponed until October 2021. However, Offshore Sailing School’s founder/owners Steve and Doris Colgate are pleased to announce their company’s 2020 Boat Show Bonanza just launched, with up to 20% savings on select courses at three locations on Florida’s Gulf Coast. This limited-time offer is available for new course enrollments aboard Colgate 26 sailboats and 40’-50’ monohull yachts.
The promotion runs the duration of the original US Sailboat Show dates, with discounted courses available for enrollment from October 5 to Monday, October 12, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. ET. The Boat Show Bonanza requires that two students enroll together in same course with 20% savings on 5-day Learn to Sail; the company’s most popular Fast Track® to Live Aboard Cruising; and Live Aboard Cruising Courses on Captiva Island, Fort Myers Beach, and St. Petersburg, Florida. Resort accommodations are available but not required to take advantage of these savings. Private Couple and “Buy-the-Boat” packages are available with 15% savings. These types of bookings offer comfort knowing it will just be your family (up to five members) with our instructor aboard the boat. Learn more.
The company’s Colgate 26 sailboat is also part of the Boat Show Bonanza, with 10% savings on a new Colgate 26 daysailer ordered by October 31, 2020. Plus, new Colgate 26 sailboat buyers will receive a complimentary barrier coat and bottom paint job (an additional $2,995 value!).  Learn more.
All four of Offshore Sailing School’s Florida locations are open.  The Government of the British Virgin Islands, where Offshore Sailing School has two additional locations, on Scrub Island and at The Moorings base on Tortola, just announced last week that it will reopen its borders to tourists on December 1, 2020 (travel requirements/protocols have not yet been announced by the BVI Government). The border has been closed to visitors since early March 2020. Offshore Sailing School plans to resume operations at its Caribbean base, Scrub Island, BVI, on January 1, 2021.
Offshore Sailing School teaches a maximum of four students or a family of five together aboard its fleet of Colgate 26 sailboats, and 40’-50’ cruising yachts, sailing and power catamarans. Offshore Sailing School’s US Sailing-certified instructors will follow all CDC guidelines and its classrooms and fleet of boats will continue to be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized before each use.
Steve and Doris Colgate relocated their company’s headquarters to South Fort Myers, Florida, from New York in 1975 and now operate four sailing school locations on Florida’s Gulf Coast and two more in the British Virgin Islands. Offshore Sailing School has taught more than 150,000 adults and families how to sail and powerboat safely and competently for the past 56 years. Offshore Sailing School was founded by Olympic and America’s Cup sailor Steve Colgate in 1964. Steve was inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame in 2015. Steve and his wife Doris Colgate have written many books on sailing, racing, and bareboat cruising, and are considered the preeminent authorities for sailing education. For more information, visit www.OffshoreSailing.com or call 800-221-4326.

Ft. Myers, FL – Seed & Bean Market prioritizes wellness through CBD, a health-conscious diet, community and now yoga. The wellness lifestyle focused market has rolled out a 6 class yoga schedule for the next 12 weeks with instructor Kaylie Beech. Yoga offers the opportunity to learn many lessons like unity, clarity, and discipline through asanas (posture), pranayama (breathe) and dhyana (meditation).
Learn more on our website: https://seedandbeanmarket.com/yoga-at-seed-bean-market/
Every other Tuesday evening, starting on October 6^th, customers are invited to join the practice of wellness both physically and mentally. Classes begin at 6pm and are one hour long costing only $10. All attendees will also receive $10 CBD retail coupon to use that night and or enjoy samples, CBD mocktails or indulge on our happy hour special.
Tuesday, October 6th 6-8pm
Tuesday, October 20th 6-8pm
Tuesday, November 3rd 6-8pm
Tuesday, November 17th 6-8pm
Tuesday, December 1st 6-8pm
Tuesday, December 15th 6-8pm
About Seed & Bean Market:
Seed and Bean cultivated into reality in 2018 in Ft. Myers, Florida. Seed and Bean is first CBD Marketplace of its kind and while we are innovators in the marketplace with an awesome niche, we are dedicated to offering only the highest quality and tested products, creating a chill atmosphere, making sure our customers become part of our family and imploring our philosophy of giving back and becoming part of the fabric of our community.
 

Fort Myers, Fla. (Sept. 29, 2020) – Sarasota-based construction management firm, Firmo Construction, has been hired to build a new Hampton Inn by Hilton in Fort Myers. In partnership with hospitality and development group, HOS Management, from Savannah, Ga., the two companies will bring decades of experience with the Hilton brand to deliver a dynamic and modern, pandemic and tourist safe hotel to the heart of downtown Fort Myers.
“Firmo is excited to partner with this leading hotel development team to bring the Fort Myers area a new hospitality opportunity. Though the industry has had its setbacks this year, our team is ready to bring the construction and technology expertise needed to safely and efficiently deliver this hotel, which will help promote tourism and hospitality in our region,” said Eric Collin, President of Firmo Construction. “And with multiple completed Hilton builds in the Gulf Coast, I’m excited to continue our relationship with the Hilton brand.”
The future four-story Hampton Inn will be located on downtown Fort Myers’ traffic artery, Cleveland Avenue, and will feature 118 rooms, an outdoor pool and patio area, a flexible boardroom for use, and a fitness center available for guests. Situated on a two-acre lot, the 65,000 square foot building will be an infill lot development that will take about one year to complete before it opens to guests.
Firmo Construction and HOS Management will work alongside, architecture and engineering team, Base4, and civil engineering team, Morris Depew, to bring this new hospitality and tourism opportunity to completion. Building Information Modeling (BIM) capabilities have been applied to the entire design of the project, which means that virtual reality (VR) and 3D Lidar scanning will be used to review designs throughout construction, resulting in a finished hotel that brings the plans to life.
“We’re excited to partner with Firmo Construction on this future Hampton Inn, and bring a new opportunity for hospitality to the City of Fort Myers,” said Krishan Gandhi, Vice President of Development of HOS Management. “It has always been our mission to foster a warm and welcoming atmosphere for all our properties, and we’re excited to bring that same mindset to our Fort Myers neighbors, future guests, and community.”
Construction on the property will begin in October after a virtual groundbreaking ceremony, the first to happen in the city of Fort Myers, on the morning of Thursday, October 15 at 9am. The groundbreaking will be a small, socially distant gathering that will be livestreamed to the public on Facebook and will welcome neighboring businesses and local media in person. The hotel’s stakeholders and Firmo Construction will also be available to answer questions about the future hotel and give previews of renderings.
Link to the virtual groundbreaking: https://www.facebook.com/events/719410088787688
3D rendering: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/rhjc6bc9g7uyw5l/AAAvIqbkiqin3zvgOaw2ol3ta?dl=0
 
About Firmo Construction
Established in 2003, Firmo Construction is a fully integrated design-build firm and licensed general commercial contractor in more than 15 states. Headquartered in Sarasota, Florida, the firm’s mission is to deliver the client’s vision by elevating each project to its fullest potential through innovative solutions. An early adopter of USGBC’s LEED system, Firmo’s committed team of professionals began implementing sustainability and efficiency practices into projects when the program was still in its infancy. The team continues to evolve with that progressive mindset today, remaining industry leaders in design and building technology. For more information, visit: www.firmoconstruction.com.
 
About HOS Management
HOS Management is a second-generation Savannah hospitality and development group with over 30 years of industry experience managing a diverse collection of iconic hotel brands, including Hilton, Choice, IHG and Marriott, throughout the Southeast region. Founded by brothers Anil and Kirit Patel, the company strives to build thriving, sustainable hotel properties, provide incredible guest experiences, and give back to the communities in which they do business through company and employee-driven philanthropic initiatives. HOS has successfully cultivated long-standing relationships with hotel partners, investors and most importantly, guests, through its brand’s family-oriented philosophy. Visit www.HOSManagement.com to learn more.