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Volunteer donation brings more play-based learning to P.A. Geraci Center

Students receive new playground, outdoor learning space   FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 26, 2021) –…

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Volunteer donation brings more play-based learning to P.A. Geraci Center

Students receive new playground, outdoor learning space

 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 26, 2021) – Students attending the P.A. Geraci Child Development Center have received a new playground and outdoor space for more play-based learning, a need fulfilled by the generous donation of two long serving volunteers, Judy Diamond and Dennis Hendrickson.

The new play area is landscaped, mulched, and enclosed with a fence, conveniently located next to several classrooms to allow easier access for students. The playground offers a variety of adventurous and engaging activities for kids, featuring swing sets, slides and a two-story clubhouse, which will provide play-based learning for the center’s class of 3-year-old students.  

“Before this playground was installed, we had only one playground for three classrooms,” said Kimberly Molloy, education program manager for Child Care of Southwest Florida, which operates the center. “When Ms. Judy asked what she could do to help the center earlier this year, I let her know we had a huge field with no playground equipment, and that’s really where the need was.” 

Construction and installation started in June, when more than 20 volunteers came out to help install the new the new play area and equipment at the center. The project was completed over the course of a month with the help of local companies, Scotlynn Group and United Mechanical.

The P.A. Geraci Child Development Center is located in the Dunbar community and part of Child Care of Southwest Florida, a nonprofit that provides family-centered care to help students thrive academically at an early age. Programs engage children in play-based learning activities that reflect their interests, stimulate their imaginations, and strengthen their social, academic, problem-solving and motor skills. 

“We have a great deal of families in need of care, and often, they’re not able to afford it. That’s where the P.A. Geraci Center comes in,” said Yolanda Yslas, center director. “A lot of the families that come here don’t have the time to go to a playground, so we can help facilitate that with play-based learning.” 

On July 14, children and staff gathered on the new playground at the P.A. Geraci Child Development Center to express their appreciation. Diamond received a special plaque and hand-drawn thank you banner from the center’s 3-year-old classroom. 

“If Ms. Judy hears you say one thing that she thinks you need, she’s going to be coming to you trying to make it happen. We’re so thankful for her and everything she does for our kids,” said Chris Hansen, CEO of Child Care of Southwest Florida.

The P.A. Geraci Center plans to continue adding to their new playground, like installing a walking track for students that will encircle the play area. For more information about Child Care of Southwest Florida and opportunities to give, please visit CCSWFL.org/giving or call 239-278-1002.

About Child Care of Southwest Florida

Child Care of Southwest Florida, Inc. (CCSWFL) is a nonprofit early childhood education provider with five learning centers in Lee and Hendry counties that serve more than 400 children from 6 weeks to 8 years old. Each center is accredited through the National Accreditation Commission for Early Learning Leaders and is recognized as a Gold Seal Quality Care Program through the Florida Department of Children and Families. All CCSWFL locations have five-star ratings through the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida. CCSWFL follows the nationally recognized, research-based Creative Curriculum, with a goal of creating safe, nurturing learning environments that develop young minds, support families, strengthen the community and secure the future. Through its participation in the USDA’s Child Food Care Program, each child has access to a healthy, nutritious breakfast, lunch and snacks. Sponsor, volunteer and donation opportunities are available. For more information, please visit ccswfl.org.

Spiny lobster seasons start soon

The 2021 spiny lobster season opens with the two-day recreational mini-season July 28 and 29,…

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Spiny lobster seasons start soon

The 2021 spiny lobster season opens with the two-day recreational mini-season July 28 and 29, followed by the regular commercial and recreational lobster season, which starts Aug. 6 and runs through March 31, 2022.
“Spiny lobster season is an exciting time of year to be on the water,” said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Commissioner Robert Spottswood. “But it’s also a time to remember to boat safely, to follow our fishing rules and to take extra care in protecting our coral reefs.”
Learn more about bag limits, size limits, where to harvest and other regulations at MyFWC.com/Marine by clicking on “Recreational Regulations” and “Lobster,” which is under the “Crabs, Lobster and other Shellfish” tab. If you plan to lobster in the Keys, another great resource is the Monroe County Tourist Development Council website KeysLobsterSeason.com.
Don’t forget to get your license and spiny lobster permit at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.
Looking to keep up to date on Florida’s saltwater fishing regulations? Find them on the Fish Rules app. Learn more at FishRulesApp.com or follow Fish Rules at Instagram.com/FishRulesApp or Facebook.com/FishRulesApp.
If bully netting this season, please keep lights directed toward the water and avoid shining them at houses or people along the shoreline. Please be considerate of others by keeping sound levels low when near shoreline residences.
Don’t forget to use care around corals and other marine life. The FWC launched the Florida Coral Crew to engage sportsmen and women in the effort to combat Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease. Before you go out looking for lobster, you can sign up to join the crew at FLCoralCrew.com.
FWC staff will also be stationed at Bass Pro Shops – Worldwide Sportsman on Islamorada (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, July 23) and at Divers Direct Key Largo (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, July 24-Tuesday, July 27) to provide more information.
Take care with yourself and other divers as well by always using a divers-down warning device when in the water. More information on divers-down warning devices is available online at MyFWC.com/Boating by clicking on “Boating Regulations.”

"Granny Get-Down“ National Senior Citizens Day Cooked Food Competition To Benefit The Youngest and Oldest Members of Our Community!

Friday, July 23, 2021 – On Friday, August 20, 2021, Dr. Piper Center is hosting…

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"Granny Get-Down“ National Senior Citizens Day Cooked Food Competition To Benefit The Youngest and Oldest Members of Our Community!

Friday, July 23, 2021 – On Friday, August 20, 2021, Dr. Piper Center is hosting its first National Senior Citizen’s Day Celebration at The Collaboratory in Downtown Fort Myers:  2031 Jackson Street from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
All food at “Granny Get-Down” is being prepared by Dr Piper Center’s Volunteers from the Senior Companion, Foster Grandparent, and Faith in Action Programs.
Featuring guest Judges: Fort Myers Mayor, Kevin Anderson; Fort Myers Beach Mayor, Ray Murphy & Seniors Bluebooks Team Leader/Publisher, Amanda Barton.
DPC is proud to bring the first “Granny Get-Down” Cook-off/Bake-off contest to our local community to commemorate “National Senior Citizens Day “and to raise needed funds for a generation we treasure.
$ 10 at the door! All you can SAMPLE. 
Sponsorships available, raffles, 50/50, and entertainment.
“Senior Citizens are the best kinds of grownups and the best Cooks.”  Leave your worries and lunch home on August 20th, 2021 and bring on your appetite and best moves to get down with our Grannies!
The Dr. Piper Center, which has been carrying on the ideals of community service exemplified by Dr. Ella Piper, has been making a positive impact in the lives of frail elderly and children with special needs in the Fort Myers area for 46 years with the assistance of Senior Volunteers from our community.
 

Florida Public Relations Association Southwest Florida Chapter member Marie Heisler earns professional public relations accreditation

FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 20, 2021) – Marie Heisler, APR, of the Southwest Florida Chapter…

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Florida Public Relations Association Southwest Florida Chapter member Marie Heisler earns professional public relations accreditation

FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 20, 2021) – Marie Heisler, APR, of the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA), recently earned professional public relations accreditation, and received the designation of Accredited in Public Relations (APR).
Heisler joins the more than 4,300 active public relations professionals worldwide who represent an elite group of skilled professionals committed to practicing with high ethical standards, including 41 currently in Southwest Florida.
A Florida Gulf Coast University graduate with nearly a decade of experience in the PR and marketing industry, Heisler leads public relations and communications at Mercola, a global brand headquartered in Cape Coral that provides natural health information and offers biodynamic and organic supplements and foods, personal care products and more through its Mercola Market online store. She currently serves on the board of the Cape Coral Chapter of the FGCU Alumni Association.
To earn public relations accreditation, candidates must pass an oral presentation and rigorous written examination administered by the Universal Accreditation Board (UAB), which is an alliance of eight national and statewide professional associations dedicated to furthering the field of public relations and the development of public relations professionals. FPRA is a member of the UAB.
About the Florida Public Relations Association
Established in 1938, FPRA is the oldest public relations organization in the country. FPRA is dedicated to developing public relations practitioners, who, through ethical and standardized practices, enhance the public relations profession in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties. For additional information, please visit the Southwest Florida Chapter of FPRA website at fpraswfl.org.

Register for GED and ESOL Classes

Fall 2021 Registration Information • Register for Fall 2021 GED and ESOL classes. • Visit…

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Register for GED and ESOL Classes

Fall 2021 Registration Information
• Register for Fall 2021 GED and ESOL classes.
• Visit www.leeschools.net/ACE to register for classes.
• Space is limited. Register today.
• Registration for Fall 2021 Lifelong Learning Classes will start mid-August.
• We will post class information for Lifelong Learning Classes on our website in August. www.leeschools.net/LLC
Questions? Call 239-939-6310

From Phantom of the Opera to Showboat - A Century of Broadway

A Century of Broadway July 24 | 7:30 PM Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall…

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From Phantom of the Opera to Showboat - A Century of Broadway

A Century of Broadway
July 24 | 7:30 PM
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
Phantom of the Opera! Les Miserables! West Side Story!
Oklahoma! Showboat! and more…
After an 18 month wait, the full Gulf Coast Symphony proudly returns to the Barbara B. Mann stage for a night celebrating a century of Broadway’s greatest melodies. Enjoy beloved Tony-award winning musicals from the Great White Way! We journey though music from all your favorite Broadway shows, or as many as can fit in one concert!
Music from Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Richard Rodgers, Jerome Kern, Alan Lerner and Andrew Lloyd Webber, among others.
If you love Broadway, you’ll love this show!
Don’t miss a single great show this year! Get the best seats in the house at the best price! Subscriptions are now on sale for the 2021-2022 season!
We are so excited to announce our subscription series for next year, and we cannot wait for the amazing performances we have planned. From a night with the Tony award winning Hamilton star Renée Elise Goldsberry, to the Music of Billy Joel starring Michael Cavanaugh, and a full production of Cabaret our return to the stage with full symphony will be yet another Blockbuster season!

SBA South Florida Economic Aid Webinars and Q&A Session - July 20

COVID-19 Economic Aid Overview Webinar Tuesday, July 20 11am – 12pm EST Online: Click here…

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SBA South Florida Economic Aid Webinars and Q&A Session - July 20

COVID-19 Economic Aid Overview Webinar
Tuesday, July 20
11am – 12pm EST
Online: Click here to join the Microsoft Teams event.
Call-in: 202-765-1264, ID 903515768#
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Forgiveness Webinar
Tuesday, July 20
1pm – 2pm EST
Online: Click here to join the Microsoft Teams event.
Dial-in: 202-765-1264, ID 185864452#
SBA South Florida District Q& A Session
Tuesday, July 20
2pm – 3pm EST
Online: Click here to join the Microsoft Teams event.
Dial-in: 202-765-1264, ID 177893159#

Edison and Ford Winter Estates participates in Museums for All

Edison and Ford Winter Estates Participating in Program to give Museum Access to Low-Income Families FORT…

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Edison and Ford Winter Estates participates in Museums for All

Edison and Ford Winter Estates Participating in Program to give Museum Access to Low-Income Families
FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 19, 2021) — Edison and Ford Winter Estates has joined Museums for All, a signature access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Association of Children’s Museums, to encourage people of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum-going habits. Starting August 1, individuals and families (up to four people) receiving food assistance benefits will be admitted for a self-guided tour when they present their SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. Special events and Holiday Nights admission are not included.
Museums for All helps raise awareness and expand public access to museums within each community. The program is part of Edison Ford’s broad commitment to include and welcome all audiences, and is a good fit with the organization’s mission to educate the public and inspire an inventive spirit by interpreting and preserving the innovations, legacies, artifacts, gardens, homes, laboratory, and other structures of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, emphasizing Florida history, science, horticulture, and the arts. More than 700 organizations across the country participate in the program, including museums, science centers, botanical gardens, and zoos. Partnering museums are located nationwide, representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Virgin Islands.
Edison and Ford Winter Estates includes the historic winter homes of famous inventors Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, a 15,000-square-foot museum, the botanic research laboratory, and more than 20 acres of botanic gardens with plants and trees from around the world. The site is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week. Visitors can download an app or call a number to listen to a narrated tour while using a map to meander through the site at their own pace. Throughout the year, education programs, including summer camp and day camps, home school programs, and classes for preschool children are offered to enhance children’s education in local history, as well as science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM).
As a non-profit, Edison Ford depends on donations and sponsorships to be able to offer programs like this one to less fortunate families within the community. Sponsors have an opportunity to get their name in front of more than 220,000 local, national and international visitors annually.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Their mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Their grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
The Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) champions children’s museums worldwide. With more than 460 members in 50 states and 19 countries, ACM leverages the collective knowledge of children’s museums through convening, sharing, and dissemination. Learn more at www.childrensmuseums.org.

Upcoming SFWMD public meetings

Meeting Notice Take note of upcoming SFWMD public meetings Join the South Florida Water Management…

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Upcoming SFWMD public meetings

Meeting Notice
Take note of upcoming SFWMD public meetings
Join the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) for several upcoming public meetings. For a list of all upcoming meetings, check out our Meeting Calendar. Meeting agendas are available at least seven days in advance.
Meeting format varies for each meeting, and some meetings may be in-person only, virtual only, or a hybrid of both formats.
________________________________________
What: Loxahatchee River Preservation Initiative Meeting
When: July 26, 2021 at 12:00 p.m.
Meeting Information and Materials
________________________________________
What: SFWMD Workshop for the C-8 and C-9 Basins Flood Protection Level of Service Adaptation and Mitigation Planning Projects Study
When: August 3, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.
Meeting Information and Materials
________________________________________
What: Quarterly Meeting of the Everglades Technical Oversight Committee
When: August 10, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.
Meeting Information and Materials
________________________________________
What: Governing Board Workshop
When: August 11, 2021 at 1:00 p.m.
Meeting information and materials will be published at sfwmd.gov/meetings once available.
________________________________________
What: Governing Board Meeting
When: August 12, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.
Meeting information and materials will be published at sfwmd.gov/meetings once available.
________________________________________
Many SFWMD meetings are conducted via Zoom, a free online meeting tool. You can learn more about attending a Zoom meeting and even run a test on your computer, tablet or smart phone. Please note, you must have the latest version of Zoom to attend SFWMD meetings conducted on Zoom.
The South Florida Water Management District is a regional governmental agency that manages the water resources in the southern part of the state. It is the oldest and largest of the state’s five water management districts. Our mission is to safeguard and restore South Florida’s water resources and ecosystems, protect our communities from flooding, and meet the region’s water needs while connecting with the public and stakeholders.

Big Bend blue crab trap closure starts July 20

July 16, 2021 Suggested Tweet: Big Bend blue #crab trap closure starts 7/20. @MyFWC: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLFFWCC/bulletins/2e872de…

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Big Bend blue crab trap closure starts July 20

July 16, 2021
Suggested Tweet: Big Bend blue #crab trap closure starts 7/20. @MyFWC: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLFFWCC/bulletins/2e872de #Florida
Big Bend blue crab trap closure starts July 20
Recreational and commercial blue crab traps in state waters from Hernando through Wakulla counties, including all waters of the Ochlockonee River and Bay, must be removed from the water before July 20, the first day of a 10-day trap closure. This closure will give groups authorized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) the opportunity to identify and retrieve lost and abandoned blue crab traps from the water.
Traps may be placed back in the water in this area starting on July 30. Until then, blue crabs may be harvested with other gear such as dip nets and fold-up traps. Blue crab harvesters may also use standard blue crab traps during the closure if the traps are attached to a dock or other private property.
Closures may be reduced in duration if it is determined the number of lost and abandoned traps in the region will take less time to remove.
Lost and abandoned blue crab traps are a problem in the blue crab fishery because they can continue to trap crabs and fish when left in the water. They can also be unsightly in the marine environment, damage sensitive habitats and pose navigational hazards to boaters.
The closure is one of three regional, 10-day blue crab trap closures for 2021. There are six regional closures total: three in even-numbered years on the east coast and three in odd-numbered years on the Gulf coast and in south Florida.
While state waters extend to 9 nautical miles offshore in the Gulf, the blue crab trap closures include only state waters extending to 3 nautical miles offshore.
More information regarding the FWC’s trap-retrieval program, blue crab trap closure dates, regulations and cleanup events is available online at MyFWC.com/Marine (click on “Trap and Debris”). For additional information, contact the FWC’s trap retrieval coordinator, Pamela Gruver, at 850-487-0554.