Member News

May 15 & 16, 2021
Saturday 9:00Am to 5:00Pm
Sunday 10:00Am to 4:00Pm
Lee Civic Center
1831 Bayshore Rd. N Ft Myers, Fl  33917
$12 Per Person Admission –  Kids Under 18 Are Free
Outdoor nautical market, fishing seminars from local guides, boats, seafood, art, nautical flea market, boating and fishing gadgets, kayaks and paddleboards, nautical clothing and jewelry, marine electronics, nautical wood crafts, food trucks, Miss Nautical Mile pageant, meet Faith the Mermaid and more!  This is a fun event for the whole family!
https://nauticalmilemagazine.com
Jim  Griffiths
Nautical Mile Publications, Inc.

Shostakovich, Walker & Schoenberg

(Fort Myers, Fla. – February 10, 2021) — The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center will host Luck of The Irish Casino Night on Saturday, March 13, from 6:30 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. at the outdoor pavilion at The Heights Center, 15570 Hagie Drive in Fort Myers.  Guests will enjoy blackjack, craps, roulette and poker, music by DJ Michael B., a silent and live auction, and prize drawings.
Tickets are $100 per person and include Irish-style food catered by Clancey’s restaurant and $1,000 in funny money.  A cash bar is available with specialty drinks.  Masks are encouraged, and the event will be outdoors with limited tickets sold to provide social distancing.
“The poverty rate for children in Harlem Heights is more than twice the county average,” said Kathryn Kelly, president, and CEO of The Heights Foundation/The Heights Center. “This event will support programs at The Heights Center, including School Success and our enriching summer camp.”
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.
For more information, visit www.heightsfoundation.org/casino or contact Brenda at (239) 482-7706 or [email protected].
 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.   Heights Early Learning serves more than 80 babies through age 4. The Harlem Heights Community Charter School serves 120 children from 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 cannot easily access family support services located in downtown Fort Myers and benefit greatly from programs located within the neighborhood.
Elly Hagen
(239) 994-3927
[email protected]

Our GreenMarket stage is an intimate, open-air venue where our neighbors can safely enjoy live entertainment. Enjoy an upcoming outdoor performance under the Florida sky! Reserve your square now for an evening or afternoon of good times. Click here to view our digital playbill.

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, re-opened the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers.
This round of the PPP continues to prioritize millions of Americans employed by small businesses by authorizing up to $284 billion toward job retention and certain other expenses through March 31, 2021, and by allowing certain existing PPP borrowers to apply for a Second Draw PPP Loan.
Join the South Florida District Office as we explore the next steps in the PPP process.
*Eventbrite access is required to register for the events.
(en español) Monday, February 8 
11am – 12pm EST
Click here register on Eventbrite.
Monday, February 8
1pm – 2pm EST
Click here register on Eventbrite.
Tuesday, February 9
1pm – 2pm EST
Click here register on Eventbrite.
(en español) Wednesday, February 10
11am – 12pm EST
Click here register on Eventbrite.
Wednesday, February 10
1pm – 2pm EST
Click here register on Eventbrite.
 
PPP Forgiveness Webinar
The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, published a revised, borrower-friendly Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness application implementing the PPP Flexibility Act.
Join the South Florida District Office as we explore the next steps in the PPP process.
Thursday, February 11
1pm – 2pm EST
Click here register on Eventbrite.
Friday, February 12
1pm – 2pm EST
Click here register on Eventbrite.
 
Updated PPP Lender forms, guidance, and resources are available at www.sba.gov/ppp and www.treasury.gov/cares.
Date: 02/5/2021; Author Information: Heather Hines, Public Affairs Specialist

NAPLES, Fla. (Feb. 5, 2021) – Sunshine Ace Hardware recognized 12 of its top associates through its Core Value Awards, honoring employees who embody the locally owned company’s guiding principles.
Associate Julie Puch, who has worked at the Golden Gate store for two years, received the Don Q. Wynn Associate of the Year Award, which recognizes a team member who embodies all of Sunshine Ace’s core values and contributes to its mission and mission. Don Wynn founded Sunshine Ace Hardware in 1958.
Associate Beau Rench, an employee of the Marco Island store for eight years, earned the Anne Wynn Humanitarian of the Year Award for his ongoing commitment to the community through service and participation in community and charity events, volunteering and going above and beyond for company-sponsored events. Anne Wynn was Don’s wife and a passionate community advocate.
“Julie and Beau are role models and inspirations for their colleagues, and both of them pour their heart and soul into their work, their families and their communities,” said Michael Wynn, president of Sunshine Ace Hardware and Crowder Bros. Ace Hardware. “Our company’s core values aren’t just a set of principles posted in the break room. Julie, Beau and hundreds of other associates live and breathe these values every day, and their dedication is the primary reason our company has been able to thrive while consistently exceeding customer expectations.”
Sunshine Ace also honored 10 additional associates, one representing each core value. Honorees include:

• Deliver Sunshine: Andrea O’Donnell, Port Charlotte
• Care for your Neighbor: Doug Kallinich, Marco Island
• Build Honest Relationships: Mike Fitterer, Bonita Springs
• Inspire Confidence: Lois Limer, East Naples
• Own It: Tina Lonkart, Naples
• Be Humble: Christy Gully, Bradenton
• Support Each Other: Marci Shackleford, Lakewood Ranch
• Create Solutions through Imagination: Jarret Hoppe, Sunshine Support Office
• Love, Laugh, Work Hard: Mitchell Desaulniers, Largo
• Drive Results: Jeffery Gawel, Largo

About Sunshine Ace Hardware
Family-owned and operated since 1958, Sunshine Ace Hardware is one of Florida’s largest family-owned home improvement retailers. The Naples-based company operates nine locations in Collier, Lee, Charlotte and Pinellas counties, as well as two Crowder Bros. stores in Manatee County. Each store is staffed by friendly, knowledgeable associates known for going the extra mile to help commercial and residential customers find the right tools for their jobs. Sunshine Ace is the region’s go-to source for power equipment, paint, hardware, fishing gear, plumbing products, electrical supplies, gifts and home improvement products, including name brands like Benjamin Moore, STIHL, Milwaukee, Scotts, Weber, Big Green Egg, Penn and Shimano. Through its Helpful Hub, Sunshine Ace provides services like screen repair, key cutting and color matching, as well as delivery and assembly for grills, power tools and more. Sunshine Ace offers three convenient options to shop: in-store, curbside pickup and online with home delivery. For operating hours and locations, please visit SunshineAce.com.

New fashion brands added to lineup for Feb. 12-13 annual signature shopping event

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Feb. 5, 2021) – Dress for Success SW Florida will be hosting a two-day shopping event, Shop for Success, on Friday, Feb. 12 and Saturday, Feb. 13 at the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers at Bell Tower, 13051 Bell Tower Drive. VIP tickets start at $50, offering exclusive early shopping opportunities. General admission is free on Feb. 13 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Dress for Success SW Florida will be following CDC guidelines for the event with temperature checks at the door, mandatory masks for all shoppers, social distancing, hand sanitizer stations and limited room capacity. With over a 100 racks of clothing, high-end, designer-name fashions, new-with-tags and gently used clothing are available in sizes 00 to 26. Dresses, tops, pants, skirts, suits, jackets, shoes, handbags, scarves and jewelry will start at $5. Brands available are Juicy Couture, Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Prada, White House Black Market, Chico’s, Talbots, Vince Camuto, J. Crew. St. Johns, Coach and Lily Pulitzer.

Sponsors for the annual signature shopping event include Card Systems/eGuarded, Crowne Plaza Fort Myers at the Bell Tower Shops, Edison National Bank, Entech, Frank and Sons Moving & Storage Inc., Sound Solutions and Stevens Construction.

One hundred percent of the proceeds from the event will benefit Dress for Success SW Florida and its mission to jumpstart a woman’s career by providing not only work-appropriate attire through its Suits for Self Sufficiency program, but also education and training through its custom Women Empowered Through Employment Series (WETES). Both programs provide tools necessary to create a balance between work and home life and provide support to overcome life’s hardships.

To purchase tickets, or for more information on the event and remaining sponsorships, call 239-689-4992 or visit swflorida.dressforsuccess.org.

About Dress for Success SW Florida

Founded in 2010, Dress for Success SW Florida is headquartered in Fort Myers. A nonprofit organization with a mission to empower women to achieve economic independence, Dress for Success SW Florida provides a network of support, professional attire and development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Dress for Success SW Florida serves job-ready women by referral only. For more information, visit swflorida.dressforsuccess.org or call 239-689-4992. Dress for Success SW Florida is located at 12995 S. Cleveland Ave., Suite 153, in Fort Myers.

Was your small business affected by Covid-19? Are you looking for small business funding? You have questions, we have answers! Join us during our virtual hours and have your Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) questions answered by a live person. Participants may call at anytime and are welcome to enter and exit at will.
Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday 
2pm – 3pm
Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
202-765-1264; Conference ID – 191 652 154
Tuesday (en Español)
11am – 12pm
Join Microsoft Teams Meeting
202-765-1264; Conference ID – 919 146 391
Date: 02/02/2021; Author Information: Heather Hines, Public Affairs Specialist