Member News

FastTrax officially opens Friday July 16th at 4pm.
The park features all-electric Italian Go-Karts, midway rides, giant game zone, 7 lanes of duck pin bowling and much more.
“After more than a year of renovations and $3.5 million spent, we’re thrilled to open the most unique amusement park in Southwest Florida,” said Pat Ciniello, FastTrax owner. “FastTrax truly has something for everyone. We love bringing the FUN in this latest venture.”
Ciniello has been in the bowling/entertainment business in Southwest Florida since 1980. His Bowling Management Associates company operates Bowland and HeadPinz Entertainment Centers in Collier, Charlotte and Lee Counties.
FastTrax is located at 17455 Summerlin Road, Ft Myers, FL 33908.
For more information, please contact Mike Cannington, 239-438-1465.

Seventeen additional girls will be housed rent-free in the Bill & Nancy Malthouse Pilot Scholarship House on the Florida Gulf Coast University campus.  Ground was broken on July 13 by the Southern Scholarship Foundation and Pilot International for the house, which will be built adjacent to the Gresham-Kite Scholarship House in North Lake Village, and which is scheduled to be ready for occupancy in the Fall or 2022.
Both the Malthouse and Gresham-Kite Scholarship houses provide an opportunity for girls to live together and get a jump start on the responsibilities of adulthood.  The FGCU house was opened in 2003. The girls share tasks like cooking, cleaning, and attending monthly meetings.  Residents are chosen based on factors like academic performance, character, and financial need.
Dr. Shawn Woodin, President-CEO, Southern Scholarship Foundation, served as MC for the July 13 ground breaking ceremony for the Walthouse Scholarship House on FGCU campus.
Dr. Shawn Woodin, President-CEO, Southern Scholarship Foundation, in welcoming those attending the ground breaking ceremony, noted that the foundation helps to make college more affordable by providing the rent-free facilities.  There are 16 scholarship houses on Florida campuses.   Woodin said, “What the house provides is a total shift in the path of the residents’ lives.  Once they have the education that they’re coming to FGCU for, then it launches them in a career where they can be financially stable and help take care of their families.”
Danarria Stone, house manager and economics student at FGCU, stands in front of the Gresham-Kite Scholarship House.  She has lived in the house for more than three years.  The house is configured with a kitchen and dining room for group meals.  There is also a study room and living area; each bedroom is furnished for two people.
Danarria Stone, house manager for the Gresham-Kite Scholarship House, commented during the ground breaking ceremony for the Malthouse Scholarship House, that students gain a lot of adult skills through living in the house.  She says the girls have to manage their own money and know how to do the various tasks, which are rotated among the girls.  Learning to be part of a community is an outcome of living in the scholarship house”.
The rent-free housing at the Gresham-Kite Scholarship House saves each student approximately $13,000 each year.  The budgeted cost of food and utilities is shared among the residents, with an average house services bill per student of approximately $950 per semester.  Most girls living in the house have part-time jobs.
The Malthouse Scholarship House is being named for the late Bill Malthouse, a former scholarship recipient.  The house receives support from the nonprofit Pilot International, both state and local chapters in Southwest Florida.  The foundation relies on dues paid by all Florida District. Pilot club members, as well as additional donations by individual Pilot members, Pilot clubs, friends and businesses through tax-deductible donations.
The Pilot clubs of Fort Myers and Naples purchased the property and built the FGCU house through the cooperation of the Southern Scholarship Foundation in 2003.  It was named after local Pilot donors.   Many local companies assisted with the building through in-kind donations.  The Pilot Club provides support each year through supplies, meals, and speakers.
The focus of the Pilot Club of Fort Myers is helping organizations seeking to improve the quality of life for individuals with brain-related disorders through volunteer activities, education, and financial support.  The club name came from a riverboat pilot who could steer safely through troubled waters.  For information about the Pilot Club, contact the president, Joy Augustine, 239-691-0069, [email protected].

FORT MYERS, FL (July 15, 2021) – Lee Association for Remarkable Citizens (LARC) has been awarded $5,000 from Duffy’s Foundation.  The donation was a part of Duffy’s Estero location grand re-opening. The grant will help LARC, an organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, provide programs and services that help individuals with disabilities achieve.  The Duffy’s Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Duffy’s Sports Grill, a sports-themed restaurant concept with 34 locations in South Florida.  The mission of The Duffy’s Foundation is to benefit organizations and individuals who positively impact their local communities.
“Support from community partners like Duffy’s Sports Grill is essential and helps LARC provide the programs and services that help individuals with disabilities achieve their potential,” said Angela Katz, LARC’s interim executive director. “We are deeply grateful and humbled to celebrate Duffy’s mission of “Benefitting organizations who positively impact their local communities.”
Established in 1954, LARC is a training center for success for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. LARC serves more than 400 individuals annually, and participants range in age from 14 to 78.  LARC offers 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. LARC also operates two Residential Group Homes located in Cape Coral and North Fort Myers.
To learn more about LARC, contact Angela Katz, Interim Executive Director, at 239-334-6285 x210 or email [email protected], or visit www.larcleecounty.org.
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 400 individuals annually, ages 14-78. The nonprofit offers vocational training, community residential services, youth programs, 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.  LARC also operates two Residential Group Homes located in Cape Coral and North Fort Myers.   For more information, contact Angela at 239-334-6285 x210 or visit www.larcleecounty.org.

48^th Culligan City of Palms Classic is back with a star-studded field
Top teams to take part in nation’s No.1 high school tournament
 FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 15, 2021) – After a one-year layoff, the excitement is building as the 48^th Culligan City of Palms Classic field is set for the tournament, which will be held December 17 – December 22 at Suncoast Credit Union Arena on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College.
A star-studded field will once again take to the hardwood in Fort Myers for the holiday event, led by defending tournament and national champion Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.). 2019 City of Palms runner-up IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) will also make a return trip to Fort Myers hoping to walk away with this year’s title.
Montverde will make their way to Fort Myers led by ESPN’s No. 2, No. 6 and No. 13 ranked seniors, Jalen Duren, Dariq Whitehead and Skyy Clark respectively. IMG will counter with ESPN’s No. 14 and No. 25 ranked seniors Jaden Bradley and Eric Dailey, Jr. Combined, Montverde and IMG have 10 of ESPN’s top 100 seniors.
The stellar lineup of teams doesn’t end there. Four-time USA Today National Coach of the Year, Steve Smith, brings the fabled Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) program back to the City of Palms for the second time in four years. They’re led by one of the top juniors in the nation, 6’3” Caleb Foster.
Georgia Class 7A state champion Milton High School (Alpharetta, Ga.) makes its first trip to the City of Palms coming off a run to the quarterfinals of the GEICO Nationals on the Suncoast Credit Union Arena court back in April. Milton’s basketball program has been on the rise for several years and nearly shocked IMG at GEICO.
In addition to those outstanding teams, the main bracket also features Ballard (Louisville, Ky.), Berkmar (Lilburn, Ga.), Buchtel (Akron, Ohio), Calvary Christian (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Charlotte (Punta Gorda, Fla.), Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.), Gill St. Bernard’s (Gladstone, N.J.), Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.), Isidore Newman (New Orleans, La.), Orlando Christian Prep (Orlando, Fla.), St. John’s (Washington, D.C.) and Whitney Young (Chicago, Ill.)
The always exciting Signature Series features several powerhouse teams as well, led by Arizona Compass Prep School (Chandler, Ariz.). Compass Prep reached the semis of the GEICO Nationals last season and put a scare into No. 1 Montverde twice. Combine Academy (Lincolnton, N.C.) makes its way to the City of Palms after being put on the high school hoops map with an upset of Oak Hill Academy in the 2019-20 opener. A year later, the Goats followed that up with a No. 15 national finish (MaxPreps). The tournament will bring international flair to Fort Myers with the presence of Crestwood Preparatory out of Toronto, Canada. This program has been a fixture on the Canadian basketball scene for years and they return much of their squad from last season. Victory Rock Prep (Bradenton, Fla.) is coming off an SIAA state championship and it too returns much of its team from last season.
Expect a lot of buzz around the Sunshine Series this year, thanks to 6’6” senior Hansel Emmanuel of Life Christian Academy (Kissimmee), a Dominican player who
moved to Orlando less than a year ago and has gone viral for his flashy dunks, passes and shooting against top talent, despite losing one arm to an accident when he was six years old. Miami Norland (Miami), Tampa Catholic (Tampa), and Choctawhatchee (Fort Walton Beach, Fla.) round out the four-team bracket.
And the Hugh Thimlar Tribute continues this year honoring the legendary college and high school coach. This year’s games will feature Christopher Columbus (Miami, Fla.) against hometown Southwest Florida Christian (Fort Myers, Fla.). As coach of then-Edison Junior College, Thimlar created a junior college national powerhouse over 26 seasons. Overall, he won 604 games over 40 seasons as a head coach in Indiana and Florida. He also founded the City of Palms tournament, then called the News-Press Christmas Basketball Tournament, in 1973, with six teams competing at Edison in a regional tournament.
Tickets for this year’s tournament go on sale on Friday, July 16. Visit cityofpalmsclassic.com to buy your tickets and for tournament information.
About the Culligan City of Palms Classic
 Founded in 1973, the City of Palms tournament began, like so many tournaments today, as a simple, local holiday basketball tournament. Over the years, the tournament grew and expanded its scope to include the nation’s finest athletes and teams, and during the past 26 years, it has set the standard by which all tournaments are compared. Classic Basketball Inc. is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation created for the purpose of managing the Culligan City of Palms Classic. For more information and to sign up for the eNewsletter, visit cityofpalmsclassic.com.

Live it up and drink it down!
Arts On Tap is back and better than ever.
Save the dates: November 12 and 13, 2021
Now in its 4th year, Arts On Tap is a fundraising event for the Alliance for the Arts. This year’s event spans two days and features an exciting mash up of southwest Florida’s burgeoning craft beer and vibrant arts scenes and a performance by two-time Grammy-nominated hip hop group the Nappy Roots.
On November 12, mingle, play, sip and savor as local craft brewers pour award-winning, rare and brand new artisan brews or delight your senses with an awesome selection of hand-selected wines and tasty culinary creations, play twisted pub and oversized lawn games, rub elbows with craft brewers and Grammy-nominated hip hop group the Nappy Roots, bid on silen tap your toes as we turn up the tunes, take a sip, then hit repeat.
On November 13, the party continues as you indulge yourself in a night of food trucks, beer, art, VIP lounge and experiences and a once-in-a-lifetime performance by the Nappy Roots – right under the stars and in your backyard.
Tickets on sale September 2021
Whatever you’re sipping, raise a glass to the arts
Bring a new meaning to arts and crafts! Grow your business and get cool perks by becoming an Arts On Tap partner. You’ll get a ton of free press, social media engagement, new fans and the warm feeling of doing good in the community.
Sponsorship Opportunities
November 12 fueled by
Arts On Tap is sponsored by
The Alliance for the Arts is a vibrant nonprofit visual and performing arts center located in the heart of Fort Myers. Since the 1970s, we’ve been transforming lives and improving community through the arts. Our 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. We are a creative community hub that spurs and supports self-expression, imagination and individuality by connecting each other through the arts.
Your support of the arts matters.
Alliance for the Arts • ArtInLee.org
239-939-2787 • 10091 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers
Membership • Donate • Classes • Exhibits • Theatre
Alliance for the Arts | 10091 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33919
Unsubscribe [email protected]
 

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

FORT MYERS, FL (July 14, 2021) – Lee Association of Remarkable Citizens (LARC) announces Angela Katz has been named executive director. Established in 1954, LARC Inc. is a training center for success that provides support services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.
Katz was named interim executive director in March 2021. A highly-accomplished strategic fundraising and development professional, Katz joined LARC as director of development and communications in 2016. Her responsibilities included fund development, internal and external communications, marketing, and advancing community and business partnerships.
“Angela’s passion is to help fulfill the dreams and goals of people with disabilities so they can work, live and play in their community,” said Austin Clinton, president of LARC’s board of directors. “A proven leader, Angela has created innovative programs to increase the independence of individuals with disabilities, raised the profile of LARC in our community, developed a dedicated group of supporters, and significantly increased donors and donations. I know that the future of LARC is bright with Angela leading our organization.”
Prior to LARC, Katz established her own company, Angela Katz, LLC, specializing in fundraising strategies for non-profits. She was the development director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida for four years. Katz transitioned into non-profit work after retiring from a successful career as a Regional Vice President with PartyLite Gifts. She was responsible for strategic direction and training for a sales leadership team of more than 300 individuals, generating more than $1 million in annual sales.
“I am excited to work with such a talented staff and to collaborate with community partners to build upon LARC’s legacy and strategic vision,” said Katz. “Having the opportunity to realize one’s full potential and a secure future, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities should be valued members of their communities. This type of passion and dedication has fueled LARC’s mission for 67 years. We’ll continue that legacy and grow to provide more opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the future.”
Katz aimis to continue championing innovative programs and meeting community needs for individuals with intellectual disabilities. She created the Learn, Achieve, Become Program (LAB) as well as the Exceptional Employers event recognizing employers in our community that have hired individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Through vision and funding, she brought LARC’s Engraving Enterprise to life and established the Lori Carroll-Collins Scholarship fund.
Katz received her certification in fundraising management from Indiana University, Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. She earned certificates in non-profit management and non-profit operations from Hodges University. She is a board member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and The Babcock Neighborhood School. She was named non-profit employee of the year by The Cape Coral Community Foundation in 2019.
The mission of LARC is to empower and support individuals with disabilities and their families to achieve their full potential. Serving more than 300 individuals annually, ranging in ages from 14 to 78, LARC offers vocational training, community residential services, youth programs, and other community inclusion services. LARC’s main campus is located at 2570 Hanson Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901.
For more information, visit www.larcleecounty.org or contact Angela Katz at 239-334-6285 x210 or [email protected].

(Fort Myers, FL) – GFour Productions, winners of 56 Drama Desk and 44 Tony Awards^®, are proudly bringing the international hit show Menopause The Musical® back to Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW for only one performance, Sunday, January 16, 2022 at 2PM. Tickets will go on sale Friday, July 16 at 10AM online at www.bbmannpah.com, call (239) 481-4849 or in person at the Box Office.
Menopause The Musical® is a groundbreaking celebration of women who are on the brink of, in the middle of, or have survived “The Change.” Now celebrating 20 years of female empowerment through hilarious musical comedy, Menopause The Musical® has evolved as a “grassroots” movement of women who deal with life adjustments after 40 by embracing each other and the road ahead.
Set in a department store, four women meet while shopping for a black lace bra at a lingerie sale. After noticing similarities among one another, the cast jokes about their woeful hot flashes, mood swings, wrinkles, weight gain and much more. These women form a sisterhood and unique bond with the entire audience as they rejoice in celebrating that menopause is no longer “The Silent Passage.”
Inspired by a hot flash and a bottle of wine, Menopause The Musical® was created as a celebration of women who find themselves at any stage of “The Change.” The laughter-filled 90-minute production gets audience members out of their seats and singing along to parodies from classic pop songs of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s.
Menopause The Musical^® is now in its 20th year and 15th as the longest-running musical in Las Vegas history, performing nightly at Harrah’s Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip. Seen by more than 17 million, it has played every state in the continental U.S. and more than 500 cities worldwide and has been translated into nine languages. For more information, visit www.MenopauseTheMusical.com.

AIRPORT MEETING CANCELLED
The Lee County Port Authority Airports Special Management Committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, July 20, 2021, has been cancelled. The committee’s next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, at 1:30 p.m. at Southwest Florida International Airport’s Training and Conference Center. For more information, please visit www.flylcpa.com.
JULY 15, 2021
Please note:  Florida has a very broad public records law. Most written communications to or from Port Authority employees and officials regarding Port Authority business are public records available to the public and media upon request. Your email communication may be subject to public disclosure.

The Laboratory Theater of Florida is excited to present “The Prabh & Wedler Show” on July 24th at 8 pm.
FORT MYERS, FL (July 12, 2021 ) – The Laboratory Theater of Florida will present an evening of all original song, spoken word, comedy, and even beatboxing performed by some of our extremely talented local youth. The Prabh & Wedler All Original, Not Your Usual Variety Show is a one-night-only experience on July 24th at 8 pm.
Join Prabh Saini and Wedler Lordeus as they beatbox and emcee a night of young SWFL talent. You will hear all-original material, including a cappella singers, guitarists, ukulele, poetry, and comedy. All performers are under 25 and the creators of their original material.
Lab Artistic Director Annette Trossbach says, “These are names and faces to know and follow. Everybody in the show should be on a list of some of the most talented young people in southwest Florida. All their material is original and all these kids are at the beginning of their careers. They’re about to head off college and be connected with so many other talented young people who will only help to propel them to the next level. You’ll be able to look back a few years and say I remember when that kid was just 16 and performing her own material at the Lab Theater. And now she’s got a Grammy.”
Prabh Saini has been involved in various theater productions and musical endeavors. His latest work includes his role of Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors at Cypress Lake High School, and winning Best Mix for The A Cappella Group at CLHS during ICHSA (International Competition of High School A Cappella). Prabh has released his first album, entitled The Collective, under the moniker Nové, available on all streaming platforms on July 23rd.
Wedler Lordeus is a beatboxer, singer, actor, and dancer who has won best vocal percussionist twice in competitions. He is a four-time varsity vocals champion, in addition to winning numerous awards for acting and choreography. He has recorded four award-winning á cappella albums, including a ‘best album’ that featured his beatboxing.
This is a special, one-night-only event. This event is not included in the Lab Theater Season Pass.
This show features Prabh Saini, Wedler Lordeus, Kristen Noble, Darius Webb, Araima Hondares, Anna Lehman, Gus Bahruth, Isabella Sbarra, Mady Ladd, Andrew Darden, and Kinley Gomez.
Prabh says, “People should come to the show because it is a one-night-only event where you can see the young talent in SWFL at their absolute best. Get this – it’s ALL original. If you want to see a great handful of talent this is the night for you!”
To help promote these young artists, photography and videography are encouraged. Guests are invited to use #labtheaterfl 
DATES:
Date: July 24th, 8 PM
Tickets are $25 each or $12 for students with valid student IDs.  Seating is limited. For tickets, please call the box office at 239.218.0481 or online at www.laboratorytheaterflorida.com.
ABOUT THE LABORATORY THEATER OF FLORIDA
The Laboratory Theater of Florida, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is dedicated to the promotion of the performing arts, through live performance, education, community outreach, experimentation, and the development of ensemble work. The company features ensemble productions, produces classic works, takes artistic risks, which both feature and challenge local performers. For more information, visit www.LaboratoryTheaterFlorida.com or the physical location at 1634 Woodford Avenue, in the Fort Myers River District.