Member News

January 29 | 7:00
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW
13350 FSW Pkwy, Fort Myers

In this one-night-only event, Tony Award nominee Bryce Pinkham and double Olivier Award nominee Scarlett Strallen will share their musical journey together.

From Broadway to the West End: A Love Story is the story of how two actors met and fell in love while working on the A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder. Together they will share their experiences performing in front of audiences around the world, as well as their personal stories about how they met and fell in love.

They’ll also perform songs from their favorite musicals, including The Sound of Music, Les Misérables, Cabaret and more!

Tickets start at $39!

Meet the Stars

BRYCE PINKHAM

An American stage and screen actor, Bryce is most widely known for originating the role of Monty Navarro in the Tony Award Winning production of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, for which he was nominated for a Tony, Grammy and Drama Desk Award.

SCARLETT STRALLEN

Scarlett Strallen has starred in productions on Broadway, London’s West End, and is a frequent soloist on the concert stage. She is currently starring on Broadway as Gwendolyn in Travesties and has appeared in the title role of Mary Poppins, a role she also played in the West End and as Sibella Hallward in A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder.

Sponsored in part by
Joy Kurtz

239.277.1700 | GulfCoastSymphony.org

Gulf Coast Symphony, PO Box 60878, Fort Myers, FL 33906, United States

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) saltwater angler recognition program, Catch a Florida Memory, will be giving away a fully outfitted fishing kayak to one lucky angler in its first-ever Triple Threat Throwdown! This challenge will run from Jan. 1 through Sept. 5, 2023, and will be an exclusive raffle opportunity for Triple Threat Club members to win a Bonafide SS127 fishing kayak, fully outfitted with an accessory package from YakAttack. To enter, participants must qualify for a Catch a Florida Memory recognition between Jan. 1 and Sept. 5, 2023, and be a member of the Triple Threat Club at the time of the raffle drawing, which will take place after all submissions from the challenge period have been processed.

Triple Threat Club status is awarded to anglers who have qualified for recognition in all three Catch a Florida Memory programs. This means the angler has caught a Saltwater Grand Slam, a Saltwater Reel Big Fish and has qualified for at least the Saltwater Life List 10 Fish Club. Anglers only need to qualify for the Triple Threat Club once and membership never expires.

Catch a Florida Memory’s saltwater angler recognition program rewards anglers for their fishing efforts while encouraging them to target a diversity of species. Anglers do not have to harvest their fish to be eligible for prizes and are encouraged to use proper fish handling techniques.

New to Catch a Florida Memory? Learn more and submit catches at CatchaFloridaMemory.com. Check out the latest catches and see your achievements highlighted by following the Catch a Florida Memory Facebook page, Facebook.com/CatchaFLMemory. View angler catches and much more on Instagram and Twitter by following @MyFWC.

If you have questions about the Catch a Florida Memory program, contact [email protected].
Your purchase of fishing equipment, motorboat fuel and a fishing license supports aquatic education and outreach efforts. Learn more at MyFWC.com/SFR.

Only 4 Shows Left!
Don’t miss your chance to get into the Holiday mood with this feel good musical. It will bring a smile to your face and have you swaying in your seats!

Snowbird Follies:
An Original Yuletide Revue-sical

Friday, December 16 – 7:30PM
Saturday, December 17 – 2:00PM
Saturday, December 17 – 7:30PM
Sunday, December 18 – 7:00PM
Music & Arts Community Center
13411 Shire Ln, Fort Myers

“Fun and clever lyrics capture the holiday spirit – Southwest Florida style”
– Tom Hall, WGCU

MEET THE CAST

RUTHGENA FARACO

Ruthgena Faraco is very excited to make her debut with Gulf Coast Symphony’s musical theater production of the Snowbird Follies. She was born and raised in Southwest Florida. A few of her favorite roles include Celie in “The Color Purple” Mary Warren in “The Crucible,”Kate Monster in “Avenue Q” and Ensemble in “A Motown Christmas”.

ROBERT JUSTIN DRESNER

Robert Justin Dresner is thrilled to be making his debut with the Gulf Coast Symphony! He was most recently seen as King Arthur in Camelot, Max in The Royale and Toad in A Year With Frog and Toad in Orlando, and could also be seen in The Studio Theater Tierra Del Sol’s production of Elegies, A Song Cycle.

KIMBERLY SUSKIND

Kimberly Suskind is a professional performer, director, choreographer and teaching artist who is thrilled to call Fort Myers her new home! She made her Off-Broadway debut last fall starring as Sarah in the new musical, Brilliant, and has been fortunate enough to perform at several wonderful regional theaters across the country, including New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Florida, Delaware, Seattle and Boston.

RYAN CRAIG

Ryan has newly returned to performing since completing his Master’s in Vocal Performance in 2016 at the University of Miami and is very grateful to be able to do what he loves again with wonderful and talented people. His training is in opera, but his first love is rock! He just recently played King Basilius in Head Over Heels at New Phoenix Theater in May and is currently performing the lead role in Jekyll and Hyde in “Jekyll and Hyde the Musical.”

239.277.1700 | GulfCoastSymphony.org

Gulf Coast Symphony, PO Box 60878, Fort Myers, FL 33906, United States

Hometown heroes are the focus of annual college bowl game set for Dec. 27

Fort Myers, FL (Grassroots Newswire) December 15, 2022 – In recognition of the service and sacrifice of thousands of first responders nationwide, SERVPRO will host the fifth annual SERVPRO First Responder Bowl at SMU’s Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas. The University of Memphis Tigers will face off against the Utah State University Aggies. Kickoff is set for December 27, 2022, at 3:15 Eastern Standard Time on ESPN.

“This game shines a spotlight on hometown heroes across the country,” said John Ferguson, a disaster restoration specialist with SERVPRO of Bonita Springs/Estero. “We are proud to be part of a company that honors all first responders for willingly putting the welfare of others ahead of their own personal safety.”

Nationwide, SERVPRO franchises, including Bonita Springs/Estero, were asked to submit the name of a first responder from their hometown to be considered for special recognition at the game. This year, SERVPRO is honoring Cpl. Phillip Zonn and POFC. Geobani Guerra of the Prince George’s County (Maryland) Police Department. Zonn and Guerra were both separately traveling home from their shift when they approached a vehicle that had been involved in an accident. The two officers bravely worked to cut the unconscious and injured driver free from the burning vehicle before it was engulfed in flames.

The First Responder Bowl caps off a year of significant support from SERVPRO for first responder communities across the country. Following Hurricane Ian, SERVPRO, in partnership with First Responders Children’s Foundation (FRCF), a nonprofit organization that aids the children and families of first responders, provided $150,000 in financial grants to 80 first responders affected by the storm. (https://1strcf.org/ian/). In addition, SERVPRO performed, at no charge, mitigation services to begin restoring the homes of ten first responders affected by Ian.

SERVPRO is also celebrating community and individual participation in the game. First responders nationwide will enjoy the game with first responder tailgate boxes, filled with tailgate goodies, purchased by their local SERVPRO franchisee and delivered to their local fire stations and public safety offices in time for the game. Fans in the Fort Myers area can show their support for first responders by taking and posting a selfie with the hashtag #MySelfieGives while watching the game in person or on TV. SERVPRO will donate $100, up to $25,000, to the FRCF for each selfie posted during the game.

Tickets for the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl are available now at https://www.firstresponderbowl.com/ticket-op. First responders are eligible for up to four complimentary tickets to the game. SERVPRO, as a presenting sponsor, also honors first responders at 12 additional bowl games, including the Armed Forces Bowl and the Frisco Bowl, with the “Honor a Responder” award.

SERVPRO specializes in disaster cleaning, restoration, and construction services, helping to remediate damage, making it “Like it never even happened,” for both commercial and residential customers. For more information on SERVPRO of Bonita Springs/Estero, please contact John Ferguson at (239)791-8892 or [email protected]. For more information about SERVPRO, please visit www.servpro.com.

About SERVPRO
For more than 50 years, SERVPRO has been a trusted leader in fire and water cleanup and restoration services, construction, mold mitigation, biohazard and pathogen remediation. SERVPRO’s professional services network of more than 2,000 individually owned and operated franchises spans the United States and Canada, responding to property damage emergencies large and small � from million-square-foot commercial facilities to individual homes. When disaster strikes, homeowners, business owners and major insurance companies alike rely on SERVPRO to make it “Like it never even happened.”

Only 4 Shows Left!
Don’t miss your chance to get into the Holiday mood with this feel good musical. It will bring a smile to your face and have you swaying in your seats!

Snowbird Follies:
An Original Yuletide Revue-sical

Friday, December 16 – 7:30PM
Saturday, December 17 – 2:00PM
Saturday, December 17 – 7:30PM
Sunday, December 18 – 7:00PM
Music & Arts Community Center
13411 Shire Ln, Fort Myers

“Fun and clever lyrics capture the holiday spirit – Southwest Florida style”
– Tom Hall, WGCU

MEET THE CAST

RUTHGENA FARACO

Ruthgena Faraco is very excited to make her debut with Gulf Coast Symphony’s musical theater production of the Snowbird Follies. She was born and raised in Southwest Florida. A few of her favorite roles include Celie in “The Color Purple” Mary Warren in “The Crucible,”Kate Monster in “Avenue Q” and Ensemble in “A Motown Christmas”.

ROBERT JUSTIN DRESNER

Robert Justin Dresner is thrilled to be making his debut with the Gulf Coast Symphony! He was most recently seen as King Arthur in Camelot, Max in The Royale and Toad in A Year With Frog and Toad in Orlando, and could also be seen in The Studio Theater Tierra Del Sol’s production of Elegies, A Song Cycle.

KIMBERLY SUSKIND

Kimberly Suskind is a professional performer, director, choreographer and teaching artist who is thrilled to call Fort Myers her new home! She made her Off-Broadway debut last fall starring as Sarah in the new musical, Brilliant, and has been fortunate enough to perform at several wonderful regional theaters across the country, including New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Florida, Delaware, Seattle and Boston.

RYAN CRAIG

Ryan has newly returned to performing since completing his Master’s in Vocal Performance in 2016 at the University of Miami and is very grateful to be able to do what he loves again with wonderful and talented people. His training is in opera, but his first love is rock! He just recently played King Basilius in Head Over Heels at New Phoenix Theater in May and is currently performing the lead role in Jekyll and Hyde in “Jekyll and Hyde the Musical.”

239.277.1700 | GulfCoastSymphony.org

Gulf Coast Symphony, PO Box 60878, Fort Myers, FL 33906, United States

The Lee County Port Authority (LCPA) would like to remind your readers and viewers about the following information for traveling out of Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) this holiday:

• Arrive early. We expect a busy Christmas and New Year’s holiday at RSW and want travelers to plan ahead. Please be in line at your security checkpoint at least 2 hours prior to flight departure.
• LCPA is expecting heavy passenger traffic this holiday season, which means the airport is anticipating higher parking volumes. Parking lots at RSW may fill up quickly between Dec. 16, 2022 and Jan. 4, 2023. We cannot guarantee you will find a parking spot. Please consider alternative ways to get to RSW, such as being dropped off by friends or family or using commercial transportation. We will post parking updates on the airport’s website (flylcpa.com), Facebook, Instagram and Twitter throughout the holiday to keep travelers informed on airport parking availability.
• Local roads are extremely busy during the holidays, so allow extra time to get to the airport. To avoid congestion, use the I-75 Direct Connect to get to and from RSW.
• If there is inclement weather forecasted at destination or connecting airports, travelers should check with their air carrier to see if there are any changes to their flight schedules.
• Visit the Transportation Security Administration’s website at tsa.gov for tips about what you can and cannot bring through the security checkpoint.

For more airport information, please visit flylcpa.com or facebook.com/flyRSW.

DEC. 15, 2022

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.

Almost 12 weeks after Hurricane Ian made landfall the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and partner agencies continue their efforts to remove vessels rendered derelict by the storm in Charlotte, Collier, Lee and Monroe counties.   

Imagery from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has identified over 7,500 potentially displaced vessels. FWC officers have assessed over 4,200 vessels on the waters of the state. 

“Our deployed officers continue the mission by locating owners and delivering notification of rights packets and waiver forms,” said FWC Boating and Waterways Section Representative Capt. Travis Franklin. “The assessment phase is all but complete at this point, though we do have new DVs pop up here and there almost daily.” 

In Lee County, 708 vessels were identified as derelict and over half of those vessels have been removed or brought into compliance. 

Owners are still encouraged to hire a salvage company themselves to recover their vessel to provide the safest method possible for the vessel and the environment. Vessel owners can voluntarily release ownership of a displaced vessel through the waiver process through the end of December 2022. The FWC will then facilitate the removal and destruction of the vessel, and owners will not be charged for removal costs. This process can be initiated by contacting the FWC through the Hurricane Ian Vessel Hotline at 850-488-5600 and requesting to turn over a derelict vessel. An FWC representative will then contact the owner to explain the waiver process and facilitate the potential turnover of ownership. FWC has received 79 waivers from boat owners voluntarily releasing ownership so the boats can be removed.  

The Department of Emergency Management has assumed the role of coordinating the removal and disposal of vessels investigated by the FWC. A total of 133 derelict vessels have been turned over to DEM for removal in Charlotte, Collier, Lee and Monroe counties. 

DEM has worked closely with the FWC, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Coast Guard and local governments to identify and remove debris from waterways and upland private and commercial properties. The newly created State Debris Cleanup Program will assist Hurricane Ian survivors with the removal of displaced and abandoned titled property. Residents can request the removal of debris including vehicles, vessels, motorcycles, trailers and ATVs. To make a request, visit IanDebrisCleanup.com to report the presence of debris.

This winter season, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reminds beachgoers how to help protect vulnerable resident and migratory shorebirds and seabirds while enjoying Florida’s coastal habitats.

Each winter, Florida’s resident shorebirds and seabirds are joined by both human and avian snowbirds coming to our state’s shorelines from colder climates. Both resident and migratory shorebirds rely on Florida’s sandy beaches for important habitat and resting spots. Whether you’re a fellow sunshine state resident or a visitor to our beaches this winter, you can have a big impact on conservation of coastal birds. Help shorebirds and seabirds along our coasts by following these simple shorebird-friendly tips:

Do the flock walk. Instead of walking straight through, try walking around flocks of birds at the beach and stay out of posted areas. Getting too close to resting shorebirds, seabirds and wading birds can cause them to flush, disturbing birds that may need important rest from long migratory flights.  

Look for Critical Wildlife Area closures. Be on the lookout for signs designating Critical Wildlife Areas on the beach or coastal islands – these areas are closed to public access to protect high concentrations of wading birds and shorebirds. Boaters and beachgoers can help birds by keeping their distance and noise volumes low near CWAs.

Keep your pups at home. Even well-behaved dogs can frighten shorebirds, causing them to panic and expend valuable energy. If you bring your dog with you to the shore, go to a beach where they’re allowed and follow all leash laws.

Resist the urge to feed the birds. Sharing snacks with birds at the beach may seem harmless or even helpful but it can be harmful to them and other wildlife. Shorebirds and seabirds are healthiest when eating the natural prey they normally forage for, such as small invertebrates in the sand and fish they’ve caught themselves from the water.

Properly stash all trash. Trash and food scraps attract predators while litter on beaches and in the water can entangle birds, turtles and other wildlife. Beachgoers can help birds and other native wildlife by properly disposing of all trash, filling in man-made holes in the sand, and removing all personal gear from the beach before sunset. Fishing line can be deadly to waterbirds, sea turtles and other wildlife, so be sure to dispose of it properly. To find a monofilament recycling station near you, visit mrrp.myfwc.com.

For more information about ways to help shorebirds in Florida while at the beach, go to MyFWC.com/Shorebirds and download the “Share the Beach with Beach-Nesting Birds” brochure. Or go to the Florida Shorebird Alliance website at FLShorebirdAlliance.org to learn more about how to participate in shorebird and seabird conservation efforts.

SAVE THE DATE-Build a Home!

Join us for a day filled with Family Fun on Saturday, December 17th, 2022 11 am-3 pm

Your admission will go to the Nature Park Rebuilding Fund! You can be a part of this Hurricane Ian relief. Your admission includes Free Carousel Ride, Free Mini Golf, and a Free Future Voucher for Nature Park Admission PLUS Close Encounters with Hootie the owl and some of her friends. Bring the entire family!
Adult admission is only $10 Kids 12 & under are only $5

Interested in being a sponsor?

We are offering some great opportunities for businesses to support the Nature Park Environmental Education Foundation & can be deductible through our 501(c)3 foundation
Your help will build homes that were destroyed in Hurricane Ian’s wake and enrich our wildlife for you & your family to enjoy for years to come!

Let’s Celebrate together! We’ll Bring in the New Year in Style!

Saturday, December 31st, 2022 5pm-9pm
✨Early Bird Ball Drop✨
Special New Year’s Eve Menu & Champagne served at Ball Drop

Then join us on January 1st, 2023 for our Famous Hair of the Dog Party!

We’ll help your hangover with a Special Cure, a Special Menu & of course
Bloody Mary Specials!

February 5th, 2023 11 am-6 pm
Come out for our Biggest Party of the year!
21st Annual Gumbo Fest
(If you’ve been here before then you know!!)
Free Admission-Authentic Zydeco Music by the Famous Dwayne Dopsie & The Zydeco Hellraisers “Straight from New Orleans!
& The Porchdogs- Spicy Accordion Driven Music
Dancing-Authentic Gumbo Dishes Served & Amazing Food Trucks
Ice Cold Beer-Beverages & Cocktails(for Purchase)
All proceeds benefit
The Nature Park Environmental Education Foundation 501(c)3

SAVE THE DATES! Here is a look at our future Family Fun Events!

www.shellfactory.com
239-995-2141

The Shell Factory and Nature Park | 16554 N. Cleveland Avenue, North Fort Myers, FL 33903

CALIFORNIA CLOSETS MAKES MAJOR DONATION

TO VALERIE’S HOUSE FOR NEW FOREVER HOME

$200,000 Challenge Grant Also Announced

FORT MYERS, FLA. December 14, 2022 – California Closets has made a major commitment to Valerie’s House for its new Lee County Forever Home under construction at 3551 Shoemaker Lane in Fort Myers.

California Closets has donated $50,000 to sponsor one of the new grief therapy rooms in Valerie’s House and additionally has committed to helping design and donate the materials and labor to install the built-in shelving and closets throughout the home, including the special Teddy Bear Library the children and families have come to love inside Valerie’s House.

“We are grateful to California Closets for their creativity and commitment to making the Valerie’s House Forever Home a comfortable and special space for our families,” said Valerie’s House Founder and CEO Angela Melvin.  “The generosity of owners Bo Woods and Suzi Henderson ensures that this home will truly be one of a kind as we fulfill our mission that no child will ever grieve alone.”

Woods said this family has been a supporter of Valerie’s House for several years and the California Closets team will be personally involved in installing their custom pieces.

“Our goal is to apply our expertise and product to create a calm, organized space that allows the staff at Valerie’s House to focus on what matters most,” Woods said. “Everyone within our company will be involved in helping make this possible.”

In more Valerie’s House Forever Home news,  Melvin announced a friend of one of the Valerie’s House families has pledged to match every dollar raised up to $200,000 between now and December 31.

A total of $2.5 million has been raised toward the $3 million cost of the new home that is under construction on land donated by the City of Fort Myers under a $1 per year lease.

“If you haven’t donated yet, please consider being a part of this special challenge before the end of the year,” Melvin said. “We are so close to reaching our goal. When the doors open next year, you will know you are a part of this legacy for our community.’

The home will be a cozy, warm, old Florida style structure, with special rooms like a volcano room, which allows children to work out any anger or other emotions they have because of their loss.  The 7,000-square-foot facility will also allow Valerie’s House to help more children and provide wrap-around services, such as individual grief counseling to support families who desperately need it.

Lennar Homes is acting as the project manager for the construction of the home, which is expected to be completed by mid-2023.

Valerie’s House has helped more than 2,000 children and their families since its founding in 2016 by Angela Melvin, whose mother Valerie was killed in a car accident in 1987.

One in seven children in Florida is predicted to lose a parent or sibling before the age of 25, according to the 2022 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model.

Valerie’s House currently offers peer support groups and other activities at locations in Fort Myers, Naples, Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte and Pensacola. Valerie’s House is a United Way partner agency and is fully supported by community donations.

Several room sponsorship opportunities for the community are available. To make a donation, visit www.valerieshouse.org/capital-campaign, call 239-478-6734, or email Project Manager Sterling Lund at [email protected].

About Valerie’s House

Valerie’s House opened in January 2016 and has served more than 2,000 children and their families from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, and Hendry counties. The organization provides a safe, comfortable place for children to share, grieve and heal together following the death of a close family member. Valerie’s House has three locations: 1762 Fowler St. in downtown Fort Myers, 819 Myrtle Terrace in Naples and group therapy meetings at several churches in Charlotte County.  For more information, visit www.valerieshouse.org

About California Closets

For more than 40 years, California Closets has built a reputation as a leader in premium and luxury space management, delivering truly custom products and unparalleled service California Closets sees home as more than just a place—it is a source of comfort and refuge, a space for connection and celebration. Committed to offering quality custom storage solutions, California Closets helps give people a sense or organization that allows them to focus on what matters most. Today, there are 120 showrooms and 700+ designers across North America.