Member News

Appalachian Road Show Performing at Edison and Ford Winter Estates

FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 18, 2022) — On November 11, Edison and Ford Winter Estates will host the acoustic ensemble, Appalachian Road Show, for the first Rhythm on the River concert of the season. The group performs bluegrass and folk music, as well as original songs. The event will take place on the Ford lawn, along the Caloosahatchee River. Gates open at 6 p.m. and the concert starts at 6:30 p.m.

Band members include Grammy-nominated banjoist Barry Abernathy, Grammy-winning fiddler Jim VanCleve, vocalist and mandolinist Darrell Webb (who has recorded and toured with Dolly Parton), Grammy-winning bassist Todd Phillips, and guitarist Zeb Snyder. Abernathy, VanCleve, and Webb were each born and raised in Appalachia. Abernathy sang in his church as a young boy, VanCleve has played the fiddle since he was six years old, and Webb grew up with the influence of bluegrass music.

The group’s music tells stories from the mountains and valleys of North Carolina and Virginia and the coal mines of West Virginia and Kentucky. Those stories include topics of logging, coal mining, trains, and lost love in their hit songs such as “I Am Just a Pilgrim,” “Little Black Train,” “Dance, Dance, Dance,” and the ballad of love and loss in “Anna Lee.”

The band’s first album had three number-one songs on the Bluegrass Today Weekly Airplay charts. Then, in 2019, the band was nominated for the New Artist of the Year and Song of the Year (“Dance Dance Dance”) at the International Bluegrass Music Association Awards. In 2021, the group was named Instrumental Group of the Year and New Artist of the Year at the IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards.

Food and beverage vendors will have refreshments available for purchase. No coolers or picnic baskets will be permitted. Free parking is available in the main Edison Ford parking lot at 2350 McGregor Boulevard.

Tickets may be purchased online or at the ticket counter. Individual tickets purchased in advance are $30 for Edison Ford members or $35 for non-members; tickets at the door will be $40. Individual ticket holders should bring a lawn chair. A VIP seating area may be reserved by the table for $225. Each table holds up to 5 people; table ticket price includes the use of a table and chairs. For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit EdisonFord.org.

Edison and Ford Winter Estates
Edison and Ford Winter Estates is the internationally known winter home site of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. More than 220,000 visitors walk through the location each year from all around the globe. The organization has received many awards, including the National Stewardship Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Garden Clubs’ Historic Preservation Award. The property is an official project of “Save America’s Treasures,” a Florida Historic Landmark and a National Register Historic Site. The Edison Botanic Laboratory is a National Historic Chemical Landmark. The site is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and until 9 p.m. during the month of December for Holiday Nights.

Aug. 17, 2022

August blue crab trap closures for Florida’s northeast coast waived
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has waived the blue crab trap closure previously scheduled for Aug. 20-29, for all waters from Nassau through Volusia counties. Recreational and commercial blue crab traps may remain in the water during this period. The next blue crab trap closure for this region is currently scheduled to occur in August 2024.

For more on recreational and commercial blue crab regulations and trap closures, visit MyFWC.com/Marine.

Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission · 620 S. Meridian Street · Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600 · (850) 488-4676

Symphonic Rocks
August 20, 7:30pm
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall

Tickets start at just $29 — order now!

On August 20 connect with your inner rock ‘n’ roll soul and experience a rock concert like you never have before! Symphonic Rocks features pop hits from the 80s and 90s, plus standards from rock musicals, performed with guest vocalists, backup singers, rock band, and full symphony orchestra! Get ready to rock your seats with guest artists Chloe Lowery, who has toured with Yanni and Chris Botti, and Glee alum, Dan Domenech, who starred in Rent, Sister Act, Kinky Boots & Rock of Ages. Hear your favorite rock arrangements from Abba, Queen, Madonna, Jersey Boys, the Eagles, Journey and many more. This is an evening you will be rocking out in the aisles.

MEET THE ARTISTS

Chloe Lowery

Even if you don’t recognize Chloe Lowery’s name, there’s a very good chance that you know her voice. Although she recently released her first album under her own name, her prodigious talents have made her a go-to voice for a wide variety of high-profile acts, allowing her to perform in front of large crowds in some of the world’s most prestigious venues.

Chloe Elaine Lowery was born in Largo, Florida, and first felt the urge to perform in early childhood. She began voice lessons at the age of seven, and was soon singing and dancing at public events with a local performance troupe. She was just 12 when she signed her first recording deal, with RCA Records.

Dan Domenech

Dan Domenech, is an American singer, director and actor best known for his understudy portrayal of Jason Dean in Heathers: The Musical, Drew in the Broadway musical Rock of Ages and a recurring guest appearance on Glee. Domenech has also appeared in the pre-Broadway runs of Wonderland, Sister Act, National/International tours of RENT and Rock of Ages and worked as associate choreographer for film and TV projects like Tropic Thunder, Step Brothers, Fame, The Academy Awards and Emmys. He made his directorial debut summer of 2017 with the beta test of the revamped Heathers: The Musical before being mounted in it’s sold out run at The Other Palace Theater in London.

Listen to our Spotify Playlist for the month of August featuring music that inspired “Symphonic Rocks”.

Gulf Coast Symphony is committed to bringing vibrant, diverse performers to our community. Support us in this vital work.

Follow us on our social media for more updates:

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

Iron Ridge Insurance Services empowers team philanthropy

Fort Myers-based insurance agency contributes $9000 to charitable initiatives

FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 23, 2022) – Each year, as part of Iron Ridge Insurance Services’ employee appreciation efforts, the firm pledges its commitment to give back to the community and the causes that are important to its work family. During their annual Team Appreciation Day on July 28, Iron Ridge’s team members each chose an initiative to receive a $500 contribution, totaling $9,000 in giving to 18 charitable causes for the 2022 IRON GIVE event.

“I love how invested the team is in our community and the passion they have for helping others,” said Norman Lutz, CEO of Iron Ridge Insurance. “As we continue to grow, so does our ability to do more. In 2020 we were a team of five giving $2,500 locally. Just two years later, 18 team members were able to contribute to their charity of choice. They really get involved and want to help make Southwest Florida a better place.” 

Donations were provided to a variety of causes, including Blessings in a Backpack; Captains for Clean Water; David Lawrence Centers; Faces of Courage; Gulf Coast Humane Society; Heifer International; Humane Society Naples; IMAG; Keep Lee County Beautiful; Midwest Food Bank; OnBikes; Pick-Up the Ball; Project180; Rotary Foundation Cape Coral; Saving Our Community; Special Olympics Florida; St. Matthew’s House-Justin’s Place; and St. Matthew’s House-Housing and Feeding Ministry.

“I’m very proud of our team and honored that we can help lift up others right here in our community. We each have causes that we are passionate about and it’s important to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to provide support where their passion lies,” said Lutz.

Iron Ridge Insurance Services prides itself on its commitment to providing knowledgeable, innovative, and ethical insurance coverage to its clients. It primarily serves commercial clients, with particular focus on healthcare, architects and engineers, legal practices, condo and homeowners’ associations, and religious organizations. Its team of insurance professionals have a wealth of commercial and personal insurance experience. For an evaluation of your commercial or personal insurance coverage, contact Iron Ridge Insurance Services at 800-775-8526 or [email protected].

About Iron Ridge Insurance Services

Established in 2011, Iron Ridge Insurance Services is a boutique independent agency headquartered in Fort Myers, Florida that is committed to serving the community by providing innovative commercial insurance solutions. The agency helps clients manage risk through professional liability, management liability, data breach liability, general liability, commercial property, workers’ compensation, and commercial auto insurance programs. Iron Ridge Insurance serves commercial clients in a variety of fields, but specializes in managing risk for architects and engineers, physicians and medical practices, condominium and homeowners’ associations, and legal providers. Iron Ridge was awarded the 2022 SWFL Inc. Small Business of the Year Award and named one of Gulfshore Business magazine’s ‘Best Places to Work.’ The agency also offers competitive personal insurance solutions for individuals and families. For more information call 800-775-8526 or visit www.IronRidgeUS.com.

ENROLLMENT OPEN

We are very excited to offer these new programs to the community. All of our programs are taught by experienced high quality staff that are either music teachers in or around the area or professional musicians who also teach.

Starting August 22

MusicWorks! is an El-Sistema based program whose goal is to empower children to achieve their full potential through the study and performance of music. Students will get a variety of instruction (chorus, theory, general music, and music history).

Auditions August 20

The Youth Orchestra program is for students in grades 6-12. This program is for a full orchestra which will include string, woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments. Auditions will be held at 10am on August 20, 2022 at the Music & Arts Community Center.

Starting August 27

Jazz Collective Youth Ensemble is a full jazz ensemble for students in grades 8-12 with at least 2 full years of experience on their instrument.

Gulf Coast Symphony is committed to bringing vibrant, diverse performers to our community. Support us in this vital work.

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

Sizzle Dining event to benefit Blessings in a Backpack

3-weeks of local dining specials will help feed children in need

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Aug. 18, 2022) – Sizzle Dining is back! From September 8 – 28, enjoy dining specials at local restaurants while supporting Blessings in a Backpack SWFL, a program that feeds children in need on the weekends while they cannot access meals at school. The event includes specials at 48 participating restaurants across Lee and Collier Counties that will donate $1.00 from each meal directly to Blessings in a Backpack. What a perfect time to try that new place you’ve been wanting to go to!

“We are thrilled to be the beneficiary of this wonderful event again this year,” said Cecilia St. Arnold, Executive Director for Blessings in a Backpack SWFL. “We sincerely appreciate the generosity and support of the community and hope they enjoy taking advantage of this opportunity to dine in some of our best local restaurants knowing they are helping children in our community.”

Held annually in September, the event includes some of the best restaurants from Cape Coral down to Marco Island, and everywhere tasty in between! It’s simple, go to sizzledining.com, pick your city and look through the menus of restaurants listed in that area, make reservations and enjoy! No passes, tickets, vouchers or coupons are required. Simply visit any one of the participating restaurants throughout the 21-day event and order from the Sizzle Dining menu. Use #DineWithPurpose to help spread the word and to share your Sizzle Dining experience!

Two-course lunches start at just $19 or $24 and three-course dinners start at either $32 or $42. Price depends on location, but a dollar from each meal purchased goes directly to Blessings in a Backpack SWFL.

During the week, many young students are fed by federal government programs through school meals. A leader in the movement to end childhood hunger, Blessings in a Backpack ensures these children receive nutritional meals over the weekend during the school year. Every Friday afternoon, each child receives a backpack filled with nutritious, kid-friendly, ready-to-eat items. They return the backpacks on Monday, and each is filled and ready for the next weekend. A donation of only $130 will provide meals for 36 weekends for one school-age child. Blessings’ goal this school year is to feed over 6,000 school children. For more information, please visit swfl.blessingsinabackpack.org.

Sizzle Dining highlights and strengthens our local destination’s brand and culinary reputation. Attracting tourists to the area increases business for hotels, shopping centers, entertainment, and other local businesses. Everyone benefits from this impact and all the restaurants that participate see increased traffic and many new faces during the event. For more information, or to become a participating restaurant, please visit sizzledining.com.

Blessings in a Backpack helps prevent childhood hunger

Blessings in a Backpack SWFL serves over 6,000 students through 27 school-based programs located throughout Lee and Collier Counties. In these schools, test scores, reading skills, positive behavior, general health, and school attendance have improved dramatically due in part to students receiving the nourishment they need throughout the week and the weekends.

Kids are our future; you can help secure theirs. A $130 donation will feed a child for one full school year. Gifts of all sizes are welcome through the donations portal at https://swfl.blessingsinabackpack.org/ or via mail at P.O. Box 61402 Fort Myers, FL 33906. All contributions are tax-deductible.

COMMUNITY CONCERT ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES 2023 SEASON;

TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR FIVE RARE PERFORMANCES

FORT MYERS, FLA., August 17, 2022 – Internationally-acclaimed performers from the Ukraine, England and the U.S. will headline the five concerts planned for 2023 by the Fort Myers Community Concert Association.

Tickets are now on sale for the five-performance season, which organizers say brings the best in  symphony orchestras, song and dance to Southwest Florida.  All performances will be at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall on the Florida SouthWestern State College campus in Fort Myers.

“We are so happy to be back with a full slate of performances for our 2023 season,” said Community Concert Association President Mary Lee Mann.  “Community Concert Association members and guests will love seeing the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine as well as our other artists from around the world.”

All five concerts are included in one ticket price, which ranges from $165 for prime orchestra and mezzanine seats to $155 for other orchestra and mezzanine seats, $85 for lower balcony seating and just $65 for upper balcony.  Most $165 orchestra seating already is sold out, Mann said.

For membership information, visit www.fortmyerscommunityconcerts.org or call 239-693-4849. Tickets to individual performances are not available at this time.

The five performances all begin at 7:30 p.m.:

• New York Philharmonic String Quartet – January 8, 2023. The New York Philharmonic String Quartet consists of four principal musicians from the orchestra.  The group, formed in 2017, made its debut as a solo ensemble in John Adams’ Absolute Jest in New York in 2017.  All four

members are multiple prize winners, and have appeared as concerto soloists with the Philharmonic and orchestras throughout the world.  They are joined by acclaimed young American pianist Drew Peterson, winner of the 2017 American Pianist Award.

• The National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine – January 16, 2023. The Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine was established in 1902 and has hosted some of the world’s greatest conductors and musicians in classical music. The orchestra is a regular participant in international festivals, has toured extensively around the world and recently completed several highly acclaimed recordings. This concert is sponsored by the U.S. State Department.
• A Celebration of Song – the Classics to Broadway – February 7, 2023. This upbeat concert by Concerto Soloists Internationale features popular highlights from grand opera to Broadway to pop performed by international soloists from four continents with a live on-stage orchestra and an emcee..
• The English Chamber Orchestra – March 9, 2023. The English Chamber Orchestra is the most recorded chamber orchestra in the world. The orchestra has performed with some of the world’s greatest soloists. The orchestra has recorded many movie soundtracks, including scores for Atonement, Pride and Prejudice, and several James Bond movies.
• The Royal National Ballet Direct from the Republic of Georgia – Fire of Georgia – March 27, 2023. The Royal National Ballet will be making its American debut during this season.  The performance, called the “Fire of Georgia,” combines Georgian folk dances with modern attitude towards the choreography and costumes. The company’s program illustrates the variety of the world’s folklore and classical dance elements, acrobatics, stunts and temperament of the dancers.

The Fort Myers Community Concert Association, now in its 73rd concert season, is an all-volunteer not-for-profit organization founded by the legendary Barbara B. Mann in 1949 to bring world-class entertainment to Southwest Florida at affordable prices.  The association consists of more than 1,200 members, underwriters and sponsors.  Performers brought to Fort Myers in the past by the association include The Israel Ballet, The Boston Brass, Violin Virtuoso Itzhak Perlman, Cleveland Orchestra, Vienna Boys Choir, Pianist Andre Watts, Violinist Joshua Bell with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields and many others.

We are so excited to announce that
LIFELONG LEARNING CLASSES ARE BACK!

We took a hiatus during our last two years but we are so pleased to be offering
these high-interest classes for our Adult community in Southwest Florida.

Our Fall Session starts in September 2022 at The Lee County Public Education Center!
“Let’s Get Fit!” will be held at Cypress Lake High School

Please join us and sign-up soon as classes fill up quickly!

Check out our website for more details:
Leeschools.net/lifelonglearning

REGISTRATION IS OPEN FOR THE FOLLOWING CLASSES:
You may click on each link to register.

ADOBE PHOTOSHOP
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/398930490837

CONVERSATIONAL SPANISH
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/397103847297

HULAFIT! POLYNESIAN DANCE CLASS
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/396613691227

LET’S GET FIT!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/400271551987

MICROSOFT OFFICE COMPUTER BASICS
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/396545035877

US CITIZENSHIP COURSE
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/397260535957

WATERCOLOR PAINTING TECHNIQUES
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/406892625797

If you have any QUESTIONS or CONCERNS please contact Marliss Brockington
at 239.939.6321 or [email protected]

FEMA National Preparedness Month Reminds Property Owners that Disaster Prep Can Help Prevent Loss

Local SERVPRO storm damage mitigation specialist spotlights resources designed to help home and business owners weather the unexpected

Fort Myers, FL (Grassroots Newswire) August 24, 2022 – This year the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is urging home and business owners to think of disaster preparedness to help protect their families and the legacies they have worked so hard to create.¹ FEMA designates each September as National Preparedness Month, a time to prepare or review your family and business emergency plans for surviving and then managing the aftermath of an unexpected disaster.

“As a leader in fire and water cleanup and restoration services, mold mitigation, and storm response, SERVPRO understands the importance of preparation before disaster strikes,” says disaster mitigation specialist John Ferguson of SERVPRO® of Bonita Springs/Estero. “SERVPRO employs a full-time meteorologist and uses a cutting-edge geographic information system to provide each SERVPRO franchise with real-time, location-based insight on where storms are likely to hit and what kind of damage they could inflict. Since time is of the essence in limiting or preventing damage to properties after a flood, this advance, predictive intelligence can accelerate response time, making the difference between an inconvenience and a total loss for our SERVPRO customers.”

The U.S. Financial and Banking Information Infrastructure Committee (FBIIC) states that flooding is the nation’s most frequent and costly natural disaster, representing 90% of all natural disasters in the U.S. FBIIC adds that you don’t need to be in a high-risk, flood prone area to be affected. Nearly 25% of flood insurance claims come from moderate-to-low risk areas. ²

“While you can’t predict when a natural disaster will strike or what shape that disaster will take, you can prepare to minimize its effects on your home, your family, and your life,” says Ferguson.

FEMA offers a variety of no-cost tools³ to help you evaluate your risk, create a communication plan, sign up for alerts, put together an emergency kit customized to your family’s needs, protect important documents, and more.

In addition to following FEMA’s guidelines on disaster readiness, Ferguson encourages Fort Myers property owners to consider using the SERVPRO READY app⁴ to store essential contact and property information electronically where it can be accessed in seconds with a mobile device. “This is a no-cost tool available to all homeowners,” says Ferguson, “but local business owners who designate SERVPRO of Bonita Springs/Estero as their disaster mitigation and restoration provider will also benefit from a no-cost assessment of their facility along with help completing a comprehensive Emergency READY Profile® (ERP) to be stored in the READY app.”

For more information on SERVPRO of Bonita Springs/Estero, please contact John Ferguson at (239)791-8892 or [email protected]. For more information on SERVPRO® and the SERVPRO Emergency READY Program, please visit https://ready.servpro.com.

AVELO AIRLINES TO START NONSTOP SERVICE FROM FORT MYERS TO THREE NEW MARKETS IN NOVEMBER 

The Lee County Port Authority is pleased that Avelo Airlines has announced they will inaugurate nonstop service between Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers, Florida, and Kalamazoo (AZO) and Lansing, Michigan (LAN) and Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina (RDU) this November. This will be the first time RSW will have nonstop flights to Kalamazoo, which will operate twice weekly starting Nov. 11, 2022. The nonstop flights to Lansing will also be offered twice a week starting Nov. 11, 2022. Nonstop service to Raleigh/Durham will operate three times weekly starting Nov. 10, 2022. Avelo operates a fleet of Next Generation 737-700 aircraft.

For the Avelo Airlines news release announcing the service and more details, please click here. To book a flight or find out more information, please visit aveloair.com.

For more information about Southwest Florida International Airport, please visit flylcpa.com or facebook.com/flyRSW.

AUG. 25, 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.