TICKETS ON SALE FOR “CELEBRATING CHARLOTTE”

HOSTED BY VALERIE’S HOUSE

Sponsors announced for July 30 event

PORT CHARLOTTE, FLA., July 12, 2022 – Tickets are now on sale for “Celebrating Charlotte,” the first-ever fund-raising event hosted by Valerie’s House to support Charlotte County children grieving the loss of loved ones.

“Celebrating Charlotte: Celebrating What Makes This Home” is the theme of the fund-raiser planned at the Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on July 30.

General admission tickets are $25 with children under 12 admitted free with one paying adult.  VIP tickets are $35 each and entitle the purchaser to shop one hour before the doors officially open.  Tickets can be purchased at www.valerieshouse.org/events

“We are so pleased with how the community is embracing our first-ever fund-raising event in Charlotte County,” said Christine Carey, director of the Charlotte County Valerie’s House.  “We have some wonderful sponsors who are joining us in celebrating Charlotte and what makes this such a wonderful place to live.”

Burnt Store Title of SWFL has signed on as the presenting sponsor.  Other sponsors are Dillard’s, Aloia│Roland Attorneys at Law, Millennium Physician Group, State Farm-Mike Martin, and Sun News Media.

Other sponsorships are available from $3,000 to $5,000 by contacting Carey at 239-841-0382 or emailing her at [email protected]

Organizers are planning a day of food samples from some of Charlotte County’s best restaurants, select local brewery tastings, fashion and shopping in the marketplace for unique creations and hand-made items.

Dillard’s will present a fashion show and provide mini make-up makeovers.

“We’re also looking for vendors who want to showcase their products.  Specifically, we are encouraging restaurants, breweries, crafts, salons, home good stores, women’s clothing stores and more to get involved,” Carey said.

Vendor space is available for $125 or $75 plus a donated auction basket.  A 50/50 drawing also will be conducted.

All funds raised at the event will be used to support programming costs of Valerie’s House in Charlotte County, including materials for group nights and school groups, staff for group nights, counseling services, legal, financial and food assistance for grieving children and families. All services are offered free of charge to grieving families.

Valerie’s House, which is headquartered in Fort Myers, has provided grief support services to 245 Charlotte County children and 76 caregivers since its opening in Charlotte County in 2019.  Grief support groups are offered at 1st United Methodist Church in Punta Gorda and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Port Charlotte with additional services offered at the Family Services Center in Port Charlotte.

Valerie’s House was founded in 2016 by Angela Melvin, whose own mother was killed in a car accident in 1987, and has expanded to include locations in Fort Myers and Naples as well as Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte.

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 is fully supported by community donations.

About Valerie’s House

Valerie’s House opened in January 2016 and has served more than 2,000 children and their families from Charlotte, Sarasota, Glades, Lee, Hendry and Collier, counties as well as the Florida panhandle. 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 five locations: 1762 Fowler St. in downtown Fort Myers, 819 Myrtle Terrace in Naples, and grief support groups meetings at 1st United Methodist Church at 507 West Marion Ave. in Punta Gorda and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2565 Tamiami Trail, in Port Charlotte. Support services also are available at the Charlotte Family Services Center at 21500 Gibralter Drive in Port Charlotte.  For more information, visit www.valerieshouse.org

Introduction to Construction Management Certificate at FGCU!

Earn your micro-credential/digital badge in Construction Management.

This Introduction to Construction Management Certificate is geared to those who are looking to advance their knowledge and understanding of the basic elements and skill sets required by a Professional Construction Manager. The certificate will also benefit those currently working in a construction office without specific training or degrees, and those who want to further refine their skill sets related to Professional Construction Management.

Ready to register? Sign Up Now!

Registration Information:

Date(s): Sept 19 – Dec 4
Time: Self-paced with weekly modules
Location: Online
Cost: $1050
Ready to register? Sign Up Now!

Learn more about the digital badge at:
fgcu.edu/digitalbadges

Florida Gulf Coast University Innovative Education and Partnerships | 10501 FGCU Blvd S, Modular 2, Fort Myers, FL 33965

Sent by [email protected]

CONRIC pr + marketing appoints Marin Asher as

Chief Operating Officer

FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 12, 2022) – CONRIC pr + marketing is excited to welcome Marin Asher to the agency to help lead the company’s growing team of marketing professionals as their Chief Operating Officer. Asher will oversee the business’s day-to-day administrative and operational functions in this role.

“I’m honored for this opportunity to work side-by-side with such a talented group of individuals. I’ve admired and respected the company’s high standards and commitment to serving our community for many years,” said Asher. “I plan to use my extensive marketing background and passion for collaboration to help the CONRIC team, and ultimately our clients, achieve their highest potential!”

Asher’s marketing career spans over two decades and includes experience in video production, graphic design, web development, online marketing, advertising sales, magazine publishing, event promotion, copywriting, and photography. Most recently, Asher was the Director of Sales & Marketing for a local service-based business where she wrote and directed an Addy Award winning 30 second television commercial as part of a successful 2022 advertising campaign. In addition to overseeing all aspects of the marketing, she also developed and managed an inside sales team which helped increase the company’s sales by 28%.

“We are thrilled to have Marin join our team. Her diverse skill set combined with an ability to connect with people and see the big picture is exactly what we need right now,” said CONRIC pr + marketing president and chief marketing officer Connie Ramos-Williams. “This year marks CONRIC’s 15th Anniversary, and we’re growing stronger than ever. As COO, Marin will ensure that we continue maintaining the same quality and attention to detail that our clients have come to know and appreciate from us.”

Since moving to Fort Myers in 2002, Asher has utilized her marketing talents and connections within the community to support many nonprofits in the area. She is currently the Vice President of the Board of Directors for Our Mother’s Home of Southwest Florida, an organization that helps young mothers achieve independence and success.

See the successful campaigns CONRIC creates daily for businesses and community organizations at conricpr.com. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call 239-690-9840.

CONRIC pr + marketing

CONRIC pr + marketing is a leading national creative digital marketing, branding, public relations, advertising, and web development agency headquartered in Southwest Florida. Connie Ramos-Williams launched the award-winning, full-service agency in 2007. The firm serves a diverse portfolio of clients in 35 states across the country in industry sectors, including financial, legal, education, medical, government, non-profit, hospitality, manufacturing, construction, real estate, association, and salon and spa. CONRIC was named Gulfshore Business magazine’s Best Advertising Agency and Best Public Relations Firm in the region. The agency has earned multiple Image Awards from the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association and Golden Image Awards from its statewide chapter, Charlie Awards from the Florida Magazine Association, national Addy Awards from the American Advertising Federation, an international MUSE Award for creative design, an Industry Appreciation Award for Business Diversity and a 2021 Uncommon Friends Business Ethics Award Finalist. CONRIC pr + marketing has offices located at 5237 Summerlin Commons Blvd., Suite 307 in Fort Myers, and 1415 Panther Lane in Naples. For more information, call 239-690-9840 or visit conricpr.com.

The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency will hold a
Special Planning Workshop on these dates:

Thursday, July 21, 2022 from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
and
Friday, July 22, 2022 from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

The workshop will be held at:

Riverside Community Center
3061 E. Riverside Drive
Fort Myers, FL 33916

Please contact the CRA Office for assistance if needed.

Phone: (239) 321-7100
Email: [email protected]

We hope to see you there.
Thank you!

FWC proposes rule for goliath grouper spawning aggregations

At its July meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) proposed a rule to increase protections for adult goliath while spawning. The proposed rule, if approved at the final hearing, would prohibit fishing within 1,000 feet of three goliath grouper aggregation sites from July 15 – Oct. 15 each year. These sites were identified by stakeholders as having the highest density of goliath grouper within state waters during the spawning season. The three sites are:

• MG 111 and Warrior Reef
• Ana Cecilia and Mizpah Wrecks
• Castor and Bud Bar Wrecks

A final rule hearing for goliath grouper spawning aggregation protections will be presented at a future Commission meeting.

For more information, including the July 2022 Commission meeting presentation, visit MyFWC.com/Commission and click on “Commission Meetings.”

For current recreational goliath grouper regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Goliath

Dr. Mel Irvine now offering FDA regulated cord blood therapies

Learn more during Cord Blood Awareness Month in July

ESTERO, Fla. (July 12, 2022) – In conjunction with Cord Blood Awareness Month, Dr. Melissa (Mel) Irvine, DNP, is now offering cord blood therapies at her private practice that may help to improve outcomes of nearly 80 diseases. Cord blood cells and growth factors have been used successfully for over 30 years to treat blood and immune disorders and these therapies are regulated by the FDA. With over 15 years of medical experience, Dr. Mel understands the role these groundbreaking therapies can have on our bodies and how they can be used to help optimize our health and well-being.

“This is the next level of medicine, and I am thrilled to be able to start offering these services to patients,” said Dr. Mel. “These tissue support matrix therapies use umbilical and placental cells, which are multipotent and can affect immune response and healing. These medical treatments are being used globally in an attempt to improve overall health outcomes for patients suffering from arthritis, joint pain, aesthetics, burns, and erectile dysfunction to name a few.”

As the FDA has opened use for injections and other modes of treatment, the cord blood products Dr. Mel uses go through rigorous testing and are now available in the U.S.

“Cord therapies have been around for a long time but researching your source for therapies is important. While many providers go outside of the United States, I am using a tissue bank in the U.S. that is FDA inspected and regulated. It is important to work with a reputable source that is transparent and ethical about its practices,” said Dr. Mel.

Dr. Mel explains that the umbilical cells and growth factors provide the building blocks required for structural support and repair of multiple body systems. Research and ongoing studies show positive results with cancer patients, COVID patients, burn victims and more. Studies have also observed the effects of the cells on rebuilding the tissue in joints and ligaments for degenerative joint disease processes.

“What I have researched and the results I have seen in fighting scars and fibrotic tissue is amazing,” said Dr. Mel. “The cells are used to help regenerate tissue where it’s needed throughout the body. Tissue support matrix may help with sexual health conditions in men by replacing damaged or dysfunctional cells. I can also do ultrasound guided joint injections in the shoulder and knee, or IV push for overall wellness.”

The number of treatments depends on the individual condition and how badly the tissue is damaged. These services are usually not covered by insurance and can range from $1,800 to $20,000 or more depending on the individual care plan. Cord blood therapies can provide short and long-term results but are not permanent. Dr. Mel says erectile dysfunction therapies can last 3 to 5 years on average.  

Dr. Mel takes pride in her approach to providing quality personalized care and solutions to meet the sexual health and wellness needs of both men and women that have a positive impact on their lives. Her practice is located at 9250 Corkscrew Rd., Ste. 5 in Estero. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please visit drmelirvine.com, or call 239-351-5663.

About Dr. Melissa (Mel) Irvine, DNP 

Dr. Mel has been in the medical field for over 15 years and is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Brenau Women’s College, in Gainesville, Georgia. She received her Master of Science in Nursing at The University of Alabama at Birmingham and her doctorate degree at Florida Gulf Coast University. Dr. Mel is passionate about empowering and educating women so they can be their own advocates and make the best-informed decisions regarding treatment options and quality of life. As a Sexual Medicine provider, she takes pride in providing high quality personalized care to meet the sexual health needs of both men and women. Her interest in Sexual Medicine took her to San Diego where she completed a preceptorship with the leading Sexual Medicine provider in the U.S., Dr. Irwin Goldstein. She is an avid learner and regularly attends educational training and conferences to stay up to date on the latest and most innovative treatment options available.

July 13, 2022

FWC approves captive wildlife rule language for reporting requirements for injuries and escapes
At its July meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved rule language related to captive wildlife reporting requirements for injuries and escapes. The new rule improves public safety and provides information necessary for the management of captive wildlife. Staff received feedback from stakeholders on the proposed rule language and incorporated changes to address concerns raised during public meetings and online comments.

Rule changes related to reporting criteria for injuries and escapes will create consistency across all captive wildlife classes for permittees and assist the Captive Wildlife Section with gathering data for effective management. The final rule language includes:
• Requiring all captive wildlife permittees to report to the FWC any injuries to anyone other than the permittee or an authorized employee that are caused by captive wildlife and that require treatment beyond basic first aid. Injuries to permittees and qualified employees must be reported if the injuries result in serious bodily injury or death
• Requiring permittees to report all escapes of Class I, II, III and Venomous Reptiles of Concern (VRC).
• Adjusting the threshold at which an injury becomes a violation of the rule.
• Prohibiting the unauthorized breaching of a public safety barrier.
• Providing FWC staff the flexibility to require a digging barrier for animals that have exhibited digging behavior.
• Clarifying rule language regarding open-top enclosures.

“Public safety is a priority for the FWC’s Division of Law Enforcement and this new rule will help ensure that proper notifications are provided to law enforcement personnel and the public when a captive wildlife injury or escape occurs. As always, our Captive Wildlife Section will continue to work closely with the industry to promote responsible ownership of captive wildlife,” said Col. Roger Young, director of the FWC Division of Law Enforcement.

View the Commission meeting agenda and documents at MyFWC.com/Commission by clicking on “Commission Meetings” and the agenda under “July 13-14, 2022.”

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

Assistant State Attorney Kipp Vugteveen honored as FWC 2022 Prosecutor of the Year
Today, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) honored Assistant State Attorney Kipp Vugteveen with the agency’s Prosecutor of the Year Award during the Commission meeting in Jacksonville.

ASA Vugteveen represents the 18th Judicial Circuit comprising Brevard and Seminole counties. Over the years, he has taken an interest in the unique cases FWC officers bring to his office for prosecution. Because of his understanding of resource violations, he has become the primary intake attorney for all FWC cases in these counties.

ASA Vugteveen has participated in several ride-a-longs with FWC officers where he observed violations as they occurred in real time. He works with our officers to identify repeat offenders and recommends enhanced penalties allowed by Florida Statute. He also developed a system within his office to ensure FWC’s cases are handled with the appropriate level of care and attention.

“I have immense respect and admiration for the men and women of the FWC Division of Law Enforcement. Thanks to their willingness to familiarize me with conservation enforcement issues and contagious enthusiasm, I’ve been honored to work with them to protect our state’s natural resources and increase public safety on Florida waterways,” said Assistant State Attorney Kipp Vugteveen.
ASA Vugteveen works closely with FWC investigators to ensure search warrants and investigative methods are successful. His guidance and partnership with the FWC spans many years. His open-door policy and regular meetings with officers are a significant benefit to the division when questions arise on a case or filing decision.

“ASA Vugteveen provides excellent prosecutorial insight when reviewing resource-related cases. The FWC is fortunate to have a prosecutor like him working alongside officers to help protect Florida’s natural resources,” said Col. Roger Young, director of the FWC Division of Law Enforcement.

Mark your calendars for a free event: 

July 30th, 3pm-6pm

Kimmie’s Recovery Zone and RYAN Healing Center presents Tipping the Pain Scale movie about how communities are providing different solutions for addiction.  Event location is at the 
Collaboratory, 2031 Jackson St., Fort Myers.

For further details and to register to save your seat for this FREE event, please go to:   https://addictioncompassion.com/krzevent

Blueline tilefish recreational season closes July 26 in Atlantic state waters 

Blueline tilefish closes for recreational harvest in Atlantic state waters (including all state waters of Monroe County) on July 26, with the last day of harvest being July 25.

Earlier this year, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Commissioners approved a temporary modification to reduce the recreational season in state waters to be consistent with recent changes in Atlantic federal waters. These regulations are intended to help prevent overfishing from occurring.

The Atlantic state waters recreational bag limit for blueline tilefish is three fish within the three-fish aggregate bag limit for grouper and tilefish.

Learn more at MyFWC.com/Marine by clicking on “Recreational Regulations” and “Tilefish,” which is under the “Reef Fish” tab or download the Fish Rules App. Learn more at FishRulesApp.com or follow Fish Rules at Instagram.com/FishRulesApp or Facebook.com/FishRulesApp.