Member News

Fort Myers, FL (Sept. 21, 2023) – The Sanibel-Captiva Foundation will host a fundraising event Saturday, Sept. 30, commemorating the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Ian. The night of remembrance and hurricane relief fundraising will also benefit the recently released book, entitled Rosie and the Hurricane, a story about a small girl and her mother talking about a hurricane and the importance of being prepared. Ian pummeled Southwest Florida as a Category 5 hurricane on Sept. 28, 2022.

The event will be from 3-10 p.m. at Buster’s Sports Tavern 16681 McGregor Blvd. in Fort Myers and feature dueling pianos, raffles, prizes and a book signing by Rosie and the Hurricane the authors – Fernanda Ferrell-Zabala, Olga Zabala and Erin Sells and illustrator – David Acevedo – of Rosie and the Hurricane. The book is a collaborative effort between Advanced Hurricane Technology and Fernanda Ferrell-Zabala, who is Branding and Marketing Manager at AHT and book’s other contributors to deliver an important message about hurricane awareness and protection. The foundation will be raising money to pay for the cost of printing the book and its distribution. The School District of Lee County has authorized the book to be part of the curriculum for students in kindergarten through grade 2.

The book is especially important for this young age group which may have difficulty understanding powerful storms. How parents talk to their children about not only Hurricane Ian, but future storms is especially critical at a time when kids are not only curious but also fearful of what might happen next as the community deals with another hurricane season.

“We are excited to partner with the Sanibel-Captiva Foundation, remember the devastation of Hurricane Ian and the sacrifices made, and also raise money for a book we believe will help young children better understand storms while also learning about why it is important to be prepared,” Fernanda Ferrell-Zabala said.

About Advanced Hurricane Technology

Family-owned Advanced Hurricane Technology is an industry expert on hurricane protection for homes and businesses. Since 1993, our team has been developing new products that set the standards in the hurricane protection industry. We have expanded to three locations and over 250,000 square feet of manufacturing, storage and office space. Advanced Hurricane Technology is proud to be an American company that continues to grow, creating new innovative hurricane safety products and employ more people each year.

Fort Myers, Florida – Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., is pleased to announce that stockholder and chair of the firm’s Divorce, Marital and Family Law Department, Christina M. O’Brien, has become a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator. With her newly acquired certification, she is further poised to guide families through the mediation process with compassion, expertise, and a deep understanding of the intricacies of family law. O’Brien shares,

“With this certification, I hope to continue my commitment to helping families navigate some of the most challenging times in their lives with empathy, understanding, and a focus on achieving resolutions that prioritize the well-being of all involved. Mediation can be a powerful tool in fostering constructive dialogue and finding common ground in family law matters. I look forward to using my experience to assist those going through a difficult situation in reaching fair and amicable solutions that can pave the way for a brighter future for their families.”

O’Brien’s extensive experience spans numerous facets of family law, including divorce, alimony, timesharing, paternity, domestic violence injunctions, post-judgment modifications, and adoption issues. Moreover, she is well-versed in the nuanced world of prenuptial and postnuptial agreements.

In family law, particularly in cases involving high conflict parenting issues or relocation, O’Brien’s guidance is invaluable, as she often serves as an appointed Guardian Ad Litem in Lee County. While in this role, she makes recommendations to the court concerning parenting plans that prioritize the best interests of the child.

O’Brien will be scheduling half and full day mediations in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit beginning immediately. She may be reached at 239-344-1279 or via email at christina.obrien@henlaw.com.

About Henderson Franklin

Henderson Franklin is one of the largest, locally-based law firms between Tampa and Miami, with over 55 attorneys dedicated to providing a wide range of legal services in the areas of business and tax planning, estate planning, family law, business and civil litigation, eminent domain, intellectual property, workers’ compensation, employment law, real estate, and land use and environmental law. Henderson Franklin operates offices in Fort Myers, Bonita Springs, and Naples. For more information on O’Brien or Henderson Franklin, please visit www.henlaw.com.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 – FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) will hold two FSW For Hodges events aimed at assisting students from Hodges University. Recognizing the urgency and potential challenges these students may face, FSW seeks to ensure a seamless transition for those looking to continue their academic pursuits.

FSW For Hodges transition events will be held:

• Tuesday, Sept. 26, 5-7 p.m., in Building U-102
• Friday, Sept. 29, noon- 2 p.m., in Building J-103

These events will provide admissions application fee waivers and assistance, detailed information about the transferability of Hodges credits, comprehensive advising regarding FSW’s diverse program and certificate offerings, and financial aid information for a smooth transition.

One of FSW’s most in-demand programs, the AS degree in Nursing, boasts a recent 91% job placement rate, with an impressive five-year average of 89%. Additionally, several other FSW health professions programs boast 90-100% license and job placement rates. In FSW’s School of Business and Technology, students can earn business degrees and certificates or complete a computing technologies pathway at FSW’s Rist Cyber Institute.

This success underscores FSW’s commitment to not only providing top-tier education but also preparing students for post-graduate success.

“Florida SouthWestern State College has been a steadfast pillar of education in Southwest Florida for more than 60 years,” said Dr. Judith Bilksy, vice president, FSW Academic Affairs. “During this time of uncertainty for Hodges students, we want to offer a clear pathway and the support necessary to ‘move forward’ with their academic goals.” 

For more information or to register for these events, visit www.fsw.edu/fswforhodges or contact the FSW Admissions Office at 239-489-9054.

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Florida SouthWestern State College is Southwest Florida’s largest and most affordable institution of higher education. Annually serving nearly 20,000 students globally, FSW offers a variety of nationally-ranked, career-focused academic programs with two- and four-year degrees and professional certifications, several with 100 percent licensure pass and job placement rates. Study and travel abroad opportunities are available for students through FSW’s Center for International Education. Students are also active in clubs and programs catered to their interests. Visit www.FSW.edu for more information.

The October Gallery will be on display October 6-28 

FORT MYERS, FL (September 20, 2023) – The Alliance for the Arts invites the public to its opening reception of Moving Roots: Mariapia Malerba on October 6 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The free event features the works of the artist as well as light refreshments provided by Jayne Baker. The exhibit will be on view from October 6-28, 2023 at 10091 McGregor Blvd. Ft Myers, FL.

The gallery will be completely wrapped from top to bottom in larger-than-life artwork, transforming it into a portal of imagination, a silent participant, a tapestry of  monochromatic hues with fleeting touches of crimson, recounting the enchanting tale of “Moving Roots and the Comic Adventure.” This exhibit beckons souls “to embark, to delve within, to illuminate the unknown.” Moving Roots invites viewers to explore the depths of their being, “leaving a trail of questions, emotions and insights.”

Mariapia Malerba is an Italian-American artist who was born in Puglia, a region in Southern Italy. She studied art in high school and went on to study at Accademia di Belle Arti, a fine art institute in Lecce,Italy.  After earning a degree in art, with primary coursework in scenography, set design, and costume history, Mariapia moved to Lake Como in Lombardy, Italy to work as a textile designer. She has created textile designs for well-known fashion designers including Dolce & Gabbana, Versace and Cavalli. Her work has been showcased in various galleries all over Italy and America. 

As a multidisciplinary artist, Malerba employs in her practice different media: painting, installation, fashion and video, all of which she weaves into her creative palette. In her work she strives to create art that captures the profound beauty and vulnerability of the natural world, while exploring the reality of our relationship with one another, with the world and most importantly, with life itself.

In the Theatre Gallery: Karen S. Johnson 

Karen S. Johnson relocated to sunny Cape Coral in 2019 to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a full-time artist. Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, IL, Karen has been an artist at heart since childhood. She spent 30 years as a professional hair stylist in Naperville, IL, while always taking workshops from talented artists in Illinois and Florida, where she soon became a member of both Cape Coral and Fort Myers Art League. 

In the Member Gallery: David Hampton

David Hampton describes his work as an artistic effort to paint his life experiences. Channeling Edvard Munch, he views his pieces as his soul’s diary, works of self-confession that he hopes will help others realize that we are all human and therefore never truly strangers. 

About Alliance for the Arts

The Alliance for the Arts is a nonprofit community visual and performing arts center located in the heart of Fort Myers, Florida. Since 1975, the Alliance has been committed to transforming lives and improving community through the arts. The Alliance campus and galleries are open to the public from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Located at 10091 McGregor Boulevard just south of Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers. For more information, please call 239-939-2787, visit us at www.ArtInLee.org, find us on Facebook, Instagram or follow us on Twitter.

FGCU Board of Trustees to meet Sept. 26

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Florida Gulf Coast University Board of Trustees meets for a workshop meeting beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26, in Academic Building 9, Room 138.

Click here to view the agenda. Board meetings are open to the public.

For more information, contact Director of Board Relations Tiffany Reynolds at treynold@fgcu.edu or visit the website for the Board of Trustees at www.fgcu.edu/about/leadership/fgcuboardoftrustees.

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Under Florida law, email addresses are public records. If you do not want your email address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail to this entity. Instead, contact this office by phone or in writing.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Sept. 19, 2023) – Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) has elevated the long-term rating of Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) from A+ to an outstanding AA- for its Airport Revenue Bonds. The bonds are payable from the net revenues generated by the operations of Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, Florida. The rating upgrade recognizes the strong recovery in enplanement levels at RSW, which exceeds the national average, a strong balance sheet and robust liquidity, as well as a management team with extensive industry experience that has been effective in steering the financial operations of RSW. The Stable Outlook reflects KBRA’s expectation that airport activity will continue to recover through the remainder of 2023, with activity levels supporting healthy debt service coverage through the intermediate term.

“The Lee County Port Authority is very pleased KBRA recognizes the strength of RSW’s demand-driven business plan. We are meeting the new travel experience expectations of our customers and promoting growth, while controlling costs,” said Ben Siegel, CPA, C.M., executive director of the Lee County Port Authority.

Southwest Florida International Airport served a record-breaking10.3 million passengers in 2022 and is one of the top 50 U.S. airports for passenger traffic. No ad valorem (property) taxes are used for airport operation or construction. For more information, visit flylcpa.com.                                                                                                    

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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.

Saint Hilary’s Helping Hands Ministry would like to invite you to our 2nd annual wine & Cheese fundraising event, Saturday, November 18th, 2023 in Browning Hall at Saint Hilary’s Episcopal Church in Fort Myers. Please support us by sharing that attached flyer with your colleagues, friends and family.

All monies raised will continue our 2 partnerships with (1) Community Corporative with hygiene bags for the homeless and (2) Supporting Orange River Elementary School, a Title 1 school in East Fort Myers with school supples, uniforms and whatever else the teachers and children need. In 2022 we gave all 800 children Christmas gifts.

Any questions, please contact me : cell 203-507-8673.