Member News

COVID-19 Economic Aid Overview Webinar
Tuesday, July 20
11am – 12pm EST
Online: Click here to join the Microsoft Teams event.
Call-in: 202-765-1264, ID 903515768#
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Forgiveness Webinar
Tuesday, July 20
1pm – 2pm EST
Online: Click here to join the Microsoft Teams event.
Dial-in: 202-765-1264, ID 185864452#
SBA South Florida District Q& A Session
Tuesday, July 20
2pm – 3pm EST
Online: Click here to join the Microsoft Teams event.
Dial-in: 202-765-1264, ID 177893159#

Edison and Ford Winter Estates Participating in Program to give Museum Access to Low-Income Families
FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 19, 2021) — Edison and Ford Winter Estates has joined Museums for All, a signature access program of the Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Association of Children’s Museums, to encourage people of all backgrounds to visit museums regularly and build lifelong museum-going habits. Starting August 1, individuals and families (up to four people) receiving food assistance benefits will be admitted for a self-guided tour when they present their SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. Special events and Holiday Nights admission are not included.
Museums for All helps raise awareness and expand public access to museums within each community. The program is part of Edison Ford’s broad commitment to include and welcome all audiences, and is a good fit with the organization’s mission to educate the public and inspire an inventive spirit by interpreting and preserving the innovations, legacies, artifacts, gardens, homes, laboratory, and other structures of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, emphasizing Florida history, science, horticulture, and the arts. More than 700 organizations across the country participate in the program, including museums, science centers, botanical gardens, and zoos. Partnering museums are located nationwide, representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Virgin Islands.
Edison and Ford Winter Estates includes the historic winter homes of famous inventors Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, a 15,000-square-foot museum, the botanic research laboratory, and more than 20 acres of botanic gardens with plants and trees from around the world. The site is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week. Visitors can download an app or call a number to listen to a narrated tour while using a map to meander through the site at their own pace. Throughout the year, education programs, including summer camp and day camps, home school programs, and classes for preschool children are offered to enhance children’s education in local history, as well as science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM).
As a non-profit, Edison Ford depends on donations and sponsorships to be able to offer programs like this one to less fortunate families within the community. Sponsors have an opportunity to get their name in front of more than 220,000 local, national and international visitors annually.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Their mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Their grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
The Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) champions children’s museums worldwide. With more than 460 members in 50 states and 19 countries, ACM leverages the collective knowledge of children’s museums through convening, sharing, and dissemination. Learn more at www.childrensmuseums.org.

Meeting Notice
Take note of upcoming SFWMD public meetings
Join the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) for several upcoming public meetings. For a list of all upcoming meetings, check out our Meeting Calendar. Meeting agendas are available at least seven days in advance.
Meeting format varies for each meeting, and some meetings may be in-person only, virtual only, or a hybrid of both formats.
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What: Loxahatchee River Preservation Initiative Meeting
When: July 26, 2021 at 12:00 p.m.
Meeting Information and Materials
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What: SFWMD Workshop for the C-8 and C-9 Basins Flood Protection Level of Service Adaptation and Mitigation Planning Projects Study
When: August 3, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.
Meeting Information and Materials
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What: Quarterly Meeting of the Everglades Technical Oversight Committee
When: August 10, 2021 at 10:00 a.m.
Meeting Information and Materials
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What: Governing Board Workshop
When: August 11, 2021 at 1:00 p.m.
Meeting information and materials will be published at sfwmd.gov/meetings once available.
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What: Governing Board Meeting
When: August 12, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.
Meeting information and materials will be published at sfwmd.gov/meetings once available.
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Many SFWMD meetings are conducted via Zoom, a free online meeting tool. You can learn more about attending a Zoom meeting and even run a test on your computer, tablet or smart phone. Please note, you must have the latest version of Zoom to attend SFWMD meetings conducted on Zoom.
The South Florida Water Management District is a regional governmental agency that manages the water resources in the southern part of the state. It is the oldest and largest of the state’s five water management districts. Our mission is to safeguard and restore South Florida’s water resources and ecosystems, protect our communities from flooding, and meet the region’s water needs while connecting with the public and stakeholders.

July 16, 2021
Suggested Tweet: Big Bend blue #crab trap closure starts 7/20. @MyFWC: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLFFWCC/bulletins/2e872de #Florida
Big Bend blue crab trap closure starts July 20
Recreational and commercial blue crab traps in state waters from Hernando through Wakulla counties, including all waters of the Ochlockonee River and Bay, must be removed from the water before July 20, the first day of a 10-day trap closure. This closure will give groups authorized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) the opportunity to identify and retrieve lost and abandoned blue crab traps from the water.
Traps may be placed back in the water in this area starting on July 30. Until then, blue crabs may be harvested with other gear such as dip nets and fold-up traps. Blue crab harvesters may also use standard blue crab traps during the closure if the traps are attached to a dock or other private property.
Closures may be reduced in duration if it is determined the number of lost and abandoned traps in the region will take less time to remove.
Lost and abandoned blue crab traps are a problem in the blue crab fishery because they can continue to trap crabs and fish when left in the water. They can also be unsightly in the marine environment, damage sensitive habitats and pose navigational hazards to boaters.
The closure is one of three regional, 10-day blue crab trap closures for 2021. There are six regional closures total: three in even-numbered years on the east coast and three in odd-numbered years on the Gulf coast and in south Florida.
While state waters extend to 9 nautical miles offshore in the Gulf, the blue crab trap closures include only state waters extending to 3 nautical miles offshore.
More information regarding the FWC’s trap-retrieval program, blue crab trap closure dates, regulations and cleanup events is available online at MyFWC.com/Marine (click on “Trap and Debris”). For additional information, contact the FWC’s trap retrieval coordinator, Pamela Gruver, at 850-487-0554.
 

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