Member News

FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 20, 2021) – During March, 1,162,342 passengers traveled through Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, Fla. This was an increase of 35 percent compared to March 2020 and an increase of 60.2 percent increase compared to February 2021. Year-to-date, passenger traffic is down 20.4 percent compared to last year.
The traffic leader in March was Southwest Airlines with 284,606 total passengers. Rounding out the top five airlines were Delta (182,846), United (146,494), American (135,886) and Spirit (127,161).
Southwest Florida International Airport had 11,472 aircraft operations, an increase of 7.5 percent compared to March 2020. Page Field saw 12,794 operations, a 0.6 percent increase compared to March 2020.
Southwest Florida International Airport served nearly 6 million passengers in 2020 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 www.flylcpa.com or Like Us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/flyRSW.

Gulf Coast Chamber Orchestra: Mozart, Haydn & Beethoven
April 23 | 7:00 PM
The Gulf Coast Chamber Orchestra performs Mozart’s Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, K. 492, Haydn’s Symphony No. 44 in E minor (“Trauersinfonie”), and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36.
Live stream also available →

Patrick Bruce Metheny, an American jazz guitarist and composer, is the leader of the Pat Metheny Group and is also involved in duets, solo works, and other side projects. His style incorporates elements of progressive and contemporary jazz, Latin jazz, and jazz fusion.
Performed by the Gulf Coast Jazz Collective.
Live stream also available →
Ian Maksin, Cello
April 25 | 7:00 PM
Named by the press “one of the most versatile and innovative musicians of his generation”, Ian Maksin is quickly gaining international recognition as a cellist, composer and most recently as a film producer. He has performed at concert halls throughout the world as a soloist, chamber musician as well as principal cellist of the New World Symphony under direction of Maestro Michael Tilson Thomas.
Live stream also available →
 
 
 

COVID-19 Economic Aid Overview Webinar

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), in consultation with the Treasury Department, re-opened the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) for new borrowers and certain existing PPP borrowers.

Join the South Florida District Office as we explore the next steps in the PPP process.

*Eventbrite access is required to register for the events.

Tuesday, April 20
11am – 12pm EST
Click here register on Eventbrite.

Thursday, April 22
11am – 12pm EST
Click here register on Eventbrite.

PPP Forgiveness Webinar

The U.S. Small Business Administration, in consultation with the Department of the Treasury, published a revised, borrower-friendly Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness application implementing the PPP Flexibility Act. 

Join the South Florida District Office as we explore the next steps in the PPP process.

Tuesday, April 20
1pm – 2pm EST
Click here register. Join the live Microsoft Teams session.

Updated PPP Lender forms, guidance, and resources are available at www.sba.gov/ppp and www.treasury.gov/cares.

SBA Disaster Recovery Q&A Sessions
 04/19 – 04/23
11:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M. (en Español)
2:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.

Was your small business affected by Covid-19? Are you looking for small business funding? You have questions, we have answers! Join us during our virtual hours and have your Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) questions answered by a live person. Participants may call at anytime and are welcome to enter and exit at will.

Tuesday and Thursday 
2pm – 3pm
Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

(en Español)
Tuesday and Thursday 
2pm – 3pm
Join Microsoft Teams Meeting

Hello again!
Exciting news from the theater – the Pulitzer Prize-nominated Race by David Mamet opens April 30th – May 15th. Here is an excerpt – the full press release is copied below. The Lab follows all CDC guidelines, so the seating is socially distant, and masks are still required at all times.
For additional information and resources: Media Kit – Race by David Mamet.
The case is anything but black and white. Charles Strickland is a wealthy white businessman charged with assaulting a young black woman. He says they had a relationship. She says he raped her. Lawyers Jack and Henry must decide whether or not to take his case. The simmering tensions continue to build until they threaten to engulf everyone. David Mamet turns the spotlight on what we think but can’t say, revealing dangerous truths and sparing no punches.
Artistic Director Annette Trossbach says, “Pulitzer prize-winning playwright David Mamet gives us a provocative examination of guilt and prejudice in this compelling crime drama. Director Sonya McCarter has carefully guided our actors through a legal case that is a veritable minefield of simmering racial tension.”
This show features strong adult language and mature themes.
Directed by Sonya McCarter, this show features Michael Massari as Jack, Lemec Bernard as Henry, Cantrella Canady as Susan, and Brian Linthicum as Charles Strickland.
DATES:
Performance dates are:
April 30th at 8 pm.
May 1, 6, 7, 8, 13, 14, 15 at 8 pm
May 2, 9, 15 at 2 pm.
Tickets are $28 each or $10 for students with valid student IDs.  Seating is limited and sold by section for safety. For tickets, please call the box office at 239.218.0481 or online at www.laboratorytheaterflorida.com. 
Thanks for your continued support of The Laboratory Theater of Florida. We could not do what we do without you!
Paula Sisk
Director of Marketing & Education
The Laboratory Theater of Florida
239-823-4613

We’re excited to welcome back the legendary Alliance Summer Arts Camp program this year and want to keep you in the know about how we are modifying the experience to provide the best (and the safest) summer ever while offering the the unique opportunity for your 1st to 7th grader to explore and engage with both visual and performing arts:
• Our camp features three 2-week sessions with an exhilarating array of activities like theatre, photography, art and movement
• The registration fee includes supplies so that each camper has their own materials for the duration of the session
• Campers, camp instructors, camp volunteers and Alliance staff are required to wear face masks at all times when inside the building and when social distancing is not possible
• Spots are extremely limited to keep campers responsibly distanced
Our summer arts camp is built to unleash a child’s creativity, build confidence and enhance critical thinking and problem skills – all while making new friends and having fun.
We have set up our program where each morning is all about exploration, engaging and entertaining your kiddos in both visual and performing arts. In the afternoons, campers choose to focus on a more robust visual or performing arts experience. Plus, at the end of the session, admire your students’ finished masterpieces or performances with take-home portfolios and pre-recorded productions.
Take advantage of a 20% discount by renewing your Alliance membership. We also offer savings when you register siblings. The price for each two-week session is $420 for Alliance members or $504 for non-members. And because we want everyone to have access to the arts and this special summer experience, we also provide both full and partial scholarships.
Camp dates, details and registration can be found at ArtInLee.org/Camps, but if you have any questions, we are happy to help. Simply reach out to us at 239-939-2787 or [email protected].
I look forward to seeing you for an unforgettable summer of fun, connection and creativity!
Sincerely,
Molly Deckart • Executive Director
P.S: If your child has outgrown our Summer Arts Camp, we are excited to offer Musical Theatre Intensive Camp in partnership with the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre as well as volunteer opportunities for high school students.

 The Price is Right Live™ is coming to
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW
on March 27, 2022
 (Fort Myers. FL, April 20, 2021) – Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW will play host to The Price is Right Live™ stage show on Sunday, March 27, 2022 at 3PM.
Tickets will go on sale Friday, April 23 at Noon and will be available online at www.bbmannpah.com, by phone at (239) 481-4849 or at the Box Office.
The Price Is Right Live™ is a sellout interactive stage show that gives eligible individuals the chance to “Come On Down” and play classic games made famous by the iconic network television show, The Price is Right™. Contestants can win cash, sought-after appliances, epic vacations and, of course, a brand-new car by playing favorites like Plinko™, Cliffhangers™, The Big Wheel™ and the fantastic Showcase!
Showing to sold-out audiences for more a decade and counting, The Price Is Right Live™ has given away over 12 million dollars in cash and prizes to lucky audience members all across North America.
The Price is Right™ remains network television’s #1 daytime series and the longest-running game show in television history. As a beloved piece of American pop culture, Price and its games are cherished by generations of viewers. This live travelling stage show version offers fans the chance to make dreams come true and relive feelings of nostalgia, while experiencing the same thrilling excitement of winning big, up close, locally and in-person.
EVENT:                                  The Price is Right Live!
DATE/TIME:                           Sunday, March 27, 2022 – 3PM
TICKET PRICES:                  $56.50*, $46.50*, $36.50*, $30.00*
*All shows, dates, times and ticket prices are subject to change. Prices do not include fees or sales tax.
For more information, follow The Price Is Right Live™ on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/priceisrightlive), Twitter (https://twitter.com/TPIRLIVE) & Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/priceisrightlive/).
*The safety of our guests, cast and crew remains paramount. In addition to any state, local and venue-specific protocols, The Price Is Right Live™ will have its own COVID-19 protocols in place.*
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to US & Canada legal residents, 18+ (Residents of PR & Quebec ineligible to participate as contestants). For complete rules & regulations, including eligibility requirements & free method of entry, visit or call the box office. Sponsored by Good Games Live, Inc. Void where prohibited. Price is Right: ®/© FremantleMedia Netherlands. 2021.  All Rights Reserved.
-end-
             

THE ‘HEART OF THE HOME’ CAN BE BIGGEST FIRE CAUSE
Family and friends like to gather in the kitchen during holidays as this is the “heart of the home” where home-cooked meals are created with love.  The kitchen is being utilized more than ever because of Covid-19.
The kitchen—and cooking—can come with risks.  Cooking fires are the #1 cause of home fires and home injuries.  One of fire departments’ goals is to help make kitchens a safe place for everyone.
One of the most important things to do in preventing fires is to stay attentive while cooking.  It only takes seconds for something as common as boiling water to take a turn for the worse, especially with distractions.  By staying alert, common kitchen fires can be prevented.
The most common cooking fires occur when food is left unattended and/or involving the stovetop, so

• stay in the kitchen while frying, grilling, boiling, or broiling food
• stay home and set a timer if you are baking or roasting food, and check it regularly
• keep the stovetop clear of items, such as mitts, wooden utensils, boxes, and towels

If a small grease fire should happen, and you can do so carefully, put on an oven mitt, slide a lid over the pan (or slowly slide the pan to an unused burner), and turn the burner off, but never throw water on the fire.   If you have a fire in the oven, turn it off, keep the door closed until it’s cool, and make sure a professional looks at it before using it again.
When using the microwave, do not use aluminum foil or metal inside.   The U.S. Food and Drug Administration notes some of the safer alternatives are glass, ceramic, paper products, and plastic containers labeled for microwave use.
Children love being in the kitchen to learn how to cook and help bake.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends the following for kids and pets:

• Keep a three-foot safety zone around stoves and grills and where hot food and/or liquids are being prepared.
• Turn pot handles away from the edge.
• Use the back burners if possible.
• Find safe and kid-friendly recipes.
• Make sure children always cook with a grown-up present.

If clothes catch on fire, remember:  stop, drop, and roll—and remember to cover your face.
Smoke alarms are a critical life-saving tool and should be located in every room of the home.  Test the smoke alarms every month; change the batteries twice a year; and replace the entire unit every ten years.
Plan ahead and know two ways out in case there is a fire inside your home.  Call 9-1-1 in case you have a fire—no matter how small.  If you have general questions call your local fire department.
Megan Contreras, Community Relations Coordinator of the Iona McGregor Fire District, contributed to this article.
The Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition serves as a collaborative effort or partnership whose function is to facilitate partners’ work and act as a catalyst for injury prevention initiatives.  Its mission is to prevent injury, disability, and death through advocacy, education, legislation, and partnerships.
Additional information about the Injury Prevention Coalition or safe cooking in the home may contact Brian Raimondo at [email protected] or 239-330-2240.

Tennis stars, glitzy auction to raise money and awareness for new pediatric neurosurgery suite at Golisano Children’s Hospital of SWFL
FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 20, 2021) – One of the country’s leading tennis charity events that has raised more than $1.3 million dollars to date won’t let the pandemic keep them from hosting an event in 2021 to raise much needed funds for Barbara’s Friends and Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. To coincide with Brain Cancer Awareness Month in May,  Madisen’s Match will serve up more than tennis the week of May 10-14 with an online auction featuring international tennis stars and one-of-a-kind auction items – all to raise funds for the new pediatric neurosurgery program at Golisano Children’s Hospital.
Although guests will not be sitting courtside to watch exhibition tennis or on the court playing with celebrities this year, Madisen’s Match is bringing these tennis stars into guests’ homes online. Throughout the week Madisen’s Match Founder Duane Chaney will be taking to the internet to go ‘one-on-one’ with a surprise tennis celebrity each day of the event to talk about Madisen’s Match and the critical need to bring a pediatric neurosurgeon to Golisano Children’s Hospital. Each celebrity will also reveal a new amazing VIP auction item that will go up for bid at that time. The Bryan Brothers, Taylor Fritz, Tom Gullikson and more are expected to take part.
The community can start bidding on the spectacular auction items including a stunning diamond tennis bracelet, diamond necklace, spa, tennis and golf packages, vacations, and thousands of dollars-worth of exclusive items starting Monday, May 10 and ending Friday, May 14.
As an exclusive thank you to donors for their ongoing support, Madisen’s Match custom apparel will be gifted to anyone who makes an online donation of $100 or more during the event. Go to madisensmatch.com/donate to make your donation today.
To be one of the first to access the Madisen’s Match online auction and get the latest event updates, be sure to visit www.madisensmatch.com.
About Madisen’s Match
Duane Chaney established Madisen’s Match in 2008 after his 3-year-old niece, Madisen Abramson, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Inspired by Madisen and determined to help others, Chaney created Madisen’s Match to use tennis as a way to raise funds for pediatric and adult cancer charities. To date, the events have raised more than $1.3 million to benefit national and Southwest Florida-based charities like the Brain Tumor Navigator Program at the Regional Cancer Center, Barbara’s Friends – The Golisano Children’s Hospital Pediatric Cancer Center Fund, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, and the Tim and Tom Gullikson Foundation. For more information, visit MadisensMatch.com or contact Duane Chaney at 239-292-0322 or [email protected].

            FORT MYERS, FLA., April 19, 2021– Susan Bennett. APR, CPRC, was honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award by the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA), Southwest Florida Chapter, during the chapter’s annual Image Awards ceremony April 15.

            Bennett was selected by the chapter’s leadership based on her accomplishments within the public relations industry, her dedication to helping area non-profits, and her longevity in journalism and public relations. 

The award is only rarely given when the chapter leadership believes it has a recipient that meets the criteria.

“I am very humbled to accept this honor from the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association.  As I look around and see so many young and accomplished professionals, I know that the public relations profession will be well-served for many years to come.”

  Bennett, an accredited and certified public relations professional with more than 50 years’ experience in media, founded the Fort Myers-based company that carries her name in 1991.  Since that time, Susan Bennett Marketing & Media, has become one of the most respected marketing firms in Florida with more than 200 awards from the Florida Public Relations Association, including the organization’s highest honor, the Dick Pope All-Florida Golden Image Award, for the best public relations campaign in the state.

Susan Bennett Marketing & Media, L.C., is now celebrating its 30^th anniversary with the announcement that it has now donated $2.5 million in in-kind professional services and cash contributions to area not-for-profit organizations and helped raise more than $70 million for fund-raising and capital campaigns during her career.

Susan Bennett Marketing & Media, L.C. has represented hundreds of businesses and non-profit organizations ranging from medical, banking, restaurants, and higher education to commercial enterprises, non-profit organizations and large public service events.

She is the founder of the “Grande Dames Tea” for the PACE Center for Girls, “Laughter Is the Best Medicine Comedy Night” for SalusCare, Inc., and the Founders’ Society of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation, among many others.

Susan Bennett Marketing & Media, L.C., is a full-service public relations and marketing firm offering innovative marketing and public relations campaigns, media relations, results-driven marketing analyses and plans, digital strategies, website and video development, and social media management.

Prior to opening her company, Bennett was a Gannett Co. executive, member of the launch team of USA TODAY and former marketing director, editor and reporter at The News-Press.  

During her tenure at The News-Press, she chaired the Gannett Foundation grants committee and oversaw more than $1 million in grants.  Her department also spearheaded the nation’s largest grass roots fund-raising campaign to restore the Statue of Liberty in the 1980s.

Bennett brought more national attention to Fort Myers in 1981 when she and former News-Press Publisher Paul Flynn launched a national newspaper campaign to free 52 American hostages held in Iran, earning her special recognition from former U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter.

Philanthropy  has always been an important part of her work.  She is a past chairman of the Southwest Florida Community Foundation Board of Trustees, where she served for 28 years and is now trustee emeritus.

She is a high honors graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in journalism and a Master of Arts degree in mass communications.

For more information, call 239-277-5255 or email [email protected].