Member News

Your health and safety are extremely important to us. We want you to know that we are still open and available to service your pool and hot tub. In addition, all of our technicians have been instructed to follow the CDC’s guidelines for COVID-19 prevention so we can keep us all safe while helping you enjoy your backyard environment.
Sincerely,
Joe Mitchell, owner
PoolPros-inc.com

I write to provide an update on the Gulf Coast Symphony’s plans regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. While our mission is to bring our community together through music, our first priority is to protect the health of our patrons, artists, musicians, staff members, and community. With the changes in the local situation and the current guidance of the CDC, the Gulf Coast Symphony has suspended our activities through May 1.
This has required us to reschedule our upcoming productions. The Gulf Coast Symphony plans to return to the stage of the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW on Friday May, 8 (March 29 tickets) and Saturday, May 9 (March 28 tickets) with The Music Man.  Fortunately we have been able to retain the services of our tremendously gifted Broadway cast, who were sent home mid-rehearsal for everyone’s safely. Our co-production of Coppélia with Gulfshore Ballet will be moved to the fall, October 3, and our production of Rigoletto will move to November 8.
If you already have tickets for these shows, you do not have to do anything with your current tickets.  They will be honored at the theater.  However, if you are unable to attend these rescheduled performances, we hope that you’ll consider donating their value as tax-deductible contribution, to help us through this crisis. Or, you can also receive a credit towards a future Gulf Coast Symphony performance.  Please use the form below to let us know how you would like to us to handle this.  We are processing many requests, so we ask your patience as we respond.
Click here to fill out the rescheduled concert ticket form.
We urge all our friends and patrons to follow the advice of public health experts, officials, and their physicians, and to stay home, especially if you are experiencing any signs of illness. Since this is a rapidly evolving situation, we thank you in advance for your patience, and as a non-profit organization, we sincerely thank you for your continued support as we all navigate this scenario together.
Sincerely,
 

Important Message from the FWC

The health and safety of employees and the Floridians and visitors we serve are a top priority for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). As COVID-19 (Coronavirus) continues to impact our communities, the FWC is taking proactive measures such as canceling and/or postponing meetings and other large group gatherings to protect stakeholders, staff and volunteers. The FWC will provide updates about when events and activities will resume as information becomes available.
Currently, wildlife management areas (WMA) remain open to the public. However, out of an abundance of caution, we recommend hunters and other WMA users monitor the open/closed status of the WMA they’re interested in. Please note, a couple cooperators have closed their recreation sites and/or campgrounds.
The FWC continues to be in close communication with the Governor’s Office, the Florida Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) regarding the most recent COVID-19 status and guidance. For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact the Department of Health’s dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 866-779-6121 or emailing [email protected]. The call center is available 24 hours a day. Updates are also available on Twitter and Facebook.
Sincerely,
FWC Staff

Good morning,
The EnVisioning the Future event planned for March 31^st at Broadway Palm has been canceled.  This is in accordance with the CDC’s recommendation that events consisting of 50 or more people be canceled or postponed for the next eight weeks.  We plan to reschedule this event for the fall and will send additional information at that time.
We appreciate your understanding and your support of the School District and The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools.
Kind Regards,
Latanua
Latanua Thomas
Executive Assistant
2855 Colonial Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33966
o: 239.337.8185
f: 239.337.8378
[email protected]
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF LEE COUNTY
 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 16, 2020) — Volunteers of America, the non-profit parent organization of Cape Coral’s Gulf Coast Village, has opened The Preserve, a three-story, 118,000-square-foot skilled nursing and assisted living community at the new Hope Preserve Campus in south Fort Myers.

Located at 14750 Hope Center Loop, at the corner of Six Mile Cypress Parkway and Plantation Road, The Preserve offers 75 private skilled nursing suites for senior residents with specialized or advanced health care needs, as well as 21 boutique assisted living apartments and 17 memory support suites.

“The Preserve is a critical resource for post-acute care, offering high-quality medical services, rehabilitative care and social programs,” said Kevin Ahmadi, area director of operations for Volunteers of America, the non-profit organization that sponsors The Preserve. “The community offers an intimate, boutique-style setting, providing a continuum of care and personalized services all delivered with exceptional hospitality. Residents can rest assured that as health needs change, additional care is available on site.”

Life at The Preserve is focused on comfort, security and wellness. Residents enjoy multiple restaurant-style dining venues, courtyards, libraries, technology rooms and unsurpassed therapy amenities enhance private suites with screened lanais at The Preserve.

The Preserve offers a resident-centered care model. Highly-trained staff members and licensed professionals provide continuous medical support and foster a culture of caring and hospitality, creating specialized programs focused on rehabilitative and restorative care.

Resident units are designed around four “neighborhoods,” each offering its own social, dining and staff support areas. A dedicated memory support neighborhood caters specifically to residents with dementia needing a secured living setting in addition to 24/7 medical assistance. Within The Preserve’s Occupational and Physical Therapy Suite is a Balance and Vestibular Retraining Center that provides therapeutic intervention for residents exhibiting symptoms of balance control, vertigo and dizziness.

The Preserve is the first building at the Hope Preserve Campus designed to include multiple facilities and organizations dedicated to care for seniors and for people with clinically complex illnesses. It’s all part of one of the area’s first medical mixed-use projects that will include retail, hospitality and other uses with diverse senior medical services unrivaled in Southwest Florida.

About Volunteers of America

Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need live healthy, safe and productive lives. Since 1896, our ministry of service has supported and empowered America’s most vulnerable groups, including veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, those recovering from addictions and many others. Through hundreds of human service programs, including housing and health care, Volunteers of America helps more than 1.4 million people in over 400 communities. Learn more at www.voa.org.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 15, 2020) – As a precaution and in support of community efforts to suppress the spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), Lee Association for Remarkable Citizens (LARC) will be closing its day training programs from March 16th through Monday, March 30th, 2020.  Staff at LARC will be monitoring developments between now and March 30th and share additional plans as they are finalized.
 
This update is based on current information as of Sunday, March 15. LARC continues to monitor guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html), the State of Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities and local government.
 
“LARC has had no known cases of staff, clients, visitors or program participants who have been exposed to or are exhibiting symptoms consistent with those of COVID-19,” said Kevin Lewis, Executive Director of LARC.  “This decision is based on several factors, including the organization’s practice to follow the procedures of the Lee County School District, statewide and national efforts to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 and the mission we have to support our vulnerable population and their families.  We ask your assistance and cooperation in these efforts – working together is the best way to protect everyone’s health and well-being.”
 

1. The most effective prevention strategies to date include good personal hygiene such as frequent and effective handwashing, minimizing touching of others when possible, social distancing, not sharing food or drinks, and covering your mouth/nose when coughing or sneezing.
2. People exhibiting signs of illness are asked to stay home in order to avoid the risk of infecting others.  These signs can include dry coughs, a fever or signs of other illnesses (such as a sore throat) that may be infectious.
3. Participants, employees and families are urged to follow current guidelines (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/steps-when-sick.html) with respect to their activities or to seek medical attention if symptoms emerge.

 
Updates will be provided on LARC’s Facebook page, website (www.larcleecounty.org) and personal communication, including email and phone calls.
 
For further information contact Kevin Lewis at (239) 334-6284 x210, (239) 989-1005 or [email protected]
 
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 300 local men and women annually. The nonprofit offers youth programs, 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, and has a satellite campus in Bonita Springs.  LARC also operates two Residential Group Homes located in Cape Coral and North Fort Myers.
 
 
 
 
 

More than 4,000 Lee County residents will be impacted by Executive Order 20-52.
 
The Lee County Tax Collector is urging Lee County residents to call or visit the official website before coming to any of its locations. Many services can be accomplished online or over the phone and do not require an in-person visit. Visit www.leetc.com or call 239-533-6000 with any questions prior to your visit.
 
About Lee County Tax Collector
The Lee County Tax Collector (LCTC) exists to serve the citizens of Lee County. The office takes pride in organizational excellence and offering exemplary customer service and operates by the credo of “We’ve got your back.” The LCTC operates leetc.com, the official interactive website of the tax collector, which allows county residents to quickly and easily take care of motor vehicle and vessel registration, pay property taxes, make appointments for concealed weapon permits and more. The agency operates seven service centers open daily throughout the county to provide efficient, convenient services. The LCTC works to provide innovative and quality service that supports the growth and sustainability of the community. For more information, visit leetc.com or follow Lee County Tax Collector on social media.
 
Josh Milton, Vice President of Media Relations
CONRIC PR & Marketing
5237 Summerlin Commons Blvd, Suite 307
Fort Myers, FL 33907
239-690-9840 ext. 1004
[email protected] | ConricPR.com
 
 

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. (March 13, 2020) – Effective immediately, the Seminole Tribe of Florida will temporarily close the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum and Billie Swamp Safari, which are located on the Big Cypress Reservation.
 
The closings are out of an abundance of caution due to the COVID-19 virus, Staff at both venues are being scheduled, accordingly.
 
The Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum is home to more than 180,000 unique artifacts and archival items. Visitors can learn about the Seminole people and experience their rich cultural and historical ties to the Southeast and Florida.
 
Billie Swamp Safari covers 2,200 acres of untamed Florida Everglades preserved in its pristine state by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Guests can experience the wonders of nature via airboat rides and swamp buggy tours. Additionally, there are animal exhibits and shows.
 
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FORT MYERS, Fla. (Feb. 6, 2020) – Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are now available for the eighth annual “Breaking Par at Grandezza” Gala Dinner & Golf Tournament to benefit Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida and its flagship program, the CEO Academy at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). The two-day event will be held March 19-20 at The Club at Grandezza, 11481 Grande Oak Blvd. in Estero.

Since 1919, Junior Achievement’s mission has been to empower young people to own their economic success, plan for their futures and make smart academic and economic choices. For over 100 years, Junior Achievement has relied on dedicated volunteers and fundraising to carry out that mission.

Event festivities will kick off with an elegant Gala Dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 19, featuring delicious cuisine amid an incredible live and silent auction. The signature Shotgun Scramble Golf Tournament, which features students from the PGA Golf Management Program at FGCU, will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, March 20. The two-day event wraps up with an awards ceremony and scrumptious buffet, and an opportunity to win fabulous prizes.

“Breaking Par at Grandezza” serves as the primary funding source for the CEO Academy. In partnership with FGCU, the CEO Academy is a “model” weeklong shark tank-style summer camp for Southwest Florida’s rising high school juniors and seniors, and led by Dr. Sandra Kauanui, director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship at FGCU.

Over the past seven years, “Breaking Par at Grandezza” event proceeds have contributed more than $382,000 in funding to support Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida’s CEO Academy as well as its educational in-class and after-class programs at schools throughout Southwest Florida.

Tickets for the March 19 Gala Dinner are $100, and registration for the Shotgun Scramble and Awards Ceremony is $150. To purchase tickets or for sponsorship opportunities, please visit https://www.juniorachievement.org/web/ja-swflor/ja-golf-event. For more information, visit www.JASWFL.org, call 239-225-2590 or email [email protected].

About Junior Achievement:

Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. Junior Achievement programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches more than 4.8 million students per year in more than 107 markets across the United States, with an additional 5.2 million students served by operations over 100 other countries worldwide. Locally, Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida partnered with more than 270 classroom business volunteers during the 2018-2019 school year to provide nearly 70,200 hours of instruction to nearly 12,500 students in 520 classes throughout Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties. For more information on Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida, visit www.JASWFL.org, call 239-225-2590 or email [email protected].

– END –

Media Contact:

Emily Golden, Priority Marketing, [email protected], 239-267-2638 or 239-565-1595 (cell)

Please note the following events at Shell Point Retirement Community have been canceled.

• FGCU Wind Orchestra concert, March 19
• Two-Dimensional Art Show and Sale, March 20-21
• Peter Bergin concert, March 25
• Jay Saccaro Medical Breakthroughs seminar, March 30