Member News

August 27, 2018 – Fort Myers, FL – Calling all SWFL creatives! Gulf Coast Leisure’s Art and Poetry Networking Event returns with another amazing season of monthly showcases at SBDAC. On Thursday, September 20th at 8pm, become a part of the GCL movement and meet like-minded individuals! To register as a performer or artist, visit www.gclmovement.com. The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center is located at 2301 First St. in the historic downtown Fort Myers River District.
For more than 5 years, Gull Coast Leisure’s Art and Poetry Networking Event (APNE) has brought together artists, musicians, writers, and more from all over Southwest Florida. Each month, APNE features a different showcase of performers that wows audiences and displays the immense talent found right in our own backyard. In September, celebrate the launch of a new APNE season, featuring emerging and established poets, songwriters, and artisans.
Gulf Coast Leisure (GCL) is an arts and entertainment company serving Southwest Florida locals and visitors alike. GCL features vibrant, creative expressions of art from individuals representing all walks of life. While their core following is the millennial market, their artistic events and community outreach touches all age groups from teens to baby boomers by creating a movement, culture, and lifestyle with their productions and products. GCL pushes the envelope within the arts community online and in person. Through events and outreach, GCL enhances the growth of a truly diverse, vibrant, and artistic culture in SWFL.
Gulf Coast Leisure’s Art and Poetry Networking Event
Thursday, September 20, 2018
8pm – 11pm • General Admission $10
For info, tickets, and artist registration, visit www.gclmovement.com.
 

Tickets on Sale Now for Feb. 1 Concert
IMMOKALEE, Fla. (Aug. 24, 2018) – Jay Goldberg Events and Entertainment presents an evening with legendary musical groups The Temptations and the Four Tops live in concert at Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee on Friday, Feb. 1 at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Advance tickets are on sale now for $110 and are available online at moreinparadise.com or jaytv.com/florida or by calling 1-800-514-ETIX. Attendees must be 21 years of age.
The Temptations were essential to the original Motown machine and charted their first big hit, the Smokey Robinson written and produced “The Way You Do the Things You Do,” in 1964. An avalanche of hits – many of which have attained pop music immortality – followed, including “My Girl,” “Since I Lost My Baby,” “Get Ready,” “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg,” and “I Wish It Would Rain.”
When the 1960s and 1970s turned political, The Temptations changed their tone, dress and music. Their hits during this period – “Runaway Child,” “Cloud Nine,” “I Can’t Get Next to You,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” “Ball of Confusion (That’s What the World is Today)” and “Psychedelic Shack” – burn with intensity.
In the 1980s, The Temptations hit the charts again with “Treat Her Like A Lady” and appeared on the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today and Forever television special. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989. In 1998, an Emmy-Award-winning miniseries about the group aired on NBC. Despite changes in personnel over the years, The Temptations remain true to The Temptations’ tradition, delivering iconic hits with unparalleled heart and soul.
Also one of Motown’s super groups, the Four Tops collaborated with the writing-producing trio Holland-Dozier-Holland to produce a string of smash hits. Their first Motown hit, “Baby I Need Your Loving” in 1964 made the Four Tops stars, and their sound helped define the 1960s with hit songs like “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch),” “It’s The Same Old Song,” “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” “Standing In The Shadows Of Love,” “Bernadette,” and their cover of “Walk Away Renee.”
In the 1970s, the Four Tops hit the charts with “It’s All In The Game” and “Still Water (Love)” and teamed with The Supremes for a series of albums that produce the hit cover of “River Deep – Mountain High.” Other hits during the decade include the Top 5 “Ain’t No Woman (Like The One I’ve Got)” and the Top 10 “Keeper Of The Castle.”  During the 1980s, the group scored with “When She Was My Girl,” “Tonight I’m Gonna Love You All Over,” “I Believe In You And Me,” “I Just Can’t Walk Away” and “Sexy Ways.” In 1988, the Four Tops’ hit “Indestructible” was the theme of the Summer Olympics.
In 1990, with 24 top 40 pop hits to their credit, the Four Tops were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The group continues to be a hit in concert, touring incessantly, a towering testament to the enduring legacy of the Motown Sound they helped shape and define.
 About Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee
Open 24/7; 365 days a year, Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee is Southwest Florida’s premier gaming and entertainment destination. The 51,000-square-foot plus casino offers 1,300 slots, including Tarzan, Wheel of Fortune and Crazy Money, and 38 live table games including Blackjack, Mini-Baccarat, Pai Gow, Let It Ride, Three Card Poker, Mississippi Stud, Blackjack Switch and Spanish 21. Dining options include the award-winning 1^st Street Deli, Asian fusion restaurant Lucky Mi Noodle House, and The EE-TO-LEET-KE (“The Camp”) Grill. Nightly entertainment is highlighted by the Zig Zag lounge, home of the Zig Zag Girlz, “where the party never ends” featuring nightly live entertainment and no last call. Additional entertainment and events are held at the Seminole Center, an indoor/outdoor special event center featuring state-of-the-art sound and lighting system designed by Technomedia Solutions. The new Seminole Casino Hotel is the first upscale hotel to open in or near Immokalee and offers suites and deluxe guestrooms with modern décor and features, plus amenities including a swimming pool with adjacent private Seminole Chickee cabana huts, 24-hour fitness studio, free Wi-Fi, and desk concierge services.
 
Located at 506 South 1^st Street in Immokalee, Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee is easily accessible to all of Southwest Florida via I-75 and Southwest Florida International Airport is only a 45-minute drive from the casino. Located between Miami and Naples, north of Alligator Alley on Highway 846, it is five blocks south of Highway 29. Approximately 30 minutes from Naples and Fort Myers, the casino is a 90-minute drive from Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee participates in the Seminole Players Club Wild Card Rewards Program whereby players earn and redeem comp dollars at all Seminole Casinos in Florida. For more information, call toll-free (800) 218-0007 or visit moreinparadise.com  or facebook.com/SeminoleCasinoHotel/.

FORT MYERS, FL (Aug. 23, 2018) – Pavese Law Firm attorney Matthew Roepstorff has completed his Master of Laws (LL.M.) program with a Concentration in Business Transactions from the University of Alabama School of Law. The internationally recognized postgraduate law degree indicates Roepstorff’s advanced, specialized legal training and aptitude for working in a multinational legal environment.

The advanced law certification is designed for lawyers interested in gaining additional expertise in a specialized field of law, and can only be pursued after obtaining a professional law degree. The program covers a wide array of business and corporate law, including entity selection and formation, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, securities regulation, private equity, intellectual property and business planning.

Roepstorff joined Pavese Law Firm in 2015, concentrating his practice in the areas of business law, civil litigation and local government. He obtained his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama, where he majored in English and was a member of the English honor society, Sigma Tau Delta. He went on to obtain his Juris Doctorate from Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Florida, where he was on the Executive Board for the Mock Trial Team. Roepstorff also served as Chief Justice of the Florida Coastal Honor Court in his third year.

About Pavese Law Firm

Pavese Law Firm is a full-service law firm with offices in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and West Palm Beach. The firm provides a broad range of legal services for individuals, families, small businesses and large corporations. Practice areas include agricultural, banking and finance, bankruptcy, business and corporate, civil litigation, condominium and homeowners’ association law, construction, employment, environmental and water, estate planning, probate and trusts, marital and family, land use and government, and real estate law. Established in 1949 as a one-person general practice firm, Pavese Law Firm has grown into one of the largest legal practices in Southwest Florida. With a long history of service to Southwest Florida, Pavese Law Firm has played a significant role in the growth of local businesses, communities and major development projects. For more information, visit paveselaw.com.

Career Day Trade Show Proceeds to Fund Construction Curriculum in Lee County Schools
FORT MYERS, Fla. (August 23, 2018) – The Lee Building Industry Association (Lee BIA) and School District of Lee County (LCSD) will host Build My Future Lee County on October 24 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lee Civic Center. The career day trade show will help address the skilled workforce shortage within the building industry and all proceeds will aid in funding construction curriculum in Lee County Schools.
This career day trade show will feature companies from all aspects of the construction industry, from foundation to roof. Over 700 district students will get a hands-on introduction to various building trades. The Lee BIA is seeking construction companies and trade contractors to exhibit in and sponsor this event. Current participating sponsors of this event include, the Lee County Department of Community Development, Fallsafe Walls & Ceilings, Advance Solar & Energy, Argos RMX, B&I Contractors, MW Horticulture Recycling, Service Contracting Solutions, Grabber Construction Products and SeaBreeze Electric.
“Build My Future Lee County is so important to the future of our industry and the students of Lee County” said Phillip Ford, executive vice president of the Lee BIA. “Our goal is to ensure our students are aware of options other than college that make for great careers, all while addressing the workforce shortage in our industry.”
“As a contractor, our industry currently has a shortage of qualified workers, which hinders our ability to meet the demand for housing, thereby driving up the cost of homes” said Richard F. Durling, president of Marvin Development and the Lee BIA. “I think it is essential that we change the narrative that you are only successful if you have a college degree and this event is a great way to start that conversation.”
“We are very excited for our Career and Technical Education students to have the opportunity to experience a diverse set of career options in the Construction industry, said Rita Davis, director of adult & career education. “There are so many possibilities in this field and we want our students to have direct access to them.”
Anyone that is interested in participating can find event information at www.BIA.net or contact the Lee BIA at BuildMyFuture@BIA.net or call (239) 936-5525.
About Lee Building Industry Association
The Lee Building Industry Association (Lee BIA), a not for profit organization representing Lee, Hendry and Glades counties, is a powerful voice for the building industry in the regulatory arena. The Lee BIA is chartered by the National Association of Home Builders and is an affiliate of the Florida Home Builders Association, giving members three memberships in one. It is comprised of over 380 companies involved in every aspect of building and creating a thriving community for a growing Southwest Florida. The mission of the Lee BIA is to promote, protect and preserve homeownership, private property rights and affordable housing by advocating for balanced laws, regulation and fees through member education and outreach. The Lee BIA is headquartered at 6835 International Center Blvd., #4 in Fort Myers. For more information on membership and its various programs, please visit www.BIA.net or call 239-936-5525.

New manager of patient engagement strengthens customer experience
 FORT MYERS, Fla. (Aug. 23, 2018) – The Azul Cosmetic Surgery and Medical Spa team of experts continues to grow. The renowned cosmetic practice has named Linda Glaeser as manager of patient engagement, putting her skills in marketing, business, communication and patient retention to work.
Glaeser, a healthcare executive with over 20 years of experience, will communicate with staff and providers to improve the patient experience at every level, create loyalty programs and coordinate events that provide Southwest Florida residents with insights on the latest technology and treatments in the cosmetic surgery industry.
“Dr. [Patrick] Flaharty and Azul already have a stellar reputation in the community, which makes my job easy,” Glaeser said. “I just have to help communicate this to the community and enhance our patient experience with even better service and enhanced loyalty programs.”
Glaeser’s father served in the Air Force, and she moved seven times during her childhood, becoming adept at connecting with many different people. Glaeser learned at a young age to appreciate people’s unique characteristics and strengths as she helped her mother, who worked at the Utah School for the Deaf and Blind. Glaeser’s desire to become a health care professional grew as she spent time with her aunt, a registered nurse.
Glaeser graduated from the University of Central Florida with a bachelor’s degree in radiography and a minor in business management. After working in a variety of healthcare settings, she went back to school and received a master’s degree in business from Florida Atlantic University.
She plans to establish a solid foundation with patients, making it simpler for them to communicate what they would like and what they feel may be missing from the practice. She strongly believes in creating long-lasting relationships that help patients achieve their best quality of life.
“What Aristotle said in ancient times still applies today: ‘We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit,’” Glaeser said.
To find out how Glaeser and the entire Azul Cosmetic Surgery and Medical Spa team can help you live a more beautiful life, call 239-415-7576.
About Azul Cosmetic Surgery and Medical Spa
Azul Cosmetic Surgery and Medical Spa has been serving the needs of cosmetic surgery and skin care patients across Southwest Florida for more than 20 years. Dr. Patrick Flaharty and his staff are dedicated to making the patient’s vision a beautiful reality as they strive for excellence in facial cosmetic surgery. The practice provides comprehensive solutions in both the surgical and nonsurgical realm of facial aesthetics. For more information, visit azulbeauty.com.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Aug. 21, 2018) – The Academy of Lifelong Learning at Shell Point Retirement Community invites the Southwest Florida community to attend its September Academy classes, which will feature informative discussions on some of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations and archaeological history. Classes will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Sept. 11, Sept. 18, Sept. 25 and Sept. 27 at Shell Point in Fort Myers.

The first two-part series, entitled “Iran: Its History and Today,” will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 11 and Tuesday, Sept. 18, tracing some of the world’s oldest settlements dating back to 4000 B.C. The first session will introduce the Indo-Europeans and uncover the rise and fall of the nation of Iran. The second session will discuss how the Islamic conquest of A.D. 650 was a turning point in Iranian history. Kerr will conclude this two-part discussion with a look at recent times and the major shift in Iranian leadership.

A second two-part series, entitled “The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World,” will be offered from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 25 and Thursday, Sept. 27. During this dual discussion, Kerr will investigate the “wonders” and its creators, historical and archaeological evidence, and will also share illustrations from his own personal encounters.

Ticket to attend each session with Kerr are $10, and can be purchased by calling 239-489-8472. To learn more, visit www.shellpoint.org.

The Academy of Lifelong Learning

The Academy of Lifelong Learning at Shell Point is an educational initiative that provides approximately 80 classes each semester, and encompasses a well-rounded curriculum of educational opportunities for senior adults, from computer technology to financial, travel, artistic, entertainment, historical, and more. The Academy of Lifelong Learning at Shell Point was named as one of 2008’s most innovative active aging programs by the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA), an association that supports professionals who develop wellness/fitness facilities and services for age 50-plus adults.

About Shell Point Retirement Community           

Shell Point Retirement Community, founded in 1968, is a nonprofit continuing care retirement community located in Fort Myers, Florida. Shell Point offers independent retirement living, assisted living, and skilled nursing care for its 2,400 residents in an active, resort-style environment. Lifestyle amenities include deep-water boating access, six public restaurants, a championship 18-hole golf course, and many other recreational and educational activities. Learn more at www.shellpoint.org or 1-800-780-1131.

(Fort Myers) – Get The Led Out (GTLO) returns to the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW on Monday, March 18 at 7:30PM. Tickets go on sale Friday, August 24 at 10AM at the Box Office, online at www.bbmannpah.com or call (239) 481-4849.
From the bombastic and epic, to the folky and mystical, Get The Led Out (GTLO) has captured the essence of the recorded music of Led Zeppelin and brought it to the concert stage. The Philadelphia-based group consists of six veteran musicians, intent on delivering Led Zeppelin live, like you’ve never heard before! Utilizing the multi-instrumentalists at their disposal, GTLO re-creates songs, in all their depth and glory, with the studio overdubs that Zeppelin themselves never performed. When you hear three guitars on the album…GTLO delivers three guitarists on stage. No wigs or fake English accents, GTLO brings what the audience wants…a high energy Zeppelin concert with honest, heart-thumping intensity.
Dubbed by the media as “The American Led Zeppelin,” Get The Led Out offers a strong focus on Led Zeppelin’s early years. They touch on the deeper cuts that were seldom, if ever heard in concert. GTLO also includes a special “acoustic set”, with Zep favorites “Tangerine”, and the “Battle of Evermore” being performed in its’ original instrumentation with guest singer Diana DeSantis joining the band.
Get The Led Out’s approach to performance of this hallowed catalog is not unlike a classical performance. “Led Zeppelin are sort of the classical composers of the rock era,” says lead vocalist Paul Sinclair. “I believe 100 years from now they will be looked at as the Bach or Beethoven of our time. As cliché as it sounds, their music is timeless.”
A Get The Led Out concert mimics the “light and shade” that are the embodiment of “The Mighty Zep.” Whether it’s the passion and fury with which they deliver the blues-soaked, groove-driven rock anthems, it’s their attention to detail and nuance that makes a Get The Led Out performance a truly awe-inspiring event!
 
 
 

Three new seasonal features debut at Izzy Fish & Oyster
DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS, Fla. — (Aug 21, 2018) – Izzy’s Fish & Oyster has rolled out two new seasonal menus and a new Sunday promotion for Southwest Florida patrons. This includes a brand new Seasonal Dinner Series and an À La Carte Brunch Menu featuring 3 new specialty selections. Due to popular demand, $1 Buck-A-Shuck Oysters has been added to their Sunday weekly special. The Chef’s Seasonal Dinner Series is offered Tuesdays through Thursdays and on Sundays beginning at 4 p.m. Brunch is served every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The $1 Buck-A-Shuck Oysters will be available all day on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., as well as Tuesdays through Thursdays from 3 to 6 p.m.
Guests looking for a 3-course dinner option can now enjoy Izzy’s Chef’s Seasonal Dinner Series for $19.95. The 3-course dinner includes a choice of an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. All items available on this specialty menu are some of Izzy’s most popular dishes, such as Steamed Black and Gold Mussels, Pan-Seared Lemon Sole, Linguini and Clams, Southern Style Fried Chicken, Bananas Fosters Cheese Cake and more.
The new la carte brunch menu, has been updated with 3 new specialty selections by Executive Chef Brian Schwentker. Most of Izzy’s original brunch favorites are still offered, which include their signature selections of Eggs Benedict.
The new brunch menu consists of Eggs In A Basket $11.95, with 2 slices of Texas toast, 2 farm fresh eggs your way, applewood smoked bacon, homemade breakfast potatoes, and southern cheddar grits; Avocado Toast & Berries $9.95, with multigrain wheatberry bread, smashed avocado, fresh lemon, and served with a seasonal fruit cup; and Southern Biscuits And Gravy $8.95, with house-made buttermilk biscuits, peppered gravy, and applewood bacon.
“The one thing the brunch menu needed was a dish with an egg cooked to temperature,” says Schwentker, the Executive Chef of The Firestone Grill Room, Martini Bar & Skybar and guest Executive Chef at Izzy’s Fish & Oyster. “Before, you could only get eggs two ways: scrambled or poached. I want to give customers eggs how they like them.”
For adult patrons, endless mimosas and bottomless bloody marys are also available during brunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
Izzy’s initially brought back their $1 Buck-A-Shuck oyster special with the release of their new weekly specials last month. Patrons are able to order oysters at this special price Tuesdays through Thursdays from 3 to 6 p.m. and Sundays from open to close. Before the $1 Buck-A- Shuck was included in the Sunday promotion, it was a featured promotion for National Oyster Day, which was celebrated on Sunday, August 5th, 2018. Almost 1,000 $1 oysters were sold, proving the special’s popularity with Izzy’s fans.
 

DOWNTOWN FORT MYERS, Fla. — (Aug 21, 2018) – Izzy’s Fish & Oyster has rolled out two new seasonal menus and a new Sunday promotion for Southwest Florida patrons. This includes a brand new Seasonal Dinner Series and an À La Carte Brunch Menu featuring 3 new specialty selections. Due to popular demand, $1 Buck-A-Shuck Oysters has been added to their Sunday weekly special. The Chef’s Seasonal Dinner Series is offered Tuesdays through Thursdays and on Sundays beginning at 4 p.m. Brunch is served every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The $1 Buck-A-Shuck Oysters will be available all day on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., as well as Tuesdays through Thursdays from 3 to 6 p.m.
Guests looking for a 3-course dinner option can now enjoy Izzy’s Chef’s Seasonal Dinner Series for $19.95. The 3-course dinner includes a choice of an appetizer, entrée, and dessert. All items available on this specialty menu are some of Izzy’s most popular dishes, such as Steamed Black and Gold Mussels, Pan-Seared Lemon Sole, Linguini and Clams, Southern Style Fried Chicken, Bananas Fosters Cheese Cake and more.
The new la carte brunch menu, has been updated with 3 new specialty selections by Executive Chef Brian Schwentker. Most of Izzy’s original brunch favorites are still offered, which include their signature selections of Eggs Benedict.
The new brunch menu consists of Eggs In A Basket $11.95, with 2 slices of Texas toast, 2 farm fresh eggs your way, applewood smoked bacon, homemade breakfast potatoes, and southern cheddar grits; Avocado Toast & Berries $9.95, with multigrain wheatberry bread, smashed avocado, fresh lemon, and served with a seasonal fruit cup; and Southern Biscuits And Gravy $8.95, with house-made buttermilk biscuits, peppered gravy, and applewood bacon.
“The one thing the brunch menu needed was a dish with an egg cooked to temperature,” says Schwentker, the Executive Chef of The Firestone Grill Room, Martini Bar & Skybar and guest Executive Chef at Izzy’s Fish & Oyster. “Before, you could only get eggs two ways: scrambled or poached. I want to give customers eggs how they like them.”
For adult patrons, endless mimosas and bottomless bloody marys are also available during brunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.
Izzy’s initially brought back their $1 Buck-A-Shuck oyster special with the release of their new weekly specials last month. Patrons are able to order oysters at this special price Tuesdays through Thursdays from 3 to 6 p.m. and Sundays from open to close. Before the $1 Buck-A- Shuck was included in the Sunday promotion, it was a featured promotion for National Oyster Day, which was celebrated on Sunday, August 5th, 2018. Almost 1,000 $1 oysters were sold, proving the special’s popularity with Izzy’s fans.
 

CLEARWATER, Fla.  (August 22, 2018) – GATES Construction has completed the Clearwater Retail Plaza located at 2849 Gulf to Bay Boulevard in Clearwater, Florida. The brand new retail center accommodates multiple store fronts with high visibility on Gulf to Bay Boulevard. GATES oversaw the project from its Sarasota office located at 2 North Tamiami Trail, Suite 204, in One Sarasota Tower. The project was developed by Blue Current Development located in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Architectural design services were provided by Ai Collaborative, Inc.
 
Celebrating 25 years, GATES provides construction management, general contracting and design-build services.  Their diverse portfolio of commercial, healthcare, multi-family, club and hospitality, institutional and special projects showcases numerous landmarks successfully constructed over the past quarter of a century.  As Florida’s premier builder, GATES serves its clients from offices in Bonita Springs, Sarasota and Palm Beach Gardens, and operates throughout the Southeast United States and Latin America.  For more information on GATES, please call (239) 593-3777 or visit the website at www.GATESinc.com.
 
 
###