Member News

The recreational gray triggerfish season reopens to harvest in Gulf state and federal waters March 1, and will remain open through May 1, closing to harvest May 2, 2020.     
If you plan to fish for gray triggerfish in Gulf state or federal waters, excluding Monroe County, from a private recreational vessel, you must sign up as a Gulf Reef Fish Angler (annual renewal is required). To learn more, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations” and “Gulf Reef Fish Survey” under “Reef Fish.” Sign up today at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com. 
Learn more about gray triggerfish regulations at MyFWC.com/Marine by clicking on “Recreational Regulations” and “Triggerfish,” which is under the “Reef Fish” tab. 
NOAA Fisheries recently announced that the Gulf recreational gray triggerfish fishery is estimated to meet its quota in early May, prompting an early quota closure in federal waters of May 2. At its February meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved also closing recreational harvest of gray triggerfish in state waters when Gulf federal waters close.

Free community health care program to address innovation in modern health care

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Feb. 25, 2019) – Shell Point Retirement Community will conclude its fifth annual 2020 Medical Breakthroughs & Discoveries series on March 30 with a presentation by Jay Saccaro, executive vice president and chief financial officer for Baxter International, Inc.

Free and open to the public, the presentation, entitled “Innovation and Progress at a Modern Healthcare Company,” will offer an overview of the innovation process and approach at Baxter International, Inc., including the company’s focus on customer input in product development. Saccaro will also share specific examples from Baxter’s renal business, where the focus has been on modernizing the devices that are used in home treatment for end-stage renal disease and the use of technology to improve patient experience.

The program will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, March 30 in the Village Church Auditorium on The Island at Shell Point, 15100 Shell Point Blvd. in Fort Myers. Registration is requested by calling 239-433-7936.

Saccaro is a leader of Baxter International, Inc., a Fortune 500 American health care company that focuses on products to treat hemophilia, kidney disease, immune disorders and other chronic and acute medical conditions. He originally joined the company in 2002 as manager of strategy for the company’s BioScience business, and over the years assumed positions of increasing responsibility, including vice president of financial planning and vice president of finance for the company’s operations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, as well as corporate vice president and treasurer. He previously held strategy and business development positions at Clear Channel Communications and the Walt Disney Company, and was also senior vice president and chief financial officer at Hill-Rom Corporation. He received a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in engineering-economic systems from Stanford University.

Shell Point’s 2020 Medical Breakthroughs & Discoveries is a community speaker series designed to share updates on the latest advances in medical research and health care practice.

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 for its 2,500 residents in an active, resort-style environment. Lifestyle amenities include deep-water boating access with free dockage, a championship 18-hole golf course, and other recreational and educational activities. To learn more, visit www.shellpoint.org or call 1-800-780-1131.

Lani Kai Island Resort hosts #1 Spring Break party in SWFL
Ahhhhhhh, yes, it’s that time of year again on Fort Myers Beach: The sun is shining but it’s not too hot; there’s not a rain cloud in the sky but it’s not too bright; there’s lots of traffic and people, with hundreds of thousands of students hitting the sand to get away from it all, and about 30 firemen getting fired up to entertain at the iconic Lani Kai Island Resort. Yes, Spring Break is here!
Now in its 42nd year on Fort Myers Beach, the Lani Kai Island Resort, at 1400 Estero Blvd., has been the official “Spring Break Central” since the 1990s, a six-floor resort hosting a non-stop party through the month of March for spring-breaking students from around the country – and others who want to join the month-long party.
Throughout March, look forward to live music all day and night, double DJs scratching the latest mixes and tracks from the sand, plenty of beach games – including the ONLY resort where you can play life-sized beer pong – and, of course, the Cincinnati Firemen, returning for their annual spring break variety show pilgrimage March 7.
The Cincinnati Firemen variety show at the Lani Kai
Coming down to Fort Myers Beach for two generations now, the ever-growing and expanding group of 30+ Cincinnati firemen and EMTs teamed up with the Lani Kai in several years ago, fueling their daily variety shows to be even bigger, better and wilder – with more costume changes than ever – all while raising funds for local charitable, non-profit organizations.
Look forward to the daily, 1.5-hour-long variety shows from March 7 to 19 (no show March 11 or 16), featuring some hilariously sexy singing, dancing and well-choreographed moves with plenty of audience participation.
Although they know it’s an all-ages variety show, with plenty of singing and dancing from so many well-known songs, the audience is still always surprised at the talent and showmanship of these firemen every year – these boys can really shake it, going through some intense rehearsals for months before their trip down by lead choreographer, co-founder of the group and fellow fireman Jeff Yount. Other co-founders of the group include Angelo “Scar” Scarlato and Joe “Duke” Diebold.
Speaking of “surprises,” fans of the show can look forward to some fan-favorite, ever-popular songs, such as Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and the Village People’s “Macho Man” and “YMCA,” as well as a couple of brand-new routines. Every show is a surprise, because you never know what – or who – you’ll see! We’ve even had a wedding performed on the stage during one recent show!
This year, as for the last several years, the fund-raising firemen are singing and dancing for the local ARABA Shriners organization, a non-profit group dedicated to aiding ailing children by providing transportation to and from their hospital treatments, and helping with their medical bills.
So far, in the 10 years the firemen have performed at our resort, they have raised more than $130,000 for local non-profit charity organizations – and we are looking forward to adding much more to that grand total this year!
Fort Myers Beach – and the Lani Kai Island Resort – is such a great place for holding these daily Spring Break variety shows because we truly are a melting pot and gathering place of so many different types of people from so many different age ranges and walks of life, and we love knowing that we attract such a wide range of visitors every year – we love each and every one of them!
There is never a charge to attend, and specialty, limited-edition Cincinnati Firemen merchandise will be available for purchase during the shows, with 100% of the proceeds going to the ARABA Shriners. Be sure to visit the firemen’s Facebook page for all the details: Facebook.com/Cincy.Fire.Lani.Kai.
Other Spring Break fun coming up at the Lani Kai

• Skip Marley (grandson of Bob Marley) live on stage and meet-and-greet Saturday, March 28, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
• Double DJs all day long from our beach stage, featuring DJ G-Ride and DJ TK, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Double DJs all night long in our ground-level Club Ohana nightclub, from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
• Beach games in the sand all day, including life-sized beer pong, hula hoop competitions, potato sack races, cornhole tourneys, water balloon contests, bean-bag and horseshoe contests, spike ball, life-sized Jenga tourneys and more –– all for prizes.
• Daily Water Wars, where teams will compete with various “weapons of wet destruction” (water balloons, slip-n-slide races, super-soakers and more) for prizes!
• Foreign Fantasy Night with the Naples Hammerhead Rugby Team: A spicy evening hosted by the Hammerhead Rugby Team, featuring a variety show that raises funds for their non-profit endeavors. Takes place in the Sabal Palm room, $10 entry at the door, cash bar all evening. Friday, March 20, 8 to 11 p.m. 21+ show.
• Ladies’ booty-shake contest every day at 5:30 p.m. for cash prizes ($100 first place, $75 for second, $50 for third)
• Various strong-man and strong-woman competitions taking place sporadically throughout the week
• Tug of war competitions daily around 5 p.m. — for prizes
• Live remotes from some of the most popular stations around
• Never a charge to get into any of our regular events or venues. If drinking, wristbands are needed with proper ID, 21 and up; please party responsibly.
• Other fun surprises and special Spring Break events are in the works – so stay tuned for those as soon as they’re official!

Look forward to the Cincy Firemen dancin’ it up on the Lani Kai’s float during the annual Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival, too! For a complete list of ongoing Spring Break activities taking place at the iconic Spring Break Central resort on Fort Myers Beach, or for your very own official Lani Kai Spring Break merch, visit LaniKaiIslandResort.com or call 239-463-3111.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Feb. 25, 2020) – During January, 1,132,103 passengers traveled through Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, Fla., an increase of 7.8 percent compared to January 2019.
The traffic leader in January was Delta Air Lines with 213,885 passengers traveling to and from Fort Myers. Rounding out the top five airlines were Southwest (188,439), American (144,365), Frontier (140,821) and Spirit (134,339).
Southwest Florida International Airport had 10,162 aircraft operations, an increase of 8.8 percent compared to January 2019. Page Field saw 11,699 operations, a 25.5 percent increase from January 2019.
Southwest Florida International Airport served more than 10.2 million passengers in 2019 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.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Feb. 24, 2020) – It’s March Networking Madness and the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce is combining its monthly networking events into one Super Social on March 25.

The Chamber regularly offers five networking opportunities each month, including its General Member Luncheon, Business Before Breakfast, Conversations & Cocktails, Leadership NEXT and Women in Business programs. In March, the Chamber will instead host the Super Social, livening up local business leaders’ networking routine by bringing everyone together for one fun, casual night of networking to reunite with old friends and make new connections.

The Chamber’s Super Social will take place from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 25 at Fort Myers Brewing Company, 12811 Commerce Lakes Drive, Suite 28, in Fort Myers.

Admission is $10 for Chamber members and $15 for future Chamber members and includes light appetizers from Burntwood Tavern and one complimentary drink. Food will also be available for purchase from participating food trucks.

Click here for registration or call 239-332-2930 for more information.

About the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce:
Serving Lee County and surrounding areas since 1989, the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce, Inc. is a business organization of professionals who support and promote a progressive, sustainable community. The Chamber represents nearly 800 businesses, professionals, and individuals throughout Lee County, providing opportunities for members to participate in a variety of meaningful networking, educational and community- and business-focused programs and events. The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce is located at 2310 Edwards Drive in downtown Fort Myers. For additional information regarding membership opportunities or events please call 239-332-2930 or visit www.fortmyers.org. For the latest news and updates, follow the Chamber on Facebook at www.facebook.com/gfmcc or Twitter at @FtMyersChamber.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (February 24, 2020)– Special Equestrians is bringing together the area’s most successful restaurateurs for Taste of Love – the annual food and wine extravaganza to be held Sunday, March 15, 2020 from 5 to 9 p.m. at The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon located at 2158 Colonial Boulevard in Fort Myers.
The popular event’s theme is “Taste of Love Makes the Merry Go Around” and will feature dishes from the area’s most successful culinarians, wine tasting, and live and silent auctions.  Celebrity auctioneer Jay Severson and award-winning radio and television personality Gina Birch will oversee the evening’s events.  Nearly 500 attended the event in 2019, raising more than $200,000 for the therapeutic horseback riding and carriage driving program which serve children and adults with disabilities.
Participating restaurants include:

• Mastello and A Touch of Italy, Chef Robert Brandt
• Blue Pointe Oyster Bar & Seafood Grill, Chef Andy Brown
• BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Shanel Gentile
• Table & Tap at Babcock Ranch, Chef Julian Cardona
• Fancy’s Southern Café, Chef Daniel Glick
• Ember Korean Steakhouse, Chef Chris Shin
• Cantina Laredo, Chef Martin Galvan
• Señor Pepe’s Paella Catering, Chef Pepe
• Jordan Webster Catering, Chef Jordan Webster
• European American Bakery Café, Chef Ariel Garcia and Chef Sam Savich
• The Melting Pot, Chef Chris Keys
• Custom C.A.K.E.S. by Kayla, Kayla Mateo
• Greg’s Buckeyes, Greg Kurt
• Le Macaron French Pastries, Florence Del Fondo
• Wine presented by Breakthru Beverage Group
• Beer Provided by Suncoast Beverage Company

“We are thrilled and honored to have these highly-trained and successful culinary professionals join us to help raise much-needed funds to support Special Equestrians,” said Jan Fifer, the organization’s executive director.
All proceeds from Taste of Love will benefit Special Equestrians, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping children and adults with disabilities by providing a structured therapeutic horseback riding and carriage driving program and equine assisted activities.  Special Equestrians has been awarded Premier Accredited Center status by PATH Intl. (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship). Serving Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties, Special Equestrians is a United Way Partner Agency that has been serving southwest Florida for more than 30 years.
Event Sponsors to date include:  Wells Fargo, Garden Street Iron & Metal, John S. Fifer, M.D., Seminole Casino,
Platinum Table Sponsors: Architectural Metals of SW Florida, Everglades Farm Equipment, Henderson Franklin, Lovelace Farms, MVP Realty/Lee and Marie Kitsberg, Sarlo Mowers, The Dorcey Law Firm, The LaPorta Family, USB The Maurillo Group and Waterside Aesthetic Dentistry
Gold Table Sponsors:  Club Care, C-2-C Landscaping and Riverdale Dental Associates/Gateway Dental Suites
Silver Table Sponsor:  Cummings Law  Bronze Table Sponsors:  Bechtol Chiro & Wellness Center, Dave & Cheryl Copham, Edison National Bank, Green Schoenfeld & Kyle, LLP,  ISEC Incorporated, Jason’s Deli, Lawhon’s Grocery, Lee Dental Care, Moon Plumbing, Northern Contracting, Pulte Group, Target Roofing, Toll Law, Vein Specialists – Dr. Magnant.  Media sponsors include The News-Press, Florida Country Magazine, Florida Weekly, Palm Printing and Signs Now.
Tickets are $100 per person and may be purchased online at www.specialequestians.net or by calling (239) 851-7070 or emailing [email protected].
 

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. (Feb. 20, 2020) — The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales are scheduled to make an appearance at the Shell Factory & Nature Park on Monday, March 2^nd from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The venue is located at 16554 N. Cleveland Avenue in North Fort Myers.
Harnessed and hitched to the famous red beer wagon, the eight-horse team will be on hand for a variety of photo opportunities. Horses chosen to represent the hitch must be at least three years of age, stand approximately 18 hands, or six feet at the shoulder; weigh an average of 2,000 pounds, be bay in color, have four white legs, have a blaze of white on the face, and have a black mane and tail.
A single Clydesdale hitch horse consumes up to 25 quarts of feed, 50 pounds of hay and 30 gallons of water per day. Each hitch travels with a Dalmatian, whose breed, in the early days of brewing, was bred and trained to protect the horses and guard the wagon while the driver would make deliveries.
“We are so excited to have the beautiful Budweiser Clydesdales visit us again this year,” said Pam Cronin, owner of the Shell Factory & Nature Park. “We look forward to sharing the honor and experience with local residents and visitors. For someone who has never seen the Clydesdales in person, it is a spectacular show.”
For more information, visit ShellFactory.com.
 About the Shell Factory & Nature Park
Recently celebrating its 81^st anniversary, The Shell Factory & Nature Park has been entertaining children and the young at heart, with something for everyone. The sought-out attraction provides a full day of fun, including amusement-style rides, arcade games, 50,000 square feet of gift shops and much more. The Nature Park offers over 400 critters, birds, reptiles and fish, with a variety of critters from an armadillo to a zebra. Visit ShellFactory.com.

Tallahassee, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced the popular 2020 Gulf red snapper recreational season is set to open June 11 through July 25, with a possible fall reopening if quota is available. This season will apply to those fishing from private recreational vessels in Gulf state and federal waters, and to charter vessels that do not have a federal reef fish permit and are limited to fishing in state waters only.
Earlier this month, Florida was delegated authority to manage recreational red snapper harvest from private vessels in Gulf federal waters. 
“I’m pleased to announce that our state’s good conservation practices are allowing us to have a 45-day Gulf red snapper season this year,” said Governor DeSantis. “Gulf red snapper season is always an exciting time for anglers and is just another reason why Florida remains the Fishing Capital of the World.”
“Gulf red snapper is a conservation and management success story for Florida anglers,” said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) chairman Robert Spottswood. “Just a few years ago, a 45-day season for red snapper in both state and federal waters was out of reach. Thank you to all the stakeholders and anglers who helped make this season possible by providing input and sharing information about their fishing trips.”
“FWC is proud to be able to work with our stakeholders to balance conservation with fishing opportunities for Gulf red snapper and we are excited to see what the future holds as FWC takes the unprecedented step of managing this resource in both state and federal waters of the Gulf,” said Spottswood.
For more on recreational snapper regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations” and “Snapper” under the “Reef Fish” tab.

At its February meeting in Tallahassee, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved several regulatory changes aimed at achieving fishery management goals in Biscayne National Park. As part of the Fishery Management Plan, the FWC and the National Park Service agreed that FWC would develop fishing regulations for the park with the goal of increasing the size and abundance of targeted species by at least 20% within the park.
“FWC is committed to reviewing the effectiveness of these changes every five years to ensure we are not only meeting fishery management goals, but to continue determining what changes are effective to maintain this state as the Fishing Capital of the World,” said FWC Chairman Robert Spottswood.
Approved changes will go into effect July 1, 2020, and include:

• Increasing the minimum size limit for several targeted species including a variety of snapper species (gray, lane, mutton, schoolmaster and yellowtail); red grouper; two species of grunts (white and bluestriped); and gray triggerfish.
  • Transit through the park will be allowed while in possession of fish legally caught outside the park that do not meet the new park-specific minimum size limits.
• Establishing a 10-fish per person aggregate harvest and possession limit for recreational harvest of select commonly targeted fish. (see list below)
  • Transit NOT allowed through the park while in possession of more than the 10-fish per person aggregate.
• Establishing Coral Reef Protection Areas inside Biscayne National Park where traps and lobstering would be prohibited year-round.
• Establishing a trap-free zone near Biscayne National Park headquarters.
• Establishing inshore and offshore no-trawl zones within the park.

Staff will return in five years to provide an update on monitoring and progress toward management goals and to evaluate the effectiveness and need for the Coral Reef Protection Areas.
For more information, view the presentation given at the Commission meeting at MyFWC.com/Commission by clicking on “Commission Meetings” and the agenda under “February 19-20, 2020.”