Member News

February 9, 2018 – Fort Myers, FL – Food and music connoisseurs rejoice! The American Virtuosi Gala returns to downtown Fort Myers on Saturday, March 31st. Enjoy a gourmet four-course dinner prepared by Chefs Karen and Mike Gavala of G3 Catering paired with classical music from some of today’s finest chamber music performers from around the country! The 2018 ensemble features violinist Peter Winograd, violist Jim Griffith, cellist Andres Díaz, and pianist Wendy Chen, plus special guests violinist Anton Miller, violist Rita Porfiris, and French horn player Ryan Little. The Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center is located at 2301 First St. in the historic downtown Fort Myers River District.
 
The most refined classical music fundraiser returns for another season at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center! The American Virtuosi Gala is an elegant evening of chamber music featuring a delectable four-course dinner paired with selected wine. The evening’s meal is prepared by G3 Catering, one of Southwest Florida’s premier fine catering companies.
 
Prior to the performance, savor a delicious four-course dinner prepared by G3 Catering and paired with the perfect wine. G3 Catering is a family owned and operated company. Together Mike and Karen Gavala make a winning team, each specializing in different things while sharing the same passion and vision. Their combined talents provide clients with catering services above and beyond their expectations while providing personal and professional service throughout the process. For more info, visit www.g3catering.com.
 
The American Virtuosi Gala is a fundraiser benefiting the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center’s Eclectic Education programs. Take part in the American Virtuosi Gala on Saturday, March 31st in the Grand Atrium at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center.
 
American Virtuosi Gala
Saturday, March 31, 2018
Cocktails: 6pm • Dinner: 7pm • Concert: 8pm
Tickets: $125 • Table for 8: $900
For tickets and info, visit www.sbdac.com.
 
Peter Winograd joined the American String Quartet as the first violinist in 1990. He gave his first solo public performance at the age of 11, and at age 17 he was accepted as a scholarship student of Dorothy DeLay at the Juilliard School. Recognized early as an exceptionally promising young artist, Winograd was a top prizewinner in the 1988 Naumburg International Violin Competition. He then made his New York debut to critical acclaim and has since appeared as a guest soloist with numerous orchestras and in recital across the country and abroad.  Peter holds bach­e­lor’s and master’s degrees from The Juilliard School and has been a mem­ber of the violin and chamber music faculties of the Manhattan School of Music and the Aspen Music School (where the American is Quartet-in-Residence) since 1990. For more information, visit http://www.americanstringquartet.com/winograd.htm.
 
Jim Griffith received his M.M. degree from the Juilliard School. He also received his undergraduate degree from the Manhattan School of Music and attended Florida State University. He is a former member of the Hudson String Quartet in New York, faculty member of Point-Counterpoint Chamber Music Camp in Vermont and founding member of the Palm Beach Chamber Music Festival. He formerly served as principal violist of the New York Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra and the New York Virtuosi. Currently, he is enjoying his twenty-ninth season as violist in the Naples Philharmonic. Mr. Griffith is also the Executive Director of the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center. For more information, visit http://artisnaples.org/naples-philharmonic/musicians/james-griffith.
 
Andres Díaz has exhilarated both critics and audiences with his intense and charismatic performances since winning the First Prize in the 1986 Naumburg International Cello Competition. He was awarded the prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant and was nominated for a 2009 Latin Grammy. His numerous orchestral appearances have included performances with the American Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Rochester Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, and the Atlanta Symphony under Robert Shaw. Highlights of his recent seasons are tours of Taiwan, Hong Kong, Korea, Japan, Hawaii, and Canada; and appearances in Chile, Venezuela, Argentina, and the Dominican Republic. His debut solo recording on MusicMasters with pianist Samuel Sanders was acclaimed by the Boston Globe as “strong and subtle; everything Díaz does has personality and, better than that, character.” His most recent release features the six Bach Suites on the Azica Records label. His summer festival appearances include the Banff Centre, Santa Fe, La Jolla, Marlboro, Ravinia, Bravo! Vail, Spoleto, Music@Menlo, Saratoga, and Tanglewood festivals. Mr. Díaz graduated from the New England Conservatory, where he worked with Laurence Lesser and Colin Carr. He is a professor at Southern Methodist University and holds the Koerner Chair in Cello at the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto.. For more information, visit https://www.smu.edu/Meadows/AreasOfStudy/Music/Faculty/DiazAndres.
 
Wendy Chen debuted at the age of 15 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under conductor André Previn. In 1990 she became the youngest winner ever of the National Chopin Competition, was one of the inaugural recipients of the Irving S. Gilmore Young Artists Award, and was named a Presidential Scholar by the National Foundation for the Arts.  Since then, her career has flourished, adding Young Concert Artists International Auditions and Washington International Competition to her numerous awards. For more information, visit http://wendy-chen.com/Site/biography.html.
 
Anton Miller has appeared throughout the United States and abroad as a soloist, chamber musician, recitalist, and pedagogue. He has performed over fifty violin concertos with a number of orchestras on four continents. His world premiere performance of Xiogang Ye’s “Last Paradise” for violin and orchestra in Beijing, China with the Central Philharmonic Orchestra was recorded for broadcast throughout Asia and released on CD. Mr. Miller has also been concertmaster for a number of orchestras including almost thirty years with Lincoln Symphony Orchestra and the New Jersey Festival Orchestra. He was also concertmaster for an Argentinian tour of the American Ballet Theatre. He has made a number of recital and chamber music tours to Europe with performances in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Greece and England. A long time resident of the East Coast, Anton has performed more than a hundred chamber music concerts and recitals in the New York City area. For more info, visit http://www.antonmiller.com/.
 
Rita Porfiris has been the subject of articles and interviews in media across the globe including the New York Times, Chamber Music America, International Symphony Musician, the NBC Nightly News, NPR, PBS, and the BBC. She has performed in major concert halls and music festivals worldwide and as a soloist has appeared with numerous orchestras including the Orquesta Filarmonica de la Ciudad de Mexico, the New World Symphony, and was a featured soloist in the Houston Symphony’s Baroque Festival. Currently the Associate Professor of Viola at The Hartt School, she has also been on the faculties of New York University, the University of Houston Moores’ School of Music, Florida International University, and the Harlem School for the Arts in New York. Ms. Porfiris is a member of the Hartt String Quartet and the Miller-Porfiris Duo. As a founding member of the Plymouth Quartet, she was in-residence at the Ojai Festival, Mainly Mozart, Point Counterpoint, and the Internationale Quartettakademie Prag-Wien-Budapest. For more info, visit http://ritaporfiris.com.
 
Ryan Little is the new principal horn in the Naples Philharmonic. He currently serves as assistant principal/utility horn of the Britt Music & Arts Festival in Jacksonville, Oregon. Little received his Master of Music degree from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in 2017 where he studied with William VerMeulen of the Houston Symphony. In 2015, he received his Bachelor of Music degree from the Bienen School of Music at Northwestern University where he studied with Gail Williams and Jonathan Boen. For more info, visit http://artisnaples.org/naples-philharmonic/musicians/ryan-little.
 
IMAGES ATTACHED: Peter Winograd by Jesi Cason Photography.jpg; Andres Diaz by Jesi Cason Photography.jpg; Jim Griffith by Jesi Cason Photography.jpg; Wendy Chen by Jesi Cason Photography.jpg; American Virtuosi Gala 2_by Jesi Cason Photography.jpg; American Virtuosi Gala 1_by Jesi Cason Photography.jpg; SBDAC3.jpg
 
 
 

NAPLES, Fla. – February 12, 2018 – The threat of a data breach is on the rise, and organizations and businesses are looking for ways to mitigate these threats, which is why C-level executives and managers of risk, compliance, governance, cybersecurity, human resources, IT and networks will have the opportunity to hear from experts in the field of data breach and identity theft at Hodges University’s inaugural Organizational Privacy Summit (OPS).
Hosted by the Identity Fraud Institute (IFI) at Hodges University, in partnership with Collier County Tourism, the summit will be held April 30 through May 2, 2018, at the Hilton Naples, which is located at 5111 Tamiami Trail North, Naples, FL 34103. Participants will hear from experts throughout the country on topics relating to cyber insurance and cyber threats, the Dark Web, data breaches and how to target ID thieves.
The keynote speaker for the event is Brian Krebs, world-renowned cybersecurity expert, who has brought down cyber criminals worldwide and is widely recognized by security experts and criminals alike as the preeminent authority on cybercriminal syndicates and their tools.
The IFI will host a special VIP event on April 30, which includes a meet and greet with Brian Krebs. The fee is $250 per person without conference registration and $150 per person with conference registration.
Registration for the conference includes continental breakfast, break snacks and lunch for May 1 and 2. Registration pricing is as follows:

• Early registration: $400 per person (must register by February 28, 2018)
• Regular registration: $475 per person (March 1, 2018 – April 15, 2018)
• Late registration: $500 per person (after April 15, 2018)
• Student/Gov’t/Military/NFP: $300 per person

Event sessions in addition to the keynote presentation include:

• Cyber Insurance: Coverages, Regulatory Developments and Claims/Litigation Trends (Aarti Soni, senior vice president, Marsh & McLennan)
• Cybersecurity for the Rest of Us
  (Jeff Alluri, vice president of consulting, Element Technologies, LLC)
• Cybersecurity Threats Including the Dark Web
  (John Benkert, CPR Tools Inc. and Greg Scasny, Cybersecurity Defense Solutions, Inc.)
• Data Breaches Today & The Unintentional Insider Threat

(Dr. Donald Rebovich, Center for Identity Management and Information Protection (CIMIP), Utica College and Professor Leslie R. Corbo, Utica College)

• How Identity Theft Disrupts the Security versus Convenience Mindset
  (Eva Velasquez, CEO, Identity Theft Resource Center)
• Targeting ID Thieves, A Case Study
  (R. Sean McCleskey, J.D. director of organizational education and measurement, Center for Identity, University of Texas)
• Third Certainty: Cyber Threats and the C-Suite
  (Adam K. Levin, chairman and founder of CyberScout)
• Cybersecurity – Best Practices and Proactive Strategies to Mitigate Threats
  (R. David Mahon, chief security officer, CenturyLink, Inc.)

The presenting sponsor for this year’s event is CenturyLink. Additional sponsorships and exhibitor tables are still available. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities or to register for the conference, visit http://organizationalprivacysummit.com/.
For more information, contact Carrie Kerskie at [email protected] or (239) 598-6281.
About the Identity Fraud Institute:
Hodges University’s Identity Fraud Institute is your research and education partner in the fight against identity theft. Providing services for consumers and professionals, the Identity Fraud Institute is led by Carrie Kerskie, a highly sought-after speaker, trainer, author and consultant on the topics of identity theft, fraud and data privacy.
###
 
 
 
Nicole Roe
Marketing & Strategic Content Writer
Hodges University | 2655 Northbrooke Drive, Naples, FL 34119
(239) 598-6178 | (800) 466-8017
[email protected] | www.hodges.edu
 

NAPLES, Fla. – February 12, 2018 – The threat of a data breach is on the rise, and organizations and businesses are looking for ways to mitigate these threats, which is why C-level executives and managers of risk, compliance, governance, cybersecurity, human resources, IT and networks will have the opportunity to hear from experts in the field of data breach and identity theft at Hodges University’s inaugural Organizational Privacy Summit (OPS).
Hosted by the Identity Fraud Institute (IFI) at Hodges University, in partnership with Collier County Tourism, the summit will be held April 30 through May 2, 2018, at the Hilton Naples, which is located at 5111 Tamiami Trail North, Naples, FL 34103. Participants will hear from experts throughout the country on topics relating to cyber insurance and cyber threats, the Dark Web, data breaches and how to target ID thieves.
The keynote speaker for the event is Brian Krebs, world-renowned cybersecurity expert, who has brought down cyber criminals worldwide and is widely recognized by security experts and criminals alike as the preeminent authority on cybercriminal syndicates and their tools.
The IFI will host a special VIP event on April 30, which includes a meet and greet with Brian Krebs. The fee is $250 per person without conference registration and $150 per person with conference registration.
Registration for the conference includes continental breakfast, break snacks and lunch for May 1 and 2. Registration pricing is as follows:

• Early registration: $400 per person (must register by February 28, 2018)
• Regular registration: $475 per person (March 1, 2018 – April 15, 2018)
• Late registration: $500 per person (after April 15, 2018)
• Student/Gov’t/Military/NFP: $300 per person

Event sessions in addition to the keynote presentation include:

• Cyber Insurance: Coverages, Regulatory Developments and Claims/Litigation Trends (Aarti Soni, senior vice president, Marsh & McLennan)
• Cybersecurity for the Rest of Us
  (Jeff Alluri, vice president of consulting, Element Technologies, LLC)
• Cybersecurity Threats Including the Dark Web
  (John Benkert, CPR Tools Inc. and Greg Scasny, Cybersecurity Defense Solutions, Inc.)
• Data Breaches Today & The Unintentional Insider Threat

(Dr. Donald Rebovich, Center for Identity Management and Information Protection (CIMIP), Utica College and Professor Leslie R. Corbo, Utica College)

• How Identity Theft Disrupts the Security versus Convenience Mindset
  (Eva Velasquez, CEO, Identity Theft Resource Center)
• Targeting ID Thieves, A Case Study
  (R. Sean McCleskey, J.D. director of organizational education and measurement, Center for Identity, University of Texas)
• Third Certainty: Cyber Threats and the C-Suite
  (Adam K. Levin, chairman and founder of CyberScout)
• Cybersecurity – Best Practices and Proactive Strategies to Mitigate Threats
  (R. David Mahon, chief security officer, CenturyLink, Inc.)

The presenting sponsor for this year’s event is CenturyLink. Additional sponsorships and exhibitor tables are still available. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities or to register for the conference, visit http://organizationalprivacysummit.com/.
 

FORT MYERS, FLA. – February 8, 2018 – More than 1,500 people attended the 29^th Annual Mrs. Edison’s Hymn Sing Tuesday, Feb. 6, and donated nearly 5,000 pounds of food to help feed the hungry.
The event was presented by First Presbyterian Church and sponsored by the Galloway Family of Dealerships to honor the work of Mrs. Mina Edison, wife of inventor Thomas Edison.
The donated canned goods will benefit The Soup Kitchen of Community Cooperative.
“We are so thankful to the people of our community who stepped up in this time of great need.  It truly shows the impact that a few people can make in the lives of many,” said Organizer Sam Galloway, Jr.  Galloway said the food will be distributed immediately to those in need in Lee County.
Attendees sang hymns with the 60-member Sanctuary Choir of First Presbyterian Church and friends, listened to soloists, and heard a song called “Edison’s Phonograph Polka” about Thomas Edison’s famous invention.  The song was played by Pianist Barbara Peterson and Organist Eddygrace Bernhard.
In addition to Mrs. Edison’s Hymn Sing, the Galloway Family of Dealerships also sponsors the very popular Christmas Carol Sing, which is set for December 11.  Both events benefit The Soup Kitchen of Community Cooperative.

FEBRUARY 7, 2018 – FORT MYERS, FLA – The Physical Therapist Assistant program at Florida SouthWestern State College (FSW) will hold a series of informational sessions this spring in Building A, Room 215, at the FSW Thomas Edison Campus, 8099 College Parkway, Fort Myers.
 
The public is welcome to attend any of the information sessions below:
 

• Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2:30-3:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 20, 2:30-3:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 24, 2:30-3:30 p.m.

 
The Physical Therapist Assistant program is offered by Broward College (BC) through a partnership with FSW. Classes at both sites participate in all lecture classes together through live interactive video conferencing with the FSW students located at the Fort Myers campus. All lab sessions and clinical practicums are managed by the individual sites with a full-time program manager located at FSW who serves as a liaison between the sites. Program degrees are conferred by BC.
 
The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE). A licensing examination is required upon completion of the two-year associate degree program and the Physical Therapist Assistant shall be eligible for an appropriate membership category in the American Physical Therapy Association.
 
For more information, contact Jodi Gootkin, program manager, Broward College Physical Therapist Assistant Program, at (239) 489-9494, [email protected], or visit www.fsw.edu/academics/programs/asphysicaltherapistassistant.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Friday, March 2, 2018 • London Amara: Ethos
The specific words used to describe an event or concept change our perception drastically. This exhibit explores the relationship of what we understand to be true within the context that we came to know it.  London Amara’s “Ethos” explores themes of convergence, context and perspective through a series of drawings, sculpture, photography and immersive experience. Visit www.sbdac.com for info.
Opening: Friday, March 2nd • 6pm – 10pm
Closing: March 27th • 5pm
Free to Attend
Saturday & Sunday, March 3 & 4, 2018 • 24 Hour Festival
Visual artists, filmmakers, theatre artists, dancers, musicians, and poets race against a 24-hour clock to create unique works based on prompts. Now in its tenth year, this all-inclusive art happening has been opened up and brought downtown by the Ghostbird Theatre Company. Artists of all types and ages are invited to participate. Get creative in 24 hours! You’ll have so much fun you won’t even feel the sleep deprivation. Categories: Visual Art, Live Performance, Film and Music. Visit www.sbdac.com for info.
Saturday, March 3rd, 5pm: Presentation of the elements
Sunday, March 4th, 5pm: Deadline for artist submissions
6:30pm: Doors Open •  7pm: Performances
Free to Enter • Free to Attend
 
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday, March 8, 9, & 10, 2018 • Art Walks the Runway
Take part in three dazzling days of fashion, art, music, and performances at the 7th Annual Art Walks the Runway fashion show! Experience Fort Myers’ only three-night Couture fashion show featuring runway ready Haute Couture from some today’s hottest designers. Visit www.sbdac.com for info.
Thursday, March 8, 2018: Opening Night
Tickets: $40 in advance • $50 day of show • VIP: $75
Friday, March 9, 2018: Local Fashion
Tickets: $20 in advance • $25 day of show • VIP: $50
Saturday, March 10, 2018: Couture Fashion
Tickets: $35 in advance • $45 day of show • VIP: $70
All Nights: Runway • 8pm / Cocktails • 7pm
Saturday, March 17, 2018 • Chamber Series presents Happy Birthday, Bernstein
Join SBDAC for the 2017 – 2018 Chamber Concert Series, featuring some of today’s top classical music performers. In 2018, Curtis on Tour celebrates the centenary and legacy of Curtis alumnus Leonard Bernstein by touring programs that feature Bernstein’s music. In spring 2018, we are offering a chamber ensemble including Curtis alumnus and renowned clarinetist David Shifrin, performing alongside Curtis students. The program will include Bernstein’s lively and jazz-influenced Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, as well as other chamber music works for clarinet, strings, and piano. Visit www.sbdac.com for info.
Cocktails: 7pm • Performance: 8pm
Tickets: GA – $35 in Advance / $40 Day of Show
 
Monday, March 19, 2018 • Author Lecture Series: Karen Thompson Walker
The Famous Author Lecture Series invites audiences to take part in a lunch and lecture with an acclaimed writer. From 12pm – 2pm enjoy a gourmet lunch, a lecture from the author, and a question and answer portion that offers insights on the author and the stories they write. A book signing opportunity will also be available. Featuring Casey Walker, author of Anything I Want to Be, and Karen Thompson Walker, author of The Age of Miracles. Visit www.sbdac.com for info.
Lecture & Lunch • 12pm – 2pm
Tickets $35 • Tables of 8 $350
 
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday, March 22, 23, 24 & 25, 2018 • Fort Myers Film Festival
The Fort Myers Film Festival is an intelligent independent filmmaker’s preferred event to create, unite, and showcase the finest artistic cinematic works. The Fort Myers Film Festival is known for world-class swagger and support of local filmmakers. The festival event offers ͚the most vibrant, intellectual, and edgy crowd to grace Lee County in decades.͛ The event has featured hundreds of local filmmakers and is a must attend for cineasts living in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties who love indie film and film festivals. That͛s right, Fort Myers has a film festival, so come out for the excitement!
Visit www.sbdac.com for showtimes and ticket prices.
 
Saturday, March 24, 2018 • Fashion Design Workshop
Have fun with fashion at the 3D Fashion Design Workshop instructed by Mariapia Malerba! During the workshop, create a 3D fashion design with recycled material. Let your imagination and creativity come to life! Visit www.sbdac.com for sign up and info.
10am-12pm • $50 per student
Thursday, March 29, 2018 • Art & Poetry Networking Event
Join SBDAC and Gulf Coast Leisure for the monthly Art & Poetry Networking Event. Now in its 6th season, APNE brings the best local emerging and trendy artists, musicians, and writers to downtown Fort Myers. Sign up to perform, or attend and enjoy the beautiful works of the SWFL arts community. Visit www.sbdac.com for info.
Performances • 8pm
Tickets: $10
 
Friday, March 30, 2018 • American Virtuosi Concert
Join SBDAC for the 2017 – 2018 Chamber Concert Series, featuring some of today’s top classical music performers. The Chamber Music Series culminates in an incredible performance by some of the most celebrated musicians in the genre. American Virtuosi invites violinist Peter Winograd, cellist Andres Diaz, violist Jim Griffith, pianist Wendy Chen, and violinist Caterina Szepes for an unforgettable evening of live classical music. This unique engagement will also include a performance by a very special surprise guest. Visit www.sbdac.com for info.
Cocktails: 7pm • Performance: 8pm
Tickets: GA – $35 in Advance / $40 Day of Show
 
Saturday, March 31, 2018 • American Virtuosi Gala
Attention music and food connoisseurs! The American Virtuosi Gala is an exquisite chamber concert paired with a gourmet wine dinner prepared by G3 Catering. Experience the music of some of chamber music’s masters alongside a delicious four-course dinner. Proceeds benefit the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center. Performers to be announced. Visit www.sbdac.com for info.
Dinner: 7pm • Cocktails: 6pm
Tickets: $125 • Table for 8: $900
 
 

IMMOKALEE, Fla. (Jan. 22, 2018) – Edward Aguilar has been named Assistant General Manager / Vice President for Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee.
 
Aguilar is an enrolled member of the Seminole Tribe of Florida and becomes one of the highest ranking Tribal members in Seminole Gaming management.  He joined the Tribal Career Development Program in February, 2013, and excelled through its cross-training opportunities at Seminole Gaming and Hard Rock International, which is owned by the Seminole Tribe of Florida.
 
In May, 2015, Aguilar was named Assistant Director of Slot Operations for Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee.  He was promoted to Assistant Director of Casino Operations in February 2016.
 
Conscious of his role as a Tribal member in management of Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee, Aguilar has attended nearly every Immokalee new employee orientation, providing new hires with an understanding of the Tribe’s history and culture and helping to shape their commitment to customer service.
 
As a graduate of the 2016 Seminole Gaming Excellence in Leadership program, Aguilar spent time working within the leadership of key departments, including Food & Beverage, Marketing, Table Games, Hotel and Human Resources.  He worked in nearly every position at Seminole Casino Hotel Immokalee.
 
Aguilar began his gaming career in 2001 as a lead Seminole Gaming Commission Officer at Seminole Casino Immokalee.  During his time with the Seminole Gaming Commission, he assisted with the openings of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood and the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa.
 
In 2006, Aguilar was promoted to Assistant Compliance Officer at Seminole Casino Immokalee.  He later worked for several years at the Immokalee office of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, Inc., the non-gaming business development arm of the Tribe.
 
Aguilar earned an Associate Degree in Culinary Arts from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in 2013.  He resides near his hometown of Immokalee, Fla., with his wife, Cindy.
 
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.
 
 
 
 
 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (February 5, 2018) – Pure Florida presents Bark on the Ark cruise from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, February 17 aboard the M/V Edison Explorer which departs from The Marina at Edison Ford, located at 2360 W. First St. in Fort Myers. Guests will have the opportunity to bring their dogs for a sightseeing cruise along the Caloosahatchee River to Picnic Island, located between Sanibel and Pine Island that exhibits the natural beauty of Southwest Florida. At Picnic Island, passengers will enjoy a playful time socializing with man’s best friend. During the excursion, dogs and owners can run, swim and play catch while enjoying the sunshine, water, sand and fresh air. Water, tennis balls and dog treats are included for the canines. Soda, wine and beer will be available for purchase. While Pure Florida cannot guarantee animal sightings in the wild, the captain will alert passengers to wildlife such as dolphins, eagles, manatee, native birds and more. Registration for the tour is $44 per person. Groups of six or more can call for discounted group rates. Reservations are required as room is limited to 25 passengers and their pets. All dogs that can follow basic commands are welcome. For more information or to book your ticket, call (239) 919-2965 or visit www.PureFL.com.
Bark on the Ark Facebook event page: http://bit.ly/2CO1l9r
Downloadable Digital Media
Download Photo: Captain Marty Martino takes a pup at the helm on Pure Florida’s Bark on the Ark event.
https://ipartnermedia.sharefile.com/d-s9f60a1185f345938

Download Photo: Pure Florida guests are invited to bring their dogs aboard the M/V Edison Explorer for a special Bark on the Ark sightseeing cruise to Picnic Island.
https://ipartnermedia.sharefile.com/d-s1a1f5b6960b4d48a
Download Photo: Man’s best friend enjoy the waters of Picnic Island during Pure Florida’s Bark on the Ark excursions.
https://ipartnermedia.sharefile.com/d-s01c0e3e8efe4eadb
Download Photo: Canines and owners alike make new friends aboard Pure Florida’s Bark on the Ark cruises.
https://ipartnermedia.sharefile.com/d-s238f55e262a42918
Download Photo: Pure Florida’s Bark on the Ark cruise provides a fun way for canines and their owners to enjoy a day in the Southwest Florida sun.
https://ipartnermedia.sharefile.com/d-s772443bd4784388a
Download Photo: Captain Nick Williams poses with seafaring canines and their owners on a cruise along the Caloosahatchee River with Pure Florida during Bark on the Ark.
https://ipartnermedia.sharefile.com/d-sbdb895f4ce0490fb

About Pure Florida
Pure Florida is a water attraction company helmed by father-and-son duo Captains Lance H. and Harry Julian.  The company offers a variety of unique eco-excursions for its visitors that incorporate maritime history, tourism, sightseeing and entertainment. Pure Florida features 19 vessels for sunset and specialty cruises as well as boat and jet ski rentals, fishing charters, group events and educational field trips for schools and students from marinas in Naples and Fort Myers.
In addition to Pure Florida, the founders are also partners in Marine Team International and Pure Image Productions, providing professional marine consulting, television and video production and photography services. With a long history in maritime productions, Lance and Harry Julian have helped to create some of the most memorable water scenes in film production, with credits including “Titanic” and “Waterworld,” and television credits such as the reality show, “Survivor.” As the fourth and fifth generation working within the maritime industry, Lance and Harry Julian enjoy sharing their passion and expertise with fellow adventurers in the Southwest Florida area. For more information, visit www.PureFL.com or call its Naples location at 239-263-4949.

The national tour of the Broadway musical HAMILTON will play in Naples and Fort Myers as part of the Artis—Naples 2019-2020 season in Naples and Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW 2019-2020 Fifth Third Bank Broadway Series.
HAMILTON will open at Hayes Hall in Naples first before moving to the Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW in Fort Myers in January 2020. For more information about performances at Hayes Hall in Naples, visit artisnaples.org.  For more information about performances at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW in Fort Myers, visit bbmannpah.com. Information regarding specific engagement dates and how to purchase groups and single tickets will be announced at a later time.
HAMILTON is the story of America’s Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, an immigrant from the West Indies who became George Washington’s right-hand man during the Revolutionary War and was the new nation’s first Treasury Secretary.  Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, blues, rap, R&B, and Broadway, HAMILTON is the story of America then, as told by America now.
With book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, HAMILTON is based on Ron Chernow’s biography of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton.
The HAMILTON creative team previously collaborated on the 2008 Tony Award ® Winning Best Musical IN THE HEIGHTS.
HAMILTON features scenic design by David Korins, costume design by Paul Tazewell, lighting design by Howell Binkley, sound design by Nevin Steinberg, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, and casting by Telsey + Company, Bethany Knox, CSA.
The musical is produced by Jeffrey Seller, Sander Jacobs, Jill Furman and The Public Theater.
The HAMILTON Original Broadway Cast Recording is available everywhere nationwide.  The HAMILTON recording received a 2016 Grammy for Best Musical Theatre Album.
For information on HAMILTON, visit www.HamiltonMusican.com, www.Facebook.com/HamiltonMusical, www.Instagram.com/HamiltonMusical and www.Twitter.com/HamiltonMusical.