BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. (Oct. 4, 2019) – Shangri-La Springs, a historic property in downtown Bonita Springs was named as a Blue Zones Project recognized organization with a ribbon cutting ceremony Oct. 1.
Shangri-La Springs has a healthy organic focus with an on-site garden, Harvest & Wisdom farm to table restaurant, full-service spa, unique event space and under-renovation hotel rooms that will have plush organic linens and bedding. The mission of the 8.5-acre retreat in the heart of Bonita Springs is to bring guests and visitors back to basics in harmony with themselves and the environment.
“Our goal is to be a center in the community focused on relaxation, rejuvenation and health,” said Lee Bellamy, Shangri-La Springs general manager. “Our property promises a unique blend of culture, nature and local history, where residents and visitors alike can find sources of enriching cuisine, art and spa experiences.”
Shangri-La Springs meets many criteria on the Blue Zones Project best practice list, including:

• Encouraging people to bike to the property by having bike racks
• Promoting consumption of water and no-sugar-added beverages
• Maintaining a garden for seed-to-table dishes, educational classes and tours
• Offering healthy foods and snacks, including plant-based menu items
• Inviting people to walk on the property and promoting volunteer opportunities for community events
• Hosting a variety of well-being, Blue Zones and educational events
• Remaining tobacco free

“The collaboration between Blue Zones Project and Shangri-La Springs is a very meaningful partnership,” said Chante Pemberton, Faith-Based Organization and HOA lead, Blue Zones Project Southwest Florida. “This great organization has the capacity to touch many lives and impact the well-being of the Southwest Florida community.”
Up next, the property is working to have the on-site restaurant Harvest & Wisdom Blue Zones Project Approved. More than 640 area companies and 200,000 individuals are now participating with Blue Zones Project Southwest Florida, a community-by-community, well-being improvement initiative designed to support longer, better lives through sustainable changes to environment, policy and social networks. Principles are based on lifestyles in Blue Zones areas, which are pockets of the world where people live longer with less chronic disease and higher quality of life.
Brought to Southwest Florida by NCH Healthcare System, in collaboration with Sharecare, Inc. and Blue Zones, LLC, Blue Zones Project is a vital part of Southwest Florida’s well-being improvement initiative that encourages changes in the community that lead to healthier options. For more information about Blue Zones Project Southwest Florida, visit southwestflorida.bluezonesproject.com.
About Shangri-La Springs
Built in 1921, Shangri-La Springs offers a variety of unique services including a stately property with an organic garden, fitness studio, organic restaurant, full-service organic spa, gift shop and event and wedding venue rated GOLD in the Naples Daily News 2019 Best of Bonita/Estero. The Blue Zones Project recognized organization specializes in offering guests a nexus of beneficial practices, activities and engagement opportunities that include wellness classes, art shows and special programs. A range of natural and organic treatments and products including facials, massages, eucalyptus steam room, far infrared sauna and private garden lounge are offered at the Spa at Shangri-La Springs, which was rated SILVER for Day Spa in the Naples Daily News 2019 Best of Bonita/Estero. The organic farm-to-table restaurant Harvest & Wisdom, with an ever-changing menu crafted with produce fresh from the on-site garden, locally sourced organic proteins and organic beverages, is open Tuesday-Saturday for lunch. In addition, the historic property is undergoing interior renovations to open as a full-service boutique hotel that will feature 21 guest rooms, outdoor dining area and conference room in the Great House. Renovations are also underway for six guest rooms located in Villa Ascona, a building positioned near the property’s courtyard, perfect for spa weekends or bridal party accommodations. Shangri-La Springs is located at 27750 Old 41 Road in Bonita Springs. For more information call 239-949-0749 or visit www.ShangriLaSprings.com.
About Blue Zones Project
Blue Zones Project is a community-led well-being improvement initiative designed to make healthy choices easier through permanent changes to a city’s environment, policy, and social networks. Established in 2010, Blue Zones Project is inspired by Dan Buettner, a National Geographic Fellow and New York Times best-selling author who identified five regions of the world—or Blue Zones—with the highest concentration of people living to 100 years or older. Blue Zones Project incorporates Buettner’s findings and works with cities to implement policies and programs that will move a community toward optimal health and well-being. Currently, 50 communities in ten states have joined Blue Zones Project, impacting more than 3.3 million Americans nationwide. The movement includes communities in California; 15 cities in Iowa; Albert Lea, Minnesota; the city of Fort Worth; and communities in Southwest Florida, Hawaii, Oklahoma, Oregon, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Blue Zones Project is an exclusive partnership between Blue Zones and Sharecare. For more information, visit bluezonesproject.com.
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Our biggest CHARITY Day Event is upon us! November 9th! Let Belk help your organization gain additional community awareness by participating in our upcoming Charity Sale! We inspire our customers to get involved and donate while your team reaches out to your supporters for their involvement in the store event. 
 
Participating charities will have the opportunity to raise money for their organization by selling event tickets at $5 each and keeping 100% of ticket proceeds. Ticket holders will receive 25% – 70% off of Belk purchases storewide, including special savings on rarely-discounted brands. It is a win-win! Over the past six years, $50 million has been raised for over 6,000 charities located in Belk’s 16-state market area.
 
Our Fall Charity Sale is set for Saturday, November 9th, however tickets sales start NOW inside and outside of the store! We welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can support your 501c organization. If you can spare some volunteers to sell tickets at our front doors any week leading into the event that would be beneficial to your organization! The best day to send volunteers to sell tickets is Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday between 12 and 3pm.  
 
Our Kick-off Charity Meet and Greet is Thursday October 10, 2019
Time: 6:30pm
Location: Fort Myers Belk
Please RSVP before Tuesday 10/8/19 by calling Tracy Groenendaal at 239-850-7333 or email: [email protected].
 
I have also included the Charity Sale FAQ guide in the body of this email to answer some questions you may have.
 
If you cannot attend the kick-off meeting, but would still like to participate in Charity Sale simply RSVP to me directly and I will partner with Pam in the Cape location. 
 
Thank you for all you do to support our beautiful community.
 
Warm Regards – Tracy
 
 
Mary Ann Mattson-Millard  
Fort Myers Florida 
T: 239-850-7333
 
 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Oct. 4, 2019) – Leadership NEXT, a monthly program for advancing business professionals, will highlight Lee County’s first craft brewery during its Oct. 8 session at Fort Myers Brewing Company.
Led by Rob and Jen Whyte, co-owners of Fort Myers Brewing Company, the program will include an overview of the beermaking process, as well as discussion on the growth of the craft beer industry and Fort Myers Brewing Company’s exciting plans for future expansion.
Fort Myers Brewing Company was the first microbrewery to open in Lee County and continues to lead Southwest Florida’s surging craft beer movement. Established in 2013 with 1,500 square feet, the company has grown to just under 20,000 square feet and is known for its award-winning flagship beers, seasonal brews, small batch specialties and newly launched line of hard seltzer beverages.
The brewery is a fun place for beer enthusiasts, young professionals, families and friends to gather and celebrate, with family- and pet-friendly events featuring local musicians and food trucks held regularly. Earlier this summer, Fort Myers Brewing Company announced plans for an expanded brewery destination adjacent to its current location in Gateway, featuring a multi-purpose 40,000-square-foot facility with malt beverage manufacturing and packaging, a large tasting hall, private event space, outdoor beer garden, plenty of parking and lots of green space.
The upcoming Leadership NEXT program runs from 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 8 at Fort Myers Brewing Company, 12811 Commerce Lakes Drive, Suite 28, in Fort Myers.
Leadership NEXT attendees represent a variety of businesses and industries throughout Southwest Florida. Monthly sessions take place from 5 to 7 p.m. on the second Tuesday of every month and offer opportunities to develop new knowledge and skills, establish working relationships with colleagues and engage in valuable programs and discussions to further enhance their careers. Leadership NEXT’s annual sponsor is the Florida Gulf Coast University Alumni Association.
Leadership NEXT is free to attend for members of the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce and $10 for future members. Attendees are encouraged to register in advance at FortMyers.org and follow “Leadership NEXT” on Facebook 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.
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FORT MYERS, Fla. (Oct. 2, 2019) – Fort Myers Brewing Company has released the complete lineup of craft beers for its 7^th annual Oktoberfest, including limited-edition German brews developed exclusively for the brewery’s four-day event.
Ten German beers are among this year’s 50-brew lineup, highlighted by the popular Oktoberfest Lager and Caloosahatchee Kolsch.
Oktoberfest is a family-friendly event that starts Thursday and features craft beer, German food, live music, stein-hoisting competitions and wiener dog races. The event features a variety of small-brew lagers, IPAs, wheats, ambers, porters, pale ales, stouts and spiked seltzers.
Beers available through the duration of Oktoberfest include Oktoberfest Lager, Maibock, Pump-Q-Lees, Caloosahatchee Kolsch, Fort Myers Light, Gateway Gold – Blonde Ale, Fort Myers Wheat, Common Ground Pale Ale, Fairway Finder IPA, High 5 IPA, Clean Shave IPA, OYA – DIPA, Red Tape – American Amber, Tamiami Tan, Start Early Stout, Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter, Cypress Strong – American Strong Ale, Orange Water Craft – Spiked Seltzer and a Cider Guest Tap. Additionally, three blends will be served: Strong Blonde, Dirty Ginger and Lil Pumpkin.
Saturday is considered Oktoberfest’s main event, and keeping with Fort Myers Brewing tradition, new beers will be released every two hours. Below is Saturday’s beer schedule:
Noon-2:00 pm

• Mr. Briteside – Salted Lime Gose
• #AddyTude Raspberry Wheat
• Toasted Coconut Porter
• Mango IPA
• Watermelon Water Craft – Spiked Seltzer
• Strawberry Vanilla Shake Berliner

2:15-4:15 p.m.

• Witbier
• Rose All-Day Saison
• German-American SMASH
• Blackberry Lime Shake Berliner
• Ambruana Pump-Q-Lees
• Black Cherry Water Craft – Spiked Seltzer

4:30-6:30 p.m.

• Kristallweizen
• Strawberry Vanilla Shake Berliner
• Pumpkin Porter
• Fat Cody Wee Heavy
• Ambruana Barrel Aged Start Early Stout
• Peach Water Craft – Spiked Seltzer

6:45-8:45 p.m.

• Dunkelweizen
• Blackberry Lime Shake Berliner
• Ambruana Barrel Aged Cypress Strong
• Somebody Else’s Dream – Chocolate Stout
• Mr. C’s Coffee & Biscotti
• Strawberry Lime Water Craft – Spiked Seltzer

9 p.m.-Close

• Fuego 5 – Mango Habanero IPA
• Bubblin’ Crude
• Mango Water Craft – Spiked Seltzer
• Caramel Strong

Oktoberfest will be held Thursday through Sunday at Fort Myers Brewing Company, 12811 Commerce Lakes Drive, Suite 28, in Fort Myers. Ten different food trucks will be serving their specialty dishes and foodie features over the four-day event, and six local bands and musicians are scheduled to entertain the crowd.
For more information or a complete calendar of events, please visit Facebook.com/FMBrew or call 239-313-6576.
About Fort Myers Brewing Company
Established in 2013, Fort Myers Brewing Company was the first microbrewery to open in Lee County and continues to lead Southwest Florida’s surging craft beer movement. Founded by Rob and Jen Whyte, Fort Myers Brewing carries a signature line of flagship beers in addition to seasonal brews and small batch specialties. Its ales, pilsners, stouts and IPAs are winners of multiple prestigious awards, including golds at the Best Florida Beer Competition and a silver at the 2018 World Beer Cup. Fort Myers Brewing was named “Best Large Brewery in Florida” in 2016. The brewery is located at 12811 Commerce Lakes Drive, Suite 28, in Fort Myers. For more information, visit FMbrew.com or call 239-313-6576.

Please Join The ARCHway Institute for the Inaugural
Lee County Area ARCHway Institute Fundraising Dinner and Auction
 
Through collaboration with local treatment and recovery providers in Lee County, the ARCHway Institute is committed to providing resources and financial assistance to individuals with substance use disorders and co-existing mental health disorders. Your participation will help support these efforts now.
Tuesday, October 29, 2019
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
(Business Casual)
               
Pelican Preserve Golf Club
9802 Pelican Preserve Blvd
Fort Myers, FL 33913
 

• Sponsorship opportunities are now available at all levels
• Tickets are $50 per person or $500 per table of 10

• Treatment and Recovery providers will be on hand to offer valuable recovery information

 
Enjoy an evening that includes a reception, dinner and an exciting silent auction. An inspirational program will be presented by Ken Brown, Specialist for Florida Dept. of Children and Families, and Dan Stuckey, founder and Board Chairman of the ARCHway Institute.
 
100% of the donations raised from this event will support
the ARCHway Institute’s efforts in Lee County.
 

For more information please contact:

Debbie Strobl
314-348-0711
[email protected]

For more information:

www.thearchwayinstitute.org

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Oct. 3, 2019 – Pushing the Envelope, Inc. (PTE) is seeking drop-off locations for their 9th Annual CAN IT! Campaign food drive slated to launch on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Designed to help area residents in need, PTE coordinates the food drive through Community Cooperative (CCI) and is trying to collect 1,000 non-perishable food items this year. The more businesses that participate as drop-off locations, the more food can be collected and ultimately donated.
With the holiday season quickly approaching, becoming a CAN IT! drop-off location offers an opportunity for local businesses to give back to their community. In order to serve as a drop-off location, businesses are simply asked to allow the public to drop off non-perishable food items at your location between Tuesday, Oct. 15 through Friday, Nov. 15 during their normal business hours. As a CAN IT! 2019 partner, PTE will recognize your business as a supporter and drop-off location in all publicity, social media posts, and on the website. There is no cost associated with participating in the campaign as a drop-off location.
Participation is easy. If desired, PTE will provide wrapped collection boxes and flyers for participating businesses to display at their location, as well as content to share online. PTE coordinates the pick-up of all donations or they can be dropped off at the PTE office located at 9111 W. College Pointe Drive, Fort Myers after Nov. 15.
Kicking off the ninth year of the CAN IT! Campaign, more than 10,000 items and many thousands of pounds of food have been collected for local needy.
If your business is interested in donating or serving as a drop-off location to help PTE ‘put hunger in its place’ this holiday season, please call (239) 221- 2858 or email [email protected].
ABOUT PUSHING THE ENVELOPE, INC.
Pushing the Envelope, Inc., is a strategic marketing communication firm. Based in Fort Myers, the firm services clients both regionally and nationally. For more information, please call (239) 221-2858, visit www.getpushing.com or email [email protected].
ABOUT COMMUNITY COOPERATIVE
Community Cooperative is an innovative nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization made up of social service entrepreneurs fighting to end hunger and homelessness in our community. The agency provides more than 14,000 meals each month through its Community Cafés and Marketplace and Meals on Wheels programs and offers homeless and comprehensive case management services through its Social & Education Resource Centers.
A proud United Way partner, Community Cooperative serves Fort Myers and the greater Lee County area, including Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres and Fort Myers Beach. Community Cooperative works in close partnership with The Harry Chapin Food Bank and The School District of Lee County as well as collaborating with fellow community and service groups, churches, businesses and community support organizations.

NAPLES, Fla. (Oct. 3, 2019) – Stevens Construction has won a Sand Dollar Award from the Collier Building Industry Association for best healthcare project, announced Dan Adams, principal and vice president, South Florida.

In a ceremony held on Sept. 28 at the Ritz-Carlton Tiburón in Naples, Stevens Construction earned a Sand Dollar Award in the under $1 million healthcare category for Longevity Performance Center, located at 1000 Immokalee Road in Naples. Stevens Construction converted two retail spaces of an occupied commercial building into one, 4,449-square-foot wellness and fitness facility. Longevity Performance Center offers blood testing to measure biological age and creates a custom fitness and nutrition program specific to blood biomarkers. Longevity Performance Center is designed for clientele looking to live longer and increase energy.

Stevens Construction has earned seven Sand Dollar Awards since 2015. Sand Dollar Awards are presented annually to building, design and marketing professionals who have demonstrated excellence within the building industry in Collier County. Entries are judged on unique features of the project, unusual constraints, and how the project addresses the needs of the target market.

About Stevens Construction

With offices in Fort Myers, Tampa and Orlando, Stevens Construction specializes in providing construction management, general contracting and consulting services to clients and design professionals. Other services include site and design team selection, budgeting, project scheduling, permitting, cost and quality control and warranty service. The company builds healthcare, commercial and hospitality facilities. For information, visit www.stevensconstructioninc.com or call 239-936-9006.

At its meeting in Cape Canaveral, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved several draft rule changes for spotted seatrout. Based on public comment at the meeting, the Commission also directed staff to continue considering public input and update the proposal as needed prior to bringing this back at a future meeting for final approval.
Approved draft changes include:

• Splitting the Northwest spotted seatrout management zone into two separate zones including the Western Panhandle (Escambia County through most of Gulf County, not including Indian Pass/Indian Lagoon) and the Big Bend (Franklin County, plus Indian Lagoon, through Fred Howard Park Causeway in Pinellas County).
• Moving the boundary between the southern management zones to create the newly-renamed South Florida zone (Fred Howard Park Causeway in Pinellas County near the Pasco County line through Broward County) and Central East zone (Palm Beach through Volusia counties).
• Reducing bag limits
  • Western Panhandle: five to three fish
  • Big Bend: five to four fish
  • South Florida: four to three fish
  • Central East: four to two fish
  • Northeast: six to five fish

• Modifying the recreational slot size limit from 15-to-20 inches to 15-to-19 inches total length.
• Allowing one seatrout over 19 inches per vessel (currently, per harvester).

• Changing the current daily commercial limits to 50 per harvester and 100 per vessel.
• Prohibiting captain and crew from keeping a bag limit on a for-hire trip.
• Re-establishing the February recreational closure in the Western Panhandle zone and the November-December recreational closure in the Central East zone.

Staff will bring a final proposal to a future Commission meeting that will incorporate public feedback gathered at today’s meeting and through other input gathering processes.
Provide online comments about these draft changes at MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (October 2, 2019) – At the Annual NAACP Freedom Fund Gala on Saturday, September 21, 2019, Master of Ceremonies Lee Pitts presented Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) Executive Director Michele Hylton-Terry with the Lee Pitts Live Economic Development Person of the Year Award for 2019.
Mr. Pitts noted that he chose Ms. Hylton-Terry for her unwavering effort in leading the City of Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency in creating jobs, housing and economic growth in our under-served communities.
“As head of the Fort Myers CRA, Michele Hylton-Terry is one of the most important people in Fort Myers as it relates to the economic development of the City, which is in full growth mode,” states Lee Pitts, host and executive producer of Lee Pitts Live on FOX 4. “She is already balancing the process of using tax increment funds to bring improved housing and business growth to the MLK CRA and making sure the community is informed and shares in the renaissance,” concludes Pitts.
Ms. Hylton-Terry has led the way as executive director since July 2018. During this time, she has implemented several new programs:

• TIF Guidelines and Application was adopted by the CRA Board of Commissioners and became effective October 1, 2019. The Guidelines streamline the application process and provide a consistent method to analyze each project.
• A Job Creation and Talent Attraction Program targeting specific industries to bring higher-paying jobs to Fort Myers. This program incentivizes the creation and retention of full-time employment within Fort Myers redevelopment areas by offering a grant payment to companies that create or relocate high-wage, full-time jobs within the Downtown Area. As funding becomes available, the program will expand to other redevelopment areas.
• TIF rebates have been approved in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (MLK) Redevelopment Area for Seaboard Waterside Apartments, an eight-story, 420-rental-unit development on the corner of Michigan Avenue and Seaboard Street. This project will generate approximately $4.5 million in tax increment that will be reinvested in the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard Redevelopment Area.
• St. Peter Claver Place Apartments, which will include 120 apartments of a 214-unit affordable housing development to be built on Michigan Avenue. Both apartment projects will provide needed housing, and help to revitalize the east side of Fort Myers as the entire city continues to grow.

About Community Redevelopment Agencies
Community Redevelopment Agencies have proven historically to provide distressed communities with a better economy through improved infrastructure, job opportunities, and housing. Their mission is to make housing and urban areas safer for residents, to preserve and grow business, and to provide a sense of place for all who live there. CRAs have demonstrated that the use of Tax Increment Funding (TIF) dramatically improves the economic and social outcomes within their targeted areas. These outcomes benefit both cities and counties and, more importantly, the taxpayers.
About the Fort Myers Redevelopment Agency (CRA)
The Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency was created in 1984 by the City of Fort Myers, Florida, under Florida Statute Chapter 163, to formulate a plan and strategy for the revitalization of the downtown River District. The Fort Myers CRA has continued to grow, and redevelopment areas have been added throughout the city. Today, the Agency oversees 12 different redevelopment areas within the Fort Myers city limits. The Fort Myers CRA, along with the City’s Community Development Division, prepares plans for the revitalization of each area and coordinates the implementation of the plan’s recommendations. Tax Increment Funds (TIF) generated by each area, combined with other funding sources, are used to upgrade the public infrastructure and to stimulate redevelopment in the same area where it was generated. The Fort Myers City Council members, sitting as the Community Redevelopment Agency, oversee the Agency’s divisions and their operations. The Fort Myers CRA office is located at 1400 Jackson Street in the Downtown River District. Contact: 239-321-7100
About the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
Founded February 12, 1909, the NAACP is the nation’s oldest, largest and most widely recognized grassroots-based civil rights organization. Its more than half-million members and supporters throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, campaigning for equal opportunity and conducting voter mobilization. The NAACP Lee County Branch is located at 3903 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard in the MLK redevelopment area. Contact: 239-936-2352
About Lee Pitts Live
Lee Pitts Live is the longest-running local television talk show in southwest Florida. The award-winning show, now in its 28th year, broadcasts Sundays at 8:30 a.m. on FOX 4. Over the air, it reaches over 750,000 households in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry, Glades, Desoto and Sarasota counties. It streams worldwide on FOX4now.com and has a strong social media platform. The YouTube channel has thousands of interviews. The show casts a wide net in its guest selections and topics. Entertainers, politicians, educators, children and athletes are among the many guests who have appeared on the show. Its producers are committed to maintaining diverse programming. To date, over 8,500 guests have appeared on the show. Veteran host Lee Pitts is executive producer and creator of Lee Pitts Live. Lee Pitts Live is located at 8765 Azalea Court, Suite 103, in Tamarac, Florida. Contact: 877-830-0391
 
 

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