Member News

Mothers cruise free May 11-13 with full-fare paid child or adult admission
FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 2, 2018) – Pure Florida’s Fort Myers location will celebrate Mother’s Day weekend May 11-13 by offering moms free cruises aboard all History & Eco-river sightseeing and sunset cruises when accompanied by a full-fare paid adult or child admission. Guests will cruise the Caloosahatchee River aboard the M/V Edison Explorer which departs from The Marina at Edison Ford, located at 2360 W. First St. in Fort Myers. Reservations are required. Cruises will depart at 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. with sunset cruises departing at 7 p.m. Adult admission is $32.50 during the day and $35 for the sunset cruise. Children’s admission is $16.25 during the day and $17.50 for the sunset cruise. Mother’s Day cruises cannot be combined with any other discounted offer. Refreshments are available for purchase on-board. For more information on Pure Florida, or to register for a Mother’s Day cruise, visit www.PureFL.com or call Pure Florida’s Fort Myers location at (239) 919-2965.
Narration on local history, wildlife and ecology is provided by Coast Guard certified captains. Aboard the vessels, guests are invited to relax and enjoy the natural beauty of Southwest Florida and observe the wildlife native to the region. 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.
Digital Media Assets
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/796892460506444/
Download Photo: Mothers cruise free with paid child admission at Pure Florida’s Fort Myers location May 11-13 aboard the M/V Edison Explorer.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1EQ_6mmcFnCgs3nxo3_fFiVvXDYPi7uOD/view?usp=sharing
Photo Credit: Pure Florida file
Download Photo: Pure Florida’s Fort Myers location will celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with daytime and sunset cruises May 11-13 aboard the M/V Edison Explorer.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vbSbn9vY4xhp9hzPF7AQK4IIrxj62OP3/view?usp=sharing
Photo Credit: Pure Florida file
 
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.

Co-chairs, sponsorship opportunities announced for Oct. 6 event

FORT MYERS, Fla., (May 3, 2018) – PACE Center for Girls, Lee County is pleased to announce the return of its highly anticipated signature event, the Boo Ball, coming to Fort Myers in October 2018.

Featuring an elegant evening of dinner, dancing and a live auction for exceptional travel opportunities and experiences, the Halloween-themed gala will be held Saturday, Oct. 6 at the historic Burroughs Home & Gardens in downtown Fort Myers.

Proceeds from the spooktacular soiree will support the PACE Center’s mission to provide at-risk girls and young women an opportunity for a better future through education, counseling, training and advocacy.

Two local power couples will be chairing the event: Christin and David Collins along with Debbie and Bill Toler. 

“Having served over 650 girls right here in Lee County throughout its 10-year history, PACE Center for Girls continues to demonstrate its profound influence on those who have multiple risk factors impacting their academic achievement as well as their overall health and well-being,” said Christin Collins, co-chair of the 2018 Boo Ball event. “For this reason, David and I are thrilled to be co-chairing this year’s Boo Ball event alongside Debbie and Bill Toler, and we look forward to a stunning, fun-filled evening that celebrates and supports the young women of Lee County.”

This year’s event promises many surprises and opportunities, with a new twist on the event theme, the BOO-ming Twenties. Guests will be transported back in time as they sip prohibition-inspired cocktails on the sweeping verandah, mingle on the lawn under a gorgeous Southwest Florida sky, and sway to the tunes of The Brass Evolution. Attendees will be encouraged to dress according to the theme, with a festive Halloween touch.  

2018 Boo Ball event co-chair, Debbie Toler adds, “By providing appropriate counseling and education in a nurturing environment, PACE Center for Girls helps our young women build brighter futures and achieve their full potential. The Boo Ball event is a great opportunity for the community to come together in support of PACE’s life-changing programs, and this year’s BOO-ming Twenties theme sets the tone for what is sure to be a truly impactful event.”

The Boo Ball event, which was held for the first time in 2016, was the creative vision of PACE board member and Home-Tech chief financial officer, Sonya Sawyer. The sold-out crowd of 250 attendees enjoyed a Halloween-inspired masquerade gala, a first of its kind for PACE and the Lee County community.

“We are so thankful for Sonya’s vision and leadership in creating a fundraiser that brought the festivities of Halloween and fundraising together in such a magical way,” said Meg M. Geltner, PACE Executive Director. “Christin and Debbie, along with their husbands, do all things with immense dedication and heart. This year’s leadership team is sure to create an enchanted night to remember, all in support of our PACE Girls.”

A range of event sponsorship opportunities are now available for the 2018 Boo Ball. The Title sponsor level is $15,000 and includes two complimentary tables of 10. The Presenting sponsor level is $10,000 and includes one complimentary table of 10. Champion, Advocate and Table sponsor levels are available at $7,500, $5,000 and $1,500, respectively, and each includes one complimentary table of 8. To learn more, contact PACE Development Manager Allyson Ross at Allyson.Ross@PACEcenter.org or 239-470-7548. 

For more information on the programs and services PACE provides, consider attending a Pathways to PACE session, held on the third Wednesday of each month from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at PACE’s Fort Myers location or visit PaceCenter.org/locations/lee.

About PACE Center for Girls, Inc.

PACE Center for Girls, Inc., is a non-residential delinquency prevention program targeting the unique needs of girls, ages 11 to 18 years old, facing challenges such as academic failure and truancy, physical and sexual abuse, domestic violence, substance abuse, foster care, neglect, death of a parent, and family history of incarceration.

PACE is a Florida-based, not for profit organization, and the only statewide prevention program for adolescent at-risk girls in the nation.  In the past year, the Lee County program provided 117 girls with education, counseling, training and advocacy resulting in 95 percent having no involvement with juvenile justice within one year of leaving PACE, 96 percent improving their academic performance and 93 percent remaining in school or obtaining employment three years after leaving PACE. As a result, PACE reduces the significant long-term costs associated with teen pregnancy, substance abuse, unemployment and long term economic dependency.

PACE accepts referrals from the juvenile justice system, the Department of Children & Families, school personnel, community services agencies, parents, family members, friends and self-referrals.

HACFM’s Director of Housing Operations, Sherri Campanale named Interim Executive Director.
 FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 3, 2018) – Marcus D. Goodson, executive director of the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers for the past 16 years, has announced he is stepping down to pursue a new career in private consulting.  His last day on the job will be June 29, 2018.
Since joining HACFM in 2002, Goodson has been noted for turning what was a low performing housing authority into a high performer designation by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. He also spearheaded the largest affordable housing development project in the history of Southwest Florida, the Renaissance Preserve community. He served a two-year term as president of the Florida Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (FAHRO) in 2011 and in 2015 the Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers was awarded Outstanding Agency of the Year by FAHRO.
Goodson was born and raised in Raleigh, N.C.  He received a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional planning from East Carolina University and a master’s degree in administration with a concentration in public administration from Central Michigan University. Before joining HACFM, Goodson served as a city planner for the City of Greenville, N.C., Community Development Administrator for the City of Rocky Mount, N.C., Executive Director of the Sanford, N.C. Housing Authority and was Acting Interim City Manager for the City of Fort Myers. Goodson is also an active member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials and Public Housing Authorities Directors Association.
“It’s been a tremendous experience for me these past 16 years to have worked with the amazing staff at the Housing Authority, local, state and national housing representatives and government officials, as well as funding and construction teams on improving the status of affordable housing across Southwest Florida,” Goodson said. “I want to embark on this new journey while I still have the time and energy to do so.”
Goodson has partnered with Jose Cintron former HUD Miami Field Office Director to create Cinmarc and Associates, a public/affordable housing consulting firm.
Originally from California, Campanale joined HACFM as the Director of Housing Management in October 2005. In her tenure, she has overseen public housing, maintenance, Section 8 and the FSS Departments of HACFM. Campanale started her housing career in Las Vegas at the Housing Authority of the County of Clark where she worked in public housing as a property manager and later accepted a position with the North Las Vegas Housing Authority as Director of Public Housing. She had a variety of duties which included all aspects of property management, Property Manager Supervisor, Active Member on the Las Vegas Police Department’s Advisory Council, acted as Hearing Officer for Section 8, attended NAHRO conferences of which she was a speaker for the implementation of community service program and Earned Income Disallowance.  She is a graduate of San Diego State University with a bacherlor’s degree in Woman Studies (emphasis on abused women and children), a minor in Psychology and a minor in Telecommunications & Film.
The Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers serves more than 3,500 families as a catalyst for increasing access to safe, stable and sustainable housing and to help develop, preserve and revitalize communities through affordable rental housing. The agency is dedicated to empowering families with the means to become as self-sufficient as possible through its Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) and HOPE VI Community Supportive Services (CSS) programs, encouraging and facilitating movement toward financial independence beyond the need for HACFM services. The HACFM also aims to instill pride and a desire for an enhanced quality of life for families and serves the greater Fort Myers community in a manner that demonstrates professional courtesy, respect and caring, while recognizing the needs and limitations of the mentally and physically disabled, aged and infirmed.
For more information, call 239-344-3220 or visit www.hacfm.org.

Summer lineup to feature monthly performances May through August
FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 3, 2018) – Tickets are now available for Shell Point Retirement Community’s 2018 Summer Concert Series, which features four performances that begin in May and continue through August. Events are open to the public, with tickets available online at www.shellpoint.org/summer or by phone at 239-454-2067.
Offering diverse, affordable options for musical entertainment during the summer, Shell Point’s 2018 Summer Concert Series includes performances by:

• Astralis Chamber Ensemble – Wednesday, May 9 at 7 p.m.
• Southwest Florida String Trio – Wednesday, June 13 at 7 p.m.
• Wild Coffee Duo – Thursday, July 19 at 7 p.m.
• Trillium Piano Trio – Thursday, Aug. 16 at 7 p.m.

“The Shell Point Summer Concert Series is back for its eighth season with an engaging lineup of highly acclaimed musicians,” said Laura Slack, director of resident life at Shell Point Retirement Community. “This season’s theme is ‘classically cool’ with many talented performers from right here in Southwest Florida.”
On Wednesday, May 9, Southwest Florida Symphony’s Astralis Chamber Ensemble will present, “Baroque and Beyond, Part I,” an eclectic program including an unaccompanied Bach cello suite, a Gaubert flute ballade, a Beethoven piano sonata and several works for trios – such as the Mendelssohn “Trio No. 1, Opus 49.” The program will share insightful background on each composer and will provide guests an opportunity to meet with the musicians following the concert.
The Southwest Florida String Trio will perform an array of musical selections from great composers such as Bach, Vivaldi, Schubert and Piazzolla, in “Baroque and Beyond, Part II,” on Wednesday, June 13. Listeners will be provided background information on each composer and will have an opportunity to meet with the musicians following the concert.
Sanibel’s own Wild Coffee Duo, formed in 2015, will perform “Back in Time: A Musical Retrospective of a Century Ago” on Thursday, July 19. With the end of World War I and the birth of Leonard Bernstein in 1918, audiences will celebrate music from this milestone year, including popular songs such as “I’m Always Chasing Rainbows” and selections from “West Side Story.”
The final performance in the 2018 Summer Concert Series will take place on Thursday, Aug. 16 with a musical act from the Trillium Piano Trio. Featuring classical music with a modern twist, the trio’s performance includes a signature talk to explain the stories behind each piece, resulting in a relatable performance that connects the audience to the artistry of the music.
The cost for each concert is $20, and all performances will be held in the Grand Cypress Room at The Woodlands at Shell Point, 14441 Woodsong Lane, Fort Myers. To purchase tickets, please visit www.shellpoint.org/summer or call the box office at 239-454-2067. Tickets will be held for pick-up at will call on the night of the performance.
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 2,400 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.
# # #

FORT MYERS, FL (May 3, 2018) – More than 1,400 individuals from all faiths, political inclinations and backgrounds came together Thursday in prayer, hearing a message of unity, love and positivity as the community builds a stronger future.

The annual Community Prayer Breakfast, funded by more than 40 generous businesses, organizations and residents, is held in conjunction with the National Day of Prayer. This year’s national theme was unity, a topic that wasn’t lost on keynote speaker Rick Rigsby. The nationally acclaimed speaker and author urged those in attendance to “let Fort Myers be the kindness capital of the world,” and that reputation alone can build a better, stronger community.

Rigsby preaches love, and says positivity, inclusion and respect will ultimately create a unified community rather than a broken one.

“Love all people, like God loves us,” Rigsby said.

The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance on the first Thursday of May, when individuals of all faiths join together in unified prayer for continued blessings on the nation. Local, state and federal observances are held from sunrise to sunset across the nation, attracting more than 2 million people annually.

Fort Myers and surrounding areas have recognized the National Day of Prayer since the Community Prayer Breakfast’s inception in 1988.

Fort Myers Mayor Randy Henderson emceed the Community Prayer Breakfast on Thursday, May 3 at City of Palms Park in Fort Myers. With divisiveness permeating the country – politics, religion, economics, race and an abundance of other issues – Henderson said it’s important to stay strong and purge oneself of negative thoughts, harnessing positive energy into action.

“If ever there was a time to come together, it’s right now going forward,” Henderson said.

(Fort Myers, FL) – The Piano Guys: Christmas Together comes to Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW on Tuesday, November 27 at 7:30PM. Tickets go on sale Friday, May 4 at 10AM at the Box Office, online at www.bbmannpah.com or call 239-481-4849.
 
Hailing from Utah, The Piano Guys became an Internet sensation by way of their immensely successful series of strikingly original self-made music videos. They’ve made over 65 since joining forces in early 2011, including their hit video, an innovative 10-handed version of One Direction’s “What Makes You Beautiful.” But it’s the Guys’ highly original blend of classical music with pop that has really been the cause of an Internet phenomenon that brought them to their major label self-titled debut album released on Sony Music Masterworks in 2012.  This release was followed by their sophomore album, The Piano Guys 2, holiday album, A Family Christmas, Wonders, The Piano Guys Live! and recently released Uncharted album all available now on Portrait, an imprint of Sony Music Masterworks.
 
The Piano Guys have performed everywhere from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno to The Today Show as well have been featured in The New York Times, Fast Company, Buzzfeed, People Magazine, Mashable and so on.
 
But just who are The Piano Guys? Actually, there’s only one piano player, Jon Schmidt, and one other instrumentalist, Steven Sharp Nelson, on cello. Yet the other two – Paul Anderson and Al van der Beek – are equally significant members of the group. The Piano Guys’ name comes from Anderson’s piano store in St. George, Utah, which was called The Piano Guys. Looking for an alternative to low-yield conventional advertising, Anderson devised a Facebook promotional page and YouTube channel featuring the most famous pianist he could find – local pianist, Jon Schmidt. A self-described “New Age Classical” player, Schmidt was indeed well-established locally, thanks to eight albums and seven piano books of his song transcriptions. He also performed concerts throughout Utah, one of which featured a young guest artist, Steven Sharp Nelson, who adventurously combined traditional cello playing with percussion effects. “I was 15 when I met Jon and started playing with him,” Nelson recalls. “I had to get a ride to shows! But we’ve had a great brotherhood that’s now lasted 20 years.”
 
-30-
 
Performance Date/Time:             Tuesday, November 27 – 7:30PM*
Ticket Prices:                                     $89.50*                $69.50*                $59.50*
                                                                $175* – Limited Number VIP / Meet & Greet Ticket
 
*All shows, dates, times, ticket prices are subject to change.
 
P
 
 
Peg Welty

FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 27, 2018) – Harry Chapin Food Bank recently hosted “A Place at the Table,” a free, educational event to begin the conversation about food insecurity and the steps we can take together in the fight to end hunger in Collier County.
Generously sponsored by FPL, the unique event held April 19 at Harry Chapin Food Bank in Naples exposed more than 80 guests to the choices many families, seniors and other individuals must make in order to put food on their tables. The experience was designed to raise awareness about the prevalence of hunger issues in Southwest Florida in general and Collier County specifically.
To help demonstrate what it’s like to not have enough food to eat, guests were given envelopes that contained compelling stories from a variety of individuals who are food insecure – some who have only $2 to spend on dinner for their entire family and others wondering when or if they’ll eat again that day. Based on these real-life examples, participants were each given a limited dollar amount before walking through a cafeteria-style line to see what food their money could buy. With only $2 to spare on their meals, guests were faced with a difficult question: “How will I fill my plate?” The answer didn’t come easily.
During the event, those who receive support from Harry Chapin Food Bank shared their personal stories of hunger, one a 79-year-old who – on a good month – has $30 to spend on groceries, and one a married mother of four who doesn’t qualify for financial assistance and must decide whether to pay for food or her children’s necessary medical bills. The evening concluded with insightful discussions led by Harry Chapin Food Bank employees and board members that brought attention to these often-unseen hunger issues in Southwest Florida.
“Nearly 38,000 Collier County residents are struggling with hunger. These are people you see every day, whether it’s the single mom of four, the elderly gentleman that lives next door, or the young couple that is still reeling in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma,” said Richard LeBer, president and CEO of Harry Chapin Food Bank. “Through our A Place at the Table event, we were able to provide a unique opportunity for members of our community to experience food insecurity first-hand, helping guests develop an understanding of the difficult decisions others must make to feed their families.”
To learn more about Harry Chapin Food Bank and supporting efforts to end hunger within the Southwest Florida community, please call 239-334-7007, email fighthunger@harrychapinfoodbank.org or visit HarryChapinFoodBank.com for more information.
About Harry Chapin Food Bank
Founded in 1983, the mission of the Harry Chapin Food Bank is to lead the community in its fight to end hunger. Serving five counties in Southwest Florida – Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties – the food bank rescues, inspects, transports and distributes donated food and other grocery products to more than 150 partner agencies that provide direct services to those in need. Partner agencies include church food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, disaster relief agencies and more. The food bank provides food for about 28,000 individuals each week. During fiscal year 2016-2017, Harry Chapin Food Bank distributed 22.3 million pounds of food, which equates to 18.6 million meals, a total value of $37.3 million.
 
–

FORT MYERS, Fla. (April 27, 2018) – Norman Love Confections is partnering with Spada Salon & Day Spa to create the ultimate Mother’s Day gift guaranteed to please and pamper mom.
Norman Love Confections has developed a limited-edition Mother’s Day Collection featuring 10 heart-shaped, handcrafted chocolates, and from April 30 through May 12, guests at three of its chocolate salons can add a $50 or $100 gift certificate to Spada for a massage, facial, manicure, haircut and more with the purchase of Norman Love Confections products.
“We should spoil our mothers every day of the year, but on Mother’s Day, you’ve got one chance to get it right,” said Norman Love, founder and owner of Norman Love Confections. “What mom wouldn’t want chocolate and a massage? It’s a perfect combination to show mom that you appreciate everything she’s done for you.”
The Mother’s Day Collection will be available in Norman Love Confections’ four chocolate salons from Monday, April 30 through Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 13. Spada gift certificates will be available at Norman Love’s Fort Myers, McGregor and Miromar Outlets chocolate salons.
Anyone spending a minimum of $150 between April 30 and May 12 at Norman Love Confections’ three salons in Lee County will be entered into a drawing for one of five $50 gift certificates from Spada. Likewise, anyone spending $150 or more on a gift basket or gift certificate at Spada will be entered into a drawing for one of five $50 gift certificates from Norman Love Confections.
Norman Love Confections and Spada will donate a portion of the proceeds from sales made on Friday, May 4 to Valerie’s House, a nonprofit organization based in Fort Myers that offers peer support groups, counseling and activities for grieving children and adults who experienced a significant loss.
Norman Love Confections’ Mother’s Day Collection includes 10 unique favorites: cupcake, mimosa, pink lemonade, special dark, cookies and cream cheesecake, hazelnut coffee, strawberry shortcake, carrot cake, peanut butter marshmallow and pecan turtle. The price for a 10-piece chocolate gift box is $24, a 15-piece box is $34 and a 25-piece box is $50.
 
For more information, please visit www.NormanLoveConfections.com or call 239-561-7215 or 866-515-2121.
About Spada Salon & Day Spa
Located at 13161 McGregor Blvd. in Fort Myers, Spada Salon & Day Spa is Southwest Florida’s largest day spa with 12 hair stations, 21 treatment rooms, steam room, two lounges, Vichy room and five couples suites. The almost 13,000-square-foot spa has served as a luxurious, relaxing destination for more than a decade. Since 2011, Spada has been under the ownership of Andrew and Judy Williams, who have elevated the luxurious touches, expanded the spa and reinforced the company’s strong commitment to the community. For more information, call 239-482-1858 or visit SpadaSpa.com.
About Norman Love Confections
Founded in 2001 by Norman and Mary Love, Norman Love Confections creates and distributes handcrafted artisanal chocolates from its corporate headquarters at 11380 Lindbergh Blvd. in Fort Myers, Florida. The award-winning Fort Myers-based chocolatier has been lauded more than a dozen times by a leading consumer ratings magazine, including recognition six times for producing the best ultra-premium chocolates in the nation. Forbes.com included Norman Love Confections BLACK line on its list of the nation’s top 10 truffles; The Huffington Post listed it among the six best U.S. destinations in its Chocolate Lover’s Travel Guide; and USA Today named Love as one of its top 10 entrepreneurs for 2014. Love has recently been named as the inaugural inductee of Dessert Professional Magazine’s Chocolatier Hall of Fame, partnered with local chefs to present a six-course meal at the James Beard House in New York and Norman Love Confections was ranked among the top 10 shops in the world for chocolate lovers by U.K. media outlet Daily Telegraph.
Norman Love Confections has four Chocolate Salons in Southwest Florida, and chocolates, gift baskets, sipping chocolate and Love’s book, “Artistry in Chocolate, A Story of Love,” also can be ordered online at www.normanloveconfections.com. In addition, Norman Love Confections chocolates and desserts are offered on 18 Princess Cruises’ ships through the “Chocolate Journeys” partnership and at independent retail locations throughout the U.S. For more information visit www.normanloveconfections.com or call 239-561-7215.
– END –
Media Contacts:
Holly Boldrin, APR, CPRC, Priority Marketing, 239-267-2638 or 239-887-9335 (cell), Holly@PriorityMarketing.com
Teri Hansen, APR, Priority Marketing, 239-267-2638 or 239-849-3300 (cell), Teri@PriorityMarketing.com

FORT MYERS, Fla. (May 1, 2018) — To celebrate Mother’s Day on May 13, moms are invited to visit Edison & Ford Winter Estates for free. This is a great way for families to enjoy the day with their mothers.
There are flowers blooming all around the site – some giving off a delightful scent. The Rose Allamanda, Angel’s Trumpet, Plumeria and Gardenia – just to name a few – are bursting with colorful blooms. Visitors can walk through the award-winning Moonlight Garden with flowers of white and blue, then under the pergola between Thomas Edison’s House and the Guest House and look up to see the Queen’s Wreath blossoms dangling down. Orchids, Mina Edison’s favorite flower, are also blooming all around the site.
Families can stop in the Ford Cottage Shoppe for a cool beverage or ice cream and savor it while enjoying a relaxing view of the river. Moms will also receive 10% off retail purchases on Mother’s Day – including plants – in the Ford Cottage Shoppe, Museum Store and Garden Shoppe.
The site is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. seven days a week. For more information, visit the website at www.edisonfordwinterestates.org or call 239-334-7419.