Member News

Calusa Waterkeeper’s CALUSA PALOOZA, schedule for Sunday, March 22 in Centennial Park is OFFICIALLY POSTPONED. 
We are looking to reschedule before the end of the year.
Thank you for all the cooperation.  Keep yourselves and your families safe.
K.C. Schulberg
Executive Director, Calusa Waterkeeper
cell: 239 784-0880 / [email protected]
[email protected] / www.calusawaterkeeper.org

District taking numerous steps to continue fulfilling missions while ensuring safety of staff and public
Following the direction of Gov. Ron DeSantis, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is taking numerous proactive steps to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19. The District is continuing to fulfill its core missions of protecting residents from flooding, restoring and protecting the ecosystem, ensuring adequate water supply and engaging the public all while taking aggressive steps to ensure the safety of the public and staff.
The actions SFWMD has taken to protect the public and staff while fulfilling its missions include:

• All SFWMD offices, including all field stations, service centers and SFWMD headquarters in West Palm Beach, are closed to the public until further notice.
• Many SFWMD staff are equipped with the technology necessary to work remotely for an extended period of time while fulfilling all District functions.
• District facilities are receiving more stringent cleanings and additional protocols for public health, including social distancing, are in place.
• SFWMD is exploring options to hold some upcoming public meetings online with opportunities for online public participation to ensure continued public access and engagement.
• All public recreational access to SFWMD-managed lands is currently open. Information about any changes to public access to District lands for recreation will be communicated to the public as it develops.

The latest information about all SFWMD efforts and any changes related to the COVID-19 will be available at sfwmd.gov

MIAMI – The South Florida Distict of the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Florida Small Business Development will host two webinars to help small businesses navigate the economic recovery process from the effects of COVID-19. 

Both webinars will cover how to apply, where to get help applying for the SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loan, and answer questions.

WHAT: SBA South Florida Economic Injury Disaster Loan Webinar (Coronavirus)

WHEN:
Wednesday, March 18, 2020, 11:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M.
Wednesday, March 18, 2020, 2:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.

WHERE:
Join Skype Meeting with your computer
Trouble Joining? Try Skype Web App

-OR-

Join by telephone:
Toll number: +1 (786) 749-6387,,590047996# (Dial-in Number)  English (United States)
Conference ID: 590047996

About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership.

As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

Shell Point to host informational seminars in Sanibel, Naples, Sarasota, Port Charlotte, Bonita Springs
 FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 5, 2020) – Shell Point Retirement Community presents the Shell Point Retirement Roadshow, a series of informational seminars that will be held in Sanibel, Naples, Sarasota, Port Charlotte and Bonita Springs in March and April. The meetings will offer guests the opportunity to learn about the resort-style retirement options and comprehensive lifecare available at this award-winning waterfront community located in Fort Myers.
Residents from Sanibel, Naples, Sarasota, Port Charlotte and Bonita Springs are invited to attend one of the following seminars:

• Wednesday, March 18 at 9:30 a.m. – Sanibel

Sundial Resort, 1451 Middle Gulf Dr. in Sanibel

• Tuesday, March 24 at 9:30 a.m. – Naples

Hilton Naples, 5111 Tamiami Trail N. in Naples

• Thursday, March 26 at 9:30 a.m. – Sarasota

Hyatt Regency, 1000 Boulevard of the Arts in Sarasota

• Wednesday, April 1 at 9:30 a.m. – Port Charlotte

Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center, 75 Taylor St. in Punta Gorda

• Thursday, April 2 at 9:30 a.m. – Bonita Springs

Hyatt Regency Coconut Point, 5001 Coconut Road in Bonita Springs
During these presentations, Shell Point’s experienced retirement counselors will explain the benefits received when becoming a resident at Shell Point, the advantages of lifecare, the numerous retirement options available and an overview of the community. Once the presentation is complete, guests will have the chance to ask specific questions and schedule a visit to the community for a personal tour.
“We understand that people may want to learn more about Shell Point before driving from their communities,” said Ronette Icso, vice president of sales and marketing for Shell Point. “By bringing the presentation closer to their current homes, we are able to educate them on the many benefits of choosing to live at Shell Point. From this, they can determine if it is an option they would like to consider for their life planning, and if it is, they can take the next step to come for a tour of our beautiful campus and see it for themselves.”
Admission to these seminars is free and refreshments will be served. Seating is limited, so reservations are requested by calling 239-454-2071 or registering online at www.shellpoint.org/roadshow.
About Shell Point Retirement Community           
Shell Point Retirement Community, founded in 1968, is a nonprofit continuing care retirement community located in Fort Myers, Florida. Shell Point offers independent retirement living, assisted living, and skilled nursing care for its 2,500 residents in an active, resort-style environment. Lifestyle amenities include deep-water boating access, six public restaurants, a championship 18-hole golf course, and many other recreational and educational activities. Learn more at www.shellpoint.org or 1-800-780-1131.
 

Your health and safety are extremely important to us. We want you to know that we are still open and available to service your pool and hot tub. In addition, all of our technicians have been instructed to follow the CDC’s guidelines for COVID-19 prevention so we can keep us all safe while helping you enjoy your backyard environment.
Sincerely,
Joe Mitchell, owner
PoolPros-inc.com

I write to provide an update on the Gulf Coast Symphony’s plans regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. While our mission is to bring our community together through music, our first priority is to protect the health of our patrons, artists, musicians, staff members, and community. With the changes in the local situation and the current guidance of the CDC, the Gulf Coast Symphony has suspended our activities through May 1.
This has required us to reschedule our upcoming productions. The Gulf Coast Symphony plans to return to the stage of the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW on Friday May, 8 (March 29 tickets) and Saturday, May 9 (March 28 tickets) with The Music Man.  Fortunately we have been able to retain the services of our tremendously gifted Broadway cast, who were sent home mid-rehearsal for everyone’s safely. Our co-production of Coppélia with Gulfshore Ballet will be moved to the fall, October 3, and our production of Rigoletto will move to November 8.
If you already have tickets for these shows, you do not have to do anything with your current tickets.  They will be honored at the theater.  However, if you are unable to attend these rescheduled performances, we hope that you’ll consider donating their value as tax-deductible contribution, to help us through this crisis. Or, you can also receive a credit towards a future Gulf Coast Symphony performance.  Please use the form below to let us know how you would like to us to handle this.  We are processing many requests, so we ask your patience as we respond.
Click here to fill out the rescheduled concert ticket form.
We urge all our friends and patrons to follow the advice of public health experts, officials, and their physicians, and to stay home, especially if you are experiencing any signs of illness. Since this is a rapidly evolving situation, we thank you in advance for your patience, and as a non-profit organization, we sincerely thank you for your continued support as we all navigate this scenario together.
Sincerely,
 

Important Message from the FWC

The health and safety of employees and the Floridians and visitors we serve are a top priority for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). As COVID-19 (Coronavirus) continues to impact our communities, the FWC is taking proactive measures such as canceling and/or postponing meetings and other large group gatherings to protect stakeholders, staff and volunteers. The FWC will provide updates about when events and activities will resume as information becomes available.
Currently, wildlife management areas (WMA) remain open to the public. However, out of an abundance of caution, we recommend hunters and other WMA users monitor the open/closed status of the WMA they’re interested in. Please note, a couple cooperators have closed their recreation sites and/or campgrounds.
The FWC continues to be in close communication with the Governor’s Office, the Florida Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) regarding the most recent COVID-19 status and guidance. For any other questions related to COVID-19 in Florida, please contact the Department of Health’s dedicated COVID-19 Call Center by calling 866-779-6121 or emailing [email protected]. The call center is available 24 hours a day. Updates are also available on Twitter and Facebook.
Sincerely,
FWC Staff

Good morning,
The EnVisioning the Future event planned for March 31^st at Broadway Palm has been canceled.  This is in accordance with the CDC’s recommendation that events consisting of 50 or more people be canceled or postponed for the next eight weeks.  We plan to reschedule this event for the fall and will send additional information at that time.
We appreciate your understanding and your support of the School District and The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools.
Kind Regards,
Latanua
Latanua Thomas
Executive Assistant
2855 Colonial Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33966
o: 239.337.8185
f: 239.337.8378
[email protected]
THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF LEE COUNTY
 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 16, 2020) — Volunteers of America, the non-profit parent organization of Cape Coral’s Gulf Coast Village, has opened The Preserve, a three-story, 118,000-square-foot skilled nursing and assisted living community at the new Hope Preserve Campus in south Fort Myers.

Located at 14750 Hope Center Loop, at the corner of Six Mile Cypress Parkway and Plantation Road, The Preserve offers 75 private skilled nursing suites for senior residents with specialized or advanced health care needs, as well as 21 boutique assisted living apartments and 17 memory support suites.

“The Preserve is a critical resource for post-acute care, offering high-quality medical services, rehabilitative care and social programs,” said Kevin Ahmadi, area director of operations for Volunteers of America, the non-profit organization that sponsors The Preserve. “The community offers an intimate, boutique-style setting, providing a continuum of care and personalized services all delivered with exceptional hospitality. Residents can rest assured that as health needs change, additional care is available on site.”

Life at The Preserve is focused on comfort, security and wellness. Residents enjoy multiple restaurant-style dining venues, courtyards, libraries, technology rooms and unsurpassed therapy amenities enhance private suites with screened lanais at The Preserve.

The Preserve offers a resident-centered care model. Highly-trained staff members and licensed professionals provide continuous medical support and foster a culture of caring and hospitality, creating specialized programs focused on rehabilitative and restorative care.

Resident units are designed around four “neighborhoods,” each offering its own social, dining and staff support areas. A dedicated memory support neighborhood caters specifically to residents with dementia needing a secured living setting in addition to 24/7 medical assistance. Within The Preserve’s Occupational and Physical Therapy Suite is a Balance and Vestibular Retraining Center that provides therapeutic intervention for residents exhibiting symptoms of balance control, vertigo and dizziness.

The Preserve is the first building at the Hope Preserve Campus designed to include multiple facilities and organizations dedicated to care for seniors and for people with clinically complex illnesses. It’s all part of one of the area’s first medical mixed-use projects that will include retail, hospitality and other uses with diverse senior medical services unrivaled in Southwest Florida.

About Volunteers of America

Volunteers of America is a national, nonprofit, faith-based organization dedicated to helping those in need live healthy, safe and productive lives. Since 1896, our ministry of service has supported and empowered America’s most vulnerable groups, including veterans, seniors, people with disabilities, at-risk youth, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, those recovering from addictions and many others. Through hundreds of human service programs, including housing and health care, Volunteers of America helps more than 1.4 million people in over 400 communities. Learn more at www.voa.org.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 15, 2020) – As a precaution and in support of community efforts to suppress the spread of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), Lee Association for Remarkable Citizens (LARC) will be closing its day training programs from March 16th through Monday, March 30th, 2020.  Staff at LARC will be monitoring developments between now and March 30th and share additional plans as they are finalized.
 
This update is based on current information as of Sunday, March 15. LARC continues to monitor guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html), the State of Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities and local government.
 
“LARC has had no known cases of staff, clients, visitors or program participants who have been exposed to or are exhibiting symptoms consistent with those of COVID-19,” said Kevin Lewis, Executive Director of LARC.  “This decision is based on several factors, including the organization’s practice to follow the procedures of the Lee County School District, statewide and national efforts to reduce the potential spread of COVID-19 and the mission we have to support our vulnerable population and their families.  We ask your assistance and cooperation in these efforts – working together is the best way to protect everyone’s health and well-being.”
 

1. The most effective prevention strategies to date include good personal hygiene such as frequent and effective handwashing, minimizing touching of others when possible, social distancing, not sharing food or drinks, and covering your mouth/nose when coughing or sneezing.
2. People exhibiting signs of illness are asked to stay home in order to avoid the risk of infecting others.  These signs can include dry coughs, a fever or signs of other illnesses (such as a sore throat) that may be infectious.
3. Participants, employees and families are urged to follow current guidelines (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/steps-when-sick.html) with respect to their activities or to seek medical attention if symptoms emerge.

 
Updates will be provided on LARC’s Facebook page, website (www.larcleecounty.org) and personal communication, including email and phone calls.
 
For further information contact Kevin Lewis at (239) 334-6284 x210, (239) 989-1005 or [email protected]
 
About LARC
Established in 1954, LARC Inc.’s mission is to empower and support individuals with disabilities and their families to reach their full potential. LARC is a 501(c)3 that provides programs and services for approximately 300 local men and women annually. The nonprofit offers youth programs, vocational training, community residential services, and a vast array of other state-of-the-art community inclusion services on a full-time, year-round basis.  LARC’s main campus is located at 2570 Hanson Street, Fort Myers, and has a satellite campus in Bonita Springs.  LARC also operates two Residential Group Homes located in Cape Coral and North Fort Myers.