Member News

FORT MYERS, FLA., January 21, 2020 – Did you know that Lee County’s first hospital was built in 1916 using lumber from the demolished courthouse?  Or – did you know that Lee and Collier counties used to be part of Monroe County?
These and other little known facts about the early days of Lee County will be revealed at the Annual Cracker Dinner Monday, Feb. 17, at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre at 1380 Colonial Boulevard.
Long-time resident Genevieve Bowen researched some of the area’s oldest residents to obtain memoirs for the annual dinner, hosted by the Southwest Florida Historical Society.
Jennifer Stacey and Greg Parker of ABC-7 will be the storytellers for the evening, which brings together pioneers of Lee County along with newcomers who are curious about the area’s past.
The presentation will be accompanied by music performed by Barbara Peterson at the piano with vocals by Roger Peterson, John Goulet and Beverly Cox.
Buffet dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. and the program begins at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $35 and are available at Barbee & Sons, 1936 Grace Avenue in Fort Myers, Sam Galloway Ford, 1800 Boy Scout Drive in Fort Myers, and the Southwest Florida Historical Society, at 10091 McGregor Boulevard, which is on the campus of the Lee County Alliance for the Arts.  The Southwest Florida Historical Society hours are 9 a.m. to noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Checks may also be mailed to the Southwest Florida Historical Society, P. O. Box 1381, Fort Myers, Fl., 33902. Tickets can be picked up at the door on February 17.
The annual Cracker Dinner is sponsored by Barbee & Sons, Sam Galloway Ford, George T. Mann General Contractor, and Susan Bennett Marketing & Media, L.C.
Funds raised at the annual dinner will be used to support the mission of the Southwest Florida Historical Society which is dedicated to preserving the history of our area by archiving donated historical documents, photos and maps and stimulating public interest and appreciation for local history.
 
About the Southwest Florida Historical Society
The Southwest Florida Historical Society (SWFLHS) was established in 1960 by a group of citizens to “preserve the history of our area.”  In 1983 the SWFLHS received as a gift a building that was destined to be demolished for a new parking lot. Harper Brothers Construction donated the building and Flint and Doyle was contracted to move the building to the campus of the Lee County Alliance of the Arts. In 1984 the SWFLHS received its Articles of Incorporation with the following purpose:  “The mission of the society is to discover, collect and preserve original and source documents, maps and photographs pertaining to the history of SW Florida;
to bring together those interested in the history of this area; to promote and stimulate public interest and appreciation of the history of this area; and to further the preservation and knowledge of Southwest Florida’s past.”  For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/SWFLHS/ or call 239-939-4044.

Aimbridge Hospitality, the world’s leading third-party hotel management company, announces it has completed a full renovation costing over $3 million at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites East – The Forum, a 111-room hotel located at the entrance of the Forum’s shopping center.
As the transformation was so GRAND, the hotel guests will be truly amazed.  Everyone is welcome to come and join in the Grand Re-Opening Celebration on Thursday January 23^rd at 5:00pm!
Respectfully,
Misty Tidwell
Hotel Manager
The Forum’s Holiday Inn Express & Suites Ft. Myers East
3427 Forum Boulevard
Ft. Myers, Fl 33905
O: 239.936.0410
F: 239.936.0416

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 21, 2020) – Priority Marketing has earned four Davey Awards for its outstanding creative design work in developing brand identities for four clients across Southwest Florida.

Produced by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, the Davey Awards is an international competition among advertising agencies, digital agencies, production firms, in-house creative professionals, graphic designers, design firms and public relations firms.

Priority Marketing, a full-service marketing, advertising, public relations and digital marketing agency, won two gold awards and two silver awards, all in the Design/Print category for corporate identity and logos.

The firm’s gold winners include logos for The Ingenuity Lab, a workplace consultancy firm operated by Dave Fleming, and Hoke Fishing Charters, a fishing charter boat company.

Priority Marketing won silver awards for logos developed to promote the 2019 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Festival, a fundraising event that benefits SWFL Children’s Charities, and Pine Manor’s Food Forest, a community garden that serves as both a source of nutrition and education.

“Our design team creates brilliant works of art on a daily basis, and it’s extremely gratifying to see our talented graphic designers and artists recognized by the AIVA as the top professionals in the industry,” said President and Creative Director Teri Hansen. “Developing a new logo isn’t just about adopting a bright color palette or creating a splashy design; the logo also must help convey a message. Each of these award-winning logos had a clear connection to the client’s overall mission and purpose.”

Priority Marketing has created hundreds of logo designs for locally owned businesses and national corporations, including medical practices, developers, homebuilders, architects, banks, restaurants, churches and consultants, along with logos for nonprofit organizations, special events and government agencies.

The firm has won 20 international Davey Awards since 2006.

“We are proud to once again showcase the outstanding work that comes from small shops across the globe,” said AIVA Executive Director Derek Howard. “The Davey Awards recognize those who utilize flawless execution, groundbreaking technology and a fresh approach to the thought process to produce top-tier content.”

About Priority Marketing

Established in 1992, Priority Marketing is a full-service marketing, advertising, public relations and digital marketing agency located at 12140 Carissa Commerce Court, Suite 201, in Fort Myers. Follow Priority Marketing on social media through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. For industry news and marketing insights, visit PriorityMarketing.com/our-blog and watch the FAQ Fridays video series on YouTube. For more information, call 239-267-2638 or visit PriorityMarketing.com.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 21, 2020) – Child Care of Southwest Florida is accepting student registrations for its newly relocated The Children’s Learning Center in Fort Myers.

The Children’s Learning Center, which previously operated on the campus of Florida SouthWestern State College, moved in early January to a new location at 37 Barkley Circle. Previous students were granted priority transfers, and Child Care of Southwest Florida has now opened registration to additional families in the Fort Myers area.

The new 5,064-square-foot facility can accommodate up to 89 children from infants through pre-kindergarten, as well as an after-school program for students up to 8 years old.

Accredited through the National Accreditation Commission for Early Learning Leaders, The Children’s Learning Center is recognized as a Gold Seal Quality Care Program through the Florida Department of Children and Families, and maintains a five-star rating through the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida. The Children’s Learning Center follows the nationally recognized, research-based Creative Curriculum that builds a safe, nurturing learning environment that develops young minds, supports families, strengthens the community and secures the future.

The Children’s Learning Center operates weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Scholarship assistance is available, and nutritious meals and snacks are included at no additional charge through Child Care of Southwest Florida’s participation in the USDA’s Child Food Care Program.

To learn more about The Children’s Learning Center or Child Care of Southwest Florida’s five additional centers in Lee and Hendry counties, please call 239-278-1002 or visit CCSWFL.org.

About Child Care of Southwest Florida

Child Care of Southwest Florida, Inc. (CCSWFL) is a nonprofit early childhood education provider with six learning centers in Lee and Hendry counties that serve more than 500 children from 6 weeks to 8 years old. Each center is accredited through the National Accreditation Commission for Early Learning Leaders and is recognized as a Gold Seal Quality Care Program through the Florida Department of Children and Families. All six CCSWFL locations have five-star ratings through the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida. CCSWFL follows the nationally recognized, research-based Creative Curriculum, with a goal of creating safe, nurturing learning environments that develop young minds, support families, strengthen the community and secure the future. Through its participation in the USDA’s Child Food Care Program, each child has access to a healthy, nutritious breakfast, lunch and snacks. Sponsor, volunteer and donation opportunities are available. For more information, please visit ccswfl.org.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 21, 2020) – During December, 1,077,818 passengers traveled through Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, Fla., an increase of 12.4 percent compared to December 2018. Year-end passenger traffic was up 9.1 percent compared to last year.
“December 2019 was the best December in the 37-year history of the airport and we reached a new annual traffic record of 10,225,180 passengers,” said Ben Siegel, CPA, C.M., acting executive director of the Lee County Port Authority. “We appreciate the support of our airline partners in providing excellent air service and thank the traveling public for continuing to use RSW as their airport of choice.”
The traffic leader in December was Delta Air Lines with 187,064 passengers traveling to and from Fort Myers. Rounding out the top five airlines were Southwest (161,041), Spirit (138,925), Frontier (137,715) and American (137,090).
Southwest Florida International Airport had 9,314 aircraft operations, an increase of 9.5 percent compared to December 2018. Page Field saw 9,926 operations, an 18.2 percent increase from December 2018.
Southwest Florida International Airport served more than 10.2 million passengers in 2019 and is one of the top 50 U.S. airports for passenger traffic. No ad valorem (property) taxes are used for airport operation or construction. For more information, visit www.flylcpa.com or Like Us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/flyRSW.

Island View hosts annual Super Bowl Party at the Lani Kai
Come on up to the Island View and cheer on your favorite NFL team LVI Sunday, Feb. 2. A full buffet of appetizers and dishes will be open to enjoy starting at 4 p.m., featuring peel n’ eat shrimp, sausage and peppers, barbecue ribs, hot wings, egg rolls, sliders, hot dogs, chips and salsa, and antipasto.
The cost to attend is $20, which includes the buffet and HD Super Bowl coverage.
The full cash bar will be offering your favorite game day drinks.
RSVP on the Island View website: http://islandviewfmb.com/contact/fort-myers-beach-restaurant-reservations/
Visit the official Event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2578119072417337/
 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 21, 2020) – Lee BIA Builders Care recently hosted its annual awards event honoring several community partners and volunteers for their service and commitment to Southwest Florida’s needy and deserving elderly and/or disabled homeowners and their families.

The 2019 awards include: Jimmy Rodgers Volunteer of the Year, presented to Mike Nilles; Partner of the Year, recognizing Priority Marketing; Contractor Partners of the Year, presented to both Target Roofing & Sheet Metal and Wayne Wiles Floor Coverings; Michael English Hearts and Hammers Award, awarded to Ferguson Enterprises; Builders Care Executive Award, honoring LSI Companies; President’s Award, recognizing 2019 board president Dan Beiter; and the President’s Special Recognition, awarded to Lennar.

“Whether they’re helping fund a special project or volunteering their time at an impactful fundraising event, our volunteers and community partners are incredible advocates for our neighbors in need,” said Becky Swift, executive director of Lee BIA Builders Care. “We are truly grateful for the many individuals and companies that play an essential role in making Builders Care and our mission possible, and we are proud to recognize this year’s honorees for their tremendous support.”

About Lee BIA Builders Care

The mission of Lee BIA Builders Care is to provide emergency construction services at no cost to needy and deserving elderly and/or disabled homeowners, and their families, who cannot obtain repairs through traditional means. Lee BIA Builders Care offers a full range of no-cost emergency construction services to improve the safety and health for needy seniors and disabled individuals of all ages by enlisting the expertise and donated services and materials of contractors, sub-contractors and businesses. To date, Lee BIA Builders Care has put more than $4.75 million in construction services back into the community at no cost to homeowners in need. Builders Care is funded through financial donations, grants and donated services and materials to provide emergency construction services to qualified homeowners throughout the community. Lee BIA Builders Care is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization under the charitable arm of the Lee Building Industry Association. Lee BIA Builders Care is headquartered at 6835 International Center Blvd. #4 in Fort Myers. Donations can be made online at www.LeeBuildersCare.org. More information is available by calling 239-938-0056, and by following Builders Care at www.Facebook.com/LeeBuildersCare.

Free community health care program to address medicine and genetics

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 21, 2020) – Shell Point Retirement Community continues its fifth annual 2020 Medical Breakthroughs & Discoveries series on Feb. 4 with a presentation by Julie A. Johnson, Pharm.D., dean and distinguished professor at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy.

Free and open to the public, the presentation, entitled “What Is It and How It Can Improve Healthcare,” will discuss the latest advances in medicine, considering individual factors, especially genetics, in making decisions about a person’s health care. Johnson will address these advances especially as they relate to helping select the right medications for individuals based on their genetics.

The program will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4 in the Village Church Auditorium on The Island at Shell Point, 15100 Shell Point Blvd. in Fort Myers. Registration is requested by calling 239-433-7936.

In addition to serving as dean of the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Johnson is also a distinguished professor of pharmacy and medicine. She received her bachelor’s degree in pharmacy from Ohio State University and her Pharm.D. from the University of Texas at Austin and the UT Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in cardiovascular pharmacology and pharmacokinetics from Ohio State University.

Johnson’s research focuses on cardiovascular pharmacogenomics and genomic medicine implementation. She is an internationally recognized leader in pharmacogenomics and genomic medicine, with more than 290 peer-reviewed publications and nearly $45 million in research funding as principal investigator. In 2015, 2016 and 2017, she was named as a Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Scientist in Pharmacology and Toxicology, and in the Cross Discipline category in 2018, indicating that Johnson is in the top 1% of the most highly cited scientists in the field globally.

Johnson has served on the Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee of the FDA, the XNDA Study Section at National Institutes of Health (NIH), and in numerous scientific capacities with NIH’s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. She has held leadership roles in the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, the American Heart Association and the American Society of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, for which she completed her term as president in 2017.

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

About Shell Point Retirement Community

Shell Point Retirement Community, founded in 1968, is a nonprofit continuing care retirement community located in Fort Myers, Florida. Shell Point offers independent retirement living, assisted living, and skilled nursing for its 2,500 residents in an active, resort-style environment. Lifestyle amenities include deep-water boating access with free dockage, a championship 18-hole golf course, and other recreational and educational activities. To learn more, visit www.shellpoint.org or call 1-800-780-1131.

Fort Myers, FL — Hughes, Snell & Co., P.A., Certified Public Accountants and Consultants, (HSC) announces that Catherine Palmisano, CPA, has been named a shareholder in the firm.
Palmisano joined HSC in 2005. She has been the senior manager responsible for the firm’s financial reporting services area with more than 15 years of experience helping clients understand and meet complex compliance requirements.
Recently named one of the “40 Under 40” to watch by the Business Observer, Palmisano graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) with a Master of Science degree in accounting and taxation. She is a certified public accountant in the State of Florida, and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. She is past treasurer of Gladiolus Learning and Development Center. She currently is a United Way Allocation team member and runs HSC’s United Way Pacesetter Campaign.
Hughes, Snell & Co., P.A. is a full-service accounting firm that has been providing tax, accounting and business advisory solutions to Southwest Florida clients since 1974. The firm is a member of CPAmerica International, one of the world’s largest networks of independent CPA firms. Corporate offices are located at 1470 Royal Palm Square Boulevard in Fort Myers, Florida. For information, call (239) 939-2233 or visit hughessnell.com.
 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Jan. 20, 2020) – Lee County Tax Collector is introducing another quick and easy way to renew vehicle registrations. Digital self-service kiosks will allow vehicle owners to enter their information safely and securely to renew registrations quickly. Kiosks will be located in downtown Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Lehigh Acres service centers and will be available for use in February.
This keeps with Lee County Tax Collector Larry Hart’s vision of improving customer service through technology, especially in one of the key service areas – vehicle registration.
“We want every experience in the Lee County Tax Collector offices to be satisfying for those using our services, including vehicle registrations,” Hart said. “These kiosks are an innovative way to keep wait times short and allow for a quick and easy way to renew tags.”
In addition to the kiosks, Lee County residents can also renew their registration online using the TagsToday® program or at any of the seven convenient Lee County Tax Collector service center locations.
For more information on the new kiosks, visit flmvexpress.com.
About Lee County Tax Collector
The Lee County Tax Collector (LCTC) exists to serve the citizens of Lee County. The office takes pride in organizational excellence and offering exemplary customer service and operates by the credo of “We’ve got your back.” The LCTC operates leetc.com, the official interactive website of the tax collector, which allows county residents to quickly and easily take care of motor vehicle and vessel registration, pay property taxes, make appointments for concealed weapon permits and more. The agency operates seven service centers open daily throughout the county to provide efficient, convenient services. The LCTC works to provide innovative and quality service that supports the
growth and sustainability of the community. For more information, visit leetc.com or follow Lee County Tax Collector on social media.