Member News

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. (March 22, 2018 – GATES Construction is pleased to announce the addition of Melissa Koger as Accounting Coordinator. Koger will ensure timely payments of vendor invoices and expense vouchers, manage collection activities from customers, and maintain accurate records and control reports. Koger has over 15 years of diversified Accounting experience. Koger will be based out of GATES Construction’s Headquarters in Bonita Springs.
GATES Construction, with offices in Florida, North Carolina and the Republic of Panama, is a full service general contracting firm providing construction management and design-build services with a diversified project portfolio in all types of commercial, institutional, industrial and residential construction projects.  For more information on GATES, please call (239) 593-3777 or visit the website at www.GATESinc.com.

FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 22, 2018) – Hammond Stadium, home of the Fort Myers Miracle, will host a concert by acclaimed rapper Nelly at 7 p.m. on Friday, May 11 in Fort Myers.

Nelly, a three-time Grammy award winner, has announced a swing through minor league ballparks this spring following his “All Work No Play” Canadian tour. Nelly is best known for his hit songs Country Grammar, Hot in Herre, Shake Ya Tailfeather and Grillz during the 2000s.

Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, March 23 and will be available online at MiracleBaseball.com or by calling 239-768-4210. Ticket prices start at $34. Luxury suites also will be available for large groups.

The concert stage at Hammond Stadium will be positioned behind second base in shallow center field. The ballpark’s unique seating opportunity for concerts will allow 3,000 Nelly fans to stand in the infield area and another 4,500 to be seated in the grandstands between first base and third base.

The Fort Myers Miracle, which begin the 2018 regular season on Thursday, April 5, will be on a road trip while Nelly performs in Fort Myers.

About the Miracle

The Fort Myers Miracle are the Class-A Advanced Affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, and have played home games at Hammond Stadium since 1992. Notable Miracle alumni include Joe Mauer, Miguel Sano, Byron Buxton and Torii Hunter. Follow the Miracle online at MiracleBaseball.com or through its social media channels: Twitter (@MiracleBaseball), Instagram (fortmyersmiracle), Facebook (Fort Myers Miracle) and Snapchat (ftmyersmiracle). Opening Night at Hammond Stadium is Thursday, April 5 against the Charlotte Stone Crabs. For questions or ticket information, call the Miracle at 239-768-4210.

FORT MYERS, FL (March 20, 2018) – Holocaust survivor Steen Metz will speak at The Laboratory Theater of Florida on Monday, April 2^nd at 7 pm.
Holocaust survivor Steen Metz will speak about his experiences within a concentration camp in the now Czech Republic.  Mr. Metz is a speaker within the Theater’s expanding tolerance and cultural education programming. His question and answer discussion coincide with Holocaust Remembrance Month in April.
Mr. Metz spends his senior years and retirement telling his story throughout the country. He accepts no pay or remuneration for his captivating talks and discussions except that he asks that each person that hears his story share with four more people so that the Holocaust may never be forgotten or denied. There is no fee to listen to Mr. Metz but a $10 donation is suggested. Proceeds will be given to the Holocaust Museum and Education Center of Southwest Florida in Mr. Metz’s honor.
In Hebrew, Holocaust Remembrance Day is called Yom Hashoah. For the most part, Yom Hashoah has been observed with candle lighting, speakers, poems, prayers, and singing. Often, six candles are lit to represent the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust. During this time, Holocaust survivors speak about their experiences or share in the readings. Throughout Florida, synagogues and Jewish service organizations will hold Holocaust remembrance events available for the public to attend. Though the theater is not a religious organization, it is a center for all people. It is through theater and the arts that people get a chance to share and learn from each other. It is our mission to enlighten, bring awareness, and break down the walls of fear and hatred with education and understanding.
Some of Mr. Metz’s  story as retold from a Florida Weekly story in 2015 include:
“I was only 8 years old when my parents and I were arrested,” he said. “It was very early in the morning on Oct. 2, 1943.”
The Metz family and about 60 other Jews were taken by open wagon to a schoolyard where they were assembled to be deported to Theresienstadt Concentration Camp in Czechoslovakia.
“I really had no idea what was happening,” he said.
Mr. Metz said he knew that Denmark had been occupied since 1940. But he didn’t understand that his being Jewish had anything to do with their arrest and deportation.
“I didn’t realize I was Jewish,” he said. “I was not brought up in the Jewish faith. It was a complete shock. Was it a crime to be Jewish?”
Steen Metz

• Age: 79
• Place of birth: Odense, Denmark
• Holocaust experience: Family arrested and deported to Theresienstadt Concentration Camp in Czechoslovakia in 1943. Father Axel Metz died within six months of starvation and hard labor.
• Family: Married to Eileen, father of two daughters and a grandfather
• Today: Mr. Metz is a former seasonal resident of Sanibel and speaks to civic and school groups throughout the year about his experiences during the Holocaust. He encourages students to be ambassadors of his story • To learn more: Read Mr. Metz’s self-published book “A Danish Boy in Theresienstadt” or visit steenmetzneverforget.com.

The event is free to the public, but donations for the Holocaust Museum and Education Center of Southwest Florida in Mr. Metz’s honor will be accepted. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis, doors open 30 minutes prior to the event.
ABOUT THE LABORATORY THEATER OF FLORIDA
The Laboratory Theater of Florida, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is dedicated to the promotion of the performing arts, through live performance, education, community outreach, experimentation, and the development of ensemble work. The company features ensemble productions, produces classic works, takes artistic risks, which both feature and challenge local performers. For more information visit www.LaboratoryTheaterFlorida.com or the physical location at 1634 Woodford Avenue, in the Fort Myers River District.
 
 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 21, 2018) – The Fort Myers Miracle are looking to pack Hammond Stadium to begin the 2018 baseball season on Friday, April 6, and the ballclub again is partnering with Wendy’s restaurants for a special free ticket promotion.
It will be a night to remember for all fans with a special appearance from the ZOOperstars characters, and the Miracle will light up the sky with a post-game fireworks show, courtesy of Florida Community Bank.
Starting March 25, baseball fans can stop by their neighborhood Wendy’s in Lee and Collier counties to retrieve coupons for free tickets to the official home opener at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 6.
The Wendy’s free ticket vouchers can be redeemed at the Miracle box office for general admission seating in sections 124-127 and 201-217. For an extra $2 per person, Miracle fans can upgrade their tickets to reserved box seats in the first level.
The Fort Myers Miracle, a Class-A Advanced Affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, begin the 2018 season on Thursday, April 5 against the Charlotte Stone Crabs. The 140-game regular season schedule runs through Sunday, Sept. 2.
For additional information, please call the Fort Myers Miracle at 239-768-4210 or visit MiracleBaseball.com.
About the Miracle
The Fort Myers Miracle are the Class-A Advanced Affiliate of the Minnesota Twins, and have played home games at Hammond Stadium since 1992. Notable Miracle alumni include Joe Mauer, Miguel Sano, Byron Buxton and Torii Hunter. Follow the Miracle online at MiracleBaseball.com or through its social media channels: Twitter (@MiracleBaseball), Instagram (fortmyersmiracle), Facebook (Fort Myers Miracle) and Snapchat (ftmyersmiracle). Opening Night at Hammond Stadium is Thursday, April 5 against the Charlotte Stone Crabs. For questions or ticket information, call the Miracle at 239-768-4210.
 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 21, 2018) – Esteemed chocolatier Norman Love and his award-winning team of pastry chefs at Norman Love Confections will be offering a series of cooking classes this spring and summer for those interested in learning to create artisan confections and exquisite desserts.
“Cooking with Love” features 12 distinct, one-night courses suitable for individuals and groups of friends looking for an interactive, social experience. Love and his talented team will share some of their baking and cooking techniques with participants, who each will have an opportunity to create desserts to take home.
Participants in Norman Love’s chocolate classes will make mouthwatering chocolate Easter eggs, truffles, candies and other items. Pastry classes including the making of cookies, cupcakes, cake pops, desserts, cakes and three types of succulent Thanksgiving pies.
“Our culinary team enjoys the cooking classes as much as our students, so we’re looking forward sharing some recipes, cooking techniques and decorating styles to take your sweet treats and desserts to the next level,” said Norman Love, founder and owner of Norman Love Confections.
Classes begin March 23 and run through September, and cost $95 per person, plus tax. Each class begins with a reception from 6:15 – 6:45 p.m. at the Fort Myers Chocolate & Dessert Salon, 11380 Lindbergh Blvd. in Fort Myers. Participants then move toward the Norman Love Pastry Shop for the class, which runs from 6:45-9:30 p.m. The Chocolate and Wine Tasting class will be held at the corporate office.
Class sizes are limited, so early reservations are encouraged. For more information or to make reservations, please call Norman Love Confections at 866-515-2121 or visit NormanLoveConfections.com.
CHOCOLATE CLASSES
Easter Eggs: Create your very own Easter egg chocolate sculpture filled with delicious Swiss Milk Truffles. Our Chocolatiers will guide you in hand painting your own dark chocolate egg and teach you how to cast and assemble them! You will also learn how to create modern Swiss shell filled truffles and hide them inside your egg. Finally, they will all be beautifully packaged and ready to give or enjoy yourself!
Dates: March 23, March 30
Truffles: Learn why the name Truffle holds such an elegant and delectable place in the hearts of all. In this class you will master the 100-year-old art of truffle making. From the luscious dark chocolate hand formed to the modern Swiss shell filled, you will create these treats by yourself with the guidance of our Chocolatiers and bring the finished treasures home to enjoy.
Dates: May 25, July 27
Chocolate and Wine Tasting: Join us for a deliciously elegant night of Chocolate and Wine pairings. Let our Chocolatiers explain for you the unique qualities of each of the featured chocolates as well as the history of chocolate making and the processes that create the amazing confections we’re famous for. You will also learn about the art of matching a wine to the different chocolates and get to try them both together in raw and finished form.
Dates: May 11, Sept. 7
Molded Candies: Be a Chocolatier for a night! Let the Chocolate Masters at Norman Love Confections teach you how to make the jewel-like treasures we are so famous for! You will be able to make everything yourself with the guidance of our staff from hand coloring to casting liquid chocolate and mixing the custom ganaches to fill your candies! Enjoy a night of sweet success and take home all of your treasures when you are done!
Dates: April 20, July 13
Chocolate Confections: Norman Love Confections is more than just beautiful molded chocolates. We also have a wide variety of chocolate confections which you now have the opportunity to learn. Discover the secrets of our Chocolate Barks, Chocolate Caramel Squares, Chocolate Fudge and Truffle Pops, all yours to enjoy and take home at the end of the class.
Dates: June 8, Aug. 10
Simple Décor: This class will provide an introduction to tempering chocolate and some popular chocolate décor making techniques. Learn how to make chocolate curls, petals, fans, triangles and transfer sheets. Use your décor to embellish a 6” chocolate mousse cake that is provided for you to decorate and take home.
Date: Sept. 21
Shoe Painting: Choose between a premade white, milk or dark chocolate shoe (please provide preference when enrolling in class), then decorate it with melted cocoa butter colors, sprinkles and shimmers. For added delight, learn the technique of making hand-rolled truffles to display in your finished shoe.
Dates: June 22, Aug. 24
PASTRY CLASSES
Cookies: In this class, you will learn techniques for creating some cookies that are permanent classics as well as some new recipes you can add to your repertoire. Master the perfect chocolate chip cookie, the always popular peanut butter cookie, the unique but undeniably delicious coconut macaroon and the classic cut-out sugar cookie.
Dates: April 20, July 13
Cupcakes and Cake Pops: Learn to create fun and festive decorated cupcakes and cake pops. Students will be shown how to make buttercream and create cute and playful cupcakes using various piping techniques, as well as make the surprisingly simple but popular cake pops.
Dates: May 25, July 27
Desserts at Home: A class for the dinner party entertainer in us all! You will learn to master four elegant home desserts that are sure to impress your guests. You will learn how to make the perfect fruit tart, the rich and decadent chocolate lava cake, a delightfully rich chocolate mousse and the simple but delicious chocolate fondue.
Dates: June 8, Aug. 10
Thanksgiving Pies: Usher in the magic of the holiday season with the mastery of your favorite holiday pies! In this class, you will learn to make fresh pie dough, and then use it to make the famously popular pumpkin pie, the nostalgic and comforting apple pie, and the ooey gooey scrumptious pecan pie.
Date: Sept. 21
Naked Love: Learn how to make our Ultimate Chocolate Naked Love Cake, including the super moist chocolate cake, the rich baked chocolate ganache and the decadent chocolate frosting, all layered together to make an attractive, delicious masterpiece.
Dates: June 22, Aug. 24
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

FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 21, 2018) – Owen-Ames-Kimball Company (O-A-K) has begun construction on a new three-story medical facility for Family Health Centers of Southwest Florida (FHC) in central Lehigh Acres.
 
Upon completion, the 62,000-square-foot medical center will be Family Health Centers’ largest facility, housing a variety of medical, dental and administrative offices. The $16 million facility will be centrally located at 3415 Lee Blvd. in Lehigh Acres, directly across the road from Sunshine Elementary School, Quest Diagnostics and Palm Acres Charter School.
 
O-A-K’s project manager is Matt Hoffman, the project superintendent is Tim Harkins and the project estimator is Abel Natali. O-A-K also constructed Family Health Centers’ Estero facility and has renovated one of its clinics in Fort Myers.
 
Family Health Centers operates 13 different facilities and 20 practices in Lee, Charlotte and Hendry counties. FHC offers primary health care, preventative health care, disease management and educational services for all patient groups, including the medically underserved, migratory agriculture workers, the homeless and other special populations. About 94 percent of patients FHC serves in Lehigh Acres are considered low-income according to federal poverty guidelines.
 
“Currently, Family Health Centers leases space in Lehigh Acres and provides adult medicine, pediatrics and dentistry to the underserved patient population,” said Marie Andress, executive vice president and chief financial officer for Family Health Centers. “The new FHC Lehigh facility will be approximately five times larger than the current leased space, and all of the aforementioned practices will increase proportionately and additional practices will be added, such as pharmacy, optometry and chiropractic, as well as chronic disease management and lab services.”
 
 

March 20, 2018 – Fort Myers, FLA – Spring is in the air – and so is music! The Florida SouthWestern State College Orchestra and Choir will be performing a special memorial concert to honor the legacy and memory of the college’s second president, Dr. David Robinson.
 
The concert is at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 10 at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW. While the concert is free and open to the public, attendees are welcome to make contributions to the Robinson Scholarship Fund, which supports FSW music students.
 
Entitled the “Dr. David Robinson Memorial Concert,” this performance honors the college’s late second president, who led the college from 1965 to his retirement in 1991. He passed away in 2016.
 
Joe Kramp, senior development director, FSW Foundation, said “Dr. Robinson was a huge fan of the arts. It’s a great way to continue his legacy for generations to come.”
 
For more information about the Robinson Scholarship Fund, please call 239-432-6778.
 
 

FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 20, 2018) – Norman Love Confections introduces its limited-edition Mother’s Day Collection featuring ten heart-shaped, handcrafted chocolates filled with some of mom’s favorite flavors including cupcake, mimosa, pink lemonade, special dark, cookies and cream cheesecake, hazelnut coffee, strawberry shortcake, carrot cake, peanut butter marshmallow and pecan turtle.
 
Online pre-orders begin Monday, April 23 at NormanLoveConfections.com, and the collection will be available in Norman Love Confections’ Chocolate Salons beginning Monday, April 30 through Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 13. Norman Love Confections operates four chocolate salons in Southwest Florida, including two in Fort Myers, one in Naples and at Miromar Outlets in Estero. Additionally, online orders can be shipped anywhere in the U.S. The price for a 10-piece chocolate gift box is $24, a 15-piece box is $34 and a 25-piece box is $50.
 
“Every year, Norman Love Confections offers a beautiful way to treat mom with ‘love,’ and this year’s Mother’s Day Collection features handcrafted, heart-shaped chocolates filled with flavors that moms love best,” said Norman Love, founder and owner of Norman Love Confections. “Additional gift options for Mother’s Day include gift baskets, subscription boxes, chocolate specialties and more.”
 
For more information, please visit www.normanloveconfections.com or call 239-561-7215 or 866-515-2121.
 
Full descriptions: Norman Love Confections’ 2018 Mother’s Day Collection
Cupcake
White Chocolate
Bourbon vanilla and silky white chocolate, carefully blended and encased in a white chocolate shell
 
Mimosa
White Chocolate
A white chocolate shell filled with an intoxicating orange ganache, infused with champagne
 
Pink Lemonade
White Chocolate
Tart ripe lemons and fresh sweet raspberries folded into a creamy white chocolate ganache
 
Special Dark
Dark Chocolate
A satisfying blend of creamy dark chocolate inside an equally rich dark chocolate shell
 
Cookies and Cream Cheesecake
Dark Chocolate
A rich cheesecake ganache sprinkled with ground cookies and cream fills this dark chocolate delight
 
Hazelnut Coffee
Dark Chocolate
Coffee-infused hazelnut Gianduja energizes this decadent dark chocolate confection
 
Strawberry Shortcake
White Chocolate
A classic treat that combines freshly baked shortcake, strawberry jam and white chocolate
 
Carrot Cake
Milk Chocolate
A carrot cake ganache topped with cream cheese and covered in milk chocolate
 
Peanut Butter Marshmallow
Milk Chocolate
A delicious confection filled with a creamy marshmallow and peanut butter ganache
 
Pecan Turtle
Milk Chocolate
A creamy sea salt caramel center, dusted with cinnamon roasted pecans, in a milk chocolate shell
 
 

Fort Myers, FL – A local philanthropist and the Duffy’s Foundation each stepped up and pledged a $5,000 Matching Grant Challenge to benefit LARC, Inc. through March 31^st.   March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month and LARC’s 64^th anniversary.  LARC, (Lee Association for Remarkable Citizens) has been providing opportunities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Lee County since 1954.  
 LARC provides services for approximately 300 local men and women annually through vocational training, community residential services, and a vast array of other state-of-the-art community inclusion services.  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.
“LARC is a training center for success,” said Kevin Lewis, LARC Executive Director.  “When individuals receive the training and resources they need, capabilities naturally surface and lives change for the better.”
 Geri Emmitt with Duffy’s restaurants started ‘Duffy’s Foundation’ in honor of her late husband Paul.  “We believe so much in the mission and goals of an independent, responsible life,” Emmitt said.  “My late husband’s brother is autistic.  Partnering with LARC is wonderful.”
 “The majority of individuals enrolled in LARC services rely on Medicaid Waiver (iBudget) for funding which covers approximately 54% of the actual cost of services,” said Angela Katz Development Director for LARC.  “These benefits are being threatened everyday which makes opportunities like this matching grant more important than ever.  We are 75% to goal, together, we can double LARC’s impact and help individuals with disabilities achieve success!”
For more information, contact Angela Katz at 239-334-6285 x229 or visit www.larcleecounty.org.
About Duffy’s Foundation:
The Duffy’s Foundation was founded in February 2016 and is committed to providing community enhancement by benefiting organizations and individuals who positively impact their local communities.
 About LARC:
Since 1954, LARC’s mission is to promote and provide opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to live, work and participate in their communities to the fullest extent their capabilities allow.  LARC, Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization that has served thousands of local residents and families since inception, and serves over 300 individuals annually.  LARC offers vocational training, community residential services, community based services and an array of other state-of-the-art community inclusion services on a full-time, year-round basis.  For more information about LARC, visit www.larcleecounty.org or call 239-334-6285.

(Fort Myers, FL) March 19, 2018- Local celebrities and guests happily outbid one another at the unique and creative “Eat. Clay. Love… Again” event held on March 15th at Ronald McDonald House in Fort Myers. Celebrity artists designed and painted the platters months ago and were delighted to see the finished works of art.  From pineapples to butterflies, to grape vines and “big red shoes,” there was no shortage of creativity. The event started with hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, followed by an auction of the platters, and a delicious dinner prepared by Chef Brian Roland of CRAVE Culinaire. Famed auctioneer, Tommy Williams, led the show and in less than 30 minutes, the crowd raised more than $26,000 for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida.
Featured Artists:
Lawrence Antonucci, M.D., MBA- CEO of Lee Health
Kimberley Barrera- Owner of Moringa Is For Life
Phil Borchmann- Editor in Chief of Gulfshore Business
Rich Castiano- Owner of the “World Famous” Cigar Bar
Cinnamon- The Ronald McDonald beloved House dog
Barbara Fewster- Artist and Retired RMHC Board Member
Pason Gaddis- Cofounder and CEO of Florida Media Group, LLC
Randall Henderson- Mayor of Fort Myers
Rebekah MacFarlane-Barney-COO for the MacFarlane Group and owner of Prima Luce
Cindy McCurry-Ross- Executive Editor and Vice President of Content at The News-Press and Regional Editor of the USA TODAY NETWORK, Florida.
Ronald McDonald
Jenna Persons- Partner at Strayhorn & Persons Law Firm
Rachel Pierce-Co-Anchor and Investigative Reporter for NBC2
Laura Ragain- Executive Director of the Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Southwest Florida
Sawyer Smith-Managing Partner with Wilbur Smith Attorneys at Law
Christopher T. Spiro- President, CEO & Chief Creative Officer of Spiro & Associates
Sandy Stilwell Youngquist- Owner of Stilwell Enterprises & Restaurant Group and Secretary and Vice President of Grants for SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc.
Debbie Toler- Vice President of Public Relations and Marketing for SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc.
Andie Vogt- Vice President for SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc.
Shannon Wagner- Artist at Cone 06 Pottery Studio and Freelance Marketer
Shannon Yates- Co-Owner and Executive Chef at Nevermind Awesome Bar & Eatery, Beastie Bar, Animal House Swine & Cocktail Bar, and Danger Danger.
For more information on how to be involved for 2019, please visit www.rmhcswfl.org or call Amy at 239-437-0202.
About Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida
Since its founding in 1996, Ronald McDonald House has served thousands of families from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades and Hendry counties, and other states and countries.  Here, families find a “home away from home” while their children are undergoing medical treatment at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.  Additional thousands are served by the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® program, two mobile healthcare units providing medical and dental services to underserved children, and by the Ronald McDonald Family Room®, located in Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.