Member News

Fort Myers, FL (October 15, 2018) – Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida welcomes you to their Annual Brew-Ha-Ha Craft Beer Festival on Saturday October 20th at Mercato in Naples, presented by Miloff Aubuchon Realty Group. This year’s roster provides an opportunity to enjoy a wonderful array of craft beers, courtesy of Coastal Beverage, with a spotlight on Florida Breweries. Visitors can enjoy an evening of craft beer tasting, stein holding contests, raffle, fun photo booth thanks to Naples Photo Booths, and live music by Nostaljah.
Breweries featured are:

1. Barrel of Monks Brewing
2. Big Storm Brewing – Pasco
3. Boulevard Brewing Company
4. Coppertail Brewing Co
5. Duvel USA & Brewery Ommegang of Minnesota
6. Elysian Brewing
7. Fat Point Brewing
8. Funky Buddha Brewery
9. Goose Island
10. Islamorada Beer Company
11. Motorworks Brewing
12. Naples Beach Brewery
13. Ommegang Brewery
14. Proof Brewing Company
15. Scotty’s Bierwerks
16. Southern Tier Brewing Company
17. Swamp Head Brewery
18. SweetWater Brewing Company
19. Tampa Bay Brewing Company
20. Victory Beer

The event will take place on the Mercato event lawn across from The Pub. Gates open at 5pm with unlimited beer tastings available until 8pm. Discounted tickets are available until October 19th for $35 at www.rmhcswfl.org/events tickets will be $40 at the gate. A VIP Brewmaster’s Ticket is available for $65 and includes early access starting at 4pm, access to VIP tent and dedicated restrooms, with exclusive beer and cheese pairings, keepsake color changing cup, and unlimited bottled water and soda. Lawn chairs, blankets and well-behaved pets are welcome. Participating Mercato restaurants will serve menu items for purchase. No coolers or outside food will be permitted.
For more information and newly added breweries, visit www.rmhcswfl.org/events or call Amy at 239-437-0202.
 
About Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida
The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida is to create, find and support programs that directly impact the health and well-being of children and their families in Southwest Florida. RMHC of Southwest supports the Ronald McDonald House®, Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® program, Ronald McDonald Family Room®, as well as Grants and the RMHC U.S. Scholars Programs. To learn more, visit www.rmhcswfl.org OR www.facebook.com/RMHCswflorida/
About Mercato
Anchored by Southwest Florida’s only Whole Foods Market and Nordstrom Rack and featuring Silverspot, a 12-screen luxury cinema, Mercato offers more than 20 notable restaurants, eateries and bars, over 20 upscale retailers and 100,000 square feet of Class-A office space. Mercato hosts more than 40 events year-round including monthly concerts and outdoor movies. To learn more, visit www.MercatoShops.com OR www.facebook.com/mercatonaples.

Culture Extravaganza in the Everglades to Feature Native American Arts, Crafts, Food and Live Entertainment
Big Cypress Seminole Reservation, Fla. (October 15, 2018) – The Seminole Tribe of Florida Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum is pleased to announce the highly anticipated annual American Indian Arts Celebration (AIAC) November 2 – 3, 2018.  Now in its 21^st year, the AIAC is one of the top festivals in the Southeast.  Celebrate Native American Heritage Month in the heart of the Big Cypress Seminole Reservation!
The event will feature an exciting array of arts, crafts, food, hands-on activities, musical performances, dance demonstrations, and wildlife presentations. The Indian market, featuring 50 vendors, will showcase some of the finest native craftsmen, including prize-winning Seminole artisans. Daily performances will include an opening ceremony by Seminole Tribal elder Bobby Henry and his team of dancers; Nakotah LaRance—six time world championship hoop dancer; and Native Pride Dancers from Minnesota—an internationally known high-energy show featuring an innovative blend of modern and traditional Native American dance styles.  Wildlife shows will be provided by Billie Swamp Safari and alligator wrestling by Billy Walker, who has been wrestling alligators since the 1980s.   Be sure to check out live demonstrations, including wood carving by Daniel Tommie, swamp cabbage cooking (with samples) by Billy Walker, Seminole food samples by Geraldine Osceola, and archery by Jake Osceola.
Modern Seminole musicians will light up the stage!  Friday’s musician RC North gives us a taste of alternative rock, and on Saturday hear the soulful tunes of Kowako Billie, followed later in the day by rappers Aye Five, featuring Carradine and DC.  Saturday’s line-up will additionally include a fashion show highlighting Seminole clothing throughout the years.
Our headliner for this year’s AIAC will be John and Kenn Little, members of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, who will be presenting their documentary, More Than a Word at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.  The film traces how the word “r*dskin” evolved from being a term of racist derision and slander to being embraced as the name of one of the NFL’s most beloved franchises. It also draws on the voices of Native American activists and scholars to place this controversy within the wider context of Native American history and racial stereotyping, more generally.  A panel discussion with the directors will follow.
The event will take place outdoors at the festival grounds across from the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum on the Big Cypress Seminole Reservation.
Admission is $10 for adults; $7.50 for seniors and students (5-18 years, or with a college ID). Tribal members, children four years and under, and Museum members are free. Admission includes entrance to the event and the Museum. Parking is ample and free.
For more information on the 21^st Annual AIAC, please visit www.ahtahthiki.com/events or contact Carrie Dilley at 863-902-1113 extension 12211 or [email protected].
About the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum
The Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum is owned and operated by the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Situated in the Everglades on a 66-acre cypress dome on the Big Cypress Seminole Reservation, the Museum offers more than 5,000 square feet of gallery space. Exhibits feature rare artifacts and lifelike dioramas that depict Seminole life at the turn of the century. In 2009, the Museum became the first tribally-governed museum to be accredited by the American Association of Museums. Open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., the museum is located 17 miles north of Interstate 75 at Exit 49. For more information, visit www.ahtahthiki.com or call 863-902-1113.

FORT MYERS, FL (October 15, 2018) – The Southwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) will host their October luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 23, at Holiday Inn Fort Myers Airport at Town Center, 9931 Interstate Commerce Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33913. This presentation is focused on two campaigns in the area that are bringing locals and business owners together to help the community pull through the challenges faced by the water quality issues. Learn more from the panel of experts about the #SWFLChallenge and the #OneLee campaigns.
Speakers include Francesca Donlan, APR, communications director for the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau, Josh Milton, vice president of media relations for CONRIC PR & Marketing and Angeli Chin, media and marketing director for Veer90 Creative.
The goal of the challenge is to motivate local residents and visitors to create and share thousands of social media posts using the hashtag #SWFLchallenge highlighting area businesses and attractions.
Seating is limited to 50 attendees and registrations must be received to attend. No walk-ins will be permitted. Individuals who registered for the original Oct. 9 meeting will automatically be registered for this event; if unable to attend, please email [email protected] to request a refund. Refunds must be requested by Thursday, Oct. 18.
Cost is $30 for FPRA members, $40 for future members and $25 for students. Register for the luncheon at www.fpraswfl.org.

Free cruise for active duty military and veterans with paid adult or child admission  
FORT MYERS & NAPLES, Fla. (October 15, 2018) – In recognition of Veterans Day, Pure Florida is honoring members of the U.S. military by offering free cruises from Friday, Nov. 9 through Sunday, Nov. 12 for veterans and active duty service members when accompanied by a paid adult or child admission. The Veterans Day weekend sightseeing and sunset cruises will set sail from Pure Florida’s Naples and Fort Myers locations. In Naples, sightseeing cruises aboard the M/V Double Sunshine depart at noon and 2 p.m., with sunset cruises departing at 4:30 p.m.  Pure Florida sightseeing cruises are available in Naples for $39 per passenger for adults and $19.50 per passenger for children. Sunset cruises in Naples are available for $42 for adults and $21 for children. In Fort Myers, sightseeing cruises aboard the M/V Edison Explorer depart at noon and 2:30 p.m., with sunset cruises departing at 4:30 p.m. In Fort Myers, sightseeing cruises are $32.50 per passenger for adults and $16.25 per passenger for children.  Sunset cruises in Fort Myers are available for $35 for adults and $17.50 for children.
Narration on local history, wildlife and ecology is provided by Coast Guard-certified captains and also master naturalists. Passengers cruising from Pure Florida’s Naples location will sail the Gordon River aboard the M/V Double Sunshine, and guests visiting Pure Florida’s Fort Myers location will cruise the Caloosahatchee River aboard the M/V Edison Explorer. 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, potential wildlife sightings include dolphins, eagles, manatee, native birds and more. Drinks will be available for purchase on-board the vessels, and snacks will also be available for purchase aboard the M/V Double Sunshine.
“During these special Veterans Day weekend cruises, we look forward to celebrating the many military veterans and active duty service members who have so bravely served and continue to serve our country,” said Lance H. Julian, co-founder of Pure Florida. “All of us at Pure Florida are excited to show our appreciation for these men and women by offering the opportunity to enjoy fun-filled cruises with their loved ones.”
The M/V Double Sunshine departs from the historic Tin City, located at 1200 Fifth Ave. S. in Naples and the M/V Edison Explorer departs from The Marina at Edison Ford, located at 2360 W. First St. in Fort Myers. Reservations are required. For more information or to make reservations, call (239) 263-4949 or book online at www.PureFL.com.

Digital Media Assets
Pure Florida Naples is offering free cruises aboard the M/V Double Sunshine from Friday, Nov. 9 through Sunday, Nov. 12 for veterans and active duty service members when accompanied by a paid adult or child admission.
Download Photo: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1GgvSeOY0PRUoHInNcV3vapkTqcSsSXe0
Photo Credit: Pure Florida file
Pure Florida Fort Myers is offering free cruises aboard the M/V Edison Explorer from Friday, Nov. 9 through Sunday, Nov. 12 for veterans and active duty service members when accompanied by a paid adult or child admission.
Download Photo: https://drive.google.com/a/ipartnermedia.com/file/d/1-pHInQy01v38Pw45iomD9UqOTpZNiQl0/view?usp=sharing
Photo Credit: Pure Florida file
Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/341003623340979
 
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.

Game features top local high school football players
 
FORT MYERS, Fla. (Oct. 11, 2018) – A Lee County high school football tradition is celebrating its 30th year. The Rotary South All-Star Classic will be held Wednesday, Dec. 5 at Fort Myers High School, with an awards banquet set for Monday, Dec. 3 at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre. Both begin at 7 p.m.
The event was the first countywide high school football all-star game in Florida when it was founded in 1989. John Carrigan, a Sanibel resident, teacher and referee, wanted to provide a showcase for talented players who weren’t getting their due. Since then, it’s grown into a hotbed of top-level prospects, and nearly two dozen players who’ve taken part in the game have gone on to NFL careers.
The game features the best seniors from Lee County public and private high schools, as chosen by their head coaches. Cheerleaders from each school are also selected to participate. The contest pits a North team against a South team, and each player and cheerleader gets a customized commemorative ring or charm.
About 300 players, coaches, families, Rotarians and community leaders are expected to attend the banquet, where players and cheerleaders from the first 29 All-Star Classics will receive special recognition. The banquet will again feature a keynote address from a football luminary, with such names as Bobby Bowden, Howard Schnellenberger, Jim Tressel and Will Muschamp among those who have graced the dais in the past.
The Rotary Club is seeking donations and sponsors to help cover the cost of the event. Businesses and individuals can sponsor the event, a team, player or cheerleader. Advertising opportunities in the event program are also available. Please email Kerri Goldsmith at [email protected] for more information.
Rotary Club of Fort Myers South
Rotary Club of Fort Myers South has more than 120 members who are among the 1.3 million Rotarians worldwide. Service Above Self is the motto of Rotary International, which has contributed more than $1.2 billion and tens of thousands of volunteer hours toward polio eradication in addition to projects such as water quality, world peace and literacy. Rotary Club of Fort Myers South meetings are held each Monday at noon at the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops hotel, 13051 Bell Tower Drive. For more information, visit www.rotarysouth.org.

 
The organizing group for NAHREP Cape Coral Fort Myers is happy to announce its inaugural kick-off event!
The complimentary event is going to take place on October 23^rd from 4-7 PM at Suite Forty-Eight located at 1400 Colonial Blvd. #48 in Fort Myers.  There will be catered food, great music, and wonderful speakers to tell us all about what this chapter will mean for the growth of our community, you will not want to miss it!
NAHREP is a purpose driven organization that is propelled by a passionate combination of entrepreneurial spirit, cultural heritage and the advocacy of its members.
Our mission is to advance sustainable Hispanic homeownership by educating and empowering real estate professionals who serve Hispanic buyers and sellers, advocating for public policy that supports trade association’s mission and facilitating relationships among industry stakeholders, real estate practitioners and other housing professionals.
What does that mean for our community?
The Hispanic population at 58.9 million makes up 18% of the nation’s total population and 21.2% of Lee county’s population. Hispanics accounted for 265,000 new household formations or 28.6% of total US households in 2017. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that by 2060 the Hispanic Population in the US will be 111 million, nearly 30% of the nation’s population. Hispanics are the only demographic to have increased their rate of homeownership for the last three consecutive years (Nearly one third) of the Hispanic population are married-couple households with children (under 25). These people need and want homes! The Hispanic family believes in the American Dream of owning a home but many don’t know how to get there, they depend on professionals in the Real Estate industry to educate, and guide them. THAT’S WHERE NAHREP COMES IN!!!
We all know that Lee County has seen our ups and downs in the Real Estate Market, however in the last 5 years we have recovered to be once again one of the most active real estate markets in the country. Cape Coral was voted the #1 fastest growing city in 2017 in the Nation by Forbes Magazine. Hispanics have been responsible for 59% of homeownership growth in the U.S over the past 5 years. Hispanic or not, we will all benefit from the positive growth of Hispanic households in our community. NAHREP will be the force to help us achieve it.

Fort Myers— A Grand Re-Opening and ribbon cutting ceremony of Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida’s Island Park Retail and Donation Center will occur beginning at 8:45 a.m. Thursday, October 25^th, 2018 at 16523 Island Park Road.
The re-opening comes after a year-long remodel due to flood damage sustained by last year’s Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The storms caused extensive flood damage resulting in a total loss of merchandise in the 20 thousand square foot retail and donation center.  Rather than restore the building to its original state and risk future flood issues, the management of SWFL Goodwill decided to completely renovate with flood prevention in mind. The grand re-opening celebration will be Thursday, October 25^th through Saturday, October 27^th.
One year- ago the rains that accompanied Hurricane Harvey and then Irma caused the closing of the popular Southwest Florida Goodwill Island Park Retail and Donation Center.  Heavy rains led to 12 inches of water in the parking lot, which threatened the main entrance of the store. At the same time, severe leaking inside the store was causing major damage. Despite extensive clean-up efforts, the retail and donation center incurred a total loss of merchandise.  A much smaller temporary store was opened across the street while renovations of the Island Park location took place.
Many locals remember the Island Park Goodwill store as the former skating rink building back in the 1980s. Goodwill purchased the building in the early 2000s and kept the layout as is, including the sunken skating rink floor.  After the storms, it was determined that an update was clearly needed.  Renovations include raising the elevation and improving the slope of the parking lot, filling in the sunken skating rink floor and giving the building a fresh new coat of paint.
“When the customers see the remodeled store they will feel like they are in a brand new state of the art Goodwill similar to what we have been building for the past several years. We are very excited to be able to service our loyal Island Park customers with a vastly improved shopping experience,” states John Nadeau Vice President of Operations.
The grand re-opening celebration will include a drawing for a flat screen tv, a special drawing for VIP Perks members, a $5 discount on purchases of $20 or more when you bring in a donation, and refreshments while they last.
 

Changes are coming to downtown Fort Myers intersections.  In September, the Fort Myers City Council approved a plan to remove four downtown traffic signals and convert all downtown core intersections to four-way stops.
Beginning this week, contractors for the City of Fort Myers will begin converting downtown intersections to all-way stop signs in the downtown area north of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, south of Edwards Drive, east of U.S. 41 and west of Fowler Street.
Traffic signals at the following intersections will be removed and replaced with four-way stop signs

• First Street at Lee Street
• Second Street at Hendry Street
• Second Street at Jackson Street
• Second Street at Lee Street

Traffic signals will remain at intersections on Monroe Street.  Pedestrian crossing signs will be added in locations on Lee Street and on Royal Palm Avenue.
In total, 25 downtown intersections will be part of the planned improvements to intersections throughout the downtown area. A map of the upcoming changes is attached.  You may also view the map on the City’s website at www.cityftmyers.com and click on “Downtown Traffic Signal Changes.”  Conversion of the intersections is expected to be complete by the end of 2018.