LEE, COLLIER COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEET TODAY TO DISCUSS COVID-19 RESPONSE
County commissioners in Lee and Collier are both meeting this morning to discuss the COVID-19 response. Collier County’s COVID-19 update and discussion regarding a plan to reopen parks, beaches and businesses are part of the county manager’s report on the agenda of its regular commission meeting scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. today. Watch the meeting via Collier TV at CollierCountyFL.gov or on Collier County’s Facebook page. The Lee Board of County Commissioners will hold an emergency meeting at 9:30 a.m. to discuss the county’s pandemic response, including the status of parks and beaches. The county encourages the public to watch via LeeTV, at leegov.com or on Facebook Live at Lee County Government.
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RE-OPEN FLORIDA TASK FORCE ENCOURAGES PUBLIC COMMENTS VIA ONLINE PORTAL
The Re-Open Florida Task Force launched its public comment submission portal over the weekend. All Floridians are encouraged to submit their ideas regarding the safe re-opening of Florida’s economy. The task force says the feedback provided by the public is a critical component to the report they will give to Gov. Ron DeSantis. Submit feedback on any topic related to the reopening of Florida’s economy, including the impacts on small businesses, healthcare, education, tourism, agriculture, retail, recreation and construction, by accessing the online Task Force to Re-Open Florida Public Comment Submission Form. Story reported by WINK News.
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CHARLOTTE COUNTY BEACHES REOPEN MONDAY, LEADERS STRESS CAUTION NECESSARY
The first Southwest Florida beaches reopened Monday morning as Charlotte County allowed people back on Port Charlotte Beach and Englewood Beach. Beach parking is free, but restrooms are closed. Even though the beaches re-opened, the Charlotte County sheriff says this isn’t the time to let our guard down. Ultimately, people’s actions are what will decide if these beaches stay open. The Charlotte County Commission will discuss reopening fishing piers and golf courses in their meeting today. Story reported by Story reported by WINK News.
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FORT MYERS BEACH TOWN COUNCIL VOTES TO REOPEN BEACH TO RESIDENTS
Fort Myers Beach Town Council voted Monday to reopen the beach to residents only – but there will be a number of restrictions. The beach reopens at 7 a.m. Tuesday, but beachgoers must wear a face mask, have proof they are a Fort Myers Beach resident, and may only exercise, bike, run and walk on the public portion of the beach at or below the mean high tide – between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. Social distancing rules will be in effect, with groups of no more than 10 allowed and everyone must maintain six feet of space. Also, sitting on the beach and beach accessories such as towels, chairs and coolers are not permitted. Parking lots will remain closed, so beach access will be at town-owned access points. The motion to reopen passed by a vote of 3-2, with Mayor Ray Murphy and Councilmember Bill Veach opposing. Story reported by WINK News.
NCH PURCHASES ADVANCED EQUIPMENT FOR CORONAVIRUS TESTING
NCH has purchased high-tech diagnostic equipment to do large quantities of coronavirus antibody testing. The equipment is expected to be operational in late May and have the ability to ultimately process more than 1,000 samples a day with results in one hour. Even though the equipment is at NCH’s North Naples location, samples will be sent there from other areas of Southwest Florida. “This is going to be a game-changer for us … Our goal is to test everybody,” said Jon Kling, the chief nursing officer of NCH. “By mid-June, we want to be doing 2,000 a day.” NCH will be doing this testing in addition to drive-through testing. Story reported by WINK News.
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STATE ALLOWS LICENSED PHARMACISTS TO ADMINISTER CORONAVIRUS TESTS
Gov. Ron DeSantis has directed Florida’s surgeon general to allow licensed pharmacists to order and administer tests for COVID-19. “It’s the logical thing to do because there are more pharmacies around, and it will be very easy to train to do this, and it’s a lot safer for the patient to go into the pharmacy than to go into the doctor’s office at this point,” said Ross Webb, a longtime pharmacist and member of the Florida Pharmacy Association who owned the Fort Myers Prescription Shop. It’s something Webb thinks will help in two major ways: widespread testing and less economic impact. “The most important thing of this whole thing is to get the people tested,” he said. “Once they’re tested and we know what the situation is, then we can quarantine the people that need to be quarantined and keep the people that are safe to be out in the community out making money and earning a living.” Story reported by WINK News.
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SWFL COUNTIES OFFER E-LEARNING RESOURCES FOR PARENTS
Frustration is growing as students and parents enter another week of distance learning—and some parents say they just can’t do it anymore. A recent study shows there is concern among parents that their kids will fall behind—and it’s especially true in lower-income households where 72% of parents who earn less than $50,000 annually say they’re at least somewhat concerned. Now, Lee, Collier ad Charlotte counties have resources for parents, such as distance-learning plans, as well as lists of books and activities. Here are links to each county’s resources: Lee County, Collier County and Charlotte County. Story reported by WINK News.
IN THE KNOW
Gas prices continue to decline
Gas prices are still declining after a turbulent week in the fuel market. Crude oil prices sank to record lows last week amid growing concerns that producers are running out of space to store excess fuel supplies. Florida gas prices remain at four-year lows. Prices at the pump are averaging $1.78 per gallon, according to AAA’s gas price website. The state average declined 3.5 cents last week and is nearly a $1 per gallon cheaper than a year ago. Florida gas prices have declined 64 cents since Feb. 20. Punta Gorda was among the top metro markets with the least expensive regional prices, at $1.65 per gallon. Daily gas price averages can be found at gasprices.aaa.com. State and metro averages can be found here.
Jamie Dokovna
Becker to host webinar for employers Thursday
Becker Shareholder Jamie Dokovna will present the webinar “An Employer’s Playbook to COVID-19,” from 2-3 p.m. on Thursday. Dokovna will explore questions such as: How do we make the workplace safer for our employees as we continue to operate? Are there any laws that we should be mindful of as we navigate COVID-19 in the workplace? What steps should we be taking as we move forward? What will the future look like in the workplace after COVID-19? Dokovna will also answer questions submitted by webinar attendees. Register here.
NextGen Speaker Series starts interactive roundtable discussion series Friday
The NextGen Speaker Series is offering a series of virtual sessions: NextGen Perspectives on Reopening America. The first interactive roundtable discussion will be held at 9 a.m. on Friday. This online session will focus on “the next normal”—how the world is changing for businesses and the customers they serve—from real estate to travel and banking. Gain practical business advice from executives in small- to mid-size companies as they navigate uncharted territory and lead their teams to success during this uncertain time. Registration is now open at NextGenNaples.com/register.
Southwest Florida Regional Technology to present timely panel discussion
The Southwest Florida Regional Technology Partnership (SWFRTP) will present a panel discussion of “Transitioning to the New Business Norm and Technology Landscape” at 5:30 p.m. on May 7. This live stream free event features the following panelists and industries: Healthcare: Dr. Jim Liu, MD, Prime Medical Health and Wellness; Financial: Anthony Cassano, vice president of portfolio operations, Lateral Investment Management; Education: Dr. John D. Meyer, Hodges University president; Information Technology: Joe Morris, chief information officers, ITVantage Inc.; Manufacturing: Terry Dirr, director of technology, Shaw Development; and Government: John Talmage, director at Lee County Economic Development Office (EDO). The event will provide navigation and discussion of changes to business operations, health safety, workflows, infrastructure, technologies, cybersecurity, and the path to get Southwest Florida back to work. Register at swfrtp.org.
Dave Amdor
Lee County Port Authority welcomes finance director
Dave Amdor has joined the Lee County Port Authority (LCPA) as the director of finance. Amdor comes to the Port Authority with more than 12 years of public and private accounting and finance experience. Most recently, he worked as the finance manager for the Omaha Airport Authority, responsible for operating Eppley Field (OMA) in Nebraska. Before that role, Amdor was the controller and assistant controller at OMA since in 2011. He started his career as an auditor at Deloitte & Touche L.L.P. in Omaha. Amdor is a Certified Public Accountant with a Master of Business Administration and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois.
Russell Budd
David Lawrence Center installs new board officers
David Lawrence Center (DLC) has installed new officers of the board of directors who will serve a two-year term in office, and appointed new board committee member. The new officers are Russell Budd, PBS Contractors and Wall Systems Contractors, chairman; Robert P. Magrann, retired senior executive, vice chairman; Karen Mosteller, Markham Norton Mosteller Wright & Co. P.A., treasurer; Jeffery Yun, Wasmer, Schroeder & Co. Inc., secretary. Jonas Weatherbie of Wilson & Johnson, is serving on the board’s Development and Clinical Operations Committee. David Lawrence Center’s other board of directors include Earle Borman Jr., Ed Boyer, Dr. Reisha Brown, Scott Burgess, Robert Edwards, Laird Grant Groody, Sheriff Kevin Rambosk, Stephen Spahr, Chris Vernon, Pablo Veintimilla, and honorary and founding board member Polly Keller.
Carol B. Boyd
Boyd joins Sanibel Captiva Trust Co. board
Carol B. Boyd has joined the board of directors of both the Sanibel Captiva Trust Co. and its holding company, SanCap Group Inc. Boyd joins 14 members of the board after recently retiring as regional corporate director of The Naples Trust Co., a division of The Sanibel Captiva Trust Co., where she also served as president from 2013 – 2018. Boyd’s background includes a dedicated medical career earlier in life. She later pursued a career in finance, becoming a top producer in wealth management at Northern Trust, and graduated from the Graduate Trust School at Northwestern University and Cannon Trust School at the University of North Carolina. She has devoted more than 30 years to multiple Collier County organizations, particularly those advocating for children. Included among them are Champions for Learning, Take Stock in Children, Youth Haven, David Lawrence Center and Community School of Naples. She is also a current director of the Forum Club of Southwest Florida.
Priority Marketing earns nine Image Awards
Priority Marketing was honored by the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA) Southwest Florida Chapter for outstanding public relations programs, winning a total of nine awards at the local chapter’s 2020 Image Awards, which included the highest recognition of the evening, the Grand Image Award. The FPRA’s Southwest Florida Chapter presents the annual Image Awards to recognize measurable excellence among Southwest Florida public relations professionals. Priority Marketing has won more than 100 Image Awards since its inception in 1992.
MVP Realty announces top agent for 2019
MVP Realty Broker/Owner Derek Carlson announced the names of the 2019 MVP Realty Top Agents. Mindy Sylvester was named the No. 1 Overall agent out of 700-plus agents at the company. Sylvester has been named the No. 1 agent at MVP Realty five times. MVP Realty began in 2014 and is the No. 2 real estate company in Naples for number of transactions, according to a press release.
CHARITABLE NOTES
The Dock at Crayton Cove launches fund to support frontline workers
The Dock at Crayton Cove has launched Feeding the Frontline. Inspired by recent donations by the Port Royal Association and MDP Studios, the restaurant has pledged to give $7,000 of their gift cards to local healthcare providers and first responders. They are asking for members of the community to help double that impact and thank more essential workers on the frontline by making their own donation. Individuals can visit the restaurant’s website and click on Feeding the Frontline to make their contribution. The combined donation will be delivered on May 8 to employees of Naples Community Hospital and Collier County first responders. For more information, visit dockcraytoncove.com.
Members of the NABOR® Board of Directors were joined by Rep. Byron Donalds to help oversee and load crates of corn onto local food pantry trucks.
NABOR coordinates delivery of 500 crates of corn to families in need
The Naples Area Board of REALTORS (NABOR) has partnered with U.S. Sugar and Duda Fresh Farm Foods to deliver 500 crates of corn to Collier County organizations that supply meals to residents in need through the NABOR Helps – Farm to Neighbor Program. The new element of the NABOR Helps community-service program was initiated to replenish food pantry reserves, which have been depleted following a surge in demand from COVID-19-related unemployment in Collier County. Led by NABOR President Lauren Melo, NABOR members answered the call to be a distribution partner to Meals of Hope, the Benison Center in Immokalee, and St. Matthews House in Naples and Immokalee, which supply meals to individuals and families facing food insecurity in Collier County. The program also provides aid to Florida farms facing recent supply chain disruptions.
Naples restaurant group feeding Collier County teachers
Chef Vincenzo Betulia, founder of Campagna Hospitality Group’s The French Brasserie, Osteria Tulia and Bar Tulia on Fifth Avenue South in downtown Naples, has announced a $100,000 challenge with the donation of 4,000 $25 gift cards to be used to help feed Collier County school teachers. “CHG wants to provide a little bit of normalcy in teachers’ lives by donating a gift card that can be redeemed in any of our restaurants through this summer,” Betula said. “CHG supports those who are shaping our future citizens and will match every dollar raised in gift cards until May 31.” To donate or order online visit either restaurant’s website. To donate or order food from The French, 365 Fifth Ave. S., call (239) 315-4019 or go to thefrenchnaples.com. To donate or order food from Osteria Tulia and Bar Tulia, 465 Fifth Ave. S., call (239) 213-2073 or go to osteriatulia.com.
Herons Glen Golf & Country Club supports Partners for Breast for Breast Cancer Care Inc.
Herons Glen Golf & Country Club donated $29,869 to Partners for Breast for Breast Cancer Care Inc. from its 2020 Pretty in Pink Golf Tournament event. Due to COVID-19, residents at Herons Glen were not able to participate in the golf tournament and the community raised $29,869 despite the lack of participation. All funds stay in Lee County to fund breast screening, diagnostic testing, surgery and treatment for uninsured, low-income residents seeking breast care. For more details, visit pfbcc.org.
