Lead Photo: Premier Sotheby’s International Realty surpasses total 2020 record-breaking sales volume. Details below.
Video courtesy of WINK News
EMPLOYEE OPTIONS AS MORE BUSINESSES MANDATE COVID-19 VACCINES
As the list of employers mandating COVID-19 vaccines grows, workers who don’t want the vaccine want to know what they can do to keep their jobs. Neither available option is ideal for the worker: You can leave your job and try to pursue another one because you feel so strongly about not getting vaccinated, or you can take your employer to court. If you do, however, you will likely be facing an uphill battle. Benjamin Yormak, a board-certified expert in labor employment law practicing in Bonita Springs, says he doesn’t believe lawsuits will work because the severity of the public health emergency may trump an individual’s argument. “In all likelihood, the employer is able to require the vaccine and your options are effectively take it or leave it,” Yormak tells WINK News.
Video courtesy of WINK News
HUNDREDS OF PHYSICIANS SIGN PETITION FOR MASK MANDATE IN LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS
Doctors are signing a petition for a universal mask mandate in Lee County schools. They’re also calling for better contact tracing. A petition spearheaded by Dr. Parisima Taeb, the parent of a child in the school district, has more than 250 doctor signatures this week calling for masks as a necessary safety measure at all schools in the School District of Lee County. “We, the physicians of Southwest Florida, are urging you to reconsider your position regarding mandating masks for our school district,” the petition states in part. Taeb said slow contact tracing and children without masks are two recipes for disaster, WINK News reports.
Video courtesy of WINK News
LEE COUNTY SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS FEAR FOR SAFETY DURING COVID-19 SURGE
School bus drivers in Lee County are fearing for their safety after the death of a longtime driver from COVID-19. Nearly 20 Lee County school bus drivers were quarantined or hospitalized this week, forcing healthy workers to pick up extra routes. This comes as the School District of Lee County was already experiencing a driver shortage, often delaying student drop-off times. The Lee school district hired 20 more drivers and is looking for more, but that’s not enough of a solution to keep pace with the number of drivers already in quarantine, WINK News reports.
AVE MARIA DEVELOPMENT OPENS NEW OFFICE SPACES IN TOWN CENTER
Meeting a growing demand, Ave Maria Development is opening Loyola Professional Suites with two new office tenants this fall in the Ave Maria Town Center. The new professional offices are opening in September on the second floor at 5072 Annunciation Circle and will include 13 executive suites with only one space remaining for lease. The suites range from 120 to 250 square feet and are leased by various types of businesses, including a marketing firm, an attorney, a property management firm, a logistics business and an IT company. Amenities include a greeting lobby, two conference rooms, open spaces, lounge seating and a community kitchen area. The open-air walkable town center spans more than 100,000 square feet and serves as the central hub of the community with more than 40 merchants, including restaurants, shops and services.
BIG LOTS OPENING STORE THIS FALL IN BONITA SPRINGS
Big Lots is targeted to open a retail store this fall in the former Stein Mart space in the Prado at Spring Creek, 25199 Chamber of Commerce Drive. Store signs are already installed at the Bonita Springs retail center anchored by the Prado Stadium 12 cinema on U.S. 41. Expect Big Lots to launch anytime from the end of September through November, depending on when shipments arrive, a store spokesman said. A year ago, Stein Mart Inc. filed relief under Chapter 11 of the bankruptcy code and permanently closed its stores, including two in Lee County and two in Collier County.
Amanda Lucey
PRSA TO HOST ‘COMMUNITY IMMUNITY’ LUNCH ‘N LEARN
The Public Relations Society of America’s Gulf Coast Chapter (PRSA) will host “Community Immunity,” a virtual “Lunch ‘N Learn” session from noon until 1 p.m. on Sept. 15 via Zoom. Amanda Lucey, CEO of The Partnership, and Naples Community Hospital (NCH) Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kristin Mascotti will present NCH’s marketing and communication strategies, including adapting messaging during a crisis, including its new “Community Immunity” campaign in light of the recent COVID-19 spike. The cost to attend is $10 for PRSA members, $15 for future members and free to students. Registration is required. Upon registering, guests will receive a link to join the Zoom meeting in advance of the event.
MK ARCHITECTURE COMPLETES DESIGN FOR PUNTA GORDA APARTMENTS
MK Architecture has completed the architectural design services for the new Marion Avenue Luxury Apartments, located on a riverfront site on E. Marion Ave. in Punta Gorda. The project will consist of three three-story luxury apartment buildings over parking, containing 60 units, and two two-story street-liner buildings with 12 live-work units over first-floor retail/office space. The project is being developed by Shaheen Development of Saginaw, Michigan, and is expected to be complete in 2022.
PREMIER SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY SHATTERS $7.1B RECORD
Premier Sotheby’s International Realty has surpassed its 2020 record-breaking total sales volume, achieving above $7.1 billion year-to-date, the brokerage reports. Its closed sales volume has increased 130% year over year. With more than 40 offices from Southwest Florida to the High Country of North Carolina, Premier Sotheby’s International Realty is the No. 2 brokerage in the Sotheby’s International Realty global network, which encompasses 1,000 affiliated offices in 75 countries, according to the company. Ranked No. 21 in the annual REAL Trends 500 survey of the top U.S. residential sellers by volume, it is also No. 19 in RISMedia’s Top 500 Power Broker Annual Report.
Babcock Ranch entrance
BABCOCK RANCH SURPASSES 1,500 HOMES SOLD
Kitson & Partners announced that its community Babcock Ranch, America’s first solar-powered town, has surpassed 1,500 homes sold, with more than 470 homes sold year-to-date. With sales surging by 61% for the first half of the year, Babcock Ranch also jumped nine spots to the No. 25 position in the country’s 50 top-selling master-planned communities of 2021 by RCLCO Real Estate Advisors. Babcock Ranch is introducing new neighborhoods later this year to meet buyer demand. Residents will also have new retail offerings at Crescent B Commons, the 82,640-square-foot Publix-anchored shopping center at a new entrance to Babcock Ranch, slated to open Sept. 3. Publix is expected to open in mid-to-late September. Babcock High School is also being developed in the community.
Noah Valenstein
FORMER DEP SECRETARY JOINS THE WATER SCHOOL AT FGCU
Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) has named Noah Valenstein as the first presidential fellow in water policy for The Water School. This appointment comes after Valenstein served as Florida’s chief resiliency officer and nearly four years as secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). His new role at FGCU began on Aug. 7. In addition to his work on behalf of Florida governors Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis, the former secretary has served as the executive director of the Suwanee River Water Management District. He also brings more than 10 years of combined governmental experience to FGCU. Among Valenstein’s first projects for The Water School at FGCU is working with Mike Savarese to advance and support the Southwest Florida Resiliency Compact. The compact is an FGCU-facilitated effort to create synergy around climate change between Southwest Florida counties and municipalities.
CHARITABLE NOTES
Win Hooters wings for a year at Shy Wolf Scramble Golf Tournament
South Florida Hooters is supporting the Shy Wolf Scramble Golf Tournament on Sept. 25 in Naples with a hole sponsorship at the charity event. Hooters donated 150 of the 2020 Hooters Calendars for the participants and a voucher for one winner to receive Hooters wings for a year. The golf tournament will benefit the expansion of the property for Shy Wolf Sanctuary’s Education and Experience Center. LTP Management, a franchisee of Hooters of America, owns and operates 16 locations in South Florida.
Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida receives $50,000 grant for program
Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida has been awarded a grant of $50,000 from the Golisano Foundation to support Pathways to Opportunity (PTO), a day training program that provides opportunities for adults with significant intellectual and developmental disabilities who want to gain independence and empowerment and experience new opportunities. PTO is based in Lee County, but Goodwill SWFL serves Charlotte, Lee, Collier, Hendry and Glades counties. On April 20, 2020, PTO-2-GO launched using the distance learning delivery model so that some participants may continue their life skills training from the safety of their homes. This program also provides tools to assist with mental health and overall wellness while being at home. The support of the Golisano Foundation will allow the program to expand and help cover the cost of those who privately pay.
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