AAA: FLORIDA GAS PRICES SET NEW 2020 LOW
Florida drivers are now paying the lowest gas prices of 2020, according to a report by AAA. The state average is on a streak of declines, falling 9 cents in the past 11 consecutive days. Sunday’s state average of $2.33 per gallon is 6 cents less than a week ago, and 23 cents less than last month. Despite selling for 10 cents more than this time last year, Florida gasoline remains 23 cents per gallon less than the highest price so far this year. “Florida gas prices could rise anywhere from 20-60 cents this spring, as demand rises and refineries switch to the more expensive-to-produce summer gasoline,” Mark Jenkins, spokesman for AAA, says. Punta Gorda was listed among the least expensive metro markets, with an average of $2.24 per gallon. For more information, click here.
ESTERO COUNCIL OF COMMUNITY LEADERS ANNOUNCES SURVEY RESULTS
The Estero Council of Community Leaders has released a summary of data from a widespread survey of residents of Estero and surrounding communities. The goal of the survey was to gauge resident’s interest in issues affecting lifestyle generally and social welfare specifically and will be used to determine ECCL advocacy efforts in the future. Respondents voiced strong support for issues affecting the environment, community development, health care, and transportation. In addition, expressed interest was noteworthy for landscaping community roadways and the development of expanded facilities for arts and entertainment. For the summary report on survey results, click here.
FP PROPERTY RESTORATION NAMED TO INC. 5000 LIST
Fort Myers-based FP Property Restoration has earned a spot on Inc. magazine’s 5000 list as one of America’s fastest-growing, privately-owned companies for 2019. Ranked No. 724, FP Property Restoration has successfully positioned itself in the top tier of the elite group. The company was first eligible to make the list in 2019, which published in the magazine’s 38th annual issue last September. The national ranking recognizes companies according to the percentage of revenue growth over a three-year period. Companies on the list, on average, have grown sixfold since 2015, including FP Property Restoration, which achieved a three-year growth rate of 604% and $12.4 million in revenue in less than three years, according to a press release.
Naples Reserve Island Club
NAPLES RESERVE SALES INCREASE
Naples Reserve, iStar’s 688-acre community of Southern Coastal-inspired attached villa, single-family and custom estate homes in South Naples, saw 226 home sales in 2019, up from 172 sales in 2018. Planned for a total of 1,088 homes, Naples Reserve has logged 659 home sales since its 2015 opening and has reached 60% sold. The community’s Phase I has exceeded the 75% sold mark, while Phase II is 45% sold. New amenities will also debut in 2020 at Naples Reserve. Paws Awhile, the community’s second dog park, will open later in 2020 along with the Kid’s Cove playground area. They will join the new community garden at Naples Reserve, where residents are already growing herbs, vegetables and flowers. Still to come in 2020: a garden of fruit trees and a butterfly garden. For more information, visit www.naplesreserve.com.
CAMERON, CARR REAPPOINTED TO AIRPORT ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Lee County Board of Port Commissioners recently reappointed R. Scott Cameron and Dana Carr as regional members representing Collier and Charlotte counties on the Airports Special Management Committee (ASMC). The committee serves as an advisory board to the Board of Port Commissioners, reviewing policy, administrative and management matters for Southwest Florida International Airport and Page Field in Fort Myers. The other members of the ASMC are Noel Andress, John Goodrich, Randy Krise, Fran Myers and Robbie Roepstorff. ASMC members serve without compensation. Cameron has more than 30 years of experience in commercial and investment real estate sales, leasing and property management. He was the president of Cameron Real Estate Services, Inc. and Cameron Asset Management, Inc. Carr is the executive vice president and director of operations for Air Trek, Inc., a full-service private executive air charter and air ambulance company located in Charlotte County. For more information, visit www.flylcpa.com.
Mathias Boirie
NORMAN LOVE CONFECTIONS HIRES EXECUTIVE PASTRY CHEF
Norman Love Confections has hired seasoned professional French pastry chef Mathias Boirie as executive pastry chef for the company. Boirie brings more than 15 years of experience in the pastry industry, including at Michelin-starred restaurants in France. After he completed his training in pastry-making in 2004 in France, Boirie worked with Michelin-starred chefs Mathias Dandine and Laurent Tarridec in the south of France. After working in London for a year as a pastry chef, he returned to St. Tropez, working at Senequier, a restaurant on the French Riviera known for its pastries. He continued to hone his skills at La Tarte Tropezienne, a Saint-Tropez pastry shop with more than 30 stores known for tropezienne pies, a dessert pastry of filled brioche named by actress Brigitte Bardot, and at Mont Blanc, a restaurant known for its chocolates and pastries. In 2017, he left France with his wife, Lola, for the U.S., and worked in New York with the French Group, Le District, before joining Norman Love Confections.
Hamptons Luxury Kitchen & Bath Showroom
HAMPTONS LUXURY KITCHEN & BATH SHOWROOM OPENS IN NAPLES
Hamptons Luxury Kitchen & Bath showroom has opened a new showroom at 365 Fifth Ave. S. in Naples. Owner and founder designer Louis G. Giorgio opened his first kitchen and bath showroom in the Hamptons. He spent the next 27 years catering to the wholesale division of the business, with clients such as the Ritz Carlton Residences in White Plains, the Long Island North Hills Ritz Carlton Residences, and the Panoramic View Luxury Residences in Montauk, New York. After visiting and vacationing in Naples for more than a decade, Giorgio selected a 2,400-square-foot locale on Fifth Avenue South for his company’s expansion and opened a second showroom earlier this month. For more information, visit www.hamptonsluxurykb.com.
UPDATE YOUR HOME EVENT SET AT MIROMAR DESIGN CENTER
Ruth Condit, a residential design specialist who works with MP Interiors at Miromar Design Center, will discuss how to look at your home through the eyes of a first-time visitor–from mailbox to main rooms and beyond–during a complimentary presentation at 11 a.m. on Feb. 20 in Suite 348 at Miromar Design Center. Reservations for the event, titled “Ring Your Own Doorbell,” can be made under the event tab at MiromarDesignCenter.com or by calling (239) 390-8207.
CHARITABLE NOTES
DeRomo’s Gourmet Market & Restaurant to host Spring Wine Showcase
DeRomo’s Gourmet Market & Restaurant is preparing for its Spring Wine Showcase, open to the public from 5-8 p.m. on March 10 at 26811 S. Bay Drive in Bonita Springs. The quarterly event gives Southwest Floridians and visitors an opportunity to sample top-quality red, white and house wines and bubbly varieties, along with small bites made with ingredients imported from Italy and multigenerational recipes, directly from DeRomo’s Gourmet Market. There will also be stations of food and private-label wines that are hand-selected from the DeRomo’s Restaurant menu. The stations and live musical entertainment will be spread throughout the Promenade at Bonita Bay, home to DeRomo’s since 2016. Tickets for the Spring Wine Showcase are $20 per person, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Empty Bowls Naples. This is a 14-year-old nonprofit that has called upon local people to create handcrafted, painted bowls, contributing to feeding over 122,000 in Collier and Lee counties who are food insecure. To pre-purchase event wristbands, visit DeRomos.com/Shop. However, no reservations are required. For more information, call DeRomo’s at (239) 325-3583.
WGCU participates in Give Where You Live Collier
As a member-supported service of Florida Gulf Coast University, WGCU Public Media is participating in the 24-hour philanthropy window of Give Where You Live Collier. Give Where You Live is a program to increase contributions to Collier County’s nonprofits. Forty charitable organizations are participating from noon on Feb. 19 to noon on Feb. 20. During that time, donations to nonprofits like WGCU Public Media and the FGCU Foundation will be amplified by as much as $500,000 by the Community Foundation of Collier County and the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation. Although this is mainly a digital fundraiser, there are other ways to donate and do so before Feb. 19 at noon. For more information, go to wgcu.org/gwyl, or call Jennifer Denike at (239)590-2514 or email her at jdenike@wgcu.org.
The Aielli Group to honor International Women’s Day
The Aielli Group–including the restaurants Sea Salt, Barbatella and Dorona–will be honoring International Women’s Day on March 8 by donating part of the proceeds from every dessert sold to the Naples Woman’s Club. Grappino will be excluded from this charity promotion since it is closed on Sundays. The Naples Woman’s Club is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the Naples area community through philanthropic activities and volunteer service.
