CONCOURSE C AT RSW SET TO REOPEN WEDNESDAY
The Lee County Port Authority will reopen Concourse C at Southwest Florida International Airport on Wednesday morning. All departing and arriving flights for Delta Air Lines and United Airlines at RSW will resume operations in Concourse C. All passengers for Delta and United should proceed to Concourse C for security screening and flights. Ticketing and check-in remain the same. For more information, visit flylcpa.com.
Video courtesy of WINK News
FSW ENTERS PHASE 2, ALLOWING STUDENTS ON CAMPUS
Florida SouthWestern State College started its Phase 2 reopening on Monday, and that means in-person enrollment services are available for the first time since the campus has been closed from the pandemic. For the first time since March, students are allowed back on campus to receive help with admissions and financial aid for the fall semester starting Aug. 24, but any student planning to go on campus must wear a facemask inside any buildings. Class formats will include traditional face-to-face classes with consideration of social distancing, a mix of online and in-person classes, and classes completely online with the option for live lectures and class time, WINK News reports.
FIRST-RUN MOVIE THEATERS PLAN TO REOPEN WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH
First-run movie theaters closed since March in Southwest Florida are targeted to reopen within the next month. “It’s a moving target at this point,” said a spokeswoman for Mercato in North Naples, noting that it’s based on the studio releases of two new major films, “Tenet” and “Mulan,” both of which have been delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic. “Our target date to reopen is Aug. 3. Let’s hope the studios release the new movies on the planned dates,” emailed Hector Garcia, general manager of Silverspot Cinema at Mercato. Paragon Theaters, which operates Paragon Pavilion cinema across the street in North Naples, concurs but did not predict exactly when they would reopen. “With studios pushing back the release of movies, things remain a bit up in the air, but we are hoping to reopen soon. Stay tuned to our social media for updates,” Florida-based Paragon messaged. National cinema chains Regal and AMC both announced reopening dates for the end of July, but major film release delays could affect those plans. Warner Bros. has twice delayed the release of the highly anticipated “Tenet,” this time until Aug. 12. Disney’s live-action release of “Mulan” has been delayed three times and is now scheduled to debut Aug. 21. Meanwhile, it’s still showtime at Prado Stadium 12 on U.S. 41 in Bonita Springs. All tickets for all shows on the big screen are $5 to see classic blockbuster movies such as “Jaws,” “Jurassic Park” and “The Empire Strikes Back.”
The White Rose
NEW WEDDING VENUE TO LAUNCH THIS FALL IN NAPLES AREA
A large, white pole barn under construction at 2320 Moulder Drive, across Immokalee Road from TwinEagles in Naples, is not the average barn. The White Rose of Naples will be an air-conditioned, 8,500-square-foot venue for weddings and other special events. It’s the trendy sister to the rustic, 7,000-square-foot Naples Wedding Barn, which launched two years ago next to the Kuszlyk Equestrian Center’s horse arena on 28th Ave Southeast in Golden Gate Estates. Both event venues are family owned and operated by Jeanette and John Kuszlyk. The White Rose is taking bookings now for its October opening. For more information, go to thewhiterose.com.
Vergina dining room
VERGINA RESTAURANT REOPENS WITH NEW LOOK
Vergina Restaurant on Fifth Avenue South in Naples has reopened with a new look and sound. Vergina provides year-round live nightly entertainment and monthly dinner shows. When the restaurant closed during the stay-at-home-order, it underwent cosmetic upgrades in the dining room, such as removing marble columns to open the space. An advanced sound and lighting system was installed at the bar, and enhanced lighting was added to the dance floor. The kitchen received new flooring, equipment and prep stations. Vergina General Manager Eric Tancredi has also put social-distancing measures at the restaurant in place. For more details, visit verginarestaurant.com.
Scott Hertz
SWFL LAW FIRM EXPANDS IN CAPE CORAL
Aloia, Roland, Lubell & Morgan PLLC has opened its second location in Cape Coral, located at 1222 47th Terrace, Suite 116, inside the Twelve Twenty-Two Executive Center. Attorney Scott Hertz will manage the Cape Coral office and further develop the firm’s practice areas catered toward the region. Hertz has a background in construction law, contract law and litigation, commercial law and real estate litigation. Hertz also represents clients in front of Southwest Florida government agencies dealing with licensing, permitting, land use issues and ordinances that impact his clients. Partnership disputes and business breakups are another area of representation.
Joe Biscardi
MILLENNIUM PHYSICIAN GROUP PROMOTES BISCARDI
Joe Biscardi, former chief accounting officer and assistant treasurer of Millennium Physician Group, has been promoted to chief financial officer, effective July 1. With more than 20 years of healthcare finance experience, Biscardi will now lead Millennium’s finance department, which includes accounting, revenue cycle management, payroll, physician and advanced provider compensation, and management of the 401K. Headquartered in Fort Myers, Millennium Physician Group is the largest independent medical group in Florida, a news release states, with nearly 3,000 employees and more than 500 healthcare providers.
Ashley Dewji
GULFSHORE PLAYHOUSE WELCOMES BOARD MEMBER
Gulfshore Playhouse welcomes Ashley Dewji to the board of directors. The board provides insight on strategic communications, financial and cultural initiatives drawing from their varied industry experiences. A private banker with J.P. Morgan, Dewji will join as chair of the planned giving council for Gulfshore Playhouse, with fellow board member David Wilson. She will also serve as a member of the finance committee. Dewji, originally from Toronto, Canada, relocated to Naples in 2017 as a banker. In 2007, she joined the J.P. Morgan Private Bank in Boston and has since held roles in the firm’s Los Angeles and Dallas offices. Dewji received her accounting degree, with honors, from York University. She is also a candidate for the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) designation. Dewji is president of the Boys and Girls Club of Collier County NextGen Philanthropy Group, Friends Circle, and serves as a board member for the Greater Naples Area Planned Giving Council.
CHARITABLE NOTES
Red Sox announce ninth annual Swings for the Sox golf tournament
As part of its continuing community outreach efforts, the Red Sox Foundation will hold its ninth annual Swings for the Sox golf tournament on Oct. 2. The tournament will take place at the Tiburón Golf Club located at 2620 Tiburón Drive in Naples. A scramble format with prizes for the longest drive, putting, closest to the pin and more will begin at 8:30 a.m. after registration at 7:15 a.m. Lunch will be provided. All proceeds from this year’s tournament will benefit the Lee County Red Sox Scholarship program. Each year, the Red Sox Foundation awards a $5,000 college scholarship to one deserving student from each of the 14 public high schools in Lee County. This year’s title sponsor is DLD Builders. Tournament sponsorships are available from $150 to $5,000. Foursome player packages begin at $1,000. If the tournament has to be canceled for any reason, all donations and entry fees will be fully refunded. Raffle and silent auction items that can be used to aid in raising money for the Red Sox Foundation’s scholarship fund and additional funds for those in need throughout Southwest Florida are also being accepted. For more information, call 239-226-4783 or email swingsforthesox@redsox.com.
United Way funds Catholic Charities programs
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Venice Inc. in Collier County received funding from the United Way of Collier County to support mental health counseling and the Empowerment Program. A total of $112,000 was provided to the agency through a grant for the period of April 1 through March 31, 2021. The awarded grant will mainly support the Catholic Charities Empowerment Program and Mental Health Program. Catholic Charities provides aid to people in need at four locations in Collier County which include the Family Counseling Center, the Judy Sullivan Family Resource Center, and Golden Gate Senior Center all in Naples and Guadalupe Social Services in Immokalee. For more information, visit catholiccharitiesdov.org.
CliftonLarsonAllen LLP announces CLA Foundation grant recipient
The CLA Foundation has awarded three nonprofit grants totaling $40,000. This year’s grant recipients include Children’s Home Society, receiving $15,000 and serving Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties working to end the need for foster care. The Immokalee Foundation received $15,000 and empowers children and young adults to change the course of their lives by providing educational and career-building opportunities. Abuse Counseling and Treatment (ACT) received $10,000 and serves victims of domestic violence. The CLA Foundation is a philanthropic extension of the CLA Promise, which allows every member of the CliftonLarsonAllen LLP (CLA) family to know and help people in the communities.
St. Matthew’s House partners with Lee County organizations
St. Matthew’s House is partnering with three leading Lee County organizations to expand food distribution support to the growing number of Lee County individuals and families suffering from the economic downturn caused by COVID-19. The partnership was initiated and is being financially supported by Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity’s Epsilon Nu Boule Foundation. Additional participants include Mount Olive AME Church and Midwest Food Bank. A kick-off event and food distribution will take place this Thursday at Mount Olive AME Church, located at 2754 Orange Street, Fort Myers. Food distribution will continue at this site every Thursday from 4-7 p.m. St. Matthew’s House is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that does not solicit government funding. For information, visit stmatthewshouse.org.
