FLORIDA RANKED NO. 33 AMONG BEST, WORST STATES FOR TEACHERS
Florida has ranked No. 33 in Wallethub’s 2019’s Best & Worst States for Teachers report. Teacher-friendliness in Florida earned the following scores, with “one” being the best and “25th” being average scores: 30th for Avg. Starting Salary for Teachers (Adjusted for Cost of Living); 48th for Avg. Salary for Teachers (Adjusted for Cost of Living); 26th for Quality of School System; 26th for Pupil-Teacher Ratio; 43rd for Public-School Spending per Student; 20th for Teachers’ Income Growth Potential; eighth for Projected Competition in Year 2026; and 46th for 10-Year Change in Teacher Salaries. For the full report, click here.
NEW NCH PRESIDENT, CEO TO SPEAK AT TODAY’S ‘NEWSMAKER’ PROGRAM
Paul Hiltz, the newly named president and CEO of NCH Healthcare System, will be the featured speaker at the Naples Press Club “Newsmaker” program starting at 5 p.m. today at Tiburon Golf Club. The event begins with registration, followed by a 5:30 p.m. program. The mission of the 150-member Naples Press Club is to advocate for quality journalism in all its forms—print, broadcast, and digital. The Naples Press Club defends both the First Amendment and the public’s right to know, a press release states. Its further goal is to support journalists of the future through scholarships and mentoring. For more information, visit NaplesPressClub.org.
HEALTHY BUSINESS SYMPOSIUM SET
Business Dynamix Solutions, Highland Capital Brokerage and MidwestOne Bank, are co-sponsoring the first Healthy Business Symposium. The symposium will be held with two sessions to choose from: 8:30-11:30 a.m. or 1-4 p.m. on Oct. 18 in the Naples Daily News Community Room. The symposium will focus on how to build, maintain and secure a financially successful business both today and in the future. Four different speakers will present topics, including The Five Things Every Business Needs, How to Avoid the Six Business Killers, and Effective Money Management for Business. The featured symposium speaker is Peter Weitz, author of The 401K Road Map. The event includes light refreshments. After each session, a drawing will be held for a staycation of three days and two nights in Southwest Florida. Register online via Eventbrite or www.sucessinbusiness.co, through Facebook or by calling (239) 262-1237. Seating is limited.
BAYFRONT HEALTH TO HOST STROKE EDUCATION LUNCH-AND-LEARN SERIES
Bayfront Health will host a physician-led discussion occurring the second Saturday of every month and covering stroke-related topics. This educational lunch-and-learn series is free and will be held at noon the second Saturday of every month at Bayfront Health Punta Gorda Medical Office Building. Nasser Razack, an independent member of the medical staff at Bayfront Health Port Charlotte, will lead the discussions. Razack is a board-certified radiologist specializing in diagnosing and treating injuries and diseases that affect the various components of the central nervous system. The first discussion, on Oct.12, will be about Stroke and Alzheimer’s Prevention. Seating is limited, so registration is required. For more information and to register to attend, call (941) 766-4285 or visit https://ActFAST.eventbrite.com.
NEAL COMMUNITIES EXPANDS TEAM
Neal Communities has hired five new team members to support the company’s south region new home sales. The new team members include Charles Bechara, a new home sales associate. Bechara brings over 20 years of experience in sales, most recently with a national homebuilder. George Castillo, a construction manager, has also been hired. Castillo is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran with 15 years of experience in construction and management. Marisa Ciaramitaro-Riche has joined the team as a new home sales associate. Ciaramitaro-Richel is a real estate professional with more than 15 years of experience. Alec Emery has been hired as a new home sales associate. Emery is a 28-year Naples resident with 15 years of sales experience. He is an active board member of the NABOR. Laura Strelser has joined as a design gallery manager. Strelser is a 19-year interior design industry veteran with experience in luxury and custom home design.
SANDELLI TO ADDRESS TIGER BAY CLUB OF SWFL LUNCHEON
Raymond Sandelli, the new District 3 Lee County Commissioner, will speak at the Tiger Bay Club of Southwest Florida’s upcoming luncheon from noon to 1 p.m. on Thursday at Pinchers Marina at Edison Ford in Fort Myers. Check-in and networking last from 11:30-11:45 a.m. Sandelli will give an update on his first two months in office, what he brings to the job from his professional career and military service, and his plans for Lee County. Sandelli is currently a managing partner at CRE Consultants. For more information, visit SWFLTigerBay.org.
Robalo executives celebrated Fish Tale Boats of Southwest Florida and the Fricke family as the boat company’s top dealer in the world at a ceremony on Aug. 20.
SWFL BOAT DEALERSHIP WINS GLOBAL AWARD
Southwest Florida-based Fish Tale Boats recently was named the top dealer for Robalo boats, beating out 253 dealers worldwide. Fish Tale doubled the company’s sales of Robalo boats in the last fiscal year, helping to vault it into first place among all dealers globally. Founded in 1969, Robalo is a premium-quality line of outboard-powered bay boats, center console, dual console and walkaround cabin-style sport fishing boats. Robalo boats, part of publicly-traded Marine Products Corp., are among the most popular boats of their class internationally, a press release states. The Fricke family has owned and operated Fish Tale Boats in Southwest Florida for more than 20 years and has multiple service locations. For more information, visit www.fishtale.com.
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF LEE COUNTY EVENT
The League of Women Voters of Lee County will present “The Pursuit of Fairness in Education
Equity, Diversity, and Title IX ” from 9-11 a.m. on Oct. 5 at The Collaboratory
In Fort Myers. Speakers for the event include Precious Gunter, FGCU director of equity, ethics and compliance and Title IX coordinator; Chuck Bradley, Lee County School District director of positive prevention; a student serving on the Lee County Student Advisory Council; and Dr. Shirley Chapman, chairperson of the Lee NAACP’s education committee. To register for the event, click here, email reservations@lwvlee.org, or call (239) 278-1032. There is no charge for admission.
CHUBB CLASSIC TO RETURN TO THE CLASSICS COUNTRY CLUB AT LELY RESORT
The Chubb Classic will return from Feb. 10-16, 2020 to The Classics Country Club at Lely Resort. Marking its 33rd year in Southwest Florida, this will be the second consecutive year and third year overall that The Classics Country Club at Lely Resort will host this PGA Tour Champions tournament. In addition to championship golf, the Chubb Classic will continue to host a variety of ancillary events such as the Taste of SW Florida, the Golf to Paradise – First Tee Champions Challenge and Subway restaurants Family Putt for Dough. Tickets for the tournament will be available later this fall. For more information about the Chubb Classic, visit ChubbClassic.com or call (239) 593-3900.
Charitable notes
Lee County Tax Collector tops United Way of Florida fundraising campaign
For the third consecutive year, of the Lee County Tax Collector (LCTC) will receive United Way’s 2018-19 Public Sector Giving Award for contributions to the local United Way campaign. Lee County Tax Collector Larry Hart will receive a plaque during the United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee Counties board meeting at 8 a.m. on Friday at United Way’s main campus, 7273 Concourse Dr., Fort Myers. The LCTC’s average per capita contribution was $160.70 to lead the state. The next highest contribution for an agency in Florida was $142.66. The average gift for LCTC employees was $350.62. The LCTC’s contributions were part of a record amount of $10.4 million raised during the 2018-19 local United Way fundraising campaign, which finished in February. The public sector award is one of 11 given annually to Florida county and constitutional offices, key municipalities, as well as public schools, colleges, and universities.
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