Lead Photo: The School District of Lee County is hosting “Coffee & Conversation,” on Sept. 29. Details below.
OLLIE’S BARGAIN OUTLET OPENS STORE THIS WEEK IN BONITA SPRINGS
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet launches at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the Springs Plaza anchor space Winn-Dixie vacated last year next to LA Fitness on the southeast corner of U.S. 41 and Bonita Beach Road in Bonita Springs. The Pennsylvania-based retail chain, promoted as “Good Stuff Cheap,” has more than 360 no-frills stores of closeout merchandise and excess inventory of name-brand items such as housewares, hardware, sporting goods, toys, flooring and food. The fast-growing chain has 28 other locations in Florida, including stores in south Fort Myers and Port Charlotte.
REVIVE MEDSPA REVIVES ITSELF IN NEW OFFICES IN BONITA SPRINGS
After a false start before COVID-19 sidelined the business and a Mercedes-Benz SUV drove into its building in mid-March, Revive MedSpa revived itself this summer with a fresh business model in new offices at Bonita Bay Professional Center off U.S. 41 in Bonita Springs. Christina Thomas co-owns and operates the local mind, body and healing center with her husband, Charles Patti, and Lisa Colando. Dr. Andrew Ferber is Revive’s medical director and in-house psychiatrist. Revive focuses on a holistic, healing journey approach to health and well-being using ketamine treatments to assist people with chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression and addiction issues. Revive, 3541 Bonita Bay Blvd., Suite 200, is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. For more information, call 239-908-9958 or go to ReviveWellnessBonita.com.
GOODWILL INDUSTRIES BREAKS GROUND FOR STORE IN EAST NAPLES
Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida recently broke ground in East Naples for a 20,000-square-foot store, which is targeted to open in late March or early April, weather permitting, said Carolyn Johnson, vice president of communications and development for Goodwill. The store will be in Egrets Crossing on the southwest corner of Davis and Santa Barbara boulevards. “This store will have a covered donation drop-off/drive-thru to facilitate donors making donations at the store and 100-plus parking spots to accommodate our shoppers,” Johnson says. “Approximately 40 to 50 new jobs will be created with the opening of this store. Most employees will be hired at least 30 days before the doors open to the public.”
FELIPE’S MEXICAN TAQUERIA TO OPEN THIS YEAR IN NORTH NAPLES
The next location of Felipe’s Mexican Taqueria is targeted to open before the end of 2020 at Logan Landings in North Naples. The restaurant and bar are being built out in the unit next door to Pet Supermarket and nearest the Logan Boulevard entrance to the retail center at Logan and Immokalee Road. A construction crew recently replaced the windows on the north side of the unit with overhead doors to open up the restaurant space. The first area location of Felipe’s Taqueria launched five years ago at Park Shore Plaza in Naples and a second opened in Fort Myers Beach in 2018.
LEE COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT TO HOST ‘COFFEE & CONVERSATION’ ON SEPT. 29
The School District of Lee County is hosting “Coffee & Conversation,” an informational event that will provide insight on careers within the District. Ideal for prospective career-changers and working professionals, the virtual session will offer opportunities to meet members of the district’s team, learn about the variety of career paths available and walk through the process of becoming certified to teach in Florida. Select candidates may also be offered an interview for potential employment. Coffee & Conversation will take place by appointment between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Sept. 29. To register by 6 p.m. on Sept. 28, click here.
ROTARY SOUTH PLAZA FORMALLY DEDICATED ON ALLIANCE ARTSPARK
As part of ongoing enhancements to the Alliance for the Arts ArtsPark and campus, the Alliance celebrated the Rotary Club of Fort Myers South Plaza with a dedication ceremony on Sept. 16. The Plaza, on the southwest corner of the Alliance campus, is made possible by a $25,000 gift from the Rotary Club of Fort Myers South to the Alliance for the Arts. The Rotary South Plaza is part of the overarching Alliance ArtsPark & Water Wall. Project highlights include new crosswalks, sidewalk, pathways, lighting, landscaping reflecting Southwest Florida ecosystems, a new contemporary building paint job, and a reshaped retention basin that is more effective at collecting and cleaning stormwater. All enhancements are anchored by the installation of the Caloosahatchee Water Wall by internationally acclaimed artist Michael Singer. For more information on the Alliance for the Arts or the Alliance ArtsPark, visit ArtInLee.org.
Sylver Layer
ADSOURCE HIRES LAYER
Sylver Layer joins AdSource, a full-service advertising and digital marketing agency in Naples, as the production manager/digital marketing assistant. In her position, Layer is responsible for managing the production and flow of agency projects from concept to completion. Layer is also implementing social media strategies for select clients and honing her analytics capabilities on agency software platforms. Layer graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) with a degree in communication public relations. In her educational pursuit, Layer was involved in projects on campus as a research assistant. She was a part of the development and the promotion of the project on local news and radio stations. Additionally, Layer was selected to be a teacher’s assistant in the nonprofit public relations course and was the social media chair for the FGCU communication club.
NEW COACH HOMES UNDERWAY IN VIANSA AT TALIS PARK
Construction has begun on a dozen new coach homes in the Viansa neighborhood at Talis Park a master-planned community in Naples. The new coach homes from WCI, a Lennar company, feature 1,710 and 2,376 square feet of living space, three bedrooms, two baths, and private two-car garages. Second-floor homes with elevator access offer a study. With an open great room design, Viansa coach homes feature expansive lanais and loggias that enhance the indoor-outdoor connection and offer lush preserve views. Starting in the high $500,000s, the coach homes are scheduled for completion in spring 2021. For more information, visit TalisPark.com.
CHARITABLE NOTES
Better Together launches #BeBetterChallenge
Better Together has been selected as a participant in the A Community Thrives campaign, a grantmaking and crowdfunding program funded by the Gannett Foundation, which invests in community-building initiatives across the country related to education, arts and culture, wellness and other positive local nonprofit initiatives. Better Together is a voluntary, community-driven alternative to foster care that has served over 2,500 children in Southwest Florida and kept 98% of families together, according to a news release. When parents fall into crisis, fully screened and trained volunteers host children in their homes while mentoring parents toward stability. This includes help with finding a job, securing housing, childcare, treatment and more. To qualify for a Gannet Foundation grant of up to $100,000, Better Together needs to meet a fundraising goal of at least $6,000 on its own. The community can help Better Together qualify for the grant by donating from Sept. 21 through Oct. 16 here.
16th Annual Lee County Cattle Baron’s Ball goes virtual in November
The American Cancer Society will hold the 16th Annual Lee County Cattle Baron’s Ball as a virtual celebration on Nov. 14. This year’s event will focus on recognizing and thanking the community and volunteers for their passion to fight against cancer. Additionally, the Cattle Baron’s Ball committee, led by event chair Susan Frantz of Frantz Marketing Solutions, are all personally campaigning to raise funds to fight against childhood cancer, the second leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 14, according to a news release. Last year, the event raised more than $250,000, with more than $45,000 specifically dedicated to supporting childhood cancer research, support services, awareness, and prevention efforts. The event will also include a virtual auction. Tickets start at $150 and include a meal to-go from Ruth’s Chris Steak House. For information on sponsorships, tickets and event details, contact Kayla Carney at Kayla.Carney@cancer.org. For more details, visit LeeCattleBarons.com.
