My Blog

John “Karter” Rieves, 41, has suffered through six surgeries since a car accident in 1997 left him paralyzed from the waist down. Complications have led to more serious conditions, including a severe infection, requiring his parents to care for him during his recovery. Prior to the complications, Rieves was staying active playing wheelchair basketball, tennis and water skiing inCentral Wisconsin. Currently, Karter is anxiously awaiting his move back into his North Fort Myers home, and regaining his independence.

Janice Trask, 66, has worked at Walgreens for more than 33 years. She suffers with severe neuropathy since a fall last August, as well as complications from diabetes. She currently uses a walker and has major difficulty climbing four steep steps at the entrance of her home.

Both of these North Fort Myersresidents need assistance to keep up with daily activities. Family friend, Robert Lott said this of Rieves, “He needs his independence. We can’t wait to get him back home.”

Lott, a general contractor, joined volunteers with Builders Care, the charitable agency of the Lee Building Industry Association, in constructing a 30-foot wheelchair ramp for Rieves. Construction was completed in just three days.

“The ramp will allow me to come and go as I please, which I have not been able to do in a long while,” said Rieves. “This is a huge blessing.”

In April, Builders Care volunteers were at it again, completing a 23-foot ramp for Trask at her home inNorth Fort Myers. That ramp was complete in two days.

Raymond Building Supply and Thread Source, Inc. provided all of the materials to build the ramps. Other contributing companies included Harbor Springs Building Company, Nilles Design, West Coast Structural Concrete & Masonry and many volunteers.

Builders Care is the nonprofit charitable arm of the Lee Building Industry Association (BIA). Its objective is to provide emergency repairs and construction services to elderly, disabled and economically disadvantaged people who are unable to obtain home repairs through traditional means. Builder’s Care enlists the volunteer services of Lee BIA members and leverages grants and donated materials to provide construction and remodeling services to qualified homeowners throughout Lee County. Most recent top corporate sponsors include Real Estate Investment Society and BB&T. Builders Care is headquartered at the Lee BIA offices at 10501 Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Suite 104, Fort Myers FL 33966. Donations can be made online at www.LeeBuildersCare.org, or to the Builders Care general fund at BB&T Page Field branch at 4959 South Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers. More information is available by calling 239-938-0056.

Junior Achievement recognized its 2011-2012 volunteers and teachers during an appreciation reception held on Thursday, May 10 at Florida Gulf Coast University. During the 2011-2012 school year, Junior Achievement recruited more than 375 volunteers to help educate youth in our community about business, economics and free enterprise. Business leaders from a wide variety of industries taught more than 5,000 hours of classes in 90 schools in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties.

“It was our honor to bring together so many of our volunteers and teachers to simply say, thank you,” said Anne Frazier, President and Chief Executive Officer of Junior Achievement. “Our Junior Achievement volunteers directly impacted more than 11,000 students this past year by bringing real-life experiences to our classrooms. We are grateful for their donation of time and talent.”

During the reception, the following individuals and businesses were recognized for their specific involvement: Key Classroom Business Partners: IberiaBank with 15 classes taught, Rasmussen College with 13 classes taught and Fifth Third Bank with nine classes taught; Collier County Volunteer of the Year: Joni Blanchard, Human Resources Consultant at Case Benefit Consultants, LLC; Lee County Volunteer of the Year: Cary Kleinfield, Senior Vice President, Investments at The Kleinfield Wealth Management Group of Raymond James; Teacher of the Year Collier County: Denise Brown, Immokalee High School; Teacher of the Year Lee County: Janet Sherlin, Cypress Lake Middle School; Rookie Volunteer of the Year Collier County: David Crisp, CEO of WooHoo Foods; Rookie Volunteer of the Year Lee County: Melissa Vaughn, Vice President/ Branch Manager at IBERIABANK; Junior “Over” Achiever of the Year Collier County: Al Kozel, Retired, Former Vice President for Detroit Diesel Corporation and Junior “Over” Achiever of Year Lee County: Michael Schneider-Christians, Owner at Cape Coral Insurance Group, LLC and Broker at Century 21 Sunbelt Realty, Inc.

For more information about volunteering with Junior Achievement, please contact Brittany Dixon, Program Manager for Collier and South Lee County at bdixon@jaswfl.org or Cecilia St. Arnold, Program Director for Lee and Charlotte County at cstarnold@jaswfl.org.

Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in a global economy. Through a dedicated volunteer network, Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida Inc. provides in-school and after-school programs for students in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties that focus on three key content areas: work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. Today, 122 individual area operations reach more than 4 million students in the United States, with an additional 5 million students served by operations in 120 other countries worldwide. For more information about Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida, contact Anne Frazier at 239-225-2590 or info@jaswfl.org. The organization’s website is www.JASWFL.org.

Edison State College will host an open house on Tuesday, May 15 to introduce current and prospective students to LightHouse Commons, the new 400-unit, on-campus residence hall. The open house will take place from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Taeni Hall student services building on the Fort Myers campus. The event is open to the public and will provide students and parents with information about enrollment and on-campus living for the fall semester, as well as free food, music and giveaways for those who attend.

More than 200 applicants have reserved their room for the Fall semester at LightHouse Commons at Edison State College. Located on the west side of the Fort Myers campus, the 164,000-square-foot residence facility is scheduled for completion in August 2012.

“We are thrilled with the number of students who have applied to be the inaugural residents at LightHouse Commons,” said Dr. Amy Teprovich, Director of Student and Residence Life at Edison State College. “Housing is already bringing so many new people together and adds a whole new dimension to the way students experience Edison State.”

To create an appealing atmosphere for the college’s students, the units are modeled after apartment-style living with two floor plan options available to include a two-bedroom, two-bath floor plan and a four-bedroom, two-bath floor plan. The units feature private bedrooms, full kitchens with quality cabinets and fixtures, washers and dryers in each unit and stylish furniture. Meal plans will be available also in combination with leases. Payment plans are available, allowing students to pay their lease on a monthly basis, which includes all utilities. The four-bedroom, two-bath units are $600 per month over five months and the two-bedroom, two-bath units are $666 over five months. Students can apply at housing.edison.edu.

“We know our students will love where they live,” said LightHouse Commons resident assistant JC Perez. “There is a whole group of us who are already planning some great activities and events to bring the first residents together. We can’t wait to move in!”

LightHouse Commons will offer an on-site recreation room, fitness center, mail center, two-story lobby and sitting area, conference room, study room on each floor, and a private parking lot with parking available for each resident.

“Safety is a top concern,” said Teprovich. “The residence hall includes key card access for residents and a security officer in the lobby 24/7. A full-time Edison State College staff member will live in the facility, as well as eight resident advisers (RAs) to provide service to the students as needed.”

Parents and students can learn more and reserve space by visiting the Student Life office on the Lee Campus or by calling 239-985-8361. In addition, applications and more information are available at http://housing.edison.edu.

Furniture buyers from all over the world gathered in High Point, N.C., to shop the International Home Furnishings Market; the spring Market ended on April 26. The Market is the largest furnishings industry trade show in the world. Robb & Stucky shops the Market to bring a constant influx of new designs and inspiration to its Fort Myers showroom.

According to Robb & Stucky president, Steve Lush, “Market is an exhilarating experience; there’s so much to see. We shopped more than 100 showrooms. As Southwest Florida’s interior design leader, it’s not only Robb & Stucky’s business, it’s our passion.”

Robb & Stucky International Creative Director Mark Stuart shares the top five design trends currently gaining traction.

#1 TRADITIONAL COMEBACK

Mark says: “Traditional is no longer persona non grata in the world of design. For a while, traditional was synonymous with old and stodgy. That’s past. Traditional is hot, especially in Florida. Yet, it’s traditional in step with today’s lifestyles. Finishes are often rough-hewn, distressed and low sheen; not precious and standoffish. A great example: the Axiom table from Artistica. It’s currently available in the Robb & Stucky showroom.”

#2 COLORS THAT HURT

Mark says: “This will require some explanation. ‘Colors that hurt’ may seem to suggest discordant colors, colors that clash, as our moms used to say. But seeming opposites really attract and the ‘pain turns to gain’ very quickly. Like orange and fuchsia. And today, pattern is also getting into the act. It’s a geometric mash as opposing patterns work in gorgeous harmony. An example: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. Like the sign says, ‘We dream in color. And texture. And pattern.’”

#3 DIAL IT UP

Mark says, “We’re shaking off the economic doldrums and people are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. And, it’s full of color. Color is dialing up. We still love spa blue, as an example, but it’s starting to morph into cerulean and teal, very fun. And, pastels are becoming more unpredictable. An example: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams once again. Our customers love their minty wing chair.”

#4 LESS REALLY IS MORE

Mark says: “Accessories are really the jewelry in a room. And following this analogy, we are seeing a trend toward well-edited and carefully chosen jewel accessories – just the right lamps, important pieces, and a wonderful sense of scale and proportion in play. An example: the wonderful goliath foot in the Noir showroom. And, yes, in photo three, that’s our own Steve Lush, checking his email!”

#5 IMMODESTLY MODERN

Mark says: “Having sung the praises of New Traditional as my No.1 trend, I’ll close with a strong shout out for Modern. It’s here. It’s hot. It’s now. As always, Florida is on the cutting edge of trends. We see this enthusiasm for modern styling every day in our Fort Myers store. An example: anything Schilling and Thayer Coggin hits the perfect modern pitch.”

Robb & Stucky International offers the full complement of expert interior design services and exquisite home interiors for a fresh and unique shopping experience. The showroom studio is located at 13170 South Cleveland Ave. in Fort Myers, Fla. For hours of operations and more information, call 239-415-2800 or visit www.RobbStuckyIntl.com.

Stevens Construction has completed the 15,000-square-foot renovation for Grace Baptist Church, announced Mark Stevens, company president.

Located at 1300 Ceitus Terrace in Cape Coral, the project involved the conversion of an existing fitness center into a worship facility featuring a 300-seat sanctuary, seven classrooms, two multi-purpose rooms and a child care area. The project was completed within the aggressive three month schedule, enabling the Church to open for services on Easter Sunday.

The Stevens Construction team included Mike Garland as superintendent, Jason Levine as project manager and Sue Ziegenfus as project administrator. Christopher J. Lee Architects, Inc. was the architect of record.

With offices in Fort Myers and Orlando, Fla., Stevens Construction specializes in providing construction management, general contracting and consulting services to clients and design professionals. Other services include site and design team selection, budgeting, project scheduling, permitting, cost and quality control and warranty service. The company builds healthcare, commercial and hospitality facilities. For information, visit www.stevensconstructioninc.com or call 239-936-9006.

Dr. Trevor Elmquist of Elmquist Eye Group invites the public to a free seminar about cataracts on May 21 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. at the group’s Fort Myers office located at 12670 New Brittany Blvd., Suite 102.

Dr. Elmquist will present the latest cataract treatment options to attendees and answer questions about these procedures. In addition, attendees will receive a free vision screening. Advanced registration for the luncheon is required. Call 239-936-2020.

Founded in 1992, Elmquist Eye Group provides comprehensive eye care to thousands of patients in Lee County. Services include routine eye exams and diagnosis and treatment of cataracts; macular degeneration; diabetic eye disease; dry eyes; glaucoma; and other eye conditions. Optometrist Dr. Kate Wagner joined the practice in 2006 and is now a partner with the group. Optometrist Dr. Nina Burt joined the practice in January. A full optical boutique is located within the Fort Myers office with a wide range of eyeglass options. The Fort Myers office is located at 12670 New Brittany Blvd., Suite 102. A new branch office opened in January in Cape Coral at the Shops at Surfside. New patients are currently being accepted. For more information, call 239-936-2020 or go to www.Elmquist.com.

Letty Waltrip had been without a working kitchen sink for more than a month and her water heater was leaking throughout her garage. But it was not top of mind, after her husband of more than 30 years passed away unexpectedly.

“You just never know when these things are going to happen, so cherish every moment you have with loved ones,” said Waltrip. While grieving the loss of her husband, Waltrip is spending more time with her 2-year-old granddaughter, who she often watches for her daughter who suffers with epilepsy.

Waltrip’s husband did all of the work around their home that had been owned by her parents since 1964. The Waltrip’s moved in to the home in 2000 to take care of their ailing parents. Now that Waltrip lives alone the home repairs seem unmanageable, so she contacted Builders Care for assistance with her plumbing issues.

Two local plumbing companies came together to help address Waltrip’s plumbing issues.  Cape Coral Plumbing replaced the pipe and drain in order to get the kitchen sink working again, while R.T. Moore supplied and installed a 52-gallon water heater. Both projects were completed at no charge to the homeowner. Services provided by both companies were valued at nearly $1,000.

“You have no idea how much I appreciate all the work they’ve done,” said Waltrip. “The fact that someone actually cared enough to help me makes me want to live again.”

In March, Cape Coral Plumbing also helped a World War II veteran with a severe plumbing leak that led to a $700 water bill. Mr. Dahlgren, age 90 ofCape   Coral, lives with his granddaughter, who serves as his full-time caretaker. Cape Coral Plumbing provided plumbing service at no charge to Dahlgren as part of their partnership with Builders Care.

“This is a great way to showcase the community collaboration that is happening amongst local agencies and businesses,” said Heidi Taulman, executive director for Lee BIA Builders Care. “We are all working together to help enhance our community.”

Builders Care is the nonprofit charitable arm of the Lee Building Industry Association (BIA). Its objective is to provide emergency repairs and construction services to elderly, disabled and economically disadvantaged people who are unable to obtain home repairs through traditional means. Builder’s Care enlists the volunteer services of Lee BIA members and leverages grants and donated materials to provide construction and remodeling services to qualified homeowners throughout LeeCounty. Builders Care is headquartered at the Lee BIA offices at 10501 Six Mile   Cypress Parkway, Suite 104, Fort Myers FL 33966. Donations can be made online at www.LeeBuildersCare.org, or to the Builders Care general fund at BB&T (formerly Colonial Bank) Page Field branch at4959 South Cleveland   Avenue inFort   Myers. Moreinformation is available by calling 239-938-0056.

Pavese Law Firm partner Katherine R. English will assume the role as the next vice president of the University of Florida Leadership and Education Foundation Inc. English was appointed to the organization’s board of directors in 2011 by Bernard Machen, President of the University of Florida, to serve a three-year term.

A nonprofit corporation, the University of Florida Leadership and Education Foundation, Inc. is tasked with furthering the teaching, research and service missions of the University of Florida as they pertain to agriculture, natural resources and related activities. A graduate of the University of Florida, English focuses her practice on environmental and agricultural law and has extensive agricultural experience. English is also a class IV alumna of the Wedgworth Leadership Institute, formerly known as the Florida Leadership Program for Agriculture and Natural Resources, at the University of Florida. She lectures regularly at the University of Florida Levin College of Law on agricultural conservation easements and provides board member training in advance of the Florida Council of Cooperatives annual meeting. Before entering law school, she was a field representative for a citrus grower’s cooperative in South and Southwest Florida, and she continues to be involved in her family’s farming operations.

English joined Pavese Law Firm in 1994 and became a partner in the firm in 2000. In addition to practicing environmental and agricultural law, English is experienced in surface water management, water use and private property rights, including federal environmental permitting and compliance in regard to the Clean Water Act, the Food Security Act and the Endangered Species Act. During her legal career, she has practiced before a variety of government agencies including the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Southwest Florida Water Management District, South Florida Water Management District, Army Corps of Engineers, United States Department of Agriculture, United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Environmental Protection Agency. English is a member of the American Bar Association and the Lee County Bar Association.

In addition to serving on the SHARE Council for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences, English serves on the United Way Board for Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties, as the Allocations Chair for Hendry County.

Pavese Law Firm is a full-service law firm with offices in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and West Palm Beach. The firm provides a broad range of legal services for individuals, families, small businesses and large corporations. Practice areas include agricultural, banking and finance, bankruptcy, business and taxation, civil litigation, community association, employment, environmental and water, estate planning, probate and trust, family, land use and government, and real estate law. Established in 1949 as a one-person general practice firm, Pavese Law Firm has grown into one of the largest legal practices in Southwest Florida. With a long history of service to Southwest Florida, Pavese Law Firm has played a significant role in the growth of local businesses, communities and major development projects. For more information, visit www.paveselaw.com or call 239-334-2195.

A new study from Junior Achievement USA and The Allstate Foundation revealed that only 56 percent of teens 14-18 years old think they will be as financially well-off or better than their parents. That represents a 37 percent drop from 2011 (89 percent).

The 2012 Junior Achievement Teens and Personal Finance survey also uncovered a dramatic shift in the age teens think they will be financially independent from their parents or guardians. Less than half of teens who responded indicated they’d be independent by age 20 versus a year ago (18 percent in 2012 versus 44 percent in 2011). The number of teens who said they would be independent by ages 25–27 doubled from last year (23 percent in 2012 versus 12 percent in 2011).

Anne Frazier, president and CEO of Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida, said, “Despite recent reports that this will be the first generation in a century that is unlikely to end up better off financially than its parents, our young people have the opportunity to shape their own futures, as long as they have the skills, knowledge and confidence to do so. Every parent’s dream is for their children to be more successful than they are. So, Junior Achievement, with the collaboration of key partners like The Allstate Foundation, will continue to expand young people’s access to the tools they need to succeed in the global economy, including critical money-management skills.”

Since 2005, Junior Achievement and The Allstate Foundation have partnered to help students take the valuable information learned about personal finance in the classroom and apply it in their lives after graduation. The Junior Achievement JA Economics for Success^®program, created in partnership with The Allstate Foundation, has helped more than 1.2 million students set personal goals about money and make wise financial choices. The program also helps empower students to develop, plan, and set goals to help protect them from unexpected financial pitfalls.

Locally, Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida currently has more than 400 community volunteers delivering over 3,000 instructional content hours to approximately 12,000 students in grades K – 12 for the 2011-2012 school year.

“While it is disheartening to see a 37-percent decline in the number of teens who feel they will able to see the same financial success as their parents, it is encouraging to know that programs like Junior Achievement exist to provide teens with tools to propel their financial futures to great heights,” said Donald Civgin, president and chief executive officer, Allstate Financial. “The Allstate Foundation has a long standing partnership with Junior Achievement to provide exactly these types of tools and empower teens with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their financial futures.”

Other key findings from the survey include:

• Teens agree money management is important, but they are not doing it. From 2011 to 2012, there was a three-fold increase in the number of teens who report not budgeting or managing their money (10 percent in 2011 versus 34 percent in 2012).
• Teens are not getting as much of their money management information in school as they used to. In 2011, 58 percent of teens reported learning how to manage money in school or from teachers. In 2012, that number dropped to 24 percent. The majority of teens agree that money management is best learned between kindergarten and 12^th grade, which underscores the opportunity for programs such as those offered by Junior Achievement.
• Parents are an important role model. Teens reported a significant drop in their parents or guardians saving more money as a result of the recession (59 percent in 2011 versus 21 percent in 2012). Teens are modeling the same behavior and saving less too—56 percent plan to save some of their income, down from 89 percent a year ago.

An executive summary of the 2012 Junior Achievement USA/Allstate Foundation Teens and Personal Finance Survey is available at www.ja.org.

Methodology

This report presents the findings of an online survey conducted from March 8-19, 2012, among a national sample of 1,059 teens ages 14-18. The survey’s margin of error is +/- 3 percent at the 95 percent confidence level.

About Junior Achievement USA^® (JA)

Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA programs are delivered by corporate and community volunteers, and provide relevant, hands-on experiences that give students from kindergarten through high school knowledge and skills in financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. Today, JA reaches four million students per year in more than 120 markets across the United States, with an additional 6.5 million students served by operations in 117 other countries worldwide. Visit www.ja.org for more information.

About Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida (JASWFL)

Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida’s roots began in Collier County in 1975 teaching the Junior Achievement program to one class of 24 students. JASWFL was incorporated in 1994 to include the tri-county region of Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties. Through a dedicated volunteer network, Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida Inc. provides in-school and after-school programs for students that focus on three key content areas: work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. JASWFL currently has more than 400 community volunteers delivering over 3,000 instructional content hours to approximately 12,000 students for the 2011-2012 school year. For more information, visit http://www.jaswfl.org/ or call 239-225-2590.

About The Allstate Foundation
Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation. Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country, The Allstate Foundation brings the relationships, reputation and resources of Allstate to support innovative and lasting solutions that enhance people’s well-being and prosperity. With a focus on teen safe driving and building financial independence for domestic violence survivors, The Allstate Foundation also promotes safe and vital communities; tolerance, inclusion, and diversity; and economic empowerment. For more information, visit www.allstatefoundation.org.

Award-winning fine art and commercial photographer, author and multimedia artist Jennifer Dana Deane will display and discuss her work during a free seminar on Thursday, May 3 at 11 a.m. at the Robb & Stucky design studio located at 13170 South Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers. Deane will share tips on how to display art and photography to best complement the overall look and style of a room.

Deane’s photographs have been exhibited at art shows throughout Florida. Her architectural photography has appeared in national and international publications including Architectural Digest, Florida Architecture and Trends. She has authored, designed and photographed a children’s book, A is for fruit… A to Z, which is currently available at Barnes & Noble. Her interest in history and ancient cultures has led her to research and photograph in more than 12 countries. Deane has received numerous awards for her work.

The event is free and open to the public. Advanced registration is requested. To register, call 239-415-2920 or email seminars@robbstuckyintl.com

One of the most prestigious names in home furnishings, Robb & Stucky was founded in 1915 by Virgil Robb and W.R. Lee. Harry Stucky joined the company in 1917 and the company formally became Robb & Stucky in 1925. Today the company is owned by the family of Samuel Kuo, founder and CEO of Samson Holding, and back on track for growth in the U.S. and internationally. The flagship store is located at 13170 South Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers, Fla. For hours of operations and more information, call 239-415-2800 or visit www.RobbStuckyIntl.com.