Things were about to change for this 20 year Bonita Springs resident. Despite her struggles, Julia supplements her social security income by teaching students piano, guitar and vocal lessons out of a small studio in Bonita Springs. She has been teaching music for more than 25 years. When she is not working, she enjoys being involved in her church and swimming.

Throughout the week of Aug. 30, in a collaborative effort between Builders Care, the State Housing Initiatives Program through Lee County, and local building subcontractors, the home received a new roof, remodeled bathrooms, new carpeting, refurbished drywall and an interior and exterior paint job.

“We are so happy to be able to partner with Lee County in order to help provide much needed services in our community,” said Heidi Taulman, Builders Care executive director. “By pulling our resources together, we are able to make a bigger impact on the community.”

Contributing companies for this project include 3D Builders, Abash Enterprises, Affordable Reliable Cleaning, A-Rite Glass, Cabinets Plus, Cape Coral Plumbing, Cornerstone Construction, D. Peck Roofing, Franzese Plumbing, Garage Doors by Roy North, Jamestown Painting, Mark’s Dumpsters, Priority Marketing, Sherwin Williams, Sunset Air, T & M Portable Restrooms and Wayne Wiles Floor Coverings.

This is the fourth roof that Builders Care and Lee County have completed since June. Other recipients resided in Lehigh Acres, Harlem Heights in South Fort Myers and Morse Shores in East Fort Myers.

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 Armadillo Underground and Real Estate Investment Society. Builders Care is headquartered at the Lee BIA offices at 4210 Metro Parkway, Suite 100, Fort Myers FL 33916. Donations can be made online at http://www.leebuilderscare.org/, or to the Builders Care general fund at BB&T (formerly Colonial Bank) Page Field branch at 4959 South Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers. More information is available by calling 239-938-0056.

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Occurring in two phases, the project included interior improvements of the 12-story Continuing Care Retirement Community, located at 100 Glenview Place. The community remained in operation during construction.

The Stevens Construction team included superintendents Todd Welle and Pete Garcia. Design services were provided by Caffey Architecture.

With offices in Fort Myers and Maitland, 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, public, commercial and hospitality facilities. For information, visit http://www.stevensconstructioninc.com/ or call 239-936-9006.

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The following free educational programs begin at noon at The Balance Clinic at Lee Center for Rehabilitation & Wellness, located at 2070 Carrell Rd in Fort Myers. Space is limited. Call 239-418-2000 to register.

• Monday, Sept. 20 – “Better Balance” – Learn about factors affecting balance and ways to test and improve your own balance skills.

• Thursday, Sept. 23 – “Farewell to Falls” – Learn about the most effective ways to minimize the risk of falls and how to get help after a fall.

• Friday, Sept. 24 – “Demystifying Dizziness” – Learn about the different types of dizziness, how to discuss your dizziness symptoms with your health care providers and how therapy can help.

In addition, members of the Step WiseLee program will be at Dunbar High School, 3800 East Edison Ave. in Fort Myers for a free seminar:
• Saturday, Sept. 25, – 8 a.m. to noon – Experts on balance and falls prevention will present information on preventing falls in the home and community.

Because of the high death rate, a campaign to prevent falls, appropriately named “Step WiseLee,” was launched in September 2009. The initiative calls on local health care agencies, residents, family and friends to work together to prevent falls and fall-related injuries and deaths in Lee County. In addition to the Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition, members of the “Step WiseLee” partnership include the Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida, Lee County Health Department, Lee County Public Safety – EMS and Lee Memorial Health System.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), falls occur more often in senior adults and are the leading cause of injury deaths in persons over 65 years of age. However, falls are not a normal, natural part of aging.

The CDC suggests the following key steps to reduce the risk of falls:
• Begin a regular exercise program
• Make homes safer by clearing walkways and hallways
• Get annual vision check-ups
• Have your health provider review your medications

To schedule a guest speaker, please send a request to info@stepwiselee.com. For more information on how to prevent falls and fall-related injuries and deaths, visit http://www.stepwiselee.com.

The Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition has been working to prevent injuries in Lee County since 1995 under the auspices of the Lee County Health Department. Today the group is composed of more than 80 different health and safety agencies and experts. The coalition is a multi-disciplinary cooperative of private and public partners that include fire and rescue agencies, emergency medical services, law enforcement agencies, hospital outreach programs, health agencies, and public and private schools. This strong partnership provides increased resources, efficiency and consistent delivery of unified safety messages to the public. For more information, visit http://www.stepwiselee.org.

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The two-year research was done at 30 centers throughout the United States and included 246 study patients. The results provide hope for patients who are diagnosed with dry macular degeneration.

“This research was broad, involved a large number of institutions, and has significant implications for our patients,” said Eaton. “For the first time, the study results demonstrate that the progression of this type of macular degeneration can be significantly slowed with medication. By reducing the amount of vitamin A delivered to the retina, the drug also reduces the amount of toxic byproducts that are produced by the Vitamin A cycle. Since vitamin A and the vitamin A cycle are critical to healthy vision, this is especially important as these byproducts are continually being produced.”

One Southwest Florida participant, Herbert Ruescher, has reported decreased vision since completing the study in February and discontinuing use of the study medication he received. While we can not be sure he received the active drug, his experience suggests he did. With Fenretinide the desired effect of the drug is to prevent vision loss.

Ruescher, who had been treated for dry macular degeneration in the past, participated in the study for two years. During the study, he says his vision didn’t get worse at all, describing his vision loss while taking Fenretinide as “nil.” Since stopping the medication at the study’s conclusion, the patient experienced rapid deterioration and describes his vision as “blurry” and “hazy” as if he has tears in his eyes. Also, during the study, Ruescher says his eye exams were “status quo,” but at his latest exam the doctor could see a change for the worse. He believes Fenretinide stopped his vision from getting worse while he took it.

“Eyesight is a very precious thing,” says Ruescher. “I had to stop driving for safety reasons so I’m interested in anything that will help. They are doing a good job. Dr. Eaton and Dr. Wafapoor are very fine doctors.”

The incidence of this form of dry macular degeneration has been estimated to be around 2 percent at 75 years of age and 22 percent at 90 years of age. In the study, the patients who received the higher dose of the medication showed a 50 percent reduction in the growth of lesions.

In addition, the drug was found to inhibit the development of exudative macular degeneration from 18.3 percent in the controls, to around 9 percent in the treatment group. This is approximately a 50 percent reduction, and occurred in both the lower and higher doses of the medication used in the study.

“We have not seen any other compound produce this kind of reduction in both of these vision threatening forms of macular degeneration, so it is really exciting,” said Eaton.

After detecting this finding, additional research with Fenretinide shows a direct effect of the medication on the production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a protein that stimulates the growth of blood vessels and plays an important role in the development of wet macular degeneration.

“What makes this drug so incredible is it appears to work on two different pathways that are important in the development of macular degeneration,” said Eaton. “It slows the development of dry macular degeneration, while reducing the incidence of wet macular degeneration. As far as we are aware, this is the first compound to have such a benefit.”

The side effects of Fenretinide include difficulty with night vision and mildly elevated results for liver function screenings. The night blindness was reversed when the drug was discontinued.

Before Fenretinide can be released, a final research study will be needed. This is expected to begin soon and to take two or three years to complete.

Retina Health Center and the Macular Degeneration Research Center were established in 1993 by Dr. Alexander M. Eaton, a long-time Southwest Florida resident who has been practicing ophthalmology in Lee and Collier counties for more than 17 years. Eaton has been the principal investigator for numerous studies to prevent and treat macular degeneration. For more information on the latest studies or to make an appointment, call 239-337-3337 in Fort Myers or 239-793-5200 in Naples, or visit http://www.retinahealthcenter.com/.

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Sherwin-Williams provided all of the paint to complete the three homes. The homes were painted in just four days. Additional materials were provided by Scott Paint Corporation.

Recipients included a Lee County School District employee and two other local families in need.

“We are grateful to our volunteers who traveled from Ohio to help out local families in need,” said Heidi Taulman, Builders Care executive director. “We appreciated their generosity and hard work.”

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 Armadillo Underground and Real Estate Investment Society. Builders Care is headquartered at the Lee BIA offices at 4210 Metro Parkway, Suite 100, Fort Myers FL 33916. Donations can be made online at http://www.leebuilderscare.org/, or to the Builders Care general fund at BB&T (formerly Colonial Bank) Page Field branch at 4959 South Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers. More information is available by calling 239-938-0056.

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The sale will take place Aug. 28 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Cape Coral Plumbing, located at 5812 Enterprise Pkwy. in the Billy Creek Commerce Center off Luckett Road, just west of I-75. Admission is free, but a $5 donation is suggested per adult. Beverages and snacks will be available.

“This is a remodeler’s dream sale,” said Heidi Taulman, Builders Care executive director. “This is a perfect opportunity to take advantage of great deals that will ultimately help a local neighbor in need.”

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. Builders 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 Armadillo Underground and Real Estate Investment Society. Builders Care is headquartered at the Lee BIA offices at 4210 Metro Parkway, Suite 100, Fort Myers FL 33916. Donations can be made online at http://www.leebuilderscare.org/, or to the Builders Care general fund at BB&T (formerly Colonial Bank) Page Field branch at 4959 South Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers. More information is available by calling 239-938-0056.

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Levine will support the construction team and prepare bid packages, review proposals and administer construction contracts. He also will assist in creating budgets, schedules and cash flows. Additionally, Levine will review monthly contractor requisitions, manage project changes, monitor the construction team and close-out procedures. 

Levine previously served as project engineer for a national construction management firm, instrumental in the completion of a $50 million justice center and a $38 million military dormitory. 

Levine has a bachelor’s degree in building construction from the University of Florida. 

With offices in Fort Myers and Maitland, 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, public and hospitality facilities. For information, visit www.stevensconstructioninc.com or call 239-936-9006.

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 “As an experienced Lee County business owner, Bill relied on VIP Realty, Commercial to buy and sell several restaurants through the years so he understands the client’s perspective very well,” said Sands. “He is a man of integrity who is well respected by other local business owners, service providers and members of the community.”

As advisor, Vollmer will be part of the full-service commercial real estate brokerage team at VIP Realty, Commercial, which provides real estate services for commercial land, office, retail and industrial properties. In addition to selling and leasing property, he will also provide business brokerage services.

“I want to use my business experience to help others in their commercial real estate endeavors,” said Vollmer. “I can offer extensive knowledge of city, county and state ordinances, policies and procedures that will benefit VIP Realty, Commercial clients, and I am very familiar with the commercial districts in Southwest Florida.”

In 1977 Vollmer moved from Waukegan, Ill. to Lee County, where he has lived, worked and raised two children with his wife Linda. He studied business administration at the University of Wisconsin, Whitewater and was a successful business owner in Lee County for more than 25 years. For the past seven years, he has been specializing in residential real estate and small business sales at VIP Realty.

VIP Realty, Commercial provides a full range of real estate services for land, office, retail and industrial properties. Specialties include sales and acquisitions, 1031 exchanges, investments, retail and office site analysis, and market and financial feasibility studies. For more information about VIP Realty, Commercial, located at 13131 University Dr. in Fort Myers, call 239-489-3303 or visit http://www.vipcommercial.com/.

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More than 100 participants vied for the naming rights of top team and the winning prizes of four HP mini computers. Raffles and other activities at the tournament also helped to raise money for Builders Care.

After the scores were tallied, Ferguson representatives presented a check for $5,283 to Heidi Taulman, executive director of Lee BIA Builders Care.

“We are so thrilled to be involved with Ferguson again for this awesome event,” said Taulman. “We are grateful for their support.”

Sponsors of the event included Ferguson, Moen, Jenn-Air, Franke, ThermaSol, Mid Continent Cabinetry, Oatey, Jacuzzi, Basco Shower Enclosures and Progress Lighting.

Headquartered in Newport News, Va., Ferguson is ranked by trade publications as the country’s largest wholesale distributor of plumbing supplies; pipes, valves and fittings; heating and cooling equipment; waterworks; mechanical and industrial; bathrooms and appliances; tools and safety equipment and fire protection products. Ferguson has sales of $9.1 billion and 17,000 associates in approximately 1,350 service centers located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Mexico and the Caribbean. For more information, visit www.ferguson.com.

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. Builders 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 Armadillo Underground and Real Estate Investment Society. Builders Care is headquartered at the Lee BIA offices at 4210 Metro Parkway, Suite 100, Fort Myers FL, 33916. Donations can be made online at http://www.leebuilderscare.org/, or to the Builders Care general fund at BB&T (formerly Colonial Bank) Page Field branch at 4959 South Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers. More information is available by calling 239-938-0056.

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At the dinner and awards ceremony on Oct. 27 at the Naples Grande Beach Resort, Junior Achievement will induct Dr. William Figlesthaler, managing partner/shareholder at Specialists in Urology, and Len Zaiser III, president, CEO and founder of Structure Medical, into the 2010 Business Hall of Fame, Collier County. The prestigious award recognizes prominent business leaders who are outstanding entrepreneurs and serve as role models for youth through their professional accomplishments and commitment to the community. Figlesthaler and Zaiser will join a distinguished group of individuals who have been inducted into the Business Hall of Fame since it was founded in 1987.

Business sponsorships are available and include tickets to the event. Tables of 10, which include two reserved seats for students, are available for $1,800 (silver sponsor level). Tables of five are available for $900 (bronze sponsor level) and include a reserved seat for one student.

Sponsors also are needed to support student admission, which is $125 per ticket. Junior Achievement students who attend the event have an opportunity to interact with local professionals and practice their etiquette skills. Additionally, half-page advertisements are available in the event program book for $500. To reserve tables or individual tickets or to become a sponsor, call the Junior Achievement office at 239-225-2590. Proceeds benefit local Junior Achievement programs.

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, 126 individual area operations reach four million students in the United States, with an additional five million students served by operations in 120 other countries worldwide. If you would like to become a part of this thriving agency, contact the local office at 239-225-2590 or visit http://www.jaswfl.org/ on the Web.

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