Black Friday shopping at Miromar Outlets

Miromar Outlets will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 25. The center will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24.

Lucky shoppers will save up to 70% and have more time to discover great deals during extended holiday shopping hours starting Black Friday through Christmas Eve.

Miromar Outlets will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 27. Extended holiday hours can be found online at MiromarOutlets.com.

Holiday events will include:

¦ Daily live entertainment Monday through Saturday from 4-7 p.m., and 1-4 p.m. on Sunday.

¦ Free Friday night concerts in the Restaurant Piazza from 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 2, Dec. 9 and Dec. 16.

¦ Lee County Sheriff ’s Mounted Patrol saddles up every Friday and Saturday from 6-10 p.m. and Sunday from 2-6 p.m. with the exception of Christmas Day.

¦ Farmers market and craft show every Saturday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.

¦ Gift wrapping stations throughout the mall, Nov. 25-27, Dec. 10-11 and Dec. 16-24.

Noelle Cassagrande and Shadreka McIntosh at the 2022 Annual FutureMakers Coalition Champions Meeting.

¦ Cool Cruisers car show on Sunday, Dec. 4, near WINK Playland.

¦ Miromar Outlets also has gift cards for one-and-done shopping. Activation fees have been permanently eliminated and cards are redeemable at all stores and restaurants.

Miromar Outlets offers top luxury and name-brand outlet stores offering up to 70% off retail prices. Big-name stores include Saks OFF 5TH, Polo, Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Nike Factory Store, H&M, Tommy Hilfiger, Kate Spade New York, Michael Kors, Adidas, Vera Bradley, Calvin Klein, Skechers, Vineyard Vines and more.

Miromar Outlets is located at exit 123 off I-75 on Miromar Outlets Boulevard in Estero between Naples and Fort Myers. Visit MiromarOutlets.com for exclusive holiday offers.

FutureMakers coalition hosts annual champions meeting

The 2022 Annual FutureMakers Coalition Champions Meeting was held in person at Collaboratory and virtually on Sept. 15 with more than 100 participants.

Making bubbles at the IMAG STEAM Camp. COURTESY PHOTOS

The FutureMakers Coalition aims to transform Southwest Florida’s workforce by increasing the proportion of working age adults with college degrees, workforce certificates, industry certifications and other high-quality credentials to 55% by 2025. The coalition has grown to over 140 cross-sector partner organizations and 250 community leaders representing business, education, government, nonprofits, philanthropy, residents and students across Glades, Hendry, Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties. Forty percent of the partner organizations have changed policies and practices because of their work with the coalition.

Chaired by Dr. Kamela Patton and Dr. Shedreka McIntosh, this year’s event included an overview and highlights of FutureMakers work and successes in the past year; a keynote address by David Gillespie, executive vice president Florida Chamber of Commerce and Kyle Baltuch, senior vice president Florida Chamber of Commerce Foundation; building rural learning systems in Hendry County; resilience and diversification; presentations by Mike Boose of Arthrex and Eric Leef of Hertz; updates on new Stop Out Program and Career Pathways by Jennifer Thayer of Lee Health; an announcement on the recent good Jobs Challenge $22.9 million EDA Grant by Dr. Michael Martin of FGCU; Workforce Now’s SWFL report and an update from Collaboratory CEO/ President Sarah Owen.

A bidder at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s RedSnook Catch & Release Charity Fishing Tournament Kickoff Party.

“We have shown the impact of what we can do together but still have a lot of work to do to fill in-demand jobs in Southwest Florida,” said Tessa LeSage, FutureMakers director, Collaboratory, which is serving as the backbone organization for the FutureMakers Coalition. “With the help of our FutureMakers Coalition Navigators, employers and education partners, and an intentional focus on the pre-K to 12 part of the talent pipeline , we will certainly continue to move the needle toward our goal of creating a robust and sustainable workforce for the region.”

CHIKLAKIS

Ms. LeSage added that to be sustainable, the coalition must change policies and practices that may be preventing attainment to getting jobs, address entangled issues, improve kindergarten readiness, third-grade reading proficiency and high school graduation rates and expand opportunities for career exposure and work-based learning in K-12.

Workforce Now, a research initiative that studies the regional workforce and education gave an update to their Outcomes Report including where the region was before Covid-19 vs. now and an overview of the impact, industry and structural changes, where we are in terms of recovery and opportunities ahead. Workforce Now is comprised of researchers from Florida Gulf Coast University, Hodg- es University and Florida SouthWestern State College, all FutureMakers Coalition partners. The available outcomes data indicate that Southwest Florida is making positive progress towards achieving the goal with an increase in the skilled workforce from 218,586 in 2013 (the baseline year), or 39.0 percent of the working-age population, to 266,075 in 2020, representing 42.2% of the total working age population. The full study can be downloaded from the FutureMakers Coalition site at www.futuremakerscoalition.com/reports/.

The Champions Team plays a pivotal role in the coalition’s success. Team members include regional leaders who have the ability to create a stronger workforce and vibrant economy by improving cradle-to-career opportunities for students, offering job training and certifications, employee educational incentives and more.

FutureMakers Coalition has been designated a Talent Hub by Lumina Foundation in partnership with The Kresge Foundation to support local efforts to increase educational attainment. Formed in 2015 around existing regional collaborations, the coalition is committed to creating a cradle-to-career pathway to ensure success for traditional students and adult learners. FutureMakers Coalition was one of Lumina Foundation’s 75 national Community Partners in Attainment and is a member of the National Talent Network. Collaboratory provides backbone/administrative support to FutureMakers Coalition.

FutureMakers Coalition encourages businesses to join and invest in sustaining this community-changing initiative by visiting www.futuremakerscoalition.com or emailing Tessa LeSage at tlesage@collaboratory.org.

IMAG announces winter camps

The IMAG History & Science Center announces its day camps for students over the winter school break. This year, IMAG STEAM Camps are bringing science, technology, engineering, art and math to life for campers. Campers also get to choose two clubs to attend (one in the morning and one in the afternoon) for specialized activities in smaller group settings.

IMAG STEAM Camps are scheduled for the first week of the winter break, Monday, through Friday, Dec. 26-30, and the second week, Monday through Friday, Jan. 2-6. During the first week of camps, clubs include Maverick’s Top Flight Club, New Year’s Party, Egyptian STEM Club, and Gingerbread Engineers Club. During the second week of camp, clubs include Winter Chemistry Club, Winter Physics and Engineering Club, Winter Snack Artists and Winter FabLab Club. In addition to their clubs, campers also enjoy the museum, experience our live animal encounters, see science shows and a 3D movie, get up close with sea life in the Touch Tank, and much more.

Camp IMAG camps are inspiring, fun and educational. For more information and to register for camp, see theIMAG.org.

Congress Jewelers moves to the Bell Tower Shops

Congress Jewelers, a Sanibel Island-based fine jeweler, has signed a lease to relocate its headquarters to the Bell Tower Shops in Fort Myers in the wake of Hurricane Ian. The hurricane devastated Sanibel Island and the store at Periwinkle Place Shops. Scot and Melissa Congress have plans to eventually be a part of the rebuild of the island and of the store at Periwinkle Place Shops.

“Our planned opening is for Dec. 2, inside Bell Tower Shops Suite 165. This date is special to the islanders, as the first Friday in December is traditionally the annual Luminary Celebration. While the storm has been a devastating experience for our team of seventeen, we are looking forward to reuniting and serving our clients and meeting many new friends within our community,” said Melissa Congress, co-owner of Congress Jewelers.

In light of Hurricane Ian, Congress Jewelers has designed a special collection of pendants, including a Florida Strong, Sanibel Strong and Captiva Strong design. “These pendants are a promise to our community and to ourselves — to return stronger than we left it. A portion of proceeds from this collection will benefit FISH of San Cap and the Sanibel-Captiva Recovery Fund, initiated by Charitable Foundation of the Islands 501-C3,” said Scot Congress, co-owner of Congress Jewelers.

This collection is available for preorder and each pendant will be handcrafted on Sanibel Island by artisan jewelers. Pendants are expected to ship by early December.

Congress Jewelers’ Strong collection is available on its website, www.congressjewelers.com/collections/sanibel-strong.

RedSnook kickoff party raises more than $70,000 for Ian rebuilding and recovery

The Conservancy of Southwest Florida’s RedSnook Catch & Release Charity Fishing Tournament Kickoff Party on Oct. 21 raised more than $70,000 to benefit post-Hurricane Ian recovery and building efforts.

A dedicated fundraiser for Hurricane Ian relief raised more than $45,000 in less than 10 minutes and will receive a match of $25,000 from the Collier Community Foundation. In total, the cash call from local anglers and guides and their friends and family raised more than $70,000. The funds will be given to the YMCA of Marco Island to provide support to residents and businesses on the Isles of Capri as they recover from Hurricane Ian.

“Isles of Capri is a tiny peninsula in South Naples that is important to the area’s fishing and tourism industry,” said Rob Moher, president/CEO of the Conservancy, who led the bidding and inspired the crowd. “We’re ready to help people in our community who sustained such losses.”

Cindy Love, CEO of the YMCA of Collier County, joined Mr. Moher and thanked all the attendees for their generosity in helping their neighbors.

Due to impacts from Hurricane Ian, the Conservancy of Southwest Florida has postponed the annual RedSnook Catch and Release Charity Fishing Tournament to Dec. 3 and. 4.

Architect, Conservancy board member and RedSnook Chair Jon Kukk encouraged fellow anglers to join him in supporting the fight for clean water. “I’m just so proud of the support that the extended Redsnook community generated. In addition to ‘funding the fight for clean water,’ we were able to help those in need,” he said.

An online auction to support water quality projects is open for bidding through Dec. 4 and includes trips, fishing excursions, family activities, restaurants, tickets to attractions and more. For a $50 donation, get a chance to win one of three prizes, including a seven-day northern Canada fishing trip for two to Maria Lake Mini Lodge, a two-night stay with fishing trips and restaurant gift certificates at Hyatt House in Naples, or an Orvis Saltwater Fly Fishing combo with rod and reel and textured fly line. Make your bid here at the RedSnook Auction site.

The annual catch-and-release fishing event is in its 15th year raising funds for the Conservancy’s Fight for Clean Water, working to protect our most valuable natural resource, our water. In the wake of Hurricane Ian, the Conservancy’s mission is as relevant as ever.

“This tournament has taken on increased importance following Hurricane Ian, which has wreaked havoc on our natural resources and water quality and will have significant impacts for some time to come,” said Mr. Moher. “The storm’s winds and excessive rain-washed organic matter and contaminants into streams and bays. Mangroves that were still recovering from damage from Hurricane Irma, which are essential to the health of our waterways, also took a significant hit from the storm.”

Registration for the tournament remains open through the rescheduled dates on Dec. 3 and 4, and the tournament’s Awards Ceremony will be Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida, sponsored by Northern Trust.

The catch and release tournament will be a two-day event, fishing for the area’s most popular game fish: snook and redfish. Launch sites include Naples, Goodland and Chokoloskee. Registration is limited to 60 teams. Divisions include unguided and guided bait, fly, and unguided and guided artificial.

Team entry is $275 for one angler and $550 for two. For information, email redsnook@conservancy.org call 239-403- 4200 or visit conservancy.org/events/redsnook/.

LMCU announces 2022-23 Hutt Scholarship essay contest

Lake Michigan Credit Union has announced the topic for its annual Llyod F. Hutt Scholarship essay contest. The contest provides local high school seniors the opportunity to win one of 20 individual $2,000 college scholarships. This scholarship program honors the legacy of LMCU founder and teacher Lloyd F. Hutt and his lifelong commitment to education and community involvement.

The 2022-23 Hutt Scholarship essay topic is “What act of kindness have you experienced or witnessed that has positively influenced you most? How will you carry it into your future?”

The entry period officially opened on Nov.1, and will remain open until Jan. 31. Applicants are required to write an original 750-1,500-word essay exploring the topic. Essays will be evaluated by an independent panel of judges, and the principal determining factor in selecting scholarship recipients is the applicant’s passion for the topic. Additionally, the committee will use comprehension of subject, organization, language use, originality, clarity, spelling, and grammar as criteria for selecting the recipients.

Lake Michigan Credit Union supports area students in their pursuit of academic and real-world success. Since 1991, LMCU’s Lloyd F. Hutt Scholarship program has provided over $500,000 in scholarship dollars to 292 students. Last year, 1,442 essays were received for consideration.

Interested high school seniors must complete an application online at LMCU.org/Hutt. Winners will be notified directly and publicly announced around May 2023 on LMCU social media pages and LMCU.org/Hutt.

All applicants must be high school seniors, including home school students, who plan to enter a trade school, college or university in the next academic year. All applicants must be one of the following: a resident of Michigan or Florida, a member of LMCU, or the child of an LMCU member. More eligibility details are available at LMCU.org/Hutt.

To find out more, visit LMCU.org.

Chiklakis named trust officer at Sanibel Captiva Trust

The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company has announced the addition of Jason Chiklakis as vice president and trust officer. Mr Chiklakis is responsible for managing individual and family client relationships, and coordinating efforts with internal team members and external advisors to provide the most effective trust and investment services aligned with client goals.

“Jason is a consummate professional and well-rounded in his knowledge of trust and estate services,” said Jeffrey A. Muddell, CFP, Sanibel Market president. “His professional background and character demonstrate his dedication and he is a wonderful addition to our team.”

Prior to joining The Trust Company, Mr. Chiklakis served as associate vice president, Trust Officer for several years at FineMark National Bank & Trust in Fort Myers. He was responsible for demonstrating prudent fiduciary management, ensuring trust accounts are administered in accordance with estate documents and applicable laws, and developing and implementing comprehensive financial plans consistent with client objectives. “Jason is an exceptional individual and professional, and we look forward to his advancement within the company for years to come,” said S. Albert D. Hanser, founder and chairman of The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company.

Mr. Chiklakis is a graduate of The Florida Trust and Wealth Management School and obtained his bachelor of science in political science from Florida State University, Tallahassee. His office is located within The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company’s temporary Fort Myers location at 7910 Summerlin Lakes Dr.

Sanibel Captiva Trust Company rents space at the Bell Tower

While The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company remains committed to the rebuilding of and return to its namesake islands, the firm has secured a permanent new office in Fort Myers to serve its clients from Sanibel, Captiva, Fort Myers and throughout Lee County.

S. Albert D. Hanser, The Trust Company’s founder and chairman, and Terence M. Igo, chief executive officer, announced that the firm will establish The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company at Bell Tower, at 13525 Bell Tower Drive, on the southeast side of the complex at the corner of U.S. 41 and Daniels Parkway.

“We stand with our Sanibel and Captiva clients following Hurricane Ian,” said Mr. Hanser, “and have every intention of finishing the build out of our new office on the island when it is prudent to do so. In the meantime, we had always planned to extend to Fort Myers, as our client base has expanded greatly off the islands. We accelerated those plans to meet their needs.”

Architect Joyce Owens, FAIA, RIBA is owner of Architecture Joyce Owens LLC and has been secured to complete the interior plans for the building making it functional and inviting.

Benchmark General Contractors or Fort Myers has been secured to execute the build-out of the Fort Myers office. Anticipated occupancy is in spring 2023. Currently, temporary offices are within RE/MAX Realty Group, 7910 Summerlin Lakes Drive, Fort Myers. In-person appointments are welcome at this location by calling 239-472-8300. For more information, see www.sancaptrustco.com. ¦