North Fort Myers Living

Developer breaks ground on multi-family housing development on old Hancock Square site

Story by Chuck Ballaro

Construction for a new $65 million multi-family housing development on the site of the old Hancock Bridge Square shopping plaza in North Fort Myers has begun Mast Capital, in partnership with Chicagobased private equity group BLG Capital Advisors, announced it has secured construction financing and has broken ground on a 320-unit residential rental community

Camilo Miguel, Jr , CEO and founder of Mast Capital, said in a statement the fast-growing population and demand for rental housing gave his company an opportunity

“Mast Capital saw an opportunity to invest in the Fort Myers market and fill a void for a new and highly amenitized multifamily rental product,” Miguel said “We are confident that our residential community Hancock Bridge Square will serve as a catalyst for future developments in the area given its close proximity to local employers, surrounding shopping and dining ” Miguel was travelling internationally and could not be reached for additional comment

County Commissioner Brian Hamman said he’s excited this project along U S 41 is finally getting off the ground.

“We’ve been hoping for a catalyst that will draw more investment into North Fort Myers If you build something like this, it will attract other projects like this,” Hamman said

The financing was secured by lender Centerbridge Partners, which served as agent for MassMutual Life Insurance Company JLL Capital Markets represented the joint venture in securing the loan

Construction of the “garden-style residential community” will be led by general contractor Kaufman Lynn

The multifamily project will feature three- and four-story apartment buildings in a pedestrianfriendly setting offering a variety of outdoor and indoor amenities.

Designed by Humphrey’s & Partners Architects, the development will offer a variety of modern apartments Residents will also have access to a full-service fitness center, a lounge and entertainment kitchen, and a workspace area for residents working from home

Outdoor amenities will include a resort-style swimming pool and large sun deck with outdoor seating and covered lounge cabanas

“We’ve been praying for and hoping for this for North Fort Myers for 10 years. To see it finally happen is an awesome moment for the community,” Hamman said “Every time an eyesore gets knocked down and something new goes up, it’s a big win for the community ”

Hancock Bridge Square is among the many projects going up or in the works in North Fort Myers

The development at Merchants Crossing is under way, Hermosa is set to go up, and everyone is still waiting for movement for the proposed Paradise Isles community, among other things.

Hamman said the company and county are working through the permitting process The project is expected to take two years, with completion sometime in 2026

Mast Capital acquired the 14 5-acre site at 13370 N Cleveland Ave for $12 8 million in 2022 and razed the shopping center, which was built in 1984, shortly thereafter

Construction for a new $65 million multi-family housing development on the site of the old Hancock Bridge Square shopping plaza in North Fort Myers has begun./RENDERING PROVIDED

Outdoor amenities will include a resort-style swimming pool and large sun deck with outdoor seating and covered lounge cabanas

on the cover

Big hear ts Big impact

10

Former NFL fullback Tommy Bohanon and wife Katie pour a lot of love and a l o t o f e f f o r t i n t o t h e To m m y Bohanon Foundation, which has raised $1 million in donations for kid-focused community projects.

6

Local churches serve God and community.

12

ECHO provides Hope against Hunger

14

Local junior golfer plays at Augusta

North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts to present a magical middle school production of ‘Descendants’

17

community connection Kudos for a wonderful Ag Expo

Hi everyone!

This month I want to talk about the 100th birthday of the fair and the inaugural opening of the Southwest Florida AG Expo

Whichever name suits you the North Fort Myers Civic Association had the honor of manning the beer garden this year

I just can't compliment Southwest Florida AG Expo enough Every staff member was on top of their game, every staff

member was as friendly as could be and the grounds were always clean, the mood was positive, and the smiles were plentiful

We were next to the band and the music was awesome as were the fair goers Let’s not forget about the food from dill pickle pizza to caramel corn. All in all, I would say it was a success

My volunteers and I had happy week we saw old friends we made new friends We were the night shift

We thank everyone not only just for coming to the Southwest Florida AG Expo and supporting the 4H livestock and the vendors , we thank you for coming out and supporting us, the North Fort Myers, Civic Association Remember everything we do is for the

betterment of North Fort Myers, always foremost to help our neighbors and our community

Thank you, Suncoast Beverages, for being the beverage of choice

We would like to take a moment to wish former and long-time members Danny Ballard and Debra Ballard the best of luck in their future endeavors Thank you for your service to the community

The North Fort Myers Civic Association seeking applicants for its scholarship program

The North Fort Myers Scholarship Program is inviting applicants

High school seniors who live in North Fort Myers can apply by visiting the Civic's website at www nfmcivic com where they may click on the NFMCA Scholarship Program for a direct form to fill out on the website

The program is dedicated to Mark Lipton who

passed away from a sudden illness in 2018 During his two and a half years living in Southwest Florida, he served as a director of the North Fort Myers Civic Association, an officer of the Lee County Arts Center, and a member of both the Lehigh Acres and North Fort Myers Chambers of Commerce He attended “Develop Lee” meetings, the Lehigh Acres Community Council, Planning

and Zoning Board, and supported both the Lehigh Acres Senior Center and Community Services

"Mark Lipton was an exceptional man, " the NFMCA said in a release inviting applications to the program "He was brilliant, kind and ethical He was passionate about the law as a tool for justice, Mark is remembered as being very civic minded with a 45-year career as an attorney "

The North Fort Myers Civic Association has announced its first Scholarship program in 2020

It subsequently awarded $1,000 scholarships in 2021 to two students at North Fort Myers High School; awarded three $1,000 scholarships to North Fort Myers residents in 2022 and three $1,000 scholarships in 2023

"We are dedicated to awarding a minimum of $1,000 Scholarship annually," the release states

Donations to help Civic "celebrate the scholarship recipients for their achievements, and wish them continued success as they embark onto the next chapter in their educational journeys " are welcome

Visit www nfmcivic com for more information or to donate to the cause

Danny Ballard, Debra Ballard, Makenna Brown, Michele Ayers and Christy-Lee Iwanow.

Toni Hill President NFMCA

Faith & Community: Local churches ser ve

Story by Meghan

Bradbury

Asense of community is what many pastors of North Fort Myers strive to instill within their congregations and beyond

“The Bible tells us to reach out to the people. We were told to go to them,” Grace Baptist Church Pastor Forrest Devore said

In June, it will be 34 years since the pastor joined the church

“I was born and raised in North Fort Myers I worked here, and went off to Bible College, Trinity Baptist College, in Jacksonville, and came back,” he said

As with anything, things have changed over the years, one of which is Grace Baptist Church now has a younger congregation. Devore said with the church being in the middle of older communities, they have always had an older congregation

Now, there are more families and children in the church

“In the beginning we didn’t have any younger families or children, and now we have younger families and children, which is a very good thing,” he said “Our goal is to get the message of gospel out to every household, and we are halfway on to that one.”

The church has many outreach programs, which range from a local flea market at the Shell Factory, Kids Crusade, a Community Easter service, to an annual family festival in October

The people continues to be what he enjoys

“Everybody gets along, it’s just a good church,” he said

Grace Baptist Church holds monthly fellowships, which are open to everyone and meets at the church Devore said they also have monthly trips

Truth for Youth is held at 7 p m on Wednesdays for youths 5 to 18, which includes teaching of the Bible, games, and snacks There is also Bible Study for adults at 7 p m on Tuesdays

In 2019, Faith Assembly Pastor Blake Hanson joined the church and became the lead pastor in March 2023 after completing a two-year transition into the role

Originally Hanson, and his wife Brittany of 10 years, came to the area to plant a church, but “God had a different plan for us This was the place for us to be ”

The Hansons now have four children, Bodhi, 7, Briar, 6, Blakely, 2, and Blu who was born in March Hanson said he met his wife at church in Las Vegas where he was a staff pastor for five years

Faith Assembly strives to provide a community impact, as well as foster community at the church

The church partners with Bayshore

Elementary School and host Harry Chapin Food Bank every Thursday at their site

He said they have always been good partners with Bayshore Elementary School They have a Giving Wall where they help families in need during the Christmas holiday and host teachers for lunch during the summer

As far as the partnership with Harry Chapin Food Bank, Hanson said they probably feed 200 to 300 families on site

“We believe in partnering with organizations that are already doing things excellently There is a huge need, and it benefits our community,” Hanson said of the farmers market style food bank

The church also has many outreach programs for the younger generation.

“We have a passion to see the next generation,” Hanson said

The Best Week Ever, essentially a Vacation Bible Camp, will take place in June

“We are helping our people get connected with one another around Jesus Christ,” he said

The church also holds a big Truck or Treat Fest that attracts a few thousand people on site on Halloween

“God has been good to us to say the least,” Hanson said

Hanson said as the pastor of gathering the community, it’s about giving the people the ultimate hope in life

uncertainties, as there is a lot of false hope out there He said he fundamentally believes there is one hope – what Jesus has done for people and what he can do in people’s lives

“Getting someone connected, giving a meal away, buying a gift for people in need is how the church can get the credit in declaring Jesus’ victory in someone’s life Jesus cares for you,” Hanson said. “Seeing people come to the realization that hope is really found in Jesus I light up and get excited about being here in North Fort Myers ”

He said they are a giving church that loves seeing people far from God that have big questions come to the church and have a place to explore

those questions.

Services are at 9 a m and 11 a m on Sunday with Midweek held at 7 p m on Wednesday

Faith Assembly is at 7101 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers The church office is at 6950 Bayshore Road

For more information, visit www faithnfm com, call 239-543-2700, or email info@faithnfm com

Grace Baptist Church is at 19804 N. Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers For more information, visit www gracebaptisttemple net, call 239-731-6084, or email gbt1976@aol com

Parrotheads Unite: Lighthouse of SWFL to host musical tribute to Jimmy Buffett

Lighthouse of SWFL, the only vision rehabilitation, education and support agency serving all ages in Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties, will host a Jimmy Buffett musical tribute fundraiser titled “Under the Banyan” on June 1 from 5:30 – 8 p m behind its offices in North Fort Myers Headlining the event will be Captn Jac and his band Captn Jac has produced two albums, regularly plays to a packed house at the Margaritaville Café in Key West and has played a penthouse party in Miami for Sir Richard Branson

The event emcee will be former NBC-2 Chief Meteorologist Robert Van Winkle Tickets are $50 each and may be purchased at http://weblink donorperfect com/underthebanyan2024

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own blankets or lawn chairs and enjoy an evening of music under our enormous Banyan tree at 35 West Mariana Ave in North Fort Myers

Several on-site food trucks will be available, including beer, sodas and water for purchase The Lee County Sheriff ’s Office Ice Cream Response truck will also be on-site serving up fresh and free ice cream cones.

“This is going to be an evening to remember for those who love the Jimmy Buffett vibe,” said Todd Cordisco, director of Development and Communications for Lighthouse of SWFL “Not only will you be able to listen to your favorite Buffett tunes, but you can enjoy some great food all while supporting our mission of empowering people of all ages living with low vision or blindness to remain independent, active and productive in our society ”

Event sponsors include Florida Weekly, CRS Technology Consultants and the Southwest Florida Optometric Association

For more information on tickets or event sponsorships, call (239) 997-7797

Bohanon Foundation ser ves SWFL youth

Story by Chuck Ballaro

While he was stil an active NFL footba l player, Tommy Bohanon was looking for ways he could give back to the community and those who needed his help the most the youth

At the time, he was a fu lback for the Jacksonvi le Jaguars who had ust reached the AFC Champ onship game. But he also knew his NFL career wouldn’t last forever So, he and his wife Katie went to work on creating a foundation that would serve the youth of Southwest Florida

So, in 2017 the Tommy Bohanon Foundation was created to help the youth of Southwest Florida reach their highest potential on and off the field

switched to fullback and became a starter as a true freshman. He was good enough for the New York Jets to draft h m n the seventh round of the 2013 NFL Draft, where he p ayed for three seasons before being released before the 2016 season

Bohanon missed the entire 2016 season, but didn’t give up on h s NFL dream He attended a veteran combine and the Jacksonvil e Jaguars signed him, where he played two seasons before the team decided not to re-sign him

Bohanon went to the Green Bay Packers in 2019 but was waived by the Packers before the start of the season and was later drafted by the New York Guardians of the XFL, deciding not to oin

At first the goal was for Bohanon to raise $1 m llion in 10 years to be distributed throughout the community through grants, scholarships and programs designed to reach all youths 5 through 18.

To say the Tommy Bohanon Foundation has been a huge success would be putting t lightly

The foundation reached its goal three-plus years early, with the goal now be ng to reach $2 million between now and 2027

“When we f rst started this We had sma l goals We didn’t start the sponsorsh ps b g but we knew we wanted to help the k ds of Southwest Florida ” Bohanon sa d “When we started to grow and the sponsorships behind us, t’s amazing how we were ab e to grow and how many lives we’ve been ab e to impact ”

The foundation got a arge chunk of that money on April 12 with its annual Playmakers Tailgate Party at the Ranch in Fort Myers While there were no numbers ava lable at press time, the event s the foundation’s top fundraiser which n past years has brought $250 000 to the foundat on

Bohanon was born and raised in Cape Cora and went to Diplomat Elementary and M ddle schools, whi e p aying Litt e League and Pop Warner from the age of 4

He played Pop Warner football in Cape Coral and high school football at North Fort Myers High School, where he played tight end on some great teams with Noel Divine and another future NFL player, Tre Boston, before graduating early in December 2008 after earning All-District, All-Area and AllConference honors for three years as a Red Knight

“Sports can be used as such a good tool for life It teaches you how to work with a team and work hard for your goals,” Bohanon said “Whenever I talk to kids, I tell them you can do anything you put your mind to, as long as you’re wi ling to put in the work ”

Bohanon went off the play n co lege at Wake Forest (he said he didn’t know football would become a career) where he

Even before winding down his career, Bohanon had already p anned for the next chapter of his life

Bohanon became a financial advisor at Al iance Financial Group, which would he p his creation of a foundation

Bohanon started with a modest goal of putting on a one-day footba l camp at North Fort Myers High School That first camp was a tremendous success, teaching football to nearly 200 kids from the first through eighth grade.

Even today, the camp is the most recognized event the foundat on holds Usually held the last Saturday of June, the campers spend the morning learning to “train like a pro” from coaches, friends and junior coaches who are also football p ayers

“We’ve never missed a year with the football camp, even with the pandemic and we will continue to do that ” Bohanon said “It’s an opportunity to train l ke a pro We have high school and co lege coaches come and the high school kids act as mentors and get volunteer hours ”

The kids get a chance to learn al facets of the games, from tackling to throwing and catching to doing all the agility and conditioning drills

But the main message Bohanon wants to send is that you can train to be a football player all you want, but without hard work at school no co leges wi l want anyth ng to do with you

But as the Bohanons ooked at the area they saw how really underserved the k ds were Simply ho ding a football camp wasn’t going to help much

“We thought we were ust going to do that football camp, but when we saw the demographics and that so many famil es here live under the poverty line, we knew we had to help somehow, some way,” Bohanon said “We’ve been ab e to help so many kids in Southwest F orida and that’s what its all about ”

The foundation started to hold ts Playmakers Tailgate Party to raise more money to create programs designed to do more

The first event raised enough money for him to branch out

Out of the football camp came things such as a grant program for youth sports organizations n need of equipment The program is an opportunity for Southwest Florida athletic programs n need to receive funding or physical equipment for their athletes With the proper equipment, athletes can exce in their sport safely and more effectively

There is also a scholarship fund for high school seniors who have excelled in all facets of life It is an opportunity for any h gh school senior athlete or affil ate in Southwest Florida who has demonstrated leadership vo unteerism and exce lence in education while balancing athletics to receive f nancial aid for their academic future

The foundation works with The Collaboratory to award $30,000 in scho arships to high school sen ors throughout Southwest Florida

“We did three $10,000 scholarships this year to high school seniors, and last year we started our recurring scholarships One

The Tommy Bohanon Foundation one-day football camp at North Fort Myers High School is the most recognized event the foundation holds . Usually held the last Saturday of June, the campers spend the morning learning to “train like a pro” from coaches , friends and junior coaches who are also football players ./FILE PHOTOS

woman will get $10,000 per year for the four years she’s in school,” Bohanon said “They have to be in a sports program, but not necessarily as an athlete. They can be scorekeepers or managers. They can also use it for trade schools.”

One of the more un que programs is the “Man UP” Seminar, where Lee County student athletes learn life skills from mentors

The teens are taught that you need to sweat the smal stuff, such as learning to tie a tie and making eye contact while giving a firm handshake

They also taught skills such as financial literacy, interv ew prep, where to find scholarships and what it takes to be successful, regardless of their current c rcumstances

Bohanon said that is his favorite event because he realizes l fe isn t al about sports and that for many their athletic careers wil be over after high school They need a plan

“These kids are garnering relationships with people who have done it in the community who are community leaders,” Bohanon said “Even if some of these kids don’t go to col ege they re ab e to have these relationships with people who are in the trades and maybe have a hand up because of the Man UP event ”

They also hold a softball tournament every November to raise money so that fami ies in need in the area can enjoy the kind of Christmas many famil es may take for granted.

The 2022 tournament raised more than $40 000, most of it from an anonymous benefactor The foundation went to Walmart to buy the toys and de ivered them to the L ving Word M nistr es in North Fort Myers, where “Mama Luc” and her vo unteers distributed them

“We’ve been very lucky with the number of sponsorships we’ve gotten there We can fill an entire box truck with toys and give them to the kids,” Bohanon said “It’s great to see the commun ty come together for this event Some kids don’t get presents on an annual basis. It’s great to g ve them some type of

Christmas they may not otherwise get ”

But the big event every year is the Playmakers Tailgate Party, which is where the foundation gets the bulk of its funding. The event has moved around a bit before finding a home at The Ranch in Fort Myers

Bohanon said it s like the traditiona gala but more relaxed The men wear jeans and a button-up and women wear sundresses

There were live and silent auctions live music from Chas ng Denver and comed an R C Smith as co-MC with Bohanon

“People see what we’re trying to do to he p the kids, and that’s how they get behind us They see we re putt ng everything back to where it’s going These kids are our future and we want to do everything we can to upl ft them so they’re successful n ife ” Bohanon said

Tommy Bohanon Foundation receives $20,000 from Off Duty Fishing Series

Dozens of anglers took to the waters of Southwest Florida recently to raise thousands of dollars in the second annual Red Grouper Bash as part of the Off-Duty F shing Ser es The Tommy Bohanon Foundation, wh ch supports young student-athletes in Lee County rece ved $20,000 of the $40,000 raised

Forty-five boats took part in the March 15-16 fundraiser at Moss Mar na on Fort Myers Beach The winner of the bash was Jess Mesmer with a combined two-grouper weight of 35 pounds Mesmer also won the Calcutta group paying out $25,500 for first place and a Calcutta reel

The Off-Duty Fishing Series was founded by Ryan Joyce, Alec D lallo and Michael Werner as a way to give back to the Fort Myers Beach community after the devastating effects of Hurricane Ian

“We’re sincerely appreciative of the support Ryan, Alec and Michael have given us the past couple of years,” said Foundation Co-Founder Tommy Bohanon “Their generosity he ps the Foundation make a positive mpact on the lives of so many young people in the community.”

Tommy Bohanon at the Off-Duty Fishing Series. PHOTO PROVIDED

Tommy and Katie Bohanon at the Tommy Bohanon Foundation fourth annual Softball Tournament./FILE PHOTO

Bohanon Foundation ser ves SWFL youth

Story by Chuck Ballaro

While he was stil an active NFL footba l player, Tommy Bohanon was looking for ways he could give back to the community and those who needed his help the most the youth

At the time, he was a fu lback for the Jacksonvi le Jaguars who had ust reached the AFC Champ onship game. But he also knew his NFL career wouldn’t last forever So, he and his wife Katie went to work on creating a foundation that would serve the youth of Southwest Florida

So, in 2017 the Tommy Bohanon Foundation was created to help the youth of Southwest Florida reach their highest potential on and off the field

switched to fullback and became a starter as a true freshman. He was good enough for the New York Jets to draft h m n the seventh round of the 2013 NFL Draft, where he p ayed for three seasons before being released before the 2016 season

Bohanon missed the entire 2016 season, but didn’t give up on h s NFL dream He attended a veteran combine and the Jacksonvil e Jaguars signed him, where he played two seasons before the team decided not to re-sign him

Bohanon went to the Green Bay Packers in 2019 but was waived by the Packers before the start of the season and was later drafted by the New York Guardians of the XFL, deciding not to oin

At first the goal was for Bohanon to raise $1 m llion in 10 years to be distributed throughout the community through grants, scholarships and programs designed to reach all youths 5 through 18.

To say the Tommy Bohanon Foundation has been a huge success would be putting t lightly

The foundation reached its goal three-plus years early, with the goal now be ng to reach $2 million between now and 2027

“When we f rst started this We had sma l goals We didn’t start the sponsorsh ps b g but we knew we wanted to help the k ds of Southwest Florida ” Bohanon sa d “When we started to grow and the sponsorships behind us, t’s amazing how we were ab e to grow and how many lives we’ve been ab e to impact ”

The foundation got a arge chunk of that money on April 12 with its annual Playmakers Tailgate Party at the Ranch in Fort Myers While there were no numbers ava lable at press time, the event s the foundation’s top fundraiser which n past years has brought $250 000 to the foundat on

Bohanon was born and raised in Cape Cora and went to Diplomat Elementary and M ddle schools, whi e p aying Litt e League and Pop Warner from the age of 4

He played Pop Warner football in Cape Coral and high school football at North Fort Myers High School, where he played tight end on some great teams with Noel Divine and another future NFL player, Tre Boston, before graduating early in December 2008 after earning All-District, All-Area and AllConference honors for three years as a Red Knight

“Sports can be used as such a good tool for life It teaches you how to work with a team and work hard for your goals,” Bohanon said “Whenever I talk to kids, I tell them you can do anything you put your mind to, as long as you’re wi ling to put in the work ”

Bohanon went off the play n co lege at Wake Forest (he said he didn’t know football would become a career) where he

Even before winding down his career, Bohanon had already p anned for the next chapter of his life

Bohanon became a financial advisor at Al iance Financial Group, which would he p his creation of a foundation

Bohanon started with a modest goal of putting on a one-day footba l camp at North Fort Myers High School That first camp was a tremendous success, teaching football to nearly 200 kids from the first through eighth grade.

Even today, the camp is the most recognized event the foundat on holds Usually held the last Saturday of June, the campers spend the morning learning to “train like a pro” from coaches, friends and junior coaches who are also football p ayers

“We’ve never missed a year with the football camp, even with the pandemic and we will continue to do that ” Bohanon said “It’s an opportunity to train l ke a pro We have high school and co lege coaches come and the high school kids act as mentors and get volunteer hours ”

The kids get a chance to learn al facets of the games, from tackling to throwing and catching to doing all the agility and conditioning drills

But the main message Bohanon wants to send is that you can train to be a football player all you want, but without hard work at school no co leges wi l want anyth ng to do with you

But as the Bohanons ooked at the area they saw how really underserved the k ds were Simply ho ding a football camp wasn’t going to help much

“We thought we were ust going to do that football camp, but when we saw the demographics and that so many famil es here live under the poverty line, we knew we had to help somehow, some way,” Bohanon said “We’ve been ab e to help so many kids in Southwest F orida and that’s what its all about ”

The foundation started to hold ts Playmakers Tailgate Party to raise more money to create programs designed to do more

The first event raised enough money for him to branch out

Out of the football camp came things such as a grant program for youth sports organizations n need of equipment The program is an opportunity for Southwest Florida athletic programs n need to receive funding or physical equipment for their athletes With the proper equipment, athletes can exce in their sport safely and more effectively

There is also a scholarship fund for high school seniors who have excelled in all facets of life It is an opportunity for any h gh school senior athlete or affil ate in Southwest Florida who has demonstrated leadership vo unteerism and exce lence in education while balancing athletics to receive f nancial aid for their academic future

The foundation works with The Collaboratory to award $30,000 in scho arships to high school sen ors throughout Southwest Florida

“We did three $10,000 scholarships this year to high school seniors, and last year we started our recurring scholarships One

The Tommy Bohanon Foundation one-day football camp at North Fort Myers High School is the most recognized event the foundation holds . Usually held the last Saturday of June, the campers spend the morning learning to “train like a pro” from coaches , friends and junior coaches who are also football players ./FILE PHOTOS

woman will get $10,000 per year for the four years she’s in school,” Bohanon said “They have to be in a sports program, but not necessarily as an athlete. They can be scorekeepers or managers. They can also use it for trade schools.”

One of the more un que programs is the “Man UP” Seminar, where Lee County student athletes learn life skills from mentors

The teens are taught that you need to sweat the smal stuff, such as learning to tie a tie and making eye contact while giving a firm handshake

They also taught skills such as financial literacy, interv ew prep, where to find scholarships and what it takes to be successful, regardless of their current c rcumstances

Bohanon said that is his favorite event because he realizes l fe isn t al about sports and that for many their athletic careers wil be over after high school They need a plan

“These kids are garnering relationships with people who have done it in the community who are community leaders,” Bohanon said “Even if some of these kids don’t go to col ege they re ab e to have these relationships with people who are in the trades and maybe have a hand up because of the Man UP event ”

They also hold a softball tournament every November to raise money so that fami ies in need in the area can enjoy the kind of Christmas many famil es may take for granted.

The 2022 tournament raised more than $40 000, most of it from an anonymous benefactor The foundation went to Walmart to buy the toys and de ivered them to the L ving Word M nistr es in North Fort Myers, where “Mama Luc” and her vo unteers distributed them

“We’ve been very lucky with the number of sponsorships we’ve gotten there We can fill an entire box truck with toys and give them to the kids,” Bohanon said “It’s great to see the commun ty come together for this event Some kids don’t get presents on an annual basis. It’s great to g ve them some type of

Christmas they may not otherwise get ”

But the big event every year is the Playmakers Tailgate Party, which is where the foundation gets the bulk of its funding. The event has moved around a bit before finding a home at The Ranch in Fort Myers

Bohanon said it s like the traditiona gala but more relaxed The men wear jeans and a button-up and women wear sundresses

There were live and silent auctions live music from Chas ng Denver and comed an R C Smith as co-MC with Bohanon

“People see what we’re trying to do to he p the kids, and that’s how they get behind us They see we re putt ng everything back to where it’s going These kids are our future and we want to do everything we can to upl ft them so they’re successful n ife ” Bohanon said

Tommy Bohanon Foundation receives $20,000 from Off Duty Fishing Series

Dozens of anglers took to the waters of Southwest Florida recently to raise thousands of dollars in the second annual Red Grouper Bash as part of the Off-Duty F shing Ser es The Tommy Bohanon Foundation, wh ch supports young student-athletes in Lee County rece ved $20,000 of the $40,000 raised

Forty-five boats took part in the March 15-16 fundraiser at Moss Mar na on Fort Myers Beach The winner of the bash was Jess Mesmer with a combined two-grouper weight of 35 pounds Mesmer also won the Calcutta group paying out $25,500 for first place and a Calcutta reel

The Off-Duty Fishing Series was founded by Ryan Joyce, Alec D lallo and Michael Werner as a way to give back to the Fort Myers Beach community after the devastating effects of Hurricane Ian

“We’re sincerely appreciative of the support Ryan, Alec and Michael have given us the past couple of years,” said Foundation Co-Founder Tommy Bohanon “Their generosity he ps the Foundation make a positive mpact on the lives of so many young people in the community.”

Tommy Bohanon at the Off-Duty Fishing Series. PHOTO PROVIDED

Tommy and Katie Bohanon at the Tommy Bohanon Foundation fourth annual Softball Tournament./FILE PHOTO

Middleton, 9, fulfilled a dream

took part in the recent PGA Drive, Chip

Local junior golfer plays at Augusta

Story by Chuck Ballaro

During the pandemic, Cameron Middleton, then 5 years old, passed the time at home by posting golf trick shots on Instagram

This helped make him an Internet star with more than 13,000 followers It also helped make him a really good golfer. And four years later, it helped him fulfill a dream by playing at the historic Augusta National Golf Course, the home of the Masters

Middleton, who lives in North Fort Myers, was there to play in the recent PGA Drive, Chip & Putt competition, where the best young golfers, boys and girls, test their skills

For Middleton It was an experience he will never forget

“The course was in incredible shape. There were so many azaleas there and we spent about $2,000 in the gift shop,” Middleton said “We got shirts, hats, ball markers and a caddy gnome ”

Middleton, who had competed in Drive, Chip & Putt two other times, had to compete in three qualifying rounds at the local and regional levels to make it to Augusta

He qualified in the top three in the local qualifier at Shadow Wood in Fort Myers, the top two at

Cameron

by playing at the historic Augusta National Golf Course, the home of the Masters . He

& Putt competition./PHOTOS PROVIDED

Cameron Middleton is all smiles as he lives a golfer ’s dream.

old Florida in Naples, and finally won the regional at Sea Island, Georgia, sinking a 15foot putt to earn the trip to Augusta

More than 22,000 boys in his 7-to-9 age group competed, with only 10 able to qualify to play at Augusta Cameron was thrilled when he learned he had qualified and tempered his expectations once in Augusta, knowing he would have stiff competition

“I didn’t want to finish last because there were some real good kids there. They were amazing at chipping and putting,” said Middleton, who finished ninth out of 10 “I did well in putting and driving, but chipping was weak It just wasn’t my day because usually I’m amazing at chipping ”

Gina, Cameron’s mom, said the course did an amazing job with the kids, paying for their airfare, hotels and giving them a look at the course only the pros get

“They put on a nice banquet for them, and gave us tickets to go to the Masters on Monday He ate lunch in the Founders Room, got to go down Magnolia Lane which nobody does unless you’re a player,” Gina said “They go over the top to make sure the kids have an experience ”

Middleton started golfing at age 3 Cameron’s mother Gina said he started hitting the ball around the house and determined his sport would be golf Middleton learned quickly and before long he was on the course five days a week and performing trick shots in his home such as chipping balls into a cup or an unusual putting trick that gained him fame on Instagram, which all started after being stuck at home during the pandemic

Cameron Middleton is a top competitor.

“One of the benefits with COVID is that golf courses stayed open. You just weren’t allowed to go in the pro shop. You just paid online and

walked the course,” Gina said. “When we were home we took the opportunity to do golf trick shots He became so popular that we got messages from people around the world ”

Fans would suggest trick shots and video side-by-sides of trick shots they had tried The result was media coverage from ESPN, friendships with many pro golfers (Ricky Fowler in particular) and uncanny ability on the course.

Even his coach, Chase Marinell, who works with him at Stoneybrook Golf Course in Estero, said Cameron’s abilities far exceed those of a typical 9-year-old

“He’s the best talent I have seen in this area for someone his age He’s developed a great pair of hands and a feel for how to get the ball to the target,” Marinell said “Starting at such a young age really helped.”

The result is that Cameron is one of the best golfers his age in the country Last season, he was All-American, which was the Top 8 in the 6-to-8 age group, finishing third at Sandestin in Miramar Beach He then went to PGA National in West Palm Beach and finished second

With the tournament season under way for him, he will try to qualify for the national tournaments, which are 36-hole events, which he walks with his caddy, his father

As for the future, Cameron hopes to play in the pros and perhaps win a green jacket

Gina would like golf to at least get him a scholarship for college

N e i g h b o r L i v i n g — n o r t h f o r t m y e r s n e i g h b o r . c o m

N o r t h F o r t M y e r s

Hope against Hunger

ECHO draws crowd to annual Food & Farm Festival

Story & photos by Chuck Ballaro

Th o u s a n d s o f a t t e n d e e s g o t t o s h o p f o r

a n d t a s t e s o m e o f t h e m o s t a m a z i n g

f o o d s a t t h e a n n u a l E C H O G l o b a l F o o d

& F a r m F e s t i v a l h e l d i n M a rc h

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o f t h e f e s t i v a l . T h i s y e a r, i n a c h a n g e o f p a c e , i t

k i c k e d t h e M a rc h 1 6 - 2 2 c e l e b r a t i o n o ff w i t h f o u r

d a y s o f s e m i n a r s , w o r k s h o p s a n d a t ro p i c a l

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N o r t h F o r t M y e r s f o l l o w i n g

Vi s i t o r s t o t h e o p e n i n g d a y e v e n t g o t t o t o u r

t h e e x p e r i m e n t a l a n d t e a c h i n g f a r m , a t t e n d

w o r k s h o p s a n d c o o k i n g d e m o n s t r a t i o n s , m a k e

h o m e m a d e p e a n u t b u t t e r, s i p f re s h l y s q u e e z e d

o r a n g e j u i c e a n d s u g a r c a n e a n d m u c h m o re

D a n i e l l e F l o o d , a s s i s t a n t d i re c t o r o f a d v a n c e -

m e n t , s a i d t h e i d e a o f t h e f e s t i v a l i s t o i n t ro d u c e

p e o p l e t o w h a t E C H O d o e s “ I t ’ s e x c i t i n g t o o ff e r t h e s e e d u c a t i o n a l o p p o r -

t u n i t i e s t o p e o p l e w h o h a v e n ’ t s e e n w h e re o u r

r i c e g ro w s o r w h e re t h e i r f o o d c o m e s f ro m , ”

F l o o d s a i d “ Yo u c a n l e a r n a b o u t c o m p o s t i n g

a n d m o r i n g a , t h e g o a t s a n d t h e c h i c k e n s a n d

e n j o y t h e b e a u t y a ro u n d u s ”

Visitors to the opening day event got to tour the experimental and teaching farm, attend workshops and cooking demonstrations , make homemade peanut butter, sip freshly squeezed orange juice and sugar cane and much more.

Tours are offered at ECHO January through April on Tuesdays , and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; and on Wednesdays , Thursdays , and Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. only. Attendees are asked to allow two hours to take in the experience.

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s t a t e s

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c u p o f c o ff e e a n d y o u c a n ’ t s t a r t

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s i p , ” C o t t o s a i d “ O r t w o c u p s i n

s o m e c a s e s ”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

N o r t h F o r t M y e r s N e i g h b o r L i v i n g — n o r t h f o r t m y e r s n e i g h b o r . c o m — A p r i l / M a y

Visitors to the opening day of the ECHO Global Food & Farm Festival got to tour the experimental and teaching farm, attend workshops and cooking demonstrations , make homemade peanut butter, sip freshly squeezed orange juice and sugar cane and much more.

O f c o u r s e , i n s o m e

p a r t s o f t h e w o r l d w h e re t h e re a re n o m o d e r n f a c i l i t i e s f a r m e r s t h e re m u s t i m p ro v i s e K r i s t a A n d e r s o n a n d o t h e r s t a u g h t v i s i t o r s h o w t h e s e f a r m e r s c re a t e d n o t o n l y p ro p a n e w i t h w h i c h t o c o o k , b u t a l s o t o m a k e f e r t i l i z e r a t t h e s a m e t i m e t o h e l p g ro w c ro p s T h e re w e re a l s o v e nd o r s w h o c a m e t o s e l l

h e i r w a re s a n d t a l k

b o u t w h a t t h e y

North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts to present a magical middle school production of ‘Descendants’

North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts middle school production of the hit musical "Descendants," will take the stage at the school on April 25 and 26

The performances, at 6:30 p m each day, will showcase the talents of students in grades 6-8

The show promises to captivate audiences with its innovative approach to storytelling, enhanced by the debut of the school's cutting-edge high-resolution projection system

Under the direction of Kathy Rivadeneira, the cast and crew have been hard at work rehearsing for this exciting production, which brings the beloved characters of Disney's "Descendants" to life on stage Set in the idyllic kingdom of Auradon, the musical follows the journey of the teenage children of Disney’s most infamous villains as they navigate the complexities of friendship, identity, and acceptance

What sets this production apart is the integration of a state-of-the-art high-resolution projection system, allowing for seamless transitions between scenes and transporting audiences to the fantastical worlds depicted in the show With stunning visuals and immersive storytelling, viewers will feel as though they've stepped directly into the magical universe of "Descendants "

echo FROM PAGE 16

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e d i n 1 9 8 1 w i t h f i v e a c re s b o u g h t b y

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a n d a f e w f r i e n d s T h ro u g h t r i a l

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s t ru g g l i n g c o u n t r i e s m e e t t h e i r f o o d

a n d w a t e r n e e d s

"We're incredibly proud of the hard work and dedication our students have put into this production," said Mrs Rivadeneira "The addition of our

new projection system has elevated the theatrical experience to a whole new level, allowing us to create dynamic and visually stunning scenes that will leave a lasting impression on audiences "

The cast features a talented ensemble of young

E C H O n o w h a s re g i o n a l i m p a c t c e n t e r s a ro u n d t h e w o r l d

M a r t i n P r i c e i s t h r i l l e d t o s e e

w h a t E C H O h a s b e c o m e

“ F a r m d a y h a s b e e n a n i m p o r t a n t

p a r t o f o u r c o m m u n i t y I t ’ s k i n d o f

b e e n a j o k e t h a t i t ’ s t h e b e s t k e p t

s e c re t i n t h e c o u n t y, ” B o n n i e s a i d

“

I t ’ s a m a z i n g h o w s o m a n y p e o p l e

d o n ’ t k n o w w h o w e a re . ”

M o s t f a r m e r s a ro u n d t h e w o r l d

k n o w E C H O ’ s w e b s i t e g e t s t e n s o f

t h o u s a n d s o f h i t s f ro m m o re t h a n

1 7 0 c o u n t r i e s w o r l d w i d e

performers, each bringing their own unique energy and charisma to their roles From the charismatic descendants of Maleficent and the Evil Queen to the charming princes and princesses of Auradon, audiences can expect a delightful blend of humor, heart, and unforgettable musical numbers

Tickets may be purchased for $12 online at https://www showtix4u com/eventdetails/80367 or at the door for $15 the day of the performance

“Don't miss your chance to experience this magical journey with North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts!,” theatrical staff said.

The school also is offering a VIP experience for existing and new NFMAA Foundation members in the Media Center before the show and during Intermission

VIPs may enjoy themed refreshments and decor

Foundation membership starts at just $50 for an annual membership and 100% of membership fees go to directly support the art programs at NFMAA

Contact Ari Reis, Arts Foundation President, at nfmaa foundation@gmail com if you are interested in becoming a VIP

For more information on North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts visit nfa leeschools net

E C H O i s n o s e c re t t o C e l e s t e

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l e a r n e d a l o t f ro m F a r m F e s t

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n e e d t o g ro w o u r o w n f o o d a n d

t a k e i t s e r i o u s l y, ” B o g o j e v i c h s a i d .

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