Making a difference: Abuse Counseling and Treatment Inc. offers
ser vices to those whose lives are impacted by domestic violence
Story by Meghan Bradbury
Abuse Counseling and Treatment, Inc became part of the community 46 years ago serving victims of domestic violence and their children, survivors of sexual assault, and human trafficking.
Now ACT serves more than 3,0000 people every year ACT Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Benton said although older adults may still think they must "just stick it out," numbers have really risen in the last couple of years, which she said is a good thing, as they, too, can receive help
“That is the key to success – help them through the process that they need, but not do everything for them,” Benton said of clients, adding that it’s about taking control back for themselves.
“We give them tools and education and empower them to make their own decision,” she said The numbers, unfortunately, are always increasing The two years of COVID, which left people locked down and together, led to more domestic violence
“Violence got to be a lot worse The violence was worse than we saw before,” Benton said “Domestic violence is about control and power ” Victims do not have to report the violence, but if they choose to, law enforcement comes to the facility to help with the process
“You don’t have to be hit to be abused,” Benton said “A lot of people think only if they have been hit, we offer them services Verbal abuse is just as bad The wounds heal from physical abuse, but verbal abuse is really hard for people to get over and understand They have been beaten down so bad and don’t think there is a way out We can help them find that way ”
They do this through partners within the community.
“We want to provide comprehensive services,” Benton said, adding that it’s about getting them matched to the services they need, so they can get everything accomplished
ACT serves Lee, Hendry, and Glades counties
There is a 24-hour hotline, as well as numerous services, all free of charge The hotline pairs the caller with a counselor who can arrange for a shelter, or assistance into their outreach department If they are not ready to leave, they can call the hotline and talk to a counselor and schedule an appointment to come
Infor mation:
24-Hour Crisis Hotline: 239-939-3112
Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-500-1119
Sexual Assault Hotline: 888-956-7273
Website: www.actabuse.com
ACT se rve s Le e , H e ndry, and G lade s co unt ie s. The re is a 24 - ho ur ho t line , as we ll as nume ro us se rvice s, all f re e o f charge . The ho t line pairs t he calle r wit h a co unse lo r who can arrange fo r a she lt e r, o r assist ance int o t he ir o ut re ach de part me nt . If t hey are no t re ady t o le ave , t hey can call t he ho t line and t alk t o a co unse lo r and sche dule an appo int me nt t o co me in – as many t ime s as ne e de d, while also b ringing t he ir childre n fo r co unse ling as we ll.
in – as many times as needed, while also bringing their children for counseling as well
ACT has three shelters – one in Cape Coral, Fort Myers and LaBelle, totaling 120 beds
The shelters are an important aspect of what ACT does Benton said they try to keep the stays between six to eight weeks but will not tell them to leave if they need to stay longer, as the cost of housing is so much
“We have housing partnerships with low-income housing They set aside units for clients,” she said, adding that they are full and there is a wait list “They can go out and get something on their own, but they have to be able to afford it That makes it difficult ”
While at the shelter, the individuals have to be doing something She said sometimes it is hard to find a job, daycare.
“We help them if they want to change schools. Buses come to our shelters and pick up the kids Summer is a busy time More people feel that is the opportunity to leave,” Benton said
Other services include a children’s program, an economic empowerment program for finances, budgeting, and long-term planning, as well as helping with employment – resumes and interview
ACT works with Dress for Success for employment, as well as banks to help clients open a bank account with as little as $50.
“We have resources A lot of the time, people see trouble getting into a resource, or company, that they need to be at for services We can get them in faster in the service,” Benton said
There are also two attorneys on staff for those
who need an injunction for protection They help prepare the paperwork and allegations, as well as go to court with clients
There is also a rape crisis team, consisting of a sexual assault nurse who is the examiner, as well as working with law enforcement
ACT also has staff that works with the Department of Children and Families in Lee County and Hendry County, which helps in working through the needed processes
The Community Education Department is another important component of ACT, as it helps spread the word of the resources available to individuals
“We go into the schools to do prevention education in middle and high schools,” Benton said of both visiting classrooms and summer camps “We talked to them about dating violence, domestic family violence. A lot of those kids in those homes think they really did something to cause that.”
It is also shared with the child or teen that they can talk, if need be, by making them aware of the services provided, so they can also inform the victim, who is the parent, there is help out there
“Children in those violent homes – 65-70% of them become abusers if they do not stop the cycle They don’t understand they have not done something wrong Violence is not OK They need education They need to know there are people out there for them,” Benton said.
Donations, both money and gift cards, are always needed and volunteers are always welcome
Visit actabuse com for ways to assist and upcoming fundraisers
Babcock Ranch unveils Hillcrest Park during family-friendly grand opening
Babcock Ranch debuted its second new park in The PKWY with the family-friendly themed grand opening of Hillcrest Park on Sept 28 from 10 a m to 1 p m Part of The PKWY Adventure Series, the free event features food trucks, live entertainment
One of six adventure-themed parks in The PKWY, Hillcrest Park is perched atop an impressive hill and offers a two-story observation tower with sweeping views, hillside slides, a climbing net and grassy mounds that are perfect for rolling down – and climbing up
The PKWY Adventure Series kicked off Aug. 24 with the opening of Bark Park during the dogfriendly Paw-ty in the Park attended by more than 200 guests and their pets
“We had an amazing turnout for the opening of Bark Park,” said Syd Kitson, chairman and CEO of Kitson & Partners, the developer of Babcock Ranch “We saw dogs on the agility course and enjoying some off-leash fun at the exciting new park ”
Located in MidTown, The PKWY spans 313 acres and six parks connected by a meandering 2 5-mile trail in Curry Creek Preserve The Lagoon, featuring a 3 3-acre lake for catch-and-release fishing, a fishing pier with a floating dock and a
crushed shell walking path around the lake, debuts in October. Bluebird Park will be completed in early November and features grassy mounds, bluebird-themed amenities and innovative playground equipment
Each of the parks is designed with a unique purpose and custom-built features to encourage exploration, play, exercise and time in nature All parks offer shaded pavilions, ample parking and blend with new trails leading into the preserve Several parks also offer onsite restrooms
The PKWY’s additional parks include Palmetto Park, planned to open later this year, and Explorers Park which is anticipated to open in early 2025
Hillcrest Park’s grand opening celebration highlights distinctive new neighborhoods in Babcock Ranch’s MidTown and WestTown districts Enclaves feature private on-site amenities for authentic lifestyles – from lakeside clubhouses and cabana buildings, resort-inspired pools and playgrounds to event lawns, fitness centers, courts for pickleball, tennis and bocce ball, golf courses and even water slides, beaches, restaurants, a lazy river and a neighborhood exclusively for 55+ active adults
National and regional homebuilders in Babcock Ranch, Southwest Florida’s top-selling community, offer new homes for families of all sizes with inspiring settings overlooking expansive lakes, scenic nature preserves, golf greens and fairways and conservation areas Available new homes include townhomes, condominiums, paired villas, coach homes and single-family homes uniquely connected by dozens of miles of trails to Founder ’s Square, schools, parks, resident amenities and more
Emphasizing open main living spaces and lanais for outdoor living, the neighborhoods offer dozens of one- and two-story floor plans with two to six bedrooms and 1,269 to 4,272 square feet under air Participating builders include Christopher Alan Homes, DiVosta, D R Horton, Florida Lifestyle Homes, Lennar, Meritage Homes, Park Square Homes, Pulte Homes, Toll Brothers and William Ryan Homes
Babcock Ranch located just northeast of Fort Myers off Babcock Ranch Road/State Road 31.
For more information visit the Woodlea Hall Discovery Center at 42850 Crescent Loop in Babcock Ranch, call 877-709-6620, or visit
www BabcockRanch com
One of six adventure-themed parks in The PKWY, Hillcrest Park is perched atop an impressive hill and offers a two-story observation tower with sweeping views , hillside slides , a climbing net and grassy mounds that are perfect for rolling down – and climbing up./PHOTO PROVIDED
community connection Volunteers, contributors
Civic’s success possible
A m I t h e o n l y o n e w h o f e e l s i t ? F a l l i s i n t h e
a i r. I w a s p u l l i n g o u t o f m y d r i v e w a y y e s t e rd a y
e v e n i n g a n d I w a s l o o k i n g a ro u n d a n d I w a s
t h i n k i n g b o y, w h a t a p re t t y l i t t l e c o r n e r i n m y
w o r l d R i g h t h e re i n N o r t h F o r t M y e r s , h a rd t o
b e l i e v e ? N o t a b i t
I c o u l d f e e l a l i t t l e b i t o f f a l l i n t h e a i r I ’ m
t h i n k i n g a b o u t h o m e c o m i n g d a n c e s , h i g h s c h o o l
f o o t b a l l g a m e s , N F L o n S u n d a y s a n d j u s t a l i t t l e
b i t o f c o o l e r w e a t h e r c e r t a i n l y p u t s a l i t t l e z i p i n
y o u r s t e p I t h i n k w e h a v e h a d a s i z z l i n g s u m -
m e r a n d a re re a d y f o r t h e c h a n g e .
I t d i d n ’ t s t o p u s a t t h e N o r t h F o r t M y e r s C i v i c
A s s o c i a t i o n O n S e p t 3 , w e d o n a t e d t o t h e S W F L
A g E x p o , 4 H a n d t h e F FA
N o r t h F o r t M y e r s C i v i c A s s o c i a t i o n w a s e x c i t -
e d a n d h o n o re d t o d o n a t e $ 1 0 , 0 0 0 f o r t h e p u r -
c h a s e o f a b r a n d - n e w l i v e s t o c k s c a l e a n d i t i s a
b e a u t y ! i t h o l d s u p t o 5 , 0 0 0 p o u n d s i s s t a t e - o f -
t h e a r t d i g i t a l I t ’ s g o i n g t o b e s u c h a n a s s e t t o
e v e r y o n e a n d m a k e s u c h a d i ff e re n c e f o r a l l I
l o o k f o r w a rd t o s e e i n g i t a t t h e f a i r t h i s c o m i n g y
A n d i t i s o n l y b e c a u s e o f t h e s u p
u n i t y N o r t h F o r t M y e r s A l s o , j u s t a re m i n d e r t h e N o r t h F o r t M y e r s
C i v i c A s s o c i a t i o n a g a i n t h i s y e a r w i l l b e s p o n -
s o r i n g t h e Ve t e r a n s A n g e l t re e w h i c h w i l l s t a n d i n t h e l o b b y o f t h e N o r t h F o r t M y e r s R e c re a t i o n
C e n t e r T h e t re e w i l l b e a c t i v e f ro m N o v 1 , t h ro u g h D e c 1 6 P l e a s e c o m e a n d p i c k a n a m e ,
b u y a g i f t f o r a l o c a l v e t o r a d d a n a m e o f a v e t
t h a t y o u k n o w t h a t c o u l d u s e a l i t t l e p i c k - m e - u p
t h ro u g h t h e h o l i d a y s L a s t y e a r w h e n w e d e l i v -
e re d o u r g i f t s i t m a d e s u c h a d i ff e re n c e i n t h e i r
l i v e s s o m e o f t h e s e m e n a n d w o m e n h a d n o t
re c e i v e d a p re s e n t i n y e a r s a n d w e a re s o a p p re -
pulse
T h e b e g i n n i n g o f t h e s c h o o l y e a r i s a l w a y s
s u c h a n e x c i t i n g t i m e I t ’ s w h e n s c h o o l s t a ff
c o m e b a c k t o g e t h e r a f t e r t h e s u m m e r, re a d y t o
i n s p i re a n d s u p p o r t o u r s t u d e n t s , a n d w h e n
s t u d e n t s re t u r n e a g e r t o re c o n n e c t w i t h t h e i r
c l a s s m a t e s O u r c a m p u s e s a re f i l l e d w i t h e n e r -
g y, a n d t h a n k s t o e n g a g i n g c l a s s ro o m a c t i v i t i e s
a n d v i b r a n t a f t e r- s c h o o l p ro g r a m s , t h e re i s s o m u c h t o l o o k f o r w a rd t o i n t h e m o n t h s a h e a d
H o w e v e r, a s w e b e g i n t o re f l e c t o n t h e f i r s t
q u a r t e r o f t h e s c h o o l y e a r, i t i s i m p o r t a n t t o a c k n o w l e d g e t h e c h a l l e n g e s o u r c o m m u n i t y h a s f a c e d H u r r i c a n e H e l e n e h a s i m p a c t e d m a n y a re a s o f F l o r i d a , a n d I h o p e t h a t y o u a n d y o u r l o v e d o n e s a re s a f e . Ti m e s l i k e t h e s e re m i n d u s o f t h e s t re n g t h o f o u r c o m m u n i t y, a n d I w a n t t o e x p re s s m y h e a r t f e l t g r a t i t u d e t o e v e r y o n e w h o h a s s t e p p e d u p t o h e l p t h e i r n e i g h b o r s a n d l e n d a h a n d W h e t h e r y o u v o l u n t e e re d y o u r t i m e , p ro v i d e d re s o u rc e s , o r s i m p l y o ff e re d a k i n d w o rd , y o u r s u p p o r t i s w h a t m a k e s o u r c o m m u -
n i t y t ru l y re m a r k a b l e
A s w e n e a r t h e e n d o f t h e f i r s t q u a r t e r, w e ’ v e a l re a d y s e e n m a n y i m p re s s i v e a c h i e v e m e n t s
F i v e o f o u r h i g h s c h o o l s e n i o r s h a v e b e e n
n a m e d N a t i o n a l M e r i t P ro g r a m s e m i f i n a l i s t s , p l a c i n g t h e m a m o n g t h e t o p 1 % o f t h e C l a s s o f
2 0 2 5 T h i s s p r i n g , t h e y ’ l l f i n d o u t i f t h e y ’ re
s e l e c t e d t o re c e i v e $ 2 , 5 0 0 s c h o l a r s h i p s A d d i t i o n a l l y, 1 4 8 s t u d e n t s e a r n e d p re s t i g i o u s
C o l l e g e B o a rd re c o g n i t i o n s , w h i c h p ro v i d e a c a -
d e m i c h o n o r s t h a t w i l l e n h a n c e t h e i r c o l l e g e
a n d s c h o l a r s h i p a p p l i c a t i o n s We a l s o c e l e b r a t e t h e 2 7 s t u d e n t s w h o e a r n e d A P C a p s t o n e
D i p l o m a s , 1 6 7 w h o e a r n e d I n t e r n a t i o n a l
B a c c a l a u re a t e D i p l o m a s , a n d 3 6 8 w h o e a r n e d
A I C E C a m b r i d g e D i p l o m a s t h i s y e a r T h e s e
c h a l l e n g i n g p ro g r a m s h e l p s t u d e n t s e a r n c o l -
l e g e c re d i t a n d s e t t h e m u p f o r f u t u re s u c c e s s
O u r s c h o o l s t h r i v e b e c a u s e o f t h e c o n t i n u e d i n v o l v e m e n t o f f a m i l i e s a n d t h e b ro a d e r c o m -
m u n i t y W h e t h e r y o u v o l u n t e e r a s a m e n t o r,
a s s i s t s t u d e n t s w i t h m a t h o r re a d i n g , a t t e n d a
f o o t b a l l g a m e o r v o l l e y b a l l m a t c h , o r c o m e t o
o n e o f o u r f a l l p l a y s o r w i n t e r c o n c e r t s , y o u r e n g a g e m e n t m a k e s a d i ff e re n c e W h e n w e w o r k
t o g e t h e r, w e c re a t e o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r e v e r y s t u -
d e n t t o s u c c e e d , a n d t h a t ’ s s o m e t h i n g w e c a n
a l l b e p ro u d o f
L o o k i n g a h e a d , w e a re p re p a r i n g f o r a s i g n i f -
c i a t i v e . S o p l e a s e N o r t h F o r t M y e r s c o m e o u t t o
h e l p c o n t r i b u t e a n d s u p p o r t o u r l o c a l v e t e r a n s .
R e m e m b e r s o m e o f t h e s e v e t s a re h o m e b o u n d o r d i s a b l e d , d o n o t d r i v e a n d d o n o t e v e n h a v e a
v e h i c l e s o g e t t i n g o u t a n d g e t t i n g a l i t t l e s o m e -
t h i n g f o r t h e m s e l v e s i s n ’ t h a p p e n i n g H e l p u s
m a k e i t a n i c e h o l i d a y f o r t h e m
L a s t l y, d o n o t f o rg e t o u r C o m m u n i t y S e r v i c e
Aw a rd s a re c o m i n g u p i n J a n u a r y L e
i c a n t e l e c t i o n n e x t m o n t h , w h i c h w i l l b r i n g t w o
n e w b o a rd m e m b e r s a n d , f o r t h e f i r s t t i m e i n
m a n y y e a r s , a n e l e c t e d s u p e r i n t e n d e n t W h i l e
l e a d e r s h i p m a y c h a n g e , o u r f o c u s o n s t u d e n t o u t c o m e s w i l l re m a i n c o n s t a n t I w a n t t o t a k e
t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y t o t h a n k m y c o l l e a g u e s w h o
w i l l n o t b e re t u r n i n g f o r t h e i r d e d i c a t e d s e r v i c e a n d t h e v a l u a b l e c o n t r i b u t i o n s t h e y m a d e d u ri n g t h e i r t i m e o n t h e b o a rd
O u r d i s t r i c t c o n t i n u e s t o o ff e r e x c e l l e n t
s c h o o l s , t e c h n i c a l p ro g r a m s , a n d p a r t n e r s h i p s t h a t s u p p o r t s t u d e n t s , s t a ff , a n d t h e e n t i re c o m -
m u n i t y E v e r y e ff o r t w e m a k e i s g e a re d t o w a rd
c re a t i n g m e a n i n g f u l o u t c o m e s a n d p a t h w a y s
f o r a l l . T h a n k y o u a g a i n f o r b e i n g a p a r t o f t h i s i n c re d i b l e
j o u r n e y
To g e t h e r, w e a re
b u i l d i n g a
b r i g h t e r f u t u re f o r
o u r s t ud e n t s a n d
o u r c o mm u n i t y
H e r m o s a N o r t h F o r t M y e r s t o o f f e r
a f f o r d a b l e h o u s i n g t o o l d e r a d u l t s
Story by Meghan Bradbury
An affordable community for older adults will soon break ground in North Fort Myers.
ReVital Development Group President Michael Allan said they have been working on the project for a long time, as the land went into contract in 2020
Hermosa North Fort Myers, at 16320 N Cleveland Ave , will have a total of 160 units constructed in two phases The first will include 72 units in one four-story residential building, the second will offer 88 units
“We are starting in the next 30 days,” Allan said in September of phase one.
They worked with Lee County and were able to obtain some competitive state funding They won state-wide funding through the Florida Housing Finance Corporation
“All the funding came into place at once,” he said
The public-private partnership has been with the Lee County Housing Authority, ReVital Development Group, and Birdson Housing Partners.
There will be 41 one-bedroom and 31 two-bedroom units for the first phase
The construction is projected to take 14 to 15 months start to finish They are hoping to open units by the end of next year with a possibility of early 2026
Hermosa North Fort Myers is for those who are 62 and older who earn 60% or less of the area median income Eight units will be set aside for tenants earning 33% of AMI or below, leaving 64 units for tenants earning 60% AMI or below.
Allan said they were also able to receive additional competitive funding for the remaining 88 units through the county
“Lee County has been great,” he said The second phase, 88 units, will consists of 56
one-bedroom units and 32 two-bedroom units
For this phase, three units will be set aside for households earning 22% AMI, nine tenants earning 40% AMI or below and 76 units for tenants earning 60% AMI or below The estimate for this phase is expected to be completed in early 2026
Hermosa North Fort Myers will have a large clubhouse with a fitness center, business center and swimming pool Free Adult Literacy Program and Resident Assurance Check-in Program will also be included
He began focusing on affordable workforce housing about four years ago, Allan said, adding previously, all of his development had been market rate housing and commercial, all in Lee County
The first affordable housing project is set to open in early October in Cape Coral – Civitas of Cape Coral, 123 Civitas Court – between Sam’s Club and Walmart on Pine Island Road These 96 affordable and workforce multifamily units consists of nine one-bedroom, 57 two-bedroom and 30 three-bedroom units
According to its website, floorplans range from 648 square feet for a one-bedroom unit to 1,189 square feet for a three-bedroom unit
The amenities of the community include a clubhouse with a fitness center, business center and swimming pool. The community also will offer free Employment Assistance Program and Financial Management Program
Of those units, 23 are for tenants earning 30% AMI or below, 45 for tenants earning 60% AMI or below and 28 units for tenants earning 80% AMI or below
“It’s the first one in Lee County and the first workforce development in Cape Coral,” Allan said “We are scheduled to open any day We are 99% complete with construction. We are waiting on the final pieces – certificate of occupancy to put people in units ”
Affordable housing has become a personal interest because he knows there is a big need
“It became a personal goal and passion Initially (I was) looking for another component to
the business and then realized I wanted to give it a 100% of the focus,” Allan said “Lee County has been very supportive We have combined between market rate and affordable almost 2,000 multifamily units in Lee County in nine years ”
He also wanted to provide housing for different demographics, all at different levels of income to provide significant discounts to the market. The projects in the works right now are for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness and development disabilities
Allan said he has applied for funding through HUD for development of affordable housing, which is connected to Hurricane Ian’s recovery efforts
One of those projects includes 121 units, all dedicated to households earning 70% AMI or below, for older adults. This project, called Ava Square, would be located in Cape Coral.
Another project, The Residences, located in the city of Fort Myers off Colonial Boulevard on the west side of 41, would be dedicated to individuals with a development disability There would be two phases, the first with 60 units and the second with 140 units
The last project in the works is Tilton Court –72 units for individuals and families experiencing homelessness – also located in the city of Fort Myers closer to I-75 and Martin Luther King Boulevard
He said they would love to get all of them approved
“There is a need everywhere and every demographic,” Allan said, adding he is hopeful and optimistic to find out good news by the end of October “There are a lot of great projects proposed Hopefully a lot of development will be the result of it ”
He said what happened with Hurricane Ian is unfortunate, but fortunately, the government has stepped up with funding
Lee County is doing a great job in administering the process of directing funding for projects, Allan added
New 23-acre sports complex opens at Babcock Ranch
Story by Meghan Bradbury
A23-acre sports complex opened at Babcock Ranch in September offering its schools and community a facility
“The new William and Mary Ann Smith Sports Complex underscores Babcock Ranch’s ongoing commitment to innovation and sustainable development in residential, commercial and community spaces,” said Syd Kitson, founder of Babcock Ranch and chair and CEO of Kitson & Partners
Babcock Ranch is committed to an outdoor-centric lifestyle that promotes physical activity, mental clarity, and a deep connection to nature, he added
“With recreation as a core initiative at the heart of our development, the William and Mary Ann Smith Sports Complex was developed to offer the growing community, including the students at Babcock Schools, even more opportunities to enjoy the outdoors and lead an active lifestyle,” Kitson said.
The sports complex is named after longtime Kitson & Partners Advisory Board Member Bill Smith, and his wife, Mary Ann Smith
Construction of the complex began in July 2023 and the facility opened on Friday, Sept 13, with the Babcock High School Trailblazers playing their inaugural home field football game
CONTINUED ON PAGE 17
The new William and Mary Ann Smith Sports Complex opened at Babcock Ranch in September offering its schools and community a facility./PHOTO PROVIDED
Shell Factor y closes book on an era
Story by Chuck Ballaro
Whenever loca residents had v sitors come to town, one of the first p aces they would take them was to the Shell Factory, a kitschy little place where you could go to buy souvenirs, play mini-golf see some animals feed the fish and turtles and so much more
To the locals it was part of the r l ves some for decades That famous arch was always there and there was always something to do
That came to an end last month when the Shel Factory & Nature Park part of North Fort Myers for more than 70 years after relocating from Bonita Springs in 1953 following a fire closed for the last time And many came back to say goodbye and share memories of one of the last "Old Flor da" attractions
There were clearance prices at the shops and a limited menu at the two restaurants for those who wanted to share a farewell meal or enjoy a f nal round. And there was huge support for the Shell Factory as many wanted to pay one last visit before its closure
Pam Cronin, who with her late husband Tom brought the place back from the brink n the late 1990s, said it was just time as the place was deve oping issues faster than they cou d fix them, especially after the pandemic and Hurricane Ian
“A l the things became overwhelming It has always been a struggle We got c ose a couple times where we thought we might make a profit and it d dn’t happen,” Cronin sa d “It’s gotten to the point where between retail and restaurant sales being less nationwide and the huge number of repairs, it just d d not make sense ”
Looking around you could see the lingering effects of the near Category-5 storm that devastated Southwest Florida almost two years to the date
“We haven’t listed the property We had been looking into some nqu ries from companies that have contacted us about purchas ng and keeping it as an attract on ” Cronin sa d
“We contacted them for nterest but they got
the financials as it is the nterest waned It wasn’t f nancially feasible ”
Cronin said they were n the process of rehoming the animals in the Nature Park for which they have gotten tremendous support, and are making sure that those who worked there could find some employment
Cronin a so said that unsold items would be put up for auction. The Chamber of Commerce will continue to be housed there for the time being, as will the Gulf Coast Fudge Company
timental to me ”
“We were here twice a month I’ve been coming here since I cou d breathe,” sa d her daughter Chr stine “I have p ctures of me at age 2 here I always went here because this was one of the on y th ngs we could do in the area ” Angel Corrente had been coming to the Shell Factory since the late 1980s, and it was one of her f rst memories about Florida
“I thought it was the most amaz ng place When I moved here and had children this was one of the first places we took them ” Corrente said “I am so sad to see this happen It’s such a wonderful place It’s why I moved up the road ”
T na Bartholomew of North Port, found the Shell Factory by accident when she discovered the flea market in the front parking lot
For those who enjoyed the Shell Factory all these years, it s going to be a great loss, as it represented one of the few old t me tourist attract ons the area had K mberly Indyk, of Cape Coral has brought her ch ldren here since they could remember
“We’re very sad to see it go I think something like this should be here We don’t have any good tourist areas ” Indyk said “It’s a great place to bring the kids and fam ly and we enjoyed the Nature Park a l these years It’s something that’s been special and sen-
“We went in and it became one of our favorite places to go to It s very sad to see it go When I saw that church made of shel s, that was amazing ” Bartholomew said “And they had the Christmas store and the zip ine and when they opened up Tommy’s, they had great food ” Mike Fleming was also sad as he brought family and fr ends there regularly
“It’s a great p ace to come for young and old We’re hoping an investor will buy it and maybe bring it back to life ” Flem ng said “I remember the great food and shopping and it was the go-to place with a lot of things going on ”
Jan Walimire was there w th her grandk ds eating ice cream
She brought them regularly to do all the fun things offered from min -go f to bumper boats to the popu ar Nature Park with its 400-plus animals, many of them rescues
They also came for the myriads of events
“We’ve been coming for 11 years. We loved seeing Santa Claus and s tt ng in the sleigh and they oved the Halloween store,” Wal mire said “We loved the stuffed an mals and the rides and the Nature Park We had to come one more time ”
Shell Factory owner Pam Cronin talks with a cashier during the final weekend of the historic tourist attraction, which closed its doors for good Sept. 29 after more than 85 years in business ./PHOTO BY CHUCK BALLARO
Shell Factory General Manager Anne Sheridan does some cashier duty during the final weekend of the historic tourist attraction, which closed its doors for good on Sept. 29 after more than 85 years in business
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 — O c t o b e r / N o v e m b e r 2 0 2 4
a n y p e o p l e l i k e t o p a i n t c e r a m i c s a n d f i n d l i t t l e t r i n k e t s f o r c r a f t s t h e y ’ re w o r k i n g o n t o m a k e t h e m s p a r k l e We l l , t h e re ’ s a n e w s t o re i n N o r t h F o r t M y e r s t h a t o ff e r s a r t s a n d c r a f t s f o r c h i l d re n a n d a d u l t s o f a l l a g e s i n a f u n e n v i ro n m e n t a n d w i l l e v e n c o m e t o y o u r h o m e i f y o u a s k
T h e C r a f t C l u b , a t 5 0 5 P o n d e l l a R o a d , U n i t 4 , o p e n e d i t s s t u d i o e a r l i e r t h i s y e a r t o o ff e r f a m il i e s a n d i n d i v i d u a l s s o m e w h e re t h e y c a n w o r k o n t h e i r a r t i s t i c e n d e a v o r s a n d h a v e s o m e f u n i n t h e p ro c e s s . C a r l a O r t e g a - M a r t i n e z a n d h e r h u s b a n d s t a r te d t h e b u s i n e s s i n F e b ru a r y 2 0 2 3 P
d d o c r a f t s a t p e o p l e ’ s h o m e s , b i r t h d a y p a r t i e s a n d o t h e r s p e c i a l e v e n t s . T h e b u s i n e s s g o t b i g e n o u g h s o t h e y m o v e d t o t h e i r p re s e n t s t u d i o e a r l y t h i s y e a r “ We ’ v e b e e n h e re s i n c e M a rc h We o p e n e d t h e
s t o re i n J u l y I w a s p re g n a n t a n d g a v e b i r t h t w o m o n t h s a g o , ” O r t e g a - M a r t i n e z s a i d “ T h i n g s a re
s t a r t i n g t o p i c k u p ”
F o r t h o s e l o o k i n g f o r p ro j e c t s , T h e C r a f t C l u b
“ m e n u ” o ff e r s d e c o - f ro s t i n g , f l u i d p a i n t i n g , c u st o m t o t e s a n d m o re
C u s t o m e r s c a n p i c k o u t t h e i t e m t h e n w a n t t o c u s t o m c r a f t , o r p i c k o u t a s c u l p t u re t h e y w a n t t o p a i n t , O r t e g a - M a r t i n e z s a i d
A m o n g t h e t h i n g s t h e y c a n p a i n t a re S a n r i o ,
P o k e m o n , H e l l o K i t t y, a n d s u p e rh e ro e s a n d
s n e a k e r b e a r s T h e y a l s o o ff e r s p e c i a l p a c k a g e s t h a t c a n b e d o n e a t t h e s t o re o r t h e y c a n c o m e t o y o u r l o c a -
t i o n f o r p a r t i e s o r e v e n t s P r i c e s s t a r t a t $ 2 5 , t h o u g h t h e y o ff e r d i s c o u n t s f o r s h a r i n g y o u r c rea t i o n . “ T h e y c a n s e l e c t t h e p ro j e c t t h e y w o u l d l i k e , d e p e n d i n g o n t h e s i z e o f t h e s c u l p t u re a n d p ro je c t a n d t h e y s e l e c t t h e c o l o r s , ” O r t e g a - M a r t i n e z s a i d “ We p ro v i d e t h e m w i t h g l o v e s a n d a p ro n s s o t h e y d o n ’ t g e t m e s s y ” T h e y s t a y b u s y w i t h o t h e r v e n t u re s a s w e
Daniel Etheridge, left, and his wife, Carla Ortega-Martinez, at their studio, The Craft Club, at 505 Pondella Road./PHOTOS BY CHUCK BALLARO
Story by Chuck Ballaro
A piece of ceramics all painted up at The Craft Club, at 505 Pondella Road.
Tommy Bohanon Foundation awards grants to 14 area youth athletic programs
K a t i e B o h a n o n f ro m t h e f o u n d a -
t i o n p re s e n t e d c h e c k s t o :
● C a p e C o r a l H i g h S c h o o l - $ 1 , 0 0 0
● D u n b a r H i g h - $ 7 , 5 0 0
● G o o d S h e p h e rd - $ 1 , 0 0 0
● G o o d w i l l P a t h w a y s t o O p p o r t u n i t y - $ 5 , 0 0 0
● I d a B a k e r H i g h - $ 1 , 0 0 0
● I s l a n d C o a s t H i g h - $ 6 ,
●
● M a r i n e r H i g h - $ 1 0 , 0 0 0
● M V P F C - $ 1 , 0 0 0
● N
●
●
●
● S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a I m p a c t A t h l e t i c P ro g r a m -
$ 1 , 0 0 0
North Fort Myers High School Track and Field receiving a grant check from the Tommy Bohanon Foundation./PHOTO PROVIDED CONTINUED ON PAGE 17
Lee County Archers offers archer y program for youths
Story by Meghan Bradbury
The Lee County Archers is again offering its Introduction to Archery program for youths looking to learn the sport
"We were thrilled to partner again with the Green Thumb Ranchers 4H club to offer this exciting introduction to archery," Lee County Archers
President Chick Richards said in a prepared statement "Archery is not just a sport; it's a discipline that teaches youth’s focus, patience, and perseverance. We look forward to again guiding the young participants of 4H and other community groups through their first steps in this rewarding journey "
Richard Erschik, one of the instructors, said the Archers are providing the program as part of the club’s mission statement: “We are dedicated to encouraging youth interest in archery to keep the sport alive and growing ”
“The training received rave reviews from the 4H leaders, parents, and par-
ticipants,” he said of last year ’s programs for those 10 to 15 years old “Six are returning this year for a total of 12 ”
In addition to Erschik, certified Level 2 archery instructors Laurie
Dougherty and Bob Nichols also will lead the group All three are specially trained as 4H instructors
“All three of us are USA Archery
trained Level 1 and Level 2 trainers and have also been trained by the 4H to train their youths,” he said
Members Preston Moore and John Comito will demonstrate the workings of the compound bow and the hand crafting of wooden arrows during the program, as well
The Green Thumb Ranchers will meet with the Lee County Archers on
the monthly Saturdays for two hours from September through June. The students will work on the origin of archery, different types of bows and their function, the 11 fundamentals of form, professional bow shooting and arrow making demonstrations and target practice
Lee County Archers was originally established in the late 1960s and is located at 8400 Nalle Grade Rd , North Fort Myers
“Lee County Archers is a haven for archery enthusiasts of all skill levels
The club is open 24-hours to members Thursday and Saturday from 10 a m to 2 p m , the club is open to the public and offers a warm welcome to visitors eager to learn the art of archery
Advance notice of visits is suggested,” Erschik said
For more information, visit www.LeeCountyArchers.com.
The group is looking to offer the Introduction to Archery program to more youths Those interested can contact Erschnik by calling 630-642-6500 or emailing rerschik@richarderschik com NFMNL
Lee County Archers was originally established in the late 1960s and is located at 8400 Nalle Grade Road., North Fort Myers ./FILE PHOTO
“Just a little more than one year later, Babcock Ranch is proud to celebrate the opening of the expansive facility providing residents and visitors new avenues for recreation,” Kitson said “The grand opening marked BHS Trailblazers’ first-ever home field football game, with a victorious 28-20 win The energy was contagious as the community gathered with excitement for Babcock Ranch’s new William and Mary Ann Smith Sports Complex, and support for the Trailblazers’ inaugural home game ”
The 23-acre complex includes a softball field, baseball field, natural turf soccer/multipurpose field, stadium field with a running track, and a skate park It is located behind the Babcock Schools campus
“Expanding upon our commitment to recreation as a core initiative, the complex invites the public to enjoy Babcock Ranch’s outdoor lifestyle and connection to nature Having an official home for the
grants FROM PAGE 14
t i o n p re s i d e n t To m m y B o h a n o n “ We a p p re c i a t e
a l l t h a t t h e s e p ro g r a m s d o t o h e l p o u r s t u d e n t -
a t h l e t e s g ro w a n d w e a re h o n o re d t o s u p p o r t
t h e m a s m u c h a s w e c a n ”
T h e g r a n t s p ro v i d e a n o p p o r t u n i t y f o r
S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a a t h l e t i c p ro g r a m s i n n e e d t o
re c e i v e f u n d i n g o r p h y s i c a l e q u i p m e n t f o r t h e i r
a t h l e t e s Wi t h t h e p ro p e r e q u i p m e n t , a t h l e t e s
c a n e x c e l i n t h e i r s p o r t s a f e l y a n d m o re e ff e c -
Babcock Schools’ athletic programs, future community leagues and a multipurpose space for public use is another important milestone for Babcock Ranch,” he said
The offerings were designed to support a diverse range of sports and activities – football, baseball, softball, soccer, track, skateboarding, as well as more on the turf multipurpose fields.
“Throughout the academic year, the facility provides a home for Babcock Schools’ activities, classes, team practices, games and events, which include five varsity sports this year,” Kitson said
The complex will open to the public beginning Jan 1, 2025, to provide an opportunity to reserve the field, or skate park for sports leagues and other coordinated events, he said
In addition, the complex features an onsite trailhead to Dr Bill Hammond Trails, Kitson said, a 4-
mile network of scenic nature trails connecting residents and guests to parks along the parkway
“Babcock Ranch offers an extensive 36-mile plus network of walking, running, biking and hiking trails with plans to grow to over 100 miles,” he said “The complex enhances Babcock Ranch’s connection to the outdoors, providing visitors additional avenues to enjoy nature and lead an active lifestyle.”
The William and Mary Ann Smith Sports Complex is at 17100 Palmetto Pass Lane The fields are open daily from 6 a m to 10 p m and open to the public when not being used for school activities The skate park is open from 8 a m to 10 a m daily
The field and skate park lights will be on from dusk to close every day Later in the year, additional details, rules, and public field rental rates will be released
t i v e l y S i n c e 2 0 1 8 , t h e f o u n d a t i o n h a s a w a rd e d o v e r $ 2 1 8 , 0 0 0 t o m o re t h a n a d o z e n a t h l e t i c p rog r a m s
A b o u t t h e To m m y
B o h a n o n F o u n d a t i o n
T h e To m m y B o h a n o n F o u n d a t i o n i s a
5 0 1 ( c ) ( 3 ) n o n p ro f i t o rg a n i z a t i o n d e d i c a t e d t o
s u p p o r t i n g y o u n g a t h l e t e s re a c h t h e i r h i g h e s t
p o t e n t i a l o n a n d o ff t h e p l a y i n g f i e l d F o r m e r
N F L f u l l b a c k To m m y B o h a n o n re t u r n e d t o h i s
h o m e t o w n i n S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a t o p u r s u e h i s
v i s i o n o f e n d i n g g e n e r a t i o n a l p o v e r t y f o r a t -
r i s k y o u t h T h e f o u n d a t i o n f u n d s a n n u a l s c h o la r s h i p s , s p o r t s e q u i p m e n t g r a n t s t o l o c a l h i g h
s c h o o l s , y o u t h f o o t b a l l c a m p s , s e m i n a r s a n d
p ro g r a m s , a s w e l l a s f u n d i n g f o r o t h e r l o c a l n o n p ro f i t s F o r m o re i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e
To m m y B o h a n o n F o u n d a t i o n , v i s i t
To m m y B o h a n o n F o u n d a t i o n o rg o r c a l l 2 3 9 - 6 7 1 -
0 4 4 1 .
TOMáSCONCRETE,INC
