PHOTO PROVIDED QR code for Sanibel Captiva Business Women's Association's open house.

SCBWA TO HOLD ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE

The Sanibel Captiva Business Women’s Association will host its Third Annual Open House on May 7 from 5 to 8 p.m. at The Community House, at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.

The event is intended to show member appreciation and welcome new prospective members.

It will feature networking, socializing, food, refreshments and door prizes.

Event sponsors are Custom Goods Unlimited and MHK Architecture.

PHOTO PROVIDED Holly Smith

Tickets are $10 per person.

Registration is required on Eventbrite.

For more information, contact taylor@irisprintdesigns.com.

Updates are posted at www.facebook.com/SanCapBWA.

CITY OFFICIAL RECEIVES FLC AWARD

PHOTO PROVIDED Matt DePaolis

The city of Sanibel reported that the Florida League of Cities (FLC) has named City Councilmember Holly Smith as a recipient of the Home Rule Hero Award for 2024.

She received the recognition for her tireless advocacy for the city and its residents.

It is the seventh consecutive time that Smith has been awarded the honor.

“I am honored and privileged to continue to be a strong voice for our community in both Tallahassee and in Washington, D.C., on matters of importance to our residents and businesses here on Sanibel,” she said. “That is the core of what home rule is about.”

Home rule is the ability of a city to address local problems with local solutions, with minimal state interference. The award recipients are government officials, elected and non-elected, who have consistently responded to the FLC’s request to reach out to members of the Legislature to provide a local perspective on an issue.

PHOTO PROVIDED From left to right, John Grim, Sanibel resident and Florida Gulf Coast University Professor Emeritus Dr. Peter Blaze Corcoran and Mary Evelyn Tucker.

Smith currently serves as 2nd Vice President for the FLC and serves as president of the Southwest Florida League of Cities Chapter.

SCCF STAFFER ELECTED TO BOARD

At a recent annual meeting of the Everglades Coalition, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis was elected to join its board of directors.

He will help manage the coalition by sharing leadership responsibilities to carry out its mission.

The coalition is a group of 57 environmental organizations that share a goal of restoring the Everglades. In addition to organizing the largest annual conference focused on Everglades restoration, it serves as an advocacy engine for the Everglades restoration process.

JOHN R. WOOD ADDS NEW AGENTS

John R. Wood Christie’s International Real Estate announced the addition of 16 new agents in March.

In Lee County, Dean Bach, Joe Carfora, Amber Cory and James Faircloth joined the Bonita Springs office, and Patrick Crawford, Cathy Johnson, Eric Schnake and Alison Schnake joined the University office.

In Collier County, Charles “Chuck” Agrusa, Luisa Cestari and Rachael Rogala joined the Fifth Avenue office; Gail Archer, Alexa Chase and Alyssa Taylor joined the Broad Avenue South office; Robin Lane joined the North Naples office; and Heidi Bennet joined the Vineyards office.

ISLANDER RECOGNIZED WITH AWARD

The Thomas Berry Foundation named Sanibel resident and Florida Gulf Coast University Professor Emeritus Dr. Peter Blaze Corcoran a 2024 Thomas Berry Award winner at the Earth Charter International Education Conference on April 12-14 at Rollins College in Winter Park.

He was honored for his work in the field of Earth Charter scholarship.

The other winners were University Leaders for a Sustainable Future Executive Director Dr. Rick Clugston and Earth Charter International Executive Director Mirian Vilela.

Themed “Reimagining Education for Ecological Civilizations” this year, the conference was a gathering of educators and researchers from around the world to discuss new ways to advance the mission of the Earth Charter, a statement of ethical principles for sustainability.