Business Notes
Tickets on sale for Grgich Hills Wine Dinner
A limited number of tickets are on sale for the Grgich Hills Wine Dinner on Jan. 11 from 6 to 8 p.m. at The Community House, at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.
Hosted by Bailey’s General Store, attendees will enjoy a dinner and wine seminar featuring five wine pairings with a brand ambassador from Grgich Hills.
A Napa Valley winery, Grgich Hills Estate is committed to natural wine growing and sustainability on five certified organic estate vineyards without artificial pesticides or herbicides and relies on wild yeast fermentation.
Tickets are $150 per person or $800 for a table of six.
Reservations can be made online at www.baileys-sanibel.com.
For more information, contact Calli Johnson at cjohnson@baileys-sanibel.com.
Valenti joins Sanibel Captiva Island Vacation Rentals
Sanibel Captiva Island Vacation Rentals announced the addition of Yolanda Valenti to its team of Concierge Vacation Rental Sales Leaders.
She will serve in the new position of owner relations liaison.
Most recently, Valenti served for 10 years as director of owner services with the vacation rental division of South Seas Island Resort. She possesses more than 25 years of hospitality marketing sales and service experience.
Potts joins island RE/MAX team
Realtor Julie Potts recently joined RE/MAX of the Islands’ Chuck and Kimberley Andrews.
Chuck Andrews will continue assisting his clients and their referrals with their real estate needs on the islands. Meanwhile, Kimberley Andrews and Potts will focus their business efforts within Crown Colony and South Fort Myers.
Sanibel Sea School welcomes new trustee
The Sanibel Sea School recently welcomed Dominique Stokes to its board of trustees.
Stokes has been a resident of Southwest Florida since 2000. She grew up in the Clearwater area, then attended the University of Florida, where she studied business administration and marketing.
She and her husband own a marine construction business, Stokes Marine, where she serves as the director of human resources.
Sanibel Sea School is a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the ocean’s future, one person at a time. For more information, visit sanibelseaschool.org.
On Island Radio for the islands
Sanibel and Captiva now have their own radio station: On Island Radio.
Tune in anywhere and feel like you are on island, even when you are not. Hear sunny music with announcements from the islands, so you can stay connected to your happy place all year long. Download the free On Island app or listen at www.onislandsanibel.com.
Business Notes
Four agents join John R. Wood Properties
John R. Wood Properties recently announced that Lisa Kreps Blanchard, Mark Hatfield, Danette Larson and Isabelle Wells joined the team.
Blanchard moved to Southwest Florida about 20 years ago. Her love for real estate began at an early age and attending open houses with her parents and looking through home magazines became a hobby of hers. Majoring in business helped to solidify Blanchard’ desire to become a real estate specialist. As a first year agent in Georgia, she received an award for closing the most properties.
A Floridian native who graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in marketing, Hatfield was a founding member of The Clorox Company’s Wal-Mart Team in Bentonville, Arkansas. He relocated to Fort Myers Beach in 2003, at which point Hatfield obtained his real estate brokers license. He has been one of the top 10 selling agent on the beach for the past several years.
Larson is a local real estate professional with several years of customer service experience. Born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, she is dedicated to her clients and believes in working with integrity and honesty, as well as serving others. Larson and her husband moved to Southwest Florida in 2014 with their two daughters.
Wells has been a full-time resident of Fort Myers Beach since 1990. She offers real estate service throughout Fort Myers Beach, Estero, Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Naples and the surrounding areas. For the past 27 years, Wells have been a well known and dedicated broker associate Realtor working with her late husband, Robert.
DDWS holds annual meeting elections
The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge Board of Directors welcomed two new members at its annual membership meeting on Dec. 5 – David Jeffrey and Dick Levinson.
The membership also re-elected incumbent Director Sarah Ashton, as well as a slate of officers for 2019, including: President Mike Baldwin, Vice President Sarah Ashton, Secretary Wendy Kindig and Treasurer Bill Valerian.
DDWS presents Founder Award
The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge presented a Founder Award, which is in its second year of existence – to Jim Sprankle at its annual meeting on Dec. 5.
The award goes to individuals who have made a vital contribution to the success of the society.
Past recipients include Millie Ford, Marilyn Kloosterman, Bill Rankin and Jeanne Rankin.
Those selected as a society Founder are recognized with their name on a wall plaque specifically designed for this purpose and displayed in the society’s offices.
Business Notes
Realty Title Services reopens on island
Realty Title Services of Sanibel and Captiva recently reopened on Sanibel.
The company is a full-service escrow, title and settlement company.
Realty Title Services of Sanibel and Captiva is being managed by Tyler Sterns, an attorney and Florida licensed title agent who recently relocated to Fort Myers from the Washington, D.C., area.
Most recently, Sterns worked for a real estate law firm and title company in McLean, Virginia, as a real estate and commercial lending attorney. He represented lenders and investors in real estate transactions and facilitated residential settlements for high-end properties.
For more information, contact 239-395-3515 or closings@rtsanibel.com.
Realty Title Services is at 2133 Periwinkle Way.
Meeker conservation fund established
The sons of the late Dr. Robert G. Meeker recently set up an endowed fund with the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge to generate funds for the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel.
For over 20 years, Meeker and his wife, Beverly, visited the refuge daily during their annual visits to Florida. They came to know the refuge well and learned through experience when and where to find their favorite birds. They particularly enjoyed talking to and learning from the staff. Four generations of Meekers have traveled to Sanibel and the refuge to appreciate its unspoiled natural wonder, beginning with Meeker’s father, who visited often in the early 1960s.
For information on how to set up an endowed fund in the name of a loved one, contact Birgie Miller at 239-472-1100 ext. 4 or director@dingdarlingsociety.org.
Kingfisher Real Estate expands to timeshares
Phaidra McDermott, broker and owner of Kingfisher Real Estate, has partnered with Keith Trowbridge to create a full-service, Southwest Florida timeshare firm with an initial focus on Sanibel and Captiva.
McDermott is a lifelong island resident and has been a Realtor for over 20 years.
Trowbridge developed the first purpose-built, interval ownership resort in the United States in 1973 – the Sanibel Beach Club, a 31-unit condominium project that sold out in 18 months. He is also responsible for the development of additional resorts and complexes, including the Lighthouse Resort, Shell Island Beach Club, Surfrider Beach Club, Donax Village, Coquina Beach and more.
For more information, visit KingfisherTimeshares.com or call 239-472-4411.
Argo joins Cayo Costa State Park
Rick Argo recently joined Cayo Costa State Park as the park manager.
He comes to the Barrier Island Parks from the Koreshan State Historic Site with years of experience with the Florida Park Service.
During Celebrate Cayo Costa on Nov. 3, Argo joined Assistant Park Manager Bill Nash and Park Manager Argo in welcoming attendees.
BOCC elects new chair, vice chair
The Lee Board of County Commissioners recently selected Commissioner Larry Kiker to serve as chairman for 2018-2019. Commissioner Brian Hamman was selected to serve as vice chairman.
The chairman presides over the commission’s regularly scheduled meetings and has the authority to call special meetings; the chairman is responsible for signing all orders and proclamations of the board. The vice chairman serves in these roles if the chairman is unavailable.
The board votes to select a chair and vice chair each November.
Kiker has served on the board since 2012 and served as vice chairman this past year.
In addition, Commissioners Cecil Pendergrass and Hamman recently each took the Oath of Office to serve new terms on the board following their re-election. Pendergrass has served on the board since 2012 and served as chairman this past year. Hamman has served on the board since 2013.
Sanibel Outlets to host Holiday Celebration Saturday
The Sanibel Outlets in Fort Myers will host its Holiday Celebration Saturday on Dec. 15.
Fun for the whole family, the public is invited to enjoy complimentary rides on the Polar Express train and free visits with Santa in the children’s playground from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Sanibel Outlets features more than 40 leading designer and name brand stores.
For more information, visit online at sanibeloutlets.com.
The Sanibel Outlets is at 20350 Summerlin Road.