Business Notes
OUTDOOR EVENT TO FEATURE BREWS, FOOD
Burger, Beers & Boots will take place on March 8 from noon to 6 p.m. outdoors at the Tahitian Gardens shopping plaza on Sanibel.
Organized by Cheeburger Cheeburger, it will feature food and local brews for purchase, including craft beers from the Ankrolab Brewing Company, Fort Myers Brewing Company, Palm City Brewing Company and Point Ybel Brewing Company.
There will also be the Tap Truck of Fort Myers, live music with Rob Winters and deejay Antoinette, line dancing with Val Wolf, and family-friendly games and activities.
Admission is free and open to the public.
The Tahitian Gardens is at 1975 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.
WOMEN WHO CARE TO HOLD MEETING
100+ Women Who Care Sanibel & Captiva Islands will hold its next meeting of the season on March 10 from 9 to 10 a.m. at the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors, at 2353 Periwinkle Way, Suite 201, Sanibel.
It is a giving circle where members donate $100 per meeting, with three meetings held each season. At each meeting, members hear short pitches from three local nonprofits that are randomly selected and then vote to award the pooled funds to the nonprofit with the most votes.
An additional $18,000 in grant funding that was received for the 2026 season will increase the first-place award, plus extend grants to the second- and third-place nonprofits.
100+ Women Who Care Sanibel & Captiva Islands is powered by the Charitable Foundation of the Islands, and Florida Trust Wealth Management is its season sponsor.
The meeting is open to members and those interested in joining.
To sign up as a member, visit SanCap100.org or mail a check for $300 to P.O. Box 1429, Sanibel, FL 33957; checks should be made payable to the Charitable Foundation of the Islands, with “100+ Women Who Care” in the memo line.
Members can attend the meeting in person or via Zoom.
To attend or for more information, visit online or contact 100women@sancapcfi.org.
REC CENTER SEEKING EVENT PARTNERS
The Sanibel Recreation Center is seeking community partners to participate in its Great Spring Egg Hunt on April 4 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Sanibel Ballfields on Sanibel.
Local organizations and businesses are invited to host a table and offer activities, crafts or games. Hosting a table provides an opportunity to connect with families, showcase the organization or business, and contribute to a memorable day for the community.
There are a limited variety of partnership opportunities.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
To register as a partner, visit forms.gle/8BUmi9JuKUHHesPZ9.
For more information, including about sponsorships, contact Recreation Department Marketing & Events Coordinator Denise Dillon at denise.dillon@mysanibel.com.
The Sanibel Recreation Center is at 3880 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel.
SHELL MUSEUM, IMAG OFFER DISCOUNT
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium on Sanibel and the IMAG History & Science Center in Fort Myers have partnered to offer a reciprocal admission discount.
Visitors to the shell museum will receive a coupon for 50% off IMAG admission for their party; and, likewise, visitors to IMAG will receive a coupon for 50% off shell museum admission.
Both museums hope that the new offer will help inspire exciting new educational experiences.
The shell museum is a natural history museum and aquarium. The only museum in the United States devoted primarily to shells and mollusks, its mission is to educate and inspire an understanding of mollusks, their shells and their habitats using experiences, collections and science. Permanent exhibitions include the Great Hall of Shells, which highlights of the museum’s collection of more than 600,000 shells, as well as the Living Gallery of Aquariums and over 60 species of marine life.
IMAG is an extraordinary, unique family-friendly destination in Southwest Florida that features aquariums and animal exhibits; interactive displays, exhibits and activities; presentations; and programs designed to inspire imagination. Through the lenses of history and science, it focuses on presentations and programs that advance STEM education — Science, Technology, Engineering and Math — and an appreciation for the arts, culture and rich history of Southwest Florida.
The discount will be available from now through Dec. 31.
For more information, visit ShellMuseum.org/imag-partnership.
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium is at 3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel.
The IMAG History & Science Center is at 2000 Cranford Ave., Fort Myers.
SCIAR HOLDS EAST CARAVAN MEETING
The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors (SCIAR) held its East Caravan Meeting on Feb. 12 at The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club on Sanibel.
The guest speaker was Fort Myers Future co-founder and Managing Partner Edgar Wilson II. He provided perspective on regional growth and community development initiatives.
Also, members gathered for networking, market updates and property tour coordination, previewing new listings and sharing insights on current market activity across the islands.
The Dunes sponsored the meeting.
CFI HOSTS LUNCH, LEARN FOR NONPROFITS
The Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) hosted a Lunch & Learn for over 30 nonprofit leaders across the islands on Feb. 13 at the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors on Sanibel.
The session featured The Potrero Group Chief Executive Officer and Principal Cleveland Justis and explored new strategies for recruiting and strengthening nonprofit boards.
It centered on insights from the Stanford Social Innovation Review article’s “How Nonprofits Can Recruit Better Board Members,” co-authored by Justis and CFI Board Member Susan S. Boren.
Justis reported that many nonprofit boards continue to rely heavily on personal networks to recruit new members, which can limit access to fresh perspectives and emerging leaders.
According to Boren, modern governance requires intentional recruitment and a willingness to look beyond familiar circles.
Justis outlined practical steps nonprofits can take to conduct an open board search, including building agreement among leadership on board needs, developing a clear position profile, publicly recruiting candidates, using structured interviews to evaluate applicants and providing thoughtful onboarding to help new members succeed.
The discussion also highlighted how stronger governance can help organizations remain resilient and effective during times of change.
KIWANIS CLUB INDUCTS NEW MEMBER
The Sanibel-Captiva Kiwanis Club welcomed a new member.
Lisa Lahners was recently inducted.
The club reported that it is excited to have her join and looks forward to the energy, ideas and community spirit that she will bring.
For more information, visit www.sanibelkiwanis.org.
SAN CAP BANK SERVES AS SPONSOR
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank was a $5,000 sponsor for Captains For Clean Water’s 10-Year Anniversary Restore Gala on Feb. 20 at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers.
The event featured dinner, live music, silent and live auctions, raffles, and a presentation celebrating the organization’s accomplishments and ongoing efforts to preserve Florida’s waters.
DOC FORD’S TO SERVE AS SPONSOR
Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille is a silver sponsor and Queens Pageant sponsor for the Fort Myers Beach Lions Club’s 68th annual Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival on March 7-8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fort Myers Beach.
The Fort Myers Beach restaurant donated $5,500 to the event, including sponsorship of its team member Devin Haddock as a candidate for the Shrimp Queen title.
Doc Ford’s, the Dixie Fish Company and Bonita Fish Company — managed by the HM Restaurant Group — are also building a float for the parade on March 7 along Estero Boulevard.
The festival will highlight the area’s famed “Pink Gold” Gulf shrimp. It also honors and supports local fishing families and Fort Myers Beach’s historic fishing industry through the Blessing of the Fleet and the Pink Gold shrimp boil.
In addition, there will be an arts and crafts fair, a shrimp-eating contest and 5K race.
Proceeds from the event will support community programs, vision services and scholarships.
For more information, https://fortmyersbeachshrimpfestival.com/.
BENSON ELECTED VICE CHAIRMAN
A. Vernon Allen announced that co-owner Ryan Benson has been named vice chairman of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.
The corporation administers affordable and workforce housing initiatives and programs for the state, as well as federally directed resources to Florida programs.
Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed Benson to the board in 2019, and he served as chairman in 2024.