September passenger count breaks records at Southwest Florida International Airport

During September, a record-breaking 551,041 passengers traveled through Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers. This was an increase of 115 percent compared to September 2020 and 19.5 percent more than the passenger traffic in September 2019. Year-to-date, passenger traffic is up 69.5 percent compared to last year.

The traffic leader in September was Delta Air Lines with 125,437 total passengers. Rounding out the top five airlines were Southwest (121,813), American (86,508), United (76,160) and JetBlue (51,269).

Southwest Florida International Airport had 5,624 aircraft operations, an increase of 67 percent compared to September 2020. Page Field saw 11,585 operations, a 15 percent increase compared to September 2020.

Southwest Florida International Airport served nearly 6 million passengers in 2020 and is one of the top 50 U.S. airports for passenger traffic. For information, visit flylcpa.com or facebook.com/flyRSW.

Waste Pro’s Jones named divisional vice president

Bill Jones, division manager of Waste Pro’s Fort Myers Division, has been promoted to divisional vice president in Southwest Florida. In addition to his leadership of Waste Pro’s Fort Myers Division, he now oversees the operations of Waste Pro’s new operating facility in Collier County.

A graduate of California State University, Fullerton, Jones has more than 30 years of experience in the waste industry and previously managed a private solid waste company in Southern California.

In 2018, he joined Waste Pro as the Company’s Fort Myers Division Manager. In that role, he managed one of Waste Pro’s most successful divisions with more than 200 employees and nearly 150,000 residential customers in Cape Coral and unincorporated Lee County.

Waste Pro USA Inc. is one of the country’s fastest growing privately-owned waste collection, recycling, processing and disposal companies, operating in ten southeastern states. Waste Pro, with revenues projected to exceed $900 million in 2022, serves more than two million residential and 100,000 commercial customers from over 80 operating locations. Waste Pro is headquartered in Longwood, Florida, and maintains approximately 300 exclusive municipal contracts and franchises.

Gulf Shore Cooling, Lennox provide air conditioning unit for Fort Myers church

On Thursday, Oct. 14, Gulf Shore Cooling and Lennox partnered to donate and install a 5-ton air conditioning system for a local church in need, Southside Christian Church, at 7800 College Parkway, Fort Myers.

Organizers of the donation effort reported that the church has had many hardships over the last few years, including a failing air conditioning system for a planned daycare facility on the church property. Thanks to the “Feel the Love” program, Lennox and Gulf Shore Cooling, Southside Christian church will now be able to partner with a local Christian organization that is looking to operate the day-school.

Gulf Shore Cooling officials said they were excited to help the kids at the daycare and Southside Christian Church with a brand new 5-ton air conditioning system. Church members were invited to the opening event and Gulf Shore Cooling provided lunch for all.

Gulf Shore Cooling is located at 6428 Commerce Park Drive in Fort Myers. For additional information, call 239-939-1137.

Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz collecting for Toys for Tots

For the 15th year, Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz, P.A. offices are collecting toys to be distributed by the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation. Toys will be collected until Dec. 15, when they will be picked up and distributed by Toys for Tots to approved local social welfare agencies, church groups and other organizations.

In 2020, Toys for Tots in Lee County distributed 61,110 toys to 27,831 children, an increase from 55,321 toys to 16,422 children in 2019. In Collier County, Toys for Tots distributed 14,780 toys to 5,155 children in 2020.

The public is invited to bring new, unwrapped toys for newborn children through age 12 to any of the five Gold-stein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz offices, which will also collect donations to Toys for Tots of North Central Lee County.

Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz locations accepting Toys for Tots donations include:

• Fort Myers – Downtown: 1515 Broadway St., 239-334-1146

• Cape Coral – 461 Del Prado Blvd., 239-574-5575

• Naples – 2590 Northbrooke Plaza Drive, Suite 105, 239-514-0924

• Lehigh Acres – 4802 Lee Blvd., 239-368-6101

• Port Charlotte – New Office: 2602 Tamiami Trail, 941-624-2393

In addition to donations of toys, monetary donations also are accepted at www.toysfortots.org

Goldstein, Buckley, Cechman, Rice & Purtz, P.A., has offered a full complement of professional legal services to Southwest Florida clients since 1962. The firm’s attorneys are board certified by the Florida Bar, and their areas of practice include personal injury and accidents, fall and premises liability, wrongful death, motorcycle and truck accidents, medical malpractice, real estate, commercial litigation, construction law, wills, and estate planning and administration.

With offices in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Lehigh Acres and Port Charlotte, attorneys can be reached by calling 239-500-HURT or visiting JusticeStartsNow.com.

Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats charity art auction benefits go to Tommy Bohanon Foundation

Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats recently announced a limited online charity art auction to benefit the Tommy Bohanon Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities Southwest Florida. Two generous donors gifted the charities high-value art pieces hoping that a community auction would raise a substantial amount to help continue their missions.

This exclusive auction boasts works from James Fairman and Rembrandt.

The Tommy Bohanon Foundation is dedicated to young athletes in supporting them to reach their highest potential on and off the playing field. RMHC SWFL creates, finds, and supports programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and their families in Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties.

Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats recently raised $80,000 at their 30th anniversary gala for four charities: Tommy Bohanon Foundation, Guide Dogs, Blessings in a Backpack, and RMHC SWFL.

The online charity art auction started Friday, Oct. 8, and runs until October 29, 2021. Interested parties can visit https://one.bidpal.net/nortechsilentauction to bid. Proceeds from the online charity art auction will be split 50/50 for both charities.

For more about Nor-Tech Hi-Performance Boats, visit https://www.nor-techboats.com/

For more about the Tommy Bohanon Foundation, visit tommybohanonfoundation.org/

Information about Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida can be found at www.rmhcswfl.org/