June 2024 client headlines: Top news stories to read, watch

Priority Marketing’s June 2024 Client Headlines Report recaps news stories that you should read, watch or hear before the month ends. 

The firm’s award-winning Public Relations Team helps clients and partners earn media coverage in newspapers and magazines, on television and radio, and on blogs, social media and websites. At the end of each month, the PR Team combs through hundreds of local, national and international news headlines to create its informative Client Headlines Report. 

Below are just some of the many important stories that were published or aired in June 2024. 

BOOKMARK IT: Client News Feed 

Superheroes come to the rescue

United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades met its $11 million annual campaign goal, marking the 31st consecutive year that supporters have rallied to support United Way and its partner agencies. This year’s superhero-themed campaign – Uniting Heroes, Inspiring Hope – raised money through pledges from employees of local pacesetter companies, businesses, and generous individuals. 

Cape Coral Breeze: United Way drive surpasses goal 

Caloosa Belle News: 31 years and counting: United Way surpasses annual fundraising goal 

Gulfshore Business: United Way surpasses annual fundraising goal 

Encouraging homeowners to do their part

Lee County Government is reminding homeowners and professional landscapers to stop fertilizing from June 1 to Sept. 30. During the summer rainy season, fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorus may not be applied to turf and/or landscape plants in unincorporated Lee County. Excess nutrients can have negative effects on county waterbodies and feed harmful aquatic algae that hurt local wildlife and wash ashore on our beaches. Priority Marketing partnered with Lee County to help educate residents through the media. 

Cape Coral Breeze: Fertilizer ban in effect 

WGCU: Why rainy season fertilizer ordinances are so important in reducing harmful algae blooms 

WGCU: Annual summer ban on fertilizer use in effect in Lee County until October 

WINK: Fertilizer restrictions are in effect for Lee County residents 

Florida Weekly: Lee County reminds residents that fertilizer restrictions are now in effect 

NBC2: Fertilizer bans take effect in most SWFL communities this weekend 

Boca Beacon: County fertilizer bans 

Florida Weekly: Protect Lee County’s water quality and follow the fertilizer ordinance  

Hardware store channels history to guide future

Sunshine Ace Hardware announced plans to open a new retail store at Pelican Bay in Naples, just miles from where the company opened its first location 66 years ago. The new store will occupy about 20,000 square feet of The Marketplace at Pelican Bay in a space previously home to Stein Mart. It is one of four new locations the company plans to open in Southwest Florida. 

Gulfshore Business: Sunshine Ace Hardware to open store at Pelican Bay in Naples 

WINK: Sunshine Ace Hardware to open store at Pelican Bay in Naples 

Hardware Retailing: Sunshine Ace Hardware plans for new stores 

Florida Weekly: Ace is the Place: Hardware chain celebrates 100th anniversary 

Building Products Digest: Sunshine Ace continues Florida expansion 

Naples Press: Sunshine Ace Hardware to open new location at Pelican Bay in 2025 

Beasley Media Group: Sunshine Ace Hardware featured in ‘Heartware Stories’ campaign 

Students learn it’s OK to be different

Southwest Florida teens gathered at FSW for Normal is Overrated, a free community event designed to open doors to acceptance and inclusivity for middle and high school students to talk about mental health. The event shined a light on the mental and behavioral health struggles teens and young people face, and included inspiring stories from local students with first-hand experience, art therapy, interpretative dance and opportunities to connect with mental health services and resources available. 

WGCU: ‘Normal is Overrated’ reduces the stigma around youth mental health by having teens tell their stories  

ABC7: Parenting Alert: Kids’ Minds Matter’s Normal is Overrated 

Above Board Chamber: Normal is Overrated family event to be held June 8 

Farmside dining experience unveiled in SWFL

Blossom & Brie, a charming 86-acre working farm in North Fort Myers, announced farm-fresh dining experiences for lunch, dinner and brunch. The picturesque venue also serves as the perfect backdrop for weddings, private events and special wine dinners. After dining, visitors can stroll the property and visit Blossom, a miniature donkey and the namesake of the farm, plus her two offspring, Margaret and Humphrey. Guests may also meet the Florida Cracker Sheep, chickens, Longhorn cattle and Red Wattle pigs that live on the farm during their visit. 

North Fort Myers Neighbor: Farm-to-table freshness offered at Blossom & Brie 

Florida Weekly: Blossom & Brie brings new farm favorites 

Gulfshore Business: Blossom & Brie farm opens for lunch, dinner, brunch 

Ending the drought in a ‘healthcare desert’

Healthcare Network started construction on its future Orangetree Community Health Center, a $15-million, two story medical complex that will ensure 41,000+ residents will have access to high-quality medical care. The once-rural region is now one of Southwest Florida’s fastest-growing areas, but it remains a “healthcare desert” without any health clinics or medical centers. 

SWFL Business Today: Healthcare Network breaks ground on Orangetree Health Center in Collier County 

Gulfshore Business: Healthcare Network breaks ground on Orangetree Health Center 

South Florida Hospital News & Healthcare Report: Healthcare Network breaks ground on Orangetree Community Health Center 

Streaming from the corner office

Business Observer recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of its “From the Corner Office,” a weekly podcast in which executives, entrepreneurs and decision-makers share their leadership approaches and insights. To date, podcasts have featured seven dynamic leaders of Priority Marketing’s client partners (and more are on the way). 

Episode 54: John Martin, Fort Myers Mighty Mussels 

Episode 52: Mark Loren, Mark Loren Designs 

Episode 39: Elizabeth Dosoretz, Elite DNA Behavioral Health 

Episode 34: Dick Rivera, Suncoast Hospitality Partners 

Episode 23: Teri Hansen, Priority Marketing 

Episode 20: Norman Love, Norman Love Confections 

Episode 13: Michael Wynn, Sunshine Ace Hardware 

Celebrating history, family on Father’s Day weekend

The Lee County Black History Society, Dunbar Festival Committee and African Coalition of Southwest Florida partnered to host the 12th Annual Juneteenth Community Celebration at Roberto Clemente Park. The celebration featured fun and entertainment for the entire family, including stage performances, music, arts and crafts, food and refreshments, as well as information from community businesses in wealth, health, education, job training, employment, housing, corporate and governmental services and more. Priority Marketing helped secure advanced media coverage to boost attendance, as well as live media coverage at the event. 

Event Previews 

The News-Press: Juneteenth 2024 in Fort Myers: Recognizing ‘a great milestone’ 

The News-Press: Juneteenth Community Festival at Clemente Park 

FOX4: Things to do: Fort Myers Juneteenth Celebration 

Florida Weekly: What to do, where to go: Juneteenth Celebration 

Beasley Media Group: Father’s Day Weekend: Juneteenth Community Festival 

Event Coverage 

The News-Press: PHOTOS: Juneteenth Jubilee in Dunbar brings out community 

FOX4: Lee County Black Historical Society hosts annual Juneteenth Jubilee 

WGCU: A celebration of Freedom: Juneteenth in Fort Myers 

Awards and honors: Client recognitions

Priority Marketing helps clients share the good news when they win awards and accolades. Below are recent awards that caught our PR team’s attention: 

• Aprile Osborne, Call It Closed International Realty: Top 1,000 Realtors by RealTrends Verified 

• Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel, Second Region: 2024 Governor’s Sterling Award in the Team Showcase Competition 

• The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce announced finalists for its 2024 Chamber Awards, including several Priority Marketing clients: Drake Ready Mix (Large Business of the Year), Dr. Nadine Singh (Community Impact Award) and Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County (Nonprofit Excellence Award). Priority Marketing’s own Melissa Mitchell is a finalist for Young Professional of the Year. Additionally, Jeannine Joy of United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades is a finalist for the Women in Business’s APEX Award. 

New faces in new places: Promotions and appointments

Congratulations to the following individuals who were recently hired, promoted or awarded additional responsibilities by client partners that Priority Marketing serves: 

• Robin Hetzel, hired as project manager for Stevens Construction 

• Dr. Brian Lawenda, hired as radiation oncologist for Advocate Radiation Oncology 

• Dr. Colleen Galvin, hired as physician associate, naturopath physician and acupuncturist for Family Integrative Medicine 

• Amir Cyrus, hired as housing attorney for Lee County Legal Aid Society 

• Andrea Saputo Cox, joined board of directors for Better Together 

• Janet Pogar and Lisa Casey, joined board of directors for Immokalee Fair Housing Alliance 

Do you need a Public Relations Team to help tell your story? Please give us a call today at 239-267-2638 or send an email to LetsTalk@PriorityMarketing.com.