December 29th, 2010
Innovators strengthen health, arts, business communities
These trailblazers reinvigorated neighborhoods, showed great business acumen in the face of crisis, provided needed healthcare services and created a thriving local arts scene.
They are innovators, movers and shakers, and community trustees who not only say they will do big things, but they act upon their vision.
Their intelligence, tenacity and their commitment to the common good are admired by their peers and members of the community.
They are role models who achieved great things in 2010 and who we expect will continue to achieve success in the next year and beyond.
Today, we honor Samira Beckwith, president and CEO of Hope HealthCare Services; Andy Howl, co-owner of Howl gallery and tattoo parlor; Abdul ‘Haq Muhammed, executive director of the Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida and chairman of the 21st Century Dunbar Collaboration; and Pamela Templeton, co-owner of Fort Myers Toyota.
They are among The News-Press’ Trailblazers of 2010.
Andy Howl
Andy Howl, owner of Howl Gallery in downtown Fort Myers, is the leading voice behind the success of ArtWalk and MusicWalk in downtown Fort Myers.
Downtown Fort Myers also is known as the River District for being located on the south bank of the Caloosahatchee.
In the last several years, Fort Myers has invested many millions of dollars in remodeling downtown. Almost all of the buildings have been restored as well.
Today, downtown Fort Myers is home to several restaurants and bars, a place where locals and visitors have enjoyed the flavor of Old Florida.
ArtWalk and MusicWalk have sparked a renaissance in downtown, which had languished for years.
These celebrations were conceived to drive sales and bring more foot traffic to the area, but they have also succeeded in raising the bar for cultural literacy, community connection and enjoyment of the arts.
ArtWalk made its debut in October 2008. After its success Howl, along with several other ArtWalk partners and River District Alliance movers and shakers, merged their creative minds to come up with MusicWalk in August.
Howl, who co-chairs MusicWalk with Roger Di Ciccio of Red Rock Saloon started MusicWalk in the same tradition as ArtWalk.
ArtWalk happens the first Friday of the month, and it showcases local and national artwork in the downtown art galleries of the Fort Myers River District. Even bars and restaurants host art openings.
MusicWalk features a variety of restaurants, bars, galleries, stores and cafes — 18 in all — which open their doors the third Saturday of every month and offer free live music from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Some venues even hire street performers to keep the vibe going between venues. For more information, go to fortmyersmusicwalk.com.
This is the kind of creative thinking has kept the local economy going despite the recession, and Howl has been an innovator who helped make that happen.---
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