Collier County JROTC instructor fired for alleged sexual misconductRedeveloping plan to modify East Fort Myers
NAPLES Collier County JROTC instructor fired for alleged sexual misconduct A teenage girl claims her JROTC instructor made sexual comments, touched her, asked her on a date and told her to keep her mouth shut.
EAST FORT MYERS Redeveloping plan to modify East Fort Myers Southwest Florida is often called paradise, but some areas like East Fort Myers don’t live up to that. Now, the city is looking to change that.
FORT MYERS Dunbar High School works to beat the heat during spring practice Spring practice is heating up in more ways than one. High school teams are braving the elements right now.
Collier County Escaping an abusive partner – the ins and outs of injunctions for protection Survivors of domestic violence often seek an injunction, but for some, it may not be the best option to get out of a bad situation.
ESTERO Gulfshore Business honors 10 women for their contributions to business and Southwest Florida Lois Thome emceed a Gulfshore Business luncheon Thursday recognizing 10 local women for their contributions to SWFL.
NORTH NAPLES North Naples golf pro will have his sister caddy at PGA Championship Evan Bowser, the first assistant golf pro at LaPlaya Golf Club, will have his sister Elayna caddy for him at PGA Championship.
Person airlifted after crash on SR-31 near Bermont Road At least two people are hurt in another wreck on the roads on State Road 31 in Charlotte County.
Palm Beach Blvd. crash caused massive backups Two lanes are closed on Palm Beach Boulevard because of a crash near Orange River Boulevard.
Getting people back into their homes after storms For months, parts of our community have been involved in a back and forth with FEMA over the 25% flood insurance discount.
Lehigh Acres State Road 82: A road marked by tragedy and a plea for safety improvements State Road 82, specifically the stretch between Interstate 75 and Immokalee Road, is not just a highway; it’s a place marked by tragedy and danger.
Mixing meds can make a dangerous cocktail One thing doctors have to consider when prescribing meds is whether they will interact with any drugs the patient is currently taking.
LEHIGH ACRES Caught on camera: thieves end dream of new family home in Lehigh Acres Thieves in the night destroyed a family’s dream of building a new home, and their acts were caught on camera.
PORT CHARLOTTE HyperFiber internet service planned for Port Charlotte HyperFiber, an independent, high-speed fiber-optic internet service, will be available to more than 31,000 homes in Port Charlotte, said the company’s president and CEO, Dan Kennedy.
FORT MYERS What changes do you want to see on Cleveland Avenue? A drive down Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers is a reminder of what used to be for many. Whether it’s the abandoned doctor’s offices, shopping plaza units or the old Sears; there’s room for improvement.
HyperFiber internet service planned for Port Charlotte HyperFiber has collaborated with Charlotte County’s engineering division, and the first Port Charlotte customers began to receive HyperFiber’s connection at the end of April.
NAPLES Collier County JROTC instructor fired for alleged sexual misconduct A teenage girl claims her JROTC instructor made sexual comments, touched her, asked her on a date and told her to keep her mouth shut.
EAST FORT MYERS Redeveloping plan to modify East Fort Myers Southwest Florida is often called paradise, but some areas like East Fort Myers don’t live up to that. Now, the city is looking to change that.
FORT MYERS Dunbar High School works to beat the heat during spring practice Spring practice is heating up in more ways than one. High school teams are braving the elements right now.
Collier County Escaping an abusive partner – the ins and outs of injunctions for protection Survivors of domestic violence often seek an injunction, but for some, it may not be the best option to get out of a bad situation.
ESTERO Gulfshore Business honors 10 women for their contributions to business and Southwest Florida Lois Thome emceed a Gulfshore Business luncheon Thursday recognizing 10 local women for their contributions to SWFL.
NORTH NAPLES North Naples golf pro will have his sister caddy at PGA Championship Evan Bowser, the first assistant golf pro at LaPlaya Golf Club, will have his sister Elayna caddy for him at PGA Championship.
Person airlifted after crash on SR-31 near Bermont Road At least two people are hurt in another wreck on the roads on State Road 31 in Charlotte County.
Palm Beach Blvd. crash caused massive backups Two lanes are closed on Palm Beach Boulevard because of a crash near Orange River Boulevard.
Getting people back into their homes after storms For months, parts of our community have been involved in a back and forth with FEMA over the 25% flood insurance discount.
Lehigh Acres State Road 82: A road marked by tragedy and a plea for safety improvements State Road 82, specifically the stretch between Interstate 75 and Immokalee Road, is not just a highway; it’s a place marked by tragedy and danger.
Mixing meds can make a dangerous cocktail One thing doctors have to consider when prescribing meds is whether they will interact with any drugs the patient is currently taking.
LEHIGH ACRES Caught on camera: thieves end dream of new family home in Lehigh Acres Thieves in the night destroyed a family’s dream of building a new home, and their acts were caught on camera.
PORT CHARLOTTE HyperFiber internet service planned for Port Charlotte HyperFiber, an independent, high-speed fiber-optic internet service, will be available to more than 31,000 homes in Port Charlotte, said the company’s president and CEO, Dan Kennedy.
FORT MYERS What changes do you want to see on Cleveland Avenue? A drive down Cleveland Avenue in Fort Myers is a reminder of what used to be for many. Whether it’s the abandoned doctor’s offices, shopping plaza units or the old Sears; there’s room for improvement.
HyperFiber internet service planned for Port Charlotte HyperFiber has collaborated with Charlotte County’s engineering division, and the first Port Charlotte customers began to receive HyperFiber’s connection at the end of April.
Homes not built on time and homeowners finding problems floor to ceiling once they get inside: That’s what customers of one southwest Florida builder say they’re dealing with, and they want to warn others about their experience. Jenn Grube moved to the North Port area excited to build her own dream home after raising a family. The Grubes chose Zwiercan Homes, saying they loved the company’s models, and with a timeline of 12 to 18 months, they hoped for a quick and easy process. “We didn’t want the hassle of buying a used home, and somebody else’s problems,” Grube explains. “Well, we bought a lot more than that. Because nothing was right.” Grube says the problems started during the building period, with a lot that was covered in trash and a driveway that hollowed out when rain gutters weren’t properly installed. The Grubes did get into their new home in just 13 months, only to realize it wasn’t what they thought. “There were just so many errors,” Grube sighs. According to the Grubes, many of the choices they’d picked out and paid for in their house never arrived. They say, a few days before they moved in, they were told ceiling fans, light fixtures and stone and roof colors had to be replaced. And they’re still battling with an air conditioner that zaps their electric bill for almost 500 dollars a month. But when they needed Zwiercan… “Again, you can’t get a hold of anybody,” Grube says. “Nothing’s going right, things are missing.” The Grubes say eventually, Zwiercan made some fixes and reached compromises but it took 20 months after they moved in for everything to be corrected. And the air conditioning continues to be a problem. “That was really… it was really saddening to us because we invested all this money into this home,” Grube laments. “It shouldn’t be like that.” Grube started doing research online and found other Zwiercan clients around North Port on social media, connecting with others that had dealt with similar issues. They formed a Facebook group… which now includes over 30 families. Everyone seemingly had their own frustrating story and felt like Zwiercan was unbothered by their issues. “There’s absolutely no remorse. No respect. More like, oh good that problem is gone,” Grube explains. “They have wronged us in so many ways, it just hasn’t ever been apologized for.” The biggest problem for Zwiercan customers seems to come right before they get the keys to their new home. Every customer that spoke with WINK News faced massive overage costs in the days before they moved in, some as high as six figures. “He gave everybody that I know a large bill at the end of their construction,” Grube admits. Dr. Kandi Norrell and her husband are still waiting to move into their home, built by Zwiercan. The Norrells say Zwiercan tried to hit her with a 128 thousand dollar overage just a couple of weeks before move-in day. And when the Norrells asked for documents to explain the extra cost, Zwiercan couldn’t produce the paperwork. “He’s just not able to provide any of the documentation that shows us what we’re paying for,” Norrell explained. “What is that extra money for?” The Norrells are still not in their home more than two and a half years after signing a 12 to 18 month contract, and they say they’ve dealt with problems every step of the way. WINK News came came by weeks ago, when finishing touches were being supposed to be made. We discovered windows that didn’t fit and walls that were bowing in. “What are we going to end up with and when are we ever going to finish,” Norrell wondered. “It goes from joy to frustration to anger. It’s just, we’re all over the place.” We also found it hard to get answers. I reached out to Zwiercan Homes to speak with owner Jarek Zwiercan, but a company representative called me back to say he won’t comment on our story. “If nothing else, I don’t want anyone else to be taken like this. I want justice,” Norrell explains. “It takes a toll on your kids, it takes a toll on your health, on your finances,” Grube agrees. “It’s just not good.” Whether they’re waiting on a build or fixing the new house they just moved into, these families just want a place to call home.