NAPLES Vigil held for teen shot and killed at Collier party Family, friends and loved ones gathered at a candlelight vigil to remember and honor the life of 18-year-old D’eisha Arthur.
SANIBEL 36th annual Sanibel Luminary Festival begins The Luminary Festival kicked off on Sanibel Island on Friday. This community-wide holiday event puts residents and visitors in the holiday spirit.
FORT MYERS Future unsure for Rachel at the Well During Hurricane Ian, Rachel at the well was uprooted from its spot in front of the Edison Park neighborhood.
NAPLES Naples Yacht Club appoints first woman commodore After 78 years, the Naples Yacht Club has appointed its first woman commodore. Kathy Parks King is her name.
FORT MYERS Mano Santa Tattoos, a woman-owned tattoo shop, opens in Fort Myers Mano Santa Tattoos is the newest tattoo studio in Fort Myers, offering an immersive tattoo experience to clients. The shop is woman-owned and women-staffed.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda residents awaiting Gilchrist Park repairs The City of Punta Gorda has yet to complete repairs or remove the boats that remain stranded in Gilchrist Park after Hurricane Milton.
Unlocking Alzheimer’s mysteries Research shows that some older adults have signs of the disease in their brains after they die, even though they never had symptoms while they were alive. These cases could be key to developing new treatments.
IMMOKALEE 64-year-old drug dealer sentenced in Collier County A 64-year-old drug dealer has been sentenced in Collier County for possession and distribution of cocaine.
WINK NEWS Disaster tax relief bill passed after over 2 years After more than two years of uncertainty, victims of Hurricane Ian and other disasters are getting some financial relief.
Elevate Social Lounge opens Kava bar at University Village near FGCU For almost four years, Mitra 9 has marketed itself as the Budweiser of Kava, trying to make mainstream a growing trend of Kava-infused drinks that are said to help reduce anxiety.
ESTERO Funeral procession held for former Lee County firefighter Hundreds joined to pay their respects to a beloved firefighter who passed away in November.
FORT MYERS Will new developments along SR 82 cause traffic problems? New developments are coming to State Road 82 near the Forum, the biggest of which is Amazon’s new robotics fulfillment center.
FORT MYERS FGCU student arrested, accused of making social media threat against university Florida Gulf Coast University police have arrested a student accused of sending a threat to the university through Snapchat.
SANIBEL Sanibel annual 10K/5K race begins this weekend Sanibel’s annual food programs, island-based social services and Helping Hands’ JOG N JAM 10K/5K race will close several roads this Saturday.
NAPLES Vigil held for teen shot and killed at Collier party Family, friends and loved ones gathered at a candlelight vigil to remember and honor the life of 18-year-old D’eisha Arthur.
SANIBEL 36th annual Sanibel Luminary Festival begins The Luminary Festival kicked off on Sanibel Island on Friday. This community-wide holiday event puts residents and visitors in the holiday spirit.
FORT MYERS Future unsure for Rachel at the Well During Hurricane Ian, Rachel at the well was uprooted from its spot in front of the Edison Park neighborhood.
NAPLES Naples Yacht Club appoints first woman commodore After 78 years, the Naples Yacht Club has appointed its first woman commodore. Kathy Parks King is her name.
FORT MYERS Mano Santa Tattoos, a woman-owned tattoo shop, opens in Fort Myers Mano Santa Tattoos is the newest tattoo studio in Fort Myers, offering an immersive tattoo experience to clients. The shop is woman-owned and women-staffed.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda residents awaiting Gilchrist Park repairs The City of Punta Gorda has yet to complete repairs or remove the boats that remain stranded in Gilchrist Park after Hurricane Milton.
Unlocking Alzheimer’s mysteries Research shows that some older adults have signs of the disease in their brains after they die, even though they never had symptoms while they were alive. These cases could be key to developing new treatments.
IMMOKALEE 64-year-old drug dealer sentenced in Collier County A 64-year-old drug dealer has been sentenced in Collier County for possession and distribution of cocaine.
WINK NEWS Disaster tax relief bill passed after over 2 years After more than two years of uncertainty, victims of Hurricane Ian and other disasters are getting some financial relief.
Elevate Social Lounge opens Kava bar at University Village near FGCU For almost four years, Mitra 9 has marketed itself as the Budweiser of Kava, trying to make mainstream a growing trend of Kava-infused drinks that are said to help reduce anxiety.
ESTERO Funeral procession held for former Lee County firefighter Hundreds joined to pay their respects to a beloved firefighter who passed away in November.
FORT MYERS Will new developments along SR 82 cause traffic problems? New developments are coming to State Road 82 near the Forum, the biggest of which is Amazon’s new robotics fulfillment center.
FORT MYERS FGCU student arrested, accused of making social media threat against university Florida Gulf Coast University police have arrested a student accused of sending a threat to the university through Snapchat.
SANIBEL Sanibel annual 10K/5K race begins this weekend Sanibel’s annual food programs, island-based social services and Helping Hands’ JOG N JAM 10K/5K race will close several roads this Saturday.
COLLIER COUNTY, Fla – There’s a fight brewing in Collier County. A Golden Gate farmer’s market is now closed, forcing entire families out of work. “This is their bread and butter and now they have no job,” said Farmer’s Market manager Joey Rakow. All eight members of the Cruz family work at the Farmer’s Market on Saturday at the Golden Gate Community Center. It is their only source of income, and now, it’s gone. Collier commissioners voted 3 to 2 on Tuesday to temporarily ban the market. Commissioner Tom Henning claimed the market hurts nearby store owners and shouldn’t be allowed on county owned property. WINK News uncovered, the county allows several other Farmer’s Market on its property every week. “This is the point I don’t understand,” said Rakov. “The Government Center has one every Friday afternoon on county property and then there’s one on Sunday at Sugden Park. Those were not shut down, but we were targeted and I’m just wondering why.” Diego Vasquez lives in Golden Gate. He says he thinks the commissioner has other motives. “It kind of looks like it’s based on something else, kind of like race or something like that,” said Vasquez. Nick Lafakis who owns Niko’s Kitchen says because of the ban, he’s out hundreds of dollars each week. “On a normal Saturday we draw in anywhere from $500 to $750,” said Lafakis. Lafakis sells food at the market to get enough capital to eventually get his own storefront for the restaurant and catering business. “We’re trying to help out the community. We’re offering a service to a low income community that they desperately need and I can’t understand why it would get shutdown,” said Lafakis. Neighbors who frequent the market, like Annie and Skip Riffle don’t understand, either. “I don’t think it’s fair to them. They work hard for a living, really hard and they’re not gypsies. They’re human beings earning a living,” said Annie Riffle. The Riffles say the market is affordable and accessible for people in the area living on a low income and closing it, is hurting them too. “By shutting down this market, he is technically unemploying about 50 people,” said Farmer’s Market manager Neomi Rakow. Lafakis tells WINK News with the market closed, he may not turn a profit this year. “I’ll be going without a paycheck four or five months because one market got shutdown,” said Lafakis. Vendors will be holding a peaceful protest at Golden Gate Community Park at 9 a.m. on Saturday. County Commissioners will vote on the issue at their next meeting on February 10th. WINK News tried contacting Commissioner Henning for comment, but did not hear back from his office.