Woman rescued from Peace River by good Samaritans days after MiltonRestaurant in Cape Coral helps another in Punta Gorda recover from Milton
Woman rescued from Peace River by good Samaritans days after Milton A woman is lucky to be alive after being found two miles off the coast in the Peace River and brought to shore by vigilant good samaritans.
PUNTA GORDA Restaurant in Cape Coral helps another in Punta Gorda recover from Milton Bartenders at the Celtic Ray in Punta Gorda have struggled since Hurricane Milton severely damaged the pub.
Warrior Homes of Collier awards scholarships to local veterans Four Collier County students with military ties are getting a boost toward their education.
Caught on video: Man arrested after leading police on chase in stolen truck Florida troopers say 36-year-old David Alfonso stole the vehicle in Collier County and then led them on a chase through Lee County to Alico Road and Ben Hill Griffin.
Record early voting in SWFL may be linked to recent hurricanes On Monday, thousands of people got in line at their polling places as early voting started for most places in southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS BEACH Milton leaves Fort Myers Beach residents buried in sand and seeking help Hurricane Milton pushed sand onto the streets of Fort Myers Beach, leaving many residents asking for help.
LEHIGH ACRES East Lee County principal uses lemonade to create gameday tradition East Lee County High School principal Tony Allen uses his lemonade recipe to create a new gameday tradition.
NAPLES Naples man defends home from flood waters One Naples man did not mess around when it came to Hurricane Milton prep. Guy Lollino got five feet of water in his home on Vanderbilt Beach during Hurricane Ian. This time he decided to stack a ton of sandbags and fill the cracks with sprayable Styrofoam.
Detecting pancreatic cancer early with AI A pancreatic cancer diagnosis is one of the most dreaded because it carries a very high mortality rate.
Lee County restores solid waste services The process of removing garbage and debris from the streets of Lee County has begun.
Algae bloom research turns into useful storm tool Many of us watched helplessly and waited as hurricanes Helene and Milton sent storm surges onto our roads, into our homes and businesses, altering what we know as home forever. At the same time, one Florida Gulf Coast University student saw the storms as a scientific opportunity.
Amendment 2: Right to fish and hunt Tens of thousands of Floridians, and thousands more visitors that come to our state, enjoy fishing and hunting. We live in a state surrounded by water and wildlife and people have taken advantage of that.
Amendment 1: Establishing partisan school board elections Some school board meetings have become political, with raised voices and the need for security
FORT MYERS Local salon withstands impacts from 3 major hurricanes One hurricane can be devastating; however, three storms will force you to find better ways to prepare for impacts.
Azaleas on the Corner sells plants, paintings, wine in downtown Fort Myers The mother-daughter team of Marie Dyer and Corinne Wimberly already had a business plan in place to start their own shop. They just didn’t have a place to put it.
Woman rescued from Peace River by good Samaritans days after Milton A woman is lucky to be alive after being found two miles off the coast in the Peace River and brought to shore by vigilant good samaritans.
PUNTA GORDA Restaurant in Cape Coral helps another in Punta Gorda recover from Milton Bartenders at the Celtic Ray in Punta Gorda have struggled since Hurricane Milton severely damaged the pub.
Warrior Homes of Collier awards scholarships to local veterans Four Collier County students with military ties are getting a boost toward their education.
Caught on video: Man arrested after leading police on chase in stolen truck Florida troopers say 36-year-old David Alfonso stole the vehicle in Collier County and then led them on a chase through Lee County to Alico Road and Ben Hill Griffin.
Record early voting in SWFL may be linked to recent hurricanes On Monday, thousands of people got in line at their polling places as early voting started for most places in southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS BEACH Milton leaves Fort Myers Beach residents buried in sand and seeking help Hurricane Milton pushed sand onto the streets of Fort Myers Beach, leaving many residents asking for help.
LEHIGH ACRES East Lee County principal uses lemonade to create gameday tradition East Lee County High School principal Tony Allen uses his lemonade recipe to create a new gameday tradition.
NAPLES Naples man defends home from flood waters One Naples man did not mess around when it came to Hurricane Milton prep. Guy Lollino got five feet of water in his home on Vanderbilt Beach during Hurricane Ian. This time he decided to stack a ton of sandbags and fill the cracks with sprayable Styrofoam.
Detecting pancreatic cancer early with AI A pancreatic cancer diagnosis is one of the most dreaded because it carries a very high mortality rate.
Lee County restores solid waste services The process of removing garbage and debris from the streets of Lee County has begun.
Algae bloom research turns into useful storm tool Many of us watched helplessly and waited as hurricanes Helene and Milton sent storm surges onto our roads, into our homes and businesses, altering what we know as home forever. At the same time, one Florida Gulf Coast University student saw the storms as a scientific opportunity.
Amendment 2: Right to fish and hunt Tens of thousands of Floridians, and thousands more visitors that come to our state, enjoy fishing and hunting. We live in a state surrounded by water and wildlife and people have taken advantage of that.
Amendment 1: Establishing partisan school board elections Some school board meetings have become political, with raised voices and the need for security
FORT MYERS Local salon withstands impacts from 3 major hurricanes One hurricane can be devastating; however, three storms will force you to find better ways to prepare for impacts.
Azaleas on the Corner sells plants, paintings, wine in downtown Fort Myers The mother-daughter team of Marie Dyer and Corinne Wimberly already had a business plan in place to start their own shop. They just didn’t have a place to put it.
FORT MYERS, Fla. – May is American Stroke Month and each year the American Heart Association helps raise awareness and rally the nation around the cause. Stroke threatens millions of American lives, young and old, male and female, from every background, yet a stroke is largely preventable through diet and exercise. WINK News Fitness Expert Mike Drumm is here today share the F.A.S.T. stroke warning signs, and how you can become a “Stroke Hero” today. 1 out of 6 people will suffer a stroke in his or her lifetime. Every 40 seconds someone suffers from a stroke. It’s the number 5 cause of death. The leading cause of disability in the U.S. Demographic factors such as family history, age, sex, and race/ethnicity can all play a role in an individual’s stroke risk, but regardless of your background, there are several things you can do to lower your chances of having a stroke. Stroke Warning Signs The focus of the American Stroke Month effort is making sure there are plenty of stroke heroes ready to save lives, and quality of life, from stroke. 1 in 3 Americans are unable to identify stroke warning signs so teach your family, friends and coworkers to spot a stroke F.A.S.T. The sooner stroke is treated, the better the odds of survival and a full recovery. A “Stroke Hero” is ready to spot stroke signs and act quickly by calling 911. They might help make the difference between life and death or between full recovery and permanent disability. You can become a stroke hero just by knowing the stroke warning signs and being prepared to use them. STROKE Warning Signs: Think F.A.S.T. Think you are having a stroke? Call 911! F.A.S.T. is an easy way to remember the signs of stroke. F is for: Face Drooping – Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile. Is the person’s smile uneven? A is for: Arm Weakness – Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward? S is for: Speech Difficulty – Is speech slurred? Is the person unable to speak or hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “The sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly? T is for: Time to call 911 – If someone shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 911 and get the person to the hospital immediately. Stroke Prevention: Diet and Exercise A healthy diet, consistent exercise, and quitting smoking are your best weapons to lower your risk of a stroke. EXERCISE: Consistency is Key In order to make working out a consistent part of your life, you should work out on the same days of the week and around the same time to form a habit. A great schedule is Monday/Wednesday/Friday or Tuesday/ Thursday/Saturday, so that you have a day off in between workouts to allow your body to recover. Once the habit is formed, it is much easier to stick with your fitness routine and enjoy the benefits of consistent exercise! HEALTHY EATING: While you race back and forth between work, soccer practice, the dance recital, and family errands, you’re lucky to find time to grab a meal at the drive-thru. Pass on the “value-size” When you supersize, the size of your fries isn’t the only thing that gets bigger. Skip the sides Eating a burger or sandwich by itself is often filling enough without fries or chips. Skip the mayo and other sauces. These dressings and sauces add unnecessary calories. Drink water. Sodas are loaded with sugars, which have calories you don’t need. QUIT SMOKING! Cigarette smoking contributes to one in every five strokes in the United States. Smoking, and even exposure to second-hand smoke, can thicken the blood and make it more likely to clot. Thicker blood flow can lead to increased plaque buildup in your arteries and damage to the blood vessels leading to the brain, which can cause or worsen a stroke. So, quit smoking—or better yet, don’t start. Focus on the ABCS to prevent cardiovascular disease, including stroke, and contribute to overall health: Appropriate Aspirin therapy: Ask your doctor if taking aspirin is right for you. Blood pressure control: Keeping your blood pressure under control reduces your risk of heart attack and stroke. Half of the world’s stroke deaths are caused by elevated blood pressure levels. Cholesterol management: Get your cholesterol checked regularly and manage it with diet and physical activity or with medication, if needed. Smoking cessation: Get help at 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Exercise regularly. Eat a healthy diet that’s low in sodium. Maintain a healthy weight. Limit your alcohol intake (fewer than two drinks per day for men, or one drink per day for women). Relax. Stress can cause weight gain, and increase your heart rate that could damage your artery walls. The next time you feel anxious, breathe deep and try to chill. Laugh, smile, play. Evidence shows the health benefits of lightheartedness and optimism for healing and fighting off illness. Seeking happiness-producing activities is a good way to relieve stress and boost your mood—and heart health. Remember, it’s the sum of your choices that count. It’s treatable and beatable. When responding to a stroke, every minute counts. The sooner a patient receives medical treatment, the lower the risk for death or disability. If you or someone you know exhibits the following signs or symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately. Remember, getting immediate medical attention for stroke is crucial to preventing disability and death. Why American Stroke Month Matters STROKE is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. Every 40 seconds someone has a stroke 1 out of 6 people will suffer a stroke in his or her lifetime STROKE is the number 5 cause of death in the U.S