Sanibel Church rebuilds after Hurricane IanCostco construction causes commotion in Collier County community
SANIBEL Sanibel Church rebuilds after Hurricane Ian The Sanibel Community Church has completed its remarkable rebuild after Hurricane Ian devastated their place of worship over two years ago.
NAPLES Costco construction causes commotion in Collier County community Costco is eyeing a plot of land in Collier County for a new store, but residents are voicing strong opposition.
NAPLES Dr. Cornelius “Pat” Cacho’s impact on education and Southwest Florida Dr. Cornelius “Pat” Cacho, a beloved philanthropist and advocate for education, dedicated his life to empowering others through opportunity and knowledge.
SANIBEL Sanibel cracks down on school zone speeders with new camera system Sanibel is tightening its grip on school zone speeders with newly installed cameras.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers food pantry expands efforts with Harry Chapin support The Harry Chapin Food Bank in Fort Myers plays a crucial role in supporting smaller food banks in the area.
Fort Myers Beach Pier scheduled to be finished a year ahead of schedule The Fort Myers Beach Pier remains a symbol of the destruction caused by Hurricane Ian two years ago. Efforts to rebuild it has taken a lot of time.
FORT MYERS Iconic Fort Myers statue to undergo repairs The iconic “Rachel at the Well” statue on McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers has been a landmark for 94 years. However, it became a casualty of Hurricane Ian in 2022, and discussions for its repair are ongoing.
Salvation Army Thrift Store closing its doors in Collier County The Salvation Army has announced the permanent closure of the Naples Family Store on Davis Boulevard.
SANIBEL Rebuilding the Sanibel Causeway with a cause Construction crews are hard at work making the Sanibel Causeway more resilient. The bridge is being fortified to withstand future storms.
LEE COUNTY No. 2 prospect in MLB Roman Anthony with Red Sox for Spring Training Roman Anthony, who is ranked as the second best in baseball, is with the Boston Red Sox for his first Spring Training.
MANASOTA KEY Popular Manasota Key restaurant reopens after storm damage Manasota Key is steadily recovering from a challenging hurricane season, and residents are celebrating the reopening of a beloved local spot.
PINE ISLAND Construction to start on hurricane-proof fire station on Pine Island A new hurricane-proof fire station is coming to Pine Island. The current station, over 40 years old, is in dire need of replacement.
NORTH PORT Braves’ Chris Sale on the mound in southwest Florida once again Spring Training is in full swing for the Atlanta Braves, who’s full squad reported on Tuesday, that means Chris Sale is back in SWFL.
NAPLES Denise Brown speaks on domestic violence at Naples fundraiser event A record crowd of 825 people gathered at the Ritz Carlton Tiburon to raise money and awareness to end domestic violence.
NORTH NAPLES Construction on Collier County diverging diamond begins in March Construction on Southwest Florida’s third diverging diamond interchange is set to begin in March.
SANIBEL Sanibel Church rebuilds after Hurricane Ian The Sanibel Community Church has completed its remarkable rebuild after Hurricane Ian devastated their place of worship over two years ago.
NAPLES Costco construction causes commotion in Collier County community Costco is eyeing a plot of land in Collier County for a new store, but residents are voicing strong opposition.
NAPLES Dr. Cornelius “Pat” Cacho’s impact on education and Southwest Florida Dr. Cornelius “Pat” Cacho, a beloved philanthropist and advocate for education, dedicated his life to empowering others through opportunity and knowledge.
SANIBEL Sanibel cracks down on school zone speeders with new camera system Sanibel is tightening its grip on school zone speeders with newly installed cameras.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers food pantry expands efforts with Harry Chapin support The Harry Chapin Food Bank in Fort Myers plays a crucial role in supporting smaller food banks in the area.
Fort Myers Beach Pier scheduled to be finished a year ahead of schedule The Fort Myers Beach Pier remains a symbol of the destruction caused by Hurricane Ian two years ago. Efforts to rebuild it has taken a lot of time.
FORT MYERS Iconic Fort Myers statue to undergo repairs The iconic “Rachel at the Well” statue on McGregor Boulevard in Fort Myers has been a landmark for 94 years. However, it became a casualty of Hurricane Ian in 2022, and discussions for its repair are ongoing.
Salvation Army Thrift Store closing its doors in Collier County The Salvation Army has announced the permanent closure of the Naples Family Store on Davis Boulevard.
SANIBEL Rebuilding the Sanibel Causeway with a cause Construction crews are hard at work making the Sanibel Causeway more resilient. The bridge is being fortified to withstand future storms.
LEE COUNTY No. 2 prospect in MLB Roman Anthony with Red Sox for Spring Training Roman Anthony, who is ranked as the second best in baseball, is with the Boston Red Sox for his first Spring Training.
MANASOTA KEY Popular Manasota Key restaurant reopens after storm damage Manasota Key is steadily recovering from a challenging hurricane season, and residents are celebrating the reopening of a beloved local spot.
PINE ISLAND Construction to start on hurricane-proof fire station on Pine Island A new hurricane-proof fire station is coming to Pine Island. The current station, over 40 years old, is in dire need of replacement.
NORTH PORT Braves’ Chris Sale on the mound in southwest Florida once again Spring Training is in full swing for the Atlanta Braves, who’s full squad reported on Tuesday, that means Chris Sale is back in SWFL.
NAPLES Denise Brown speaks on domestic violence at Naples fundraiser event A record crowd of 825 people gathered at the Ritz Carlton Tiburon to raise money and awareness to end domestic violence.
NORTH NAPLES Construction on Collier County diverging diamond begins in March Construction on Southwest Florida’s third diverging diamond interchange is set to begin in March.
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Fort Myer’s first black council member Veronica Shoemaker has died at the age of 86. A family member said Shoemaker passed around 3:15 p.m. and was surrounded by loved ones. Her niece, Nikki Stewart, said her first job was at Shoemaker’s flower shop located at the corner of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and a street in her namesake. “To the public she was Veronica Shoemaker, councilwoman, florist, legendary,” Stewart wrote in an email. “To me, she was just my beloved Aunt Ronnie.” Shoemaker was a longtime activist in Southwest Florida. She was elected to Fort Myer’s city council in 1982 on her seventeenth consecutive run, according to WGCU. Former local NAACP president Carletha E. Griffin said she respects Shoemaker, who also held the role as NAACP president, for her ability to overcome adversity. “Veronica Shoemaker was an inspiration and positive figure for African Americans and the entire Lee County community,” Griffin said in a statement. “She faced a lot of conflicts and was able to resolve them. She was an inspiring motivator and fought hard to make sure everyone was treated equally.” “You are going to be loved and very missed,” said Fredrick Booker, a close family friend who says there was just something about Shoemaker that brought everyone together. “Her character, her charisma, her goals. When you have a goal in life, and other people see your vision, you become like a magnet.” Traveling across the city, you will see evidence of Shoemaker’s work. She played a major role in bringing the City of Palms Park and Boston Red Sox spring training to Fort Myers, the Imaginarium to Dunbar, and the Harborside Event Center to downtown. Sawyer Smith, a lawyer in downtown Fort Myers, said he grew up buying prom corsages from Shoemaker’s floral shop. But he said it was her legacy as both a fighter for equality and lover of people that will leave a lasting impact. “What she did, she did for the greater good: for black, for white. She did it. She loved everybody she came in touch with,” Sawyer said. “We wouldn’t be here where we are today without Ms. Shoemaker. She is a true legend. She is the true mother of the city of Fort Myers.” Lee County Sheriff’s Office tweeted their condolences, also calling Shoemaker a “legend.” A legend has passed but our community is a much better place because of her. Rest in Peace Veronica Shoemaker! https://t.co/F1l6vKUPu2 — Lee County Sheriff (@leesheriff) January 22, 2016 Shoemaker spoke about the importance of working together to combat poverty, which she considered a major contemporary issue. “We continue to live in poverty, despite what you might think, we are continuing to live in poverty until we learn to help one another,” she said. When she became a recipient of the Hodges University Luminary Award in 2010, Shoemaker spoke about her pride in serving the community and the struggle it took her to get to city council. “I am proud to have been that vessel running up and down making noise. It took me years, years to get there,” she said. “After 17 long years of knocking on the front door, the back door, whatever door they’d let me – I finally got there.”