Crews on scene of 2.5-acre brush fire near Alico and Eagle Village DriveJake’s story: A mother’s mission to share her son’s story and help other young people
ESTERO Crews on scene of 2.5-acre brush fire near Alico and Eagle Village Drive San Carlos Park Fire District is on the scene fighting a 2.5-acre brushfire near Alico and Eagle Village Drive.
FORT MYERS Jake’s story: A mother’s mission to share her son’s story and help other young people One Fort Myers mom is turning her pain into purpose after her son, who she refers to as her “heavenly Angel,” took his own life.
CAPE CORAL New renderings for the Cape Coral Yacht Club promise a bright future The Cape Coral Yacht Club, which has been part of this community since the 1960s, will now have a new look after Hurricane Ian’s devastating effects.
LEHIGH ACRES Owner bars public from Barefoot Lake, LCSO installs Watch Tower Every weekend, roughly 200 people go to Barefoot Lake in Lehigh Acres to relax, fish, swim and have a good time.
CAPE CORAL Concern over water shortage in Cape Coral Concern is flowing through Cape Coral as neighbors are seeing their canal levels low and their wells run dry.
FORT MYERS FSW softball swinging for success in the postseason Now their focus shifts to states which means the newbies are looking to the experienced sophomores for advice.
BONITA SPRINGS Young SWFL tennis player competing with professionals You may not know her name now, but you might want remember it because 16-year-old Cookie Jarvis-Tredgett is already competing with professionals.
NORTH NAPLES ‘It’s all about connection,’ Statement Peace makes jewelry with sustainability in mind The brand Statement Peace, once started inside founder Jessica Lee’s home, is now in 2,700 stores across the country
Pine Manor 2 arrested for firing gun at birthday party in Pine Manor A party ended with two people behind bars.
FORT MYERS Shooting investigation on busy Fort Myers street Police are conducting a shooting investigation that involves a traffic crash near Michigan Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard.
FGCU New FGCU athletic director Colin Hargis ready to build on department’s success New FGCU athletic director Colin Hargis talks about the department’s future amid the age of NIL and the transfer portal.
FORT MYERS More middle-aged women being treated for acne You probably thought you broke up with it after high school, but acne is rearing it’s ugly blackheads in adult women.
Lee County student ran up and hit teacher in head, report shows The report says a 13-year-old student ran up and smacked a teacher in the head because multiple classmates offered him money to do so.
NAPLES Collier Planning Commission continues discussion for apartments near Fiddler’s Creek The developer of Fiddler’s Creek wants to build hundreds of luxury apartments on a slice of a 600 acre-plus property known as section 29.
CAPE CORAL Fatigue sets in for third day of FEMA hearings Flying several hours to come to a FEMA code compliance hearing in Cape Coral is the reality for John Gasparini from Maryland.
ESTERO Crews on scene of 2.5-acre brush fire near Alico and Eagle Village Drive San Carlos Park Fire District is on the scene fighting a 2.5-acre brushfire near Alico and Eagle Village Drive.
FORT MYERS Jake’s story: A mother’s mission to share her son’s story and help other young people One Fort Myers mom is turning her pain into purpose after her son, who she refers to as her “heavenly Angel,” took his own life.
CAPE CORAL New renderings for the Cape Coral Yacht Club promise a bright future The Cape Coral Yacht Club, which has been part of this community since the 1960s, will now have a new look after Hurricane Ian’s devastating effects.
LEHIGH ACRES Owner bars public from Barefoot Lake, LCSO installs Watch Tower Every weekend, roughly 200 people go to Barefoot Lake in Lehigh Acres to relax, fish, swim and have a good time.
CAPE CORAL Concern over water shortage in Cape Coral Concern is flowing through Cape Coral as neighbors are seeing their canal levels low and their wells run dry.
FORT MYERS FSW softball swinging for success in the postseason Now their focus shifts to states which means the newbies are looking to the experienced sophomores for advice.
BONITA SPRINGS Young SWFL tennis player competing with professionals You may not know her name now, but you might want remember it because 16-year-old Cookie Jarvis-Tredgett is already competing with professionals.
NORTH NAPLES ‘It’s all about connection,’ Statement Peace makes jewelry with sustainability in mind The brand Statement Peace, once started inside founder Jessica Lee’s home, is now in 2,700 stores across the country
Pine Manor 2 arrested for firing gun at birthday party in Pine Manor A party ended with two people behind bars.
FORT MYERS Shooting investigation on busy Fort Myers street Police are conducting a shooting investigation that involves a traffic crash near Michigan Avenue and Dr. Martin Luther King Boulevard.
FGCU New FGCU athletic director Colin Hargis ready to build on department’s success New FGCU athletic director Colin Hargis talks about the department’s future amid the age of NIL and the transfer portal.
FORT MYERS More middle-aged women being treated for acne You probably thought you broke up with it after high school, but acne is rearing it’s ugly blackheads in adult women.
Lee County student ran up and hit teacher in head, report shows The report says a 13-year-old student ran up and smacked a teacher in the head because multiple classmates offered him money to do so.
NAPLES Collier Planning Commission continues discussion for apartments near Fiddler’s Creek The developer of Fiddler’s Creek wants to build hundreds of luxury apartments on a slice of a 600 acre-plus property known as section 29.
CAPE CORAL Fatigue sets in for third day of FEMA hearings Flying several hours to come to a FEMA code compliance hearing in Cape Coral is the reality for John Gasparini from Maryland.
Luxury watches have long been a symbol of the wealthy. That’s changing thanks to a booming trade in preowned luxury watches, driven by a growing number of specialized retailers. Established luxury watchmakers and dealers are also getting into the trade. “Retailers seem to get much more excited about selling preowned than new because they can set the price,” says Ariel Adams, founder of aBlogtoWatch, the foremost authority in watch blogs. From a vintage 1930s Cartier Tank to a gently worn 2017 Rolex Sea-Dweller, there are deals to be had. Here’s a guide on how to score one: ___ WHERE TO BUY The luxury watch you have coveted for years might no longer be out of reach. But where to start looking? There are many dedicated online retailers like SwissWatchExpo and Second Time Around Watch Co. Traditional retailers like the iconic Tourneau chain also sell preowned watches in stores and online. Most established retailers offer pieces that have been serviced by watchmakers and tested for mechanical accuracy. To avoid knock-offs, check online reviews for the dealer. Don’t discount online outlets that are not just for watches. Overstock and eBay offer thousands of well-priced luxury watches. To get the lay of the land, start with industry websites like Hodinkee and aBlogtoWatch. There are also numerous YouTube video reviews and Instagram watch “geek” feeds. ___ WHAT TO BUY? “The most important piece of information I tell people is: Buy a watch you want to wear,” says Adams. “Now that sounds really obvious. But a lot of people, without really knowing, try to follow other people’s advice. Watches are like clothing: Just because someone really likes their pair of jeans that doesn’t mean it will look good on you.” Paul Boutros, head of Americas for auction house Philips Watches, cautions against approaching the watch as an investment. “Buy watches because you love them,” he says. “As far as investment goes, it’s best to invest in stocks or real estate.” ___ HOW TO SCORE A DEAL To figure out roughly how much you should pay, compare prices on online marketplaces like Germany-based Chrono24, where retailers and individuals list watches for sale. But watch collector Paul Bragan, a senior partner at market research firm Wakefield Research, cautions shoppers to take those figures with a grain of salt. The list price is often not what a watch ends up selling for, Bragan says. Once you have price points, zero in on a good-condition piece. Many online retailers offer “first-time buyer” discounts or incentives for returning customers. Most offer email newsletters that will alert you to upcoming holiday sales, and not just for Christmas. Tourneau and online platform Watchbox offer sales tied to other holidays such as Independence Day and Labor Day. Watchbox’s innovative app even allows you to offer your own price as a starting point. Have a watch you don’t wear anymore? As with cars, figure out if you can trade it in for your dream piece. ___ CONSIDER THE “GREY MARKET” If you really want a new piece, consider the so-called “grey market.” Brand-authorized dealers often offload excess inventory onto third-party websites. Those sites, in turn, will offer discounts of roughly a third on new and unworn pieces. But there’s a catch: Those third-party sellers can’t offer warranties against defects or mechanical failures. “The grey market is just for that customer that wants a special big deal,” says Steven Kaiser, founder of New York-based luxury industry consulting firm Kaiser Time. “You are always going to have that customer.” ___ PAY ATTENTION TO THE FINE PRINT There are details to consider beyond the sale price. How much of a warranty does the seller offer? Does it cover water damage? What’s the return policy? Does it include a restocking fee? If you are on the hook for return shipping costs, that could be good chunk of cash if you need to insure the package. ___ DON’T FORGET INSURANCE Many home insurance policies cover personal possessions but it’s usually worth getting a separate “valuable item” policy for peace of mind. Many such supplemental policies cover theft or loss away outside the home. ___ WHAT ABOUT WOMEN’S WATCHES “It’s a man’s game,” says Watchbox founder Danny Govberg, who estimates that only 5 percent of preowned watches on the market are designed for women. But that’s good news for female watch enthusiasts. It usually means better deals for the smaller-dial Rolexes and Omegas. ___ TAKE CARE OF THE WATCH Luxury watches are made to last decades, but they require care. Mechanical pieces need more care than those that run on batteries, known as quartz watches. “You should make sure it’s wound at least weekly and running at least weekly,” says Susanna Woycitzky, watchmaker at Watchbox. She adds that you should also keep your watch away from magnets, including those on iPad covers, purses and money clips. Most watches are waterproof but it’s best not to test it. “Don’t take them swimming in the Mediterranean,” says Christian Zeron, founder of online retailer Theo&Harris.