NAPLES Turtle Club in Naples reopens Following a 19-month closure because of Hurricane Ian, the Turtle Club has reopened.
FORT MYERS BEACH Hurricane season preparations at Lee County construction sites Many already know the drill when hurricane season is around the corner.
SANIBEL Bones found on Sanibel concern beachgoers A husband and wife found what appeared to be bones. What type and where they came from is being investigated.
FGCU FGCU president reflects on first year with graduating class Alico Arena was packed this weekend as Florida Gulf Coast University graduated 1,900 students in four ceremonies.
Reverse shoulder replacement offers new approach to pain management Shoulder replacement is the third most common replacement in the US, following hip and knee replacement.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Lee County teachers bargain for new raises Kevin Daly is the voice of the Lee County Teachers Union, and he says he knows firsthand the struggle teachers experience across the state.
FORT MYERS New Starbucks off Colonial expected to add to traffic headaches It’s a venti-sized traffic nightmare. That’s how Gina O’Donnell envisions the future of this plaza.
NAPLES Feeding families through Meals of Hope They’re a Naples-based non-profit organization whose mission is to alleviate hunger both locally and throughout the country.
Family dealing with two losses in quick succession A teenager will not get to celebrate turning 21 years old with friends, can’t put a smile on his family member’s faces and will never get to see his mother again.
JERUSALEM (AP) Israeli leaders have approved a military operation into the Gaza Strip city of Rafah Israeli leaders approved a military operation into the Gaza Strip city of Rafah, and Israeli forces were striking targets in the area, officials announced Monday, hours after Hamas announced it had accepted an Egyptian-Qatari cease-fire proposal.
FORT MYERS Middle school tech worker uses CPR skills to save pickleball player’s life It was the right place, at the right time, and that right place was near the pickleball court.
EVERGLADES Big Sugar’s lawsuit for control over Lake Okeechobee water A local non-profit is calling one lawsuit a battle for who controls the water in the State of Florida. Three major sugar companies filed a lawsuit in 2021 against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over the design and intended use of the Everglades Agriculture Area (EAA) Reservoir.
NAPLES Annual Holocaust Remembrance Day program returns to Jewish Federation of Greater Naples Sunday was a day to remember the six million men, women and children lost in the Holocaust.
COLLIER COUNTY 13th dead Florida panther of 2024 found Saturday; deaths now match 2023’s annual total Wildlife officials discovered the 13 dead endangered Florida panther of the year, matching 2023’s total reported mortalities less than halfway into the year.
NORTH PORT Entryway work temporarily closes North Port Library The North Port Library will be closed through Saturday while work is being done to the entryway. During the closure books and other borrowed items can be returned to nearby locations.
NAPLES Turtle Club in Naples reopens Following a 19-month closure because of Hurricane Ian, the Turtle Club has reopened.
FORT MYERS BEACH Hurricane season preparations at Lee County construction sites Many already know the drill when hurricane season is around the corner.
SANIBEL Bones found on Sanibel concern beachgoers A husband and wife found what appeared to be bones. What type and where they came from is being investigated.
FGCU FGCU president reflects on first year with graduating class Alico Arena was packed this weekend as Florida Gulf Coast University graduated 1,900 students in four ceremonies.
Reverse shoulder replacement offers new approach to pain management Shoulder replacement is the third most common replacement in the US, following hip and knee replacement.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Lee County teachers bargain for new raises Kevin Daly is the voice of the Lee County Teachers Union, and he says he knows firsthand the struggle teachers experience across the state.
FORT MYERS New Starbucks off Colonial expected to add to traffic headaches It’s a venti-sized traffic nightmare. That’s how Gina O’Donnell envisions the future of this plaza.
NAPLES Feeding families through Meals of Hope They’re a Naples-based non-profit organization whose mission is to alleviate hunger both locally and throughout the country.
Family dealing with two losses in quick succession A teenager will not get to celebrate turning 21 years old with friends, can’t put a smile on his family member’s faces and will never get to see his mother again.
JERUSALEM (AP) Israeli leaders have approved a military operation into the Gaza Strip city of Rafah Israeli leaders approved a military operation into the Gaza Strip city of Rafah, and Israeli forces were striking targets in the area, officials announced Monday, hours after Hamas announced it had accepted an Egyptian-Qatari cease-fire proposal.
FORT MYERS Middle school tech worker uses CPR skills to save pickleball player’s life It was the right place, at the right time, and that right place was near the pickleball court.
EVERGLADES Big Sugar’s lawsuit for control over Lake Okeechobee water A local non-profit is calling one lawsuit a battle for who controls the water in the State of Florida. Three major sugar companies filed a lawsuit in 2021 against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over the design and intended use of the Everglades Agriculture Area (EAA) Reservoir.
NAPLES Annual Holocaust Remembrance Day program returns to Jewish Federation of Greater Naples Sunday was a day to remember the six million men, women and children lost in the Holocaust.
COLLIER COUNTY 13th dead Florida panther of 2024 found Saturday; deaths now match 2023’s annual total Wildlife officials discovered the 13 dead endangered Florida panther of the year, matching 2023’s total reported mortalities less than halfway into the year.
NORTH PORT Entryway work temporarily closes North Port Library The North Port Library will be closed through Saturday while work is being done to the entryway. During the closure books and other borrowed items can be returned to nearby locations.
House with hurricane protection on the garage. (Credit: WINK News) Jan Haley lives in South Fort Myers for the landscape and lifestyle. “I love the weather, I love the beautiful flowers,” Haley said. But she knows with the tropical climate, comes hurricanes. That’s why replacing her broken hurricane shutter was important. She said she called FLA Hurricane Protection LLC to do the job. “They came out and… [I] decided to go with the bi-fold shutter,” Haley said. Haley showed us a payment to owner Devin Dobbins for $900 or fifty percent of the job. But, Dobbins didn’t deliver. Haley says she called and texted him, but excuses were the only thing she got. “I tried taking care of it myself,” Haley said. “But I’m very happy that you guys [WINK News] are helping out.” To to install hurricane shutters, a person either needs to be the homeowner with the proper permits and drawings, or have a license, which Dobbins doesn’t have. The “license” number he displayed on his business card is an identification number related to his LLC or business filing. This information does not indicate whether or not someone is qualified to do a job. Through court records, we found two other people who shared a similar experience to Haley. They’ve both filed civil lawsuits with claims totaling $4,785.00; one is pending and one has a judgment against Dobbins. While Dobbins refused an on-camera interview, he told us over the phone that he made a mistake and that he’s sorry. He added that Haley will get her check the last week of August, and the other two people will receive their money via monthly installments. WINK News will provide an update if that happens. “If the storms come – I’ll need it [the money],” Haley said. Where to find the information Before hiring someone, consumers should find out if the person needs a license to do the job and who licenses them. Some are issued at the state level, while others can be certified locally. When it comes to hurricane shutters, it can be both. For example, Collier County told WINK that a variety of licenses would qualify someone to do this line of work. They include a general contractor, building contractor, residential contractor, aluminum or aluminum specialty contractor and a hurricane shutter/ awning contractor. In Charlotte County, the licenses that can pull this type of permit include a certified building, certified general, certified residential, certified specialty structure, registered building, registered general, registered residential and local aluminium. To verify a state contractor, you can search for a licensee on The Department of Business and Professional Regulation site. Closed complaint information may also be posted here. To verify a local contractor, you can either call the city or county office, or search online. Lee County Contractor Licensing 239-533-8895 contractorlicensing@leegov.com Charlotte County Contractor Licensing 941-743-1201 ContractorLicensing@CharlotteCountyFL.gov Collier County Contractor Licensing (239) 252-2431 contractorslicensing@colliercountyfl.gov Cape Coral Contractor Licensing (239) 574-0430 licensing@capecoral.net Lawsuits, like the ones WINK found, can be looked up on the county clerk of court web sites: Lee County; Collier County; and Charlotte County.