ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
NAPLES Naples youth flag football team to compete in Ohio tournament This weekend, the Naples Lunatics Green will compete in the Superhero Sports tournament in Canton, Ohio.
Caroll Spinney “Oscar and Big Bird” seen October 9, 2014 in New York City. Credit: Getty Images via CBS News. Caroll Spinney, the “Sesame Street” puppeteer behind legendary characters Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, has died, Sesame Workshop said Sunday. He was 85. Spinney had been living with dystonia, which causes involuntary muscle contractions, for some time, Sesame Workshop said. He died at his home in Connecticut. “Since 1969, Caroll’s kind and loving view of the world helped shape and define Sesame Street,” Sesame Workshop said in a statement. “His enormous talent and outsized heart were perfectly suited to playing the larger-than-life yellow bird who brought joy to countless fans of all ages around the world, and his lovably cantankerous grouch gave us all permission to be cranky every once in a while. In these characters, Caroll Spinney gave something truly special to the world … We will miss him dearly.” Caroll Spinney, the legendary puppeteer behind beloved Sesame Street characters Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch, died today, December 8th 2019, at age 85 at his home in Connecticut, after living with Dystonia for some time. https://t.co/9nQ8H9iUES pic.twitter.com/8BoXn9rge3 — Sesame Workshop (@SesameWorkshop) December 8, 2019 Sesame Workshop said they would continue his beloved characters into the future. Spinney’s longtime apprentice, Matt Vogel, took over as puppeteer for Big Bird in 2015 when it became too difficult for Spinney to perform the role, while Spinney continued doing voice work until 2018, when he retired completely. Eric Jacobson took over the role of Oscar the Grouch. Spinney was the subject of a documentary entitled “I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story,” which was released in 2015. “I AM BIG BIRD: THE CARROL SPINNEY STORE.” Credit: via CBS News. He told “CBS Evening News” in 2015 that he would perform the roles for 50 more years if he could. Spinney was part of “Sesame Street” starting with its premiere in 1969 and performed in more than 4,000 episodes. The Henson family said in a statement it was a moment of “creative destiny” when Spinney met Jim Henson. “The gentle performer who would bring to life two of the most beloved residents of ‘Sesame Street’ could perfectly convey the humor and heart in our father’s creations,” the Henson family said. “Big Bird was childlike, without being childish. And Oscar the Grouch reflected universal feelings we all share, no matter our age. Those of us privileged to work alongside him and call him friend saw first-hand that he cared so deeply about what these characters represented and how they could truly create change.” Spinney said Oscar the Grouch was inspired by a grouchy waiter at an old seafood restaurant in Manhattan and he took the voice from a New York City cabbie whose cab he once rode in. “I always thought, ‘How fortunate for me that I got to play the two best Muppets?'” he told The New York Times in 2015. “Playing Big Bird is one of the most joyous things of my life.” Since Big Bird stands 8 feet, 2 inches tall, Spinney’s head only went to the bottom of Big Bird’s neck. He operated the mouth with his right arm. His wife, Debra, told “CBS Evening News” that contrary to his other famous character, Spinney wasn’t very grouchy, even going back to their first date in 1973. “When he first asked me out I went home, I really did do cartwheels,” she said. “I mean I’m dating Big Bird for Pete’s sake!” Spinney’s characters were beloved by generations of children. He told “Evening News” that the parents of a 5-year-old boy named Joey, who was dying of cancer, asked him to call. Spinney said he called and said in Big Bird’s voice, “Hello Joey, this is me Big Bird. And I’ve heard you’ve had a hard time and I just thought I’d call and say hello.” The boy’s father later told Spinney his son Joey hadn’t smiled in months but died with a smile on his face thanks to Big Bird’s call. In Joey’s final moment, the father described to Spinney, Joey said, “Big Bird called me. He’s my friend.”