Edison Festival parade lights up Fort Myers with floats and bandsCharlotte County Sheriff’s Office investigating shooting in Punta Gorda
FORT MYERS Edison Festival parade lights up Fort Myers with floats and bands The Edison Festival parade was a spectacle of lights and sounds, drawing crowds to celebrate the legacy of Thomas Edison.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office investigating shooting in Punta Gorda The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a road rage/shooting in the Punta Gorda area on Saturday night.
CAPE CORAL Goth Gala for the Forlorn; How the alt scene honored Valentine’s Day Love Your Rebellion hosted the Goth Gala for the Forlorn at Nice Guys Pizza in Cape Coral on Friday night.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers gears up for Edison Festival parade; road closures in place Downtown Fort Myers is buzzing with excitement as the Edison Festival of Light Parade is set to begin.
the weather authority Near-record heat with sun and clouds for your Saturday The Weather Authority says the above-normal temperatures that Southwest Florida has been experiencing will stick around yet again for Saturday.
LEE COUNTY Savannah Bananas bring fun on the diamond at JetBlue Park The Savannah Bananas amazed and entertained a sold out JetBlue Park Friday night for the first time in Southwest Florida.
CAPE CORAL Caught on Camera: Cape Coral mailbox hit by drifting car A Cape Coral homeowner was left in shock after a car sent her mailbox flying through the air and left tire tracks next to her home.
ARCADIA DeSoto County man sentenced for deadly DUI crash Justice for a mother and son killed by a man driving under the influence.
NAPLES Oldest Black-owned business in SWFL continues to serve community Cleveland Bass Movers, founded in 1969, stands as the oldest Black-owned business in Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS BEACH Broken gate on Lovers Key Beach Resort frustrating residents Residents of Lover’s Key Beach Club in Fort Myers Beach are frustrated with a gate that remains wide open, despite “No Trespassing” signs, since Hurricane Ian struck two years ago.
St. James City Church plans $700k flood-proofing project for future safety Hurricanes have caused flood after flood, and one island church, The First Baptist Church of Saint James City, wants to build higher.
Romance scams rise in the US, AARP warns residents to beware Romance scams are on the rise, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting over 64,000 cases in the U.S. in 2023.
Fort Myers Savannah Bananas make their way to Fort Myers for first time The Savannah Bananas have made their way to JetBlue Park for Friday’s sold-out game in Fort Myers to watch “the greatest show in sports.”
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Yacht Club receives key permit Cape Coral received a key permit for a Yacht Club Community Park. This permit opens up the necessary steps for the park to be built.
PORT CHARLOTTE Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church holds 31st annual Greek Fest The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Port Charlotte kicked off its 31st annual Greek Fest on Friday.
FORT MYERS Edison Festival parade lights up Fort Myers with floats and bands The Edison Festival parade was a spectacle of lights and sounds, drawing crowds to celebrate the legacy of Thomas Edison.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office investigating shooting in Punta Gorda The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a road rage/shooting in the Punta Gorda area on Saturday night.
CAPE CORAL Goth Gala for the Forlorn; How the alt scene honored Valentine’s Day Love Your Rebellion hosted the Goth Gala for the Forlorn at Nice Guys Pizza in Cape Coral on Friday night.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers gears up for Edison Festival parade; road closures in place Downtown Fort Myers is buzzing with excitement as the Edison Festival of Light Parade is set to begin.
the weather authority Near-record heat with sun and clouds for your Saturday The Weather Authority says the above-normal temperatures that Southwest Florida has been experiencing will stick around yet again for Saturday.
LEE COUNTY Savannah Bananas bring fun on the diamond at JetBlue Park The Savannah Bananas amazed and entertained a sold out JetBlue Park Friday night for the first time in Southwest Florida.
CAPE CORAL Caught on Camera: Cape Coral mailbox hit by drifting car A Cape Coral homeowner was left in shock after a car sent her mailbox flying through the air and left tire tracks next to her home.
ARCADIA DeSoto County man sentenced for deadly DUI crash Justice for a mother and son killed by a man driving under the influence.
NAPLES Oldest Black-owned business in SWFL continues to serve community Cleveland Bass Movers, founded in 1969, stands as the oldest Black-owned business in Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS BEACH Broken gate on Lovers Key Beach Resort frustrating residents Residents of Lover’s Key Beach Club in Fort Myers Beach are frustrated with a gate that remains wide open, despite “No Trespassing” signs, since Hurricane Ian struck two years ago.
St. James City Church plans $700k flood-proofing project for future safety Hurricanes have caused flood after flood, and one island church, The First Baptist Church of Saint James City, wants to build higher.
Romance scams rise in the US, AARP warns residents to beware Romance scams are on the rise, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting over 64,000 cases in the U.S. in 2023.
Fort Myers Savannah Bananas make their way to Fort Myers for first time The Savannah Bananas have made their way to JetBlue Park for Friday’s sold-out game in Fort Myers to watch “the greatest show in sports.”
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Yacht Club receives key permit Cape Coral received a key permit for a Yacht Club Community Park. This permit opens up the necessary steps for the park to be built.
PORT CHARLOTTE Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church holds 31st annual Greek Fest The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Port Charlotte kicked off its 31st annual Greek Fest on Friday.
Patrick Halvarson and Carlens Etienne. There are children in Southwest Florida who need your help. Not money, but something that’s priceless – your time. If you can have fun, set a good example, and give advice from time to time, you could be a perfect ‘big brother’ or ‘big sister.’ Even from a distance, without any idea what they’re talking about, you can tell Carlens Etienne and Patrick Halvarson have a bond. They’re brothers, not by birth, but by chance. “Ever since I met ‘Pat Dad’,” Carlens said. “We like instantly clicked. Ever since then he’s been there for me more times than I can count, everything that I needed.” Patrick Halvarson, or ‘Pat Dad’ as Carlens calls him, started mentoring Carlens in his junior year of high school, helping to make sure the star basketball player stayed eligible to play. “Helping him get his grades up and not only get his grades up but get his grades to a point that he was doing a really good job,” Patrick said. “I was always so proud of him for how hard he worked at that.” And that hard work paid off with graduation from Cypress Lake High School at Suncoast Arena. While sitting in that very same arena, Patrick said, “So we were in the same room that we’re sitting in right now and I got to watch him walk across the stage, and it was a really cool proud experience as a big brother. What’s even cooler is that now he now attends this university.” Carlens is a college student at Florida SouthWestern State College, and his ‘big brother’ helped him enroll and set up a tuition plan. When he got in a little bit of a jam, Patrick was there to help get him out. “He called me up one day at the office and said Pat Dad, that’s what he calls me, he said ‘I have a problem. I went to the registrar’s office. I went to enroll for my classes and I’m not eligible, because my student aid didn’t go through.'” “I know if I’m in a pickle, I know who to call,” Carlens added. Patrick said they spent about five hours at the registrar’s office and finally got a resolution. Now a psychology major, Carlens wants to use everything he’s learning to help children. “I feel like if someone was there helping because some people don’t even have family members to help them through that stuff so I feel like I psychologist I could do some change or something you know help some kids change their life something like that >so they don’t go through some of the same stuff that I kind of went through.” Carlens juggles school with a full-time job and whatever’s going on in his life, he says Patrick’s a part of it. They’re also celebrating another milestone. Carlens just got his own place. And the hope is, that their friendship might inspire you. “Carlens is just one of thousands of kids in our community that just need a little bit of help,” Patrick explained. “Carlens is a great kid. Do I believe he would’ve done it on his own? Absolutely. But to do that with a program like Big Brothers Big Sisters, it’s propelled him to not just get by but to excel.” A reminder of the power a person can give another, not with a hand-out, but a hand up. Patrick added, “I know the impact that this program has had on him is going to cause him to do something like this for someone else in the future. And how cool would that be if 15, 20 years from now Carlens is a Big Brother to someone like himself, and my hope is that I’ll be around to be able to see that.” Right now, there’s a big need for ‘Bigs’. If you think you could help by being a big brother or big sister to someone click here. Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast has a current need for 21 Bigs for Littles who are waiting to be matched. Of those, 17 are Little Brothers who need Big Brothers. There is also a specific need for both Big Brothers and Big Sisters from Cape Coral and Lehigh Acres. This past year, the organization has served 1,750 youth across a 10-county footprint. Information about becoming a Big, can be found online at the Big Brothers Big Sisters website or by calling 1-855-501-BIGS. Big Brothers Big Sisters is a nonprofit organization that relies on the generosity of community-minded, philanthropically inclined individuals and business partners for support to fulfill their mission. The public is invited to attend an outdoor benefit Thursday, May 13 at the Burroughs Home and Gardens from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a goal of raising $180,000 to match 120 children. Tickets information can be found at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast – Empowering Potential-Lee. WINK News Anchor Amanda Hall will emcee the event. Hall has participated as a Big Sister with the organization since 2017.