12-year-old collecting donations for the needy during the holidaysFort Myers man facing homelessness before the holidays
NAPLES 12-year-old collecting donations for the needy during the holidays A 12-year-old Naples boy isn’t worried about what he’s getting for Christmas. Instead, he’s working on his 6th annual “Holiday Sock Drive.”
Fort Myers man facing homelessness before the holidays A 75-year-old man is on the brink of homelessness despite working over 80 hours a week.
NAPLES Adoptee uses non-profit to provide suitcases for foster children This holiday season, a Naples woman is on a mission to bring foster children something many take for granted: a suitcase filled with dignity.
MARCO ISLAND City of Marco Island discusses lead awareness during city council meeting The city of Marco Island sent out 4900 letters to residents warning them that their pipes could contain plastic or lead.
NAPLES The future of electric planes in Southwest Florida Features of living near an airport include persistent headache-inducing engine rumbles and foul-smelling jet fuel, but electric planes could play a part in the solution.
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors awaiting answers on Port Charlotte Beach Park repairs Neighbors said a contractor hired by the Florida Division of Emergency Management mishandled the boats at Port Charlotte Beach Park.
FGCU introduces new technology for cognitive health screenings Ten minutes. That’s all it takes for doctors to assess how well you remember, how quickly you learn things, and how your brain is working overall.
WINK Investigates: Disgraced contractor faces new lawsuits and allegations Paul Beattie, a disgraced home builder is back doing business but legal challenges continue as another one of his businesses gets sued. Former employees of Beattie speak out, only to WINK.
SWFL reacts to UNC hiring Bill Belichick Southwest Florida reacts to North Carolina hiring Bill Belichick as its new head football coach and how that could impact the decisions of local recruits.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Some Floridians want more alone time during the holidays The holidays are all about spending time with family and friends, but nearly half of Americans say they really want more alone time during the holiday.
LABELLE Hendry County rolls out cameras for school speed zones The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a new way of enforcing school zone speed limits by using cameras that will target drivers traveling over a certain speed in a school zone.
Aggressive driving concerns on the rise in Southwest Florida The arrest of a man who, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said, killed a motorcyclist after crashing into him on purpose is raising concerns over aggressive driving in Southwest Florida.
SANIBEL Sanibel School students prepare for community Christmas performance The school that has had to claw and fight its way back more than once to reopen is getting the chance to celebrate.
FORT MYERS Rock For Equality: SWFL music scene to hold benefit concert for Palestine A two-venue, eight-band benefit concert is coming to Southwest Florida.
NAPLES Naples man sentenced in deadly bar shooting A man has been sentenced for a deadly shooting that took place at a Naples bar in March 2021.
NAPLES 12-year-old collecting donations for the needy during the holidays A 12-year-old Naples boy isn’t worried about what he’s getting for Christmas. Instead, he’s working on his 6th annual “Holiday Sock Drive.”
Fort Myers man facing homelessness before the holidays A 75-year-old man is on the brink of homelessness despite working over 80 hours a week.
NAPLES Adoptee uses non-profit to provide suitcases for foster children This holiday season, a Naples woman is on a mission to bring foster children something many take for granted: a suitcase filled with dignity.
MARCO ISLAND City of Marco Island discusses lead awareness during city council meeting The city of Marco Island sent out 4900 letters to residents warning them that their pipes could contain plastic or lead.
NAPLES The future of electric planes in Southwest Florida Features of living near an airport include persistent headache-inducing engine rumbles and foul-smelling jet fuel, but electric planes could play a part in the solution.
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors awaiting answers on Port Charlotte Beach Park repairs Neighbors said a contractor hired by the Florida Division of Emergency Management mishandled the boats at Port Charlotte Beach Park.
FGCU introduces new technology for cognitive health screenings Ten minutes. That’s all it takes for doctors to assess how well you remember, how quickly you learn things, and how your brain is working overall.
WINK Investigates: Disgraced contractor faces new lawsuits and allegations Paul Beattie, a disgraced home builder is back doing business but legal challenges continue as another one of his businesses gets sued. Former employees of Beattie speak out, only to WINK.
SWFL reacts to UNC hiring Bill Belichick Southwest Florida reacts to North Carolina hiring Bill Belichick as its new head football coach and how that could impact the decisions of local recruits.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Some Floridians want more alone time during the holidays The holidays are all about spending time with family and friends, but nearly half of Americans say they really want more alone time during the holiday.
LABELLE Hendry County rolls out cameras for school speed zones The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a new way of enforcing school zone speed limits by using cameras that will target drivers traveling over a certain speed in a school zone.
Aggressive driving concerns on the rise in Southwest Florida The arrest of a man who, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said, killed a motorcyclist after crashing into him on purpose is raising concerns over aggressive driving in Southwest Florida.
SANIBEL Sanibel School students prepare for community Christmas performance The school that has had to claw and fight its way back more than once to reopen is getting the chance to celebrate.
FORT MYERS Rock For Equality: SWFL music scene to hold benefit concert for Palestine A two-venue, eight-band benefit concert is coming to Southwest Florida.
NAPLES Naples man sentenced in deadly bar shooting A man has been sentenced for a deadly shooting that took place at a Naples bar in March 2021.
US Army/ MGN Here’s a list of Fourth of July events happening around Southwest Florida. BONITA SPRINGS What: Star Spangled Bonita Where: Riverside Park, 10450 Reynolds St. When: 7 p.m. Fireworks around dusk. Cost: Free There will be live music from 7-9 p.m. Food and beverages will be available for purchase during the event. At 8:30 pm, the City of Bonita Springs will host a Glow Parade with Golf Carts. The theme for this year’s parade is “Be the Light.” Participants are asked to light up the night by decorating their golf carts with various lighted items. There will be no fee to participate in the parade, but you must pre-register to take part in the event. Please expect road closures during the event. Old 41 Road from Wilson to Ragsdale streets will close at 6:30 p.m. and remain closed until 10 p.m. For more information about the parade, go to cityofbonitasprings.org/july4th. The evening’s festivities will conclude with a laser light and firework show beginning around dusk. CAPE CORAL What: Red White and Boom Where: Cape Coral Pkwy., at foot of Cape Coral Bridge When: 5-10 p.m. Fireworks at approx. 9:30 p.m. Cost: Free (VIP tickets sold out) “Red White and Boom” returns after taking 2020 off. Cape Coral Pkwy. will be closed between Del Prado Blvd. and the Cape Coral Bridge for festivities that include vendors and food trucks. Live music begins at 5:30 with fireworks at 9:30. Bring your own chairs. No pets (service animals OK) or outside alcohol allowed. Non-alcoholic beverages in coolers are OK. There will be a free Boom bus with handicap accessibility picking up at all the downtown parking lots. The trolley service runs from 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The Cape Coral Bridge will shut down for 24 hours, from 3 a.m. Sunday to 3 a.m. Monday. The Freedom 5K begins at 7 a.m. on the Parkway and will cross the bridge and back. For more information, go to capeboom.com. CHARLOTTE COUNTY What: Fourth Fest Where: Laishley Park, 150 Laishley Court, Punta Gorda When: Gates open at 2 p.m.; fireworks at 9 p.m. Cost: $5 per person. Wristbands for unlimited use of waterslides are $10. This year’s event features Water-Mania, a group of 12 giant waterslides which will be located in Laishley Park. There will be slides of all types and sizes for all ages. In addition to the Water-Mania water slides, there will be a large Kid’s Fun Zone with plenty to keep the young ones excited throughout the day and evening. Vendors, displays, and unique shopping opportunities will be on hand, as will plenty of fun festival food, cold beer, and beverages with live music throughout the day. Fireworks are set for 9 p.m., and organizers say it will be the most spectacular display yet. For more information, visit puntagordafireworks.com. FORT MYERS What: Freedom Fest Where: Downtown Fort Myers When: 6-10 p.m. Fireworks at approx. 9 p.m. Cost: Free Live music from Thunder Beach Band, food trucks, vendors, and fireworks. What: Mighty Mussels Independence Day Weekend Fireworks Where: Hammond Stadium, 14400 Ben C. Pratt/Six Mile Cypress Pkwy. When: Gametime 7 p.m. Fireworks after. Cost: Tickets $9-$12. Organizers call the Fourth of July show “the biggest fireworks show in Hammond Stadium history.” For tickets and more information, go to milb.com/fort-myers. FORT MYERS BEACH What: Fourth of July fireworks Where: Times Square, Estero Blvd. When: Approx. 9 p.m. Cost: Free Bring a beach chair and enjoy the show. Restaurants are nearby for food and drink. You can catch the fireworks from any of the Town’s 26 beach access points along Estero Boulevard. Consider using the Beach Trolley to make getting there easier. It will run from 3-11 p.m. Click here for routes and more information. Paid parking lots are located at Lynn Hall Park, on Old San Carlos Blvd., under the Matanzas Pass Bridge, and across and next to the Lani Kai Resort. Click here for more information on parking. Closing time for the Matanzas Pass bridge is 9-11:30 p.m. Big Carlos Pass Bridge on the south end of the Island will remain open. As a reminder, fireworks are always illegal everywhere on Fort Myers Beach and throughout the town. LABELLE What: Red, White & Tunes 4th of July Celebration Where: Barron Park, 1559 De Soto Avenue When: 4-9 p.m. Cost: Free Fireworks, vendors, contests, water slides, live music and more at this Fourth fundraiser hosted by the LaBelle Downtown Revitalization Corporation. Go to downtownlabelle.com/redwhitetunes for more information. LEHIGH ACRES What: Fourth of July Fireworks Show Where: Victory Church, 1201 Taylor Lane When: 7-9 p.m. Cost: Free. Bring your lawn chair to enjoy a 20-minute professional fireworks show, live bands, food trucks, and vendors. MARCO ISLAND What: Fireworks display Where: Between Tigertail and South beaches When: 9 p.m. Cost: Free As a reminder, fireworks are not permitted within the City limits. NAPLES What: 4th of July Fireworks Celebration Where: Sugden Regional Park, 4284 Avalon Drive When: 4-10 p.m. Fireworks at 9. Cost: Free Bring lawn chairs and blankets for a night of good old-fashioned fun. Fireworks begin at 9 p.m. What: Naples Pier July 4th Fireworks Where: Naples Pier, 25 12th Ave. S. When: 9 p.m. Cost: Free Personal use of sparklers or any fireworks is prohibited per City ordinance. There will be no parking allowed on either side of Gulf Shore Blvd. between 20th Ave. S. and 8th Ave. N. (Golf Dr.) Vehicles will be towed. Public parking is available in the downtown area. Fourth Ave. S. will be a designated disabled parking beach end for those with proper disabled parking permits. Parking meters are enforced daily between the hours of 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. and no parking after 11 p.m. is allowed at the beach ends. Parking is limited and first-come first-serve. Parking allowed in designated parking spaces only. There will be no parking allowed on either side of Gulf Shore Boulevard between 20th Avenue South and 8th Avenue North / South Golf Drive. Violators will be cited and towed. NORTH FORT MYERS What: Red, White & BBQ & Country Jam Where: Shell Factory, 16554 N. Cleveland Ave. When: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost: Free Live music from 2-5. A $5,000 Reverse Raffle also will be offered – $100 for two tickets with free entry to the VIP area with free food and drinks.