Phase 2 of Sanibel Beach renourishment project set to beginRiding toward a brighter future for kids: The story of Bikes for Tykes
SANIBEL Phase 2 of Sanibel Beach renourishment project set to begin Eric Jackson, Sanibel’s Public Information Officer, is encouraging residents and visitors to still come to the beach.
NAPLES Riding toward a brighter future for kids: The story of Bikes for Tykes For nearly four decades, Bikes for Tykes has been on a mission to give children and adults in need in Southwest Florida a chance to ride refurbished bicycles.
ENGLEWOOD SWFL chaplains offer support to first responders First responders across the country face the devastating impact of suicide nationwide those numbers are rising.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County deputies arrest man for ATV and UTV thefts, fence destruction A North Fort Myers man has been arrested after allegedly stealing a four-wheeler, crashing it into a property fence, and later trying to flee on a second stolen vehicle.
‘I saw God twice:’ Boating accident survivor thanks Lee Health After surviving an unthinkable accident in Matlacha, one woman wants to thank the medical team that saved her.
MATLACHA Blue Dog restaurant in Matlacha thankful for decade of support The Blue Dog Bar & Grill in Matlacha has survived multiple hurricanes over the past decade. Now, they’re thanking the community for supporting them every step of the way.
NAPLES Nominee of Gulfshore Life Men and Women of the year volunteers for STARability Gulfshore Life has nominated Anne Fleming as one of its Men and Women of the Year for volunteering her time to raise money for a new home store for Starability.
WINK NEWS Holiday gift exchange scams targeting social media users During the holiday season, tidings of joy and goodwill can be shrouded by scammers seeking to take advantage of holiday shoppers.
New cancer fighting machinery arrives at Southwest Florida Proton All the pieces are in place now, but it will take about a year of calibrating and fine-tuning before the proton machine is up and running.
Federal investigation involving Sheriff Carmine Marceno and LCSO WINK News has exclusively obtained a letter warning ranking government leaders in Lee County that money trouble could be brewing within the sheriff’s office.
Alfie Oakes staves off farms foreclosure action Farm Credit of Florida has dropped its $2.78 million foreclosure lawsuit against Alfie Oakes after both parties reached an agreement.
naples 5 honored during Women Rock Philanthropy event in Naples More than 600 women congregated at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Naples, where five received honors during the Women Rock Philanthropy event.
FORT MYERS BEACH Winners announced in Fort Myers Beach American Sand Sculpting Championship The winners have been announced in the 34th annual American Sand Sculpting Championship hosted on Fort Myers Beach.
NAPLES Naples city employee fired, accused of using city credit card for personal use An anonymous letter allegedly led to a Naples city employee being fired and becoming the subject of a criminal investigation.
SANIBEL Sanibel School to reopen for the first time since Hurricane Milton For the first time since Oct. 9, students of the Sanibel School now know when they can return for class after damage from Hurricane Milton forced them out.
SANIBEL Phase 2 of Sanibel Beach renourishment project set to begin Eric Jackson, Sanibel’s Public Information Officer, is encouraging residents and visitors to still come to the beach.
NAPLES Riding toward a brighter future for kids: The story of Bikes for Tykes For nearly four decades, Bikes for Tykes has been on a mission to give children and adults in need in Southwest Florida a chance to ride refurbished bicycles.
ENGLEWOOD SWFL chaplains offer support to first responders First responders across the country face the devastating impact of suicide nationwide those numbers are rising.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County deputies arrest man for ATV and UTV thefts, fence destruction A North Fort Myers man has been arrested after allegedly stealing a four-wheeler, crashing it into a property fence, and later trying to flee on a second stolen vehicle.
‘I saw God twice:’ Boating accident survivor thanks Lee Health After surviving an unthinkable accident in Matlacha, one woman wants to thank the medical team that saved her.
MATLACHA Blue Dog restaurant in Matlacha thankful for decade of support The Blue Dog Bar & Grill in Matlacha has survived multiple hurricanes over the past decade. Now, they’re thanking the community for supporting them every step of the way.
NAPLES Nominee of Gulfshore Life Men and Women of the year volunteers for STARability Gulfshore Life has nominated Anne Fleming as one of its Men and Women of the Year for volunteering her time to raise money for a new home store for Starability.
WINK NEWS Holiday gift exchange scams targeting social media users During the holiday season, tidings of joy and goodwill can be shrouded by scammers seeking to take advantage of holiday shoppers.
New cancer fighting machinery arrives at Southwest Florida Proton All the pieces are in place now, but it will take about a year of calibrating and fine-tuning before the proton machine is up and running.
Federal investigation involving Sheriff Carmine Marceno and LCSO WINK News has exclusively obtained a letter warning ranking government leaders in Lee County that money trouble could be brewing within the sheriff’s office.
Alfie Oakes staves off farms foreclosure action Farm Credit of Florida has dropped its $2.78 million foreclosure lawsuit against Alfie Oakes after both parties reached an agreement.
naples 5 honored during Women Rock Philanthropy event in Naples More than 600 women congregated at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Naples, where five received honors during the Women Rock Philanthropy event.
FORT MYERS BEACH Winners announced in Fort Myers Beach American Sand Sculpting Championship The winners have been announced in the 34th annual American Sand Sculpting Championship hosted on Fort Myers Beach.
NAPLES Naples city employee fired, accused of using city credit card for personal use An anonymous letter allegedly led to a Naples city employee being fired and becoming the subject of a criminal investigation.
SANIBEL Sanibel School to reopen for the first time since Hurricane Milton For the first time since Oct. 9, students of the Sanibel School now know when they can return for class after damage from Hurricane Milton forced them out.
City of Palms park in Fort Myers. Credit: WINK News. The City of Fort Myers wants to save City of Palms Park from demolition in the midtown section of the city. The ballpark is currently owned by Lee County. Tuesday night, Fort Myers City Council voted for the park to be transferred back to the city and keep baseball at the stadium for now. The deadline for the city to reacquire the park back from the county is in a little over three weeks. Mayor Kevin Anderson told us the city does not want the county to move forward with plans to demolish it. He says the city would like to hold off for a year and assess its future. He says that could include leaving the park, renovating it or demolishing it and building a new space there. Anderson says this decision would also allow the baseball and softball teams from FSW to play at least one more season at the park. “This will allow us the opportunity to let FSW play here … at least one more season,” Anderson said. “And it would give us an opportunity to assess the property and see what would be the highest and best use for this property.” It’s the bottom of the ninth, and the City of Fort Myers is at the plate. “At some point if we requested it, they would return this stadium to us, the park to us, whether the stadium was standing or not,” Anderson said. Anderson says the park was transferred from the city to the county in the 2000s for financial reasons. “Is it renovating this stadium? Is it using some of the stadium for another purpose? Or is it clearing the land and developing it some other way?” Anderson said. Attorney Sawyer Smith says his law firm conducted a survey, asking hundreds of local people what they’d like to see happen with the park. “Our residents want to see City of Palms stay; they want to see repurposed; they want to see that it get returned to citizens who paid for it in the first place,” Smith said. People we spoke to don’t want to lose what they describe as an icon, the where the Boston Red Sox once played. “It brings back memories of some of the best games and the times because you were so close up to the players,” Paige Rausch said. Others are more open-minded. “Definitely a park. What do you think?” mom Tracey Stender asked her daughter. “Yes, I want a park,” daughter Hadley Stender replied. A woman we spoke to recommended expanding Skatium, which sits across the street from the ballpark, and building a larger ice rink, so the area could host statewide or even national hockey tournaments. “That would be good money for the city … to hold a tournament, invite more kids to play in here,” Alma Roberts said. We spoke with the athletic director of FSW. He told us the school would love the opportunity to play at the stadium for at least one more season. We also reached out to the county for a comment on the city’s plans, and they did not wish to share a comment at this time. “Stand there and look at it. Just look at it, and think about its possibilities. Then, imagine it just being dirt. There are no possibilities once you take it down,” Smith said.