SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Support women’s heart health on National Wear Red Day The first Friday in February marks National Wear Red Day!
Ongoing repairs following Naples plane crash A deadly plane crash that occurred one year ago in Naples, Florida continues to impact lives in Southwest Florida. The tragic event involved two pilots who lost their lives on Interstate 75.
Naples jet crash, one year later: new details on emergency response Sunday marks one year since a jet crashed after its pilots attempted an emergency landing on I-75 just outside of Naples. “Your mind goes back to everything that happened that day,” said Heather Mazurkiewicz, public information officer with the North Collier Fire Rescue. “I think about the fact that there weren’t more lives lost.” At […]
LCSO cutting down law enforcement response times The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is gearing up to implement “Prepared 9-1-1,” a new tool designed to enhance emergency response times.
How Harry Chapin Food Bank supports struggling families In the heart of Dunbar, a neighborhood in Fort Myers, the STARS Complex becomes a place of hope as the Harry Chapin Food Bank supports families in need.
MOORE HAVEN African American family breaking barriers in Moore Haven politics Breaking barriers is a family tradition for Rashondra Croskey and her godmother, Gloria Reese.
Charlotte County unlicensed contractor accused of fraud The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office said that a contractor has been arrested after he was hired to build a room in a home without a license.
Studies show that menopause is linked to heart risks Menopause is a natural part of life for middle-aged women, typically occurring between ages 45 and 55. However, it can bring serious health complications, including an increased risk of heart disease.
FORT MYERS Local band Shy Blossom to open up for ’90s rockers Sister Hazel at The Ranch A Southwest Florida-based band will be opening for the legendary ’90s rock fusion group Sister Hazel.
golden gate Bear Brawl: Black bears duke it out in Golden Gate backyard Two black bears were caught on camera tussling for garbage in the backyard of a Golden Gate home.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral man accused of possessing child pornography A Cape Coral man has been arrested after allegedly possessing several files of child pornography on devices.
fort myers 7 people, 3 dogs displaced following house fire in Fort Myers The Fort Myers Fire Department responded to a house fire that has left seven people and three dogs without a home.
CAPE CORAL Island Coast High School employee accused of inappropriate behavior with 2 students We now have new details about the arrest of a Cape Coral instructional support aide at Island Coast High School accused of inappropriate relations with students.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte woman reunites with husband’s ashes A Port Charlotte woman has been reunited with her husband’s ashes after struggling with the U.S. Postal Service to find them.
Tim Aten Knows: The Avenue set to break ground on Fifth An upscale mixed-use redevelopment project — The Avenue — will begin construction this quarter on a nearly two-block area of Fifth Avenue South from the former longtime property of St. George & the Dragon restaurant.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Support women’s heart health on National Wear Red Day The first Friday in February marks National Wear Red Day!
Ongoing repairs following Naples plane crash A deadly plane crash that occurred one year ago in Naples, Florida continues to impact lives in Southwest Florida. The tragic event involved two pilots who lost their lives on Interstate 75.
Naples jet crash, one year later: new details on emergency response Sunday marks one year since a jet crashed after its pilots attempted an emergency landing on I-75 just outside of Naples. “Your mind goes back to everything that happened that day,” said Heather Mazurkiewicz, public information officer with the North Collier Fire Rescue. “I think about the fact that there weren’t more lives lost.” At […]
LCSO cutting down law enforcement response times The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is gearing up to implement “Prepared 9-1-1,” a new tool designed to enhance emergency response times.
How Harry Chapin Food Bank supports struggling families In the heart of Dunbar, a neighborhood in Fort Myers, the STARS Complex becomes a place of hope as the Harry Chapin Food Bank supports families in need.
MOORE HAVEN African American family breaking barriers in Moore Haven politics Breaking barriers is a family tradition for Rashondra Croskey and her godmother, Gloria Reese.
Charlotte County unlicensed contractor accused of fraud The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office said that a contractor has been arrested after he was hired to build a room in a home without a license.
Studies show that menopause is linked to heart risks Menopause is a natural part of life for middle-aged women, typically occurring between ages 45 and 55. However, it can bring serious health complications, including an increased risk of heart disease.
FORT MYERS Local band Shy Blossom to open up for ’90s rockers Sister Hazel at The Ranch A Southwest Florida-based band will be opening for the legendary ’90s rock fusion group Sister Hazel.
golden gate Bear Brawl: Black bears duke it out in Golden Gate backyard Two black bears were caught on camera tussling for garbage in the backyard of a Golden Gate home.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral man accused of possessing child pornography A Cape Coral man has been arrested after allegedly possessing several files of child pornography on devices.
fort myers 7 people, 3 dogs displaced following house fire in Fort Myers The Fort Myers Fire Department responded to a house fire that has left seven people and three dogs without a home.
CAPE CORAL Island Coast High School employee accused of inappropriate behavior with 2 students We now have new details about the arrest of a Cape Coral instructional support aide at Island Coast High School accused of inappropriate relations with students.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte woman reunites with husband’s ashes A Port Charlotte woman has been reunited with her husband’s ashes after struggling with the U.S. Postal Service to find them.
Tim Aten Knows: The Avenue set to break ground on Fifth An upscale mixed-use redevelopment project — The Avenue — will begin construction this quarter on a nearly two-block area of Fifth Avenue South from the former longtime property of St. George & the Dragon restaurant.
Francesca DeVito’s father was among the fallen at the World Trad Center 20 years ago on 9/11. Her father, Robert Cirri, was a member of New Jersey Port Authority. Credit: WINK News. As we prepare to mark 20 years since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, family members of the fallen brace for another tough day. “It’s every single year it’s replayed, and I’m literally watching my parent being murdered every single year, and that’s just something that will never get easier,” Francesca DeVito said. DeVito lost her father on 9/11 when she was 13 years old. He was a lieutenant with the New Jersey Port Authority and went to ground zero that day to help. We sat down with DeVito to reflect on that fateful day and her father’s memory. Lt. Robert Cirri of New Jersey Port Authority. Cirri died while responding inside the World Trade Center on 9/11. Credit: WINK News. A gentle giant. A hero. A friend. And to Francesca DeVito, Robert Cirri was a loving dad. “He just lived to help people,” DeVito said. “His voice kind of sounded like Sylvester Stallone. That deep, raspy, ‘Come here; do your homework.’ That’s exactly what he sounded like.” In her Golden Gate Estates home, DeVito’s father keeps watch over them. His oil painting is on the wall and memorabilia in a cabinet at home. Devito wants to remember how her father lived. But as 9/11 approaches, it’s impossible not to think about how he died at ground zero. “And he went in because his transcripts said he was supposed to leave,” DeVito explained. “They were in the north tower, and they made it to like the 30-something floor, and there was still one lady that they had to get out.” “But I guess something happened with her legs being injured, so he had a stair chair that firefighters use,” DeVito said. “He wouldn’t leave her, and his transcripts were like ‘No, I’m not leaving her.’” “I was in English class when the first tower was hit,” DeVito said. “And you just saw the twin towers burning, and I saw the second plane hit on TV,” DeVito said. “And my cousin was in my classroom, and I turned around; I said, ‘He’s there,’ and he’s like, ‘What do you mean he’s there?’ I was like, ‘He’s there. I know he’s there. Like, I’m really scared.’” “I remember doing the rosary, and I just said, like, out loud, like, ‘God, why would you let something so bad happened?’” DeVito said. “And by 10 p.m.-ish, Port Authority contacted my mom. He’s missing in action, and I’ll never forget that.” Adding to the pain and grief was Devito’s last conversation with her father. “I was grounded the night before 9/11, and my last words to my dad, were, ‘I hate you for grounding me,’” DeVito said. But I have to come to peace with that. Because if I don’t, I’m going to torture my soul, and that’s no way to live, and he wouldn’t want that for me either.” “People forget with 9/11 that there was kids that lost their parents, and those kids are adults,” DeVito said. “I’m 33. I had to walk myself down an aisle for my wedding, which is not fair. My mom is a widow. She was supposed to grow old with him.” Now, she never takes love for granted and makes sure her father’s memory lives on. “I got married on his birthday, so we get a happier day. I think that’s the big thing,” DeVito said. “What kind of grandfather do you think he’d be? Oh, goodness, stressed out with my kids,” DeVito said. “He would be fun. He would be the grandpa that jacks them up on sugar and then sends them home.” “I tell them everything, everything that I can. We still talk like he’s still here. My kids, you know, they’re, they never got to meet him. But they talk to me like they go over to his house every Sunday for dinner,” DeVito said. “And you know, they said something to me last year. You know, they said that, ‘It’s sad that he died. But he died because he went back in to save someone. And like that’s like super brave mommy.’ And I was like, ‘Yeah … he was very brave that day.’”