Naples Yacht Club appoints first woman commodoreMano Santa Tattoos, a woman-owned tattoo shop, opens in Fort Myers
NAPLES Naples Yacht Club appoints first woman commodore After 78 years, the Naples Yacht Club has appointed its first woman commodore. Kathy Parks King is her name.
FORT MYERS Mano Santa Tattoos, a woman-owned tattoo shop, opens in Fort Myers Mano Santa Tattoos is the newest tattoo studio in Fort Myers, offering an immersive tattoo experience to clients. The shop is woman-owned and women-staffed.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda residents awaiting Gilchrist Park repairs The City of Punta Gorda has yet to complete repairs or remove the boats that remain stranded in Gilchrist Park after Hurricane Milton.
Unlocking Alzheimer’s mysteries Research shows that some older adults have signs of the disease in their brains after they die, even though they never had symptoms while they were alive. These cases could be key to developing new treatments.
IMMOKALEE 64-year-old drug dealer sentenced in Collier County A 64-year-old drug dealer has been sentenced in Collier County for possession and distribution of cocaine.
WINK NEWS Disaster tax relief bill passed after over 2 years After more than two years of uncertainty, victims of Hurricane Ian and other disasters are getting some financial relief.
Elevate Social Lounge opens Kava bar at University Village near FGCU For almost four years, Mitra 9 has marketed itself as the Budweiser of Kava, trying to make mainstream a growing trend of Kava-infused drinks that are said to help reduce anxiety.
ESTERO Funeral procession held for former Lee County firefighter Hundreds joined to pay their respects to a beloved firefighter who passed away in November.
FORT MYERS Will new developments along SR 82 cause traffic problems? New developments are coming to State Road 82 near the Forum, the biggest of which is Amazon’s new robotics fulfillment center.
SANIBEL 36th annual Sanibel Luminary Festival begins It’s the holiday season, and there are events galore across Southwest Florida this weekend. One of those events is the Sanibel Luminary Festival.
FORT MYERS FGCU student arrested, accused of making social media threat against university Florida Gulf Coast University police have arrested a student accused of sending a threat to the university through Snapchat.
SANIBEL Sanibel annual 10K/5K race begins this weekend Sanibel’s annual food programs, island-based social services and Helping Hands’ JOG N JAM 10K/5K race will close several roads this Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Teen accused of stealing vehicle from Cape Coral driveway A 16-year-old with a history of stealing cars has been arrested after allegedly stealing a vehicle from a Cape Coral driveway.
Tim Aten Knows: Work begins for new Publix at Wiggins and U.S. 41 Work began in late November to prepare for a Publix supermarket at the Gateway Shoppes at North Bay on the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Wiggins Pass Road in North Naples.
BONITA SPRINGS Woman wanted for credit card theft in Bonita Springs Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on a woman wanted for credit card theft in Bonita Springs.
NAPLES Naples Yacht Club appoints first woman commodore After 78 years, the Naples Yacht Club has appointed its first woman commodore. Kathy Parks King is her name.
FORT MYERS Mano Santa Tattoos, a woman-owned tattoo shop, opens in Fort Myers Mano Santa Tattoos is the newest tattoo studio in Fort Myers, offering an immersive tattoo experience to clients. The shop is woman-owned and women-staffed.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda residents awaiting Gilchrist Park repairs The City of Punta Gorda has yet to complete repairs or remove the boats that remain stranded in Gilchrist Park after Hurricane Milton.
Unlocking Alzheimer’s mysteries Research shows that some older adults have signs of the disease in their brains after they die, even though they never had symptoms while they were alive. These cases could be key to developing new treatments.
IMMOKALEE 64-year-old drug dealer sentenced in Collier County A 64-year-old drug dealer has been sentenced in Collier County for possession and distribution of cocaine.
WINK NEWS Disaster tax relief bill passed after over 2 years After more than two years of uncertainty, victims of Hurricane Ian and other disasters are getting some financial relief.
Elevate Social Lounge opens Kava bar at University Village near FGCU For almost four years, Mitra 9 has marketed itself as the Budweiser of Kava, trying to make mainstream a growing trend of Kava-infused drinks that are said to help reduce anxiety.
ESTERO Funeral procession held for former Lee County firefighter Hundreds joined to pay their respects to a beloved firefighter who passed away in November.
FORT MYERS Will new developments along SR 82 cause traffic problems? New developments are coming to State Road 82 near the Forum, the biggest of which is Amazon’s new robotics fulfillment center.
SANIBEL 36th annual Sanibel Luminary Festival begins It’s the holiday season, and there are events galore across Southwest Florida this weekend. One of those events is the Sanibel Luminary Festival.
FORT MYERS FGCU student arrested, accused of making social media threat against university Florida Gulf Coast University police have arrested a student accused of sending a threat to the university through Snapchat.
SANIBEL Sanibel annual 10K/5K race begins this weekend Sanibel’s annual food programs, island-based social services and Helping Hands’ JOG N JAM 10K/5K race will close several roads this Saturday.
CAPE CORAL Teen accused of stealing vehicle from Cape Coral driveway A 16-year-old with a history of stealing cars has been arrested after allegedly stealing a vehicle from a Cape Coral driveway.
Tim Aten Knows: Work begins for new Publix at Wiggins and U.S. 41 Work began in late November to prepare for a Publix supermarket at the Gateway Shoppes at North Bay on the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Wiggins Pass Road in North Naples.
BONITA SPRINGS Woman wanted for credit card theft in Bonita Springs Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is seeking information on a woman wanted for credit card theft in Bonita Springs.
The island that was one of the many places hit the hardest after Hurricane Ian is dealing with the fact that they are recently opened. Sanibel is still a place where it feels like the hurricane was just days ago in some spots, and in others, it feels like the island is miles ahead of where people may have thought it would be three months later. Too many businesses on the island were ripped out of the hands of business owners, managers, and employees who loved the place they worked. Some threw in the towel, while others pushed on and will continue to do so until they find a new normal. Three businesses shut down by Hurricane Ian are now working hard to survive. The Blue Giraffe Cafe, a Sanibel staple, is one of them. “Our lives have been completely uplifted in ways that the normal mind can’t just comprehend,” said Michael Puente, manager at the Blue Giraffe Cafe. The Blue Giraffe is currently doing as much as it can from a food truck. The Pecking Order, which boasted the best fried chicken on the island, is also fighting its way back, having to start from scratch. “I can’t sit and dwell on the devastation at all,” said Bridgit Budd, owner of The Pecking Order. A fisherman’s asylum, Whitney’s Bait and Tackle, is also pushing through the devastation toward the future. “All the hard work we put into it to get it to where it was… in just 24 hours, it was ruined,” said Jim Bryan of Whitney’s Bait and Tackle. “Totally devastated the island, which everybody knows. We were lucky we only had about 3 1/2 feet of water on in the building here.” When Bryan looks outside of Whitney’s Bait and Tackle, he sees and feels a constant reminder of the hurricane that spun Sanibel around and closed his business for months. With minimal damage, Bryan’s store was able to open again. Ninety percent of his merchandise survived Ian’s Category 4 winds and storm surge. Two minutes away, though, Puente can’t say the same, but giving up was never an option for him. “As soon as we were able to make landfall here on the island and assess it with ourselves, you know, we did come up with the commitment for rebuilding and stuff like that,” Puente said. “It’s not easy. And we’ll take those challenges as they come.” Puente, Budd and Bryan have something in common. They decided to push forward after the hurricane despite debris, loss, and overwhelming damage. A big challenge is the beaches that are closed which means fewer tourists and fewer customers. “We’re doing a little bit of business. We’re doing what we can. But nowhere near what it was on the island was booming before the hurricane,” said Bryan. The reality now won’t stop these three from doing what they do best; serving their customers. “I personally have just been looking forward to the future,” said Budd. The Blue Giraffe is operating out of a food truck on Periwinkle Way. Whitney’s Bait and Tackle is open, and Budd hopes to make fried chicken again by Mother’s Day. What they all need now is support. Bryan said if you have money to spend, spend it on Sanibel. “Just buy fishing stuff,” Bryan said. “We’re going to bounce back,” Puente said. “We’re gonna make things happen for the people that love the island.”