CAPE CORAL Understanding water restriction in Cape Coral The city of Canals has water problems again!
SANIBEL Future of the Sanibel Pier Sanibel Island is looking much better since Hurricane Ian, but while the lighthouse is standing tall, the pier isn’t doing too well.
downtown fort myers Large crowds expected for Fort Myers Seafood & Music Festival Downtown Fort Myers is on higher alert as this weekend’s 4th Annual Fort Myers Seafood & Music Festival is expected to draw large crowds.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral neighborhood growing frustrated over debris piles Pounds of trash and debris are blowing through a Cape Coral neighborhood, through the streets, into canals and every which way.
Inside a Lee County special corrections program More than 3,000 bags of trash, 19 interstate projects, nearly 100 citizen requests and over one hundred truckloads of trash—that’s the work done by nonviolent offenders in Lee County, who are doing their part to make our county more beautiful.
FGCU NCAA implements rules for checking pitchers for foreign substances The NCAA will soon send out an instructional video on in-game foreign substance checks for pitchers.
Surgeon General calls for cancer warnings on alcohol In the new year, there’s a new call to warn Americans about the negative effects of alcohol.
Family of Charlotte deputy killed during traffic stop releases statement The family of Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sgt. Elio Diaz is breaking their silence.
Southwest Florida battles the Flu Flu cases are skyrocketing in Southwest Florida, making this busy season even more challenging.
FORT MYERS SWFL 19-year-old hurt in New Orleans terrorist attack releases statement One of the young women from Fort Myers hurt during the New Orleans New Year’s Eve attack is speaking out for the first time.
Bonita Bill’s to close Jan. 5 prior to pending $5.5M sale HM Restaurant Group, owners the adjacent Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille and Dixie Fish Co. restaurants, has been named as the buyer.
naples Beloved Naples Zoo giant anteater, Dee Gee, passes away The Naples Zoo is mourning the loss of a beloved male giant anteater who had given nearly 10 years of joy to visitors.
Charlotte County Property Appraiser accepting applications for partial property tax refunds The Charlotte County Property Appraiser is now accepting applications for partial 2024 property tax refunds.
FORT MYERS 2 wanted for stealing an e-bike from Fort Myers business parking lot Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help identifying two men who stole an electric bike.
Hurricane Ian damages in Punta Gorda exceed $6M Multiple city-owned properties were either destroyed or damaged by Category 4 winds.
CAPE CORAL Understanding water restriction in Cape Coral The city of Canals has water problems again!
SANIBEL Future of the Sanibel Pier Sanibel Island is looking much better since Hurricane Ian, but while the lighthouse is standing tall, the pier isn’t doing too well.
downtown fort myers Large crowds expected for Fort Myers Seafood & Music Festival Downtown Fort Myers is on higher alert as this weekend’s 4th Annual Fort Myers Seafood & Music Festival is expected to draw large crowds.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral neighborhood growing frustrated over debris piles Pounds of trash and debris are blowing through a Cape Coral neighborhood, through the streets, into canals and every which way.
Inside a Lee County special corrections program More than 3,000 bags of trash, 19 interstate projects, nearly 100 citizen requests and over one hundred truckloads of trash—that’s the work done by nonviolent offenders in Lee County, who are doing their part to make our county more beautiful.
FGCU NCAA implements rules for checking pitchers for foreign substances The NCAA will soon send out an instructional video on in-game foreign substance checks for pitchers.
Surgeon General calls for cancer warnings on alcohol In the new year, there’s a new call to warn Americans about the negative effects of alcohol.
Family of Charlotte deputy killed during traffic stop releases statement The family of Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sgt. Elio Diaz is breaking their silence.
Southwest Florida battles the Flu Flu cases are skyrocketing in Southwest Florida, making this busy season even more challenging.
FORT MYERS SWFL 19-year-old hurt in New Orleans terrorist attack releases statement One of the young women from Fort Myers hurt during the New Orleans New Year’s Eve attack is speaking out for the first time.
Bonita Bill’s to close Jan. 5 prior to pending $5.5M sale HM Restaurant Group, owners the adjacent Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille and Dixie Fish Co. restaurants, has been named as the buyer.
naples Beloved Naples Zoo giant anteater, Dee Gee, passes away The Naples Zoo is mourning the loss of a beloved male giant anteater who had given nearly 10 years of joy to visitors.
Charlotte County Property Appraiser accepting applications for partial property tax refunds The Charlotte County Property Appraiser is now accepting applications for partial 2024 property tax refunds.
FORT MYERS 2 wanted for stealing an e-bike from Fort Myers business parking lot Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s help identifying two men who stole an electric bike.
Hurricane Ian damages in Punta Gorda exceed $6M Multiple city-owned properties were either destroyed or damaged by Category 4 winds.
MacIntosh and other stores opens at Bell Tower after Ian destroyed Sanibel location. CREDIT: WINK News Feb. 28 marks five months since Hurricane Ian ripped through Southwest Florida, destroying lives, homes, and businesses. Many of the businesses have been able to rebuild in the same location, while others have had to find a new spot to set up shop. Several of them now fill the empty spots at the Bell Tower Shops. Some owners are calling it similar to a mini-Sanibel at the Bell Tower Shops. Sanibel was where their businesses were made, but Hurricane Ian left them wondering if they would reopen. Despite possibly not being where they expected, many businesses have reopened. When Ian hit Sanibel, it took peoples’ livelihoods along with their homes and so much more. “The water just kept coming in, we ended up with about 41 inches inside the store,” owner of Congress Jewelers, Scot Congress, said. As does Rebecca Binkowski, owner of Macintosh Books and Paper. “Going out and seeing it you just you get that feeling in your stomach like, wow, this is everything, you know, that we’ve worked so hard for. And now we’re going to throw it all away,” Binkowski said. But five months after the storm, they’re all finding new life on the mainland at the Bell Tower Shops. “I do think it is a fresh start for us to be here…to be open here and to make connections and to be able to grow our business,” owner of Bubbly Latitude, Kate Zembrodt said. While they’re not on the island, they said Sanibel is so much more than a mere geographic location. “When things like this happen we realize how connected we are and how much of a small town we really are,” Binkowski said. Many of the businesses WINK News spoke with said they do plan to rebuild their Sanibel locations but they love being at the Bell Tower Shops, and hope to keep those stores too.