Fatal multi-vehicle crash closes all lanes on SR-82 in Lehigh AcresTribute breakfast to be held for Charlotte County Sgt. Elio Diaz
Fatal multi-vehicle crash closes all lanes on SR-82 in Lehigh Acres The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash involving multiple vehicles on SR-82 west of 40th Street in Lehigh Acres.
port charlotte Tribute breakfast to be held for Charlotte County Sgt. Elio Diaz A tribute breakfast is set to be held for Charlotte County Sgt. Elio Diaz, who was killed in the line of duty in December.
winter haven Gov. DeSantis to hold news conference in Winter Haven Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference in Winter Haven.
FORT MYERS Shell Factory & Nature Park announces online auction liquidation of remaining inventory Fans of the now-closed Shell Factory & Nature Park will have a final chance to own a piece of nostalgia with two virtual auctions.
the weather authority More clouds than sun for your Wednesday The Weather Authority is tracking an increased cloud coverage along with cooler conditions this Wednesday afternoon.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads-Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox-Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘It’s devastating’: Neighbor reflects on fatal fire in Port Charlotte A devastating house fire Monday night in Port Charlotte has left one person dead and another hospitalized while neighbors mourn the possible loss of a beloved member of their community.
‘The sound of death’ Neighbors concerned by amount of crashes on Joel Blvd A woman is heartbroken from witnessing crash after crash outside her Lehigh Acres home.
Fort Myers get 15% increase on flood insurance discount WINK News is finding out what led to the city of Fort Myers going from just a 5% FEMA flood insurance discount to a 20% discount.
FORT MYERS Locals house California wildfire victims The effects of the California fires are being felt worldwide as people evacuate some are in southwest Florida.
LOVERS KEY Couple returns to Lovers Key condo post Ian While Hurricane Ian is long gone from Southwest Florida, many are still feeling its impacts.
EVERGLADES Biden signs Water Resources Development Act, its effect on SWFL President Biden recently signed into law the Water Resources Development Act with an aim to improve rivers and harbors across the country and provide for the conservation of water. Southwest Florida was included in that act. Putting the 240-page plan together took a lot of work, not just from state and federal lawmakers, but also […]
Turning business travel into a vacation Would work travel seem a little easier if you could turn it into a vacation? Two professors say they have proof that would help business travel.
The future of biometrics: Safer security or new AI risks? In 2021, the Transportation Service Agency (TSA) launched its new touchless identity solution in the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County airport.
CAPE CORAL Pelican Elementary resource officer saves infant A school resource officer at Pelican Elementary saved an infants’ life at a traffic stop in Cape Coral.
Fatal multi-vehicle crash closes all lanes on SR-82 in Lehigh Acres The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash involving multiple vehicles on SR-82 west of 40th Street in Lehigh Acres.
port charlotte Tribute breakfast to be held for Charlotte County Sgt. Elio Diaz A tribute breakfast is set to be held for Charlotte County Sgt. Elio Diaz, who was killed in the line of duty in December.
winter haven Gov. DeSantis to hold news conference in Winter Haven Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference in Winter Haven.
FORT MYERS Shell Factory & Nature Park announces online auction liquidation of remaining inventory Fans of the now-closed Shell Factory & Nature Park will have a final chance to own a piece of nostalgia with two virtual auctions.
the weather authority More clouds than sun for your Wednesday The Weather Authority is tracking an increased cloud coverage along with cooler conditions this Wednesday afternoon.
Web Exclusive: Rachel Cox-Rosen’s Construction Heads-Up As construction may dampen your commute, WINK News traffic anchor Rachel Cox-Rosen knows the best way to traverse the roadways in this web-exclusive feature.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘It’s devastating’: Neighbor reflects on fatal fire in Port Charlotte A devastating house fire Monday night in Port Charlotte has left one person dead and another hospitalized while neighbors mourn the possible loss of a beloved member of their community.
‘The sound of death’ Neighbors concerned by amount of crashes on Joel Blvd A woman is heartbroken from witnessing crash after crash outside her Lehigh Acres home.
Fort Myers get 15% increase on flood insurance discount WINK News is finding out what led to the city of Fort Myers going from just a 5% FEMA flood insurance discount to a 20% discount.
FORT MYERS Locals house California wildfire victims The effects of the California fires are being felt worldwide as people evacuate some are in southwest Florida.
LOVERS KEY Couple returns to Lovers Key condo post Ian While Hurricane Ian is long gone from Southwest Florida, many are still feeling its impacts.
EVERGLADES Biden signs Water Resources Development Act, its effect on SWFL President Biden recently signed into law the Water Resources Development Act with an aim to improve rivers and harbors across the country and provide for the conservation of water. Southwest Florida was included in that act. Putting the 240-page plan together took a lot of work, not just from state and federal lawmakers, but also […]
Turning business travel into a vacation Would work travel seem a little easier if you could turn it into a vacation? Two professors say they have proof that would help business travel.
The future of biometrics: Safer security or new AI risks? In 2021, the Transportation Service Agency (TSA) launched its new touchless identity solution in the Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County airport.
CAPE CORAL Pelican Elementary resource officer saves infant A school resource officer at Pelican Elementary saved an infants’ life at a traffic stop in Cape Coral.
Maria Vilella at La Bella Apulia Italian Gourmet Market. Credit: WINK News Like many others, East Naples business owner Maria Vilella lost her home to Hurricane Ian and had to live in a camper van on her property. But, also like her neighbors, Vilella has not given up. Vilella, the owner of La Bella Apulia Gourmet Italian Market, survived Ian, but her Bayshore Drive home did not. “We had 3 feet inside and 5 1/2 outside,” Vilella said. “Yes, pretty awful. I lost everything. Everything that was in the house.” Vilella and her dogs lived in a camper van outside their old home for four painful months. “I just rented a new house,” Vilella said. “Finally, I find a place after being, since October, in a little camper van with no bathroom and no water, so I was using the bathroom inside the house. It was completely destroyed, of course.” La Bella Apulia Italian Gourmet Market and Apericena is located at Shoppes at Dockside in Old Naples. After Ian, there was water damage underneath the dock, causing Vilella’s business to close for two months. “No work, no business, no money—nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing,” Vilella said. “It’s been awful because you don’t have any comfort; you don’t have anything besides a bed to sleep on.” Vilella says she knows it will take a long time for things to return to how they were. But, despite everything she’s been through, Vilella says she’s still a fighter. “God helped me… he did, he really did,” Vilella said. “Hopefully, we can make it, and next year it will be a little bit better. I know it will take a long time to recover for everybody. This has been really a major disaster. Bad, bad, bad. But we’ll see; I’m strong, like I said. We can make it.” Vilella is now working a second job at Collier County Domestic Animal Services. She looks forward to brighter days ahead and is thankful to be alive.