WINK NEWS 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.
the weather authority Near-record heat this Friday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking more heat as near-record highs are to be expected this Friday afternoon.
FORT MYERS Sibling rivalry brewing between SWFL Super Bowl champions Philadelphia may be known as the city of brotherly love, but here in southwest Florida, there’s a brotherly rivalry brewing between two of our own.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers mother warns others after falling victim to ticket fraud A mother’s intended surprise turned into a disappointment when she paid for Savannah Bananas tickets but never received them. The tickets were meant to be a special gift for her son.
Legal expert weighs in on 17-year-old found not guilty of murder of mom Collin Griffith, a 17-year-old, has been found not guilty in the death of his mother, Catherine Griffith, who was fatally stabbed in the neck.
FORT MYERS $150k worth of equipment stolen from Lee Health Fort Myers police arrested a hospital employee accused of stealing more than 150 thousand dollars worth of medical equipment from Lee Health.
NAPLES Award-winning stylist to host event during Naples Automotive Experience On Friday, an Emmy Award-winning Hollywood stylist will host Forever Fabulous, a charity event with the St. Matthew’s House.
FORT MYERS Colonial and I-75 diverging diamond to be completed by spring The diverging diamond at Colonial Boulevard and Interstate 75 in Fort Myers is diverting drivers.
NAPLES 20th Annual Spring Home & Garden show coming to Naples The 20th semi-annual Spring Home & Garden show is coming to Naples.
NAPLES Collier Publix worker spreads joy with kindness cards In Collier County, one person stands out for his daily acts of kindness, bringing smiles to those around him.
FGCU FGCU softball pitcher ranked among the best in the country FGCU softball pitcher Allison Sparkman enters her sophomore season ranked as one of the top pitchers in the country.
Congress steps in as Port Charlotte widow searches for husband’s ashes A Port Charlotte woman continues to fight to find her husband’s ashes, lost in the mail. Members of Congress are now backing her efforts.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers mom recounts dramatic chase to find kidnapped daughter A mother’s worst nightmare unfolded when her 2-year-old daughter was taken from her in Fort Myers on Monday.
ESTERO Copperleaf Community fights hunger through fundraising The Copperleaf Country Club community in Estero is making a significant impact in the fight against hunger.
NAPLES Collier County students explore trade careers at job fair Hundreds of Collier County students explored potential future careers at the Build My Future Job Fair.
WINK NEWS 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.
the weather authority Near-record heat this Friday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking more heat as near-record highs are to be expected this Friday afternoon.
FORT MYERS Sibling rivalry brewing between SWFL Super Bowl champions Philadelphia may be known as the city of brotherly love, but here in southwest Florida, there’s a brotherly rivalry brewing between two of our own.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers mother warns others after falling victim to ticket fraud A mother’s intended surprise turned into a disappointment when she paid for Savannah Bananas tickets but never received them. The tickets were meant to be a special gift for her son.
Legal expert weighs in on 17-year-old found not guilty of murder of mom Collin Griffith, a 17-year-old, has been found not guilty in the death of his mother, Catherine Griffith, who was fatally stabbed in the neck.
FORT MYERS $150k worth of equipment stolen from Lee Health Fort Myers police arrested a hospital employee accused of stealing more than 150 thousand dollars worth of medical equipment from Lee Health.
NAPLES Award-winning stylist to host event during Naples Automotive Experience On Friday, an Emmy Award-winning Hollywood stylist will host Forever Fabulous, a charity event with the St. Matthew’s House.
FORT MYERS Colonial and I-75 diverging diamond to be completed by spring The diverging diamond at Colonial Boulevard and Interstate 75 in Fort Myers is diverting drivers.
NAPLES 20th Annual Spring Home & Garden show coming to Naples The 20th semi-annual Spring Home & Garden show is coming to Naples.
NAPLES Collier Publix worker spreads joy with kindness cards In Collier County, one person stands out for his daily acts of kindness, bringing smiles to those around him.
FGCU FGCU softball pitcher ranked among the best in the country FGCU softball pitcher Allison Sparkman enters her sophomore season ranked as one of the top pitchers in the country.
Congress steps in as Port Charlotte widow searches for husband’s ashes A Port Charlotte woman continues to fight to find her husband’s ashes, lost in the mail. Members of Congress are now backing her efforts.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers mom recounts dramatic chase to find kidnapped daughter A mother’s worst nightmare unfolded when her 2-year-old daughter was taken from her in Fort Myers on Monday.
ESTERO Copperleaf Community fights hunger through fundraising The Copperleaf Country Club community in Estero is making a significant impact in the fight against hunger.
NAPLES Collier County students explore trade careers at job fair Hundreds of Collier County students explored potential future careers at the Build My Future Job Fair.
The Dunbar Easter Parade. Credit: WINK News The Dunbar Easter Parade was started in the early 1940s to give people of color a parade of their own when they couldn’t participate in the Edison Festival of Light. It remains a major event in the Dunbar community, especially for those who remember marching in it decades ago. Marion Smallwood Jackson still remembers the dreams she had of being in the Dunbar Easter Parade over 50 years ago. “I would go out and peep around when I was about 4 or 5 with Mom and see all the band lining up and hear the music and the musicians, and I said, ‘One day, I am going to be in that parade,'” Jackson said. Jackson made that dream a reality, first in 4th grade on her decked-out bicycle. “I had on lavender; I’ll never forget,” Jackson said. “That was my favorite color, lavender, and my bike had all of the beautiful decorations and the spinners and the lavender and the white. And, oh, I had on a beautiful little pant outfit. And I was just waving and riding.” Her next time marching in the parade was several years later. “I grew up, and then I went and got in high school, and that was my next occasion,” Jackson said. “I became the head majorette of the Dunbar High School Marching Band, and I marched in that parade several times.” For Edward Hardin, the vice president of the Dunbar Festival Committee, the event is just as fresh as the dream Evelyn Sams Canady first had in the early 1940s. A dream for people who look like Marion Smallwood Jackson to have a parade they could march in. “We know back during those periods of time that people of color were not allowed to celebrate in the parade,” Hardin said. “So, she started her own parade. And they began, and they would come, and they would love decorating baskets, Easter baskets, they would decorate wheelbarrows, everything they could find.” Now the tradition of the Dunbar Easter Parade has grown into a major event that Hardin and Jackson still get just as excited about as in their youth. “I can’t wait; I’ve already got my little comfortable shoes; I got me a little hat… I bought me a little cap this time because they say it’s going to be sunny,” Jackson said. They know that the roots of the celebration give it an undimmed relevance in Dunbar. “It’s almost unexplainable, but it’s one that Fort Myers needed,” Hardin said. “I always say to people all the time that nobody can celebrate Easter like Fort Myers, the 239.” Jackson also knows that she will have a very different role in the 79th Dunbar Easter parade. “The only thing now is where am I going to sit to watch my parade and all my little kids and all of them walk?” Jackson said. “Now, it’s going to be another era. The younger people—which is my children, or maybe my children’s children—now they’re having the parade.” It takes over six months to prepare for the parade, which is seeing some changes of its own. The Easter coronation returns for 2023, and the parade route is being switched up. “We’re going to run it backward this year, as opposed to… we used to go down MLK, down to Palm Avenue, and then back to the Stars Complex,” Hardin said. “Well, this year is going to actually do it in the reverse.” The parade will start down Ford Street, take a right onto Edison Avenue, then take a final right onto Palm Avenue, ending on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. “It used to always kind of be primarily with people of African American culture,” Hardin said. “But we’ve kind of spun it from being like a big family reunion to, it’s actually a networking event.” Regardless of the event’s natural evolution, its essence and its history have remained the same. “I can see Ms. Sams now, in heaven, smiling… her work wasn’t in vain,” Jackson said. “She had a dream, and she did it. She brought something to our community that we can always remember for the rest of our days.” Dunbar has a whole lineup of events for Easter weekend, starting with the return of the Dunbar Easter coronation on Friday. The parade starts at 3 p.m. on Sunday.