Paul Fleming expanding Lake Park Diner, PJK restaurant conceptsNew construction, business growth continues near Punta Gorda Airport
Paul Fleming expanding Lake Park Diner, PJK restaurant concepts Lake Park Diner co-owners Smith Organics and Paul Fleming Restaurant Group anticipate 50 locations of what will be a Naples-based chain.
New construction, business growth continues near Punta Gorda Airport Development surrounding the Punta Gorda Airport continues to grow with 2.5 million square feet already developed and 1.5 million square feet planned, according to Charlotte County Economic Development Director Dave Gammon.
AREA SHELTERS AND REFUGES OF LAST RESORT CHARLOTTE COUNTY Emergency Operations Center (941) 833-4000 charlottecountyfl.gov/departments/public-safety/emergency-management/ PLEASE NOTE: Do not depend on a particular shelter or refuge. Sites may, or may not, be opened depending on the size of the storm and the predicted landfall area. *All Charlotte County shelters are pet-friendly. PORT CHARLOTTE Harold Avenue Regional Park Recreation Center, 23400 Harold Ave. […]
After the Storm Though the storm may have passed, many dangers can remain in its wake. During this clean-up and repair period, your primary focus should be on keeping yourself safe, as well as ensuring that your family, friends, neighbors and emergency workers also remain safe.
SOUTH FORT MYERS Precautionary boil water notice lifted in South Fort Myers A three-day-long precautionary boil water notice impacting hundreds of people in South Fort Myers has been lifted.
FLORIDA Study lists Florida as deadliest state for cyclists Cyclists in Florida are in more danger than in any other state, amassing nearly 50 more deadly crashes involving a cyclist than the second-highest rated state of California, a new study revealed.
FORT MYERS Challenger Boulevard closures for roundabout construction work in Fort Myers Beginning Monday, City of Fort Myers contractors will close Challenger Boulevard west of Winkler Avenue to construct a roundabout.
Collier County seeks workforce housing proposals Collier County is seeking developers’ proposals for multifamily developments with affordable and workforce housing that can be considered for local and state funding.
FORT MYERS Friday’s Furry Friends: Charlie, Taz Man For this week’s Friday’s Furry Friends, WINK visits the Gulf Coast Humane Society to showcase two adorable animals ready to be adopted.
ALVA Blue-green algae health alert lifted at Alva Boat Ramp Authorities are lifting the health alert for blue-green algae in the Caloosahatchee River near the Avla Boat Ramp.
PORT CHARLOTTE Man tased at Charlotte High graduation after causing disturbance A man was stunned with a Taser and arrested after allegedly disrupting a graduation for Charlotte High School.
Lehigh Acres gunman who tried to break into home still on the run An unidentified gunman remains on the run following a shooting Wednesday at the Jim Fleming Ecological Park in Lehigh Acres.
the weather authority Feeling hotter for your Friday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a hot Friday, with “feels like” temperatures ranging from 100° to 105° for most of Southwest Florida.
WINK NEWS Multiple crews combat commercial building fire in Collier County Multiple fire crews are responding to a single-story structure fire in Naples.
Paul Fleming expanding Lake Park Diner, PJK restaurant concepts Lake Park Diner co-owners Smith Organics and Paul Fleming Restaurant Group anticipate 50 locations of what will be a Naples-based chain.
New construction, business growth continues near Punta Gorda Airport Development surrounding the Punta Gorda Airport continues to grow with 2.5 million square feet already developed and 1.5 million square feet planned, according to Charlotte County Economic Development Director Dave Gammon.
AREA SHELTERS AND REFUGES OF LAST RESORT CHARLOTTE COUNTY Emergency Operations Center (941) 833-4000 charlottecountyfl.gov/departments/public-safety/emergency-management/ PLEASE NOTE: Do not depend on a particular shelter or refuge. Sites may, or may not, be opened depending on the size of the storm and the predicted landfall area. *All Charlotte County shelters are pet-friendly. PORT CHARLOTTE Harold Avenue Regional Park Recreation Center, 23400 Harold Ave. […]
After the Storm Though the storm may have passed, many dangers can remain in its wake. During this clean-up and repair period, your primary focus should be on keeping yourself safe, as well as ensuring that your family, friends, neighbors and emergency workers also remain safe.
SOUTH FORT MYERS Precautionary boil water notice lifted in South Fort Myers A three-day-long precautionary boil water notice impacting hundreds of people in South Fort Myers has been lifted.
FLORIDA Study lists Florida as deadliest state for cyclists Cyclists in Florida are in more danger than in any other state, amassing nearly 50 more deadly crashes involving a cyclist than the second-highest rated state of California, a new study revealed.
FORT MYERS Challenger Boulevard closures for roundabout construction work in Fort Myers Beginning Monday, City of Fort Myers contractors will close Challenger Boulevard west of Winkler Avenue to construct a roundabout.
Collier County seeks workforce housing proposals Collier County is seeking developers’ proposals for multifamily developments with affordable and workforce housing that can be considered for local and state funding.
FORT MYERS Friday’s Furry Friends: Charlie, Taz Man For this week’s Friday’s Furry Friends, WINK visits the Gulf Coast Humane Society to showcase two adorable animals ready to be adopted.
ALVA Blue-green algae health alert lifted at Alva Boat Ramp Authorities are lifting the health alert for blue-green algae in the Caloosahatchee River near the Avla Boat Ramp.
PORT CHARLOTTE Man tased at Charlotte High graduation after causing disturbance A man was stunned with a Taser and arrested after allegedly disrupting a graduation for Charlotte High School.
Lehigh Acres gunman who tried to break into home still on the run An unidentified gunman remains on the run following a shooting Wednesday at the Jim Fleming Ecological Park in Lehigh Acres.
the weather authority Feeling hotter for your Friday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking a hot Friday, with “feels like” temperatures ranging from 100° to 105° for most of Southwest Florida.
WINK NEWS Multiple crews combat commercial building fire in Collier County Multiple fire crews are responding to a single-story structure fire in Naples.
FILE – In this Jan. 15, 2020, file photo, Mickey and Minnie Mouse perform during a parade as they pass by the Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Credit: AP Photo/John Raoux, File) After appointees of Gov. Ron DeSantis took over Walt Disney World’s governing district earlier this year, its firefighters were among the few employees who publicly welcomed them with open arms. But that warm relationship is in jeopardy as a new district administrator has reopened negotiations on a contract that was approved last month by the unionized firefighters, promising pay raises and more manpower. A vote on the contract was originally targeted for last month during a meeting of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District board of supervisors. But it was never brought up, and it did not appear on an agenda released ahead of the next meeting scheduled for Wednesday. Under the three-year contract proposal overwhelmingly approved by 200 firefighters and first responders, annual starting pay for firefighters would increase to $65,000, up from $55,000. It also promised to hire up to three dozen firefighters and paramedics. At several meetings since the DeSantis-appointed supervisors took their seats this spring, Jon Shirey, who leads the firefighters’ union, praised them for visiting firefighters at their stations around the 39 square-mile Disney World property. The firefighters looked forward to collaborating with the new supervisors and administrator after years of clashing with their Disney-supporting predecessors, and viewed the appointments as “an opportunity for a fresh start,” he said. “Almost overnight, a change occurred that we have never experienced — transparency, open dialogue, the ability to sit down and have our issues heard and felt listened to,” Shirey told board members last month. “You have been able to build bridges that were long burned.” The feeling was mutual, with board chairman Martin Garcia saying last month that the supervisors were working with the firefighters to resolve their issues. Even so, Garcia made clear that the firefighters weren’t the only district employees the board wanted to support. “We also need to let the (other) employees know, we love you, too. We care about you. We love you as much as we love our firefighters,” Garcia said. But the delay in approving the contract has alienated the firefighters’ union, which last year endorsed the gubernatorial reelection campaign of DeSantis, who recently launched a campaign for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. The old contract expired four years ago, and the firefighters declared an impasse last year when the district’s board was still controlled by Disney supporters. The Reedy Creek Professional Firefighters, Local 2117 have warned for years that they are understaffed, which poses a safety risk as the central Florida theme park resort grows bigger. Last month, District Administrator John Classe, who originally negotiated the new contract, was replaced by the board with Glenton Gilzean, a DeSantis ally who previously served as president and CEO of the Central Florida Urban League and will receive a $400,000 salary in his new job. The district also is paying Classe to stay on as a special advisor. Board spokesperson Alexei Woltornist said negotiations with the union were continuing, without explaining why they were reopened with a contract already approved by the firefighters and first responders. “Administrator Gilzean is actively working with the fire department to finalize a deal that offers a competitive compensation package and gives firefighters the resources they need to protect the public,” Woltornist said in an email to The Associated Press. Officials with the firefighters’ union did not comment. While Gilzean may alienate the firefighters, whose support gave the DeSantis takeover some legitimacy, he may gain credibility with other constituencies within Disney’s governing district and put some distance between himself and his predecessor, said Richard Foglesong, a Rollins College professor emeritus who wrote a definitive account of Disney World’s governance in his book, “Married to the Mouse: Walt Disney World and Orlando.” “He’s an unproven administrator, yet here he’s showing he’s no pushover when dealing with a cantankerous group, which frankly impresses me,” Foglesong said. The DeSantis appointees took over the Disney World governing board earlier this year following a yearlong feud between the company and DeSantis. The fight began last year after Disney, beset by significant pressure internally and externally, publicly opposed a state law banning classroom lessons on sexual orientation and gender identity in early grades, a policy critics call “Don’t Say Gay.” As punishment, DeSantis took over the district through legislation passed by Florida lawmakers and appointed a new board of supervisors to oversee municipal services for the sprawling theme parks and hotels. But before the new board came in, the company made agreements with previous oversight board members that stripped the new supervisors of their authority over design and construction. Disney sued DeSantis and the five-member board, asking a federal judge to void the governor’s takeover of the theme park district, as well as the oversight board’s actions, on the grounds they were violations of the company’s free speech rights. The board sued Disney in state court in an effort to maintain its control of construction and design at Disney World. The district was created in 1967 when then-Florida Gov. Claude Kirk signed legislation authorizing it to regulate land use, enforce building codes, treat wastewater, control drainage, maintain utilities and provide fire protection at Disney World. Such private governments aren’t uncommon in fast-growing Florida, which has more than 600 community development districts that manage and pay for infrastructure in new communities.