NAPLES Increasing amount of homeless seniors in SWFL Saint Matthew House told Wink News that 20% of the people they shelter are over 60 years old.
NAPLES Man suspected of threatening pickelballers with machete A man has been arrested after authorities say he chased a group of pickleball players off a Naples court. “I don’t know. It just seemed like he snapped,” said William Nehrkorn, father of one of the pickleball players. 53-year-old Pelican Marsh maintenance worker Joseph Devalle ran toward Nehrkorn’s son and friends, not with a paddle […]
NAPLES Turtle Club in Naples reopens Following a 19-month closure because of Hurricane Ian, the Turtle Club has reopened.
FORT MYERS BEACH Hurricane season preparations at Lee County construction sites Many already know the drill when hurricane season is around the corner.
SANIBEL Bones found on Sanibel concern beachgoers A husband and wife found what appeared to be bones. What type and where they came from is being investigated.
FGCU FGCU president reflects on first year with graduating class Alico Arena was packed this weekend as Florida Gulf Coast University graduated 1,900 students in four ceremonies.
Reverse shoulder replacement offers new approach to pain management Shoulder replacement is the third most common replacement in the US, following hip and knee replacement.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Lee County teachers bargain for new raises Kevin Daly is the voice of the Lee County Teachers Union, and he says he knows firsthand the struggle teachers experience across the state.
FORT MYERS New Starbucks off Colonial expected to add to traffic headaches It’s a venti-sized traffic nightmare. That’s how Gina O’Donnell envisions the future of this plaza.
NAPLES Feeding families through Meals of Hope They’re a Naples-based non-profit organization whose mission is to alleviate hunger both locally and throughout the country.
Family dealing with two losses in quick succession A teenager will not get to celebrate turning 21 years old with friends, can’t put a smile on his family member’s faces and will never get to see his mother again.
JERUSALEM (AP) Israeli leaders have approved a military operation into the Gaza Strip city of Rafah Israeli leaders approved a military operation into the Gaza Strip city of Rafah, and Israeli forces were striking targets in the area, officials announced Monday, hours after Hamas announced it had accepted an Egyptian-Qatari cease-fire proposal.
FORT MYERS Middle school tech worker uses CPR skills to save pickleball player’s life It was the right place, at the right time, and that right place was near the pickleball court.
EVERGLADES Big Sugar’s lawsuit for control over Lake Okeechobee water A local non-profit is calling one lawsuit a battle for who controls the water in the State of Florida. Three major sugar companies filed a lawsuit in 2021 against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over the design and intended use of the Everglades Agriculture Area (EAA) Reservoir.
NAPLES Annual Holocaust Remembrance Day program returns to Jewish Federation of Greater Naples Sunday was a day to remember the six million men, women and children lost in the Holocaust.
NAPLES Increasing amount of homeless seniors in SWFL Saint Matthew House told Wink News that 20% of the people they shelter are over 60 years old.
NAPLES Man suspected of threatening pickelballers with machete A man has been arrested after authorities say he chased a group of pickleball players off a Naples court. “I don’t know. It just seemed like he snapped,” said William Nehrkorn, father of one of the pickleball players. 53-year-old Pelican Marsh maintenance worker Joseph Devalle ran toward Nehrkorn’s son and friends, not with a paddle […]
NAPLES Turtle Club in Naples reopens Following a 19-month closure because of Hurricane Ian, the Turtle Club has reopened.
FORT MYERS BEACH Hurricane season preparations at Lee County construction sites Many already know the drill when hurricane season is around the corner.
SANIBEL Bones found on Sanibel concern beachgoers A husband and wife found what appeared to be bones. What type and where they came from is being investigated.
FGCU FGCU president reflects on first year with graduating class Alico Arena was packed this weekend as Florida Gulf Coast University graduated 1,900 students in four ceremonies.
Reverse shoulder replacement offers new approach to pain management Shoulder replacement is the third most common replacement in the US, following hip and knee replacement.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Lee County teachers bargain for new raises Kevin Daly is the voice of the Lee County Teachers Union, and he says he knows firsthand the struggle teachers experience across the state.
FORT MYERS New Starbucks off Colonial expected to add to traffic headaches It’s a venti-sized traffic nightmare. That’s how Gina O’Donnell envisions the future of this plaza.
NAPLES Feeding families through Meals of Hope They’re a Naples-based non-profit organization whose mission is to alleviate hunger both locally and throughout the country.
Family dealing with two losses in quick succession A teenager will not get to celebrate turning 21 years old with friends, can’t put a smile on his family member’s faces and will never get to see his mother again.
JERUSALEM (AP) Israeli leaders have approved a military operation into the Gaza Strip city of Rafah Israeli leaders approved a military operation into the Gaza Strip city of Rafah, and Israeli forces were striking targets in the area, officials announced Monday, hours after Hamas announced it had accepted an Egyptian-Qatari cease-fire proposal.
FORT MYERS Middle school tech worker uses CPR skills to save pickleball player’s life It was the right place, at the right time, and that right place was near the pickleball court.
EVERGLADES Big Sugar’s lawsuit for control over Lake Okeechobee water A local non-profit is calling one lawsuit a battle for who controls the water in the State of Florida. Three major sugar companies filed a lawsuit in 2021 against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over the design and intended use of the Everglades Agriculture Area (EAA) Reservoir.
NAPLES Annual Holocaust Remembrance Day program returns to Jewish Federation of Greater Naples Sunday was a day to remember the six million men, women and children lost in the Holocaust.
The Ian-aftermath continues to plague many homeowners in Southwest Florida and our insurance issues are far from over. But the state has stepped in to try to help you get answers and money. That worked out well for Christine Servis from Punta Gorda. When she attended the insurance village in South Fort Myers, she talked with her company in-person. And guess what? She walked away with a check. “Finally, it’s been a long time and the pressure is off of us and we are very, very satisfied,” said Servis. Credit: WINK News “It’s so much more effective sitting across from another human being trying to close your claim. If you have an open claim, if you have a closed claim, if you have questions, if you want a check, you want to show up to our insurance village,” CFO Jimmy Patronis told WINK News Consumer Reporter Andryanna Sheppard. Tuesday, dozens of homeowners turned out to FSW in South Fort Myers with paperwork-in-hand to try to resolve issues with their insurance provider. Some, like Servis, left with checks. Credit: WINK News Bryan and Wendy Statskey suffered Ian damage at the their Cape Coral winter residence. They drove down from their winter home in Pennsylvania to Tuesday’s village. “It’s been a long haul trying to get our house taken care of and the insurance portion of it, a good resolution. We finally came to that today so we’re relieved,” Bryan added. “Frustrating, living out of state. It’s pretty difficult. But thanks to Jerramy, he’s keeping us informed. We were here through March and nothing.” Jerramy Johnson, their contractor, recommended they attend. “We walked out with a weight lifted off of us today. Now we can start construction and they don’t have to worry about every storm that comes along. I took a risk of them coming all the way down here and spending the money, energy and time, and thankfully it all worked out,” he added. Hurricane Ian hit September 28, 2022. Before that, we were already dealing with an insurance crisis in the state. Fifteen home insurers have stopped writing new business in Florida since January of 2022. And, chances are, those companies which are still writing homeowners’ policies have increased their rates. If you would like to share your insurance situation with Andryanna Sheppard, you can do so through this form. If you missed Tuesday’s Insurance Village, there are two more in Southwest Florida this week. Locations: Punta Gorda Wednesday, June 28th and Thursday, June 29th Charlotte County Event Center 75 Taylor Street Punta Gorda The insurance villages will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Companies participating: American Integrity Citizens FEMA/NFIP (Flood) FL Peninsula/Edison FrontLine/First Protective Heritage Homeowners Choice/TyTap Progressive/ASI SafePoint State Farm Tower Hill Universal P&C What to bring: A driver’s license or other form of official identification Insurance cards and insurance policy information/documentation Pictures or documentation of the property being claimed as a loss resulting from Hurricane Ian Repair estimates Any additional insurance-related information that is readily accessible