Phase 2 of Sanibel Beach renourishment project set to beginRiding toward a brighter future for kids: The story of Bikes for Tykes
SANIBEL Phase 2 of Sanibel Beach renourishment project set to begin Eric Jackson, Sanibel’s Public Information Officer, is encouraging residents and visitors to still come to the beach.
NAPLES Riding toward a brighter future for kids: The story of Bikes for Tykes For nearly four decades, Bikes for Tykes has been on a mission to give children and adults in need in Southwest Florida a chance to ride refurbished bicycles.
ENGLEWOOD SWFL chaplains offer support to first responders First responders across the country face the devastating impact of suicide nationwide those numbers are rising.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County deputies arrest man for ATV and UTV thefts, fence destruction A North Fort Myers man has been arrested after allegedly stealing a four-wheeler, crashing it into a property fence, and later trying to flee on a second stolen vehicle.
‘I saw God twice:’ Boating accident survivor thanks Lee Health After surviving an unthinkable accident in Matlacha, one woman wants to thank the medical team that saved her.
MATLACHA Blue Dog restaurant in Matlacha thankful for decade of support The Blue Dog Bar & Grill in Matlacha has survived multiple hurricanes over the past decade. Now, they’re thanking the community for supporting them every step of the way.
NAPLES Nominee of Gulfshore Life Men and Women of the year volunteers for STARability Gulfshore Life has nominated Anne Fleming as one of its Men and Women of the Year for volunteering her time to raise money for a new home store for Starability.
WINK NEWS Holiday gift exchange scams targeting social media users During the holiday season, tidings of joy and goodwill can be shrouded by scammers seeking to take advantage of holiday shoppers.
New cancer fighting machinery arrives at Southwest Florida Proton All the pieces are in place now, but it will take about a year of calibrating and fine-tuning before the proton machine is up and running.
Federal investigation involving Sheriff Carmine Marceno and LCSO WINK News has exclusively obtained a letter warning ranking government leaders in Lee County that money trouble could be brewing within the sheriff’s office.
Alfie Oakes staves off farms foreclosure action Farm Credit of Florida has dropped its $2.78 million foreclosure lawsuit against Alfie Oakes after both parties reached an agreement.
naples 5 honored during Women Rock Philanthropy event in Naples More than 600 women congregated at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Naples, where five received honors during the Women Rock Philanthropy event.
FORT MYERS BEACH Winners announced in Fort Myers Beach American Sand Sculpting Championship The winners have been announced in the 34th annual American Sand Sculpting Championship hosted on Fort Myers Beach.
NAPLES Naples city employee fired, accused of using city credit card for personal use An anonymous letter allegedly led to a Naples city employee being fired and becoming the subject of a criminal investigation.
SANIBEL Sanibel School to reopen for the first time since Hurricane Milton For the first time since Oct. 9, students of the Sanibel School now know when they can return for class after damage from Hurricane Milton forced them out.
SANIBEL Phase 2 of Sanibel Beach renourishment project set to begin Eric Jackson, Sanibel’s Public Information Officer, is encouraging residents and visitors to still come to the beach.
NAPLES Riding toward a brighter future for kids: The story of Bikes for Tykes For nearly four decades, Bikes for Tykes has been on a mission to give children and adults in need in Southwest Florida a chance to ride refurbished bicycles.
ENGLEWOOD SWFL chaplains offer support to first responders First responders across the country face the devastating impact of suicide nationwide those numbers are rising.
NORTH FORT MYERS Lee County deputies arrest man for ATV and UTV thefts, fence destruction A North Fort Myers man has been arrested after allegedly stealing a four-wheeler, crashing it into a property fence, and later trying to flee on a second stolen vehicle.
‘I saw God twice:’ Boating accident survivor thanks Lee Health After surviving an unthinkable accident in Matlacha, one woman wants to thank the medical team that saved her.
MATLACHA Blue Dog restaurant in Matlacha thankful for decade of support The Blue Dog Bar & Grill in Matlacha has survived multiple hurricanes over the past decade. Now, they’re thanking the community for supporting them every step of the way.
NAPLES Nominee of Gulfshore Life Men and Women of the year volunteers for STARability Gulfshore Life has nominated Anne Fleming as one of its Men and Women of the Year for volunteering her time to raise money for a new home store for Starability.
WINK NEWS Holiday gift exchange scams targeting social media users During the holiday season, tidings of joy and goodwill can be shrouded by scammers seeking to take advantage of holiday shoppers.
New cancer fighting machinery arrives at Southwest Florida Proton All the pieces are in place now, but it will take about a year of calibrating and fine-tuning before the proton machine is up and running.
Federal investigation involving Sheriff Carmine Marceno and LCSO WINK News has exclusively obtained a letter warning ranking government leaders in Lee County that money trouble could be brewing within the sheriff’s office.
Alfie Oakes staves off farms foreclosure action Farm Credit of Florida has dropped its $2.78 million foreclosure lawsuit against Alfie Oakes after both parties reached an agreement.
naples 5 honored during Women Rock Philanthropy event in Naples More than 600 women congregated at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Naples, where five received honors during the Women Rock Philanthropy event.
FORT MYERS BEACH Winners announced in Fort Myers Beach American Sand Sculpting Championship The winners have been announced in the 34th annual American Sand Sculpting Championship hosted on Fort Myers Beach.
NAPLES Naples city employee fired, accused of using city credit card for personal use An anonymous letter allegedly led to a Naples city employee being fired and becoming the subject of a criminal investigation.
SANIBEL Sanibel School to reopen for the first time since Hurricane Milton For the first time since Oct. 9, students of the Sanibel School now know when they can return for class after damage from Hurricane Milton forced them out.
Many people will once again need debris removal, home repairs, or be dealing with mold as a result of Idalia. That tends to bring con artists out of the woodwork. “Scammers may try to exploit this tragedy to rip off Floridians through contractor fraud, debris removal scams, price gouging or even looting,” said Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody. “As the recovery efforts from Idalia get underway, Floridians impacted by this major storm event need to remain on alert.” Moody’s office sent a warning to Floridians and offered the below advice. When hiring a contractor: Have an insurance company evaluate damage before arranging repairs to ensure that the work will be covered under a policy Get at least three written, itemized estimates on bids or repairs Watch out for unsolicited offers or contractors claiming to perform repairs at a discount with leftover supplies from another job Research a company and its reputation. Is the company properly licensed and insured? Check for complaints filed against a licensed contractor at MyFloridaLicense.com Make sure a contractor is bonded and verified with a bonding agency Read the entire contract before signing; make sure it includes the required buyer’s right to cancel language. Understand cancellation penalties Insist on releases of any liens that could be placed on the property from all subcontractors prior to making final payments Never pay the full amount of a repair expense upfront Do not sign a certificate of completion or make final payment until satisfied with the work We will not allow criminals to exploit this crisis to target Floridians trying to rebuild their lives. Ashley Moody Scammers may pose as FEMA officials: No state or federal disaster-relief agency will call asking for personal information State and federal workers carry identification and will not ask for or accept cash FEMA relief programs are free and can be accessed at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1(800) 621-FEMA Be wary of anyone who offers to fill out, assist with or expedite an application Water mains and wells: Water mains and personal wells can be affected during hurricanes. Dishonest people may insist upon pricey tests to determine water safety. Ask for proof of identification if someone claims to be a representative of a city, county or utility Check for water safety alerts from your utility provider If in doubt, boil water vigorously for one to three minutes—or drink bottled water Tree removal and debris pickup: Avoid unsolicited offers for tree removal Get multiple written estimates and ask whether debris removal is included in the estimate Research a company thoroughly Check for proof of insurance and verify with the insurer that the policy is current Never pay the full amount upfront Do not make a final payment until completely satisfied with the work. Charity scams and schemes: Be wary of fake charities with similar names to well-known organizations Avoid solicitors who use high-pressure tactics or are hesitant to provide information Consider donating to an established disaster-relief charity Contact the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at 1(800) HELP-FLA to check out a charity and whether it has any complaints