12-year-old collecting donations for the needy during the holidaysFort Myers man facing homelessness before the holidays
NAPLES 12-year-old collecting donations for the needy during the holidays A 12-year-old Naples boy isn’t worried about what he’s getting for Christmas. Instead, he’s working on his 6th annual “Holiday Sock Drive.”
Fort Myers man facing homelessness before the holidays A 75-year-old man is on the brink of homelessness despite working over 80 hours a week.
NAPLES Adoptee uses non-profit to provide suitcases for foster children This holiday season, a Naples woman is on a mission to bring foster children something many take for granted: a suitcase filled with dignity.
MARCO ISLAND City of Marco Island discusses lead awareness during city council meeting The city of Marco Island sent out 4900 letters to residents warning them that their pipes could contain plastic or lead.
NAPLES The future of electric planes in Southwest Florida Features of living near an airport include persistent headache-inducing engine rumbles and foul-smelling jet fuel, but electric planes could play a part in the solution.
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors awaiting answers on Port Charlotte Beach Park repairs Neighbors said a contractor hired by the Florida Division of Emergency Management mishandled the boats at Port Charlotte Beach Park.
FGCU introduces new technology for cognitive health screenings Ten minutes. That’s all it takes for doctors to assess how well you remember, how quickly you learn things, and how your brain is working overall.
WINK Investigates: Disgraced contractor faces new lawsuits and allegations Paul Beattie, a disgraced home builder is back doing business but legal challenges continue as another one of his businesses gets sued. Former employees of Beattie speak out, only to WINK.
SWFL reacts to UNC hiring Bill Belichick Southwest Florida reacts to North Carolina hiring Bill Belichick as its new head football coach and how that could impact the decisions of local recruits.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Some Floridians want more alone time during the holidays The holidays are all about spending time with family and friends, but nearly half of Americans say they really want more alone time during the holiday.
LABELLE Hendry County rolls out cameras for school speed zones The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a new way of enforcing school zone speed limits by using cameras that will target drivers traveling over a certain speed in a school zone.
Aggressive driving concerns on the rise in Southwest Florida The arrest of a man who, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said, killed a motorcyclist after crashing into him on purpose is raising concerns over aggressive driving in Southwest Florida.
SANIBEL Sanibel School students prepare for community Christmas performance The school that has had to claw and fight its way back more than once to reopen is getting the chance to celebrate.
FORT MYERS Rock For Equality: SWFL music scene to hold benefit concert for Palestine A two-venue, eight-band benefit concert is coming to Southwest Florida.
NAPLES Naples man sentenced in deadly bar shooting A man has been sentenced for a deadly shooting that took place at a Naples bar in March 2021.
NAPLES 12-year-old collecting donations for the needy during the holidays A 12-year-old Naples boy isn’t worried about what he’s getting for Christmas. Instead, he’s working on his 6th annual “Holiday Sock Drive.”
Fort Myers man facing homelessness before the holidays A 75-year-old man is on the brink of homelessness despite working over 80 hours a week.
NAPLES Adoptee uses non-profit to provide suitcases for foster children This holiday season, a Naples woman is on a mission to bring foster children something many take for granted: a suitcase filled with dignity.
MARCO ISLAND City of Marco Island discusses lead awareness during city council meeting The city of Marco Island sent out 4900 letters to residents warning them that their pipes could contain plastic or lead.
NAPLES The future of electric planes in Southwest Florida Features of living near an airport include persistent headache-inducing engine rumbles and foul-smelling jet fuel, but electric planes could play a part in the solution.
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors awaiting answers on Port Charlotte Beach Park repairs Neighbors said a contractor hired by the Florida Division of Emergency Management mishandled the boats at Port Charlotte Beach Park.
FGCU introduces new technology for cognitive health screenings Ten minutes. That’s all it takes for doctors to assess how well you remember, how quickly you learn things, and how your brain is working overall.
WINK Investigates: Disgraced contractor faces new lawsuits and allegations Paul Beattie, a disgraced home builder is back doing business but legal challenges continue as another one of his businesses gets sued. Former employees of Beattie speak out, only to WINK.
SWFL reacts to UNC hiring Bill Belichick Southwest Florida reacts to North Carolina hiring Bill Belichick as its new head football coach and how that could impact the decisions of local recruits.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Some Floridians want more alone time during the holidays The holidays are all about spending time with family and friends, but nearly half of Americans say they really want more alone time during the holiday.
LABELLE Hendry County rolls out cameras for school speed zones The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a new way of enforcing school zone speed limits by using cameras that will target drivers traveling over a certain speed in a school zone.
Aggressive driving concerns on the rise in Southwest Florida The arrest of a man who, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said, killed a motorcyclist after crashing into him on purpose is raising concerns over aggressive driving in Southwest Florida.
SANIBEL Sanibel School students prepare for community Christmas performance The school that has had to claw and fight its way back more than once to reopen is getting the chance to celebrate.
FORT MYERS Rock For Equality: SWFL music scene to hold benefit concert for Palestine A two-venue, eight-band benefit concert is coming to Southwest Florida.
NAPLES Naples man sentenced in deadly bar shooting A man has been sentenced for a deadly shooting that took place at a Naples bar in March 2021.
Stuck in jail through the holidays and now the case of the State against Christopher Pascale gets longer and longer. He’s accused of contracting without a license and performing work without permits. He was expected to be released Tuesday if he took a plea deal. The Boczer family thought they’d walk out of the Collier County Courthouse with a court order for Pascale to pay them back for the damage he’s accused of doing to their Naples condo. Since his attorney said he can’t afford those payments, the plea offer was taken off the table. Pascale enters the courtroom for plea hearing, CREDIT: WINK News Moving his wheelchair with his feet, Christopher Pascale rolled in front of the judge and the Boczer sisters. He was expected to take a plea deal Tuesday, 60 days in jail with credit for time serviced. He’s been behind bars since early November 2023. Plus, he’d have to pay the Boczer family about $45,000 over the course of two years. Pascale’s attorney told the judge that Pascale didn’t have the $2,045 monthly payment needed to satisfy his probation. So, no more plea offer but not before Amy Boczer gave Pascale a piece of her mind. “It takes a special kind of human to prey on others and make a career and life choice of it,” Boczer said out loud in the courtroom Tuesday. “Unfortunately, Chris Pascale is just that kind of person that only knows how to take advantage and prey on others.” Pascale discussing plea offer with his attorney, CREDIT: WINK News RELATED: Bonita Springs flooring business owner sued for violating state agreement RELATED: Time is ticking for AG to serve SWFL floor covering business owner disciplined by state WINK News first told you about the Boczer family’s experience with Divine Design and Floor Covering, one of Pascale’s businesses, years ago. They hired him in 2019 to fix up their condo after Hurricane Irma damaged it. They paid him about $7,500 for what was supposed to be a one-month project but the Boczer family said it’s cost them thousands more to fix the mess he created. “He has no idea what he’s doing. His job is to pull this scam on people. That’s it. That’s simply it,” Amy told WINK News Consumer Reporter Andryanna Sheppard once the hearing was over. For years, Amy Boczer and her sister have flown down from Connecticut for court hearings and trial but Pascale never showed. So, Judge Rob Crown issued a bench warrant in September 2023. Pascale was arrested in November 2023 and held without bond. Now, the Boczer’s will have to wait for justice to be served once again. Christopher Pascale’s mugshot, CREDIT: WINK News “It was almost the punch in the gut like ‘no, we’re not doing this again. We’ve already done that however many times and this is what they’re trying yet again?'” Amy questioned with frustration. The State and Pascale’s attorney need more time to talk about other options. “The only good thing was that I knew he was behind bars,” Amy noted. “If you want a continuance then you’re going to sit in jail and that keeps you from pulling this scam on someone else.” Sheppard asked Pascale’s lawyer his thoughts on Tuesday’s court hearing. He said “no comment.” Now that there’s no longer a plea offer, Pascale will stay in jail through the holidays and at least until the next court date set for January 31, 2024.