The Weather Authority: Hot temperatures, rain, and we’re watching the tropicsWoodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Hot temperatures, rain, and we’re watching the tropics Get ready for a typical Southwest Florida weekend. It’s going to feel like the triple digits before rain rolls in and we’re watching the tropics.
ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
Southwest Florida The Weather Authority: Hot temperatures, rain, and we’re watching the tropics Get ready for a typical Southwest Florida weekend. It’s going to feel like the triple digits before rain rolls in and we’re watching the tropics.
ALVA Woodpeckers build home in Alva woman’s house You may have heard of squatters, but this woman is dealing with squawkers. Who needs a rooster to wake up when you have woodpeckers?
FORT MYERS Man claims he was trapped in a high-rise for 5 days A 77-year-old man wants justice after he claims he spent days trapped on the 24th floor of a high-rise apartment building.
PUNTA GORDA Charlotte Correctional prisoner arrested for death of another inmate State Attorney Amira Fox convened a grand jury, which decided to move forward with a case against a Charlotte Correctional inmate.
SANIBEL Construction near Dairy Queen eagle nest on Sanibel raises concerns While many eagle nests may be a bit difficult to see, one nest has always been a favorite for Sanibel residents and tourists.
The environmental effects of artificial sweeteners Experts are studying how the foods we eat affect the environment, especially after we flush our waste down the toilet.
Victim reacts to man exposing himself to her Ring camera You get a notification on your phone from your ring camera app that someone is at the door, only to find out it is someone exposing themselves. It’s the last thing victim Maria Kivi wanted or expected to see last week.
LEE COUNTY The art of capturing your eye and drawing you in How do you capture young, hip, trendy, fun, movers and shakers, all in a pose? We take you behind the scenes of a Gulfshore Life cover shoot.
FORT MYERS The lives of two SJC Boxers changed in the ring Two SJC Boxers, Mario Nunez and Arbon Kurtishi, help each other in the ring as each of them had their lives changed because of boxing.
FORT MYERS Chlamydia cases rising sharply in Lee County If you think about a crowded space- something with more than 250 people- if it’s in Lee county, statistically one person has chlamydia.
SANIBEL Sanibel resort day passes hope to get more business on the island A pass will allow vacationers to hang out at a Sanibel beach club for a day in hopes of drumming up some business.
Voting equipment tested ahead of Lee County elections Voting equipment is being tested in Lee County. This is to ensure all ballots are printed and counted correctly for the upcoming election.
Collier County teen assaulted after leaving party The teen has been charged and the sheriff’s office said they’re aware that many believe felony charges are in order, but under Florida law, there are very specific criteria that must be met for felony charges to be filed.
WINK weather team watching tropical wave over Atlantic Ocean The Weather Authority is watching a tropical disturbance over the Central Atlantic Ocean.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral drug bust leads investigators to fake fentanyl, cash and guns Cape Coral man arrest on drug charges. Investigators said they found, guns, drugs, and more than $32,000 in Richard Riley’s home.
Almost 15 months after Hurricane Ian decimated southwest Florida, one local group continues to give back for the holidays. The damage from Ian was historic up and down our viewing area, but no area got hit worse than the barrier islands of Captiva and Sanibel. Today, the area’s beauty remains. But many in the community still aren’t back. And if they are, they’re certainly not back to “normal.” “I’m so inspired by everything that has been done, but still there’s a lot more to go,” admitted Liliana Mancini, a resident of Sanibel for more than 34 years. Mancini’s house has been repaired since the storm, but you can still see signs of just how hard it was hit. There’s still paint peeling and signs of damage from the six feet of storm surge. Some of the wall and panels behind her home that were ripped off by triple digit wind speeds still haven’t been replaced. And the cracks in her wood floor remind her that it will eventually need to be ripped up. Sometimes, moving forward feels impossible. “It’s very emotional. It took a lot out of me,” Mancini confessed. “I don’t know how to explain that. I started losing faith at one point.” FISH of SanCap is a human services organization on Sanibel and Captiva that has focused almost exclusively on Ian recovery. Executive director Maria Espinoza says Mancini’s situation isn’t uncommon. “I think as the holidays roll in, you see people, they’re incredibly grateful for how far we’ve come,” Espinoza, “but you still see challenges facing survivors along the way.” FISH is working to make sure that Ian survivors aren’t forgotten about as time goes on. Many residents on the island are still working to piece together their old lives. Where they were once handing out bottles of water and medical supplies, they’re now providing different kinds of aid. “It’s just ever-changing, and you’ve really got to be able to react to whatever the needs of the community are,” Espinoza explained. As the calendar closes on 2023, more people are returning to their homes on the barrier islands and finding a bit of comfort. But some homes sit empty. FISH hosts furniture giveaways twice a month on Fridays, helping to refurnish homes that need it. “There’s still hope. There’s still light,” Espinoza promised. “And we can make a difference in every person’s life.” For people like Mancini, every resource has helped. But she feels FISH’s impact can be felt in the love that those people share. “FISH was there. FISH was there for them,” Mancini said through teary eyes. “Personally, emotionally, physically and mentally, they’re there.” The holidays don’t quite feel normal on the barrier islands but there’s still plenty to celebrate. FISH is continuing their furniture giveaway through the holidays. Their next scheduled event is December 29th. They are hosting a holiday distribution drive, giving away toys and holiday meal kits from December 20 to December 22. More information about FISH’s services can be found on their website: https://www.fishofsancap.org/