Firefighters to perform 76-acre prescribed burn at Koreshan State ParkTim Aten Knows: 2 new eateries coming to East Naples
estero Firefighters to perform 76-acre prescribed burn at Koreshan State Park San Carlos Park Fire Protection & Rescue Service District performs a 76-acre prescribed burn at Koreshan State Park today.
Tim Aten Knows: 2 new eateries coming to East Naples After operating La Rosa Pizzeria for more than 15 years, owners Bill and Alda Rosa decided to sell their local business and restaurant space.
the weather authority Warmer with sun and clouds for your Friday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a warmer day ahead, with a mixture of sun and clouds expected this Friday afternoon.
FDOT to open all lanes of Caloosahatchee Bridge year ahead of construction schedule The Florida Department of Transportation announced it will open all lanes of the Caloosahatchee Bridge a year ahead of its pedestrian sidewalk project.
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.
estero Firefighters to perform 76-acre prescribed burn at Koreshan State Park San Carlos Park Fire Protection & Rescue Service District performs a 76-acre prescribed burn at Koreshan State Park today.
Tim Aten Knows: 2 new eateries coming to East Naples After operating La Rosa Pizzeria for more than 15 years, owners Bill and Alda Rosa decided to sell their local business and restaurant space.
the weather authority Warmer with sun and clouds for your Friday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a warmer day ahead, with a mixture of sun and clouds expected this Friday afternoon.
FDOT to open all lanes of Caloosahatchee Bridge year ahead of construction schedule The Florida Department of Transportation announced it will open all lanes of the Caloosahatchee Bridge a year ahead of its pedestrian sidewalk project.
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.
A Lee County Veteran seals the deal on a home in Fort Myers Wednesday. The dream of owning a home for a local veteran came true this week thanks to Habitat for Humanity. Greg served as a combat medic in the U.S. Army. He said being a veteran and having a home isn’t always easy without the help from others. Members of the community congratulate Greg on his new home in the Habitat Humanity neighborhood, Journey Together. “Veterans need help, and sometimes veterans tend not to ask for help, so Habitat was very, very helpful, and to get me into this program, and then all the sponsors that came out, I didn’t realize this many people. So veterans are in need, and I’m one of them, and I’m very thankful,” he said. Habitat for Humanity’s Veterans Build Initiative built their first home of the program for Lee and Hendry counties for Greg. Vice President of Strategic Partnership Team for Habitat for Humanity, Elisha Baird, said the goal of the initiative is to bring awareness to the need for affordable housing for veterans. This past fall is when Baird was first introduced to Greg, as they put up the framework for his home. She said, since then, she knew how much this project meant to him. Baird said, “He was just beaming with so much excitement to be able to finally have a solution to affordable housing, and so his partnership has meant a lot to so many supporters here in Lee County that have come alongside of him to help build this home to raise funds to help pay for the home to make his mortgage affordable.” A Vet’s “Dream” Key Wednesday, with the help of Habitat for Humanity volunteers, community leaders with the City of Fort Myers and friends of Greg, he was handed a symbolic key to his home. Greg signed the closing paperwork to his home in the coming days, but Wednesday his new place was celebrated. “Each one of our homeowners received a symbolic key and has a word imprinted on it,” said Baird, “and his work was a dream because he’s achieved the American dream of homeownership, and so when he goes to the closing table as soon as possibly tomorrow, he can have that key cut into his home key, his first front door.” People at the dedication for Greg’s home pray over his new asset and the memories to be made there. RELATED: Six days to honor veterans Working towards this dream has a process. It’s a process that comes with owning property, but Greg has found beauty in the journey, knowing he is one step closer to his forever home. He said, “When I started this journey, I didn’t know that it would be, you know, so hard to go through, but it’s worth [it]. I had the opportunity to pay into myself and help build my credit and pay into building my own home. That’s the most important thing and a place to stay for my kids when they do return. That’s important to me.” From One Veteran to Another City of Fort Myers Mayor Kevin Anderson has seen Greg’s home come together from start to finish. As a veteran himself, he knew when he heard Habitat for Humanity was helping Greg build his dream home he wanted to have a hand in the hard work. During the dedication of Greg’s home, Anderson gave the following speech saying, “Your house is built with construction materials, wood, screws, nails and all the different materials. But the home is built with love, and right from the very first day when those walls went up, you could tell this house was being built with love, and I know that Greg and his family are just going to have years of making great memories and happiness over the years, for years and years.” RELATED: Veteran shares journey of overcoming substance abuse at Hope and Honor Gala Anderson said he knows that buying a home in this market in Fort Myers is no easy feat, furthermore for a veteran. The “Journey Together” community where Greg’s home is, is also home to dozens of other new homeowners who were helped at the hands of Habitat for Humanity. Along with his home, Greg received a number of goodies including an American flag and metal Habitat for Humanity emblem. This newly built community is something the Mayor of Fort Myers is happy to see come to fruition. “While this project is only 29 homes, that’s 29 more homes that we didn’t have yesterday that may come in handy now,” said Anderson, “so it’s just very, it touches the heart to see someone like Greg especially is then able get their first home.” Greg will soon be handed the official keys to his home once the closing papers are finalized. He is the first veteran of this initiative with the Lee and Hendry counties’ Habitat for Humanity to become a homeowner. Another veteran will be moved into their home thanks to this initiative by this summer.