Racist text messages referencing slavery raise alarms in multiple states including Florida10th annual Fair at Fenway to make its return to JetBlue Park
WASHINGTON (AP) Racist text messages referencing slavery raise alarms in multiple states including Florida Racist text messages invoking slavery raised alarm across the country this week after they were sent to Black men, women, and students, including middle schoolers, prompting inquiries by the FBI and other agencies.
FORT MYERS 10th annual Fair at Fenway to make its return to JetBlue Park A familiar favorite is set to make a return to Southwest Florida as the 10th annual Fair at Fenway in JetBlue Park.
2 Punta Gorda women face grand jury indictments for death involving meth Two Punta Gorda women have been accused of distributing meth causing death after being indicted by the Charlotte County Grand Jury.
CAPE CORAL Worker transported in Cape Coral after suffering ‘medical episode’ in bucket truck A worker on the lift of a bucket truck had to be transported to the hospital after suffering some sort of “medical episode” while in the lift said police.
FEMA’s Operation Blue Roof deadline approaching soon in Charlotte County The deadline for FEMA’s Operation Blue Roof is rapidly approaching for Charlotte County residents affected by Hurricane Milton.
FDA proposes to remove ingredient in medications The Food & Drug Administration proposes removing one ingredient after new data shows it is less effective than listed.
Riviera Bar and Grill reopens within days of hurricanes Helene, Milton A gargantuan effort from owners and staff allowed the Riviera Bar and Grill to reopen less than a week after two hurricanes flooded the Punta Gorda waterfront restaurant that has been around since the 1950s.
2 men charged in unrelated crimes for deaths related to fentanyl Two men in Charlotte County have been arrested for separate fentanyl-related charges that led to two deaths.
CAPE CORAL Pickup truck crashes into Cape Coral apartment building A pickup truck crashed into a Cape Coral apartment building after what police believe was a head-on collision with another vehicle.
Tim Aten Knows: More new tenants coming to local retail centers Something big is in the works for the long-vacant former Sweetbay Supermarket in Green Tree Center in North Naples.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs house catches on fire 3 times in less than 24 hours A house in Bonita Springs caught on fire three times in less than 24 hours.
SWFL High School Football Scoreboard Week 12 The regular season finale of high school football in SWFL brings district champions crowned and playoff spots fortified. .
Trash pile on San Carlos Island continues to grow Residents of San Carlos Island have grown tired as garbage and debris from hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton piles up.
Law enforcement presence at Alfie Oakes’ North Naples home and Immokalee packing house Several federal and state law enforcement agencies were at Alfie Oakes’ home and packing house for an investigation that remains undisclosed.
WASHINGTON (AP) Racist text messages referencing slavery raise alarms in multiple states including Florida Racist text messages invoking slavery raised alarm across the country this week after they were sent to Black men, women, and students, including middle schoolers, prompting inquiries by the FBI and other agencies.
FORT MYERS 10th annual Fair at Fenway to make its return to JetBlue Park A familiar favorite is set to make a return to Southwest Florida as the 10th annual Fair at Fenway in JetBlue Park.
2 Punta Gorda women face grand jury indictments for death involving meth Two Punta Gorda women have been accused of distributing meth causing death after being indicted by the Charlotte County Grand Jury.
CAPE CORAL Worker transported in Cape Coral after suffering ‘medical episode’ in bucket truck A worker on the lift of a bucket truck had to be transported to the hospital after suffering some sort of “medical episode” while in the lift said police.
FEMA’s Operation Blue Roof deadline approaching soon in Charlotte County The deadline for FEMA’s Operation Blue Roof is rapidly approaching for Charlotte County residents affected by Hurricane Milton.
FDA proposes to remove ingredient in medications The Food & Drug Administration proposes removing one ingredient after new data shows it is less effective than listed.
Riviera Bar and Grill reopens within days of hurricanes Helene, Milton A gargantuan effort from owners and staff allowed the Riviera Bar and Grill to reopen less than a week after two hurricanes flooded the Punta Gorda waterfront restaurant that has been around since the 1950s.
2 men charged in unrelated crimes for deaths related to fentanyl Two men in Charlotte County have been arrested for separate fentanyl-related charges that led to two deaths.
CAPE CORAL Pickup truck crashes into Cape Coral apartment building A pickup truck crashed into a Cape Coral apartment building after what police believe was a head-on collision with another vehicle.
Tim Aten Knows: More new tenants coming to local retail centers Something big is in the works for the long-vacant former Sweetbay Supermarket in Green Tree Center in North Naples.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs house catches on fire 3 times in less than 24 hours A house in Bonita Springs caught on fire three times in less than 24 hours.
SWFL High School Football Scoreboard Week 12 The regular season finale of high school football in SWFL brings district champions crowned and playoff spots fortified. .
Trash pile on San Carlos Island continues to grow Residents of San Carlos Island have grown tired as garbage and debris from hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton piles up.
Law enforcement presence at Alfie Oakes’ North Naples home and Immokalee packing house Several federal and state law enforcement agencies were at Alfie Oakes’ home and packing house for an investigation that remains undisclosed.
Except You album release at Ollie’s Pub on February 24, 2024. CREDIT: Jesi Cason Photography Except You, a Southwest Florida-based thrash punk band, has released their new EP “Crushable” on recycled vinyl. The band is fronted by vocalist Angela Page. Flanking Page are guitarist Arlo Simonds and bassist Shawn Ayotte. Pete Flower plays drums. The band debuted in 2020, and during the pandemic, they continued to write and record music. They played their first show in September of 2021 and released their first EP “Never Relax” in May of 2022. The debut EP opens with “So Smol,” a quick, gritty song that sets the EP’s tone. Angela Page, Vocalist for Except You. CREDIT: Jesi Cason Photography Recycled vinyl release Following “Never Relax,” the band released their second EP, “Crushable,” on Feb. 4. Both sides of the record were recorded at Farmadelica Sound on Pine Island. It debuted at a headbanging, moshpit-filled rager at Ollie’s Pub on Feb. 24, a Saturday night. At the show, the band sold the EPs back to back on a two-in-one vinyl that was uniquely pressed using recycled vinyl records. Roach and Roll Records, based in Fort Myers, is an independent punk label that helped with the vinyl’s release. The company they worked with, Gotta Groove Records, melts down old records to make new records out of them. The color is not derived from a mold or different dyes and is simply the result is whatever comes out of the old records. RELATED: Stellar Records opens in Fort Myers amid resurgence of vinyl records Each is their own “individual surprise,” as Page puts it. Some are see-through, but some are solid. It can be green, brown, blue, red and pink. “It is oil-based, and so when it ends up in a landfill, it takes a really long time to biodegrade, and it is really toxic,” Page said about the material used to make vinyl records. “The benefit of using recycled vinyl means that none of that vinyl will end up in a landfill. It will be melted all down and repressed into our record, so not only do we get these rad colors, but we also reduce waste overall. We reduce the environmental impact of record waste, which, lots of records get thrown out.” As a band very concerned with environmental activism, pressing their vinyl in this way was right up their alley. “It’s a dream come true,” Ayotte said. “We’ve been waiting our whole life to be on vinyl, and here we finally are, and we were able to do it in front of people we love at a venue that we love, and it was a very good time.” Vinyl has seen a resurgence with the emergence of streaming and downloadable music. With their durability, they are a permanent physical format that many collect. “We find that, in the underground community, it’s a pretty well-respected format. Lots of underground bands like to release their stuff on vinyl and sell it at their gigs. It’s a great merchandising item. There’s so much about it,” Page said. RELATED: Cape Coral businesses unite, supporting Ollie’s Pub Records and Beer “To be immortalized on wax is the term that people use, and it’s cool to finally have that happen,” Ayotte said. Except You album release at Ollie’s Pub on February 24, 2024. CREDIT: Jesi Cason Photography Being a local original band Except You’s music is recorded, written and performed locally. “A lot of bands don’t get hometown support. They find their support outside of their city, but we find that we get a lot of hometown support, so it feels really good to be loved like that,” Page said. RELATED: Southwest Florida band DONEFOR celebrates over 100,000 streams on Spotify The band undoubtedly has a passion for their music, but it’s the passion the community reciprocates that motivates them to keep picking up their instruments. Arlo Simonds, guitar player for Except You. CREDIT: Jesi Cason Photography Page said that nothing is like the scene here in Southwest Florida. “I think we have this middle-class, working-class group of musicians. We’re not in New York; we’re not in Philadelphia; we’re not in Los Angeles, but we know that our community shows up for each other. It’s just really great,” Page said. The band doesn’t have plans to move anywhere else because of the support they receive here in Southwest Florida, but they plan to play regional shows and are even planning on embarking on a northeastern seaboard tour while making connections and building their brand. Except You is working on a live vinyl. The 7-inch split will be released with a band from Orlando called Trash World. If you are interested in buying the vinyl, order it at Roach and Roll Records or buy it physically at Stellar Records in Fort Myers. To learn more about Except You, click here. Page also runs Love Your Rebellion, a local organization whose mission is to empower marginalized groups through the arts. Click here to learn more.