the weather authority Mild, breezy day on tap with more clouds than sun The Weather Authority says a brief line of showers, associated with a cold front, is moving through Southwest Florida Saturday morning.
ESTERO 1 injured after shooting at Coconut Point Mall According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, one person has been injured after a shooting at the Coconut Point Mall on Friday.
CAPE CORAL CCPD cruiser damaged after officer involved crash An officer-involved crash leaves a Cape Coral police cruiser smashed.
PORT CHARLOTTE Sweet’s Diner in Port Charlotte reopens After months of fundraising and rebuilding, this diner, which had a car fly-through it, is back open.
FWC pushing to protect Florida’s endangered manatees Florida Fish and Wildlife is pushing to protect endangered manatees. One danger that animals face is when boats bash into them, leaving deep scars across their backs.
FORT MYERS The Fort Myers Fire Department looks towards new year Fighting fires is always top of mind for the Fort Myers Fire Department. The Fort Myers Fire Department leads the way when it comes to protecting your property when a fire breaks out.
WINK NEWS Palisades Wildfire devastates SWFL family Just hours after evacuating their Malibu home, the Wohl family learned they would never go back.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral expands with development The Cove at 47th The Cove sits in south Cape Coral between Cape Coral Parkway and Southeast 47th Terrace right next to Cork Soakers.
FORT MYERS ‘Operation Ghost Buster’: 16 arrested in Fort Myers drug operation The Fort Myers Police Department Narcotics Unit conducted an operation targeting drug traffickers and individuals unlawfully selling and possessing firearms in Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS ‘A Distinctive Honor’: Bank of America award benefits FSW Nursing Program Bank of America has been awarded Florida Southwestern State College the 2024 Neighborhood Champion Award.
CAPTIVA One step closer to decision on South Seas building density After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge said he stood by his earlier decision in favor of the Captiva Civic Association.
Governor signs death warrant for man accused of 1997 killing of 2 in Charlotte County Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the death warrant for a man accused of killing two people in Charlotte County in 1997.
Community input needed for renaming Challenger Boulevard While Lee Health continues construction on the area’s newest hospital, there are decisions to be made.
ESTERO SWFL Lady Hammerheads find community through rugby The southwest Florida Lady Hammerheads are the Florida Women’s Rugby Union’s newest team.
Heavy law enforcement presence near Arcadia Popeyes According to the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, there is a heavy law enforcement presence near a Popeyes restaurant.
the weather authority Mild, breezy day on tap with more clouds than sun The Weather Authority says a brief line of showers, associated with a cold front, is moving through Southwest Florida Saturday morning.
ESTERO 1 injured after shooting at Coconut Point Mall According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, one person has been injured after a shooting at the Coconut Point Mall on Friday.
CAPE CORAL CCPD cruiser damaged after officer involved crash An officer-involved crash leaves a Cape Coral police cruiser smashed.
PORT CHARLOTTE Sweet’s Diner in Port Charlotte reopens After months of fundraising and rebuilding, this diner, which had a car fly-through it, is back open.
FWC pushing to protect Florida’s endangered manatees Florida Fish and Wildlife is pushing to protect endangered manatees. One danger that animals face is when boats bash into them, leaving deep scars across their backs.
FORT MYERS The Fort Myers Fire Department looks towards new year Fighting fires is always top of mind for the Fort Myers Fire Department. The Fort Myers Fire Department leads the way when it comes to protecting your property when a fire breaks out.
WINK NEWS Palisades Wildfire devastates SWFL family Just hours after evacuating their Malibu home, the Wohl family learned they would never go back.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral expands with development The Cove at 47th The Cove sits in south Cape Coral between Cape Coral Parkway and Southeast 47th Terrace right next to Cork Soakers.
FORT MYERS ‘Operation Ghost Buster’: 16 arrested in Fort Myers drug operation The Fort Myers Police Department Narcotics Unit conducted an operation targeting drug traffickers and individuals unlawfully selling and possessing firearms in Fort Myers.
FORT MYERS ‘A Distinctive Honor’: Bank of America award benefits FSW Nursing Program Bank of America has been awarded Florida Southwestern State College the 2024 Neighborhood Champion Award.
CAPTIVA One step closer to decision on South Seas building density After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge said he stood by his earlier decision in favor of the Captiva Civic Association.
Governor signs death warrant for man accused of 1997 killing of 2 in Charlotte County Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the death warrant for a man accused of killing two people in Charlotte County in 1997.
Community input needed for renaming Challenger Boulevard While Lee Health continues construction on the area’s newest hospital, there are decisions to be made.
ESTERO SWFL Lady Hammerheads find community through rugby The southwest Florida Lady Hammerheads are the Florida Women’s Rugby Union’s newest team.
Heavy law enforcement presence near Arcadia Popeyes According to the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office, there is a heavy law enforcement presence near a Popeyes restaurant.
Today, City of Palms Park is empty as it awaits its fate. But for 19 years, it was the Spring Training home of the Boston Red Sox. The team even opened the ballpark in 1993. Bill MacKay, the director of Florida operations at the time, still remembers the first game against Boston College. “I remember seeing smoke coming up,” MacKay recalled. “And you know my immediate thought was the stadium was on fire. Or there was a fire we had to address. It was the concession stand. The grill fire up for the first time.” MacKay was part of the group that relocated the team from Winter Haven to Fort Myers. He scouted the state for Sarasota to Homestead, hoping to find the new Spring Training home for the team. Eventually, they landed on Fort Myers. “It was just a new ballpark a new environment and a commitment to the facility the City of Fort Myers did at the time,” MacKay said. That commitment was validated by the people of Fort Myers. They camped out for tickets year after year. Just like in “Field of Dreams,” if you build it, they will come. “You see how many people come down here for Spring Training,” MacKay said. “They’ve a lot of them retired here because the Red Sox are here. And just the loyal following of the Red Sox and everybody from New England knows where Fort Myers is because the Red Sox are right here in Fort Myers.” Those fans in Fort Myers have grown accustomed to the annual St. Patrick’s Day game. Players and fans show up to the ballpark wearing their best green attire. “When we got the schedule, it’s the one you circle that you know you’re going to be busy,” MacKay said. “You know you’re going to sell out. It was always the marquee game of the spring training season.” MacKay said those days were the biggest merchandise day. One of those in demand items was a green Red Sox hat. MacKay said the hats started as a gift to the team and staff from All-Star pitcher Roger Clemens, who had a friend who worked at Twins Enterprises now ’47 Brand. “It became very popular and a lot of the fans wanted them,” MacKay recalled. “Well, the second year I asked Roger do you want to do it again. He said yeah I’ll do it again. So I bought about 500 souvenir hats. And we sold them out the first night. Sold them out before the game started actually.” The hats gained in popularity where now you can find them at stores all over, including the team shop at JetBlue Park. I remember seeing smoke coming up. And you know my immediate thought was the stadium was on fire. Or there was a fire we had to address. It was the concession stand. The grill fire up for the first time.MACKAY WAS PART OF THE TEAM THAT RELOCATED THE TEAM FROM WINTER HAVE