The Weather Authority: Sunny Saturday with a nice breeze; fire danger increasesSenior Airman surprises cousin on Aubrey Rogers softball senior night
The Weather Authority: Sunny Saturday with a nice breeze; fire danger increases Warm temperatures for your Saturday with a nice breeze into the afternoon.
NORTH NAPLES Senior Airman surprises cousin on Aubrey Rogers softball senior night Aubrey Rogers senior pitcher and infielder McKenzie Vargas was surprised by her Air Force cousin for Senior Night.
BONITA SPRINGS Police: 15-year-old injured after accidentally shot in the leg Lee County deputies say the teen was accidentally shot in the leg.
PUNTA GORDA Exclusive: Brother and best friend of accused pedophile priest speak out Riley’s brother reached out to WINK on Friday, saying people aren’t getting the full story.
IMMOKALEE Caught on video: Huge gator crosses Immokalee neighborhood Fridays in Florida are for gators
FORT MYERS FGCU softball pitcher making a name for herself One season in FGCU, freshman pitcher Allison Sparkman is already ruffling feathers in the circle.
Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society raises concerns An large amount of pets are being surrendered by their owners. About half of the dogs at the Gulf Coast Humane Society are surrender dogs.
Students benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars So far, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax has brought in $507 million for the Lee County School District.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘Shady’: One woman feels misled after federal student loan consolidation It takes some people decades to pay off their student loans. One woman’s last payment was in sight until she took a gamble she said she was told to take.
FORT MYERS Homeless encampments inch closer to neighborhoods Law enforcement has swept multiple encampments, cleaning the trails of mess and muck left behind, and some of these encampments are right in our backyards.
BIG CYPRESS PRESERVE What changes if Big Cypress National Preserve becomes a Wilderness Area? America’s first nationally designated preserve is in Southwest Florida’s backyard, and it is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Method to treat IBD being used for other health issues Trying to get treatments for the brain when fighting neurological diseases like epilepsy and ALS is a challenge.
FORT MYERS NTSB report reveals new details in helicopter crash after Hurricane Ian The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on a helicopter crash that occurred in Iona, Florida, shortly after Hurricane Ian.
NAPLES Memorial celebrates the life of John Passidomo Hundreds of friends and family gathered for a memorial at Baker Park in Naples.
‘Latinos in Action’ empowers all students to succeed WINK News talked with teachers who are a part of the program, helping kids reach their full potential.
The Weather Authority: Sunny Saturday with a nice breeze; fire danger increases Warm temperatures for your Saturday with a nice breeze into the afternoon.
NORTH NAPLES Senior Airman surprises cousin on Aubrey Rogers softball senior night Aubrey Rogers senior pitcher and infielder McKenzie Vargas was surprised by her Air Force cousin for Senior Night.
BONITA SPRINGS Police: 15-year-old injured after accidentally shot in the leg Lee County deputies say the teen was accidentally shot in the leg.
PUNTA GORDA Exclusive: Brother and best friend of accused pedophile priest speak out Riley’s brother reached out to WINK on Friday, saying people aren’t getting the full story.
IMMOKALEE Caught on video: Huge gator crosses Immokalee neighborhood Fridays in Florida are for gators
FORT MYERS FGCU softball pitcher making a name for herself One season in FGCU, freshman pitcher Allison Sparkman is already ruffling feathers in the circle.
Surrendering-pets trend at Gulf Coast Humane Society raises concerns An large amount of pets are being surrendered by their owners. About half of the dogs at the Gulf Coast Humane Society are surrender dogs.
Students benefitting from millions in sales tax dollars So far, the voter-approved half-cent sales tax has brought in $507 million for the Lee County School District.
PORT CHARLOTTE ‘Shady’: One woman feels misled after federal student loan consolidation It takes some people decades to pay off their student loans. One woman’s last payment was in sight until she took a gamble she said she was told to take.
FORT MYERS Homeless encampments inch closer to neighborhoods Law enforcement has swept multiple encampments, cleaning the trails of mess and muck left behind, and some of these encampments are right in our backyards.
BIG CYPRESS PRESERVE What changes if Big Cypress National Preserve becomes a Wilderness Area? America’s first nationally designated preserve is in Southwest Florida’s backyard, and it is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Method to treat IBD being used for other health issues Trying to get treatments for the brain when fighting neurological diseases like epilepsy and ALS is a challenge.
FORT MYERS NTSB report reveals new details in helicopter crash after Hurricane Ian The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has released its final report on a helicopter crash that occurred in Iona, Florida, shortly after Hurricane Ian.
NAPLES Memorial celebrates the life of John Passidomo Hundreds of friends and family gathered for a memorial at Baker Park in Naples.
‘Latinos in Action’ empowers all students to succeed WINK News talked with teachers who are a part of the program, helping kids reach their full potential.
Nervous Nellie’s to reopen on Saturday after Hurricane Ian destruction. CREDIT: WINK News Restaurants on Fort Myers Beach and Sanibel, open for years and intertwined with everyday people, disappeared under a catastrophic storm surge as Hurricane Ian tore through the area exactly 18 months ago today. After the debris cleared and lives drifted back to routine, a demand from the locals began to emerge. Restaurants on Fort Myers Beach and the Island of Sanibel have opened to answer that demand with a feast. Restaurants on Fort Myers Beach, such as Junkanoo Below Deck, The Rude Shrimp, Hooters, Doc Fords and Salty Crab Bar and Grill, are places where families have made memories for years. When the storm clouds passed and the flood waters receded, some were gone, and others were heavily damaged. In defiance of the uncertain future ahead, businesses began to rebuild. Junkanoo Below Deck on Fort Myers Beach appeared nearly unrecognizable after Hurricane Ian. Evenings normally set on a beautiful beach with a packed house right at sunset with a cold beer in hand were gone. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Junkanoo Below Deck (@junkanoofmb) After Ian, Junkanoo’s had nearly crumbled to the ground. Focus, grit and patience would bring the restaurant back from the brink in February. Now, there are days without an empty seat at the restaurant, like in the post below. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Junkanoo Below Deck (@junkanoofmb) This is the theme with many of the other restaurants. The Rude Shrimp went from a booming business to a destroyed building before cleverly and quickly coming back as a trailer. View this post on Instagram A post shared by THE RUDE SHRIMP CO. (@therudeshrimpco) Ian didn’t keep The Rude Shrimp down forever, as the restaurant would eventually fully reopen in January 2023. Doc Ford’s on Fort Myers Beach, Captiva and Sanibel were a regular spot for many visitors and locals on the island. Unfortunately, the Captiva location would end up closing permanently. However, despite still standing after Hurricane Ian, the restaurant on Fort Myers Beach knew it wouldn’t be easy to reopen. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille (@docfords) It took 10 months and overcoming many challenges, but on July 31, 2023, the Doc Ford’s on Fort Myers Beach reopened. Nervous Nellies is a restaurant known to locals and snowbirds on Fort Myers Beach for the food and the iconic big yellow chair out front. Like the abovementioned, the local favorite received devastating blows following the intense storm. If the well-known waterfront eatery were to reopen after Hurricane Ian, it would need much work done. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nervous Nellie's (@nervousnelliesfmb) It took over a year to reopen, but the day eventually came. Nervous Nellies reopened on Jan. 20, 2024. Aware of the arduous effort to reopen the restaurant 477 days after the hurricane, the restaurant posted a picture of the refurbished building. Nervous Nellies reopening after the hurricane. CREDIT: NERVOUS NELLIES FACEBOOK The area has also seen brand new spots open in the 18 months since Hurricane Ian. One of the most notable places is Margaritaville Resort in Fort Myers Beach. RELATED: Grand opening of the Margaritaville Resort in Fort Myers Beach Before opening, Margaritaville caused some controversy on the island. Since then, it seems locals and visitors have warmed up to the resort and are now enjoying the new addition to the area. The resort opened in December 2023 and is one of the latest examples of how far Fort Myers Beach has come since the hurricane. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Margaritaville Beach Resort Fort Myers Beach (@margaritavillefortmyers) Not all of the restaurants impacted by the storm had the chance to recover after Hurricane Ian. Whether washed away or leveled to the ground, some well-known businesses never opened their doors to the public again. One of those was the Hooters on Fort Myers Beach. It was a common spot for beachgoers to grab a quick bite between tanning and swimming. During the storm, pictures of the orange-roofed restaurant began circulating when it appeared to be crushed by the devastating storm surge. Where Hooters stood on Fort Myers Beach after Ian. CREDIT: WINK News It’s possible the company tried salvaging the remains of what remained of the wing joint. However, Hooters on Fort Myers Beach never served another customer after Ian. One quality people in Southwest Florida put on full display after Hurricane Ian: resolve. In the face of adversity, countless obstacles and helplessly watching as the storm surge washed away neighborhoods, SWFL has returned stronger than before. The new places offer locals and visitors the ability to make new memories. Places that have been restored give people a sense of familiarity. By crossing off one goal after another, people and businesses in Southwest Florida are moving forward 18 months after Hurricane Ian. We won’t stop now.