Heavy Cape Coral police presence on Skyline Boulevard; one person hospitalizedNear-record heat with isolated rain this Thursday afternoon
cape coral Heavy Cape Coral police presence on Skyline Boulevard; one person hospitalized The Cape Coral Police Department is actively investigating a scene located on Skyline Boulevard.
the weather authority Near-record heat with isolated rain this Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking near-record heat this Thursday, along with isolated rain throughout the afternoon.
Lee County School District sets town hall meeting Spring schedule The Lee County School District has released its Spring town hall schedule, during which parents and community members can voice their opinions regarding their children’s education.
SANIBEL Sanibel teen gearing up to reopen popular food truck The Sanibel Sprout, a beloved local spot, is gearing up for a hopeful reopening in mid-March after two years of rebuilding.
FORT MYERS Man arrested for prowling and enticing a child in Fort Myers A concerned citizen flagged down Florida Highway Patrol state troopers in Fort Myers to report an adult man was harassing his daughter, according to authorities.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte Girl Scout earns Gold Award for pet care project A Port Charlotte teenager has earned the prestigious Gold Girl Scout Award.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers couple’s love grows stronger despite Alzheimer’s diagnosis Jeff and Bunny Edwards of Fort Myers celebrated their 41st anniversary, showcasing a love that has grown stronger over the years.
BONITA SPRINGS Harry Chapin Food Bank volunteers deliver food and a smile Food distributions seem so simple but go a long way in changing people’s lives. In Southwest Florida, the need for food is everywhere.
NAPLES Naples man arrested for cocaine trafficking A Naples man is facing a narcotics trafficking charge after deputies say he pitched cocaine out of his vehicle while trying to elude deputies.
SANIBEL Sanibel’s new rangers educate cyclists on path rules and e-bike limits Sanibel is a popular destination for biking enthusiasts, especially during the busy winter season. With over 26 miles of paved paths, the island offers stunning scenery for cyclists.
Cape Coral residents voice concerns over rental noise and rule-breaking Cape Coral is once again buzzing with discussions on short-term rentals.
Exclusive: Collier County law enforcement using tech to fight traffic congestion Naples is turning to technology to tackle traffic troubles.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers charity loses donation pod after complaint from local realtor Doug Miller and Amy Eldridge watched as their storage pod was towed away, marking the end of an era for their charitable efforts.
dunbar Dunbar’s Southward Village set for affordable housing transformation Southward Village is set to become a new hub for affordable housing as companies prepare to build on the now-empty site.
BABCOCK RANCH Babcock Ranch showcases cutting-edge robot in home construction Neighbors, friends, and students gathered Wednesday morning to witness a groundbreaking event in their community.
cape coral Heavy Cape Coral police presence on Skyline Boulevard; one person hospitalized The Cape Coral Police Department is actively investigating a scene located on Skyline Boulevard.
the weather authority Near-record heat with isolated rain this Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking near-record heat this Thursday, along with isolated rain throughout the afternoon.
Lee County School District sets town hall meeting Spring schedule The Lee County School District has released its Spring town hall schedule, during which parents and community members can voice their opinions regarding their children’s education.
SANIBEL Sanibel teen gearing up to reopen popular food truck The Sanibel Sprout, a beloved local spot, is gearing up for a hopeful reopening in mid-March after two years of rebuilding.
FORT MYERS Man arrested for prowling and enticing a child in Fort Myers A concerned citizen flagged down Florida Highway Patrol state troopers in Fort Myers to report an adult man was harassing his daughter, according to authorities.
PORT CHARLOTTE Port Charlotte Girl Scout earns Gold Award for pet care project A Port Charlotte teenager has earned the prestigious Gold Girl Scout Award.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers couple’s love grows stronger despite Alzheimer’s diagnosis Jeff and Bunny Edwards of Fort Myers celebrated their 41st anniversary, showcasing a love that has grown stronger over the years.
BONITA SPRINGS Harry Chapin Food Bank volunteers deliver food and a smile Food distributions seem so simple but go a long way in changing people’s lives. In Southwest Florida, the need for food is everywhere.
NAPLES Naples man arrested for cocaine trafficking A Naples man is facing a narcotics trafficking charge after deputies say he pitched cocaine out of his vehicle while trying to elude deputies.
SANIBEL Sanibel’s new rangers educate cyclists on path rules and e-bike limits Sanibel is a popular destination for biking enthusiasts, especially during the busy winter season. With over 26 miles of paved paths, the island offers stunning scenery for cyclists.
Cape Coral residents voice concerns over rental noise and rule-breaking Cape Coral is once again buzzing with discussions on short-term rentals.
Exclusive: Collier County law enforcement using tech to fight traffic congestion Naples is turning to technology to tackle traffic troubles.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers charity loses donation pod after complaint from local realtor Doug Miller and Amy Eldridge watched as their storage pod was towed away, marking the end of an era for their charitable efforts.
dunbar Dunbar’s Southward Village set for affordable housing transformation Southward Village is set to become a new hub for affordable housing as companies prepare to build on the now-empty site.
BABCOCK RANCH Babcock Ranch showcases cutting-edge robot in home construction Neighbors, friends, and students gathered Wednesday morning to witness a groundbreaking event in their community.
One of Southwest Florida’s best portrait artists, Martha Maria Cantu, almost gave up art. Now, she’s at the forefront of the city of Immokalee to make her community filled with color. As a child, Cantu had trouble balancing pleasing her mother and bringing out her artistic talents. “Being an artist, especially as a kid growing up, my mom was totally against it,” said Cantu. “She thought a woman’s place was in the kitchen.” As a toddler, Cantu remembers her first piece of artwork, being inspired by a portrait of Jesus Christ. Looking into his eyes, she felt a deep connection, and it inspired her to pick up a pencil for the first time and draw. “It was a way to communicate,” said Cantu, explaining her relationship with her stepfather, who barely spoke Spanish. “He’s like, ‘Okay, well, don’t interrupt me during my wrestling now until your picture looks exactly like what’s on the wall,'” said Martha, adding, “And I said, okay. “ During the week, she worked on her daily chores along with her siblings. On the weekends, she found time as a “hobby” to work on her art skills. CREDIT: WINK NEWS CREDIT: WINK NEWS Cantu said she was cherished by her teachers in school growing up for her detailed portraits. On the other hand, her mother decided to destroy all of her artwork. “There was a time that she ripped it,” said Cantu. “She just ran to my room and just tore up every piece of art that I had at that time.” CREDIT: WINK NEWS Cantu was left devastated after her mother believed that art was distracting her from too much of her time. “My childhood wasn’t that great, and I believe art saved me,” said Cantu. “There’s a lot of ways I could have gone, and it was just always art, art, art.” CREDIT: WINK NEWS After leaving the Eddison State Community College’s art program, Cantu did not touch any form of art for 17 years. It was until her son came home in need of some help drawing a cell organism for his science project. Since then, Cantu has won numerous awards and has done five murals for the city of Immokalee. According to Cantu, she has three murals that will be built in Fort Myers Beach at a new 7-Eleven coming soon. CREDIT: WINK NEWS Cantu encourages those to ‘keep smiling’. She teaches art therapy for The Shelter of Abused Women and Children. For those interested in reading more about Martha Marie Cantu’s journey, click here.