Crews removing derelict boats from Gilchrist Park33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County
PUNTA GORDA Crews removing derelict boats from Gilchrist Park Crews are working to remove derelict boats from Gilchrist Park after several of them washed ashore during Hurricane Milton in October.
33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County Another Florida panther has been killed by a vehicle, this time in Hardee County, increasing the death toll of the endangered species to 33 for 2024.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cold morning conditions before temperatures warm up to the low 70s this Thursday.
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Milton.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
PUNTA GORDA Crews removing derelict boats from Gilchrist Park Crews are working to remove derelict boats from Gilchrist Park after several of them washed ashore during Hurricane Milton in October.
33rd endangered Florida panther death of 2024; killed by vehicle in Hardee County Another Florida panther has been killed by a vehicle, this time in Hardee County, increasing the death toll of the endangered species to 33 for 2024.
the weather authority Cool and breezy for your Thursday afternoon The Weather Authority is tracking cold morning conditions before temperatures warm up to the low 70s this Thursday.
Students react to threat made at Florida Gulf Coast University Students at Florida Gulf Coast University said they don’t know the specifics of a threat made last week, but they do know it was taken care of.
Missing and endangered boy found in Lehigh Acres Authorities have found a missing and endangered boy in Lehigh Acres. Police asked for the public’s help in locating Zachariah McKelvin.
School District denies bus service to student despite mother’s measurements When we think of the bus stop, we typically think of it as a safe place for our children, but one mother says the Lee County School District told her they live too close to the school to get a bus route.
MATLACHA 2 stranded dolphins rescued from mangroves near Matlacha Two stranded dolphins were pulled from mangroves near Matlacha.
CAPE CORAL NAACP honors Cape Coral Police Chief after acknowledging hate crime NAACP President, James Muwakkil, was so impressed with Cape Coral Police Chief Anthony Sizemore that he wanted the entire city to know.
NAPLES Jingled Elves trolley tour underway Breaking out your best dance moves and spreading Christmas cheer. These ‘jingled elves’ are breaking it down with a purpose.
BONITA SPRINGS Bonita Springs Elementary School’s demolition plans There’s a new lesson plan at Bonita Springs Elementary School: Demolition 101. The school is set to be knocked down, and there’s good reason.
MARCO ISLAND Marco Island Councilmember’s dogs allegedly attack 13-year-old girl Councilor Tamara Goehler is coming under fire after her dogs allegedly attacked a 13-year-old girl and the girl’s five-month-old puppy.
PUNTA GORDA Gilchrist Park’s future brightens as boat cleanup commences The boats blocking Gilchrist Park are ready to be moved two years after Hurricane Milton.
Lee County Department of Health issues red tide alert for Bowman’s Beach The Florida Department of Health in Lee County has issued a health alert for the presence of red tide near Bowman’s Beach.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral working on project to address canal safety An older Cape Coral couple drove into a canal last year. Neighbors are now saying something needs to be done about canal safety.
NAPLES Collier County mental health center receives $4 million donation A giant donation is dedicated to providing people with better mental health care in southwest Florida.
Amulet Yellow performing at Donna’s Barbershop. CREDIT: Bobby Souza Where else in Southwest Florida can you get a haircut and attend a local show on the same day than at Donna’s Barbershop? The shop, which now doubles as a music venue, is located in downtown Bonita Springs. It hosts local live shows, giving local musicians a new place to play. ANOTHER NEW VENUE: Sound Garden Kava Bar hosts grand opening local concert On concert day, you won’t see barber chairs, combs or razors. Instead, you’ll see amps, mics, soundboards, a drum set and the talent of the local music scene behind each instrument. The only signs of a barbershop during show day is the wall decorations and the mirrors, which owner and manager Bobby Souza asks to please not to elbow or fall into during an energetic set. Souza was inspired to make the shop a venue by Roadrunner Curated, a skate shop in San Carlos Park that closed in 2023. “I think the community had a great deal of loss surrounding it because it was a place that a lot of us call a second home and the same thing with Ollie’s,” Souza said. Just two months ago, Ollie’s Pub, a significant local venue in Cape Coral, closed down. READ MORE ABOUT OLLIE’S: Ollie’s Pub, the home of SWFL’s local music scene, closes after 4 memorable years The story of Ollie’s Pub and what kept it open through years of hardships With the absence of Ollie’s, Donna’s Barbershop and other venues hope to fill in the gap that Ollie’s left behind. “I think a lot of people are very sad, and I’m sad that we don’t have a place for us to go and gather and be ourselves. I think after Ollie’s, too, we needed that, just somewhere to congregate,” Souza said. Dave!Ja!Vu! performing at Donna’s Barbershop. CREDIT: Brian Torres Souza highlighted that Donna’s is a safe space. “I just wanted a safe space for everybody, like LGBTQ+, any gender, race, religion. Hate is not allowed here, so I don’t support any hate or anything like that. I just want it to be a place where everybody can come and enjoy and be themselves,” he said. The venue, Souza said, is a place to give local talent a platform. “I definitely want to just give a place for young creatives to come and perform, give them a platform to display their art and for everybody to congregate safely and have a safe space,” he said. GRYMM performing at Donna’s Barbershop. CREDIT: Brian Torres SWFL’s local music scene will always need a place for people to gather. “So being creative with the venues and being creative with the way that we gather, and I think that can be very productive going forward. I don’t know if this particular venue is the future for [the] Southwest Florida [music scene],” he said. “I wouldn’t go that far or say anything like that. We’re just a little barbershop that likes to have our friends come and play.” Having venues like Donna’s are important to the underground scene, according to Souza. Dead End Collective performing at Donna’s Barbershop. CREDIT: Brian Torres “There’s a place where we can just hang out up front and just be ourselves and slam on the drums and get pushed around, act a fool for 45 minutes, and I think we need that, for sure. That underground scene is really needed. That’s what this place gives,” he said. Souza said he doesn’t want the venue to ever replace anything, but he wants to help replicate what we’ve seen in the local music scene. Donna’s next show is on June 28. They are hosting Cypress Fight Club, Amulet Yellow and Mozaynic. Read more on local music below: SWFL band DONEFOR to open for Sublime, 311 and Goldfinger at Orlando music festival Record Store Day in SWFL: What to expect and where to go SWFL artist, AHZUWOP, debuts hip-hop album with original art showcase SWFL thrash punk band Except You releases EP on exclusive, recycled vinyl