Tim Aten Knows: 2 new eateries coming to East Naples After operating La Rosa Pizzeria for more than 15 years, owners Bill and Alda Rosa decided to sell their local business and restaurant space.
the weather authority Warmer with sun and clouds for your Friday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a warmer day ahead, with a mixture of sun and clouds expected this Friday afternoon.
FDOT to open all lanes of Caloosahatchee Bridge year ahead of construction schedule The Florida Department of Transportation announced it will open all lanes of the Caloosahatchee Bridge a year ahead of its pedestrian sidewalk project.
NAPLES 12-year-old collecting donations for the needy during the holidays A 12-year-old Naples boy isn’t worried about what he’s getting for Christmas. Instead, he’s working on his 6th annual “Holiday Sock Drive.”
Fort Myers man facing homelessness before the holidays A 75-year-old man is on the brink of homelessness despite working over 80 hours a week.
NAPLES Adoptee uses non-profit to provide suitcases for foster children This holiday season, a Naples woman is on a mission to bring foster children something many take for granted: a suitcase filled with dignity.
MARCO ISLAND City of Marco Island discusses lead awareness during city council meeting The city of Marco Island sent out 4900 letters to residents warning them that their pipes could contain plastic or lead.
NAPLES The future of electric planes in Southwest Florida Features of living near an airport include persistent headache-inducing engine rumbles and foul-smelling jet fuel, but electric planes could play a part in the solution.
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors awaiting answers on Port Charlotte Beach Park repairs Neighbors said a contractor hired by the Florida Division of Emergency Management mishandled the boats at Port Charlotte Beach Park.
FGCU introduces new technology for cognitive health screenings Ten minutes. That’s all it takes for doctors to assess how well you remember, how quickly you learn things, and how your brain is working overall.
WINK Investigates: Disgraced contractor faces new lawsuits and allegations Paul Beattie, a disgraced home builder is back doing business but legal challenges continue as another one of his businesses gets sued. Former employees of Beattie speak out, only to WINK.
SWFL reacts to UNC hiring Bill Belichick Southwest Florida reacts to North Carolina hiring Bill Belichick as its new head football coach and how that could impact the decisions of local recruits.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Some Floridians want more alone time during the holidays The holidays are all about spending time with family and friends, but nearly half of Americans say they really want more alone time during the holiday.
LABELLE Hendry County rolls out cameras for school speed zones The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a new way of enforcing school zone speed limits by using cameras that will target drivers traveling over a certain speed in a school zone.
Aggressive driving concerns on the rise in Southwest Florida The arrest of a man who, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said, killed a motorcyclist after crashing into him on purpose is raising concerns over aggressive driving in Southwest Florida.
Tim Aten Knows: 2 new eateries coming to East Naples After operating La Rosa Pizzeria for more than 15 years, owners Bill and Alda Rosa decided to sell their local business and restaurant space.
the weather authority Warmer with sun and clouds for your Friday plans The Weather Authority is tracking a warmer day ahead, with a mixture of sun and clouds expected this Friday afternoon.
FDOT to open all lanes of Caloosahatchee Bridge year ahead of construction schedule The Florida Department of Transportation announced it will open all lanes of the Caloosahatchee Bridge a year ahead of its pedestrian sidewalk project.
NAPLES 12-year-old collecting donations for the needy during the holidays A 12-year-old Naples boy isn’t worried about what he’s getting for Christmas. Instead, he’s working on his 6th annual “Holiday Sock Drive.”
Fort Myers man facing homelessness before the holidays A 75-year-old man is on the brink of homelessness despite working over 80 hours a week.
NAPLES Adoptee uses non-profit to provide suitcases for foster children This holiday season, a Naples woman is on a mission to bring foster children something many take for granted: a suitcase filled with dignity.
MARCO ISLAND City of Marco Island discusses lead awareness during city council meeting The city of Marco Island sent out 4900 letters to residents warning them that their pipes could contain plastic or lead.
NAPLES The future of electric planes in Southwest Florida Features of living near an airport include persistent headache-inducing engine rumbles and foul-smelling jet fuel, but electric planes could play a part in the solution.
PORT CHARLOTTE Neighbors awaiting answers on Port Charlotte Beach Park repairs Neighbors said a contractor hired by the Florida Division of Emergency Management mishandled the boats at Port Charlotte Beach Park.
FGCU introduces new technology for cognitive health screenings Ten minutes. That’s all it takes for doctors to assess how well you remember, how quickly you learn things, and how your brain is working overall.
WINK Investigates: Disgraced contractor faces new lawsuits and allegations Paul Beattie, a disgraced home builder is back doing business but legal challenges continue as another one of his businesses gets sued. Former employees of Beattie speak out, only to WINK.
SWFL reacts to UNC hiring Bill Belichick Southwest Florida reacts to North Carolina hiring Bill Belichick as its new head football coach and how that could impact the decisions of local recruits.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA Some Floridians want more alone time during the holidays The holidays are all about spending time with family and friends, but nearly half of Americans say they really want more alone time during the holiday.
LABELLE Hendry County rolls out cameras for school speed zones The Hendry County Sheriff’s Office has rolled out a new way of enforcing school zone speed limits by using cameras that will target drivers traveling over a certain speed in a school zone.
Aggressive driving concerns on the rise in Southwest Florida The arrest of a man who, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said, killed a motorcyclist after crashing into him on purpose is raising concerns over aggressive driving in Southwest Florida.
After years of living without any problems, Fort Myers homeowners are being hit with a surprise bill that could be more than about $1,000 dollars. A letter from the City of Fort Myers appeared in more than 100 people’s mail, telling them they have to update their water system to the current ordinance that was passed in 1995. Homeowners who spoke to WINK News Friday had several questions and concerns. They are wondering why years later, the city is enforcing the ordinance and how much it is going to cost. The City of Fort Myers said the letter sent it to those who have individual irrigation meters that do not meet city code requirements by not having the proper backflow prevention assembly. Some who live in Botanica Lakes received the letter and wished they had been informed earlier. “Nobody budgeted for it. We have older people in our community, snowbirds, renters, and all sudden, this was just thrown at us with no heads up,” said Jeffrey Pagel, who lives in Botanica Lakes. The letter goes on to say homeowners are responsible per city ordinance for all of the fees related to the installation and the payment to the contractor. In addition, the installation and testing of the assembly must be done within 30 days of the letter being sent or the city will pursue legal action. Another Botanica Lakes resident, Steven Lambrose, believes he will receive the letter soon, as the city said more would be sent out. “My house was built in 2008 and it passed city inspection, obviously when it was built. I have a backflow meter on the side of my house for the irrigation. And I just would like to know why, 16 years later, now I’m being I’m going to be required to spend all this money to change something that I’ve had for all this time that was already approved by the city and passed inspection,” Lambrose said. The city explained why now. They said cross connection control standards ordinance passed in 1995. In 2008, the city began enforcing this ordinance, focusing on commercial accounts and excluding residential accounts. Homeowners back then weren’t impacted. The city said in 2022, the Department of Environmental Protection took over responsibility of all potable water systems in Lee County and identified several problems. So, the city said they have been working hard to fix these issues. One way is by sending a letter. “A lot of people in here on fixed incomes, you know, retired and people just a lot of people just don’t have extra money right now to fix something that’s been fine for 16,18, years,” Lambrose said. If you don’t pay, the city says the service will be disconnected. Botanica lakes, a community impacted recently by water main breaks says they are upset about having to pay, but the city says they are simply following dep guidelines. The City of Fort Myers sent a full statement in regards to why they are now charging homeowners: “In the 1990s, the City of Fort Myers’ potable water system fell under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Health. In 2022, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) took over responsibility for all portable water systems in Lee County from the Department of Health. Since 2022, the Florida DEP has been actively working with the City of Fort Myers and other municipalities to identify any inconsistencies in the application of applicable Florida statutes pertaining to potable water systems. In 2023, the Florida DEP identified a deficiency in the City of Fort Myers’ cross-connection control program. The deficiency resulted in a consent order between the City and Florida DEP that included the modification of over 400 backflow preventer assemblies across the City. In light of this consent order, the City has been actively reviewing its backflow preventer policies to identify any additional compliance deficiencies. As a result of this effort, the City has identified a large number of individual irrigation meters that do not conform to the requirements. The City has started to notify residents with non-compliant irrigation meter assemblies about the required improvements. To date, a little over 100 notices have been sent out to residents where this issue applies. Additional notices will come out to residents over the next few months to identify the need for compliance. The City will work with any residents who receive one of these notices to address any questions they have and provide guidance on bringing them into compliance.”