Great Wolf Lodge celebrates grand opening, economic impact in Collier CountyOrientation for new Cape Coral City Council members
Tesla issues sixth Cybertruck recall in a year, over 2,400 vehicles affected Tesla stock might be up, but their Cybertrucks have another recall for their drivers to deal with.
Great Wolf Lodge celebrates grand opening, economic impact in Collier County With pomp, circumstance and an appearance from retired NFL player Rob Gronkowski, Great Wolf Lodge celebrated both its grand opening and its economic impact for Collier County.
CAPE CORAL Orientation for new Cape Coral City Council members Five fresh new faces are on the Cape Coral City Council.
the weather authority Tropical Storm Sara forms in the Caribbean The Weather Authority is tracking Tropical Storm Sara in the Caribbean.
Local builder Paul Beattie gives up license, agrees to pay fine Beattie Development has been accused of taking customers’ money and not completing work promised, and now the company’s owner is surrendering his license.
NAPLES Naples Botanical Garden performs prescribed burn in garden area The Naples Botanical Garden is conducting a prescribed fire as part of its maintenance of the nature preserve.
NEAR FORT MYERS Jerry Seinfeld to perform at Barbara B. Mann in SWFL Comedian and co-creator of a popular sitcom of the same name, Jerry Seinfeld, is set to perform near Fort Myers.
COLLIER COUNTY DOH-Collier cautions of blue-green algae at Lake Avalon The Florida Department of Health in Collier County (DOH-Collier) wants to caution the public of the presence of blue-green algae in Lake Avalon.
City, Naples Beach Club to preserve green space in perpetuity More than 104 acres of recreation and open space at the former Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club’s golf course will be forever preserved.
FORT MYERS The 52nd annual Fort Myers Boat Show begins An annual Fort Myers tradition has returned as the region’s premier display of boats and boating products, which will be on full display for enthusiasts to enjoy.
the weather authority Gorgeous Thursday afternoon with highs in the mid 80s The Weather Authority is tracking pleasant afternoon conditions with temperatures in the mid-80s this Thursday.
SANIBEL Failed air quality tests push back reopening date for The Sanibel School The tentative reopening of The Sanibel School has been pushed back once again after being closed since Hurricane Milton.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Police respond to rollover crash; driver flees scene The Fort Myers Police Department responded to a rollover, single-vehicle on Colonial Gardens Circle and Colonial Boulevard.
FORT MYERS West End residents frustrated by security failures, lack of response A nearly $64 million luxury apartment complex that close to 500 people call home, but somehow, security seems to fall through the cracks.
NAPLES Collier County nearly doubles tourism budget On Tuesday, Collier County Commissioners approved a nearly $12 million budget for a tourism marketing campaign.
Tesla issues sixth Cybertruck recall in a year, over 2,400 vehicles affected Tesla stock might be up, but their Cybertrucks have another recall for their drivers to deal with.
Great Wolf Lodge celebrates grand opening, economic impact in Collier County With pomp, circumstance and an appearance from retired NFL player Rob Gronkowski, Great Wolf Lodge celebrated both its grand opening and its economic impact for Collier County.
CAPE CORAL Orientation for new Cape Coral City Council members Five fresh new faces are on the Cape Coral City Council.
the weather authority Tropical Storm Sara forms in the Caribbean The Weather Authority is tracking Tropical Storm Sara in the Caribbean.
Local builder Paul Beattie gives up license, agrees to pay fine Beattie Development has been accused of taking customers’ money and not completing work promised, and now the company’s owner is surrendering his license.
NAPLES Naples Botanical Garden performs prescribed burn in garden area The Naples Botanical Garden is conducting a prescribed fire as part of its maintenance of the nature preserve.
NEAR FORT MYERS Jerry Seinfeld to perform at Barbara B. Mann in SWFL Comedian and co-creator of a popular sitcom of the same name, Jerry Seinfeld, is set to perform near Fort Myers.
COLLIER COUNTY DOH-Collier cautions of blue-green algae at Lake Avalon The Florida Department of Health in Collier County (DOH-Collier) wants to caution the public of the presence of blue-green algae in Lake Avalon.
City, Naples Beach Club to preserve green space in perpetuity More than 104 acres of recreation and open space at the former Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club’s golf course will be forever preserved.
FORT MYERS The 52nd annual Fort Myers Boat Show begins An annual Fort Myers tradition has returned as the region’s premier display of boats and boating products, which will be on full display for enthusiasts to enjoy.
the weather authority Gorgeous Thursday afternoon with highs in the mid 80s The Weather Authority is tracking pleasant afternoon conditions with temperatures in the mid-80s this Thursday.
SANIBEL Failed air quality tests push back reopening date for The Sanibel School The tentative reopening of The Sanibel School has been pushed back once again after being closed since Hurricane Milton.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers Police respond to rollover crash; driver flees scene The Fort Myers Police Department responded to a rollover, single-vehicle on Colonial Gardens Circle and Colonial Boulevard.
FORT MYERS West End residents frustrated by security failures, lack of response A nearly $64 million luxury apartment complex that close to 500 people call home, but somehow, security seems to fall through the cracks.
NAPLES Collier County nearly doubles tourism budget On Tuesday, Collier County Commissioners approved a nearly $12 million budget for a tourism marketing campaign.
Thrive Academy is a first-of-its-kind school for those diagnosed with autism. On Wednesday, the school held a ribbon-cutting ceremony and invited the public inside. The academy is located in Cape Coral, right off Chiquita Boulevard and south of Veterans Parkway. Parents tell WINK News that this is a “dream” as the school has tailored curriculum to the kids’ unique needs. Some students with autism struggle in traditional public school settings. At Thrive Academy, the teaching style is customized to each student, with the goal of future employment and independence. David Brown and Anjali Van Drie, co-founders of Family Initiative and creators of the private specialty school, say, “This is just the start.” They plan to open more schools. Family Initiative is a Cape Coral-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting children, adolescents, and young adults impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorder. “We won’t go through the entire list of folks that we want to thank, but there are people not here today that have supported us when this was just a dream, before it was a dream, and have worked every day to make this day possible to have a place for our kids to be safe and loved and learn and thrive, honestly,” Van Drie said on the podium. Brown has big goals. “We know our families need a lot more. We need to expand access to clinical services. We need more diagnostic access for families. We need supported living for our families, and all of those things will ultimately be housed on this campus. And so our goal is to have a one-stop shop for all the moms and dads,” Brown said. Over 100 attendees attended the ceremony. Among the attendees were parents of special needs kids, community leaders and members of the community. A handful of politicians also showed up including Speaker of the House Paul Renner, Senator Jonathan Martin, Representative Jenna Persons-Mulicka and Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter. Persons-Mulicka’s 20-year-old son has autism and is a student at the school. She spoke on the podium about how in a short time, the academy has done so much for her son. Senator Martin also spoke on the podium and gave thanks to the Family Initiative co-founders. “They have always and consistently advocated for this project and for the autism community, demonstrating how passion and perseverance can lead to meaningful change. Thrive Academy stands as a shining example of Florida’s commitment to school choice,” Martin said. Speaker Renner was the keynote speaker and highlighted the importance of educational freedom and personalized education. When it was time to cut the ribbon, all the students in the academy joined. Parents tell WINK News this is life-changing. Jessica Van Hart is a board member of Family Initiative and a parent of a child with autism, Colby. “There were a lot of years that I used to lay awake wondering, how could I do this? How could we find a place for my son that would give him the education that he needed in the way he would understand? So, this is a dream come true, a dream come true for not just myself, but a lot of parents, and it will have an impact on our community for so many years,” Van Hart said. Speaker Renner saw the need years ago and decided to get involved. “It’s just a very special moment for the parents and the children that are going to get a great education here and get just exactly what they need, kind of the personalized, customized education that is really so important,” said Renner. Renner has worked closely with Family Initiative during his time in politics. WINK News got a tour of the school building that currently teaches 28 students. “We know our kids. We love our kids. They’re all amazing, smart, talented, hilarious. Our job is just to put a little spotlight on that and let everyone else see that too,” said Van Drie. Students at the academy will focus on academics, social and life skills, and vocational training. Some call this school the start of a trend. “We want to duplicate this for sure and make sure that there’s a Thrive Academy in every corner of Florida for kids that need it. That’s a priority and something I know that the members here, the local delegation, will carry forward,” Renner said. “What we wanted, is to really allow our kids to explore everything that they can be so long term, like they can do whatever they’d like to do,” Van Drie said. ‘I’m so excited to see kids come here, get an education, go out into the world and have jobs and try and live as independent as they can. It’s going to be an amazing life-changing things for not just myself, but other families,” Van Hart said. A 4.5-acre campus, which includes three buildings totaling 20,000 square feet, was acquired through a $5 million grant awarded to Family Initiative. An additional $250,000 grant from the Golisano Foundation has provided further support for the academy’s development. Family Initiative has recently acquired new property, so eventually they say Thrive Academy will teach 250 students across middle and high school levels. You can apply on the Thrive Academy website. As for tuition, they do offer scholarships.