Goth Gala for the Forlorn; How the alt scene honored Valentine’s DayFort Myers gears up for Edison Festival parade; road closures in place
CAPE CORAL Goth Gala for the Forlorn; How the alt scene honored Valentine’s Day Love Your Rebellion hosted the Goth Gala for the Forlorn at Nice Guys Pizza in Cape Coral on Friday night.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers gears up for Edison Festival parade; road closures in place Downtown Fort Myers is buzzing with excitement as the Edison Festival of Light Parade is set to begin.
the weather authority Near-record heat with sun and clouds for your Saturday The Weather Authority says the above-normal temperatures that Southwest Florida has been experiencing will stick around yet again for Saturday.
LEE COUNTY Savannah Bananas bring fun on the diamond at JetBlue Park The Savannah Bananas amazed and entertained a sold out JetBlue Park Friday night for the first time in Southwest Florida.
CAPE CORAL Caught on Camera: Cape Coral mailbox hit by drifting car A Cape Coral homeowner was left in shock after a car sent her mailbox flying through the air and left tire tracks next to her home.
ARCADIA DeSoto County man sentenced for deadly DUI crash Justice for a mother and son killed by a man driving under the influence.
NAPLES Oldest Black-owned business in SWFL continues to serve community Cleveland Bass Movers, founded in 1969, stands as the oldest Black-owned business in Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS BEACH Broken gate on Lovers Key Beach Resort frustrating residents Residents of Lover’s Key Beach Club in Fort Myers Beach are frustrated with a gate that remains wide open, despite “No Trespassing” signs, since Hurricane Ian struck two years ago.
St. James City Church plans $700k flood-proofing project for future safety Hurricanes have caused flood after flood, and one island church, The First Baptist Church of Saint James City, wants to build higher.
Romance scams rise in the US, AARP warns residents to beware Romance scams are on the rise, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting over 64,000 cases in the U.S. in 2023.
Fort Myers Savannah Bananas make their way to Fort Myers for first time The Savannah Bananas have made their way to JetBlue Park for Friday’s sold-out game in Fort Myers to watch “the greatest show in sports.”
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Yacht Club receives key permit Cape Coral received a key permit for a Yacht Club Community Park. This permit opens up the necessary steps for the park to be built.
PORT CHARLOTTE Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church holds 31st annual Greek Fest The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Port Charlotte kicked off its 31st annual Greek Fest on Friday.
Donations helping young kids get fed Food insecurity is a pressing issue in the community, and organizations like the Harry Chapin Food Bank, Meals of Hope and the Guadalupe Center are stepping up to help.
New risk factors contribute to heart disease February is American Heart Month, a perfect time to assess your heart health.
CAPE CORAL Goth Gala for the Forlorn; How the alt scene honored Valentine’s Day Love Your Rebellion hosted the Goth Gala for the Forlorn at Nice Guys Pizza in Cape Coral on Friday night.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers gears up for Edison Festival parade; road closures in place Downtown Fort Myers is buzzing with excitement as the Edison Festival of Light Parade is set to begin.
the weather authority Near-record heat with sun and clouds for your Saturday The Weather Authority says the above-normal temperatures that Southwest Florida has been experiencing will stick around yet again for Saturday.
LEE COUNTY Savannah Bananas bring fun on the diamond at JetBlue Park The Savannah Bananas amazed and entertained a sold out JetBlue Park Friday night for the first time in Southwest Florida.
CAPE CORAL Caught on Camera: Cape Coral mailbox hit by drifting car A Cape Coral homeowner was left in shock after a car sent her mailbox flying through the air and left tire tracks next to her home.
ARCADIA DeSoto County man sentenced for deadly DUI crash Justice for a mother and son killed by a man driving under the influence.
NAPLES Oldest Black-owned business in SWFL continues to serve community Cleveland Bass Movers, founded in 1969, stands as the oldest Black-owned business in Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS BEACH Broken gate on Lovers Key Beach Resort frustrating residents Residents of Lover’s Key Beach Club in Fort Myers Beach are frustrated with a gate that remains wide open, despite “No Trespassing” signs, since Hurricane Ian struck two years ago.
St. James City Church plans $700k flood-proofing project for future safety Hurricanes have caused flood after flood, and one island church, The First Baptist Church of Saint James City, wants to build higher.
Romance scams rise in the US, AARP warns residents to beware Romance scams are on the rise, with the Federal Trade Commission reporting over 64,000 cases in the U.S. in 2023.
Fort Myers Savannah Bananas make their way to Fort Myers for first time The Savannah Bananas have made their way to JetBlue Park for Friday’s sold-out game in Fort Myers to watch “the greatest show in sports.”
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral Yacht Club receives key permit Cape Coral received a key permit for a Yacht Club Community Park. This permit opens up the necessary steps for the park to be built.
PORT CHARLOTTE Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church holds 31st annual Greek Fest The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Port Charlotte kicked off its 31st annual Greek Fest on Friday.
Donations helping young kids get fed Food insecurity is a pressing issue in the community, and organizations like the Harry Chapin Food Bank, Meals of Hope and the Guadalupe Center are stepping up to help.
New risk factors contribute to heart disease February is American Heart Month, a perfect time to assess your heart health.
A fire engulfed the Christ at the Crossroads Church in Lehigh Acres late Sunday afternoon. Black smoke and flames consumed the building, but fortunately, no one was hurt, according to the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District. Fire crews continue to assess the damage on Monday and investigate the cause of the fire. Authorities said the fire ignited at the church on Homestead Road North at around 6 p.m. Credit: Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District Photos shared by the Lehigh Acres Fire Department reveal the extent of the damage inside the church. While the sanctuary suffered minimal damage, another room was completely devastated, with the roof caved in. Despite this, the overall structure remains intact, which surprised fire crews. Firefighters from Lehigh Acres, Fort Myers and South Trail worked tirelessly for nearly four hours to extinguish the blaze, targeting every hotspot and flame. Sylvia Salazar, a neighbor, expressed her sorrow at the sight of the church, saying, “It’s just sad. It’s really, really sad. I mean, if there’s anything that they can do, I mean, hopefully, they will be able to rebuild to keep the services going for the people who really need the help and stuff this. Just hope and pray that, you know, the church can bounce back, bounce back for the community. We need this church. We need it.” The church has been a vital part of the community, and one of the pastors mentioned receiving support to help rebuild. The church, located on Homestead Road south of Lee Boulevard, is a significant spiritual landmark in the community. Abel Avalos, who works with both the church and the nearby Christian Academy for Autism, expressed the emotional impact on church members. “What makes it heartbreaking is that this church has been here forever, more than 63 years, so there were a lot of members that came out and have reached out because they have a very sentimental connection with the sanctuary,” Avalos said. Katie Heck, the public information officer for Lehigh Acres Fire, explained the investigation process. “It’s a pretty lengthy process. They have to overhaul the rooms where it looks like, you know, the fire originated. Take a look at a lot of things on the walls, the floor, you know, what’s around, talk to witnesses, make other phone calls,” Heck said. The fire also affected the Christian Academy for Autism, which had to close temporarily. Inspectors are ensuring the safety of the buildings before the school can reopen. “We have inspectors going through those buildings now too, just to ensure that everything is done, you know, steps are taken to clean those buildings, make sure that there’s no smoke issue or anything toxic that the kids would be exposed to,” Heck added. Despite the damage, there is hope. The sanctuary was largely untouched by the fire, though it suffered water damage. “Remarkably, the sanctuary was left pretty untouched by the fire. There’s a lot of water damage in that area now, but I think there’s a lot of things that they’ll be able to recover,” Heck stated. Investigators continue to search for clues to determine the fire’s cause. The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District advises people to avoid the area while the investigation continues.