Charlotte County offers showers and laundry facilities post-HeleneGov. DeSantis sends rescue operations to North Carolina after Helene
PORT CHARLOTTE Charlotte County offers showers and laundry facilities post-Helene Charlotte County has opened a comfort station equipped with showers and laundry facilities to aid residents struggling with storm recovery.
Horseshoe Beach Gov. DeSantis sends rescue operations to North Carolina after Helene Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference at Horseshoe Beach.
Punta Gorda restaurants reopening after Hurricane Helene Punta Gorda restaurant owners vow to reopen after Hurricane Helene clean up. While some restaurants opened quickly, others might take longer.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY Charlotte County man accused of luring child for sex A Charlotte County man has been arrested for allegedly sending sexually explicit text messages to a minor and luring her to have sex.
WASHINGTON (AP) Walz and Vance will meet in their first vice presidential debate Tim Walz and JD Vance will meet in what could be the last debate for both campaigns to argue their case before the election.
NCH, Florida Blue reach last-minute agreement on new contract With negotiations going down to the wire, Naples Comprehensive Health and Florida Blue agreed on a new three-year contract late in the day Sept. 30 that will keep almost 40,000 of the insurance carrier’s members in network with the health care system.
Three Oaks Firefighters pull intoxicated man from pond in Three Oaks The San Carlos Park Fire Protection and Rescue responded to a scene where they pulled an intoxicated man from a pond in Three Oaks.
FORT MYERS Phase 2: $1 billion RSW expansion project begins The Lee County Port Authority will begin Southwest Florida International Airport’s Terminal Expansion Phase 2, a more than $1 billion project.
PUNTA GORDA Sen. Rick Scott to survey damage in Charlotte County Florida Sen. Rick Scott is set to visit Charlotte County, receive a briefing on Hurricane Helene, and survey the damage.
The Weather Authority The Weather Authority: Scattered rain and storms return for your Tuesday The Weather Authority is tracking rain and storms throughout this Tuesday afternoon and into your evening commute.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda man dies after fire is sparked by Helene’s flooding Hurricane Helene was not kind to Charlotte County, and on Monday night, people are picking up the pieces and grieving the loss of a neighbor.
SANIBEL Sanibel businesses work to recover after Helene There’s no “Going back to normal” on Sanibel after Ian, but Helene isn’t stopping people as they work towards a “New normal.”
MATLACHA Sisters fly to Matlacha to help father rebuild after Hurricane Helene’s destruction Hurricane Helene has affected people not just in southwest Florida but also people across the country.
Recovery efforts at Sugar Sand Beach RV Resort Almost everyone on Matlacha and Pine Island is focused on the same thing: Recovery.
MANASOTA KEY Cleaning up Manasota Key after Helene Hurricane Helene caused severe flooding that seemed to spare no one on Manasota Key. Two families share their cleanup stories with WINK News.
PORT CHARLOTTE Charlotte County offers showers and laundry facilities post-Helene Charlotte County has opened a comfort station equipped with showers and laundry facilities to aid residents struggling with storm recovery.
Horseshoe Beach Gov. DeSantis sends rescue operations to North Carolina after Helene Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to hold a news conference at Horseshoe Beach.
Punta Gorda restaurants reopening after Hurricane Helene Punta Gorda restaurant owners vow to reopen after Hurricane Helene clean up. While some restaurants opened quickly, others might take longer.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY Charlotte County man accused of luring child for sex A Charlotte County man has been arrested for allegedly sending sexually explicit text messages to a minor and luring her to have sex.
WASHINGTON (AP) Walz and Vance will meet in their first vice presidential debate Tim Walz and JD Vance will meet in what could be the last debate for both campaigns to argue their case before the election.
NCH, Florida Blue reach last-minute agreement on new contract With negotiations going down to the wire, Naples Comprehensive Health and Florida Blue agreed on a new three-year contract late in the day Sept. 30 that will keep almost 40,000 of the insurance carrier’s members in network with the health care system.
Three Oaks Firefighters pull intoxicated man from pond in Three Oaks The San Carlos Park Fire Protection and Rescue responded to a scene where they pulled an intoxicated man from a pond in Three Oaks.
FORT MYERS Phase 2: $1 billion RSW expansion project begins The Lee County Port Authority will begin Southwest Florida International Airport’s Terminal Expansion Phase 2, a more than $1 billion project.
PUNTA GORDA Sen. Rick Scott to survey damage in Charlotte County Florida Sen. Rick Scott is set to visit Charlotte County, receive a briefing on Hurricane Helene, and survey the damage.
The Weather Authority The Weather Authority: Scattered rain and storms return for your Tuesday The Weather Authority is tracking rain and storms throughout this Tuesday afternoon and into your evening commute.
PUNTA GORDA Punta Gorda man dies after fire is sparked by Helene’s flooding Hurricane Helene was not kind to Charlotte County, and on Monday night, people are picking up the pieces and grieving the loss of a neighbor.
SANIBEL Sanibel businesses work to recover after Helene There’s no “Going back to normal” on Sanibel after Ian, but Helene isn’t stopping people as they work towards a “New normal.”
MATLACHA Sisters fly to Matlacha to help father rebuild after Hurricane Helene’s destruction Hurricane Helene has affected people not just in southwest Florida but also people across the country.
Recovery efforts at Sugar Sand Beach RV Resort Almost everyone on Matlacha and Pine Island is focused on the same thing: Recovery.
MANASOTA KEY Cleaning up Manasota Key after Helene Hurricane Helene caused severe flooding that seemed to spare no one on Manasota Key. Two families share their cleanup stories with WINK News.
Gift card sales are way up, more than double what they were in the previous quarter of 2020. One of those cards may be a gift for you during the holidays. But that means more opportunities for people to swipe your money. Gift cards make it easy to purchase items from home, but it’s important to know their value. When you find that card and wonder how much is it still worth, cybersecurity expert Carrie Kerskie says to be careful. “Go to the website listed on the back of the gift card,” Kerskie said. “Don’t do an internet search for ‘check my balance’ because you could end up on a bad guys website where the intention is just to steal the funds you have on that card.” A few other tips to keep your gift cards safe: Buy from reputable outlets — off-brand websites may be scams Check the back of the card — it may be scratched off and already used Research policies — things like returns may be different Treat them like cash Be wary: Gift cards lose value over time. No one wants their gift to become worthless. The Better Business Bureau and AARP have some resources on avoiding these scams.
A huge surge in online shopping during the pandemic has been a savior for retailers, but it comes at a price. Shoppers are expected to return twice as many items as they did during last year’s holiday period, costing companies roughly $1.1 billion, according to Narvar Inc., a software and technology company that manages online returns for hundreds of brands. Retailers don’t want the returns, but they do want shoppers who may not feel safe going to stores to be comfortable buying things they haven’t seen or tried on in person. People have been doing so much online buying since March that carriers like UPS and FedEx were already at full capacity before the holiday shopping season. And online sales just keep soaring. From Nov. 1 through Tuesday, they spiked 32% to $171.6 billion, compared with the year-ago period, according to Adobe Analytics. The massive challenges of shipping COVID-19 vaccines in the weeks and months ahead could put further pressure on the system. That means shoppers who return items may not get refunds until two weeks after they’re sent back to the store, said Sara Skirboll, shopping expert at deals site RetailMeNot. Many companies are offering more locations where customers can drop off returns, which cuts down shipping costs and gets refunds to shoppers more quickly. Last year, Kohl’s began allowing Amazon returns at all of its 1,000 stores – customers drop off items for free, with no box or label needed. This year, Amazon customers can also return items at 500 Whole Foods Market stores. That’s in addition to Amazon’s deal with UPS to allow similar drop-offs at UPS stores. Happy Returns, a Santa Monica, California-based startup that works with about 150 online retailers like Rothy’s and Revolve, has increased its number of drop-off locations to 2,600, from more than 700 last year. That includes 2,000 FedEx locations. “It’s a great time to be in the returns business. Every day, there’s a record,” said David Sobie, CEO and co-founder of Happy Returns, noting he’s processed 50% more returns in December than November. Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer, announced earlier this week it will pick up items shipped and sold by Walmart.com from customers’ homes for free through a new partnership with FedEx. The service will continue beyond the holiday shopping season. A growing number of retailers are asking shoppers to not even bother sending back certain rejected items. When Dick Pirozzolo wanted to return a too-small jersey he bought for $40 on a website called Online Cycling Gear, he was pleasantly surprised with the response. The site told him to keep it, discard it, or give it to a friend or charity – and it will send him the right size for an extra $10. “I was fine with that,” said the 77-year-old cycling enthusiast from Wellesley, Massachusetts. “I did a good thing for a friend, and I got a new shirt.” The experience, he says, has given him confidence to buy more online this holiday season. David Bassuk, global co-leader of AlixPartners’ retail practice, says stores are increasingly making it easier for shoppers to feel less guilty about returning items. “If they’re not sure of their size, they order both sizes,” he says. “If they’re not sure which color, they order both colors. And if they’re not sure which item, they order them all. But it’s costly to the retailers, and the retailers are not well-positioned to handle all the cost.” On average, people return 25% of items they buy online, compared with only 8% of what they buy in stores, according to Forrester Research’s online analyst Sucharita Mulpuru. For clothing, it’s even higher, about 30%. But not all rejected items are the same and have varying levels of depreciation, experts say. After an item is sent back to the retailer, the company must assess its condition and decide whether to resell it, send it to a liquidator or the landfill. Optoro, a return logistics company, estimates the value of fashion apparel depreciates by 20% to 50% over an eight-to-16-week period. That’s why it’s so critical to get rejected items back and on sale again quickly. Returns are also complicated this year because retailers pushed people to buy holiday gifts early to avoid shipping delays and crowded stores, meaning the return window may be closed by the time Christmas rolls around. Amazon is allowing customers to return items until Jan. 31 for items shipped between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, giving customers more time to decide. Last year, the policy didn’t include items shipped in October. Rachel Sakelaris, 25, of Newport Beach, California, bought her boyfriend a waterproof backpack on Black Friday, then realized there was a 30-day return policy. She decided to move up the gift exchange to last weekend so he had time to return if he didn’t like it. Buying too early can come with other hazards. Sarah Huffman, 40, of Chesapeake, Virginia, wanted to get a jump start on the holiday season and spent $600 on Amazon on gifts, including a $60 pair of pajamas and a $90 Xbox game for her five children, in May. But then her husband, a disabled veteran, quit his job because he felt his boss was too lax with COVD-19 safety protocols. Now, her family is struggling to put food on the table, and she can’t return some of the gifts she bought because the return window has lapsed. “I was trying to take away the stress of the pandemic by buying early,” she said. “I didn’t realize that basic life choices would find a new low.”
A Christmas miracle could be in store for one little boy in Southwest Florida. Eight-year-old Jakobe “Kobe” Washington is battling leukemia and chemo isn’t working. His life is now in the hands of someone who has the right bone marrow. WINK News first introduced you to Kobe last week as the family issued a plea to find a bone marrow donor to save the Charlotte County boy’s life. Kobe is Black, which makes the chances of finding the right donor even slimmer. African Americans seeking a bone marrow transplant have about a 23 percent chance of finding donors, compared to 41 percent for people who are Asian and Pacific Islander, 46 percent for Hispanic or Latino people and 77 percent for white people. Photo courtesy of family But a “swab” drive-up was held Thursday to hopefully find Kobe’s match – and save his life. His family was ecstatic with the turnout; more than 400 people signed up online for the drive, and the people running it said they were expecting to swab more than 500 people. Sheriff’s deputies and others started lining up early at Charlotte County Sports Park to try and “Be the Match.” The drive was scheduled for 10 a.m. to noon, but cars were still pulling in as the drive’s end neared. While Kobe stayed home Thursday, his parents and extended family were at the drive – and the turnout, for them, was beyond belief. “This is amazing; like I prayed for this, but I couldn’t imagine it would be this many people that came out to support. Like the line is to the road at all times, it’s been like this since we started this morning,” said Imeria Price, Kobe’s mom. “Everybody that’s here for us, it really opens your eyes and lets you know that there is people out there, good people out there that’s here for you and that means a lot to us, you know, me and my family,” said Jordan Washington, Kobe’s dad. “What Kobe did by inviting his community to come out and register for his life is going to change how African-Americans see the registry,” said Debiann McIntosh, community engagement specialist with Be the Match, which matches patients with donors who can give lifesaving bone marrow. And while everyone who showed up Thursday was there for Kobe, they could end up helping other people if they can’t match with Kobe. So many people suffering, so many people need help, right? And the only way we’re gonna get things back right is lending our hand to each other,” said Gerald Anderson, who was among those getting swabbed at the event. Kobe and his parents are making the most of every day, praying that they’ll have their Christmas wish come true. “I believe in a miracle, I believe there’s miracles out there, and I believe that, you know, my son is going to be the living witness of a miracle,” Washington said. If you weren’t able to make it to the drive to be swabbed, you can also go to bethematch.org to register to potentially save Kobe’s life or the life of anyone who is looking for a match.
A 40-year-old woman struck by a vehicle on US-41 near Harper Road on Dec. 23 died a week later. According to a Florida Highway Patrol news release, the woman was taken to the hospital with serious injuries but later died on Dec. 30. FHP made the announcement on Friday. Troopers report a 38-year-old man, of Fort Myers, was traveling northbound on US-41 when the woman attempted to cross the US-41 travel lanes. The front left of the SUV collided with the woman. The crash investigation is ongoing. FHP does not name the people involved in traffic crashes, citing Marsy’s Law.
Saving our environment and construction don’t typically go hand in hand, but for architect David Corban, one of Gulfshore Life Magazine’s Men of the Year, it’s a perfect mix. “My father is a retired forest ranger, so… just having a real respect for the natural environment,” Corban said. His father’s mark is benefiting all of us through Corban’s approach to buildings. “Buildings are one of the largest users of fossil fuels in the world,” Corban said. That’s why Corban conceives every project to make it fit the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards. “It has to do with using recycled and rapidly renewable materials,” Corban said. “And then also energy conservation.” One of his current projects incorporates a window large enough to let natural light illuminate an office space while also using glass that keeps heat out and the air conditioning bill low. That outside feel has other benefits for the people inside. “Architecture can positively impact people’s lives by the way we design it,” Corban said. He’s known for projects like Celebration Park in Naples, but he also does a lot of building for non-profits like Grace Place, which took eight years. “I think it’s more fulfilling for us to do work that positively influences those that might not otherwise get to be in a nice building,” Corban said. Read the full Gulfshore Life story below: David Corban The Environmentalist Architect If you were to picture a nonprofit human-service organization’s building, you might conjure the image of a rather humdrum, budget-conscious complex. We wouldn’t fault you for that, but we’d point out that you certainly don’t know architect David Corban of Naples, who has created stunning spaces (fiscally responsible ones, of course) that honor nonprofit organizations’ missions, staffs and, critically, their clients. Take Grace Place for Children & Families in Golden Gate and its contemporary facade and airy classrooms. “A well-designed school makes students pay more attention, and it makes teachers enjoy their day more,” he says. Or the Shelter for Abused Women & Children’s new Shelly Stayer Shelter, where Corban eschewed institutional-feeling hallways for apartment “pods” that give women a greater sense of ownership and the warmth of home. His philosophy has nonprofits knocking at his door. Other clients include the Holocaust Museum & Cohen Education Center, Catholic Charities’ Judy Sullivan Family Resource Center and Friends of Fakahatchee, which contracted Corban to make their longtime dream for a new boardwalk and interpretation center come true. “I think architects can help with improving the social good,” Corban says. “I think we owe it to (nonprofits and their clients) to give them our best effort—to give them the best space we can provide.” He’s done plenty of commercial work, too, including the acclaimed Celebration Park, a waterfront bar and food truck venue, for which he received the coveted Honor Award of Excellence in the New Work category from the American Institute of Architects Florida chapter earlier this year. Regardless of project type, environmental consciousness pervades Corban’s work. Grace Place is the first LEED-certified campus in Collier County; the under-construction Lutgert Professional Center is being built to LEED standards as well. Corban’s own self-designed home on Halderman Creek is considered one of the county’s greenest and was listed among the “top 100 buildings built in Florida in the past 100 years” by the AIA. “Buildings are right up there with transportation and industry as the biggest burners of fossil fuels,” Corban says. “Architects have a huge responsibility to be part of the solution for climate change.” By Jennifer Reed, Gulfshore Life
Actor Tom Selleck left a $2,020 tip last month at a New York restaurant. Donnie Wahlberg, who plays Selleck’s son on the TV drama “Blue Bloods,” paid tribute to the act of kindness on Twitter. Wahlberg wrote, in part, “I found out that my TV dad #TomSelleck has generously accepted the #2020TipChallenge at Elios Upper East Side!” Wahlberg also shared a picture of the receipt with the tip amount – and a picture of the handwritten note Selleck wrote to the restaurant staff. Selleck wrote in the note that he was honoring Wahlberg’s tip challenge. I found out that my TV Dad #TomSelleck has generously accepted the #2020TipChallenge at Elios Upper East Side! Love ya dad. ❤️ I didn’t start it but I’m proud to be part of it. To those who gave even the smallest extra amount this year — THANK YOU.#spreadloveandlovewillspread pic.twitter.com/1NcEswVbsO — Donnie Wahlberg (@DonnieWahlberg) December 24, 2020
A North Port man was arrested after authorities said he tossed golf clubs into highway traffic and then slugged a trooper who pulled him over. The Florida Highway Patrol said they received a call Wednesday that a motorist was tossing golf clubs on I-75 near Tampa out of his van, which had a “cherry picker” boom and basket attached to the top, according to the Tampa Bay Times. The Florida Highway Patrol said they received a call Wednesday that a motorist was tossing golf clubs on I-75 near Tampa out of his van. (Credit: FHP) A trooper spotted the van about 25 miles away. The trooper pulled over the van and its driver, Jonathan Day, confronted the trooper with a golf club, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Day initially complied with the trooper’s order to put the club down but resisted as the trooper tried to take him into custody, striking the trooper with his fist and pulling at his uniform and radio, the Florida Highway Patrol said. Day was subdued with a stun gun. Day, 41, is facing charges of battery on an officer, resisting an officer with violence and depriving an officer of means of protection or communication. Online jail records showed Day was being held at the Hillsborough County Jail Thursday morning. Jail records listed him as unemployed. There was no online court docket for Day yet, so it wasn’t known if he had an attorney.
Many holiday traditions have gone out the window this year, but there’s a way to make your family dinner feel special without spending a lot. In a new WINK segment called “High Class, Low Cost,” designer Dwayne Bergmann shows you how to go all-out on your table settings without going all-out with your spending.
A Naples woman was arrested Wednesday night on multiple charges after a vehicle crash. The Florida Highway Patrol says Clarissa Danielle Bohanan, 32, was recklessly driving east on Lee Boulevard, drifting from side to side. A 30-year-old Naples man was in the passenger seat, and two young boys, ages 4 and 2, were in the back. An SUV driven by a 61-year-old Lehigh Acres man with a 61-year-old female passenger was traveling east in the outside lane of Lee Blvd., east of Alvin Avenue, when Bohanan ran into the back of their SUV. Bohanan was arrested on charges of driving under the influence, child neglect, possession of fentanyl and operating an unregistered motor vehicle. She is being held in the Lee County Jail on $18,500 bond.
The Florida Highway Patrol is searching for a driver that fled the scene of a crash in Buckingham Wednesday night. Troopers said they are looking for an unknown sport utility vehicle, possibly blue in color. The crash happened on Orange River Boulevard near River Grove Lane at around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, according to an FHP news release. According to the FHP, two vehicles were traveling east on Orange River Boulevard when one of them made an illegal u-turn in traffic causing the front left of the vehicle to collide with the front of vehicle two. The driver who made the illegal u-turn drove away from the crash. The second vehicle was driven by a 23-year-old woman from Fort Myers, according to the crash report. Three children, ranging from ages 2 to 17 years, sustained minor injuries. A 36-year-old passenger was not hurt. Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call the Anyone with information regarding the crash is asked to contact the Florida Highway Patrol at 239-344-1730 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-8477 or online through this form.