A Florida man came home to find a reptile guarding his front door in Fort Myers.
The WINK News team was on edge when speaking to Siara and Evan Grant about the alligator they saw Thursday night. For good reason, shortly after leaving their house, the alligator was roaming about again.
Evan and Siara also shared videos with WINK News, seemingly the same alligator casually by their front door, as if he was an expected guest.
“We have a little dog. That was my biggest concern. I was like, babe! Don’t let the dog out. Stay in the house,” said Evan.
“We called all of our neighbors because, at that time, everyone was coming home from work; we were walking out; we didn’t expect to see a massive alligator. It was really exciting,” said Siara.
Siara said she loved every moment of seeing the alligator, notwithstanding her husband’s lack of infatuation with seeing an apex predator up close.
FWC asks you to call 866-392-4286, its nuisance alligator hotline if you have a similar issue. They will send an alligator trapper to the area to try to capture the reptile.
Click here to learn more about nuisance alligators from the FWC.
Southwest Florida locals can help protect shorebirds thanks to a new and innovative method.
The birds typically nest on the beach, although beaches in Southwest Florida are constantly busy.
CREDIT: FWC
The method’s idea is to provide shorebirds with the space necessary to thrive. As shorelines get busier, different species of birds are more commonly using gravel rooftops to nest, raise their chicks, and avoid threats.
Shorebirds are on Florida’s threatened list, and FWC recommends keeping at least 300 feet from nesting birds because getting too close to the birds can lead them to abandon the breeding site.
That means the defenseless eggs lay exposed to the elements and predators in the nest.
FWC says close to half of Florida’s shorebird population depends on rooftops for nesting.
CREDIT: FWC
Contact FWC if you see a shorebird that has taken a liking to your roof.
“In all of Flordia, there are nearly 3,630 rooftop sites that have been reported from 2011 to 2022, so that’s quite a lot of sites and rooftops are being fazed out,” said Cameron Pressey, a rooftop nesting biologist for FWC.
The Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission has been discovering more rooftop spaces each year. Officials hope the threatened species’ population continues growing so they can eventually be removed from the list.
Click here to learn more about shorebirds and how you can help.
The streets of downtown Fort Myers are coming alive for a one-night-only concert during the music walk festivities.
The music walk showcases musicians of all talent levels and a variety of styles.
But that means more cars, congestion and road closures on top of the ongoing ones people are navigating around.
People taking part in the event are saying go and enjoy yourself, but you better also plan ahead to miss the traffic.
With lane closures on the US-41 Caloosahatchee Bridge and even road closures because of the event, you may want to add some more time to get to the event.
Expect traffic in the downtown area, because not only is it music walk in downtown, over a dozen restaurants, bars, arts and shops are showcasing live music by local and regional artists.
It’s the first time locals are seeing how traffic during an event impacts lane closures on the US-41 Caloosahatchee Bridge.
On any regular day since lane closures along the bridge have begun, drivers may move a little slower or see delays. However, during rush hour on Friday, along with a downtown Fort Myers event, some are saying to find different options to get to your destination.
“It’s a great reason to park and walk. There’s a lot of people down here who probably are gonna get drunk. And it’s a great way to drink some water and sober up and walk to your car. Or get over and walk there,” said Gari Hopkins, a man visiting downtown Fort Myers.
The music walk ends at 10 p.m. on Friday, and if you want to attend in the future, it’s the third Friday of every month.
A ballerina moves to Ft. Myers and works at a local gas station to provide funds for her family back home in Venezuela. All in the hopes of becoming a professional ballerina in the States.
CREDIT: ROSIMARY CARDENAS
20-year-old Ballerina Rosimary Cardeas started dancing at the age of seven in Barquisimeto, Venezuela.
Cardeas says since she was born, the Venezuelan political power has put a strain on her dance career and family. Her first job was as a ballet teacher, with her paycheck going straight to her family for food.
CREDIT: ROSIMARY CARDEASCREDIT: ROSIMARY CARDEAS
“The situation of the government in Venezuela is really bad,” said Cardenas, “So I couldn’t have the opportunity to Dance there anymore.”
At the age of 15, Cardeas left her family and continued to dance in Peru for two years. Soon, an opportunity to move to the United States surfaced, staying with family in Ft. Myers.
“That was hard because we were so close,” said Cardenas. “I found I had family here and lived with them because I needed someone to give me love in my family.”
Once moved into Ft. Myers, Cardeas was able to find work at the Marathon Gas Station, just off of Cypress Lake. She’s a student at Gulfshore Ballet ,Southwest Florida’s premier not-for-profit school of Classical Ballet.
CREDIT: WINK NEWS
“I work there from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm,” said Cardenas. “Then after that, I have to come to my practice and 4 hours here in class.”
Cardeas said working those long hours are worth it, especially with her brother in medical school to become a doctor for her home country.
“I think that’s a big motivation for me, to know that they are good there. They are healthy.”
Gulfshore Ballet will be holding one of their biggest performances of the year, Sleeping Beauty.
To purchase tickets for the Saturday, April 20, Sleeping Beauty Performance, click here.
A Bonita Springs marketing company is embarking on a heartfelt ‘jewelry drive’ for Mother’s Day on May 12.
You can’t go wrong gifting your mom, or someone you consider as your mother, some new jewelry. That’s why TLC Marketing and Creative Services in Bonita Springs is helping elementary students give their moms the perfect gift, one piece of jewelry at a time.
“For Mother’s Day, we decided to do the jewelry drive on Monday and people coming in and out in with jewelry. It’s been very nice and I couldn’t ask for more,” said Trish Leonard, the owner of TLC Marketing and Creative Services.
Over 100 pieces of jewelry, including earrings, bracelets, necklaces, and more. The pieces of jewelry will soon go toward a greater cause called the heartfelt gesture.
“Is just simply to give from the heart. It’s not a financial giving, it’s more of the heart of what you can give from what’s around your house or in your jewelry boxes,” said Leonard.
The organization is partnering with Bonita Springs Elementary School to help students make their moms feel extra special for Mother’s Day in May.
“Some of the children at Bonita Springs Elementary come from low-income families,” said Leonard. It’s just heartwarming when you can give something back. They’re so appreciative of what we do.”
What makes the project more remarkable is that the kids get to hand-select from a stack of jewelry their moms may like.
“They get to choose anything they want whether it be a bracelet or a ring or a necklace for their moms and then they get it wrapped. It’s just the smiles on their faces is awesome,” said Leonard.
It makes the experience even more enjoyable and personal.
“I believe that any small gesture they can make is huge and it may not be big to us. But it is to them,” said Leonard.
But TLC’s mission doesn’t stop there. In a heartwarming collaboration with Adams Food Group, the local McDonald’s franchise is extending a special treat for single dads: a chance to share Happy Meals with their families.
“We must remember many households may not be moms, but there are a lot of great dads who also take care of their children,” said Leonard. In addition, the local Bonita Springs Rotary Club heard about the program and is now collecting jewelry from its members.”
TLC Marketing and Creative Services is accepting jewelry donations until April 30th. Donations can be dropped off by the TLC located at 9148 Bonita Beach Road in Bonita Springs.
“We were informed that they have made a decision, the higher-ups, that all four stations in southwest Florida will be closing. We were like, ‘What?!'” said an anonymous employee.
The employee asked WINK News to remain anonymous, fearing that revealing their identity could affect their options.
“We were told our last day of employment would be July 23. But we will be… if we took these, they gave us four options. We will have to stay on until August 23. So we will be on call after July until August 23 for 30 days.” said the employee.
The letter given to the employee explains those four options.
The first option is to apply for a designated courier job within 50 miles of their current station.
“170 employees will be fighting for maybe 50 positions, and that goes by seniority. We don’t know if there’ll be full-time positions. We don’t know if there’ll be part time.” said the employee.
The job’s location could also pose problems.
“I live in Naples. I don’t know if I can take the hike to Fort Myers every morning.” said the employee.
The second option would be a voluntary transfer with relocation assistance.
“If you have a home and family and kids, you really can’t pick up and go to another state,” said the employee.
Which leaves employees with the last two options: A 90 day personal leave of absence or a severance.
And even that comes with a catch.
“You will not get that money until they’ve filled their designated courier positions first. So basically, you’re held hostage until they fill these positions.” said the employee.
WINK News reached out to FedEx, asking about what led to the decision. They provided us with a statement.
Read FedEx’s full statement below:
FedEx regularly evaluates its network and makes adjustments to align with the evolving needs of the business. Select FedEx facilities in Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, and Naples will close later this year and certain team members will be offered opportunities at other nearby FedEx locations. Each market is unique and operational decisions such as this are based on a number of factors, including volume fluctuations, customer demand, facility footprints, and more. Decisions of this nature are never made lightly, and are the result of much thought and consideration for the needs of our business. Affected team members are notified several months before any changes take place, and are receiving assistance with finding other employment opportunities within the company, including additional support options like relocation assistance or severance where applicable.
Microsoft has released a paper introducing the VASA-1, an AI program that can turn photos into videos.
All the program needs is your picture and a recording of your voice.
“If you’ve seen the AI videos that have been developed recently, I mean, it’s crazy. It’s almost as if you can’t tell what the real thing is,” said Greg, a software development major at Florida Gulf Coast University.
WINK News spoke with students about this technology, and they say they’re worried about the risks.
“I know that a lot of people, especially like around our age, would probably use that for bad purposes,” said Victoria, a political science major at FGCU, “Not just like cheating or whatever, but there’s a lot of people that would use it for things like, literally like, revenge porn.”
Technology is outpacing the law in many ways, and attorney Scot Goldberg says people will abuse this technology.
He also says, we as a society will learn where to draw a line in the sand.
“The idea of putting somebody’s head on a nude figure and then putting it into the internet, there’s going to be consequences for that. And is there a specific law about that? Well, there wasn’t a specific law for cyber bullying before, there wasn’t a simple, simple law. But these things they take place after something bad has happened.” said Goldberg.
And what if you made a video of OJ saying he did it and tried to submit it as evidence in a court of law?
Goldberg says evidence like that can already be scrutinized and looked at by experts so there are already protections for that.
What scares Goldberg is how people will use this against us personally.
“They use that to open up my iPhone? I mean, that’s the first thing, I think, or could they use that to get into my house?” said Goldberg, “Those are all security things that I think about is, ‘Can somebody use this to get to my family, or to my income.'”
Experts say this kind of technology could also be used by scammers.
Would your parents or grandparents know if wasn’t you in a video message asking for money?
Goldberg says now more than ever, you need to be careful about what you share online.
He says to check to make sure your accounts are set to private and be sure of the friends you add, or friend requests you accept.
March for Babies aims to help moms and their babies. It took place Saturday morning on the library lawn at FGCU.
March for Babies is the nonprofit’s largest national fundraiser yet. All the funds raised at Saturday’s event and all across the country will make a huge difference for them to improve maternal and infant health.
The event aims to help future moms across the country have a safe and healthy pregnancy, one step at a time.
A park with a rich history for residents, one they don’t want to lose to a city’s plans for commercialization.
Jaycee Park is something Cape Coral residents have been fighting the city to keep for months.
But will they come out on top and save their beloved park?
Whether to keep Jaycee Park or not is the months-long debate that almost every resident in Cape Coral can agree on.
“I love Jaycee Park,” said Kathleen Lopez,” a Cape Coral resident. “We bought here because of this park. I walk this park every morning.”
“I love the wildlife,” said Heather O’Connell, a Cape Coral resident. “It’s so beautiful, I just love it here.”
But because of the City of Cape Coral, their park might change forever.
“There’s plenty of places to go and go out to have a drink and a good time,” said Clare Dooley, president of the Cape Coral Preservation Political Action Committee (PACC). “This is the only place where you can come enjoy nature, enjoy the shade along the river. I mean, it’s unique in Cape Coral and to destroy it would be very shortsighted.”
Jaycee Park is a relaxing spot for many, a place people go to enjoy nature and the wildlife here in Cape Coral, but the city has plans to turn it into the opposite. So residents have taken matters into their own hands, passing petitions out and showing up to every single city council meeting to speak their minds about the issue, and they’ve been ignored time and time again, so now, they’re making sure their voices are heard.
Loud and proud.
“We now have a group of energized volunteers, some of whom have been engaged in the political process a few times. We’re not going away,” Dooley said.
From petitions to actively campaigning against their city leaders, all with the hopes of saving Jaycee Park.
“We’ve done the best we can here in Cape Coral, and we’re going to keep fighting for our parks because you need to remember. They’re after our park today, and they’ll be after your park tomorrow,” Lopez said.
We’ve reached out to the City of Cape Coral, the mayor and its council members on the matter Saturday morning.
Now, you can help support the families of the victims. The fundraiser is on Sunday at the corner of 5th Ave and Lemon St. at the Saint James City Civic Center from 12:30 to 4 p.m.
The Sanibel renourishment project will continue on Monday, as crews are set to close the parking lot to Lighthouse Beach.
The City of Sanibel released a statement on Saturday announcing the identified areas near the Sanibel Lighthouse that will receive additional sand in response to erosion from weather events.
The city had purchased nearly 400,000 tons of sand to renourish Lighthouse Beach, costing roughly $14 million as a preventative measure of potential weather risks.
The parking lot will be closed so crews can transport sand to buffer the areas afflicted by previous storms.
According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, an influx of car burglaries has been reported at Cypress Cay in Gateway.
People on social media have reported smashed car windows and stolen items.
Deputies urge residents to lock their vehicles to minimize the risk of break-ins.
LCSO stated that no arrests have been made in connection to the break-ins; however, deputies have been investigating at least two burglaries within the area.
The burglars’ identities remain unknown.
If you have any information on these burglaries, contact Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-8744. You can also submit tips online or on the P3 Tips mobile app. Remember, you can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward.
Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter will hold a news conference to provide an update on the FEMA flood insurance program.
Gunther will also discuss any updates regarding the community rating system and hold a press question and answer.
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the CRS is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management practices that exceed the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program.
FEMA states that through the CRS program, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community’s efforts that address the three goals of the program:
Reduce and avoid flood damage to insurable property
Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the National Flood Insurance Program
Foster comprehensive floodplain management
The ongoing clash between Lee County and FEMA stems from the government’s decision to rescind the 25% discount from residents’ flood insurance policies.
FEMA stated in December of 2023 that documentation of 238 properties out of 100,000 Cape Coral properties needed to be reviewed to see if substantial damages had occurred from Hurricane Ian.
One hundred eighty-four properties had resolved the aforementioned issues; however, 54 properties are under evaluation to determine whether violations occurred.
The news conference is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. on Monday at the mayor’s office.
Check back in later to watch the entire press conference live.
Note: The conference may not begin at the exact time slated.
According to Crime Stoppers, a man was caught on camera walking the perimeter of a home in the 1900 block of Oakley Avenue on April 8.
On his first trip, he attempted to open the backyard shed but left.
Three days later, on April 11, he returned, entered the home and removed a 65-inch Samsung television from the residence.
If you have any information on who this man is, contact SWFL Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-8744. You can also submit tips online or on the P3 Tips mobile app. Remember, you can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward.
The Florida Highway Patrol has arrested a man for allegedly driving under the influence and crashing into a restaurant in Matlacha, killing one person and injuring four others.
According to FHP, Curtis was driving a 1992 Nissan eastbound on Pine Island Road, where he veered off the road and collided with five people, a parked/unoccupied motorcycle, and a pickup truck traveling in the opposite direction.
Mary-Lou Sharp, 80, was killed after the vehicle barreled through the outdoor seating area of the restaurant.
“The community is definitely missing them,” said Matlacha Resident Lynette Schwab.
WINK News spoke with Mary Lou’s son, who stated In their last conversation, she joked that she wanted to live past 100 so she could remain a thorn in the sides of the people she loved.
According to his arrest report, during his toxicology test, it was determined Curtis’s blood alcohol concentration to be .137%.
The same maple syrup, breakfast menu and even some of the same servers and vintage lighthouse pictures are returning at 7 a.m. April 25 on Sanibel Island. But the resurrected Lighthouse Cafe, in business since 1968, will have one major change: a new location.
The Lighthouse Cafe, shut down since Hurricane Ian flooded it Sept. 28, 2022, is reopening almost 19 months later. It will about double in size when it opens at 1020 Periwinkle Way, just east of the entrance to the island from the Sanibel Causeway and a mile east of the previous location.
“I’m so ready to let it rip and get going,” Lighthouse Cafe owner Dan Billheimer said. “This place, it’s just amazing.”
It’s well documented that Lee County is struggling to hire teachers, but the school district hopes to change that.
The district is allowing student teachers to stay in the classroom for longer with the hope of adding them to their team when they graduate.
They are also getting a chance to see which grade and subjects are the best fit for them and, overall, their desire to become a teacher.
The Flyers Program allows students from Florida Gulf Coast University to be in a classroom with actual students so they can get real-life experience, and we got to see that on Monday.
It’s not rare to see someone juggling being a full-time college student, having an unpaid internship and a part-time job.
However, Rachael Peitz said she is grateful to have a paid internship through FGCU’s Flyers Program.
“I don’t have to worry about the finances, I can focus on writing my lessons in the afternoons after school and not having to work another job, so I feel like I’ve really been able to give myself, you know, give the kids a better version of myself, just being able to focus solely on school in my internship,” said Peitz.
WINK News got the chance to see her day as a student-teacher at Bayshore Elementary in North Fort Myers.
“I spend the mornings with my regular student teaching practices where I do all my lessons. I also have a third-grade intervention group that I work with to do extra phonics practice with them,” said Peitz. “Then, in the afternoons, I transition to a kindergarten classroom, where I just supervise for an hour, and then a first-grade classroom as well.”
FGCU said they created the program partly to help with the teacher shortage issue locally and nationwide.
“Our most important mission is to get high-quality teachers into our local schools,” said Peitz.
Peitz is a clear example of how well the program is working.
“I have interviews set up this week. Working to figure out my specific school and where I’m going to be,” said Peitz.
Bayshore Elementary’s principal told WINK News that 14 FGCU students who are part of the Flyers Program are working part-time.
At the elementary school, 11 of them have jobs lined up by the end of the semester.
It was out with the old and in with the new for the Ida Baker‘s Firefighter Academy, thanks to Bonita Springs Fire Control and Rescue District.
“We had this engine, and they were in need of it for their firefighter students, so we felt that it was nice to give it to them,” said Bonita Springs Fire Control and Rescue District Fire Chief Greg DeWitt.
With the shortage of firefighters across the state, this donation is the first step in the right direction to get more teens hands-on training.
“Hopefully, they will remember that and stay local here and become firefighters,” said DeWitt. “You know, when they graduate next year as seniors, they will all be halfway through being firefighters.”
This is the first school in Lee County to have an engine gifted, and students are excited for this opportunity to get to work.
“We will be able to look at every single trick and toy on it and every single inch of this thing and have plenty of time to do that with this academy,” said Chase Barnill, a participant in the fire program.
This up-close look will give each student a head start to their future career.
“We will have more experience than any other person before getting into the real academy,” said Barnill. “We will be able to do so much stuff with this thing.”
The program will save each student about a month and a half of secondary schooling and $1,500.
“We get fire 1, and then once we get into the next academy, we will get our fire 2, so we get a huge jump start from any other person that wants to be a firefighter,” said Barnill.
Not having to rely on simulation training or traveling all over Fort Myers, they have resources at their front door, excited for the fututre.
An off-duty deputy was in the back of a squad car, being driven toward the jail after getting pulled over for speeding and failing field sobriety tests. New documents uncovered by WINK raise more questions as to why he never made it to jail and got a ride home instead.
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno sat down exclusively with Investigative Reporter Peter Fleischer to provide answers and lift back the curtain to explain how the Sheriff’s Office made decisions during that incident.
An LCSO report shows the intersection of Lee Boulevard and Sunshine Boulevard is the location where off-duty deputy Michael Soto was pulled over back on the morning of August 20, 2023.
The speed limit is 45 miles per hour, but GPS information from Deputy Christopher Link, who pulled Soto over, showed Link had to drive 118 miles per hour at 3:22 a.m. to make the stop.
Sheriff Marceno reviewed the information with Fleischer and explained that Soto didn’t get a ticket because he was suffering a medical episode while driving home that night.
“Do you want to write someone a ticket that’s having a medical event,” Marceno asked. “Probably not.”
Marceno also noted that despite Link’s speed in making the stop, Soto was not driving that fast.
“I know he (Link) traveled a high rate of speed, but when a vehicle passes you,” Marceno explained, “It takes a really high rate of speed to catch up to that vehicle.”
An alcohol influence report from that night shows Soto “did a poor job” with field sobriety tests and refused to give a blood, breath, or urine sample. Paperwork claimed he lost balance while listening to instructions, stepped off a straight line, and performed an incorrect turn.
Those actions landed him in the back of Deputy Link’s cruiser.
Returned to scene
Fleischer requested GPS logs from every LCSO car involved with Soto’s incident. The data and designations show that he was transporting Soto. Starting at 3:46 a.m., Link began driving Soto west down Lee Boulevard toward the county jail.
At 4 a.m., logs show Link received a phone call. He then promptly turned back around, going the other way on Lee Boulevard, returning Soto to the scene.”
GPS information from LCSO shows the patrol car’s route that morning
LCSO Commander James Bogliole, in charge of that morning’s shift, determined Soto was having a medical incident.
“He does a personal assessment and he determines that there’s a medical issue,” Marceno explained, walking through Bogliole’s logic. “I wasn’t there. He makes that call. I stand by that call.”
Deputy provides details
After consent from Soto, LCSO provided more information to help explain his issues. In a written statement, Marceno said that “around the time of the incident, a neurologist diagnosed Soto with anxiety, hypertension, sleep apnea and migraines.”
He also provided a list of eight medications for treatment.
“If you have ailments, it impedes your ability to do field sobriety tests.”
LCSO did not provide any official medical paperwork, or a doctor’s note, citing HIPAA privacy. But Marceno insisted Soto’s ailments and the meds he was taking for treatment explain how he behaved during the stop.
“When there’s a medical event, it depends on the severity, people can do things in a different state of mind,” Marceno reasoned.
Why was he taken home?
Soto was later driven home by Bogliole, not taken to a hospital or medical center. Marceno acknowledged how the outcome might look from the outside looking in, but explained that Soto and his family made the decision to seek care at home that morning.
“A decision was made, one by Soto, and two by the watch commander,” Marceno explained. “The watch commander drove him home. Soto, as an adult, says I don’t want to go to the hospital. I want to go home to my family where I can be treated.”
LCSO also confirmed to WINK that Soto was not internally disciplined following this incident, but was reassigned to court duty, where he is still stationed now. Sheriff Marceno said they wanted to take Soto off the roads to avoid incidents like this in the future.
The following is Marceno’s entire statement to WINK, explaining Soto’s medical episode on the morning of August 20:
On August 23, 2023, I provided an update to all media outlets explaining the incident appeared to be medically related, and that my on-duty Watch Commander, with over 30 years of law enforcement experience, handled the matter appropriately.
Subsequently, Deputy Soto permitted the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to release specific medical information, directly related to his relevant medical conditions and medications. Deputy Soto, around the time of the incident, was diagnosed by his neurologist as suffering from anxiety, hypertension, sleep apnea, and migraines. Treatment includes these medications:
Sumatriptan
Nurtec ODT
Bupropion
Olmesartan
Lorazepam
Adderall
Fluoxetine
Fenofibrate
Each of Deputy Soto’s ailments presents its respective symptoms. In addition, each medication prescribed to treat these illnesses has numerous potential side effects, far too many to list here. These symptoms and side effects impacted his actions and appearance.
Deputy Soto continues his medical treatments and his medications are adjusted by his physicians to best address his medical conditions. He has been assigned to a day shift position to facilitate medical treatment and speed up his full recovery.
No person, including law enforcement officers, are above the law.
After reviewing this matter, the on-duty Watch Commander’s determination at the scene that Deputy Soto was suffering from a medical event is confirmed.
Fleischer reached out to Link, Soto, and Bagliole through the Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Marceno addressed the situation on their behalf.
Having access to healthcare records at your fingertips was widely available but out of reach for Hispanics in Southwest Florida.
“MyChart, the platform, will be easier to navigate for those of Spanish-speaking descent,” said Yahaira Vega De Rozas, Practice Supervisor LPG Pulmonology Cape Coral Hospital.
“It will create a better relationship between the physician and their providers with their patient care,” said Vega De Rozas, “and especially for understanding and knowing exactly what it is that their next steps will be in their care.”
The portal allows patients to see results, create appointments, request prescription refills, make payments and communicate with doctors.
It will allow access to important information that wasn’t previously available to non-English speakers.
“A lot of them are having challenges now,” said Vega De Rozas. “They don’t understand what’s being said or what’s next or they have to give it to a family member to outsource it and make sure that, you know, what it is that they’re doing is correct, so now it’ll just be so much simpler for them to navigate.”
It’s the start of many other MyChart expansions.
“This is going to be a great initiation for future languages to come on board,” said Vega De Rozas, “Obviously, it creates communications between the care teams, and it’ll create a much better patient.”
Forty percent of Americans suffer from gastrointestinal diseases, such as nausea, fecal incontinence, and IBS.
Lateara White knows the feeling. She spent a whole year throwing up every single night.
“I would vomit at least five times out the week, at night,” said White, “I would always get it at night.”
That’s when she turned to a new breath and motility center at Mercy Medical Center.
In this digestive clinic, patients breathe into a bag, and their breath gasses are then tested for food intolerance and malabsorption, which analyzes how food moves through the digestive system.
“People with motility problems, like gastroparesis, where the stomach is not doing that process efficiently, the food will actually sit in the stomach for hours or even days at a time,” said White.
But White was diagnosed with gastroparesis, leaving her feeling like she’d just eaten when she hadn’t.
“Even though I’m hungry, I still felt full. I couldn’t eat a whole meal,” said White.
Finally, the breath’s concentration of hydrogen and methane gas provides insight into any common sugar intolerance.
“I have a dietician that works directly with me, and a lot of times, the first step is to have somebody objectively look at your diet and identify potential trouble spots,” said White.
White did that and finally found the relief she’d been searching for for more than a year.
If you have unexplained chronic gastrointestinal symptoms such as constipation, nausea, diarrhea, and heartburn, it may be time to consider a motility disorder.
Every law enforcement group in Southwest Florida told WINK News they are aware of the FBI’s warning and that various precautions are in place throughout the area.
A festive meal of Passover honoring the history and the redemption of the Jewish people.
“We were slaves in Egypt, and God took us out from oppression from slavery to bring us to Israel, the promised land,” said Rabbi Nicole Luna from Temple Beth El.
Rabbi Nicole Luna told WINK News in a time of heightened antisemitism, a time of war, there is a deeper meaning to the holiday.
During Monday’s celebration of freedom, the liberation of the Jewish people, a chair draped in a flag will sit empty, representing hostages in Israel.
“We are very much aware that there are people from Israel who are currently in captivity, and that is hard to celebrate a holiday of freedom when we know that we have brothers and sisters who are still in bondage and who are still under terrorist control,” said Rabbi Luna.
Her heart thinks of Israel while the FBI warns of domestic threats during Passover.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office has an observation tower parked outside the temple and said they are in constant communication with the Rabbis.
“I didn’t believe it would happen here,” said Rabbi Yossi Labkowski from Chabad Jewish Center of Cape Coral.
Rabbi Labkowski is still in shock from attacks on the Chabad Jewish Center of Cape Coral. Marks on the door to the center are from bricks a man threw back in March 2023.
“Every generation, there are people that want to destroy us. And God saves us from their from their hands,” said Rabbi Labkowski.
Those words are read every Passover from the Haggadah. Cape Coral police are keeping a close eye on the center.
Rabbi Labkowski told WINK News threats won’t overshadow the holiday.
“We just encourage our brothers and sisters to take the time tonight and sit down with your family and enjoy the Seder. Eat the matzah and drink the four cups of wine,” said Rabbi Labkowski.
Temple Beth El told WINK News they have fortunately not experienced any threats or attacks.
Councilman Johnny Streets is taking his vision for the City of Fort Myers to new heights.
He’s asking the council to consider building an observation wheel downtown similar to the ones seen in places like Miami or Myrtle Beach.
“It’s something different,” said Streets.
He sees it as a way to bring more families to the area.
“It’s about communities,” added Streets. “It’s about family gathering; it’s about doing something for our youth other than just a restaurant and maybe a drink or something, then going home.”
Streets said the wheel could also help put Fort Myers on the map, drawing in tourists who might usually be flocking to the beach.
The council discussed two different companies to build the wheel, one American and one Dutch.
The council also discussed a city-owned wheel versus one privately owned and operated, with the city serving as its landlord.
Council members expressed concern about how many people would actually use it.
“We’re expecting more of a downturn now that the islands are coming back up and the beaches are more popular than they’re going to be in the next few years,” said Streets, “so we really have to run our numbers.”
But overall, the reaction was cautiously optimistic, and people we spoke with downtown were thrilled over the idea.
“I love that. That would be super fun,” said Abbie Paull. “I mean, anything that they can add here for families and kids would be great.”
Two people are dead following a deadly motorcycle crash that occurred late Monday night south of U.S. 41 in Fort Myers.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, at around 8:55 p.m., a 25-year-old man from Cape Coral was driving a motorcycle south on U.S. 41, south of Gladiolus Drive, on the inside lane.
The driver then lost control of the vehicle causing it to overturn onto its side.
Troopers then stated that the man and his 42-year-old female passenger were ejected from the motorcycle.
FHP reported that the man had died on the scene.
The passenger sustained critical injuries and was transported to an area hospital, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
The crash remains under investigation at this time.
Troopers are investigating a crash on Bell Boulevard South that temporarily closed traffic in both directions, creating heavy traffic delays in Lehigh Acres.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash was reported at around 5 a.m. on Tuesday and shut down the road between Colyer Street East and just north of Brazos Street East.
The man accused of driving drunk and plowing into people at a Matlacha restaurant made his first appearance in court.
The judge set 24-year-old Cody Curtis’ bond at $252,000 on Tuesday.
The hearing between the state and the defense was discrepant. They differed in the charges and counts Curtis faces.
Curtis sat silently as the state and defense discussed his exact charges.
To keep things moving, the judge decided to set Cutis’s bond. His blood alcohol concentration was .137 when investigators say Curtis plowed into people sitting at That BBQ Place.
Eighty-year-old Mary Lou Sharp was killed while others were injured.
We also know Curtis had been drinking on Pine Island, which was where he was coming from when the crash happened.
If Curtis makes his bond, he must have an alcohol monitor bracelet.
The House of Turk and Turk focused on exclusivity and bringing awareness to different cultures around the world to create their new home collection.
CREDIT: WINK NEWS
Born in Istanbul, Turkey, Ilkay Turk developed a strong interest in the art and fashion world at a young age. It was when she met her husband, Rasit Turk, when they launched their company Turk & Turk in 2018.
They started the company right from their home in Fort Myers and are now becoming a luxury international exclusive brand for all to enjoy the “limited edition” feel.
CREDIT: WINK NEWS
The husband-and-wife duo are rolling up their “silk” sleeves this season introducing their new home collection line. Rebranding their company name “The House of Turk and Turk” to bring the comforts and yet colorful designs into a home.
“Our life is connected to our homes,” said Rasit Turk, “So it’s not just who we are, we are part of the house, so it has to be touched in that way too.”
CREDIT: WINK NEWS, “The Garden of Nile” Pattern
The couple custom-makes to the buyer’s desire, crafting anything from wearable items to any items around the house.
The luxury brand focuses on its colorful silk materials, to now expanding its traditional logos and pattern designs on dishware or pillows.
The couple launched their third home collection pattern, “The Garden of Nile,” after creating a design similar to their bestselling scarfs. The pattern reflects ancient Egypt culture, taking a trip down the Nile River to the Royal Gardens.
CREDIT: WINK NEWS
Ilkay Turk, from Istanbul, Turkey, is a former capital of the Roman and Byzantine empires, drawing the couple’s inspiration to have their patterns and design reflect on ancient cultures.
“When you look at the Turkish culture the plates” said Rasit Turk, “it’s built on top of other cultures.”
The Garden of Nile pattern took three solid weeks for Turk to draw and paint each subject before sending it off to a factory. Ilkay says with each pattern, they are able to create a large-small scale to fit the product. Plus, they created fine borders on each pattern to create clean lines for their clothes.
The House of Turk & Turk home collection so far features; pillows, table clothes made of silk sateen, and bone China plates. The brand is committed to well-crafted, limited-edition pieces, creating five to twenty sets at maximum.
Ilkay says pricing varies for home collection plates, depending on quantity and style. Plate sets starts at $250 and increase depending on quaintly of set.
On Saturday May 11th, The House of Turk and Turk will be celebrating their 3rd annual fashion and brunch.
Held at Hotel Escalante in downtown Naples, the proceeds will be benefitting women and children from the Pace Center for Girls.
Several rooms within the hotel will be decorated with different patterns from The House of Turk and Turk home collection. Those who attend the event will have the chance to shop these exclusive custom products.
CREDIT: WINK NEWSCREDIT: WINK NEWS
The pop-up shop opens at 10:00 am, brunch starts at 11:30 am and the fashion show will begin at noon.
For those who would like to purchase tickets, call this telephone number (239) 659-3466. Must RSVP by May 4th, seats are limited.
At a Tuesday briefing, the School District of Lee County proposed more than a dozen changes in order to deter inappropriate behavior.
Those include ways to handle corrective strategies, drug use and possession, simple battery, and student threats and intimidation.
School officials have acknowledged concern about these issues in the past, but gave positive feedback about harsher punishments for violating the code of conduct.
The laws are making it so that parents are held accountable for what kids are doing. Let’s start in the classroom.
Melisa Giovannelli, Lee County School Board – District 2
There’s also hope that the new code of conduct will get the attention of parents, and help bridge the gap between classroom and home life.
“I just am excited about this accountability piece. I think it’s going to be important for parents to be accountable and be a parent,” stated District 2 School Board member Melisa Giovannelli. “They’re going to have to step up when their children do something wrong.”
These proposed changes did not come lightly. Every principal in the District has been involved in monthly discussions to help curb negative trends.
The student services team and every board advisory team have also “had the opportunity to provide input.”
Parents weighed in as well. School Board members appreciated such a collaborative effort.
“I do want to compliment you all on the work that you’ve done, especially on all the outreach you’ve done,” added Cathleen Morgan, Lee County School Board member representing District 7. “The fact that you’ve talked to all of these groups, gathered their feedback, they will see in the code of conduct that it is responsive to concerns, responsive to suggestions made. I hope that will ameliorate some of the concerns.”
While the District seemed to have had a plan in the works, Tuesday’s meeting comes four weeks after they told WINK Investigator Peter Fleischer they were going to have a larger safety presentation.
On March 1, 2024, Fleischer reported on the results of a survey conducted by Lee Schools during the 2022-23 school year. Some students and teachers said they felt unsafe at school.
To elementary school students: “Do adults make us feel safe?”
To middle and high school students: “Do adults make decisions to keep us safe?”
To faculty members: “Do we think of everyone’s safety when making decisions?”
12% of elementary students, 29% of middle school students and 35% of high school students answered “no.”
12% of district employees also said “no.”
The survey was unveiled barely one month after the Florida Department of Education published SESIR data for the 2022-23 school year.
SESIR– School Environmental Safety Incident Reporting – tracks the most disruptive incidents that take place in Florida schools. Lee County saw more than a 7% increase in incidents from the previous year.
Sanibel Captiva Trust Co. finished navigating its aftermath of Hurricane Ian, moving into two new office buildings to better serve its clients.
The trust company, founded by Al Hanser 23 years ago, celebrated the opening of its new flagship office at 2450 Periwinkle Way on Sanibel Island. The company hired architect Joyce Owens to redesign what had been a vacant Bank of America building. The project essentially rebuilt the entire building, office president Jeff Muddell said, and it cost $3 million.
“We have clients now across the country and around the world,” Muddell said. “So, we do rely heavily on remote technology. But we’re also very hands-on.
The City of Fort Myers is holding an emergency meeting to see how and why the Richards Building ended up like this. The building is being painted with a fresh coat of white paint.
The city said the work was done despite a stop-work order.
That stop-work order was issued Friday, and even Mayor Kevin Anderson said the first time he realized it had been violated was when he saw a picture of the building on Facebook the next day.
Now, what happens next is left up to the Historic Preservation Commission, but city officials said they want to know why the stop-work order was ignored.
For some, this white paint being put over this 101-year-old building really boils down to history. For Councilman Liston Bochette, it actually boils down to protocol.
“I’m not familiar with a stop work order ever being violated. I know they go out from time to time, but they’re usually quite respectful, so my question is, was it negligence? Or was it malicious?” Bochette said.
He said that it’s an act of disrespect, but he wonders if it was intentional or not.
It’s a question city officials hope to answer through a series of meetings after a stop work order was put in on Friday, but ignored and still worked on the next day, even catching the city’s own mayor off guard until he saw our story on it.
The building is historic, so the Historic Preservation Commission will decide what happens next to the building, but city officials will have some say in what happens if it comes to light that the business owner violated their stop work order.
“I don’t necessarily like the thought of a historic building being altered to that extent, but if the HPC feels like it’s appropriate, then I have no problem with it,” Mayor Anderson said.
“They’ve been very lenient in the past, but this might be the straw that breaks their back and says that, from now forward, we’re applying the rules as the rules,” Bochette said.
What happens next is the owners will go before the HPC, and they’ll either approve the changes or not.
Then, they’ll make a recommendation to code enforcement. If they’re in violation, they will be fined. Mayor Anderson said it can be a fine per day.
Councilman Bochette said there’s a second part to this, and that’s if they are in violation, it could be considered punishable.
There is a lot to learn while the Lee County Sheriff’s Office educates the public on how they approach water safety.
The Lee County Marine Units taught WINK News the proper way to use a throwable life ring.
“We still see things we haven’t seen. So it’s always important to understand that you’re not always ready for anything. But do the best you can because we are one team, and everyone’s safety is our responsibility,” said Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno.
The Lee County Marine Unit covers 600 miles worth of water ways ranging from Bonita Springs to Boca Grande.
Roselyn Hoffman, a blind singer, has captured hearts with her inspiring story.
Growing up, Roselyn faced the trials of middle school and adolescence.
Born with Leber congenital amaurosis, a degenerative retinal condition, Roselyn has navigated life’s obstacles with grace and determination.
Roselyn found solace in music, bonding with her sisters over Disney music and church choir.
Music became a beacon of light, guiding her through the darkness of her visual impairment.
Despite challenges fitting in during middle school, Roselyn’s love for music remained steadfast, leading her to join the Gulfshore Opera alongside her two sisters.
Roselyn’s confidence has not only been shaped by her sisters who encourage her to reach for the stars, but it’s also been shaped by her experience at Lighthouse of SWFL.
Lighthouse of SWFL is a non-profit, which offers a wide range of services across Lee, Hendry and Glades Counties, supporting people of all ages. It provides crucial rehabilitation and support services to help people with visual impairments lead independent and fulfilling lives in society.
Roselyn teaches and works with kids there.
It’s also where she met her husband. Together, they have a child, who Roselyn sings lullabies to.
The same lullabies her aunt and mother sang to Roselyn.
Johanna Seybold lives alone in her apartment in Bonita Springs. It’s a nice apartment, but it’s not what she calls home.
Home is her place in South Fort Myers, where she was given a $1,800 Florida Power and Light bill.
“I do have electricity, but nobody’s living there,” Seybold said.
Seybold’s condo is currently unlivable and damaged from Hurricane Ian.
Although her walls and ceilings are gone, she’s been faithfully paying her FPL bill of $26.85 a month.
FPL told her they tried to read her meter remotely in October, but for some reason, they couldn’t.
There was an order to change meters, but it might take months.
“I wasn’t worried when I did not receive those monthly bills until I received this one,” said Seybold.
Earlier this month, Seybold received a bill for $1,802.06.
“I’m so stressed,” she said. “I’ve lost sleep. It’s very frustrating. I’ve borrowed money out of my savings account.”
Seybold has called FPL, and they told her she could pay the bill in full or in installments.
WINK News reached out to FPL for more information on Seybold’s bill.
While FPL couldn’t provide us with specific information on Seybold’s bill without her approval, a spokesperson said each customer situation is unique.
Some of the reasons for a higher bill could be a leaking water heater, a malfunctioning appliance or the meter has stopped communicating.
Customers are encouraged to call FPL, so their specific situations can be reviewed.
FPL also has a Community Action Team every Wednesday at the Fort Myers Beach library.
Customers who have questions about their bill, returning power to their property, or any other concerns are encouraged to attend the Wednesday meetings.
Being a teenager is tough. Being a teenager and one of the best junior golfers in the country is tougher so when it all gets to be too much, you can find Estero 16-year-old Gianna Clemente on the driving range.
“The golf course kind of becomes like a sanctuary where everything is just very peaceful,” Gianna Clemente said.
When she’s at peace she’s at her best, the young golfer has already achieved things most golfers only dream of.
Like qualifying for three straight LPGA Tour events and playing Augusta National twice.
“Stepping on the first tee at Augusta was like, it was like an out of body experience.”
As recently as last month Gianna was named a member of the inaugural U.S. National Junior Team, an 18-player roster made up of the country’s top junior players.
“I can’t say I ever thought I’d be at this level at 16.”
She’s honored that she is and honored to compete for her country on the national stage.
The travel, training, and online schooling can be overwhelming at times, but the golf great says she wouldn’t trade any of it.
“It is a whirlwind at times, but just the places that I’ve been able to go and the people that I’ve met, it overcomes any of the negative stuff.”
Gianna’s first training camp with the full national team is two weeks away. Their first friendly international match is this summer against Australia.
Crews were seen finally tearing down Legacy Harbor in downtown Fort Myers more than 18 months after Hurricane Ian hit Southwest Florida.
The area stood as an eye-sore in the aftermath of the powerful storm.
Demolition crews at Harbor City. CREDIT: WINK News
People are glad to see it torn down, which crews will be doing for the rest of the week.
Legacy Harbor is just days away from complete demolition in downtown Fort Myers, it’s a major step since Hurricane Ian impacted Southwest Florida. However, the city is turning its attention to other development projects like an affordable housing duplex for the future.
“Phase one is to get the hotel down and get it removed which is what we are doing right now. The fun part of the job that everyone likes to see the action of the demolition is happening as we speak. The team is doing a great job, and we are trying to get it down safely,” said David Mulicka, the owner of Honc Deconstruction.
It’s not the last project for Mulicka or his demolition crew. They are switching gears from a hotel to tearing down “Southward Village,” a spot that’s been vacant for months.
“Like other projects that the housing authority has done, here when they remove and replace it, everybody gets a newer, better, safer, more accommodating and more energy efficient home to live in,” said Mulicka.
“It will help that community grow in a positive way,” said Anderson.
Opening arms to all incomes.
“No longer will we just be housing low-income people in one neighborhood, but we will have a mix of incomes,” said Anderson.
The upgrade begs the question: Will it impact low-income families who are calling the area home? Not according to Andrson.
“Based on the area’s medium income, the rents can’t exceed the formula,” said Anderson.
Anderson said that the new renovations to the housing development should not affect the rent of the homes.
“This 30 million dollars is a part of much larger pot of money that will be spent that’s going to accomplish several different things,” said Anderson.
Anderson told WINK News it doesn’t stop there. The city continues to work on the former Franklin Park Elementary School, a new strip mall with a grocery store, bank, and a new police headquarters. It’s going to take years, but it is moving forward in phases.
“I don’t believe that you should just arbitrarily give yourself more money,” said Cape Coral resident Karen Ewing. “That’s just not really how it works.”
Now, people in Cape Coral will have a say as the council discusses a referendum for voters to decide if the mayor and council can establish salaries and compensation through an ordinance.
“It was always my belief that salary should go back in front of the people that elected us,” said Hayden.
Wednesday morning’s committee of the whole meeting will continue the referendum discussion that started at the last meeting and look at four options for deciding compensation.
The first lets the council decide each year how much they will be paid.
The second option would give the council and the mayor a set income, with the opportunity each year for a ten percent raise.
The third proposal would base the pay on the wages of those in similarly sized cities in Florida, adjusting the compensation to the 75th percentile of pay in those cities.
The final choice would be an amount based on population.
Each option would ultimately still increase the council’s pay, Something Karen Ewing says she isn’t pleased with.
“You’re just handing it right back to em,” said Ewing, “If you want more money, then go find something else to do.”
Wednesday’s committee meeting starts at 9 a.m.
Nothing will be voted on, but if the council isn’t able to agree on one proposal, it may not make it onto the ballot in time for voters to have a say this fall.
We all know it’s dangerous, yet everyone knows someone who uses dating apps.
The Privacy Journal released new data revealing Florida’s ranking in the top five states for the most dangerous online date.
You never know who’s on the other side of the screen, yet people are willing to throw caution to the wind for the chance of finding love.
We spoke with students at FGCU about how they stay safe as they swipe.
Anyone who’s had a bad date with a Tinder match knows that finding true love online can be tricky.
“I don’t know, it’s just uncomfortable,” said Livia Dideglie, a Florida Gulf Coast University student. “Dating is uncomfortable in the first place, meeting new people.”
Students reacted to our ranking.
“It doesn’t surprise me, honestly. I mean, Florida’s crazy,” said Alina Ejdys. “I’m from New Jersey, so it’s like a way different environment here for sure.”
“I wouldn’t do online dating in the first place,” said Courtney Maura. “This is scary to me.”
Florida’s the second-worst state in the country for identity theft and fraud and the seventh-worst for becoming a victim of romance scams, meaning those of us looking for love must be careful.
“I would say that anyone who joins a dating app, be safe, make sure that you don’t put your whole identity out there,” said Nile, FGCU student.
He recommends making a video call prior to meeting in order to ensure it’s a real person, arrange to meet in public, let a relative or friend know where you’re going, who you’re going with and what time you’ll be back.
And if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
Several law enforcement officers and fire crews responded to the scene where a car was found in the water at Trailhead Neighborhood Park in Fort Myers.
On Wednesday morning, crews responded to Veronica Shoemaker Boulevard to remove the car, which was found flipped over and in the water.
According to the Fort Myers Police Department, they believe the car was involved in a carjacking overnight from a home about two miles from the pond.
FMPD said the carjacking occurred off the 3400 block of Canal Street.
A witness, Andrea Beckman, said when she saw it, she just hoped no one was in the car.
“So, I just stuck around praying that there was nobody inside, and it probably took, I’d say, a little over an hour for them to pull the vehicle out, flip it over, and once I detected there was nobody on the inside I went on my way,” she said.
No injuries were reported during the incident, and FMPD currently does not have anyone in custody.
Stay tuned to WINKNews.com, WINK News App, streaming, and on-air for any new developments on this story.
According to Crime Stoppers, two people allegedly committed multiple burglaries that took place on Feb. 20.
After committing the burglaries, they used stolen credit cards to make purchases and withdrawals.
If you have any information on who the suspects are, contact Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-8744. You can also submit tips online or on the P3 Tips mobile app. Remember, you can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward.
Evangelical Christian School of Fort Myers made the deal official this week, purchasing the Hodges University campus for $28.6 million.
The property consisting of two buildings at 4501 Colonial Blvd. and 4445 Winkler Ave., at the northeast corner of Colonial and Winkler, will continue to serve as Hodges’ home through June.
By this fall, it should be the home of the ECS’ high school, according to a news release from LSI Companies. ECS headmaster John Hunte could not be reached for comment. The school announced the pending purchase on social media March 5, but the deal didn’t close until April 23, the brokers said.
LSI CEO Justin Thibaut and colleague Christi Pritchett brokered the property on behalf of UDP Gemini One LLC. Randy Krise of Krise Commercial Group represented the school, which has had its high school facilities at 8237 Beacon Blvd. since 1973. ECS, which has about 1,300 students, plans to continue using that campus for preschool through middle school and athletics. The two campuses are about 5.3 miles apart.
“We had multiple suitors for the property,” Thibaut said. “It was a competitive environment. And we had buyers of all types for this facility on the table. It wasn’t just for higher education. We had office users. We had folks talking about converting it for other uses. We had others who just liked the premium location of the site.”
The sale price exceeded the listing price of $26 million by $2.8 million. Despite a bidding war that raised the price, Krise called it a “super” deal for ECS, given the site’s proximity to Interstate 75.
“There was a little bit of a bidding war,” Krise said. “It’s the kind of asset that you had better have a use for. And they had a use and a need. There were other people trying to buy it. Still got a steal. That’s quality construction. It’s 110,000-plus square feet on 17 acres, on one of the better corners there. It’s basically across the street from what’s going to be a new hospital.”
In today’s environment of skyrocketing construction costs, building a replica of the current Hodges campus would probably be about double the sale price, Thibaut said.
“Let’s look at it this way,” Thibaut said. “It’s $28.6 million at 110,000 square feet. That’s $260 per square foot. To replicate today? It’s probably $400 per square foot, plus the land.”
That would be about $44 million in construction costs, plus the land price. Instead, ECS can pretty much turn the key and move inside, Thibaut said, at about half that price.
There are 43 classrooms on–site.
“The basics for a school are here,” Thibaut said. “Classrooms, a library, meeting space, a cafeteria. As far as what ECS needs to do, I’m not privy to that, but it’s a school, whether it be a high school or a higher educational facility. It was a huge opportunity for ECS.”
We’re hearing from the president of Mineral Stains, the manufacturer who provided the stain that now covers the historic 101-year-old Richards Building in downtown Fort Myers.
Matt Plechan said he found out about the stop work order the city issued on Friday after watching our story on WINK News.
“When I found out that this was not permitted properly, it was heartbreaking to me. I’m in the masonry preservation business, and we’re located in Jacksonville, so we’re not too far away. This was very discouraging news for me because I really wanted to kind of get a building like this on our portfolio where you could make a difference,” Plechan said. “There was no knowledge or consent on our part that this was not permitted, so we hate to be in this pickle or involved in this situation without finding out the way we did.”
Even though it will take harsh acids to remove, Plechan said the stain can be taken off without causing damage to the historic building.
“It’s simply a potassium silicate, which means it coats right into the surface, so it works like a piece of wood,” he said. “When it’s stained, it soaks into the brick and becomes part of the brick, therefore reducing any chips or peals or destruction to the masonry, so we use this up north for a lot of historical preservations, like the George Furbeck home, that was built by Frank Lloyd Wright, and Oak Park, for instance.”
Plenchan discovered that the stain from mineral stains was used for the unpermitted work but says it’s reversible.
“When I found out that this was not permitted properly, it was heartbreaking to me,” said Plechan. “It can be restored; it’s just the right protocol would have to be used not to denigrate the mortar on the break.”
Next, according to the HPC, at the following preservation meeting, the applicant will go before the board to provide all of their information and submit their application to get a certificate of approval.
The lawyer representing the applicant told WINK News he’s not available to speak until Friday.
In eight years with Florida Southwestern State College Eric Murphy has laid the foundation for one of junior college basketball’s strongest men’s programs.
His impressive resume has earned him a new role at the NCAA Division I level as an assistant coach at Western Kentucky University next season, but the success on the court isn’t what keeps him on the sidelines.
For Eric Murphy, performance on the floor only scratches the surface of what it means to be a coach.
“I just think that in our society right now, there’s not a lot of guidance for young men,” Murphy said. “One of the reasons why I even started coaching was to help guide young men to help them be successful.”
That’s what he’s done for almost a decade with the Bucs and what he’ll do when he joins the Hilltoppers as next season.
His first two years at FSW he was an assistant and he’s been at the helm for the last six.
“I love the passion that these guys have when they come in. They have something to work for. Everybody wants to get a Division I scholarship.”
Now it’s his turn to go back to DI and he’s earned it.
Just look at the statistics a 143-34 record, two NCJAA tournament appearances, 34 division one players produced and the first Buccaneer in the NBA.
But the stat lines aren’t keeping Murphy’s head in the game developing quality young men off the court is.
“That’s what coaching is all about: trying to help the next player or the next generation be better than what you were. If I can help them be the best that they can be, they’re going to be successful for me on the floor and they’re going to be successful for me off the floor.”
Murphy is proud of the men his players at FSW have become and he’ll use the same philosophy to guide young men at WKU.
Murphy’s personal goal is an opportunity to coach in the NCAA Tournament.
After 15 years of coaching he hasn’t gone dancing yet, but the Hilltoppers have been 24 times so he hopes he will help take them back again.
Council members discussed four options to decide to possibly eliminate the stipend.
The options included the following:
Let the Council decide each year how much they’ll be paid.
Granting a set income for the Council and the Mayor, with an opportunity each year for a 10% increase.
Base the pay off the wages of those in similarly sized cities in Florida, adjusting the compensation to the 75th percentile of pay in those cities.
Salary based on the population.
Council members are part-time employees. Cape Coral resident Larry Gillis said they should be paid like it.
“You should not be paid as full-time management like a city manager who gets paid a handsome salary,” Gillis said.
Gillis is one of a few neighbors who came to Wednesday’s committee meeting to remind council members that he’s still angry.
He is so upset, in fact, that he’s running for council. He hates that the current council voted late last year to give themselves stipends.
“I would recommend the first tangible action you might do is to go ahead and reverse the stipend as it is now,” he said.
At their April 10 workshop, council members floated the idea of getting rid of the stipends. Instead, they would put a referendum on the ballot that would change the way they get paid, but that idea died.
The deadline for getting it on the ballot is July 8. The majority decided that’s not enough time.
WINK News reporter Claire Galt asked Councilman Tom Hayden: “People probably saw that the stipends might go away, and now they’re seeing again that they’re not. Are you concerned that this will further widen the gap of trust?”
“I don’t know that it’ll widen the gap of trust. Obviously, people’s stipends are gonna remain controversial. That wasn’t going to change,” he said.
Despite the anger, frustration and rage they have seen for months, council members made it clear that the stipends are staying.
Councilmen Richard Carr and Dan Shepard are the only two who have said publicly they’re not taking the stipends.
Some people we talked to are excited about it. They feel like this new proposed design will keep up with the growth the city is seeing, while others we spoke with are not big fans. They are used to the simple design and don’t feel the need for a pool, parking structure, and another restaurant needs to be added.
CREDIT: City of Cape Coral
One of the proposed changes is adding a parking structure and adding more boat slips.
Right now, in total, there are 551.
The proposed change wants to make that number 904: 746 parking spots and 158 boat slips.
There are also plans to add another restaurant, a pool area and 2 story community center.
Based on the renderings, it seems like a modern design.
People at Wednesday’s meeting said they’re afraid what’s open now will be closed off during construction.
“What is the plan to keep the beach open while you do any type of building in the yacht club area? The beach cannot be closed. There’s no negotiation on that. The beach must be open. That situation there, the parking that has to be open. The restaurant has to be open. You gotta figure out some way,” said a neighbor at Wednesday’s meeting.
Now, all of this will take some time, probably years, to be fully completed and open.
This weekly Most Wanted Wednesday WINK News segment features fugitives from justice in Southwest Florida.
This is your chance to help the community with the tip that gets these people off the street. These suspects need to be found – and if you can help, you could earn a cash reward of up to $3,000.
Corey Brinson‘s wanted in Lee County on six bench warrants. Southwest Florida Crime Stoppers tells WINK the warrants are in a relation to a crime spree that Brinson was found guilty of committing, which involved stealing a car, crashing it 10 minutes later, getting into a scuffle with a 75 year old man and then stealing a second car. He is 6-feet tall and 200 pounds. And when deputies catch up with him, he’ll be held without bond.
Brian Donnelly is accused of violating Lee County probation. Investigators consider him a repeat offender. He has 13 priors on his record and has also spent time in prison. He was placed on state probation until January 2026, however earlier this month, he violated the terms. Look for him in central Fort Myers.
And, Jason Sandora is also wanted for violating probation. Records show he was on probation after being found guilty of battery. Sandora has 27 previous arrests for theft, contempt, resisting, battery, burglary and drugs. He too will be held without bond once arrested.
If you have seen them, contact SWFL Crime Stoppers at 1-800-780-TIPS (8477) or submit a tip online. You can remain anonymous.
