Immokalee kids have a ball with ‘Big Buddies’ on Marco Island beach
More than 100 second‑graders from Immokalee’s Guadalupe Center traded their classrooms for sand and seashells during the nonprofit’s annual Buddy Day. The long-running tradition pairs students with adult mentors for a day of outdoor learning at Marco Island’s Hideaway Beach Club. For more than 25 years, the event has...
Naples Fine Art Show at Coastland Center March 14 & 15
Art lovers are invited to experience two days of exceptional original artwork at the Naples Fine Art Show by Hot Works, taking place March 14 and 15 at Coastland Center Mall off Golden Gate Boulevard. This high-quality, juried fine art and fine craft show will feature professional artists from across...
National fire closes I-75/US41 link as firefighters contain blaze
Motorists will find State Road 29 closed as Florida Forestry Services battle a continuing brush fire in Big Cypress National Preserve on Saturday, Feb. 28. Florida Highway Patrol State Troopers will close the north-south road from Interstate 75 to U.S. 41 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., they announced late Friday. Only...
Millions raised at SWFL Food, Wine Fest live auction in Lee County
The 2026 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest raised a whopping $3 million. It kicked off Feb. 27 and culminated with a Grand Tasting event Feb. 28 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs. Southwest Florida Children’s Charities, Inc.'s “Your Passport Awaits: Destination Hope” was the...
Texas Woman Gets Five Years After $2.7 Million Florida Identity Heist
A 43-year-old Texas woman is headed to federal prison for more than five years after pulling off a multi-million dollar identity theft scheme in Southwest Florida. Kristin Cara Kunstler of Amarillo was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Kyle C. Dudek to 61 months in prison after pleading guilty last October to theft of...
Sanibel Planning Commission Considers Boat Lift on Anchor Drive
At its February 24, 2026, meeting, the Sanibel Planning Commission considered an application for a variance to install a boat lift at 661 Anchor Drive that would extend into a man-made canal by more than 33 percent of the canal’s width (the request is for 36 percent). This would result in a navigable channel that is...
National Fire grows to more than 35,000 acres; now 27% contained
COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — The National Fire burning in Big Cypress National Preserve in eastern Collier County has grown to 35,034 acres and is 27% contained, according to fire officials. The wildfire started Feb. 22 about 25 miles east of Naples, south of Interstate 75 and east of State...
Naples Pier Demolition/Rebuild Project
The Naples Pier is an iconic landmark in Naples originally built in 1888. Since then, the pier has been rebuilt after hurricanes in 1910, 1926, 1944, and 1960. In 2015 the pier was reconstructed, and soon after in 2017, Hurricane Irma damaged the structure. Since then, the City of Naples has been working to extend...
New Bike Rental Shop Approved In Island Center
A company called Unlimited Biking, which has 19 shops worldwide, applied for a conditional use permit to allow bicycle rentals and a formula retail store to operate at the Islander Center, 2407 Periwinkle Way (across from Sanibel Captiva Community Bank). (Commissioner Kate Sergeant was allowed to participate in the...
Florida measles cases surge, ranking third nationwide
ORLANDO, Fla. - Florida is reporting a sharp rise in measles cases, placing it among the states with the highest totals so far this year. Health officials say most infections are concentrated in one county, with a large share affecting young adults. What we know:. According to the Florida Department...
