Wine, meatballs, cookies and a wicked good deli fill this week’s restaurant news
In this week's restaurant news ... Two Meatballs in the Kitchen Two Meatballs in the Kitchen is looking fantastic. While we could be talking about the Fort Myers or Cape Coral locations, we are actually referring to the coming-oh-so-soon North Naples spot. Owner Franco Russo is in the process of transforming The...
Odd tracks on the beach lead to sea turtle rescue
ENGLEWOOD, Fla. (WWSB) - A sea turtle that was found lost and exhausted in a construction site on Blind Pass Beach has made it safely back home. Lisa Gardner, the woman who found the stranded creature, says she thinks it weighed nearly 400 pounds. Gardner says she walks on the...
80-year-old Villager arrested in parking dispute at Publix
An 80-year-old Villager has been arrested in a parking dispute at a Publix grocery store. Henry Kok was arrested Thursday morning by Sumter County sheriff’s deputies at his home on Abaco Path in the Village of Sanibel. Kok was tracked down after the sheriff’s office posted a photo on...
Begin your crossword ERA with USA TODAY Play
If your morning starts with a litany of daily puzzles and word games, now is a great time to add USA TODAY Play's games to your roster. Less stressful than many other crossword puzzles on the market, the USA TODAY daily crossword is a quick, typically less than 10-minute brain break with clues ranging from the...
D.C. investor buys 216-unit Naples apartment community for $40.9M
A Naples apartment complex has sold and the new owner is planning to spend $7 million on improvements. The 216-unit community is the Oasis Naples at 2277 Arbour Walk Circle just off Airport-Pulling Road. Suburban Washington, D.C. real estate investor Excelsa Properties is the buyer. The firm would not disclose...
Collier County Sheriff: Charges pile on for Marco Island couple in animal cruelty case
Authorities said 28 cats suffered from untreated medical conditions. A Marco Island couple arrested after authorities say they discovered dozens of neglected cats and more than a dozen dead felines faces new charges. The Collier County Sheriff's Office announced June 16 that Olga Murphy, 62, and her husband, Igor...
Naples Pier $26M Rebuild Kicks Off Without Concession Stand
City leaders backed a $26 million plan to fix the storm-wrecked Naples Pier. The project has removed the concession stand from the plans to focus on building a tougher structure. Workers will tear out and rebuild 460 feet of damaged sections. "It's not so much what we're proposing, it's the...
Iona homeless camp says they were given 24 hours to leave
“I don’t feel human," one of dozens told to vacate woods in Iona, a woman says the law leaves her with two choices: abandon everything or get arrested.
Now You Know: Bonita Estero Rail Trail effort grows
Friends of the Bonita Estero Rail Trail (BERT) hosted an “Evening of Connection and Community” on June 5, in Bonita Springs. “Strong communities are built through strong relationships, and that’s exactly what we saw tonight,” said Steve Gunther, a leader with Friends of BERT. “BERT is more than a trail — it connects...
Florida Adds 11.4-Mile Bonita Estero Rail Trail To State Conservation Program
State officials just approved the Bonita Estero Rail Trail for Florida's conservation program. The 11.4-mile stretch cuts through Lee and Collier counties, marking a big win for local outdoor spaces. "Thanks to the Acquisition and Restoration Council, the addition of BERT to the Strategic Managed Area Lands List...
