Former Oakes Farms’ executive fled to California, feared for his life
A former Oakes Farms' executive has implicated the local company and its high-profile owner in a COVID-related fraud conspiracy. The accusations appear in federal court filings related to a civil lawsuit Oakes Farms and its affiliates filed against Steven A. Veneziano Jr. and two of his now-dissolved Florida...
Now You Know: February events include Kiwanis 22nd Annual Car Show
January is already more than halfway over, but our collective February calendar is filling up fast. Here’s some things you might want to add to yours, on Marco Island and beyond. Kiwanis to host 22nd Annual Car Show. The Marco Island Kiwanis Club will be hosting its 22nd Annual...
SWFLA To Do List: Events in Bonita Springs, Estero, Naples and Marco
Top events of the week: 3 To Do: The Band at Arts Bonita; Louis Armstrong tributes on Marco. The Southwest Florida Archaeological Society (SWFAS) recently announced a book signing and presentation on “Key West in the Civil War” by author Robert Macomber. The lecture will describe Key West locations that you can visit...
Food tours offer adventure of the tastebuds
Southwest Florida abounds with restaurants and eateries worthy of a taste. Paradise Food Tours makes the sampling adventure even easier. Those who live in Southwest Florida live in paradise. While friends and family freeze and fret up north, life swims along comfortably in the Southwest Floridians backyard. If there...
Naples, Florida on U.S. home affordability list? Surprising home stats
Here's the only way that Naples will ever show up at the top of a national list for housing affordability: When a study by the largest independent real estate brokerage on the planet finds that you lead America in the biggest decline in housing prices. And here's what to know including the newest foreclosure data...
Nominations open for Business Observer’s 2026 Top Contractors issue
The Business Observer is compiling its annual list of the top 50 contractors in the region and wants to hear from you. Does your company have one of the highest annual revenues in the area? What are some of your portfolio projects?. To make the Top 50 Contractors list, companies...
FORECAST: Cold Weather Advisories in effect, wind chills starting in the 30s
Here is your forecast for Monday, January 19th, 2026. It was another chilly start across SWFL. Fort Myers started at 39° (again.) PGD was a few degrees warmer than this past Friday, starting at 36°. Naples started off the morning in the lower 40s. Tomorrow morning will be...
Big Library Book Sale is Back
The Friends of the Library’s annual giant book sale is back Saturday, January 31st and Sunday, February 1st from 9AM to 2PM in the library garage. Bring your own bag or the library will provide one for you. Fill up a bag for only $10. The Friends of the...
Fort Myers Beach cottages being rebuilt, will start at $2.6M
Key takeaway: The owners of The Cottages of Paradise Point are rebuilding after the property was destroyed by Hurricane Ian in 2022. Core challenge: In the aftermath of the storm, the decision was made not to rebuild. What’s next: The homes being built will be sold, giving new buyers the...
Here’s what happened after a Bonita Springs, FL woman walked into a pizza shop...
A Southwest Florida woman who carried a gun into a Bonita Springs pizza parlor , left a worrisome note, and later holed up in her nearby home in a standoff with deputies is in custody. A Lee County Sheriff's deputy who shot at the woman after she pointed a gun during the incident is on leave. No deputies were...
