League Club of Naples awards record $683K in grants to Collier, Lee nonprofitsFriday’s Furry Friends: Holly, Slim
League Club of Naples awards record $683K in grants to Collier, Lee nonprofits At a mid-April breakfast event, the 35 area nonprofit agencies—chosen from a record number of applicants—were awarded grants from the women’s volunteer organization in areas ranging from arts education, to fighting hunger and homelessness, to providing bikes and wheelchairs to children in need
Tim Aten Knows: Chick-fil-A drive-thru proposal faces criticism in Naples Chick-fil-A is proposing a drive-thru restaurant at the site of the former Red Lobster restaurant on U.S. 41 in Naples, but the project is facing early criticism.
NAPLES Friday’s Furry Friends: Holly, Slim For this week’s Friday’s Furry Friends, WINK visits the Collier County Domestic Animal Services to showcase two adorable animals ready to be adopted.
FORT MYERS Caught on Camera: Dust Devil spotted spiraling in Fort Myers A dust devil was spotted and recorded by a WINK News viewer on Hanson Street in Fort Myers.
Warm, dry and breezy afternoon after a comfortable morning The Weather Authority is tracking a comfortable Friday morning start with dry and breezy afternoon conditions expected.
NAPLES Event held in Naples for National Crime Victims Week The City of Naples and Project HELP held an event in Baker Park for National Crime Victims Week.
NAPLES 25-acre brush fire off I-75 in Collier County lowers air quality The Greater Naples Fire Rescue responded to a 25-acre brush fire at Mile Marker 96 on I-75 in the Picayune Strand State Forest.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral softball coach arrested for alleged inappropriate conduct with student released on bond A former Cape Coral volunteer softball coach arrested for alleged sexual contact with a student was released from jail on bond.
FORT MYERS A prom like no other at Golisano Children’s Hospital Logan Stryker may be a little young for high school prom, but he’s the prom king of Golisano Children’s Hospital.
FORT MYERS Group protests death of Christopher Jordan Their messages were aimed at the Fort Myers police department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and State Attorney Amira Fox.
FORT MYERS A least 3 cars involved in crash near Top Golf Way and Challenger Blvd. It happened near Top Golf Way and Challenger Boulevard in Fort Myers.
Hendry County Fired deputy charged with crimes had troubled past in law enforcement A local police officer resigned in lieu of termination after dozens of disciplinary actions against him, so how was he hired at another SWFL law enforcement agency?
New resolution could help fend off FEMA’s threat to pull flood insurance discount Some United States representatives are taking matters into their own hands to help those threatened by more expensive flood insurance.
NAPLES Local group rallies in solidarity with Israel Passover week is an important time for the Jewish community, but hostages are still being held.
From Verot to The Show: Blaze Alexander is living his MLB dream Former Bishop Verot star Blaze Alexander is now living his MLB dream as he got called up to join the Arizona Diamondbacks.
League Club of Naples awards record $683K in grants to Collier, Lee nonprofits At a mid-April breakfast event, the 35 area nonprofit agencies—chosen from a record number of applicants—were awarded grants from the women’s volunteer organization in areas ranging from arts education, to fighting hunger and homelessness, to providing bikes and wheelchairs to children in need
Tim Aten Knows: Chick-fil-A drive-thru proposal faces criticism in Naples Chick-fil-A is proposing a drive-thru restaurant at the site of the former Red Lobster restaurant on U.S. 41 in Naples, but the project is facing early criticism.
NAPLES Friday’s Furry Friends: Holly, Slim For this week’s Friday’s Furry Friends, WINK visits the Collier County Domestic Animal Services to showcase two adorable animals ready to be adopted.
FORT MYERS Caught on Camera: Dust Devil spotted spiraling in Fort Myers A dust devil was spotted and recorded by a WINK News viewer on Hanson Street in Fort Myers.
Warm, dry and breezy afternoon after a comfortable morning The Weather Authority is tracking a comfortable Friday morning start with dry and breezy afternoon conditions expected.
NAPLES Event held in Naples for National Crime Victims Week The City of Naples and Project HELP held an event in Baker Park for National Crime Victims Week.
NAPLES 25-acre brush fire off I-75 in Collier County lowers air quality The Greater Naples Fire Rescue responded to a 25-acre brush fire at Mile Marker 96 on I-75 in the Picayune Strand State Forest.
CAPE CORAL Cape Coral softball coach arrested for alleged inappropriate conduct with student released on bond A former Cape Coral volunteer softball coach arrested for alleged sexual contact with a student was released from jail on bond.
FORT MYERS A prom like no other at Golisano Children’s Hospital Logan Stryker may be a little young for high school prom, but he’s the prom king of Golisano Children’s Hospital.
FORT MYERS Group protests death of Christopher Jordan Their messages were aimed at the Fort Myers police department, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and State Attorney Amira Fox.
FORT MYERS A least 3 cars involved in crash near Top Golf Way and Challenger Blvd. It happened near Top Golf Way and Challenger Boulevard in Fort Myers.
Hendry County Fired deputy charged with crimes had troubled past in law enforcement A local police officer resigned in lieu of termination after dozens of disciplinary actions against him, so how was he hired at another SWFL law enforcement agency?
New resolution could help fend off FEMA’s threat to pull flood insurance discount Some United States representatives are taking matters into their own hands to help those threatened by more expensive flood insurance.
NAPLES Local group rallies in solidarity with Israel Passover week is an important time for the Jewish community, but hostages are still being held.
From Verot to The Show: Blaze Alexander is living his MLB dream Former Bishop Verot star Blaze Alexander is now living his MLB dream as he got called up to join the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Kids practice self-defense with the C.O.B.R.A. program. Credit: WINK News Since the beginning of 2019, there have been at least four cases of kids reporting suspicious people just in the city of Fort Myers. This includes a story WINK News brought you Wednesday, where a girl said a man tried to grab her when she was walking near Six Mile Cypress Parkway and Winkler Extension. That girl said she was able to fight off the attacker. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reports non-family abductions are rare, just one percent of all missing kid cases. Still, the NCMEC reported more than 1600 attempted abductions in 2018 nationwide. Martial arts instructor Dan Torro of Torro Training Center in Fort Myers said just one is too many. “How many children need to be kidnapped before we just decide that it’s important?” he said. “So we’re trying to prevent it, and stick with the number zero.” Torro teaches a martial arts fitness class for kids, which also covers situational awareness. In the days of constant cell phone use, Torro said it is important for kids and parents to put the phone down and keep their eyes up. “What we want you to do is be aware of what you should be doing in the moment,” Torro said. He said the keys to self-defense are volume and distance. “I could look like the nicest guy in the world, “Hi how are you!” And just keep getting closer to you,” Torro said. “And all of a sudden get right next to you and become a monster.” Suzzane Bessert, a mother of four, brings her youngest kids to Torro’s class. She said they are learning important life skills. “It’s teaching them what is the right thing and what is the wrong thing. What’s a good touch, what is a bad touch. What’s a good thing to say, what is a bad thing to say,” Bessert said. If martial arts isn’t your thing, women and teenage girls can also sign up for free self-defense classes with the Lee County and Charlotte County Sheriff’s Offices “It is very important for every woman to know,” Cape Coral mom Ana Correa said. She and her teenage daughters signed up together. Finally, if you’re looking for something specifically for child abduction prevention, C.O.B.R.A. Self Defense Fort Myers has a class just for that. Instructor Joe Saitta said the C.O.B.R.A. self-defense system is designed to be fast and easy to learn. “What we like to say is it’s a law-enforcement academy for civilians,” Saitta said. The course goes over physical techniques, placing a 9-1-1 call, and even how to avoid being pulled into a car. Saitta also goes over how to identify a bad stranger versus a good stranger, what constitutes an emergency, and more. “We want to cover all the bases,” Saitta said. Saitta explains that kids’ first step when approached by a suspicious person or in attempted abduction scenario should be to scream and run. They should only resort to physical self-defense when it is necessary. Talking to Your Kids Parents might feel like this is a scary topic to bring up to kids. We spoke with Florida Gulf Coast University professor and counseling expert Dr. Russ Sabella to find out how to get the conversation started. Sabella recommends: Gauge your kids’ maturity. Whether they are ready for this conversation is not always determined by age. Focus on the purpose of reducing risk, rather than inducing fear. Measure how much your kids are exposed to these situations online or on TV,and make sure not to over-expose them. Remind them that if bag things do happen, it is never their fault.