Latest news with #SouthwestFlorida
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Now You Know: BERT meeting Thursday; ‘Great Hall of Shells' reopens
'Help us put Collier and Lee County on the Right Track!' That was the, pardon the pun, Banner headline on a recent invitation from Friends of BERT (Bonita Estero Rail Trail). The group is having a meeting Thursday, June 5, about the project. Mayors Mike Gibson and Joanne Ribble are expected to take part. The completion of the Bonita Estero Rail Trail will do far more than offer a safe and accessible place for residents to walk, run, and bike — it will transform how our communities connect, thrive, and grow,' read the invitation. 'As a key link in Southwest Florida's expanding trail network, BERT will deliver powerful economic returns, improve public safety, promote healthier lifestyles, and preserve vital natural habitats. This isn't just a trail — it's an investment in our future, our environment, and our quality of life.' The meeting is at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, at FineMark Bank, 10010 Coconut Rd., Bonita Springs RSVP or learn more at The Urban Land Institute Florida Summit is set to bring together industry leaders, real estate professionals, developers and urban planners for an 'impactful two-day conference' on June 9 and 10, at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort & Spa in Bonita Springs. Hosted by the five ULI Florida District Councils, the summit will feature speakers, including: Lindsay Brugger, vice president, Urban Resilience at Urban Land Institute, focusing on sustainable urban development strategies. David Bumpous, vice president of operations at Arthrex, offering insights into operations and growth in the real estate sector. Misha Ezratti, president of GL Homes, sharing expertise on residential development and industry trends. Nikki Greenberg, head of technology strategy at QIC, providing perspectives on the intersection of real estate and emerging technologies. Gary Tasman, CEO and principal broker at Cushman & Wakefield, providing an inside look into Skyplex. Mark Wilson, president of London Bay Homes, offering insights into luxury residential development and market dynamics. To register visit The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium recently announced the opening of phase one of its new 'Great Hall of Shells.' The hall has been the museum's permanent exhibit space for shells since it first opened in 1995. Following damage from Hurricane Ian in 2022, the museum embarked on a full re-design and re-installation of its exhibits. Exhibits reopened May 24 and feature extraordinary shells 'from all over the world that are highlights selected from the Museum's collection of nearly 600,000 shells.' Themes include global biodiversity, shapes and colors; and time and evolution, special focuses on groups including cones, cowries, volutes, murexes, scallops, and carrier shells. 'Our goal is to convey to visitors the stunning beauty and diversity of shells, and important roles that the mollusks that make them play in biodiversity, natural history, and our environment,' said Dr. José H. Leal, the museum's science director and curator who organized the new exhibits. 'We are thrilled with the result and can't wait for visitors to enjoy these exhibits.'' Phase two exhibits are under construction and will open later this summer. They include exhibits of Southwest Florida shells. The museum is open from 10a.m. until 5 p.m. daily. For more information, visit With its annual Spring Roundup, Sunshine Ace Hardware was able to raise $27,361 for Children's Miracle Network. Throughout April, customers across Southwest Florida stores could round up their transactions or choose an amount to contribute at the register. 'Southwest Floridians, by nature, are extremely generous, and our customers always step forward to support a cause as important as pediatric health care,' said Michael Wynn, president of Sunshine Ace Hardware. 'Donations to Children's Miracle Network stay within the community, so every donation during the Spring Round Up will support local children whose families might not otherwise be able to afford the cost of medical treatments and services.' Donations made at Sunshine Ace Hardware stores in Collier, Lee and Charlotte counties supported Golisano Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida. Donations at Sunshine Ace Hardware in Pinellas County and Crowder Bros. Ace Hardware stores in Manatee County support Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg. Donations support critical life-saving treatments, health care services, research, pediatric medical equipment and child life services. Since declaring Children's Miracle Network as its primary charitable partner in 2019, Sunshine Ace Hardware and Crowder Bros. Ace Hardware have raised $482,182 through a series of fundraising campaigns. The Leadership Collier Foundation, part of the Greater Naples Chamber, recently announced an award recognizing 'exceptional community leadership.' It will now be called the John Passidomo Distinguished Alumni Award. Leadership Collier announced the change during its graduation celebration on May 21. 'John Passidomo's leadership, quiet strength and unwavering commitment to Collier County left an indelible mark on all of us,' said Scott Salley, a co-founder of Leadership Collier. 'In recognition of his extraordinary contributions, we are proud to announce that this award will be renamed as John Passidomo Distinguished Alumni Award. It is a fitting tribute to a man whose life embodied the very best of what leadership stands for.' Passidomo died in April 2024. Passidomo was also named the 2025 recipient of the award. Sen. Kathleen Passidomo, his wife and a Leadership Collier alumna, accepted the honor. 'Our community is immeasurably better thanks to the dedication of John and Kathleen Passidomo,' said Kristina Park, president and CEO of the Greater Naples Chamber. 'They didn't just meet the Leadership Collier Foundation's mission to be engaged, be informed and be the difference; they lived it. It is with immense pride that we continue to celebrate John's enduring legacy of leadership through the John Passidomo Distinguished Alumni Award.' Leadership Collier also recognized Matt Heinle, general counsel at NCH Healthcare System and a member of the 2025 Leadership Collier Class, with the James V. Mudd Award; given yearly, it acknowledges 'an outstanding leader whose contributions mirror those of former County Manager Jim Mudd's devotion to enhance leadership and stewardship.' For more information about the Greater Naples Chamber, visit 'Set against the backdrop of Pine Island Sound's pristine waters and old Florida charm,' the Tarpon Fly Fishing Invitational returns this June to Tarpon Lodge. The invitational brings together 'passionate anglers, conservation-minded brands and community leaders' to support Calusa Waterkeeper's mission to protect Southwest Florida's year's event will be held in remembrance of Capt. Codty Pierce, the former Calusa Waterkeeper 'whose passion for the region's waters and tireless advocacy helped shape the future of the organization.' Now in its fourth year, the Tarpon Fly Fishing Invitational is slated for June 8-10. It's a two-day, catch-and-release tournament. Proceeds benefit Calusa Waterkeeper, a nonprofit organization 'dedicated to defending and restoring the Caloosahatchee River, Matlacha Pass, Estero Bay, and the broader watershed that supports the region's wildlife, water quality, and way of life.' For more information, visit Big Waters Land Trust recently announced the permanent conservation of five lots totaling 1.34 acres in Cape Coral. The city received a grant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, in partnership with the Fish and Wildlife Foundation of Florida, to acquire these lots, to ensure the permanent protection of the land. Big Waters Land Trust holds the conservation easement while the city will own and manage the properties in partnership with the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife. A conservation easement is a voluntary and permanent deed restriction that limits land use forever. Cape Coral boasts the largest population of burrowing owls in the state, estimated at 1,000 nesting pairs. This summer, the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, is 'transforming into a hub for art lovers of all ages' with its 'Art for All' initiative, according to Raquel Hererra program coordinator, Friends of Rookery Bay. 'Art for All' is offering immersive workshops and two art exhibitions. Visitors will be able to explore creativity, nature and culture through a variety of programs. The workshops are for both beginners and budding artists (Those under age16 must be accompanied by an adult) and include: 'Drawing from Music' – Led by award-winning visual artist Anthe Capitan-Valais, this multimedia workshop encourages participants ages 10 and up to create expressive artwork inspired by diverse musical genres. Materials are included. 'Watercolors and Wildlife' – Families with children ages 8 and up can explore watercolor techniques under the guidance and step-by-step assistance of local artist Jan Deswik. Each session features a different natural theme from shells and birds to Southwest Florida's scenic waterways and results in a finished, matted piece of art. Digital Photography Class – Renowned photographer Sonny Saunders continues his summer photography series, where participants learn the fundamentals of digital camera use, including shutter speed, aperture, ISO, and composition to capture powerful images. The Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center's art gallery will host two rotating exhibits celebrating Southwest Florida's landscapes, wildlife and cultural heritage. Currently and through Aug. 1: 'Wildlife and Wild Places' is on display. It features original photographs and sculptures created by students from Florida Gulf Coast University. Aug. 4 through fall: 'Through the Lens of Nature: A Celebration of Flora, Fauna and Culture' is presented by the local artist group Collective 5. The mixed media exhibit features the work of Giampaolo Curreri, Lin Nesdale, Jody Futteman, Peggy Keigley and Lisett Lloren. Workshops and exhibits take place at the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, 300 Tower Road, Naples. For more information or to register, visit The center is open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Now You Know: BERT meeting Thursday; 'Great Hall of Shells' reopens
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Will a Category 5 hurricane make landfall in Florida in 2025? History says that's unlikely
Starting today, June 1 and for the next 182 days (until Nov. 30), Southwest Floridians will paying more attention to the weather forecast, especially with what is happening in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf. It's called Hurricane Season. In recent years, because of the number of hurricanes Southwest Florida has had to deal with and the damage caused by those storms, including historic Hurricane Ian in September 2022, it might feel like we must have been hit by a Category 5 hurricane during this run. You could argue the back-to-back hurricanes we had last year (2024) − Helene and Milton − combined added up to a Cat 5, but that's not how it works. More: Hurricane season is almost here. When should I build my hurricane kit, what should I put in it? Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane on Sept. 26, 2024, with winds of 140 mph. Just 13 days later, Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 hurricane. It struck near Siesta Key Oct. 9, 2024. The storm was accompanied by sustained winds of 120 mph. Turn back the clock a couple of years to Sept. 28, 2022 and we had Hurricane Ian, which caused catastrophic to Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island and other coastal locations in Southwest Florida. It sure felt and looked like a Category 5 hit here. But officially, Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm. It was initially a Category 5 storm before weakening to a Category 4 just before landfall at Cayo Costa. Ian had maximum sustained winds of 150 mph. There were more than 140 deaths attributed to Ian. It is possible, but not probable based on past history. Could it happen? Sure. But since records have been kept, it has never happened here, even though with Ian it was right on the edge of being added to the short list. Since the 1900, three Category 5 hurricanes have made landfall in Florida: The 'Labor Day Hurricane' of 1935 The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane is considered the strongest storm ever recorded to make landfall in the U.S., smashing into the Florida Keys on Sept. 2, 1935, with winds of 185 mph. It killed an estimated 409 people. Hurricane Andrew in 1992 On Aug. 24, 1992, Andrew made landfall in South Miami-Dade County with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph. Although 23 deaths were directly attributed to the storm, according to NOAA, "Hurricane Andrew destroyed more than 50,000 homes and caused an estimated $26 billion in damage, making it at the time the most expensive natural disaster in United States history." And the most recent, Hurricane Michael in 2018 Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Florida Panhandle on Oct. 10, 2018, as a Category 5 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 161 mph. According to the National Weather Service: "Wind and storm surge caused catastrophic damage, particularly in the Panama City Beach and Mexico Beach areas. Eight direct fatalities were reported: seven in Florida and one in Georgia. In addition, 43 indirect deaths were attributed to the storm." More: When does hurricane season start in Florida? What to document for insurance now There's only be one. Hurricane Camille in 1969. Camille had sustained winds of more than 170 mph when it hit Mississippi on Aug. 17, 1969. More than 250 people were killed, many in Virginia due to massive flooding the storm brought to that state. Camille tracked north-northwest across the Gulf of Mexico, becoming a Category 5 the day before making landfall. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: How many Category 5 hurricanes hit Florida?
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Will a Category 5 hurricane make landfall in Florida in 2025? History says that's unlikely
Starting today, June 1 and for the next 182 days (until Nov. 30), Southwest Floridians will paying more attention to the weather forecast, especially with what is happening in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf. It's called Hurricane Season. In recent years, because of the number of hurricanes Southwest Florida has had to deal with and the damage caused by those storms, including historic Hurricane Ian in September 2022, it might feel like we must have been hit by a Category 5 hurricane during this run. You could argue the back-to-back hurricanes we had last year (2024) − Helene and Milton − combined added up to a Cat 5, but that's not how it works. More: Hurricane season is almost here. When should I build my hurricane kit, what should I put in it? Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida's Big Bend region as a Category 4 hurricane on Sept. 26, 2024, with winds of 140 mph. Just 13 days later, Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 hurricane. It struck near Siesta Key Oct. 9, 2024. The storm was accompanied by sustained winds of 120 mph. Turn back the clock a couple of years to Sept. 28, 2022 and we had Hurricane Ian, which caused catastrophic to Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island and other coastal locations in Southwest Florida. It sure felt and looked like a Category 5 hit here. But officially, Hurricane Ian made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm. It was initially a Category 5 storm before weakening to a Category 4 just before landfall at Cayo Costa. Ian had maximum sustained winds of 150 mph. There were more than 140 deaths attributed to Ian. It is possible, but not probable based on past history. Could it happen? Sure. But since records have been kept, it has never happened here, even though with Ian it was right on the edge of being added to the short list. Since the 1900, three Category 5 hurricanes have made landfall in Florida: The 'Labor Day Hurricane' of 1935 The 1935 Labor Day Hurricane is considered the strongest storm ever recorded to make landfall in the U.S., smashing into the Florida Keys on Sept. 2, 1935, with winds of 185 mph. It killed an estimated 409 people. Hurricane Andrew in 1992 On Aug. 24, 1992, Andrew made landfall in South Miami-Dade County with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph. Although 23 deaths were directly attributed to the storm, according to NOAA, "Hurricane Andrew destroyed more than 50,000 homes and caused an estimated $26 billion in damage, making it at the time the most expensive natural disaster in United States history." And the most recent, Hurricane Michael in 2018 Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Florida Panhandle on Oct. 10, 2018, as a Category 5 storm, with maximum sustained winds of 161 mph. According to the National Weather Service: "Wind and storm surge caused catastrophic damage, particularly in the Panama City Beach and Mexico Beach areas. Eight direct fatalities were reported: seven in Florida and one in Georgia. In addition, 43 indirect deaths were attributed to the storm." More: When does hurricane season start in Florida? What to document for insurance now There's only be one. Hurricane Camille in 1969. Camille had sustained winds of more than 170 mph when it hit Mississippi on Aug. 17, 1969. More than 250 people were killed, many in Virginia due to massive flooding the storm brought to that state. Camille tracked north-northwest across the Gulf of Mexico, becoming a Category 5 the day before making landfall. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: How many Category 5 hurricanes hit Florida?
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Marco Island girl will compete in 97th annual Scripps National Spelling Bee
The Scripps National Spelling Bee has resulted in a Florida winner twice in a row: Largo eighth-grader Dev Shah in 2023 and St. Petersburg 12-year-old Bruhat Soma in 2024. Will the Sunshine State pull off a threepeat this year? There will be 12 contestants from Florida among the 243 spellers in the 97th National Spelling Bee. Two contestants have a special tie to Southwest Florida, including one Marco Island student. Here's what to know about this year's spelling bee. "Bee Week" begins with preliminaries at 8 a.m. ET on Tuesday, May 27. The quarterfinals are the next day, Wednesday, May 28, and the semifinals happen that same evening. The competition wraps up with the finals on Thursday, May 29. Preliminaries, May 27: Will be streamed on Scripps News networks Bounce XL, Grit Xtra, and Laff More, and at from 8 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. ET Quarterfinals, May 28: Will be streamed on Bounce XL, Grit Xtra, and Laff More, and at from 8 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. ET Semifinals, May 28: Will stream live on Bounce XL, Grit Xtra, and Laff More, and at from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. ET and air 8-10 p.m. on ION Finals, May 29: Will air live from 8-10 p.m. on ION Encore presentations of the semifinals will air on Scripps News on Thursday, May 29, from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m., and of the finals on May 29 from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. The Scripps Networks can be found free over-the-air as well as on cable, satellite and streaming platforms. You can enter your ZIP code at for instructions on how to watch the Bee in a specific area. There's two contestants from Southwest Florida this year: 14-year-old Nicasio David from Fort Myers and 13-year-old Sophia Jolie Schoenrock from Marco Island. The Collier County Public School District is sponsoring 13-year-old Schoenrock, who attends Marco Island Charter Middle School. According to her official National Spelling Bee biography, Schoenrock loves reading and playing the clarinet. In her free time, she plays catcher and second baseman with the Naples Select Softball Team. Her favorite movie is "Ocean's 11" and her favorite subject in school is algebra. Schoenrock was born in Germany and moved to the United States when she was six years old. She didn't speak any English at the time. Now, seven years later, she's competing in the nation's 97th Spelling Bee. Hadi Abbasi, 12, Franklin Academy Pembroke Pines, Miami Louis Avetis, 12, Discovery Middle School, Orlando Nicasio David, 14, Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School, Fort Myers Cecily Dean, 13, Leon County Home Schoolers, Tallahassee Diego Gallegos, 11, Lakemont Elementary School, Orlando Elias Benjamin Javelona, 13, of Howard Middle School, Belleview Vlada Kozhevnikova, 12, Pinellas Academy of Math & Science, St. Petersburg Moksh Maru, 10, Wilson Elementary School, Sanford Nikhail Sha, 13, Palmetto Middle School, Miami Sophia Jolie Schoenrock, 13, Marco Island Charter Middle School, Naples Sree Vidya Siliveri, 14, Alice B. Landrum Middle School, Jacksonville Aiden Westover, 14, Odyssey Middle School, Orlando A Florida contestant has won four times in the history of the national spelling bee, according to Scripps data: Soma in 2024 on his second try, Shah in 2023 on the third try, Nupur Lala of Tampa in 1999, who won in her second appearance, and Wendy Guoy of West Palm Beach in 1996, who won after four tries. The state with the most wins is Texas, with 16. Twenty-one states have never had a national spelling bee champion. Starting in September, spelling bees in classrooms work up to regional spelling bees in February and March to determine national competitors. Spellers may not be older than 15 or past the eighth grade, and former champions may not compete again. During the spelling bee, kids compete in: Spelling rounds, where they have 90 seconds to correctly spell a word after it has been pronounced. They may ask for definitions, usage, language, the part of speech, alternate pronunciation or just to hear it again, but not in the last 15 seconds. Vocabulary rounds: Originally part of a written test, this was made an onstage element in 2021. Spellers are given 30 seconds to answer a multiple-choice question about the definition of a word. Written test: Spellers who advance through rounds 1 and 2 will take round 3 written test on spelling and vocabulary. Scores determine who moves on to the quarterfinals. Spell-offs: Introduced in 2021, officials may call for a spell-off to conclude the finals. Spellers have 90 seconds to spell as many words as possible while their competition cannot hear. Each speller gets the same words in the same order. Last year, Florida's Bruhat Soma set a record at 29 words. The champion gets $50,000 cash, a commemorative medal, and the Scripps Cup championship trophy. They will also receive $2,500 cash and a reference library from Merriam-Webster, $400 of reference works and a 3-year online membership from Encyclopædia Britannica, the school of their choice gets $1,000 in Scholastic credit, and their school and regional partner get an engraved plaque. Finalists get a commemorative medal and: Eliminated from first round of finals to 7th place: $2,000 6th place: $2,500 5th place: $5,000 4th place: $10,000 3rd place: $15,000 2nd place: $25,000 Semifinalists get a commemorative medal and a $500 gift card, and quarterfinalists get a commemorative pin and a $100 gift card. All competitors receive a prize package, subscriptions to Merriam-Webster, Britannica Online Premium, and the Regional Champions' School, and a 2025 U.S. Mint proof set. This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: How to watch Marco Island girl compete in 2025 National Spelling Bee
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Explore SWFL: 3 ways to enjoy the Southwest Florida coast by water this year
As our weather gets warmer, it's the perfect time to get out on the water. Whether you're a local or a tourist, you can enjoy Southwest Florida's gorgeous views from the water. Here's a few ways to enjoy our coastal views. If you're lucky, you can spot dolphins just by exploring the coast. But if you want an even better chance of seeing the friendly sea creatures, consider booking a specialized dolphin tour. Naples Water Tours: Dolphin Tour ( Island Time: Fort Myers Dolphin & Shelling Cruises ( Southwest Florida has the most beautiful sunsets. One of the best ways to experience them is on the water. Boat Naples: Sunset Cruise ( Sight Sea-R: Fort Myers Island Sunset Cruise ( Even if you've lived in SWFL your whole life, there might be things you haven't seen yet. A sightseeing cruise is a great way to spend an afternoon and support a local business. Naples Princess Cruises: Sightseeing Cruise ( Adventures in Paradise: Fort Myers Beach Boat Tours ( This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: How to book sunset cruise, dolphin tour, in Naples and Fort Myers
