Get Your Money

Florida is holding more than $1 billion and wants individuals and businesses to claim their funds.


THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS HOLDING more than $1 billion for people who forgot about it, gave up on it or never even knew about it. All you have to do is ask the state to give it back. There is no cost to claim your property, regardless of the amount, and no time limit on how long the state […]

Don’t short-shrift the sharks



Some people aren’t happy about land-based shark fishing, but not the anglers themselves, apparently — they’re growing in number along Florida’s coasts as the sport grows in popularity. As a result, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has organized a series of public workshops around the state beginning in Fort Myers on Thursday, July 19, inviting opinions “from all […]

The 10th muse



As President Donald Trump recovers in the warm embrace of Russian friends from his stumbling visit last week to the cradlemaker of our history — Great Britain — let me praise him for his extraordinary contributions to art. I first realized my earlier failure to recognize his genius when an artist northwest of London carved out 215 yards worth of […]

Acronym creation tactics



For those who thought “acronym” was a city in Ohio, it is not. According to my handy-dandy online dictionary, an acronym is “a word formed from the initial letters or groups of letters of words in a set phrase or series of words and pronounced as a separate word,” as in WAC from Women’s Army Corps or OPEC from Organization […]

Don’t cry for Angela Merkel



Angela Merkel is, her supporters like to gloat, the leader of the free world. Just don’t ask her to spend as if she is. Donald Trump has made the German chancellor one of his favorite rhetorical targets, especially over Germany’s anemic defense expenditures. This has led to worries about the future of the trans-Atlantic alliance, and reflexive support for Merkel […]

You can find your own magic on the water



As the lyrics from a song by the late Jim Morris are quick to point out, there is “magic on the water and music in the air.” That’s the natural experience of anyone who goes out on Charlotte Harbor, Gasparilla Sound, Pine Island Sound or any of the other many waterways in Southwest Florida. From the moment you step on […]

Florida’s economy hits $1 trillion GDP milestone

Florida’s economy hit a new milestone July 13 when the state’s Gross Domestic Product topped $1 trillion, the Florida Chamber Foundation’s chief economist reported. Putting it into perspective, if Florida was an independent country, Florida’s $1 trillion economy now ranks it as the 17th largest economy in the world — ahead of Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Argentina. Earlier […]

Fleamasters to open store with free items on Fridays

Fleamasters Fleamarket is opening a new store Friday, July 20. The store will be open on Fridays, only. And everything in the store is absolutely free. Shoppers are invited to pick out and take home any one item in the store. Free items include product samples, fashion accessories, jewelry, artwork and home decor — all provided by Fleamasters’ vendors. Many […]

Local motorcycle run to benefit ACT

Abuse Counseling and Treatment Inc. will hold a benefit motorcycle run and brunch on Aug. 26. It will start at HeadPinz Entertainment Center at 14513 Global Parkway, Fort Myers, and conclude at Keylime Bistro on Captiva Island. All proceeds will go towards ACT’s safe, free and confidential programs for victims of domestic violence and their children, survivors of sexual assault […]

Pet-friendly vacay



Whether your plans this year include a vacation or a staycation, there’s no reason to leave your dog out of the fun. Dog-friendly spots abound across the United States and include botanical gardens, breweries, festivals, hikes, museums and more. No matter where you’re located, there’s a good chance you’ll be within driving distance of at least one of these activities. […]