2023-01-12 E-Edition

Water Warrior

Calusa Waterkeeper John Cassani steps back from a role in which he has gathered a team of 100 to monitor the Caloosahatchee River.


When he crossed the finish line that day, unlike 5,000 other runners who quit, John Cassani had completed his sixth of seven Boston Marathons, noteworthy in itself. But he did it on an April morning when temperatures reached a historic 89 degrees. When runners were warned not to run. When he’d hit not just “the wall” often faced by exhausted […]

Where the cows have names

Heather Hobrock saw a problem. Now she’s aimed to solve it.


Heather Hobrock was horrified as she drove past a field of cows in south Lee County and saw the nine bovines standing in a ditch of dirty water with no shade and nothing clean to drink. She began visiting that field several times a week, bringing the cows cut apples and fresh water. “I saw all these cows and I […]

The wizard of P



Florida’s 46th governor, Ron DeSantis, is only 44 years old. Once captain of Yale University’s baseball team, he’s a Harvard Law School graduate, a former Navy lawyer and a former U.S. congressman from Florida’s 6th congressional district. And he did all that before the middle of his fifth decade. Not only does he still have hair, but it’s not even […]

Ten big legal battles to watch in the courts in 2023



From abortion to Big Tech to guns, Florida heads into 2023 with courts weighing high-profile legal fights. Here are 10 issues to watch: ¦ ABORTION: The Florida Supreme Court is considering a challenge to a new law that prevents abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. But the case could have broader implications, as the state wants justices to reverse more […]

Handbag Happy Hour to benefit Shell Factory foundation

Handbag Happy Hour returns Wednesday, Jan. 25, with more than 100 new and gently loved handbags, men’s accessories and pet items to be auctioned to benefit The Nature Park Education Foundation, the non-profit at The Shell Factory, which received major damage during Hurricane Ian. The event will be held beginning at 5:25 p.m. in the lobby and inside Players Circle […]

The wind in my sails



Note: Capt. Kirk is on leave for a while. In the meantime, enjoy a version of this classic from 2012. The angle of heel was about 20 degrees, with the crisp morning air coming over our port bow. Occasional white caps formed in the refreshing breeze. Our sails were drum tight and smooth as an airplane’s wing — the perfect […]

‘Ding’ Darling hosts 10th annual photo contest for high schoolers

The 10th annual “Ding” Darling-Theodore Cross High School Photography Contest has kicked off with a deadline of March 1. It invites high school students in Charlotte, Lee, Collier, Glades, and Hendry counties to compete for prizes that include a Canon digital SLR camera package, a one-year subscription to Adobe photography software, and a one-year family pass to all Florida state […]

Cats use their powerful sense of smell differently than dogs



How important is scent to cats? More than you might think. No one has ever been silly enough to try to put them to work finding people or substances by scent, but cats have a keen sense of smell and rely on it heavily. Unlike dogs, however, who have developed an array of scent-related careers to help people, cats use […]

Pets of the WEEK

These animals are available for adoption at the Animal Welfare League, 3519 Drance St., Port Charlotte. All animals are microchipped, neutered and current with their shots. We are open by appointments only. All of our adoptable pets are on the AWL website (www.awlshelter.org). If you see a pet that you would like to meet, call to make an appointment. We […]