It’s difficult to wrap your head around the staggering magnitude of the property insurance crisis in Florida. The total estimated insured losses from Hurricane Ian are $17.27 billion. But Ian didn’t put our insurance industry in crisis. The Category 5 storm that hit Southwest Florida one year ago and cut a swath of destruction across the state just exacerbated it. […]
News
Bonnie Parkinson: surviving with a smile
There are some people whose attitude, energy, just their very presence seem to illuminate even a dark room. Bonnie Parkinson is one of those. By all rights, she shouldn’t be. I met Parkinson earlier this month to chat about the challenges she’s faced before, during and after Hurricane Ian. Her positive, faith-imbued optimism belies a series of events that would […]
Man enough
My uncle, B.F. Nash, used to post this sign on the rough road gates in the barbed-wire fences he stretched across the Colorado cattle ranch where he made his life: “Either be man enough to come to the house and ask us if you can hunt, or STAY OUT. B.F. Nash.” Be man enough. Many a chromosome-Y wonder has spent […]
Fun and false rumors (but no cheeseburgers) in paradise
Note: Capt. Kirk is on leave for a while. In the meantime, enjoy a version of this classic from our archives. Before retiring for the night to our cottage overlooking Pine Island Sound, Nancy and I decided to have an after dinner drink on the porch of the old Cabbage Key Inn. We had just finished a meal of grilled […]
Canine mystery author shares how her stories come together
Are dogs a detective’s best friend? That appears to be the case based on the numerous cozy mystery series that feature dogs as sidekicks, partners and inspiration to gumshoes and amateur sleuths alike. (Check out a list here: uexpress.com/pets/pet-connection/2016/4/25) Sometimes dogs narrate the story from their own unique point of view; sometimes they’re involved in taking down the bad guy […]
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 […]
Is erythritol a safe and healthy sugar substitute?
Sugar is one of those ingredients that always seems to be in the news. Eating and drinking too much sugar can negatively affect one’s health. Sugar found naturally in food, such as whole fruits, is not associated with increased health issues. But added sugar has been shown to contribute to dental cavities and is associated with multiple chronic diseases such […]
Recovery is a tough road; body, mind, spirit need to be treated
September is National Recovery Month, an observance that promotes the latest treatments for substance use disorders, recognizes the strong and proud recovery community, and celebrates the healthcare clinicians and community members who make recovery from addiction possible. People from all walks of life can find themselves struggling with substance use. Denise Torres, M.D., MPH, an addiction medicine physician with Lee […]
Free autism screening set for kids
Early diagnosis for children on the autism spectrum can make a vast difference for families. That is why Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, in partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Southwest Florida, offers a free monthly autism spectrum disorder screening for toddlers 18 months to 5 years of age. The ASD screening is conducted by the Golisano Children’s […]
American Flamingo released in Tampa Bay may shed light on flamingo invasion
Audubon Florida attaches transmitter to track its movements, fateIn late August, Hurricane Idalia’s Category 3 landfall brought rain, wind, and, unexpectedly, flamingos to Florida. While many flamingos have been reported on Florida’s shores, one bird was rescued from the Gulf and rehabilitated by the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary. Prior to its successful release in Pinellas County, Audubon Florida research staff tagged the bird with a geolocator that could provide […]
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