Making Holidays Happier: Local Communities Give Back

Organizations such as Bonita Springs Assistance Office, Cape Coral Animal Shelter, FISH of SANCAP, and more are giving back to the community. Read More »

Meals for the Holidays: Local Food Banks Pack Turkey Dinners and More

Community Cooperative of Fort Myers has kicked off its Thanksgiving Full Plates Project 2020 and Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida offers drive-thru mobile pantries throughout Southwest Florida. Read More »

Saved by the Lights and the Lens: Jesi Cason Overcame Lifelong Challenges to Become a Top Photographer in SWFL

The “rock star” of photography who loves to photograph rock stars—this and much more—is Jesi Cason. Her eponymous photography studio is located in the Edwards Building, at the north end of the Alliance for the Arts campus in Fort Myers, Florida. Read More »

Recipes We Love - See What’s Cooking in SWFL (November/December 2020)

Delicious recipes (Butternut Squash Soup, Chocolate Cake, and Pickled Chanterelle Mushrooms ...oh my!) from a variety of distinguished restaurants in the SWFL area. Read More »

What’s for Dinner? Recipe Keeper—Memories of Meals Shared Years Ago

Growing up in South Africa exposed us to a cosmopolitan array of food cultures. Nothing was off the table—from exotic European fare to local tribal dishes. We spent much of our early years sitting in the garden with our nanny and the other African staff, sharing their meals of putu pap... Read More »

From Cooking to Cataracts: Quigley Eye Specialists Fueling Growth Spurt

When Thomas Quigley was a youngster, he dreamed of becoming a chef one day. He even won the Betty Crocker cooking contest in high school by baking beignets, the plump sugary doughnuts made famous by Café du Monde in New Orleans. Read More »

Advice for the Wise Holiday Shopper: Altruism—The “True-For-All” Very Best Gift Ever

Our Gulf Coast islands are a destination—especially during the holidays. Families and friends who come to celebrate with each other bring their own to-do lists. Different as schedules may be, there are two activities every list has in common. Read More »

Barbara’s Friends Fulfills a Promise: The Cancer Fund Vowed 25 Years Ago to Help Southwest Florida Children

The Haskells founded Barbara’s Friends in her name with an initial goal of raising $100,000. Twenty-five years later, more than $20 million has been raised—funding equipment, staffing and services to help 10,000 Southwest Florida children with cancer or life-threatening blood disorders. Read More »

Shell Point’s Newest Neighborhood: The Enclave Welcomes Its First Residents

The first phase of construction on the Enclave, Shell Point Retirement Community’s latest neighborhood, is complete, and several residents have already begun moving into the community. Read More »

Champions of Nature: Defending Southwest Florida’s land, water, wildlife and future

Joanna Fitzgerald and Kathy Worley have a couple things in common. They are both passionate advocates for preserving Southwest Florida’s environment. And they have each been doing it for 25 years at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Read More »