BONITA SPRINGS, FL – When you paddle up the Imperial River you are not alone. There are alligators, turtles, fish, birds and if you want, even a guide who will go along at no extra charge to help you get the most of the experience.
Tourism News
Naples: Collier tourist tax proposal directs more money to marketing, beaches
NAPLES, FL – Naples Daily News is reporting there’s paid advertising only about five months out of the year to market local area beaches. Reportedly, there is not enough money is set aside for it from the county’s 4 percent tourist tax, to actively market local area beaches on a year round basis.
Naples: Red tide fish kill on Naples beaches
NAPLES, FL – Beach patrol officers on all-terrain vehicles are picking up the fish by hand each morning and disposing of them in Dumpsters at Lowdermilk Park and another location that rotates, depending on the location of the fish, Naples Harbormaster Roger Jacobsen said.
Ritz-Carlton Sarasota is Turning Hip and Approachable
HERALD-TRIBUNE ARCHIVE / 2011 / DAN WAGNER
Florida python hunt ends Sunday with 50 caught
Photo by WILLIAM DESHAZER // Buy this photo
Sarasota: Selby Gardens battles whitefly infestation on prized banyans
SARASOTA, FL – Selby Garden’s ficus whitefly problems began just as the state was facing a rising number of complaints about the pest. The infected trees and hedges undergo the stressful undertaking of shedding and regrowing their leaves which weakens the plants.
Sarasota: Tightrope walker, Nik Wallenda to walk 200 feet over U.S. 41
SARASOTA, FL – Famed tightrope walker Nik Wallenda will walk on a wire 200 feet over U.S. 41 in Sarasota without a safety harness.
The circus performer and six-time Guinness World Record holder is scheduled to perform the stunt Tuesday morning. (Full Story on Fox 4)
Naples: Bonnie Walsh wins Modified Class for second time in a year at Jet’s Winter Classic 2013
Photo by WILLIAM DESHAZER // Buy this photo
Yet Sunday in the 63rd running of the Winter Classic presented by Jet’s Pizza, the numbers told the story as driver Bonnie Walsh posted the fastest and most consistent laps of the day to seize Big Feature honors for the second time in 12 months. (Full Story on Naples News)
Fort Myers: RSW passenger traffic up nearly 2 percent in December
FORT MYERS, FL – Passenger traffic increased by nearly 2 percent in December at Southwest Florida International Airport.
Last month, 679,672 passengers traveled through the airport — an increase of 1.8 percent compared to December 2011. It’s the sixth consecutive month airport traffic has increased. Overall, passenger traffic is down 2.5 percent from the same period last year.
The traffic leader in December was Delta with 157,448 passengers traveling to and from Fort Myers. Rounding out the top five airlines were AirTran (104,017), JetBlue (73,678), Spirit (62,109) and United (62,050). (Full Story on Naples News)
Sarasota: Where pie is king, a contest to decide the ruler
A cherry pie at last year’s pie-baking competition within the Pinecraft neighborhood of Sarasota. (Courtesy Photo)
Facts
PINECRAFT PIE CONTEST
Second annual Pinecraft Pie Contest, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, Everence Federal Credit Union, 3407 Bahia Vista St., Sarasota. Judging begins at 11 a.m. Free and open to the public; free chili and pie for all.
2013 Pinecraft Pie Contest Judges
Sherry Gore, cookbook author (“Taste of Pinecraft” and “Simply Delicious”) and publisher of “Cooking and Such” magazine
Todd Emrich, CEO of Yoder’s Restaurant and Amish Village
Henry Detweiler, owner of Detweiler’s Farm Market
Charles Schelle, editor Sarasota Patch.com
Ruby Sommers, Der Dutchman Restaurant
Southwest Florida News 