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| Florida Realtors, a real estate broker association with more than 200,000 members, has filed a lawsuit against Marco Island for its controversial short-term rental registration ordinance. “In recent years, a number of Florida cities and counties have adopted ordinances that dissuade, limit or prevent the ability of private property owners to exercise their right to rent their properties on a short-term basis," Florida Realtors provided in a statement. "The Marco Island City Council has recently adopted one such ordinance, despite warnings that it violates the law. As a strong voice for property owners and their rights, Florida Realtors has filed this lawsuit so the courts can decide on behalf of Florida property owners hurt by this illegal and burdensome ordinance.” Litigation is in process at this time. |
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| Youth Haven Board of Directors Treasurer Lynda Waterhouse accepted the proclamation made by Collier County Commissioners this week designating April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. For 51 years, Youth Haven has been the only emergency shelter in the county for children who have been removed from their homes because of abuse or neglect. "These are the children of our community; they deserve better," Waterhouse said. "Together as a community, we can provide better outcomes for these children." |
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| Registration for voluntary prekindergarten is now open for summer VPK programs in Lee, Collier, Hendry and Glades Counties. The free educational program is available to 4-year-olds that reside in Florida, regardless of family income. Voluntary prekindergarten gives children a jump-start by preparing them for school and enhancing their pre-reading, pre-math, language and social skills. Certified teachers teach VPK classrooms focusing on school readiness and social and emotional well-being. To be eligible, children must live in Florida and be four years old on or before Sept. 1 of the current school year. Through the Early Learning Coalition of Southwest Florida, parents can register their qualifying child to attend 540 hours of preschool during the regular school year or 300 hours of summertime preschool. To register, families must first apply for a VPK voucher online. Individuals can also visit the Early Learning Coalition office, 2675 Winkler Ave., Suite 300 in Fort Myers, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for assistance. |
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| The Naples-Marco Island metro area ranked third in SmartAsset’s 2023 study on where people are buying second homes in the U.S. Naples-Marco Island had 8,206 mortgages out of 15,223 approved for second homes, making up 53.91% of all mortgages, the report states. The Cape Coral-Fort Myers came in at No. 11, with 11,066 mortgages out of 27,307 approved for second homes, making up 40.52% of the population. Punta Gorda followed at No. 13, with 3,036 mortgages out of 7,531 approved for second homes, making up 40.31% of the population. |
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| The Area Agency on Aging for SWFL is inviting residents and service providers in Immokalee to share public comments about aging services in Southwest Florida at its town hall meeting held from 1:30-2:30 p.m. April 19 at CareerSource Southwest Florida, 750 S. Fifth St., Immokalee. Comments shared will serve to inform AAASWFL’s strategic plan and service goals for the next four years. To register, call Sarah Gualco at 239-652-6926. |
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| Sue Ryan, speaker, three-time international best-selling author and co-author, leadership coach and founder of Sue Ryan Solutions, recently delivered a TEDx Talk, “Ultimate Freedom – Unlocking the Power of Choice,” in Delaware. Ryan joined the group of seven speakers at the TED Talk event hosted by TEDxWilmington. Her presentation explored how the power of massive acceptance and radical presence empowers individuals to remove judgment from experiences. |
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| NAMI Collier County will hold its 21st annual Hope Shines mental health awareness walk from 8:30-11 a.m. May 6, during mental health awareness month, at Baker Park in Naples. The event will include music, refreshments, face painting, balloon animals and family-friendly activities for participants. The outdoor scenic walk supports NAMI Collier County. Grand marshals are Reg and Sandra Lee Buxton. Participants can form teams, and event sponsorships and table sponsorships are available. Register online. |
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| STARability Foundation has received a $100,000 grant from the Golisano Foundation to expand its Trailblazer Academy program for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Golisano Foundation is one of the nation’s largest foundations dedicated to supporting programs for people with intellectual disabilities. The two-year grant will allow STARability to invest in additional instructors, more program space and activities, enhanced supportive services including behavioral therapy consultations, and data gathering and analysis to help participants make progress toward individual goals. STARability launched the Trailblazer Academy in 2016 to fill a gap in services families were experiencing when, at 22, individuals aged out of the Collier County school system and the supportive services they received ended. |
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| Christopher Alan Homes recently partnered with Community Cooperative to support the nonprofit’s 20th annual Sam Galloway Jr. & Friends Soup Kitchen Benefit, a fundraising event to help thousands of men, women and children in Southwest Florida who struggle with food insecurity and homelessness. Christopher Alan team members worked alongside Community Cooperative staff to package event supplies and prepare the event space for the nonprofit’s annual fundraising banquet. While onsite, the team also unloaded and organized 4,000 pounds of food and prepared food bags used in the market pantry for meal distribution. |
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