@AmySWFL

Once an ashtray-dumping, obituary-writing clerk. Now News-Press journalist: curator of characters, conflict and curiosities. And proud Alvanian.

 Southwest Florida
news-press.com
Joined February 2009
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Some consequential space naplesnews.com/story/news/lo…

More than just a pretty place: Rookery Bay powers the economic engine of Collier's coast

Best hope for beaches: Rookery Bay's preserved and protected plants may hold the key to helping hurricane-scarred urban shorelines recover.

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"Downright despicable" Alfie Oakes accuses Collier's election office of fraud, but chief Melissa Blazier says Oakes is "irresponsibly blaming" @CollierVotes "for his shortcomings...Do not be fooled," she says. "There is no fraud. There is no racketeering." naplesnews.com/story/news/po…

Alfie Oakes accuses Collier County election office of 'interference at the highest level'

Alfie Oakes has taken officials to court before and is talking as if he'll do it again after being barred from Collier's ballot for filing improperly.

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Both sides say there's more to the story. Follow-up on the way. naplesnews.com/story/news/po…

No election for Alfie: Oakes improperly files campaign paperwork; can't run for office

Improperly filed ballot paperwork disqualifies Collier County grocery magnate Alfie Oakes, who was seeking a second term as Republican committeeman.

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My life isn't ALL bugs and bunnies. @ByronDonalds, our hometown congressman is in New York for @realDonaldTrump's trial. news-press.com/story/news/po…

'We are better than this.' Byron Donalds scorches Democrats at Trump trial in New York

“The Democrat party has lost their ever-lovin’ minds,” Naples Congressman Byron Donalds said outside Donald Trump's trial.

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Better to ask permission or forgiveness? news-press.com/story/news/lo…

Historic mistake? White bricks have many in downtown Fort Myers seeing red

"We have something very special here (in Fort Myers) and people come to visit to see what we have ‒ they don’t come to see faux historic."

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Oh, to have been a fly on the pummelo... What did @AlfieForAmerica and @VivekGRamaswamy chat about over their @Seed to Table lunch?naplesnews.com/story/news/po…

Alfie Oakes and Vivek Ramaswamy meet for lunch at Seed to Table

Lots to chat about: Both entrepreneurs, both GOP influencers, both anti-woke, both pro-Trump, Alfie Oakes and Vivek Ramaswamy met for lunch Monday.

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More than a year after Hurricane Ian’s devastation, “Financially, the @City_of_Sanibel is stable and healthy,” City Manager Dana Souza told a full house at the @SanCapChamber’s State of the Islands summit, thanks to grants, loans and other help from "our very good friends."
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If the big cats are getting sick from the water, we might be at risk too: "When we see signs of wood storks not nesting and weird syndromes popping up in panther species, we really need to start paying attention" a state vet told collegue Chad Gillis. news-press.com/story/news/en…

Is there something in the water? Scientists suspect pollution impacting panthers

Another sign: Reported depredations of livestock and domestic animals have crashed from 21 incidents in 2021 to just two so far this year

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For us, they're simply obnoxious, but for baby birds, sandspurs (well, their wounds) can be fatal. So @AudubonFL is using a new invention and volunteer help to head 'em off. And check out @AndrewWestphoto's great images of the process and its beneficiaries.news-press.com/story/news/en…

Sandspurs may threaten baby shorebirds: Roller-wielding volunteers to the rescue

Remember the mysterious ailment that's been killing shorebirds? Turns out infected sandspur pokes might be to blame. Volunteers test removal device.

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Amy Bennett Williams retweeted
Craig Pittman@craigtimes29 Apr 2023
#Florida sheriff quietly builds stockyard on riverfront preserve news-press.com/story/news/en… via @AmySWFL

Carmine's corral: Lee sheriff quietly builds stockyard on riverfront Olga preserve

Without telling the Conservaton 20/20 advisory board, Lee County hands over 6 preserve acres to the sheriff to house siezed or escaped livestock

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Craig Pittman@craigtimes21 Apr 2023
Audubon sues #Florida city over walkway that nonprofit says harms shorebirds news-press.com/story/news/en… via @AmySWFL

Audubon takes Fort Myers Beach to court over walkway that nonprofit says harms shorebirds

In a last-ditch effort to stop a private boardwalk being built near wildlife habitat, Florida Audubon is taking Fort Myers Beach, homeowners to court

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Is the $560 million contract for the C-43 reservoir teetering on the brink? @SFWMD put @LaneConstruct on notice that default is the next step; Lane says the problem is 'district-caused actions." Meanwhile, the completion date keeps receding.news-press.com/story/news/en…

Trouble at the reservoir: Water district, C-43 contractor at odds over $560 million contract

Before a default, there's a cure notice. That's where the South Florida Water Management District and the contractor building the reservoir are now

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Amy Bennett Williams retweeted
Florida Humanities@FlHumanities7 Apr 2023
🎂 Happy 154th birthday to the globe-trotting botanist David Fairchild! You can learn more about Fairchild's contribution to our palates in @AmySWFL's feature in our latest issue of FORUM Magazine. Become a Florida Humanities member to get your copy: bit.ly/3m9HrxD
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Craig Pittman@craigtimes3 Apr 2023
Two #Florida enviro groups file notice of intent to sue @USFWS over its failure to protect the gopher tortoise, whose population is dropping rapidly. news-press.com/story/news/en… via @AmySWFL

Gopher tortoises in Florida: Nonprofits plan to sue for federal protection

Discounting their own dire predictions about gopher tortoise survival, feds deny them Endangered Species Act protections. Advocates intend to sue.

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Ian swamped Sanibel's Bailey’s, sweeping through like a drunken whale. Then looters grabbed pricey fishing gear, lottery tickets and the Dom Perignon. Now, a corps of friends and family are planning a salvage party to fund the rebuild and island nonprofits news-press.com/story/news/lo…

Baileys on Sanibel auctions wine that Hurricane Ian didn't wash away

Maybe the labels got wet, but it's what's inside that counts, right? Salvaged wine sale to help beloved Sanibel general store, plus hurricane-hit islanders

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One moment from a heartening talk @MaxChesnes had with @JaneGoodallInst "Indigenous people made a decision based on: “How will this affect future generations?” Now it’s: “How will it affect me, the next shareholders meeting, or my next political campaign?” tampabay.com/news/environmen…

Ahead of Tampa visit, Jane Goodall shares her message for Florida

We spoke with the celebrated conservationist as she arrived in Tampa for speaking events Tuesday and Wednesday night.

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WLRN Public Media@WLRN29 Mar 2023
Worry over harmful algae blooms delays new Lake Okeechobee management plan (via @jenstaletovich) wlrn.org/environment/2023-03…

Worry over harmful algae blooms delays new Lake Okeechobee management plan

Army Corps officials say the plan scheduled to begin in June will take another six months after federal environmental officials decided to issue a more rigorous review.

wlrn.org
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Amy Bennett Williams retweeted
Jenny Staletovich@jenstaletovich23 Mar 2023
Report: Surging population, rising seas could lead to more of Florida being paved over wlrn.org/environment/2023-03…

Report: Surging population, rising seas could lead to more of Florida being paved over

The joint report from the University of Florida and 1000 Friends of Florida found a 23 percent increase in population and just under a foot of sea rise by 2040 could wipe out a million acres of...

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Amy Bennett Williams retweeted
Craig Pittman@craigtimes10 Mar 2023
From rangeland to RV resort -- Rural #Florida town grapples with changes brought by development news-press.com/story/news/st… via @AmySWFL

From rangeland to RV resort? Rural Alva grapples with pressing development

'I don't think they can stop it' developer of a luxury RV resort in Alva says as rural residents try to preserve their 'unique country ambiance.'

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Fort Myers Beach couple that wants African-themed "dream pool" and does missions work there asks Fort Myers Beach town council for a variance.youtube.com/watch?v=LAWaDVZu…
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