Entertainment

Record Florida black bear, 620 pounds, captured and relocated

One of the biggest black bears in the Florida history books was captured recently in Lake County, sedated and relocated.

• 2:33 PM

Bonita's Survey Cafe now under new ownership

Survey Café in Bonita Springs has new owners.

• 9:34 PM

Artis-Naples hands out $32,000 in scholarships

Artis-Naples has awarded $32,000 in scholarships to six young Southwest Florida musicians, the Naples arts hall announced today.

• 1:00 PM

Urban farming workshop series kicks off at Alliance GreenMarket

Every summer, the Alliance for the Arts GreenMarket invites people to participate in free farming and gardening workshops conducted by local growers, master gardeners, homesteaders and educators.

• 11:51 AM

Electric utility work to affect portions of North Fort Myers preserve trail

Lee County Electric Cooperative will be conducting work on an easement through Prairie Pines Preserve in North Fort Myers that may restrict access to portions of the 18-mile trail system from now through this summer.

• 11:05 AM

Two-day tarpon tournament attracts anglers from around the world

During the World's Richest Tarpon Tournament today and Friday in and around Boca Grande Pass, head judge Chad Lach will have his hands full.

• 10:34 AM

Lee Civic Center going to the dogs

What's happening: More than 1,000 registered exhibitors will converge on the Lee Civic Center in North Fort Myers to showcase 150 breeds of dogs at the annual Greater Fort Myers Dog Club event this Saturday and Sunday, May 25-26.

• 6:25 AM

Five things about boating

Memorial Day weekend is coming up, so there are sure to be plenty of boaters out and about soon. Here are some general safety and wildlife reminders as well as a few other tidbits about places to go and access points.

• May 22, 2013

Barefoot Beach replenishment a big hit

Waves pummeled the sand whisking it away into the Gulf so fiercely that trees lost their footing and tumbled into the water. The beach at the north end of Barefoot was so narrow visitors had to walk in the water.

• May 22, 2013

Red Rock Saloon closes in downtown Fort Myers, looking for new home

The Red Rock Saloon closed today in downtown Fort Myers, and is looking for a new home.

• May 22, 2013

Seminole Casino Immokalee gets a French chef

He possesses more than 20 years in the food and beverage industry. Before his move to Immokalee, he was executive chef of Marriott Fort Lauderdale North, where he managed staff and was responsible for menu development and cost control.

• May 22, 2013

Impractical Jokers show canceled at Mann Hall

The Impractical Jokers have canceled their June 1 show at Mann Hall, according to the show’s publicist and the hall. The traveling show stars the cast of the hidden-camera TruTV comedy show “Impractical Jokers.” It was set to appear June 1 in Fort Myers.

• May 22, 2013

Video: Camouflaged alligators at Wa-Ke Hatchee Park

Ned Gamski shared this video of two well-hidden alligators at Wa-Ke Hatchee Park, located at 16760 Bass Road in south Fort Myers.

• May 22, 2013

Whats in your fridge? Indian cafe owner Kartik Patel

Indian cafe owner Kartik Patel shows off the vegetables,spices, grains and he stocks in his fridge to create his vegetarian and vegan dishes and curries at home.

• May 22, 2013

South Fla. Water Management District chief resigns

The executive director of the state agency overseeing water supply, flood control and Everglades restoration between Orlando and Key West has resigned.

• May 22, 2013

Survey measures goliath grouper management in Florida

An old joke among area divers is that you could throw a washing machine into the Gulf of Mexico off Southwest Florida, and within a couple of days, a bunch of goliath grouper would be living on it.

• May 22, 2013

Anchored putter ban comes with confusion

There's a good chance in 2½ years, professional golf could look like Major League Baseball.

• May 22, 2013

Hot Dish: South Beach Grille on Fort Myers Beach makes unique grouper entree

When it comes to fish and cheese, traditional Italian chefs are likely to give an emphatic wag of the finger and a harsh 'no.' But South Beach Grille tucked into the Santini Plaza on the south end of Fort Myers Beach is not Italian. And the Art Deco dining establishment prides itself on a contemporary, Florida-style take on seafood.

• May 21, 2013

A La Carte: Cimini's brings family recipes to public

'When it comes to chicken Marsala, Cimini's Restaurant & Pizzeria in North Fort Myers crafts the kind of dish that inspires diners to lick plates clean.

• May 21, 2013

Off the eaten path: With a name like Truly Scrumptious, ice cream alone won't do

Depending on your point of view Truly Scrumptious is either the last restaurant on Fort Myers Beach, or the first.

• May 21, 2013

Farm to Fork: Florida Sweet Corn

The quicker this piece of produce lands in your mouth from the field, the sweeter the experience. Available through June, these edible ears take a three-month sabbatical until they crop up again in October.

• May 21, 2013

In the kitchen: Craig Chasky, private chef and nutritional adviser

Inspirations: Mentoring children and adults about nutrition and 'hands-on' culinary arts.

• May 21, 2013

Inspector gadget: Shake up your salt and pepper dispensers

PepArt Pepper Mills These hand-painted pepper mills offer high design and optimum function. Designed by artist Robert Wilhelm, one version features a long, tapered body with a round top accented with a stainless steel adjustment ring.

• May 21, 2013

Restaurants, retailers offer relief from heat with summer wine selections

To beat the heat, some in Southwest Florida have retired their rich red wines for a refreshing white or a dry rosé.

• May 21, 2013

Fire up some new flavors on the grill such as fruits, vegetables, even cheese

As the rest of the country defrosts, pulling cobweb-covered grills from the back of its collective garages, we Southwest Floridians are preheated for the biggest grilling weekend of the year. So bypass the burger buns and hand back the hot dogs. Let’s kick off summer like it’s never been kicked off before.

• May 21, 2013

Barbara Walters' daughter arrested on suspicion of DUI in Naples

The 44-year-old daughter of Barbara Walters was arrested early Sunday following a bizarre scene on Interstate 75.

• May 21, 2013

Shoals Restaurant and The Sandy Butler closed on Fort Myers Beach

The Sandy Butler Market and Shoals Restaurant & Wine Bar at 17650 San Carlos Blvd. on Fort Myers Beach has closed.

• May 21, 2013

Gatorland in Orlando buys Everglades Wonder Gardens animals

Gatorland in Orlando is buying more than 70 animals from Everglades Wonder Gardens in Bonita Springs, which closed as a wildlife park in April after 77 years. The animals include alligators, crocodiles, snakes, turtles, deer and bobcat. Founded in 1949 as a roadside attraction by Owen and Pearl Godwin, Gatorland is a 110-acre theme park and wildlife preserve.

• May 21, 2013

The Naples Players announce their 2013-2014 season

The Naples Players have announced their 2013-2014 season, including the Tony Award-winning musical “The Drowsy Chaperone” and the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama “Our Town.”

• May 21, 2013

Public input sought on Water Management District's use of state-owned lands

The South Florida Water Management District is seeking public input on the use of more than a dozen state-owned properties along the Caloosahatchee River and is hosting a meeting Wednesday in Fort Myers.

• May 21, 2013

Golf adopts rule to ban anchored putting stroke

Golf's governing bodies approved a rule Tuesday that outlaws the putting stroke used by four of the last six major champions, a move opposed by two major golf organizations that contend long putters are not hurting the game.

• May 21, 2013

Record python, nearly 19 feet, killed in South Florida

A Miami man caught and killed the longest Burmese python ever captured in the state of Florida, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

• May 20, 2013

Flutist raises $7,000 for ailing Southwest Florida Symphony

Southwest Florida Symphony faces a crushing debt that has symphony leaders discussing emergency fundraising and the possibility of scaling back their 2013-2014 concert season.

• May 20, 2013

Sweet Odin's Danish Bakery in Bonita Springs hosting grand opening

Sweet Odin's Danish Bakery in Bonita Springs will have a ribbon-cutting at 8 a.m. Wednesday to mark its grand opening.

• May 20, 2013

Stroke saver: Preserving pars

Renaissance’s David Kent has a couple of tips for saving pars.

• May 18, 2013

In the Bag: Special ball marker

Arrowhead's Ben Kitts talks about a ball marker given to him from one of his best friends in high school, who now is a member of the U.S. Army Delta Force:

• May 18, 2013

Hole of the Week: No. 18, Sabal Course, Bonita Bay

Bonita Bay, Naples

• May 18, 2013

The Rulebook: Leaf falling penalty

Q: During the Masters broadcast, when Angel Cabrera was practice hitting behind a tree, Jim Nantz said if one leaf had fallen from Cabrera hitting a limb on his backswing that he would've been penalized a stroke. Is that true?

• May 18, 2013

Demo Guys: FootJoy M Project Shoe

The News-Press has partnered with Lumpy's in Fort Myers to get feedback from golfers with different skills on a new piece of equipment.

• May 18, 2013

The Pro-File: Bud Cauley

Bud Cauley, 23, has two, top-25 finishes this season while earning more than $230,000. He has made $2.7 million in his career and has a best of two, third-place finishes.

• May 18, 2013

Pink Fizz

• May 18, 2013

Meet the native: Pineland Passionflower

Although passionflowers look strangely exotic, there are six species native to Florida.

• May 18, 2013

Birds are the word for Naples couple

Old exotic birds don't die – they go to the Bird Gardens of Naples.

• May 18, 2013

Pictures from Paradise: Otter you doing?

Do you have a picture of paradise? We'd love to run it. Email your pictures to Tropicalia Editor Brian Hubbard at bhubbard@news-press.com.

• May 18, 2013

Seven days of play in paradise

Today Gators in the Garden is the theme for the annual Art in the Garden outdoor sculpture installation, which is a project of the Lee County Art Educators and Edison-Ford.

• May 18, 2013

Wildfile: Florida pine snake

The Florida pine snake can be seen everywhere in Florida except the Keys. It is a constrictor, so when it is alarmed its body will swell and it will rattle its tail, hiss loudly and strike at intruders.

• May 18, 2013

Yard Art: Back-porch beauty

Conni Smith has made 40 mosaics on the back porch of her home on Southeast 11th Avenue in Cape Coral.

• May 18, 2013

Golf Hall of Famer, ex-Marco resident Ken Venturi dies

Ken Venturi, who overcame dehydration to win the 1964 U.S. Open and spent 35 years in the booth for CBS Sports, died Friday afternoon. He was 82.

• May 17, 2013

Naples Winter Wine Festival announces 2014 event chairs

For the first time, three women will chair the Naples Winter Wine Festival, ranked by Wine Spectator as the most successful charity wine auction in the nation.

• May 17, 2013