Veronica Amador

Seven months after Hurricane Ian, residents and city officials of Arcadia and neighboring city Wauchula are working toward getting back to normal. Although the physical damage of the storm is not present, residents know what still needs to be done. While debris from the hurricane is now gone off the streets in both Arcadia and Wauchula, some roofs still have blue tarps and are in of need repairs. Residents are worried about the possibility of mold in their homes.

Harlem Heights Charter Community School is a tuition-free public school off Gladiolus Drive in Lee County. The school is in its seventh year, with classes ranging from kindergarten through fifth grade. The school addresses challenges faced by kids who are growing up in poverty, who are growing up in families with limited educational exposure, and who are not native speakers of English.

Cape Coral has approved new assessments for more homeowners to hook up to city water and sewer. The expansion of the utilities will extend to a new zone in the northwest part of the city, despite the pleas of some people to hold off at this time.

New mission and vision statements and new school board priorities passed unanimously at a recent meeting of the newly-elected Collier County School Board.

After protests from landlords and the county’s board of realtors, Collier County commissioners repealed a requirement that landlords raising rents give tenants 60 days notice. Commissioners had approved the ordinance, requiring the notice if rental rates increased by more than 5%.