Danya Harpster

Florida Gulf Coast University’s Board of Trustees Thursday afternoon selected Aysegul Timur, Ph.D., to become FGCU’s fifth president and first female to hold that post. The decision was reached Thursday afternoon following final interviews with four finalists, which also included Henry Mack III, Ed.D., the senior chancellor of the Florida Department of Education; Neil J. MacKinnon, Ph.D., the executive vice president for Academic Affairs and provost at Augusta University; and Joseph A. “Jay” Morgan, Ph.D., the president of Morehead State University.

Education

Dr. Aysegul Timur selected as FGCU president; vote from Board of Governors is next

Danya Harpster

A homegrown candidate has been selected to be the new face of Florida Gulf Coast University.Dr. Aysegul Timur, Vice President and Vice Provost for Strategy and Program Innovation for FGCU, was selected by a unanimous vote Thursday from four other candidates for the position.

On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, the Chilean delegation toured a tomato farm in Parrish, Pacific Tomato Growers, and got to see the Fair Food Program in action. A delegation comprising of Chilean agricultural producers, human rights activists and government representatives has traveled to Southwest Florida to meet with representatives and see the workings of the Fair Food Program (FFP) first-hand. The Coalition of Immokalee Workers, creators of the Fair Food Program, hosted the delegation for meetings, live farm tours and a look at Immokalee during the week of April 24-28th. Efforts to expand the Fair Food Program into Chile’s agricultural industry is the goal. Extending Chile’s human rights protections to workers, and certifying ethical producers, in that country.

Human Interest

Chilean delegation travels to Southwest Florida to learn how to eradicate modern-day slavery

Danya Harpster

The Fair Food Program, the signature creation of Coalition of Immokalee Workers, is expanding internationally.

Kaylee Dombrowski asked all the students who were in attendance to please stand up as she spoke. Around 40 students showed up, 10 spoke, at the Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday morning. They were there to peacefully sit in and urge the board to choose a president who will represent the students.

Education

FGCU students voice opposition to candidate for university president; finalist public forums scheduled

Danya Harpster

FGCU students voice concerns that university presidential candidate Henry Mack will work to further Gov. Ron DeSantis' political agenda in higher education. A schedule for finalist interviews has been released and is available at the end of this news article.

Around 75 students and faculty at FGCU held a peaceful protest on the Library Lawn, Monday April 10, 2023, and to take a stand against bill HB999.

Government & Politics

Students voice opposition to higher education bills that could curtail studies on race and gender

Danya Harpster

Florida Gulf Coast University students rally against proposed legislation they say are attempts to move Florida universities and colleges to the political right.

Hurricane Recovery

HUD announces $1.1 billion for Hurricane Ian recovery in Lee

Danya Harpster

Officials from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development came to Fort Myers Beach Wednesday to make the announcement: Floridians impacted by Hurricane Ian may have an opportunity to rebuild the homes and lives with a federal infusion of $2.8 billion in cash. Of that, Lee County will get $1. 1 billion.

Bernabela talks about what life was like inside the trailer where she lived with her family, 12 people total. The housing situation for the farmworkers and full time residents in Immokalee, FL, has gone from bad to worse since Hurricane Irma put a beating on the small town. There is not a single vacancy at this time anywhere. Laura Safer Espinoza and her husband Arol Buntzman, they along with a dozen or so people are the backbone of the Immokalee Fair Housing Alliance. They are now working on the festering problem: The lack of safe, affordable housing. To date, the Immokalee Fair Housing Alliance has raised about $5 million enough for initial costs, infrastructure and the completion the first building. The group is $1 million shy of being able to build the second building. It cost about $2.8 per building. Among the first 16 families that will live in this new community is Bernabela’s. She and her children Eddie is 17, Ashley 11, and Kimberly, 8, lived at one time in one of the bedrooms, of a 3 bedroom trailer, with 8 people.

Human Interest

Hurricane Irma exposed many in Immokalee to deplorable living conditions; finally, there's something being done about it

Danya Harpster

The Immokalee Fair Housing Alliance is offering hope to Immokalee's poor with its campaign to build housing for 128 families.

Destroyed homes on Matlacha Island, Fla. on Monday after Hurricane Ian ravaged the area.

Hurricane Recovery

Nevermind. Property appraiser says FEMA was in error when it cautioned against using county home value figures

Danya Harpster

A letter sent to officials in Sanibel Island Fort Myers said municipalities could be kicked out of the National Flood Insurance Program if figures from the property appraisers office are used when calculating if hurricane-battered home could be repaired or demolished

Water damage happened in the living areas of the care center. SalusCare in Fort Myers wants to get their buildings fixed and open back up. Flooring, and drywall were pulled out within days of the hurricane to help stop mold from taking over. Now they wait on insurance to finish.

Hurricane Recovery

SalusCare, with Lee County's only crisis-stabilization units, remains shuttered by insurance stalemate

Danya Harpster

A long-standing battle over which insurer will pay for some $1 million hurricane damage leaves thousands of Lee residents in peril

Over 400 people were in attendance for the Workforce Housing Forum presented by Greater Naples Leadership. Kitty Keane, President of GNL, ran the presentation. Business owners, large companies and even workers affected by the affordable housing shortage in Collier spoke.

Business/Economy

Naples' explosive growth and affluence offers few living options for those working everyday jobs

Danya Harpster

A group of industry leaders are asking local officials to provide work-force housing

Hurricane Ian destroyed several portions of the Sanibel Causeway.

Tomorrow is the deadline for homeowners and renters to apply for Hurricane Ian disaster assistance from FEMA

Mike Kiniry

It’s been three and a half months since Hurricane Ian made landfall near Sanibel Island and swept across the state causing an estimated $50 to 65 billion dollars in insured damages and killing more than 100 people just here in Florida. While many people moved quickly to seek assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency after the storm hit, for anyone who has still not filed a claim, the deadline is tomorrow…Thursday, January 12th. Homeowners and renters have until 11:59 tomorrow night to file a claim for property loss, or damage to property, from Hurricane Ian.