Two Russian Nationals are opening a center in Naples to provide cultural events, continuing education and networking opportunities for expats living in the area - as well as the community at large. 

 The new non-profit Russian Cultural Center will celebrate, share and promote Russian and former Soviet Union awareness.  It will include a music school in the best Russian and European traditions, a visiting Russian Theater troupe from New York presenting plays in Russian with English subtitles and a lecturer on Russian literature and history.  READ MORE

The
Cultural Center of Charlotte County is hosting a military themed
fashion show on Friday called “Dress Blues to ACUs”.  It’s a fundraiser
for the Military Heritage Museum in Punta Gorda, which has lots of
uniforms on display, along with wartime memorabilia dating back to the
Civil War.  WGCU’s Valerie Alker recently took a tour and prepared this
report.

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune will discontinue home delivery of its paper to Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda and parts of DeSoto County next month. Its publisher – Diane McFarlin – says the decision was driven by the sliding economy and the migration of advertising dollars to the web. She told WGCU’s Mike Kiniry that which areas to cut were mostly determined by geography and population density…

There was dancing and singing in the streets in Ft. Myers Monday as hundreds of people turned out for the annual freedom march commemorating the life of the late civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Junior. And of course this year’s march was on the eve of Barack Obama’s swearing in as the nation’s first African American president. So, the question WGCU’s Valerie Alker asked was “has Martin Luther King’s dream been realized”

We heard from: Deacon Elijah Brown, Evelyn Foster, Father Robert Browning, March organizers Jonathan Elliot and Reginald Billips– and from Terry Stark.

The Sidney and Berne Davis Art Center in Downtown Fort Myers is still a few years and a few million dollars from being completely renovated. But the center is hosting its first theatrical production, Macbeth. And the future for the former courthouse-slash-post office has promise. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez has this report.

VIGIL

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"Candlelight Vigil"



The Lee County Homeless Coalition will hold its 12th annual candlelight vigil for the homeless on Sunday evening. WGCU’s Mike Kiniry reports.



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As Jewish victims of last week’s attack in Mumbai were buried Tuesday in Israel, a Naples Rabbi grieved the loss of friends and urged his community to take on “a global campaign of kindness.” WGCU’s John Davis has more.

The town of Immokalee in Collier County dedicated an 18-hundred square foot mural last week depicting the lives, culture and history of this largely migrant community. WGCU’s John Davis reports.

Sometimes one can find classic car lovers gathered in parking lots sitting around their cars bragging to anyone who wants to catch a glimpse. They listen for whose engine revs the loudest and ogle over whose car is the most attractive. But we’re not talking about teenagers showing off racy sports cars – but southwest Floridians aged 65 and older who are keeping the classic car tradition alive and well. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez has this report on the future of these classic cars…

To see pictures from the car show click on the image to the left.

To see video of the show click on the box below.

After more than a decade of stops and starts - a memorial to southwest Floridians who died in the Vietnam War is being unveiled this weekend near the foot of the Midpoint Bridge in Fort Myers. WGCU’s Mike Kiniry reports.