Retired teacher hopes to empower students with swim around Key West

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on June 11, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

NAPLES, Fla.– This weekend, Steve Becker of Naples will embark on a daunting swim around Key West for the seventh time. But he’s not swimming for himself; he’s doing it for his former students. Steve will be raising money for the Immokalee Foundation, a non-profit that empowers students in the city where used to teach. “Education is the path out of poverty,” Steve said, echoing the mission of the foundation he will be trying to help get awareness for when he participates in The College of Florida’s Swim Around Key West. Steve will compete as part...

Clewiston High School senior surprises crowd with generosity at graduation

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on June 7, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

CLEWISTON, Fla.– Annette Blanco made the decision seconds after she heard her name called from the stage. At her graduation from Clewiston High School, she won her choice of either a new car or $10,000- the prizes were part of a raffle hosted by a local car dealership for students who excelled in school. Blanco picked the cash, but immediately decided to give half the money away. “It was really a beautiful thing to see,” said Crystal Drake, a teacher at the school. Blanco wanted to give the money to the family of Julian Avalo, her classmate who had died in a car accident...

Estero’s one-of-a-kind service horse and owner spread smiles

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on June 4, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

ESTERO, Fla.–It’s not too unusual to see a service dog on the street but seeing a service horse might be a reason to do a double take. That’s what people along 5th avenue in Naples had to do recently when Ron Chaney and his service pet took a stroll. “Oh my gosh,” one woman exclaimed as Ron and his horse, Sassy Mae, took a morning walk. Ron, a purple heart Vietnam veteran, needed a service pet to help him walk. He tried getting a dog, but when that didn’t work out he went with something bigger. “When she came into my life… it...

Clewiston High School teacher’s discovery leads to fitting memorial for fallen hero

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on May 29, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

CLEWISTON, Fla. – Crystal Drake was working as a substitute teacher inside a classroom at Clewiston High School when an old plaque caught her attention. The plaque was a memorial for Lee Ford, who graduated from the school in 1966. He served in the Vietnam War and later died in the line of duty. “When I saw the name, I knew it was my friend’s brother,” Crystal said. She called the discovery “a miracle” because the plaque had originally been located at the high school’s previous building, which had been demolished for decades. What Crystal...

Bonita Springs woman honors late husband by launching clothing line

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on May 26, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

BONITA SPRINGS Fla. — When Mike O’Malley was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he had a simple request for his wife, Nikki: to find a hobby. Mike thought it would help ease her anxiety as he battled the disease. And it did. “It was something to comfort me,” Nikki said. “That’s what’s so special about it.” Nikki decided her new hobby would be launching a clothing line of leggings, one of the few things that brought her comfort during that difficult time. She promised Michael “everything would be fine” and she would continue the effort after...

After passing away, grandmother surprises grandchildren with uplifting voice messages

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on May 21, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla.– Joan Page hadn’t even been gone for a day when her grandchildren opened their email inboxes and made a discovery. The grandmother, who spent some of her final years in North Fort Myers, had recorded voice messages for each of them. “Enjoy everything you do in life,” Joan said in one message. “Your life has been a wonderful addition,” she remarked in another. Joan passed away at the age of 97 in New Jersey. The messages were recorded in August before her mind started to slip away due to dementia. “It was...

Mysterious recurring donations at Naples Military Museum leave emotional impact

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on May 19, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

NAPLES, Fla.– The cash first started appearing in March. Every week since, a crisp hundred dollar bill has appeared inside the donation box at the Naples Museum of Military History. Normally, the museum receives between $30-$40 in donations per week. “I thought it was counterfeit,” Dave Hinds, the museum’s president, said. After a trip to the bank confirmed it wasn’t, Dave couldn’t believe the generosity. The donor who has left the hundred dollar bills has not revealed themself. “I know that someone is caring about the veterans,”...

Inseparable friendship formed in Army leads to emotional airport reunion

Written by Naples Mortgage Syndicated User on May 14, 2021. Posted in Naples Florida Mortgage, Naples Mortgage.

LEE COUNTY, Fla. – Only a few months ago, Jami Aguayo and Travis Livingston were strangers. Now they consider each other best friends. Their friendship led to an emotional reunion at Southwest Florida International Airport last month (watch the video above to see the moment unfold). Aguayo and Livingston served in the U.S. Army alongside each other in northern Syria. For months they battled extreme challenges together, including spending 19 days in the desert without power. Each Tuesday they would send each other special messages via video to let each other know...

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