Sign up for Lee County’s newsletter and you could win a prize Lee County is announcing its 12 Days of Giving for people who sign up to receive its e-newsletter. From Dec. 1-12, anyone who signs up will be entered to win one of 12 prize packages. The packages include spring training tickets, a “staycation” beach basket or even a complimentary pet adoption with an approved application. One person who registers during the event period will be selected in a random drawing for that day’s prize package. Go to www.leegov.com/12days to register, learn more about the great prizes or review the rules ..read more

As dogs live longer, the ability to document frailty and understand its impact on health is increasingly important. COURTESY PHOTO We all want our dogs to live longer and be healthier in their senior years. No surprise, then, that the study of canine aging and health is a hot topic among scientists who focus on dogs. One of their goals is to develop a frailty instrument for dogs: a tool to measure physical, mental and emotional changes associated with aging. As senior pets live longer — studies show that between 2002 and 2016, the average life expectancy of dogs increased from 10.5 years to ..read more

• Biscuit is a 1-year-old, male 40-pound collie-golden retriever mix who is a bundle of joy, friendly and talkative, and always ready to brighten your day. His adoption fee is $200. These pets are available for adoption from Gulf Coast Humane Society. The shelter has a Senior Adoption Special during December. All adoption fees are paid for senior cats and dogs 8 years old or older. 2010 Arcadia St., Fort Myers; 239-332- 0364; www.gulfcoasthumanesociety.org. *** These pets are available for adoption from Lee County Domestic Animal Services. BISSELL Pet Foundation is hosting its “Empty the She ..read more

Connick, the Captiva Nest Cam eaglet, is headed to the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C. COURTESY PHOTO A young bald eagle that captured the attention — and hearts — of nest camera viewers will live the rest of his life at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C., after months of rehabilitation at the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey. Connick the bald eagle hatched in January in a nest streamed online via the popular Captiva Island Eagle Cam. Viewers tuned in over the first months of Connick’s life as the young eaglet grew stronger and began to branch, or jump to nearby br ..read more

FLORIDA PANTHER UPDATE The Florida panther, Florida’s official state animal, has been listed as a federally endangered species since 1967. In the southeastern U.S., panthers formerly ranged throughout Florida, as far west as Arkansas and as far north as South Carolina. Today only about 120-230 adult panthers exist, primarily in Southwest Florida. As the state grows, suitable habitat for panthers and other wildlife shrinks. Encounters with Florida panthers are relatively rare but do occur, particularly in rural parts of Florida. If you feel threatened by a panther, have lost pets or livestock ..read more

New look for Sanibel’s beloved museum Visitors and friends of the Bailey Matthews National Shell Museum will soon notice a new name and logo. In advance of its early 2024 reopening and reflecting the aquariums added in 2020, the museum has announced a renaming to the Bailey Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium. The new logo will help guide a rebranding of the institution, which is also motivated by a redesign and reinstallation of its permanent exhibit spaces including the Living Gallery of aquariums and marine life and the shell exhibits of The Great Hall of Shells. The museum open ..read more

Walter Nash, who died with his boots on. ROGER WILLIAMS / FLORIDA WEEKLY My grandfather, Colorado cattleman Walter Nash, sat straight in the saddle on his quarter horse, Cherokee, watching me become a Jew. It was the fifth night of Chanukah (aka Hanukkah or Hannukah). His rope, neatly looped, remained secured to the saddle and hanging over his right leg. He kept his boots heels down in the stirrups, beneath blue jeans and a long-sleeved white shirt buttoned all the way to his neck. Above that, his dark Stetson, the working hat, sat straight on his head. His left hand closed the reins in a ca ..read more

Swampee swims in a giant pile of donated stuffed animals. FLORIDA EVERBLADES / COURTESY PHOTO Shovels are ready, not for scooping snow, but for scooping thousands of teddy bears during this “beary” fun holiday tradition on the ice. The annual Teddy Bear Toss for the Florida Everblades is Saturday, Dec. 9, at Hertz Arena. “The Teddy Bear Toss has been happening for over 20 years and collects an estimated average of 7,000 bears each year during the toss. Florida Everblades have collected and donated over 125,000 bears throughout this tradition’s lifespan,” said Adam Winslow, executive vice pre ..read more

Deaths are down. Is that good news or an ominous sign? As the end of 2023 approaches, one of Florida’s iconic species has tallied a total of 13 deaths so far, the lowest in 10 years. Maybe the fact that the population of endangered Florida panthers has dropped by “only” 13 is a cause for celebration. Or maybe it’s cause for concern. That number is about half that of the two previous years, which saw 27 deaths each. All the 2023 deaths were caused by vehicle collision, which is the major cause of panther deaths every year (92.5% in 2022, 81.5% in 2021, 86% in 2020). Perhaps it means drivers i ..read more

Models for the show featured hospital patients and families, including Mila Rauser and Bailey Susic. COURTESY PHOTOS High fashion brought in high dollars at the annual Golisano Children’s Hospital Fashion show. The event raised $130,000 for the pediatric intensive care unit. The PICU cares for critically ill or hurt children from birth to 21 years old. “Funds raised will support training, expanded facilities and new equipment at the PICU, including adding eight more PICU beds to meet the growing needs in the community,” said Alyssa Bostwick, chief nursing and operations executive for Golisan ..read more