THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP, A SNEAK PEEK AT THE INCREDIBLE INNOVATIONS OF THE EDISON AWARDS.

THE FIRST OF A SERIES AS WGCU DIVES INTO WHAT YOU CAN LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE FUTURE.

DEFYING THE ODDS.

A WOMAN IN THE DUGOUT FULL OF MEN AND SHE IS THEIR COACH.

WE SIT DOWN WITH THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE WOMAN'S PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE AND GROWING BIGGER BY THE DAY MEANS DEALING WITH THE PROBLEMS THAT COME WITH A BOOM IN BUSINESS AND POPULATION.

WE'RE TAKING YOU TO A SOUTHWEST FLORIDA CITY THAT SIZE HAS DOUBLED AND SHOWS NO SIGNS OF SLOWING DOWN.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THE EDISON AWARDS TAKE PLACE IN FORT MYERS AND BRING THE BEST IN TECHNOLOGY TO THE FOREFRONT EVERY YEAR.

IT'S A TRADITION THAT DATES BACK TO 1987.

THE AWARDS HONOR THE MOST IMPACTFUL PRODUCTS IN SEVERAL CATEGORIES.

THIS YEAR'S RECIPIENTS ARE USING AI AND GREEN ENERGY TO TRY AND MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER.

WGCUS EMMA RODRIGUEZ SAT DOWN WITH A FINALIST TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THIS AWARD MEANS FOR ONE COMPANY SELECTED AS A FINALIST.

>> WE ARE HERE IN FORT MYERS.

THE HOME OF THOMAS EDISON.

AND WE'VE DEVELOPED THIS TECHNOLOGY.

THIS INNOVATION AT THE HOME OF THOMAS EDISON.

SO TO BE ABLE TO WIN THIS AWARD, IT MEANS THE MOHS RECOGNITION IN THE MOST PLACE WITH THE UTMOST HISTORY BEHIND IT.

>> THAT SITE PRESIDENT CEO AND FOUNDER PATRICK PENNY.

THE OPEN HEART SURGEON TURNED EDISON AWARD NOMINEE FOUNDED THE FORT MYERS BRAND IN 1999.

AFTER AN EPIPHANY IN THE OPERATING ROOM, HE REALIZED THAT PLATELETS TINY CELL FRAGMENT IN HUMAN BLOOD THAT HELP WITH CLOTTING COULD HELP HEAL MUSCULOSKELETAL INJURIES.

THANK TENDON AND LIGAMENT TEARS WITH THAT PENNY PIONEERED THE FIELD OF REGENERATIVE BIOLOGICS THE USE OF A PERSON'S OWN CELLS TO HELP THEM HEAL.

HE HAD THIS TO SAY ABOUT THE SPACES GROWTH OVER THE YEARS AND RECENT YEARS.

IT HAS BECOME ALMOST A STANDARD OF CARE.

>> SO INITIALLY WHEN I STARTED THIS, IT WAS CONSIDERED INVESTIGATIONAL.

BUT NOW AFTER 20 CLOSE TO 30 YEARS IN THIS INDUSTRY, WEVE GOT THOSE THINGS.

DEFINE.

SO NOW WE KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IS NEEDED IN ORDER FOR PATIENTS TO RECOVER, SAY FROM THE JOINT INJURY AND THE SCHOOL TEARS.

>> SITE PRODUCT NOMINATED FOR AN EDISON AWARD IS THE PURE SUPER PHYSIOLOGIC CONCENTRATING SYSTEM WITH A SPIRE.

DON'T TECHNOLOGY WORKS TOGETHER WITH THE CLAIMANTS TO ENHANCE THE RECOVERY OF THE INJURED.

OKAY.

SO THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW.

>> WE'RE ASKED PUTTING OUT ALL THE STUFF LAST MONTH.

>> AND WE WANT TO CONCENTRATE THE PLASMA PROTEINS.

IT'S ONE OF THE 3 FINALISTS IN THE PRECISION HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES.

CATEGORY THE DEVICE EXTRACT, REGENERATIVE BIOLOGIC PROPERTIES LIKE THE AFOREMENTIONED BLOOD PLATELETS TO EVENTUALLY HELP HEAL INJURIES AND SITE CLINICAL SPECIALIST ABLE PERFUME, RUCK WORK ON THE CONCENTRATING SYSTEM ALTOGETHER, ABLE TO CREATE SOMETHING AMAZING.

AND I'M.

>> AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR GOAL IS TO IMPROVE PATIENT OUTCOMES.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE DO BEST.

>> SHE SAYS THE PRODUCT REDUCES STEPS IN THE PLATELET EXTRACTION PROCESS, LOWERS THE RISK OF IRRITATION AND HELPS PATIENTS AVOID SURGERY BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL PRESSURE AND THERE.

YEAH, THE BASIC CONCEPT OF THE PIER SUPER PHYSIOLOGIC CONCENTRATING SYSTEM WITH ASPIRE DOME TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN IN USE FOR 15 YEARS, BUT PENNY SUBMITTED ITS MOST RECENT ITERATION TO THE EDISON AWARDS WITH THIS BEING AND SITES FIRST DEVICE IN THE RUNNING TO WIN THE HONOR MORE THAN ANYTHING HE WANTS TO KEEP PROGRESSING.

>> THROUGH THE YEARS WE'VE BEEN DEVELOPING THE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPED IN THE ABILITY OF THE PRODUCT TO PERFORM EVEN BETTER.

SO I ALWAYS SAY IF YOU'RE NOT INNOVATING, YOU'VE FALLEN BEHIND.

>> 4 WGC NEWS.

I'M EMMA WRIGHT.

WEEKENDS.

>> THE 2026 EDISON AWARDS WILL BE HELD AT THE LUMINARY HOTEL AND CALOOSA SOUND CONVENTION CENTER IN FORT MYERS.

THOSE AWARD EVENTS BEGIN ON APRIL.

15TH AND THAT WAS THE FIRST AND EMMA RODRIGUEZ SERIES OF REPORTS ON LOCAL FINALIST FOR THE EDISON AWARDS.

WGC WAS BRINGING YOU THE STORIES ON THESE INVENTORS, THEIR PRODUCTS AND HOW THEY'RE CHANGING OUR LIVES TO KEEP UP WITH THE REPORTS.

IT'S AS EASY AS LOGGING ONTO WGCU DOT ORG.

>> PART OF INNOVATION AND INVENTING IS BREAKING BARRIERS AND SOMETIMES BREAKING WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE GLASS CEILING.

>> WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TODAY TO BE JOINED BY THE FIRST FEMALE COACH IN MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AND THE FOUNDER OF BASEBALL FOR ALL GIVING GIRLS THE CHANCE TO PLAY BALL.

JUSTINE SIEGAL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

CAN YOU TAKE US BACK TO WHEN YOU FIRST FELL IN LOVE WITH THE GAME?

I UNDERSTOOD THAT AS A LITTLE GIRL, YOU ACTUALLY SLEPT WITH YOUR BAT ON YOUR PILLOW AT NIGHT.

>> I DID.

I GREW UP PLAYING BASEBALL.

I STARTED WITH PEOPLE AND THEN.

YOU KNOW, IT'S ABOUT 12, 13 WHEN I WAS TOLD I SHOULD QUIT PLAYING BASEBALL AND I JUST FELT LIKE I'M GOING TO PLAY FOREVER LIKE YOU CAN'T TELL ME NOT TO PLAY IN.

THE MORE PEOPLE TRIED TO KIND OF PUSH ME OUT BECAUSE I WAS A GIRL.

JUST THE MORE I LOVED IT.

AND SO I WOULD SLEEP WITH MY BY AND SOMETIMES WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND JUST TAKE SOME SWINGS IN PRACTICE IN MY BEDROOM BECAUSE I CAN'T OF, YOU KNOW, BEING A MAJOR LEADER.

>> YOU ARE TOLD NOT ONLY COULD GIRLS NOT PLAY BASEBALL, BUT ULTIMATELY THAT A WOMAN SHOULD NOT OR COULD NOT AND YOU HAVE BROKEN BOTH THOSE BARRIERS.

HOW DID YOU ACCOMPLISH THIS?

>> OF STUBBORNNESS IS A BIG PART, BUT ALSO JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU LOVE SOMETHING AND IT'S IN YOUR HEART.

YOU CAN'T JUST QUIT.

IT'S IT'S IT'S IT HAS IT HAS TO HAPPEN.

SO, YOU KNOW, I PLAY BASEBALL PLAYED ALL THE TO COLLEGE VOLLEYBALL MEN'S BASEBALL.

ARE YOU CALLING DEALT BASEBALL HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN MOST 15 OR 16 WHEN I DECIDED I WANTED TO COACH IN AND THAT'S WHEN I TOLD MY COACH WHO SAID I WANT TO COACH LIKE YOU AND HE LAUGHED AT ME AND SAID MAN WILL SOON TO A WOMAN ON A BASEBALL FIELD IN.

I WAS A REALLY SHY KID.

SO I WAS REALLY EMBARRASSED AND USE THE FIRST PERSON.

I'VE SHARED MY DREAMS WITH.

BUT I JUST STARTED THINKING LIKE, WELL, I'M GONNA PROVE THEM WRONG.

LIKE WHO SEEM TO DECIDE WHAT I CAN DO AND AND I STARTED LEARNING POSITIONS AND I STARTED LEARNING HOW TO COACH, YOU KNOW, AT AN EARLY AGE AND JUST ALWAYS TRYING TO GET MORE AND MORE INFORMED AND BETTER AT IT.

>> YOU THREW BATTING PRACTICE FOR MULTIPLE MLB TEAMS.

I'M CURIOUS HOW WHERE HAVE YOU RECEIVED FROM THE MALE PLAYERS?

HOW THEY RESPONDED TO YOU?

>> YOU KNOW, I HAD THIS AMAZING OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE A DREAM AND THROW BATTING PRACTICE.

I MADE HISTORY AT THE CLEVELAND GUARDIANS.

THEY WERE.

AND THE TEAM THAT I GREW UP WANTING TO BE.

BUT I ALSO TO A LOT OF IT IN FLORIDA AT SPRING TRAINING.

THE PLAYERS FOR VERY, YOU KNOW, WELL, COMING IN, I WAS THERE JUST REALLY FOR THE DAY.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, TELLING THE MEDIA DOES.

FIRST IT WAS I HAD TO PERFORM WELL, BUT THEN ALSO THROUGH THE MEDIA, I CAN JUST SHARE THE STORY OF HOW MUCH GIRLS WOMEN LOVE BASEBALL.

AND, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T JUST WATCH THE WANT TO BE PART OF THE GAME.

THEY WANT TO PLAY IT AGAIN.

WANT TO COACH.

THEY WANT TO LEAD.

AND SO I WAS ABLE TO SHARE THAT MESSAGE.

AND AND AND LIVE A DREAM ALL AT ONCE.

AND THE PLAYERS FOR WERE FANTASTIC.

>> YOU ARE ACTUALLY DOCTOR SIEGEL.

YOU HAVE A PHD IN SPORTS BY PSYCHOLOGY.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO ATTAIN THE HIGHER LEVEL OF EDUCATION AS A FEMALE ATHLETE?

WHY IS THE EDUCATION IMPORTANT?

>> I DECIDED THAT I WAS GOING TO GET PETE SEE THE DAY THAT I WAS LAUGHED AT WHEN I WAS TOLD A WOMAN, YOU KNOW, MEN WOULD LISTEN TO WOMEN ON BASEBALL FIELD.

I JUST THOUGHT I WOULDN'T HAVE THE SAME PLAYING OPPORTUNITY AND IF I WANTED TO COACH COLLEGE BASEBALL.

I COULD OUT EDUCATE THEM.

YOU KNOW, YOU REALLY ONLY NEED A MASTER'S COACH, COLLEGE BASEBALL, NUTELLA, 5 PEACH TEA.

THAT'S A TOOL IN MY TOOLBOX THAT MOST PEOPLE WILL HAVE.

SO I HAVE GOT A PHD FROM SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE IN MASSACHUSETTS AND IT'S IT'S BEEN A CORNERSTONE OF OF WHO I AM AND HOW IT OPERATED BASEBALL FROM.

YOU'RE SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, BEST YOUTH DEVELOPMENT.

PRACTICES AS WELL AS COACHING PROFESSIONALLY, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU LEARN TO MOTIVATE AN ATHLETE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE?

THAT'S QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

BUT IN THE WAY, THEY WANT TO BE MOTIVATED.

HOW DO WE HOW DO WE TEACH IN A WAY THAT THEY CAN LEARN SO GETTING HIGHER?

EDUCATION HAS REALLY SERVED ME WELL.

>> IT ALSO CAN YOU ALSO EXPLAIN WHY YOU DECIDED TO GREET THIS NONPROFIT BASEBALL FOR ALL.

AND WHAT DO YOU HOPE THAT IT ACCOMPLISHES?

>> I FOUND A BASEBALL FROM BECAUSE STILL TOO MANY GIRLS ARE BEING TOLD THAT THEY CAN'T PLAY BASEBALL AND, YOU KNOW, I WANT EVERY GIRL TO KNOW THAT HE CAN HAVE THE SAME DREAMS AS HER BROTHER, THAT SHE'S PERFECT AS SHE IS.

AND WE HAVE COMMUNITY STARK GIRLS TEAMS AND WE THEN WE WANT A NATIONAL TOURNAMENT WHICH THE GIRLS GET TO COME TOGETHER AND PLAY BASEBALL AND ONE OF THE BEST PARTS ABOUT PLAYING WITH OTHER GIRLS IS THAT YOU GET TO JUST BE A BALLPLAYER.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT THE GIRL ON THE TEAM.

JUST A BALLPLAYER AND YOUR TEAMMATES, ALL YOUR FRIENDS IN.

IT'S FANTASTIC.

AND WE HAVE FOUND THAT THROUGH BASEBALL FROM MORE GIRLS TO STAY IN THE GAME LONGER.

AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO SEE.

WE WANT THEM TO GO AFTER THEIR DREAMS.

>> AND YOU ALSO ALSO FOUNDED THE WPB ALL THE WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE.

TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

>> YES, I WAS VERY FORTUNATE.

MY CO-FOUNDER KEY STEIN CALLED ME UP AND SAID HE WAS GOING TO START A WOMEN'S PRO BASEBALL LEAGUE AND ASKED ME IF I'D BE A PARTNER IN AND OF COURSE, I SAID YES.

AND WE LAUNCHED THIS AUGUST 1ST, BUT WE'RE HAVING A SPRING TRAINING NEXT WEEK AT A RED SOX FACILITY IN FORT MYERS.

AND WE HAVE A GAME AT JETBLUE PARK ON A THURSDAY.

SO THE 19TH AND WE INVITE YOU ALL TO COME AND WATCH AND IT'S GOING TO BE FANTASTIC.

AND I CAN'T WAIT FOR FANS TO SEE HOW GOOD WOMEN ARE AT PLAYING BASEBALL.

AND AND JUST THE DRIVE, THE PASSION, THE FA AND THE SKILL LEVEL.

IT'S JUST GOING TO BE FANTASTIC TIME.

>> CAN YOU GIVE ANY ADVICE NOW FOR WOMEN FOR GIRLS IN ANY FIELD THAT WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO PUSH FORWARD AND BREAK BARRIERS AND DEFY OBSTACLES THAT THEY MAY SEE IN WHATEVER THEIR JOURNEY YEARS.

>> MY ADVICE WOULD BE TO FOLLOW YOUR PASSION.

I CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO REACH THE END GOAL THAT YOU THINK YOU WANT TO BE A BUT GREAT THINGS HAPPEN.

WE FOLLOW YOUR PASSION.

AND I THINK FACT, YOU KNOW, IF IT'S IN YOUR HEART, GO FOR IN AN JUST PUSH THROUGH YOUR YOUR.

THE ONE GETS DECIDED QUIT, BUT YOU'RE ALSO GOING TO GET TO DECIDE, KEEP GOING AND NEVER GIVE UP THAT.

DO YOU HAVE ANY MOTTO OR AFFIRMATION THAT YOU LIKE TO LIVE YOUR LIFE?

WHY?

YEAH, FOR ME, I JUST YOU KNOW, I REALLY WANT TO BE A KIND PERSON BEING A FIRST NOT EVERYONE REACTS WELL TO YOU.

AND SO MY DECISION IS ALWAYS BEEN TO TO REACT KINDLY.

AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S ARE ARE AGAINST YOU.

BUT ALSO, YOU KNOW, IT'S AN HONOR TO MAKE HISTORY, BUT IT'S MUCH MORE IMPORTANT TO BUILD A BETTER FUTURE.

SO I'M ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT HOW CAN WE MAKE A BETTER FIT THE GENERATION BEHIND US.

>> WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN FORT MYERS COMING UP.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING YOUR INSIGHT.

YOU ARE VERY INSPIRATIONAL.

THANK YOU.

>> AND AS JUSTINE SAID, YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO CHECK OUT THE WOMEN'S PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE WHEN IT ARRIVES IN FORT MYERS NEXT WEEK.

>> ON WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, THE LEAGUE BEGINS ITS FIRST EVER SPRING TRAINING CAMP.

IT WILL BE HELD AT JETBLUE PARK, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, ALSO THE SPRING TRAINING HOME OF THE BOSTON RED SOX.

THE WOMEN'S LEAGUE IS BRINGING 20 OF ITS TOP PLAYERS TO FORT MYERS, INCLUDING MONET DAVIS AND KELSIE WHITMORE.

THEIR TRIP ALSO INCLUDES A FAN FEST NEXT THURSDAY AND THE CHANCE TO MEET THE PLAYERS OF THE WOMEN'S PRO BASEBALL LEAGUE.

SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF FUN.

WELL, COMING UP, THE FACTS ON ONE SOUTHWEST.

FLORIDA CITY'S EVER EXPANDING POPULATION.

WE'RE HEARING FROM RESIDENTS WHO SAY THE TRAFFIC HEADACHES ARE JUST PART OF THE PRICE THEY PAY TO BRING NEW GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY TO THE CITY.

THAT'S COMING UP NEXT ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FOCUS.

BONITA SPRINGS IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN FLORIDA.

BUT RAPID GROWTH ALSO CREATES MORE TRAFFIC WOES.

WGCU REPORTER YOUN JOO PARK SPOKE TO RESIDENTS WHO STATE DEALING WITH THE GROWING PAINS IS A PRICE THEY PAY TO LIVE IN A TOWN.

THEY LOVE.

>> ANYONE DRIVING THROUGH DOWNTOWN BONITA SPRINGS.

WE NOTICED THAT TRAFFIC.

IT COMES TO A COMPLETE STANDSTILL EACH AFTERNOON.

>> THAT'S A PARKING LOT RIGHT.

THEN.

>> 41 ROAD IS THE SITE OF WONDER AS WELL AS SHOPS, RESTAURANTS AND RIVERSIDE PARK NEXT SPRING AND MIXED USE CONDO AND RETAIL BUILDING IS SLATED TO JOIN THE MIX, RIGHT?

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME HERE.

>> I'M NOT ANTI DEVELOP.

RIGHT NUMBER.

GOOD DEVELOPMENT THAT I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO BE DONE WITH THIS PROPERTY ON THIS EMPTY LOT.

>> CONSTRUCTION IS UNDERWAY FOR RETAIL AND CONDO BUILDING.

>> OFFERING 120 RESIDENTIAL UNITS.

>> THE DRAW FOR FUTURE RESIDENTS IS TO BE ABLE TO WALK DOWNTOWN.

BUT 120 ADDITIONAL FAMILY UNITS MEANS THERE WILL BE AT LEAST THAT MANY CARS ADDED TO THE TRAFFIC.

THIS DEVELOPMENT IS OCCURRING JUST STEPS AWAY FROM SHELLEY ANDERSON'S HOME.

THE CITY HAS OWNED THIS EMPTY LOT FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS.

BACK.

THEN THERE WAS LITTLE WORRY ABOUT THE TRAFFIC.

BUT OVER 2 DECADES, THE POPULATION OF BONITA SPRINGS HAS DOUBLED FROM 30,000 TO 60,000 PEOPLE.

THIS IS NATURALLY CREATED COMPLICATIONS IN GETTING AROUND TOWN.

IF I TURN RIGHT, IT'S NO PROBLEM FOR USUALLY NICE AND THEY LET ME OUT.

>> IF I HAVE TO TURN LEFT TO GO SOUTH, I GO A DIFFERENT WAY.

>> I GO BACK WAY, YOU KNOW, THROUGH THE BACK STREETS BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO TURN LEFT HERE, I BUT 3 WAY STOP.

MAYBE WOODWARD.

>> SOME DRIVERS HAVE STARTED TO USE THIS NEIGHBORHOOD HAS A CUT THROUGH.

>> SAY THIS IS ANOTHER ONE.

>> WE DIDN'T HAVE THIS IN THEIR >> THE GROWTH OF THE CITY WITH INFRASTRUCTURE YET TO CATCH UP IS NATURALLY A POINT OF CONCERN FOR OTHER RESIDENTS.

>> AND WE'RE NOT WHINING THE ROAD.

SO THEY SAY, YOU KNOW, WE'RE BUILDING PLACES THAT ARE SELF-CONTAINED AND YOU WON'T SEE THE TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD.

BUT THAT'S A FALLACY.

THE PEOPLE ARE GOING TO GET HER CAR AND DRY SUMMER.

THE SHOPPING CART INCREASE NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY.

>> LESS THAN A MILE AWAY.

>> BOB PARKS WAS WALKING HIS DOGS OUT ACT.

BUT EVEN IN THE MORNING HE HAD TO SIT IN TRAFFIC.

>> COMING DOWN.

>> JARIUS JUST BACKED UP ALMOST ALL THE WAY BACK.

>> IT TAKES A GOOD HALF HOUR TO GET HOME.

IT USED TO TAKE 5 MINUTES SHOW.

IT'S JUST A LOT MORE PEOPLE, A LOT MORE TRAFFIC.

BUT OF COURSE, WITH JUST OVER TO GO HOME, I THINK SO.

THAT >> AS FOR BUSINESSES, DOWNTOWN, THE NEW CONDO MEANS MORE FUTURE CUSTOMERS ON THIS DAY.

GRANDPA SPEED, SO WAS A HOPPING PLACE DURING LUNCH.

JOE MINETTI HAS OWNED THE PIZZA JOINT FOR 46 WHERE HE TALKED ABOUT THE CITY'S GROWTH IMPACTING HIS BUSINESS.

>> I LIKE IT.

YOU KNOW, THE ONLY CONCERN IS A LITTLE TRAFFIC.

YOU KNOW, AND THE GUESTS WILL FIND A SOLUTION FOR THE IN THE.

THEY MORE PEOPLE COME TO TOWN.

THERE.

THEY CAN'T RETIRE.

YOU KNOW?

>> THE LITTLE PIZZA CLIENTELE KEEPS JOE AND HIS CREW SO BUSY THAT THEY DO HAVE A CHANCE TO TURN AROUND AND CATCH A BREATH BETWEEN ORDERS.

BUT FOR RESIDENTS LIKE SHELLEY WHOSE HOME IS RIGHT BEHIND THE DEVELOPMENT, THAT'S GOING TO BLOCK MY SUNSET VIEW FROM MY FRONT PORCH.

>> BUT I THINK IT'S THE BEST.

THING THAT THEY COULD HAVE DONE YET.

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRAFFIC.

A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRAFFIC.

ALL 41 IS TO BLAME.

IN BETWEEN.

NOT FROM THE DB'S ROAD.

>> THE TRAPPED AGAINST THE RENDA.

SO I DON'T KNOW.

THIS IS REALLY GONNA HAD TOO MUCH SOT SHOULD WHAT PLAN THIS SPRING IN.

>> DESPITE WORRIES SURROUNDING THE NEW DEVELOPMENT IN TRAFFIC.

RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNED EXACTLY BECAUSE THE LIVONIA SPRINGS, THE NEED TO.

>> IT'S A DESTINATION FOR PEOPLE TO SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, WHICH I'M REALLY PROUD THAT I LIVE HERE.

YEARS AGO.

I WOULD TELL PEOPLE THAT WAS FROM THE NEW SPRINGS AND THEY WOULD SAY, WHERE'S THAT?

AND THEN I WOULD HAVE TO SAY YEAH, NAPLES, BUT NOW YOU SAY YOU LIVE IN BONITA SPRINGS OF PEOPLE SAY I'VE BEEN THERE.

THAT'S A GREAT PLAY.

JUST SO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD.

BUT, YOU KNOW, GROWING PAINS HAPPEN EVERYWHERE.

>> FOR WGCU, I'M YOUN JOO PARK.

>> WE WILL CONTINUE COVERING THIS TOPIC IN THE COMING MONTHS AS WELL AS THE LATEST ON OUR GROWING POPULATION.

YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG WITH YOUNG JEWS COVERAGE IN BONITA SPRINGS AND OTHER STORIES JUST HEAD TO WGCU DOT ORG.

FOR MORE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING ALL ACROSS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

COMING UP, A PRIDE CELEBRATE.

FROM GROWING POPULATIONS TO OUR PAST HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

TONIGHT, A LOOK AT THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE WHO ONCE CALLED THIS AREA HOME FROM OUR PARTNER STATION WCA.

WE BRING YOU WHAT IS NOW KNOWN ABOUT THE FIRST INHABITANTS OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

>> LONG BEFORE FORT MYERS BECAME A TROPICAL PARADISE, IT WAS HOME TO ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL INDIGENOUS GROUPS IN FLORIDA.

LATER IT BECAME HOME TO ONE OF THE MOST LUXURIOUS FORTS AND ALL OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE STORY OF FORT MYERS BEGINS WELL BEFORE IT BECAME A CITY.

A CLUE SOMEWHERE HERE FROM PROBABLY.

>> 6,000 YEARS AGO, THERE'S A SITE IN PALM ISLAND SOUND CALLED US UP ON THAT.

THAT WAS INHABITED BY THE CALUSA FOR AT LEAST 6,000 YEARS.

THERE'S A SITE THAT'S VERY SIGNIFICANT IN ESTERO BAY CALLED MOUNTAIN DEW.

AND IT IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN INHABITED FROM ABOUT 100 AD MAYBE UNTIL ABOUT THE MID 17 50'S.

A POINT OF CONTACT EUROPEAN CONTACT IN IN NORTH AMERICA WITH ONE MONTHS TO LEON 15, 13 AND FROM THEN OTHER EXPEDITIONS ARRIVED THERE IN 15.

65 PEDRO MENENDEZ, THE ALLEYS, WHO IS THE GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA.

HE ACTUALLY DID LAND IN SAINT AUGUSTINE.

FIRST, THE NEW KING TO POUND KEY AND ESTABLISHED THE SPANISH PRIEST AS MISSIONARY STATUS REPORT AND JESUIT MISSION THERE.

>> THE CALUSA MADE THEIR HOME IN WHAT IS NOW THE FORT MYERS AREA FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS AND THEIR INFLUENCE WAS FELT FAR BEYOND.

BUT WHAT SET THEM APART FOR MANY OTHER NATIVE AMERICAN GROUPS IS HOW THEY SURVIVED.

>> THEY RELIED ON THE ESTUARY SURROUNDING ESTUARY IN ESTERO BAY FOR THEIR FOOD AND 95% OR SO OF THEIR FOOD.

IT CAME FROM THE BAY WEATHER WAS FISH OR SHELLFISH AND THEY WERE VERY PROMINENT, VERY POWERFUL CHIEF THEM WHERE THEY HAD CONTROL OVER OTHER TRIBES AND OTHER CHIEF COMES AROUND THEM.

THERE WERE SOCIETIES FROM THE EAST COAST IN HOBE SOUND WHO ACTUALLY PAY TRIBUTE AND PAY HOMAGE TO THE CALUSA AND THE CALUSA WERE VERY REVERED AND I WOULD SAY THE OTHER NATIVE TRIBES WERE SCARED OF THEM.

WHAT'S INTERESTING IS THE CALUSA DIDN'T REALLY HAVE CONTROL OF THE FOOD SOURCE.

NORMALLY WHEN A TRIBE OR THE COMMUNITY HAS CONTROLLED THE FOOD SOURCE THAT THEY HAVE CONTROL OF THEIR NEIGHBORING COMMUNITIES.

SO THAT WAS SOMEWHAT OF AN ENIGMA THAT THEY HAD THIS MUCH CONTROL WITHOUT HAVING CONTROL A FOOD SOURCE.

>> THEIR POWER MADE THE CALUSA A DOMINANT FORCE IN THE REGION AND A CHALLENGE TO THE SPANIARDS MISSION.

>> THE OBJECTIVE WAS TO COLONIZE AND ALSO CONVERT THEM TO CHRISTIANITY.

AND THAT ACTUALLY DIDN'T HAPPEN.

>> THE CALUSA RESISTED COMAS ATION YET RAIDS DISEASE IN DISPLACEMENT EVENTUALLY TOOK ITS TOLL IN THE TRIBE DISAPPEARED BY THE MID 17 50'S.

>> THEY DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM.

THERE'S NO CLUE STILL EXISTING TODAY.

SOME OF THEM MARRIED INTO THE SEMINOLE TRIED OR THEY TRAVEL TO CUBA.

ARE THEY DIED OF A WARFARE OR DISEASE?

>> COMING UP, PRIDE CELEBRATIONS ARE KICKING OFF ACROSS OUR AREA.

WE'RE GOING TO GIVE YOU AN INSIDE LOOK AT THE EVENT IN CAPE CORAL NOW CALLED SOUTHWEST FLORIDA'S LARGEST PRIDE PARADE.

CONFETTI, GLITTER AND FEATHERS.

CAPE CORAL PRIDE SWEPT THROUGH THE DOWNTOWN AREA PARADE FLOATS AND DANCE NUMBERS.

JUST A FEW HIGHLIGHTS OF THE ANNUAL PRIDE EVENT.

BUT DID THEY PULLS PRIDES LAWSUIT OVER OUTDOOR DRAG PERFORMANCES.

CAST A SHADOW ON THE CELEBRATIONS.

WGC IS CAKE HER OWN AND HAS THE STORY.

>> THE STREET WAS FLOODED WITH RAINBOWS AS CAPE CORAL PRIDE HOSTED THE LARGEST PRIDE PARADE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

AS THE PROGRESSION MOVED ON LAFAYETTE STREET WITH MUSIC FILLING THE AIR CAPE CORAL RESIDENTS.

MEGAN ERICA HERNANDEZ SHARED WHAT PRIDE IS IMPORTANT TO THEM.

>> WE HAVE LITTLE KIDS.

SO WE LIKE TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE THAT THEY FEEL FREE TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES AND JUST COMING OUT TO DIFFERENT COMMUNITY EVENTS IS IN SUPPORT OF THAT.

SO JUST HERE TO HAVE FUN AND SPREAD LOVE WE COME EVERY YEAR.

YEAH, I FEEL LIKE EVERY YEAR WE'VE COMMENTS JUST BEEN BETTER AND BETTER.

AND THERE'S JUST SO MUCH SUPPORT AROUND.

BUT IT HASN'T BEEN ALL SUNSHINE AND RAINBOWS FOR EVERY PLACE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

>> IN COLLIER COUNTY, NAPLES, PRIDE HAS BEEN LOCKED IN A LAWSUIT WITH THE CITY OVER THE ABILITY TO HOST A DARKER DRAG PERFORMANCE.

MOST RECENT UPDATES ON THE EFFORT SPEARHEADED BY THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF FLORIDA ARE HOPEFUL THAT AN OUTDOOR PERFORMANCE WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR THE PLANNED CELEBRATION IN APRIL.

>> YOU KNOW, EVERYTHING CHANGES, WE GROW IT, THINGS CHANGE.

SO WE HAVE TO ADAPT TO AND THEY DON'T WANT TO LET GO SO, YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ASPECT THAT I DO AGREE WITH THAT.

I THINK IT'S YOU OR ANY OF THAT.

IT'S TIME FOR THEM TO STEP DOWN AND LET THE NEW GENERATION TOOK OVER SOME PRIDE DOORS LIKE TATTOO ARTIST.

AND THE SHARD DO NOT SEEM TO CONCERN OVER SIMILAR ACTIONS HAPPENING IN CAPE CORAL WHO START OWN TOTALLY RAD TECH TO INSPECT THIS PRIDE PARADE PAST, GET STICKERS AND RUNNING A TIGHT TO RAFFL.

I MEAN, IT.

>> IT'S A POSSIBILITY.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS THAT SUPPORT THE COMMUNITY THAT WE CAN TO KEEP COMMUNITY.

THAT'S PART OF THE CAPE CORAL ON THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

I WOULD SAY THERE'S A LOT OF THEM IN THE IN THE BURGER RECORDS.

THEY'RE KIND OF KEEPING IT UNDER CONTROL.

SO I DEFINITELY DON'T SEE IT GOING THAT ROUTE.

>> WGCU NEWS.

I'M KATIE CRONIN.

>> THE SECOND MOST DEADLY CANCER IS HIDING IN AN UNLIKELY SPOT.

BUT MAYBE YOUR DIET IS THE KEY TO PREVENTING IT.

WE BREAK THE STIGMA AROUND COLORECTAL CANCER WITH AN EXPERT PERSPECTIVE, THAT STORY AND MORE ON THE NEXT SOUTHWEST, FLORIDA IN THE FOCUS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WGC YOU DOT ORG WHERE YOU WILL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

PLUS, THE EXTENDED INTERVIEWS HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU BACK HERE MONDAY RIGHT HERE ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.