PUNTA GORDA, Fla.–In journalism school, professors say, “always report the news; don’t be the news.” That all changed with Hurricane Ian on Sept. 28. I hated to disappoint my old professor, but here I am “being the news,” all thanks to Ian. My husband, Pete, and I have been through three major hurricanes while living…

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.—It’s been 18 years since the area of Charlotte Harbor has seen a major hurricane but another one is about to make its presence known and residents are either getting out or hunkering down preparing for the worst. Lisa Mottler, an avid horsewoman and Punta Gorda business owner, said she and her husband…

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.—Jaha Cummings traveled and lived around the world, but he came home to his roots to make a difference in a community that served him well growing up. “Jaha means Glory of God in Swahili,” Cummings explained when asked during an interview with The Epoch Times about the origins of his name. Cummings’…

Given its name, I assumed the restaurant was a tribute to Ernest Hemingway. That seemed like a reasonable assumption since so many bars and restaurants claim some connection to one of the greatest authors in the American literary canon. Think Havana’s La Floridita, his eponymous bar at The Ritz in Paris, and Sloppy Joe’s in…

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.—With more than 900 people moving to Florida every day, Punta Gorda is one of many communities experiencing an influx of newcomers and the reverberations of booming growth. While day-to-day things, such as traffic, are an obvious concern, the conservative locals here are concerned about more fundamental changes. The small town on Florida’s…