Andrea Stetson

Peppercorn's big blue eyes and soft spotted fur are capturing the hearts of people as her photos circulate on social media. Her open mouth snarls show her wildness, while other pictures depict timidness. The fragile three pound Florida panther arrived at the Naples Zoo in March in secret. Panthers that young don't always survive so making her plight public then was not in the plans. By June, she weighed eight pounds, and as she began thriving, she became a mini ambassador for her endangered species.

When the biggest mega real estate deals transpire in Southwest Florida, Michael McCumber is often the man making it happen. He's the one who smashed the real estate sales record in 2025 with the $225 million deal on a legacy compound spanning 15.1 acres and 800 feet of Gulf frontage. It was the largest residential transaction in Florida's history and one of the largest residential transactions ever in the U.S.

When Bill Earls began selling luxury homes for John R. Wood in 1988, the top end estates and clients were very different. The people buying the most expensive homes in town came mostly from the Midwest. They were in the car or steel business.

This is the second in a series about Naples area real estate professionals shaping the area. When Bill Earls began selling luxury homes for John R. Wood in

Passing down a legacy of Naples area real estate success This is the third in a series of articles about leaders in Naples' area real estate.

“It takes a lot of work,” said Thomas, a Global Real Estate Advisor and Team Leader at Premier Sotheby's International Realty.

It all started as a simple hotel, became a health spa frequented by celebrities, was a luxury European-type spa, closed for 17 years and became Bonita Springs biggest mystery, and finally reopened allowing not just overnight guests, but the public to walk its grounds, eat at its restaurant and enjoy numerous events.

It all started as a simple hotel, became a health spa frequented by celebrities, was a luxury European-type spa, closed for 17 years and became Bonita Spri

Herald Hirsch had not been to the beach in eight years. It was too hard to maneuver with his wheelchair. But this August Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park got an EcoRover, an electric powered wheelchair with tractor-like wheels that easily move across the sand.

Matt Derr and Ted Fitzpatrick were college friends at Carnegie Mellon, where they studied engineering. After graduating, they headed into high-stress jobs; Derr in civil engineering and Fitzpatrick in mechanical engineering. Now, they both want a new career, one that is fun and unique. So, the duo just opened a Yonutz franchise in Bonita Springs. “We are here to sell fun,” Fitzpatrick said. “There is no fun in engineering. It is a lot of stress. This changes things up. It's just a fun family brand.”