Patty Baker Humane Society Naples is making it easier for the community to meet adoptable pets by expanding adoption hours at its main shelter, located at 370 Airport-Pulling Road North in Naples.
New hours are 11 a.m. until 5:30 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Operating hours at von Arx Adoption Center, located at 2400-7 Immokalee Road in Naples, remain 12:30 until 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday.
“Every extra hour our doors are open creates another opportunity for a homeless pet to meet the person or family meant for them,” said Becca Morris, CEO of Patty Baker Humane Society Naples. “We know that many people want to adopt but struggled to visit during business hours. By extending adoption hours, we’re making it easier for more members of our community to spend time with our animals and find them the loving homes they deserve.”
Edwin McCain, Alexandra Kay at Island Hopper
The Island Hopper Songwriter Fest is set to return Sept. 18-27 with platinum-selling singer-songwriter Edwin McCain as the headliner.
Rising country music star Alexandra Kay will also be there.
McCain is likely best known for his hit song “I’ll Be” (see lyrics above). He had his major label breakthrough in the mid-’90s. Most recently, McCain has been touring with Hootie & the Blowfish, Collective Soul and Train.
McCain was also Nessy, the Loch Ness Monster, during Season 13 of “The Masked Singer.”
McCain will headline Island Hopper Songwriter Fest’s “Westin Unplugged” Monday, Sept. 21, at The Westin Cape Coral Resort at Marina Village in Cape Coral.
Alexandra Kay is one of country music’s fastest rising artists earning millions of followers across social media and releasing her sophomore album, “Second Wind.”
Making its Island Hopper debut, Caloosa Sound Amphitheater will host the festival’s “Stars on the River” concert in downtown Fort Myers on Thursday, Sept. 24, featuring Kay as the opening act.
In its 12th year, Island Hopper Songwriter Fest, named one of the Top 5 music fests by USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards.
In addition to these performances, more than 60 BMI singer-songwriters will perform more than 80 performances during the 10-day music fest.
For more, visit IslandHopperFest.com.
Summer offer from Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
This summer, Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is enticing visitors and residents of Southwest Florida half-price admission.
There are sunset strolls, night tours, a community free day and hands-on nature programs for all ages. Corkscrew is also recognized as an important bird area, the regional gateway site for the Great Florida Birding Trail, and a Ramsar-designated Wetland of International Importance. It’s also home to the largest old-growth bald cypress forest in North America.
Find out more at Audubon.org/corkscrew/visit.
FWC manatee and sea turtles decals
Whether it’s rescuing manatees or collecting nesting data for sea turtles, conservation takes a village, says the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, who just has released its 2026-2027 manatee and sea turtle decals.
This year’s manatee decal commemorates 25 years of the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership (MRP), a network of over 20 organizations that team up to rescue, rehabilitate, release and monitor manatees (notice the satellite tracking tag depicted on the manatee in this year’s decal design). Since 2001, the MRP has successfully rescued over 2,350 manatees.
The new “Protect Their Path” sea turtle decal highlights Florida’s record year for leatherback sea turtle nests in 2025 and the importance of giving nesting sea turtles plenty of space as they come ashore. Every year, hundreds of dedicated marine turtle permit holders help the FWC by collecting data on sea turtle nests, including leatherback nests, which can appear as early as February in Florida.
You can join the conservation team by purchasing a manatee or sea turtle decal for a $5 donation at your local tax collector’s office. Every decal purchased funds research, management and rescue efforts for manatees and sea turtles across Florida. Every purchase of a “Save the Manatee” or “Helping Sea Turtles Survive” specialty license plate supports these conservation efforts as well.
If you observe an injured, sick, entangled, distressed or deceased manatee or sea turtle, call the FWC’s 24-hour Wildlife Alert Hotline (888-404-3922) to ensure our rescue and research teams can respond in a timely manner.
For more information, visit MyFWC.com/Manatee or MyFWC.com/SeaTurtle.
Live, work or play in Bonita Springs, Estero or North Naples? If so and you have something you’d like featured in Now You Know, send your information to news@naplesnews.com.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Now You Know: ‘Furever’ homes needed; Edwin McCain to headline event
Reporting by Will Watts, Special to The Banner / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Will Watts, Special to The Banner | USA TODAY Network
