Author: LeAne Suarez Group

Mosquito control set for Sanibel

Post author By LeAne Suarez Group
Post date May 11, 2021

The Lee County Mosquito Control District has scheduled spray truck activity for Sanibel.

The district reported that the following areas will be treated for adult mosquitoes from between sunset today and 2 a.m. May 7 by Ultra Low Volume spray trucks:

East end from the Sanibel Lighthouse west to Dixie Beach Boulevard and the west end of Middle Gulf Drive at Casa Ybel Road

The district provides mosquito control for the islands and all of Lee County. “Mosquito season” typically runs from May through October and mosquito activity increases with rain, particularly after heavy rains that produce large areas of standing water. Due to the abundance of mangroves, wetlands and salt marshes, the islands are a prime breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Residents experiencing a high number of mosquitoes at their home can submit an online service request at www.lcmcd.com or they can call 239-694-2174. If the district receives complaints from a specific area or neighborhood, it will dispatch personnel to conduct a mosquito count and will fog or spray the area if warranted.

For more information or updates on treatments, visit the Lee County Mosquito Control District at www.lcmcd.org or follow the district on Twitter @leecomosquito.

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Island Update

‘Tween Waters to host weekend music celebration for resort guests

Post author By LeAne Suarez Group
Post date May 11, 2021

‘Tween Waters to host weekend music celebration for resort guests

‘Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa on Captiva will host its third annual Captivaville Songwriters Weekend on June 18-20, featuring singer-songwriters from Florida and Nashville, Tennessee.

Free and open to resort guests, the event can be enjoyed through specially-priced weekend packages available at https://tween-waters.com/captivaville/ or by calling in-house reservations at 800-223-5865.

The lineup includes Sheena Brook, Kayley Bishop, Brian Sutherland, Trick Savage and Will Jones.

Click here for entire article

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Island Update

Round Robin Tennis returns to recreation center

Post author By LeAne Suarez Group
Post date May 10, 2021

The Sanibel Recreation Center is once again offering Round Robin Tennis on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to noon.

Tennis Pro Joe McEntyre organizes the matches. Cost to play is $13.25
for members and $17.50 for non-members; registration includes a demonstration of doubles tactics and doubles play.

Advance registration is required at the front desk as space is limited. Daily, weekly, semi-annual and annual memberships are available.

For more information, call 239-472-0345 or visit www.mysanibel.com. The Sanibel Recreation Center is at 3880 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel.

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St. Louis Family Purchases Iconic Waterfront Restaurant in Captiva

Post author By LeAne Suarez Group
Post date March 30, 2021

The February 9, 2021 edition of the St Louis Post Dispatch reports that “Captiva Hospitality Restaurant Group, LLC, owned by St. Louisan’s Tim and Julie McGowan are pleased to announce the recent acquisition of Captiva Island’s iconic waterfront restaurant, The Green Flash.

The Green Flash has long been a mainstay on Captiva and has been considered one of the finest restaurants on the Island. The restaurant is situated in the heart of Captiva directly upon the busiest part of Roosevelt Channel. It is an ideal place to sit and enjoy outdoor dockside dining and watch the manatee’s, otters and fishing boats compete for the local catch!

The McGowan’s purchased the Green Flash from Andreas Bieri who created the concept and opened the restaurant back in 1994. Terms of the deal were not disclosed but the acquisition included both the real estate and the restaurant operations.”

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Island Update

RARE VISITING BIRD TO FLORIDA OBSERVED ON SANIBEL

Post author By LeAne Suarez Group
Post date March 29, 2021

Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation staff and volunteers recently participated in the 13th Annual Florida Winter Shorebird Survey to better understand the winter distribution of shorebirds and seabirds and identify long-term trends or changes in winter populations. They counted 2,443 individuals of 25 different species.

One of the most interesting and unexpected observations was an all-white gull on the East End of Sanibel on Feb. 8. Staff took several photographs of it before moving on to help an injured pelican. Upon closer inspection of the photographs later and consultation with local birders and experts, it was determined to be an Iceland gull — an extremely rare visitor — SCCF Shorebird Biologist Audrey Albrecht said.

Iceland gulls nest in Arctic Canada and are typically not seen this far south in the winter. The bird had an orange mark on its neck, which could be related to an injury or some type of staining, she said. Several banded birds were observed as well, including a 20-year-old banded royal tern. It was banded as a chick with number 814-48719 in Lola, North Carolina, in July 2001.

Island Update

FWC ON TRIGGERFISH SEASON, FLOUNDER REGULATIONS

Post author By LeAne Suarez Group
Post date March 27, 2021

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that the recreational gray triggerfish season reopens to harvest in Gulf state and federal waters on March 1 and will remain open through May 31, closing on June 1 through July 31 for an annual spawning season closure.

If you plan to fish for gray triggerfish in Gulf state or federal waters from a private recreational vessel, you must sign up as a State Reef Fish Angler (annual renewal is required). To learn more, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations” and “State Reef Fish Survey” under “Reef Fish.” Sign up today at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com.

Learn more about gray triggerfish regulations at MyFWC.com/Marine by clicking on “Recreational Regulations” and “Triggerfish,” which is under the “Reef Fish” tab. In addition, it reported that the following changes will go into effect on March 1 for flounder:

Extending all FWC flounder regulations into federal waters.

Increasing the minimum size limit from 12 inches to 14 inches total length (recreational and commercial).
Reducing the recreational daily bag limit from 10 to five fish per person.
Establishing an Oct. 15 through Nov. 30 recreational closed season.
For commercial harvesters using allowable gear: Establishing a commercial trip and vessel limit of 150 fish from Dec. 1 through Oct. 14, and 50 fish from Oct. 15 through Nov. 30.
Modifying the incidental bycatch limit for commercial harvesters using non-allowable gear from 50 pounds per trip to 50 fish per trip.
Creating a federal waters trawl bycatch limit of 150 fish per trip from Dec. 1 through Oct. 14, and 50 fish per trip from Oct. 15 through Nov. 30.

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Real Estate News

LEE COUNTY HOME SALES UP 35%

Post author By LeAne Suarez Group
Post date February 3, 2021

The January 27, 2021 edition of the Ft Myers Florida Weekly reports that “Lee County’s housing market again saw a double-digit increase in closings in the single-family category in December compared to the same period a year ago. Lee County closings in the single-family category were up sharply in December (1,648) compared December 2019 (1,221).

This is the highest number of closed sales for December going back to 2016. Year-over-year, sales were up by 35% for single-family and by 34.8% for townhouses and condominiums, according to figures just released by Florida Realtors, an umbrella organization for Realtor groups throughout the state.

December showed a median sale price increase of 41.9% for single-family and 11.8% in the townhouse/condominium category. Median price in the single-family category shows a steady and consistent rise in pricing, indicating a rise in the pricing segments. Inventory is still significantly down for both.

Year-over-year, local inventory of single family dwellings is down again this month at 53.2% as shown in active listings on the Multiple Listing Service. A 1.9- month supply of inventory shows we are in a sellers’ market as more listings are seeing multiple offers. Properties are going under contract in 26 days compared to 57 days in December 2019.

In the townhouse/condominium category, listings were down 36.8% versus December 2019. That translates to a three-month supply and shows the condo market is also now in a sellers’ market.

Properties last month went under contract in 46 days compared to 69 days in December 2019. Broken down by city, all cities saw an increase in the number of closed sales over December 2019. Fort Myers Beach sales surged 100%, and Sanibel Captiva registered a 95% increase in properties sold.

When looking at closed sales by price point, all single-family homes over $200,000 saw a significant increase over December 2019. Homes over $600,00 saw triple digit increases compared to December 2019.

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CEPD PROVIDES UPDATE ON HOLIDAY BEACH PARKING

Post author By LeAne Suarez Group
Post date July 6, 2020

The Captiva Erosion Prevention District will have a beach attendant at the Alison Hagerup Beach parking lot on July 3-5 for the holiday weekend. The lot will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The parking fees are $25 for two hours or $40 for the day. The parking fees are paid through meters with cash and credit card; the parking tickets are not allowed to be transferable at any time.

The lot consists of 40 parking spaces for vehicles, golf carts and motorcycles on a first come, first serve basis. RVs and campers are not authorized to park in the lot, and overnight parking is not permitted.

The CEPD also reminded the public to be respectful of others with social distancing at beach areas. Pick up trash and furniture, and never leave anything on the beach overnight. Maintain space between the sea turtle nests and surf. Avoid using flashlights or flash photography on the beach at night, and fill in holes in the sand. Fires, fireworks and alcohol are prohibited on the beach; pets must be leashed.

Island Update

SEA TURTLE SEASON IS ACTIVE

Post author By LeAne Suarez Group
Post date June 22, 2020

Green turtle (Chelonia mydas), hatchling. Heron Island, Capricorn-Bunker Group, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia. (Photo by Auscape/UIG via Getty Images)

Captiva Erosion Prevention District would like to remind residents and visitors of the sea turtles nesting and hatching on the beaches of Captiva in June and July.

With over 100 sea turtle nests on the beaches, counted by SCCF, it is imperative to know how sensitive the sea turtles are to white lights. Everyone can help protect the sea turtles by turning off their lights on the beach by sunset or replacing their white lights with shielded amber LEDs and possibly closing drapes or blinds in the house.

Tips to help keep the beaches sea turtle friendly:

Turn off or shield all lights that are visible from the beach. Do not use flashlights or cell phone lights on the beach. If necessary, use amber or red LED bulbs.
Do not disturb the screens covering nests. They prevent predators from eating the eggs and the hatchlings emerge through the holes without assistance.
Remove all beach furniture and equipment from the beach at night.
Dispose of fishing line properly to avoid wildlife entanglement.
Fill in large holes that can trap hatchlings and nesting sea turtles.
Do not disturb nesting turtles please do not to get too close, shine lights on or take flash photos of nesting sea turtles.
Pick up litter.
To report a sea turtle stranding, contact SCCF’s hotline at 978-728-3663.

For more info please visit http://www.sccf.org/

Island Update Real Estate News