LeAneSUAREZgroup
My Account

Category: Island Update

Categories
Island Update

February 13 is storm debris set-out deadline

Lee County has announced another set-out deadline for some additional unincorporated areas to place remaining Hurricane Ian debris at the curb.

The following areas are asked to place residential storm debris at the curb by Feb. 13:

  • Pine Island north of the Pine Island Road/Stringfellow intersection. (Matlacha and St. James City are unaffected.)
  • Waterway Estates
  • Fort Myers Shores
  • Iona/McGregor (north of Summerlin Road)
  • Island Park
  • Cypress Lake
  • Captiva

Please note, this collection is for residential storm debris only and does not include debris from vacant land, commercial sites or agricultural properties. Those entities must pay to remove materials or self-haul materials to an appropriate site. Go to www.leegov.com/solidwaste for more information.

Lee County Solid Waste has resumed regular yard waste collection in all county-served areas. Residents are asked to use containers, paper lawn and leaf bags or clear plastic bags to set vegetative material – including palm fronds – curbside on their regular collection day. Black plastic bags and bundled yard waste will not be collected with curbside yard waste at this time. Those items will be collected at a later date by the county’s storm-debris contractor using specialized equipment.

Lee County has collected more than 5.8 million cubic yards of debris to date. Hurricane Ian left behind an estimated 12 million cubic yards of debris countywide, including debris in all six municipalities.

Residents can track debris collection progress, learn how to stack debris and gather other Hurricane Ian debris information at www.leegov.com/storm/debris. Information about normal curbside pickup of garbage, recycling and yard waste can be found at www.leegov.com/solidwaste

Categories
Island Update

Temporary post office to open on Sanibel

Sanibel Post Office

Starting Feb. 6, customers in Sanibel will have access to a temporary USPS facility offering mail, package, and PO Box pickup, as well as retail services and PO Boxes. It will be located in the parking lot of the Sanibel Post Office at 650 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel.

Customers must show a picture ID when picking up mail and packages. Hours will be Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. It noted that Sanibel customers will no longer need to travel to the Fort Myers Processing & Distribution Center, at 14080 Jetport Loop, Fort Myers, to obtain services.

Categories
Island Update

February Events on the Paradise SWFL Coast

SWFL February Events

The Paradise Southwest Florida Coast offers a bustling calendar of events throughout the year, catering to a range of interests, including socializing, fitness, dining, and the arts. As the rest of the country stays inside during the winter, February in Paradise Coast boasts pleasant weather and outdoor events, making it the perfect time to attend festivals and special happenings. We have put together a guide featuring 6 exciting events taking place this February in the Paradise Coast area. Get the latest details and plan your next adventure

  • Beach Boys at Artis—Naples – 5833 Pelican Bay Blvd., Naples, FL 34108 – Relive the golden era of music with the legendary Beach Boys at Artis—Naples on February 26, 2023. The iconic group will take the stage at Hayes Hall for two unforgettable shows. Immerse yourself in the timeless classics that have defined a generation, all within the cultural hub of Naples. Artis—Naples is not only a home to the Naples Philharmonic, but also presents a diverse line-up of concerts and performances throughout the year. Make sure to check their calendar for more exciting events. Click here
  • Music in the Garden – 4820 Bayshore Dr., Naples, FL 34112 – Experience the magic of nature and music at the Naples Botanical Garden, where the charming event series “Music in the Garden” is held. Take a stroll through the lush gardens, located conveniently near Naples homes for sale, and enjoy musical performances throughout the year. On February 11, 2023, the sounds of Patchouli and Terra Guitarra will fill the air. With a concert ticket included in the price of admission to the garden, you can make a day of it and explore the stunning flora before the show. Click here
  • Famous Couples of Collier County – 3331 Tamiami Trl. E., Naples, FL 34112 – Spend Valentine’s Day in a unique way at the Famous Couples of Collier County event at the Collier Museum at Government Center on February 14, 2023. Join Curator of Education Elaina Guyre as she takes you on a tour of Paradise Coast’s rich history, showcasing the famous couples who have left their mark on the area. Discover the love stories behind the names that have shaped the region. Click here
  • Ave Maria Brews & BBQ Festival – 5076 Annunciation Circle, #104, Ave Maria, FL34142 – Of course, you’re never far from your next delicious meal or distinctive, locally-produced craft beer on the Paradise Coast, especially with events like the Ave Maria Brews & BBQ Festival coming up on February 18, 2023. An annual favorite near Ave Maria homes for sale, this event features the region’s best BBQ in one location, a diverse selection of craft beers, and plenty of fun activities for the whole family. Click here
  • Love the Arts Festival – 180 S. Heathwood Dr., Marco Island, FL 34145 – The vibrant arts scene of the Paradise Coast is behind many of the events that you can enjoy throughout the year, including the Love the Arts Festival, which takes place around the corner from Marco Island homes for sale. Held at the Marco Island Historical Museum by the Marco Island Foundation for the Arts on February 18, 2023, this event showcases the amazing work of up to 20 talented local artists, with all proceeds from the event going toward scholarships for art students. Click here
  • Edison Festival of Light 5K – 2310 Edwards Dr., Fort Myers, FL 33901 – Join the excitement of the Edison Festival of Light 5K, a unique 5K run near Fort Myers homes for sale on February 18, 2023. Whether you’re striving for a personal record or just looking for a fun way to support a good cause, this 5K race is not to be missed. It takes place during the Grand Parade, which attracts over 100,000 spectators, so you’ll have a lively crowd cheering you on every step of the way. Don’t miss this opportunity to run a 5K with enthusiastic support. Click here
Categories
Island Update

South Seas island Resort Plans to reopen by September 2023

South Seas Island Resort owner Timber Resorts plans to open the hotel at the Captiva resort, which was heavily damaged by Hurricane Ian, by September, CEO Greg Spencer said during a Jan. 18 Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce business luncheon.

According to CEO Greg Spencer

  • Immediate plans for the resort include stabilizing facilities before reopening the hotel and swimming pool.
  • The Resort expects to break ground on our new south aquatic amenity, Captiva Landing, mid- to late-2023
  • Depending on permitting timing, in late 2023 they plan to start work on the Beach House on the north end of the resort, which will be located at Sunset Beach and will feature casual gulf-front dining.
  • By summer 2023 we expect to have the Pointe Restaurant, re-branded to Redfish Grill re-opened.
  • A new Scoops and Slices outlet will take over the kids’ camp location. By fall 2023, the newly concepted golf course is expected to be operational and ready for play.
  • The Resort plan on rolling out our Club Captiva amenity access program by mid-2023. Club Captiva will be the only way to access amenities at the resort going forward.

Click here to read the entire article

Categories
Island Update

2023 Beach Parking Permits for Sanibel Residents & Property Owners ONLY

Pointe Santo De Sanibel Condos

City of Sanibel A & AC Beach Parking Permits FOR SANIBEL RESIDENTS AND SANIBEL PROPERTY OWNERS ONLY now available at the Sanibel Recreation Center, 3880 Sanibel-Captiva Road.

City of Sanibel B & BC Beach Parking Permits FOR NON-RESIDENT/NON-PROPERTY OWNERS will be available for purchase beginning Tuesday, January 31st, 2023.

Starting in February, a limited number of beach accesses will be available.

The VEHICLE REGISTRATION OR LEASE AGREEMENT FOR EACH VEHICLE FOR WHICH A PERMIT IS BEING PURCHASED must be presented at the time of purchase.

Acceptable proof of residency or property ownership are:

  • Driver’s License with a Sanibel address
  • A valid government issued photo identification card with a Sanibel address
  • Lee County Voter Registration Card with a Sanibel Address
  • Tax Bill with the Homestead Exemption for the Sanibel property, the property owner owns
  • Tax Bill with the Property Ownership on Sanibel
  • Notarized Declaration of Domicile Listing a Sanibel Residence
  • Beach parking Permits may be purchased via cash, Master Card, American Express, Discover, Visa or check.

CLICK HERE[ application/pdf ] [ application/pdf ]TO ACCESS CITY OF SANIBEL BEACH PARKING PERMIT APPLICATION. To save you time, we strongly recommend you bring your completed application with you.

Categories
Island Update

Lakes Park is open

Lake Park

Are you ready for another great summer at Lakes Park? We hope so!

We are happy to announce that Lakes Park is open! Railroad Museum of South Florida, Wheel Fun Rentals at Lakes Regional Park, and the Lakes Park Farmers Market will be open and operating this week. A special thank you goes to their staff and dedicated volunteers for all of their hard work in preparing the park to welcome back visitors!

Lake Park

Before you head out, we wanted to remind everyone that some park amenities, such as the water features/splash pads, will remain closed until further notice. Visit www.leeparks.org for more information.

Categories
Island Update

Resources Available to Small Businesses Impacted by Hurricane Ian

The Dunes

The Florida SBDC Network encourages small businesses impacted by Hurricane Ian to seek available disaster assistance.

“We are saddened to see and hear the stories of damage and loss that individuals and small businesses have suffered due to Hurricane Ian,” said Greg Britton, state director of the Florida SBDC Network. “We want our small business owners to know how important they are to our state and that we stand ready to assist them get back on their feet as quickly as possible.”

State Assistance
At the state level, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) has activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan (EBL) Program. The loan program provides short-term, zero-interest loans to small businesses who experienced economic injury or physical damage due to Hurricane Ian.

Loans approved through the Emergency Bridge Loan Program are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a disaster impacts a business and when a business has secured longer term recovery funding, such as federally or commercially available loans, insurance claims, or other resources.

Eligible small businesses with two to 100 employees may apply for loans of up to $50,000 through the program. Businesses must also be located in Florida, have been established prior to September 24, 2022, be located in an eligible county, must have been economically or physically damaged by Hurricane Ian, have a credit score of 600 or above, and must have repaid all outstanding EBLs.

Visit www.FloridaJobs.org/EBL to learn more about the program, as well as to view the lending guidelines and required documentation and to complete an application by the December 2, 2022, deadline.

Federal Assistance
Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) are also available to eligible businesses following the announcement of a Presidential disaster declaration beginning Sept. 23.

Businesses and private nonprofit organizations of any size may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace disaster-damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets.

For small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations, the SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. Economic Injury Disaster Loan assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered any physical property damage.

  • Applicants may apply online using the Electronic Loan Application (ELA) via SBA’s secure website at https://disasterloanassistance.sba.gov/ela/s/ and should apply under SBA declaration # 17644.
  • To be considered for all forms of disaster assistance, applicants should register online at DisasterAssistance.gov or download the FEMA mobile app. If online or mobile access is unavailable, applicants should call the FEMA toll-free helpline at 800-621-3362. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services should call 800-621-3362.
  • Disaster loan information and application forms can also be obtained by calling the SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 (if you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access telecommunications relay services) or sending an email to DisasterCustomerService@sba.gov. Loan applications can also be downloaded from sba.gov/disaster. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX 76155.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Nov. 28, 2022. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 29, 2023.

Low-interest disaster loans from the SBA are also available to the Seminole Tribe of Florida. The disaster declaration covers the Seminole Tribe of Florida, which is eligible for both Physical and Economic Injury Disaster Loans from the SBA. Small businesses and most private nonprofit organizations in the following adjacent counties are eligible to apply only for SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs): Broward, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Hillsborough, and Saint Lucie in Florida.

The filing deadline to return applications for physical property damage is Nov. 29, 2022. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 30, 2023. Applicants should apply using SBA declaration # 17655.

How the Florida SBDC Network is Helping Small Businesses Recover

Florida SBDC disaster recovery specialists are available to provide confidential, no-cost consulting to help affected businesses prepare disaster loan applications and with other post-disaster challenges.

As a principal responder in the state’s Emergency Support Function (ESF) 18 for Business and Industry, the Florida SBDC Network, in partnership with the SBA, has established Business Recovery Centers (BRCs) in adversely impacted communities. Florida SBDC disaster specialists are working alongside SBA disaster specialists at BRCs and in its mobile assistance centers to provide information about resources available and assist businesses in completing state and federal disaster loan applications. BRC locations are open in Seminole, Hillsborough, Lee, and Collier counties.

For more information on available disaster loans, eligibility, BRC locations, and how the Florida SBDC Network can help, please visit www.FloridaSBDC.org/disaster.

Categories
Island Update

Sanibel United States Postal Service (USPS) Update

Sanibel Post Office

The City of Sanibel requested an update from the United States Postal Service (USPS) concerning the reestablishment of postal services on Sanibel. The USPS provided the following response to Mayor Smith on January 3, 2023. The City will continue to request periodic updates from the USPS and will continue to advocate for service restoration at the earliest opportunity.

Due to Hurricane Ian, the Sanibel Post Office sustained extremely heavy damage to the building and its delivery fleet. As a result, mail delivery has been temporarily suspended and will remain suspended until all necessary repairs have been made to ensure a safe workplace for our employees and a safe environment for conducting business for our customers. Although we are working diligently to restore mail delivery as soon as possible, the anticipated resumption of delivery operations is not expected to be completed until late summer of 2023.

Sanibel post office rebuild is expected to be completed by the end of July 2023. Mail operations will continue at the Jetport Loop facility until further notice until then. Captiva Post Office has PO BOXES for rent, $34 for six months and $68 for twelve months

The Sanibel Post Office has established a Mobil Retail Unit (MRU) at the Ft. Myers Processing and Distribution Center parking lot located at 14080 Jetport Loop Ft. Myers, FL 33913 to service our Sanibel customers. The MRU’s hours are as follows.

MRU Retail Hours:
Mon-Fri 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Sat 9:00 am – 4:30 pm
Sun Closed

Customers can also forward their mail to a more convenient location by submitting a temporary Change of Address online at usps.com, via the Informed Delivery App, or in person at the Captiva Post Office, which is open and offers a retail option.

Categories
Island Update

Sanibel Dog License on Sale Tuesday, January 3rd Sanibel Recreation Center

Pet friendly real estate Sanibel Captiva

City of Sanibel Dog Licenses will go on sale Tuesday, January 3rd at the Sanibel Recreation Center, located at 3880 Sanibel-Captiva Road. The fee for a Sanibel dog license is $10 (cash or check only). Proof of current rabies inoculation is required at the time of purchase. Since veterinarians are now giving rabies inoculations with 1-to-3-year validity, please give the expiration date on the dog license application form and not the date the inoculation was given.

Golden,Retriever,Smile

CLICK HERE for the Dog License Application Form.

The Sanibel Recreation Center is currently open Tuesday – Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and is located at 3880 Sanibel Captiva Rd, Sanibel, FL 33957. Please contact us at (239) 472-0302 or (239) 395-1860 with any questions.

Categories
Island Update

Updated Power Restoration Guidance

LCED Power Restoration

The City of Sanibel has updated the required affidavits that an electrical contractor or an electrical engineer must submit before LCEC may restore power to a structure.

Electrical Contractors – A Florida licensed electrical contract may inspect and submit an affidavit for residential structures with a service less than 600 amps (240 volts) and commercial structures with a service less than 800 amps (240 volts).

  • If undamaged, the electrical contractor must submit the completed “City of Sanibel Post Hurricane Ian Electrical Safety Inspection – Contractors” to the city at the following email addresses: IanPowerAffidavit@mysanibel.com
    The city will notify LCEC power may be restored within 24-hours or receipt.
  • If damaged, a licensed electrical contractor must make the required repairs. If the structure is safe for power restoration, the electrical contractor must submit the completed “City of Sanibel Post Hurricane Ian Electrical Safety Inspection – Contractors” to the city at the following email addresses: IanPowerAffidavit@mysanibel.com
    Once the approved for power report is received, the city will notify LCEC that power may be restored to the structure within 24-hours or receipt.
  • Please click here to access the “Hurricane Ian Release of Power Contractor Affidavit – Contractors” form

Electrical Engineers – A Florida licensed electrical engineer may inspect and submit an affidavit for residential and commercial electrical services regardless of service size. Only a Florida licensed electrical engineer may inspect and submit an affidavit attesting that a structure is safe for LCEC to restore power at residential structures with a service greater than 600 amps (240 volts) and commercial structures with a service greater than 800 amps (240 volts).

  • If undamaged, the electrical engineer must submit the completed “City of Sanibel Post Hurricane Ian Electrical Safety Inspection – Engineers” to the city at the following email addresses: IanPowerAffidavit@mysanibel.com
    The city will notify LCEC power may be restored within 24-hours or receipt.
  • If damaged, a licensed electrical contractor must make the required repairs and then be reinspected by the electrical engineer. If the structure is safe for power restoration, the electrical engineer must submit the completed “City of Sanibel Post Hurricane Ian Electrical Safety Inspection- Engineers” to the city at the following email addresses: IanPowerAffidavit@mysanibel.com
    Once the approved for power report is received, the city will notify LCEC that power may be restored to the structure within 24-hours or receipt.
  • Please click here to access the “Hurricane Ian Release of Power Engineer Affidavit – Engineers” form.

What happens after the City submits the electrical safety inspection (affidavit) to LCEC?

  1. The City will submit the contractor’s or engineer’s affidavit to LCEC within 24-hours of receiving the required form.
  2. LCEC will process the received form and assign a work order to a line crew within 24-hours of receiving the affidavit from the City.
  3. LCEC will make every effort to restore power to a structure within 72-hours of receiving the affidavit from the City.
  4. There may be instances when an LCEC line crew finds the structure is unsafe to restore power.
  5. If LCEC must perform repairs to their infrastructure, the repairs will be made, and the structure’s power restored.
  6. If LCEC determines repairs are required by the property owner’s electrical contractor, the electrical contractor or electrical engineer who submitted the affidavit will be notified so repairs may be completed. Once repairs are complete a new affidavit must be submitted to the city.
  7. LCEC has provided information to help customers understand what LCEC is responsible for and what the customer is responsible for. Please click here for more details.
  8. ONLY LCEC PERSONNEL MAY RESTORE POWER TO A STRUCTURE. ELECTRICIANS ARE NOT AUTHORIZED TO RESTORE POWER, REMOVE, OR INSTALL AN LCEC METER TO A STRUCTURE.
  9. Through the LCEC website, customers can now verify if LCEC has received the affidavit/inspection from the City of Sanibel by clicking here.

The following instructions illustrates how to navigate this webpage.

  • Enter the service address as shown above.
  • If no information is populated, LCEC has not received the affidavit/inspection from the City of Sanibel. Please follow up with your electrician to verify it was submitted.
  • If the affidavit has been received by LCEC, you will see the above screen