Category: Island Update

A major phase in the restoration of Captiva’s shoreline has officially concluded. Officials announced this week that all dredging operations for the 2025 Captiva Beach Renourishment Project are now complete.

Great Lakes Dock & Dredge has finished delivering sand to the island, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing effort to restore and protect the coast.

Phase Two: Dune Planting Underway With the sand placement finalized, the focus has shifted to stabilization. Planting crews are currently moving northward along the island’s north end, installing sea oat plugs throughout the newly constructed dune system.

This step is critical for the project’s long-term success. The sea oats act as a natural anchor, stabilizing the dunes, enhancing the coastal habitat, and providing essential protection against future storms. Residents and visitors can expect to see crews working along the crest and slope of the dunes in various locations as this process continues.

What to Expect

• Active Work Zones: Work areas will shift north as the planting crews progress.

• Parking Access: Both the Turner Beach parking lot and the Alison Hagerup Beach parking lot remain open to the public.

This renourishment effort serves as a vital investment in Captiva’s resilience. By enhancing storm protection and improving recreational access, the project supports the long-term health of the coastal environment for years to come. The project team expressed sincere appreciation for the community’s patience and cooperation during these operations.

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For locals and visitors alike, the Dairy Queen building on Periwinkle Way was long considered a Sanibel landmark—often one of the first sights seen when arriving on the island. Since Hurricane Ian, the structure has stood empty, serving as a reminder of the storm’s destruction. However, that narrative is officially changing.

Construction is now underway at the site, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the historic location.

A New Diner with Local Roots Property owner Josh King has begun renovations with a clear vision: transforming the site into a new diner that blends nostalgia with high-quality local fare. The centerpiece of the new menu will be burgers sourced directly from King’s family cattle farm.

“We really take great pride in it, and it is 100% organic right from our fields,” King shared regarding the beef that will be served.

While the menu will feature farm-to-table quality, King aims to preserve the spirit of the original establishment. He confirmed that the new diner will still serve shakes and malts, maintaining a focus on providing affordable meals for families.

Preserving the Look, Strengthening the Structure Visually, the new diner will pay homage to its predecessor. King fought to save the original building and plans to keep the exterior looking just like the old Dairy Queen, right down to the signature tile roof.

However, retaining that classic look required extensive updates to meet today’s stricter building codes and ensure resilience against future storms.

• Flood Protection: New flood panels are being designed and built.

• Structural Reinforcement: The walls are being heavily reinforced.

• Foundation: The crew removed the old concrete floor to pour a new, robust 20-inch floor doweled into the walls.

A Symbol of Resilience The project has already sparked excitement among community members and long-time visitors who have missed the tradition of stopping by the location. For King, the project is about more than just food; it is a statement about Sanibel’s recovery.

“It should give people more hope that the island will survive no matter what Mother Nature dishes out to us,” King said.

Timeline With a new roof going up and the interior gutted for the remodel, the project is moving forward with a target opening date sometime in 2026.

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The festive tradition of purchasing a real Christmas tree on Sanibel Island is underway once again. The Friends of Randy of Sanibel (FOROS) group has graciously taken over the annual sale, previously managed by the Sanibel-Captiva Lions Club, ensuring residents can find the perfect centerpiece for their holiday celebrations.

The highly coveted Michigan Fraser Christmas Trees are now available for purchase, ranging in size from classic 5 to 6 feet up to stately 9 to 10 feet options.

How to Get Your Tree

The trees are available for sale from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays through Wednesdays.

• Location: The west end of Jerry’s Shopping Plaza.

• Availability: Trees are sold on a first-come, first-served basis, available only while supplies last.

• Service: For the convenience of shoppers, delivery is available.

The community is encouraged to visit the stand early to secure their fresh-cut Michigan Fraser tree and support the efforts of the Friends of Randy of Sanibel group.

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) has officially closed the book on the 2025 sea turtle nesting season. Following a monitoring period that spanned from April 15 through October 31, the SCCF reported that 2025 resulted in the fourth-highest nest counts documented since they began their monitoring program in 1992.

Nesting Numbers by the Species After six and a half months of daily patrols, the team documented a total of 889 nests across the islands.

The breakdown of the season includes:

• 868 Loggerhead nests

• 21 Green turtle nests

The count for Green turtles represents a significant jump from the previous year, which saw only three nests. According to SCCF sea turtle biologist Amanda Manrique, this increase was anticipated, following the species’ natural biennial pattern known as a “green year,” where these turtles nest on average every two years.

Hatchling Success and Challenges While nest counts were high, the journey from sand to sea presented challenges. A total of 26,562 Loggerhead and 607 Green hatchlings successfully made it to the Gulf of Mexico in 2025.

Unlike the previous year, where hatch success was impacted by storm activity—specifically Tropical Storm Debby—2025 offered a break from severe weather events. However, predation remains a significant hurdle.

“Unfortunately, this is the second lowest hatchling count we’ve documented since 2016,” Manrique noted. “Predators continue to have a major negative impact on our sea turtle nests that decrease hatch success.”

Looking Toward Future Conservation To combat these issues, the SCCF team installed 255 protective cages on nests located in areas with historically high depredation rates. Despite these mitigation efforts, 39.8% of nests still experienced a depredation event. Staff members are currently in discussions with partners to develop new strategies to address predation rates for upcoming seasons.

The SCCF emphasized that the extensive monitoring required for such a busy season relies heavily on the local community.

“This busy season would not have been successful without the support of the Sanibel and Captiva communities,” Manrique stated. “From volunteers to donors, we are forever grateful to have so many helpful hands working to protect sea turtles on our islands.”

Get ready to celebrate the season with the Captiva Civic Association’s (CCA) next event in their popular series! The CCA is hosting a special holiday-themed Jingle and Mingle Porch & Patio on December 10th from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Captiva Civic Center.

This festive gathering is the perfect opportunity to bring the community together, as Director Lauren McCraney notes, “to enjoy each other’s company and celebrate the holidays together.” Attendees are encouraged to wear their festive attire, with a practical Captiva twist: “Festive attire, but probably with flip flops,” McCraney suggests.

The evening promises a tropical Christmas vibe with Mark Dupuy providing live music on multiple instruments, including the guitar and flute, along with a “surprise jingle.” Catering by Leslie Adams will provide delicious light hors d’oeuvres, complemented by a selection of cocktails, wine, and beer.

Tickets are available for $15 for non-members, while CCA members can attend for free—RSVPs are highly encouraged for all. The CCA extends its gratitude to R.L.R. Investments for sponsoring the 2025-26 Porch & Patio series and to Karen Bell and the Bell Team for their support as the 2025-26 season sponsor.

As McCraney concludes, “This is a season of gratitude, so this is our opportunity to say our gratitude to the community.”

Secure your spot now and celebrate the season with friends and neighbors!

For tickets and information, visit https://secure.qgiv.com/for/porchpatios/event/jingleandmingleporchpatio/ or https://ccacaptiva.org/.

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) recently highlighted the impactful work of environmental educator Richard Finkel through the No Child Left On Shore program. This joint initiative between Captiva Cruises and the SCCF provides essential environmental education field trips, aiming to connect local youth, who often live near the coast but rarely engage with the marine ecosystem, directly to the ocean.

Recently, 20 middle schoolers from New Horizons of Southwest Florida embarked on an unforgettable journey aboard Captiva Cruises’ motor catamaran, The Playtime. Along the way to Cayo Costa State Park, they were treated to a dolphin encounter before exploring the coastlines and discovering the rich marine life of the area.

Students were excited to find a variety of shells and sea creatures, including sand dollars, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, and even a rare junonia shell. As New Horizons Chief Executive Officer Linda Cunning noted, “Many of our students have never visited the Gulf or seen these types of shells or wildlife. This trip helps expand their world beyond just their neighborhood.”

For Finkel, the program is the “heart of our mission,” emphasizing that getting kids from underserved communities out on the water is crucial to teaching them to care for and protect our oceans.

Founded in 2010, No Child Left On Shore is now integrated into the Sanibel Sea School’s A Chance to Sea program, continuing the mission to improve the ocean’s future, one person at a time. The SCCF is grateful for partnerships like the one with New Horizons, which are vital for reaching students and making these transformative connections possible.

To learn more about this program, visit sanibelseaschool.org/a-chance-to-sea/.

After nearly a decade of dedicated service to the voters of Lee County, Supervisor of Elections Tommy Doyle has announced his retirement from public service, effective January 14th.

Doyle, who was first elected in 2016 and re-elected twice, shared, “After careful consideration, I have decided that it is time for me to step down and embrace the next chapter of my life.” He reflected on his tenure with pride, calling it a “profound honor and privilege to serve the citizens of Lee County.”

Under his leadership, the Elections Office achieved significant progress aimed at strengthening voter confidence and modernizing election systems. Key enhancements included substantial improvements in cybersecurity, the introduction of updated voting equipment, and expanded voter outreach and education programs. Doyle’s commitment to improving access for all voters was also realized with the addition of a branch office in Lehigh Acres.

He emphasized that these accomplishments were the result of strong teamwork. “These accomplishments would not have been possible without the support of Donna, my wife of 38 years, and the dedication of an exceptional elections team,” Doyle stated. He expressed sincere gratitude to his staff for their commitment to excellence and their shared dedication to serving the voters of Lee County with integrity and transparency.

Doyle concluded his announcement, stating that he looks forward to the next chapter of his life.

FISH of Sanibel-Captiva recently shared a vital update following its plea for assistance regarding the ongoing uncertainty surrounding federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Thanks to incredible community generosity, the food pantry is well-stocked and ready to support island residents and workers facing increased strain.

A significant boost came from a generous grant provided by The Sanctuary Golf Club Foundation. Executive Director Maria Espinoza noted, “This grant from The Sanctuary Golf Club Foundation couldn’t have come at a better time. Their support helps us keep our shelves full so families don’t have to choose between groceries and other essentials.”

FISH also extended deep gratitude to individual donors, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, and the SanCap Resilience Steering Committee for responding to and sharing their call for help.

With the islands still relatively quiet and many seasonal residents not yet back, donations have been slower, even as the need continues to grow. Many families who rely on SNAP still face uncertainty regarding the timely arrival of their monthly benefits. The approaching holiday season can be particularly difficult for households already struggling to stretch limited budgets.

FISH remains committed to ensuring every household that lives or works on Sanibel and Captiva has access to healthy, reliable food. They will continue to monitor the SNAP situation while preparing for a potential prolonged increase in need.

Community members can help by donating food, grocery store gift cards, or financial contributions to support the food pantry.

For drop-off information or current needs, contact Food Programs Manager Merari Salinas at merari@fishofsancap.org. Find out more at www.fishofsancap.org.

The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) has released a fantastic lineup of events and programs for the coming season at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel. Now is the time to mark your calendars!

The popular Free Winter Refuge Programs will return from January 5th through April 6th, offering numerous opportunities to explore and learn about the refuge’s natural wonders. Following this, the engaging Free Winter Lecture Series will run every week from January 22nd through April 16th.

Looking for a special way to support conservation? Secure your spot for the Go Wild for “Ding” — The Legacy fundraiser on February 4th at The Community House. Tickets and more details are available at dingdarlingsociety.org/go-wild.

The annual DDWS Distinguished Speaker Series will welcome renowned conservationist Jeff Corwin on March 13th at The Community House. Tickets for this highly anticipated event open on December 11th—plan ahead!

Anglers can prepare for the 14th annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament, set for May 15th. Registration and information can be found at https://dingdarlingsociety.org/tarpon-tournament.

Plus, you can celebrate major milestones at the refuge, including the nation’s 250th anniversary on July 4th and Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling’s 150th birthday on October 21st.

There is something for everyone to enjoy and support at the refuge this year. Don’t miss out!

Mark your calendars for a beautiful afternoon of music! The talented Sanibel Duo, featuring violinist Renata Arado and pianist Erik Entwistle, will present a special recital on December 6th at 3 p.m. at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church on Sanibel.

This performance offers a perfect opportunity for reflection and enjoyment during the Advent season, with an uplifting program that blends timeless masterworks and contemporary treasures. The duo will feature selections by renowned composers including Irving Berlin, Johannes Brahms, and Antonín Dvořák, alongside pieces by John Eccles, Valentin Silvestrov, and the duo’s own Erik Entwistle. This promises to be a meaningful and memorable musical experience for all attendees.

The recital is free and open to the public, inviting the entire community to share in this special event.

Don’t miss the chance to hear the Sanibel Duo perform this diverse and inspiring program.

For more information, please visit https://www.saintmichaels-sanibel.org/