Category: Island Update

The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village invites you to its next Twilight Talk featuring the film “Secrets and Stories of the Sanibel Lighthouse.”

The special screening, titled “Remembering the Lighthouse,” takes place on December 16th from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. in the Shore Haven at the Village.

The film, produced by award-winning documentarian Ken Sneeden, explores the iconic lighthouse’s history and its remarkable survival during Hurricane Ian. Sneeden is expected to attend for a Q&A session following the screening.

Executive Director Pamela Miner noted that telling the story of the complex is especially significant now, as the lighthouse remains the one structure standing after the storm.

Starting at 3:30 p.m., attendees can also view artifacts on display at the Village, including the cistern and “prosthetic” structure from the original lighthouse complex.

Tickets are $20. This is a great opportunity for the community to come together, reflect on the lighthouse’s history, and ask questions about its changes since the hurricane.

For tickets and more information, visit www.sanibelmuseum.org or call 239-472-4648.

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) and Sanibel-Captiva Audubon Society are hosting the annual Sanibel-Captiva Christmas Bird Count on December 20th, and they need your help!

This local event is part of the National Audubon Society’s 126th Christmas Bird Count. You do not need to be an expert birder to participate—volunteers are needed for various roles, including driving, spotting birds, recording data, and tallying numbers.

The home base will be SCCF headquarters (3333 Sanibel-Captiva Road), open as early as 6:30 a.m. for teams to pick up data sheets and refreshments. Teams will regroup throughout the day to compile sightings.

Live within the count circle but can’t go into the field? You can still contribute as a Bird Feeder Watcher! Simply spend at least 30 minutes watching your home feeder(s) and submit your sightings. This is an easy way for families or new birders to help collect crucial data on common backyard species.

The Sanibel-Captiva count dates back to 1961, following the tradition started in 1900, where people began counting birds instead of hunting them for sport during the Christmas season.

To get involved or for questions, contact SanCapCBC@gmail.com. Join this vital community science effort!

The SanCap Chamber Board of Directors has approved a six-month management contract with the Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce. This temporary partnership is effective while the Fort Myers chamber searches for its next CEO.

SanCap Chamber President and CEO John Lai stressed this is           “a contract, not a merger.” Both organizations will remain separate with their own boards, finances, and memberships. The SanCap Chamber’s primary focus remains serving its Sanibel-Captiva members, while providing organizational oversight to ensure the Fort Myers chamber’s day-to-day operations continue.

This partnership offers benefits, including a stronger, unified advocacy presence in the upcoming legislative session, enhanced cross-promotion, and access to a wider regional network. SanCap Chamber members will also gain increased regional brand recognition.

Board Chair Katy Forret assured members the decision was deliberate, emphasizing their commitment to the Sanibel-Captiva business community first. She noted this contract is designed to strengthen the SanCap Chamber and create new value for members.

The Fort Myers Chamber sees this agreement as positioning them well for growth during their CEO transition, viewing SanCap’s involvement as a powerful testimonial to the resilience and leadership of the island’s business community.

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.

Click here for more info

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.

Click here for more info

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.