Category: Island Update

The Tower Gallery on Sanibel Island is hosting its 17th Annual Art From The Attic Sale on Oct. 20-22, 2023, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This once-a-year event gives visitors the opportunity to purchase artwork from Tower Gallery’s member artists at discounted prices. The sale will feature a variety of mediums, including paintings, photography, ceramics, jewelry, and more.

The Art From The Attic Sale is also a great chance to meet the artists and learn about their work. Many of the artists will be on hand to answer questions and discuss their pieces.

The Tower Gallery is located at 751 Tarpon Bay Road on Sanibel Island. For more information, call 239-579-0659 or visit www.towergallery.net 

Click here for more information

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that the 14th annual Wines in the Wild is sold out. Names are being taken for a waitlist. To be added to the waitlist, visit sccf.org/wines-in-the-wild.

The event be held from 6:30-9 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17 at the SCCF’s Bailey Homestead Preserve on Sanibel.

Wines in the Wild is a unique and popular event that offers guests the opportunity to sample a variety of wines from around the world, paired with signature tastings from favorite local chefs, all while enjoying a beautiful evening setting amidst revitalized native plantings at the Bailey Homestead Preserve.

In addition to wine and food, Wines in the Wild will also feature live music, a silent auction, and other fun activities. All proceeds from the event support SCCF’s mission to conserve the natural resources of Sanibel and Captiva Islands.

The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge reported that the current gate times on Wildlife Drive are 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday through Thursday (closed Friday). As they did pre-hurricane, hours will now change to accommodate daylight hours and savings time. The admission for Wildlife Drive is $10 for vehicles and $1 for hikers and bikers. The refuge is at 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel.

On September 28, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis awarded $338 million from the Hurricane Recovery Program to communities impacted by Hurricane Ian to support long-term recovery efforts and resiliency. Sanibel and Captiva were among the communities to receive funding, with the following allocations:

• City of Sanibel: $28 million
• Sanibel Fire Rescue District: $8 million
• Captiva Erosion Prevention District: $1 million
• Captiva Fire District: $350,000

The funds will be used to assist with storm repairs and recovery efforts for schools, sheriff’s offices, fire stations, parks and recreation centers, roads, wastewater treatment plants, beach renourishment, and to assist local governments with loss of revenue since the storm.

In addition to the recovery funding, Sanibel also received a Cybersecurity Grant Award from the state’s Local Government Cybersecurity Grant Program. The $30 million program, funded by 2022-23 budget appropriations, equipped 194 local governments with solutions that enhance their cybersecurity capabilities and integrate with state cybersecurity operations.

The Cybersecurity Grant Award will help Sanibel to improve its cybersecurity defenses and protect its residents and businesses from cyberattacks.

The recovery funding and cybersecurity grant are both welcome news for Sanibel and Captiva as they continue to recover from Hurricane Ian. The funds will help to rebuild the islands’ infrastructure, support local businesses, and make the communities more resilient to future storms.

The San Cap Motor Club will hold its monthly event on October 8th from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Periwinkle Place Shops. There is no pre-registration required and the event is open to the public.

This is a great opportunity to see a variety of classic and antique cars, as well as meet other car enthusiasts. The event is also a great way to support the San Cap Motor Club, a local organization that promotes the hobby of car collecting and restoration.

For more information, contact Scot Congress at 239-472-4177 or scot@scongress.com.

The Island Coalition, a group of residents and businesses on Captiva Island, is continuing to fight changes to the island’s zoning and land use regulations that were proposed by the Lee County Commission. The coalition argues that the changes would allow for more development on the island, which could have negative impacts on the environment, infrastructure, and quality of life.

The county commission is scheduled to vote on the proposed changes on October 10th. In the meantime, the Island Coalition is urging residents to contact their commissioners and express their opposition to the changes. The coalition has also sent a memo to state agencies asking them to weigh in on the issue.

The memo argues that the proposed changes are not supported by the data and analysis required by the Community Planning Act. The coalition also claims that the county failed to analyze the potential impacts of the changes on the island’s infrastructure, roads, hurricane evacuation routes, water resources, septic systems, sewer project, and environmental resources.

The Island Coalition has stated that if the county commission adopts the proposed changes without change, they will evaluate and pursue the best legal options to protect Captiva Island.

What you can do

If you are concerned about the proposed changes to Captiva Island’s zoning and land use regulations, there are a few things you can do:

• Contact your Lee County commissioner and express your opposition to the changes.
• Send a letter to the editor of the Captiva-Sanibel Reporter or the Islander and Current stating your concerns.
• Attend the county commission meeting on October 10th and speak out against the changes.
• Donate to the Island Coalition to help support their fight to protect Captiva Island.

Together, we can make a difference in protecting the island we love.

Bringing back the potluck by popular demand!

The CCA will be hosting a Halloween Party & Potluck Social on Tuesday, October 31, 5:00-7:00pm. This event will be geared more toward adults, with bar refreshments and candy treats provided by the CCA. Guests are asked to bring a dish to share if they are able, and costumes are encouraged, of course!

To RSVP Click here. The event is free and open to the public, but these help us know how many to plan for.

Sanibel Causeway Emergency Restoration: As a part of the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) Emergency Restoration of the Sanibel Causeway, crews continue work on McGregor Boulevard and the Sanibel Causeway from Port Comfort Road to Sanibel Island. The causeway islands surrounding the temporary roadway are an active work zone and are currently closed for public access, including from the water.

• Motorists should be aware that through October and November, portions of the travel lanes near the bridges on the Causeway will be narrowed to 10 feet with a one-foot shoulder and barrier wall on each side. Oversized loads will only be permitted during the nighttime/overnight hours with this restriction.
• During the overnight/nighttime hours on Sunday, Oct. 1, crews will shift the travel lanes on the first causeway island to the temporary roadway. Motorists should expect delays during the overnight hours. This shift is necessary for crews to raise the elevation of the existing/permanent road approximately 2 feet.
• During the hours of 6:30-11 a.m., motorists leaving Sanibel should expect eastbound McGregor Boulevard to be reduced to one lane from just east of the toll plaza to Port Comfort Road. This closed lane will be used as a dedicated lane for concrete delivery trucks arriving to the project. Concrete trucks will be escorted by FHP when using this lane. During this time, motorists traveling to Sanibel should expect FHP to intermittently stop traffic to allow concrete trucks to cross westbound travel lanes to reach the staging area.
• Motorists should expect isolated flagging operations on the Causeway. Crews anticipate opening all lanes between the hours of 7-9 a.m. and 3-5 p.m.
• Motorists should expect uneven road surface on the causeway through the end of the year. The contractor continuously monitors road conditions and is prepared to make repairs as needed.
• Crews are relocating utilities along McGregor Boulevard. Motorists are asked to use caution as work activities may be close to the roadway.
• Crews continue driving sheet pile on the causeway islands.
• Motorists should expect numerous dump trucks entering and exiting Punta Rassa. They are delivering armor stone to be used throughout the project.
• Motorists should expect periodic daytime delays for delivery/removal of materials, transfer of equipment, and for crews to remove trash from the roadway.
• Many oversized vehicles are crossing the causeway to assist with recovery efforts on the island. Please be patient as travel may be slower than usual. Bicyclists are encouraged to utilize another mode of transportation to travel the causeway, and pedestrians are not permitted on the Sanibel Causeway. Expect shoulder closures throughout the project.

MOTORISTS ARE REMINDED TO OBEY THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT OF 20 MPH. Please use caution and watch for workers and construction vehicles entering and leaving the roadway.

For further questions, please contact Jennifer Dorning by email at Jennifer.Dorning@dot.state.fl.us or by phone at (239) 338-7723. Please visit www.swflroads.com/SanibelCauseway for additional information.