Category: Island Update

It’s was big day for fans of the iconic Bubble Room Restaurant. The restaurant itself is still closed due to Hurricane Ian. However, the lights are on once again at the restaurant’s sweet outpost. Boop’s By The Bubble Room has re-opened on Captiva.

Located in the parking lot of the iconic Bubble Room restaurant on Captiva, Boop’s By The Bubble Room is a vintage soda fountain and dessert shop. The shop began operating on March 26, 2021, taking over the building that previously housed the restaurant’s emporium. The Bubble Room itself is a well-known landmark on Captiva, featuring a cozy yet expansive interior that is rich in nostalgia. The walls are adorned with photos from Hollywood’s Golden Age, while the nooks and crannies are filled with antiques, old jukeboxes, bubble lights, and shadow box tables that are brimming with vintage trinkets.

The Bubble Room restaurant was not only famous for its unique atmosphere but also for its delectable desserts. In fact, the popularity of the desserts was causing a pedestrian traffic jam as many people would show up at the small entrance just to get desserts to go. To address this issue, the owners came up with the brilliant idea of opening Boop’s By The Bubble Room. This vintage soda fountain and dessert shop is entirely dedicated to all things sweet, featuring a range of treats such as ice cream, handcrafted sodas, cookies, muffins, and donuts. However, the main attraction at Boop’s is undoubtedly the restaurant’s famous cakes.

We received the latest newsletter from South Seas Island Resort providing some insights into The Next Chapter of South Seas Island Resort.

The Tower Gallery, located at 751 Tarpon Bay Road on Sanibel, has been reopened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony organized by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce. The gallery was originally established 40 years ago at the Bell Tower shopping center in south Fort Myers but was relocated to a beach cottage on Tarpon Bay Road in 1993 by the late Sanibel artist Ikki Matsumoto. The gallery currently showcases the works of 26 local artists across various mediums including oil, pastels, ceramics, and photography. Although Hurricane Ian did not damage the art, the gallery required the replacement of its deck railing and air conditioning. The gallery is open from Tuesday to Saturday between 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Introducing Captiva Landing, South Seas’ 7-acre resort amenity, providing fun experiences for all ages.

JUST ANNOUNCED… The Next Chapter at South Seas Island Re

Hot off the press! South Seas recently announced on their Facebook page; The Next Chapter Begins with introducing Bottlenose Bay, an all-new waterpark…

It will feature six slides, tipping buckets, water cannons, splash zones, and expansive cabanas. A wholesome sun and water-soaked time ahead… can’t wait. 🤽💦🌊

Click here to learn more

Tomorrow, February 28, 2023, at 6 am, the Sanibel Lighthouse will officially be relit by the City of Sanibel. Following damage caused by Hurricane Ian in September 2022, one of the lighthouse legs was replaced with a temporary wooden support. This month, electrical repairs were completed and the US Coast Guard replaced the light. City officials will gather to celebrate the relighting of Sanibel’s iconic lighthouse, which began operating in 1884. The lighthouse parking lot will be open only for the morning ceremony with limited parking available due to ongoing repairs. Attendees should apply insect repellent and consider bringing a flashlight. After the ceremony, the parking lots will be closed to the public until further notice.

Sanibel Recreation Center WAG Feb 26

The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce has launched a new Wander: Maps & Navigation app and website to help visitors and locals find open businesses and access points following Hurricane Ian. The GPS-enabled map includes all open island businesses, regardless of chamber membership, as well as beach access points and bike parking areas. The app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store, and Google Play, or accessed online at tinyurl.com/sancapwandermap, and is organized into seven categories: beaches, shopping, attractions, lodging, vacation rentals, services, and off-island businesses. Billy’s Bike Shop is partnering with the chamber to distribute information to renters and post the map QR code along Sanibel’s shared use path.

For more information about the chamber Wander Map and to request updates to the app, contact Aaron Walton at [email protected] or 239-472-8759.

If you’ve inherited a property, sold it and want to save on taxes, there’s a federal rule that can help: the 1031 exchange. This rule allows you to postpone paying taxes on the gain if you reinvest the proceeds in similar property as part of a qualifying like-kind exchange. However, it’s important to discuss the legal and tax implications with a lawyer or accountant. A 1031 exchange is a valuable investment tool that, if used properly, can help property owners maintain profits, according to Ron Schultz, executive vice president at Colliers in Tampa.

Below are some of the important points to keep in mind.

• The first limit is you have 45 days from the date you sell the relinquished property to identify potential replacement properties. The identification must be in writing, signed by you and delivered to a person involved in the exchange like the seller of the replacement property or the qualified intermediary. However, notice to your attorney, real estate agent, accountant or similar persons acting as your agent is not sufficient
• The replacement properties that are identified in the written document must be described clearly, including a legal description, street address, or distinguishable name in the case of real estate. The IRS provides guidelines that must be followed regarding the maximum number and value of properties that can be identified.
• The second limit for a 1031 exchange is that the replacement property must be received and the exchange must be completed within 180 days after the sale of the relinquished property, or the due date (with extensions) of the income tax return for the tax year in which the property was sold, whichever is earlier. Additionally, the replacement property must be substantially similar to the property that was identified in writing within the 45-day limit.

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Following the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, communities in Sanibel, Captiva, and Southwest Florida are working towards recovery. To aid in this process, SCCF Coastal Resilience Manager Carrie Schuman, Ph.D. is offering a comprehensive guide on how to increase the region’s resilience against future storms and the impacts of climate change.

This informative guide, which focuses on tax credits, rebates, and other financial incentives, outlines four key steps towards building resilience:

• Energy Generation
• Energy Efficiency
• Transportation
• Hurricane Proofing

This guide includes a variety of available financial incentives that can help homeowners, businesses, and other entities — such as nonprofits, schools, and municipalities — make some of these choices while taking advantage of potentially significant savings.

Schuman reminds us of other long-term benefits as well.

By adopting solar and other renewable energy sources, you will become less dependent on both a volatile fossil fuel market and the availability of backup power as battery technology improves. By choosing energy-efficient appliances, you can help streamline overall energy usage, resulting in lower bills. Savings range from hundreds of dollars to several thousand.

Click here to DOWNLOAD GUIDE.