Category: Island Update

Mark your calendars,  the Captiva Island Farmers Market will be opening early this season on October 4th. Located at Chadwick’s Square shopping center parking lot, the market will be open every Tuesday, 9am to 1pm. Open to public, but parking is limited. We encourage shoppers to ride bike, drive golf cart or walk. Parking is across the street in the Doc Ford’s parking lot or next to tennis courts. NO parking along Captiva Drive.

To reduce single use plastic BYOB (bring your own bag) or buy a market bag for shopping. Lots of great vendors to choose from, something for everyone. The last farmers market will be May 30th for the season.

The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club announced the opening of its new pickleball courts. Members will enjoy open play from 8 to 11 on weekdays from October to April.

Drop-in open play will be available to the public for free during the fall on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays from 2 to 5 p.m. In addition, non-members can sign up online up to three days in advance for their pickleball needs.

Membership privileges include full club access and unlimited court time for 2022 and 2023.

For more information, visit https://dunestennis.com/ or call 239-472-3522.

The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club is at 949 Sand Castle Road, Sanibel.

F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva’s 14th Annual 10K Race 4 F.I.S.H. will again feature a Kids Run.

Hosted in conjunction with the Fort Myers Track Club, the annual race will take place on Oct. 22 starting at 7:30 a.m. at The Community House on Sanibel, as well as include a virtual option.

Returning this year, the free Kids Run will be held from 9 to 10 a.m. for age 10 and under. A short, untimed fun run around cones set up in the Sanibel Community Park, it is meant to encourage fitness and being active. Participants will receive ribbons upon finishing, plus a treat from Joey’s Custard.

Parental permission and registration is required to take part in the Kids Run. Cost for the 10K race in either format is $40.

To register, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/Sanibel/SanibelIsland10KRace4FISH.

For more information or sponsorship opportunities, contact McHale at [email protected] or Race Committee Co-Chair Diane Cortese at [email protected].

The Community House is at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.

The Annual Island Hopper Songwriter Fest kicks off Sept. 16 and will run through 25, 2022, to fill The Beaches of Fort Myers, Sanibel, and Captiva with music and fun at several tropical venues.

Island Hopper Songwriter Fest is a 10-day music festival in Southwest Florida featuring performances by the greatest singer-songwriters from Nashville and nationwide. The festival is broken up into three locations with the first weekend kicking off on Captiva Island, then moving to downtown Fort Myers during the week, and ends with a weekend on Fort Myers Beach. Most shows are free with the exception of a few ticketed experiences like our headliner show.

• Captiva Island: September 16 – 18, 2022
• Downtown Fort Myers: September 19 – 22, 2022
• Fort Myers Beach: September 23 – 25, 2022

Island Hopper app

The official Island Hopper mobile app is now available for free download for iOS and Android devices. This new app was designed to enhance your festival experience. Features of the app include:

• First chance to purchase tickets for select performances
• Personalized schedule
• Artist information
• Performance times and venues
• Festival coupons
• Island Hopper hotel deals
• Festival maps
• Updates and alerts
• And more!

To download the app or for more info on the event please visit islandhopperfest.com

The City of Sanibel Police Department has arrested Dana Alan Caruso, a New Hampshire resident, for video voyeurism at the Bowman’s Beach Park since July 28, 2022. As a result of the investigation and coordinated assistance from several other agencies, Caruso was arrested on August 19, 2022 in Chicago, IL, and is awaiting extradition to Lee County.

On July 28, 2022, employees with Sanibel’s Public Works Department noticed a new fire alarm device had been installed on the wall of the family restroom located at Bowman’s Beach Park. After verifying the device had not been installed by staff in the Public Works Department, the Sanibel Police Department was notified.

Sanibel Police Department officers responded to the scene and verified that the device was not an actual fire alarm and suspected it could contain a video recording device. The Sanibel Police Department obtained a search warrant to check the contents of the device and discovered it contained a video camera. Images of the device installed by the suspect are shown in police photos below:

On August 9th, the Sanibel Police Department secured an arrest warrant for the suspect. After further investigation, the Sanibel Police Department was able to identify a suspect who may have installed the unauthorized video recording device. The police notified other law enforcement departments in Southwest Florida so restrooms and changing areas in other jurisdictions could be checked for similar devices.

On Friday, August 19, 2022, law enforcement officers in Chicago’s O’Hare Airport arrested the 58-year-old white male, Dana Alan Caruso for the warrant. The arrest warrant lists several felony and misdemeanor charges for Caruso. The Sanibel Police Department is working with other members of the law enforcement community to facilitate extradition and prosecution in this case.

The information concerning this crime was not released earlier to prevent the police investigation from being compromised. Chief Dalton said, “The suspect was thought to be moving through various communities in Florida, and our Detective was working through the leads quickly with the help of the State Attorney’s Office and the Lee County Sheriff. We had to stay focused on the investigation until he was apprehended.”

Sanibel Police have learned that several beach patrons were recorded while using the family restrooms at Bowman’s Beach Park on July 28th, 2022. The Sanibel Police Chief is asking residents and patrons who may have used the family restrooms on this date to contact his staff. “The person who installed this video camera to capture unsuspecting patrons using the family restroom will be brought to justice,” said Chief Dalton. “I ask that anyone who used the family restroom facilities at Bowman’s Beach Park on July 28th to contact Detective John Eicher by calling 239-472-3111. We would like to identify victims of this crime so additional charges against the suspect can considered.”

As we celebrate National Dog Day today, a day dedicated to our furry friends. It was first established in 2004 by pet & family lifestyle advocate Colleen Paige. The aim of promoting this day is to raise awareness about adopting these animals who are currently in rescue centers. In addition, on this day promote dog ownership of all breeds, pure and mix. Embrace National Dog Day as an opportunity for all dogs to live a safe, happy and abuse-free life.

Can you believe that our furry friends have been with us for at least 14,000 years? Thank goodness for that because what would we do without man’s best friend?

We believe that dogs are not just a pet, but they are family members and they also deserve the tropical weather, stunning beaches, majestic sunsets,  and lots of other outdoor activities our Islands have to offer.

Therefore we have brought to you a list of all pet-friendly properties listed for sale on Sanibel & Captiva.

 

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The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that the 2022 snowy plover nesting season started earlier than it has in the last few years, with the first nest initiated in late March. Five nesting pairs have made nine nest attempts so far, and of the nine nests, seven have successfully hatched out chicks.

One nest was lost to depredation by crows, and one was lost to a tropical weather event in early June. Another nest was inundated during the same storm, but the birds returned to incubate the following day and it eventually hatched two chicks that were 1 month old and near fledging as of July 20.

Of the 17 chicks hatched as of July 20, three had survived to fledging age, two were getting close, and another five were recently hatched and still very small and vulnerable.

Click here for entire article

The Pace Center for Girls, Lee will host its Love That Dress! fundraising event on Aug. 24 starting at 6 p.m. at the Embassy Suites by Hilton, at 10450 Corkscrew Commons Drive, Estero.

Described as the ultimate feel-good shopping spree of the year, it will feature shopping, music, silent auctions and cocktails, with all proceeds benefiting Pace programs and services.

In 2021, the fundraiser featured a record-breaking collection of 9,000 high-quality, brand-new boutique and gently used dresses, shoes, handbags and accessories, helping raise $65,000 to support Pace Lee. Pace also brought 15 Pace girls to join the Love That Dress! fun, providing a special shopping session with opportunities for the girls to dress up, shop and honor the female spirit.

Proceeds from the event provide academic programs and counseling services to girls and young women ages 11-18 who are working to overcome risk factors such as poverty, substance abuse, domestic violence, foster home placement, neglect, grief, incarceration of a family member, mental health and physical, emotional or sexual abuse.

Admission is $30 in advance, with a limited number of VIP passes available for $150. VIP shoppers will enjoy early access to the shopping and exclusive access to the VIP Suite Level, which features private dressing areas, express check-out and complimentary beverages, hors d’oeuvres and desserts.

For more information or tickets, visit LoveThatDressLeeCounty.com

The state of Florida reported that consumers can purchase qualifying back-to-school supplies exempt from tax during the 2022 Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, which will run now through Aug. 7.

Items exempt from sales tax include:

• Learning aids and jigsaw puzzles selling for $30 or less
• Most school supplies selling for $50 or less
• Clothing, footwear and accessories selling for $100 or less
• Computers and accessories (when purchased for non-commercial and personal use) selling for $1,500 or less

The holiday does not apply to the rental or repair of any of the qualifying items. Additionally, it does not apply to sales in a theme park, entertainment complex, public lodging establishment or airport.

For more information, visit https://floridarevenue.com/backtoschool.