WEEK OF JANUARY 22, 2025
VOLUmE 63, NUmBER 10
Wellness in Candidates Nature @ qualify for “Ding” to city election feature activities By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
By STAFF REPORT
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
T
he fourth annual Wellness in Nature @ “Ding” will take place on Jan. 23-26 at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel. Sponsored by the refuge and “Ding” Darling Wildlife SocietyFriends of the Refuge (DDWS), the activities will range from a low-tide bird photography workshop and sunset yoga to Planting Seeds of Connection Workshop. “The purpose of the four-day event is to draw in and connect with new-to-'Ding' visitors about the value of conservation,” Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland said. “It facilitates expeSee WELLNESS IN NATURE, page 21
With the qualifying period for the city of Sanibel's March 4 election closing as of Jan. 17, four candidates are now in the running for three city council seats that will appear on the ballot. Current Councilmembers Laura DeBruce and John Henshaw and Vice Mayor Mike Miller have qualified as candidates and are seeking re-election. All of their terms will expire in March. The fourth candidate seeking office is Lyman “Chip” Welch. Elections held for Sanibel City Council seats are non-partisan races. The three seats on the ballot are for four-year terms.
Important voter information ∫ Feb. 3: Deadline to register to vote or change party affiliation ∫ Feb. 20 at 5 p.m.: Deadline to request a Vote-by-Mail Ballot be mailed See CITY ELECTION, page 21
IslanderInsIde
An Eco-Art Creation Station will make the art-naturehealth connection at the fourth annual Wellness in Nature @ “Ding” on Jan. 25 at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel. REFUGE/DDWS
Fire board OKs work, items for new station going up By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The Sanibel Fire and Rescue District's commission approved contract work and appliances for Station 172 at its recent meeting, as well as received a building update and heard about a recent youth camp. On Jan. 15, the commissioners voted unanimously 3-0 on a resolution authorizing security and access control work for the station being rebuilt on SanibelCaptiva Road to be performed by Innovative Security for a cost of about
$16,476, which will provide for integration with the system at Station 171. In addition, the commission voted 3-0 on a resolution to purchase an appliance package for Station 172 from Fuse Specialty Appliances for a cost of about $30,260 for a refrigerator, dishwasher and more. Before the vote, Fire Chief Kevin Barbot report-
Fire Chief Kevin Barbot
ed that it was the lowest bid received out of three. Additionally, the commissioners voted 3-0 to approve district policies for: Certifying Sick Leave With Documentation, Elevator Entrapments, Elevator Restrictions During Emergencies, Staging, Uniform Regulations, and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR). Also during the meeting, Assistant Fire Chief Chris See FIRE BOARD, page 22
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