WEEK OF APRIL 2, 2025
VOLUME 63, NUMBER 20
Shell museum to present final lecture in series
Agencies share prescribed burn plan, offer tips
By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium on Sanibel will conclude with its seasonal Lecture Series at the museum, at 3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel. The last lecture will be: ∫ April 3 at 5:30 p.m.: “The Rise, Fall, and Renewal of New York Harbor’s Oysters” with New York Times best-selling author Mark Kurlansky Kurlansky will explore the history of the New York Harbor and the ecological story of its renowned oysters, which were at first native and abundant, became global delicacies and were eventually destroyed by water pollution Mark Kurlansky in the 19th and 20th centuries. For 50 years there have been efforts, now beginning to achieve success, to restore the harbor and its oysters. His talk will reveal the story of marine biology, urban growth and conservation. Kurlansky has written 39 books, several exploring the intersection of nature and history, including the celebrated best-seller “The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell.” His other prominent titles include “Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World” and “Salt: A World History.” Kurlansky has also worked as a journalist for
The Sanibel Island Prescribed Fire Task Force recently outlined its plan for this year’s prescribed burn operations on the island, which will consist of two areas in total if the conditions are right. At a Community Meeting on March 27 at the Sanibel Recreation Center on Sanibel, representatives from the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF), city of Sanibel, Sanibel Fire and Rescue District and Lee County Mosquito Control District gave a presentation on why prescribed burns are conducted and the summer-fall plan. The Florida Forest Service is also a task force partner but was not present. This year’s targeted properties are the Legion Curve Unit and Botanical Site Unit. “Ding” Darling Complex Project Leader Kevin Godsea kicked off the preSee AGENCIES, page 28
ISLANDERINSIDE
BAILEY-MATTHEWS NATIONAL SHELL MUSEUM & AQUARIUM
See LECTURE SERIES, page 18 “The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell” by Mark Kurlansky
School district awaits direction on DOE elimination
By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers.com
Local officials are awaiting more information as they ready to come into compliance with President Donald Trump’s March 20 executive order to eliminate the Department of Education (DOE) and return authority to the states. The order does not immediately close the department but sets that action, which would require con-
gressional approval, in motion. “The School District of Lee County is currently reviewing the executive orders issued by the president and awaiting further guidelines from the respective federal agencies to ensure our continued compliance. Our school board policies adhere to federal and state laws and regulations. As federal agen-
cies release specific guidelines related to these executive orders, we will assess and adjust our policies accordingly,” the School District of Lee County said in a prepared statement. The order is part of the president’s plan to downsize the federal government while making its agencies, processes and programs more efficient. The executive order states that “the Secretary of Education shall, to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all the necessary steps to faciliSee SCHOOL DISTRICT, page 28
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