WEEk Of APRIL 3, 2024
VOLUME 62, NUMBER 20
DeBruce to serve on city council By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The sole candidate to qualify for the city of Sanibel's Special Election in May, Laura DeBruce has been elected unopposed to serve out the remainder of former City Councilmember Dr. Scott Crater's term. The qualifying period opened on March 25 and closed on March 29 at noon. Laura DeBruce “It is a great honor,” she said of taking up the seat on the dais. “I have great regard and admiration for Scott Crater and the others on the city council.” “I am overwhelmed by the amount of resilience that this island and islanders
BIG ARTS chorus to present Spring Concert
See DeBRUCE, page 22 The BIG ARTS Community Chorus will present its annual Spring Concert on April 5 at 7 p.m.
By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
T
ickets are available for the annual spring performance by the BIG ARTS Community Chorus. See SPRING CONCERT, page 21
IslanderInsIde
BIG ARTS
Protect Captiva provides legal update and releases video By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
A coalition seeking to maintain the longtime building height and density limitations on Captiva recently hosted a community gathering where it premiered a video about its efforts and gave a legal update. On March 27, Protect Captiva — the group established by citizens and organizations opposed to increased building heights and density on the island — hosted the event at the Captiva Civic Center on Captiva. About 120 people were in attendance for the update and release of
the six-minute video. “The video chronicles why the Protect Captiva coalition came into existence within the historical context of Sanibel and Captiva,” the group said. “It also features comments made by the Lee County commissioners during hearings and meet-
ings in 2023 as they discussed the approval of land use changes on Captiva.” It includes interviews with key representatives from both islands, including: ∫ Captiva Community Panel President Jay Brown ∫ Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Chief Executive Officer James Evans ∫ First city of Sanibel Mayor Porter Goss ∫ Mayor Richard Johnson ∫ Sanibel Captiva Beach Resorts President and Board Chairman Tony Lapi See PROTECT CAPTIVA, page 22
alsOInsIdetOday Guest Commentary........................4 Web Poll.........................................4 Captiva Current..........................6-7 Business......................................8 Preserving Paradise.....................12 Island Living................................14 Sports.........................................16 Classifieds 35
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