WEEK OF APRIL 16, 2025
VOLUME 63, NUMBER 22
School board approves new ‘bell times’
By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
Event to feature egg hunt, Easter bunny and more
By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The community is invited out to a free event this weekend to celebrate the Easter holiday. The city of Sanibel’s 50th Anniversary Workgroup and Sanibel Recreation Center will present the 50th Anniversary Egg Hunt on April 19 from 10 a.m. to noon on the Sanibel Ball Fields at the center on Sanibel. With gates opening at 9:30 a.m., it will feature an egg hunt, a special guest, activities and such. “We wanted to do something fun and get everyone in the community excited for the holiday,” rec center Marketing &
Events Coordinator Denise Dillon said. “It’s a great way to give back to the kids, and it all ties back to the city’s 50th anniversary.” The egg hunt will be divided into the following groups: ∫ Ages 4 and under at 10:15 a.m. ∫ Grades K-3 at 10:30 a.m. ∫ Grades 4-8 at 10:45 a.m. “We have stuffed over 5,000 eggs,” she said, adding that the foam eggs have been filled with prizes donated by sponsors. “Candy, toys. We have gold coins, dollar coins — almost 500 gift cards.”
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The Sanibel Fire and Rescue District’s commission approved a handful of resolutions at its recent meeting, including one for the annual audit, as well as recognized two staffers for their actions. On April 9, the commissioners voted unanimously 3-0 on a resolution to adopt the carry forward balance of $18,452,817 based on the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending on Sept. 30, accept the audit by HSC/ Tuscan & Company and amend the final adopted budget for 2024-25 as:
∫ Revenue increased from $8,673,840 to $9,405,340 due to increased interest revenue and the addition of $500,000 in projected federal grant income from the HUD CDBG-DR grant for Station 171 ∫ Operational expenditures increased to $1,266,204, representing an increase of $90,481 from the originally adopted budget ∫ Capital adjustments include the addition of $500,000 for the reconstruction of Station 171, reduction of the brush truck capital line item from $130,000 to $100,423 and an increase in the boat lift capital expenditure to $15,000 due
ISLANDERINSIDE
See EGG HUNT, page 25
Fire board OKs audit and commends crew members
By TIFFANY REPECKI
School District of Lee County students will have different bell times for the 2025-26 school year. On April 8, the Lee County School Board unanimously agreed to implement the changes next year as part of the district’s Safe Start Initiative. The initiative transitions transportation to a three-tiered system. It focuses on improving bus routes, addressing driver shortages and improving timely arrivals for students. According to the district, spacing start times an hour apart will allow bus drivers the opportunity to finish their first tier before moving onto the next. According to past meetings, the district said the current transportation route See SCHOOL BOARD, page 25
to mandatory repairs to the public safety dock Prior to the vote, HSC/Tuscan & Company provided a presentation on its audit report. “We found no issues,” Jeff Tuscan, with the firm, said. “The opinion in the audit is unmodified.” “Unmodified is a clean opinion,” he added. “Certainly, the one you want.” In addition, the commission voted 3-0 on each of the following: ∫ A resolution approving the sole source purchase and installation of 911 See FIRE BOARD, page 25
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