Week of MAY 10, 2023
VOLUME 61, NUMBER 25
City council OKs grant funds, more By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The Sanibel City Council approved funds for Community Housing and Resources' restoration efforts and received a hurricane recovery update at its recent meeting, as well as sent back to the planning commission the applications for a proposed housing development for consideration at a new hearing. On May 2, the council voted unanimously 5-0 to approve using the remaining fund balance from a previous Community Development Block Grant for storm recovery projects proposed by CHR. Prior to the vote, Planning Department Deputy Director Craig Chandler explained the city recently issued a Notice of Funding Availability for the Lee County CDBG. The city had not spent its See CITY CoUNCIL, page 10 SANCAP CHAMBER
Hosted by the SanCap Chamber, the 30th Annual Islands Night returned on May 3 at the Hammond Stadium in fort Myers and included the long-standing island tradition of a parade pre-game.
IslanderInsIde
Chamber announces business awards at Islands Night
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s SanCap Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai and Board Chair Calli Johnson noted during the cool spring evening on May 3, the 30th Annual Islands Night at the Hammond Stadium in Fort Myers was not a typical event. For one, it combined the longstanding island tradition with the chamber’s annual meeting by presenting business awards pre-game. Typically, the chamber awards recipients in four categories.
Although those remained the same this year, it awarded two recipients instead of just one the New Business of the Year award. For its community support immediately following Hurricane Ian and her bright and giving spirit, the awards went to The Shack of Sanibel and the Rachel Pierce Art Gallery. The Shack began cooking food in its parking lot and offering islanders comfort in other ways before the Sanibel See BUSINeSS AWARDS, page 11
Sanibel library board taking applications again for seat By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The Sanibel Public Library District's board is again accepting applications to fill a vacant seat. Last week, the district's Board of Commissioners reopened the process to make an appointment to former Commissioner Barbara Ruben's seat. She resigned because she had recently moved off-island. At its April 27 meeting, the board appointed Laura Gales in a majority vote to fill Ruben's seat. She was scheduled to be sworn in at the
next meeting on May 25. “Unforeseen circumstances have prevented her from accepting the position,” board Chair Nicole Decker-McHale said of Gales on May 3. “As soon as we received her letter of withdrawal, we posted on our website that we are accepting applications for the board.” Gales was one of six applicants who applied for the appointment. “We are reaching out to the previous applicants, making them aware to see if they would like to resubmit their application,” Decker-McHale said. The board is also accepting applica-
tions from those who had not previously applied. She noted that the application process is the same. “We have applications on our website, and we have applications available at both desks at the library,” Decker-McHale said. The deadline to submit applications is by May 18. The public is invited to apply. “The library is a very important part of the community,” she said. “If anybody wants to be an advocate for the library, I See SeAT, page 17
alsOInsIdetOday Guest Commentary........................4 Web Poll.........................................4 Captiva Current..........................6-7 Business......................................8 Preserving Paradise.....................12 Island Living................................14 Sports.........................................16 Classifieds 30