WEEK OF MAY 14, 2025
VOLUME 63, NUMBER 26
Island students to perform Disney’s ‘Newsies JR’
City council discusses permit deadline, hears of police rangers
By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
By TIFFANY REPECKI
T
he Sanibel School is presenting its Performing Arts production and the community is invited. This year’s annual show will take place on May 21-23 at 6:30 p.m. in the cafetorium at the school, and it will feature Disney’s “Newsies JR.” Each performance will also include a different opening act. Music Department Director Joey Giangreco explained that Performing Arts is a middle-school elective class for students in sixth through eighth grade. The youths put together one show each school year. “We’re very excited as this is the first time that the school has put on this production,” he said. “Newsies JR” is based on the true story of the 1899 Newsie strike that took place in New York City. Originally released as a movie in 1992, “Newsies” was turned into a Broadway musical in 2012. “It has to do with the newspaper boys, which their name was newsies, going on strike,” Giangreco said, noting that the newspapers wanted to raise the price of papers for them, which the newsies opposed. “‘Newsies’ is a great musical, but it’s maybe not the most well known,” he added. “Once people see the movie or the Broadway producSee ‘NEWSIES JR’, page 21
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The Sanibel City Council provided direction on the “build back” provisions for nonconforming uses and structures at its recent meeting, as well as received an update on the Sanibel Rangers program. On May 6, Planning Department Director Paula McMichael provided the council with an overview of the reestablishment or build back provisions for nonconforming uses — uses that were lawful when established but are no longer permitted within their zone — and nonconforming structures — structures that were lawful when constructed but no longer comply with the required development standards. The current Code allows nonconforming uses and structures to be built back if destroyed by a natural disaster and it provides a deadline of three years if the state of local emergency exceeds six months. Post-Hurricane Ian, the deadline is See CITY COUNCIL, page 20
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Ride of Silence returns to recognize cyclists, more
By TIFFANY REPECKI
If you go
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
An annual event on Sanibel planned for next week will commemorate cyclists who have been injured and killed while riding a bike, as well as raise awareness about the importance of sharing the road. Held since 2008 on the island, the Ride of Silence will take place on May 21 at 7 p.m. starting and ending at the Sanibel Community Park on Sanibel. Organized and hosted by the Sanibel Bicycle Club and Billy’s Bikes, the route will follow along See RIDE OF SILENCE, page 21
What Annual Ride of Silence When May 21 at 7 p.m.; arrive by 6:30 p.m. Where Sanibel Community Park, 2231 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Details Free and open to the public
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