WEEK OF MAY 24, 2023
VOLUME 61, NUMBER 27
Tourism takes hard hit in wake of storm By CJ HADDAD and TIFFANY REPECKI cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The devastating impacts of Hurricane Ian still linger throughout Southwest Florida’s communities, continuing to affect the number of visitors who come here and boost the local economy. As Travel and Tourism Week was recently recognized nationally, Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau Executive Director Tamara Pigott presented the most up-to-date information on the past season at the Tourist Development Council's meeting on May 11. The numbers, as expected post-Ian, weren’t good. Bed Tax collections for the month of March came in at $5,728,042, down 47.8% from 2022. In terms of Bed Tax for this fiscal year to date, $22,199,122 has been collected, down 44.2% compared to last fiscal year. See TOURISM, page 18
Island students to perform ‘Beauty and the Beast Jr.’ By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
he Sanibel School is set for its Performing Arts production and the public is invited to attend. This year's annual show will take place on May 25-26 at 6:30 p.m. in the cafetorium and will feature “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast 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 every school year.
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“We work to prepare and perform a musical production,” he said. Giangreco reported that the students go through auditions, including presenting a song, speaking part, resume and headshot. They learn about the production process, such as singing, acting and dancing. “All of that is presented at individual auditions as we are casting the show,” he said. “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr.” is based off of the popular movie and the Broadway musical. See ISLAND STUDENTS, page 19
Fire commission picks design firm for station rebuild By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The Sanibel and Fire Rescue District's commission has selected a firm to design the rebuild of the Sanibel-Captiva Road fire station that was severely damaged in Hurricane Ian. At a special meeting on May 17, the commissioners voted unanimously 3-0 on a motion to approve the conceptual design from SchenkelShultz Architecture. In a second motion, they also voted 3-0 to delegate to Fire Chief Kevin Barbot the
authority to enter into a work order with the firm to complete the design and construction documents and to assist with the procurement of construction services. Prior to the vote, the commission heard a presentation from each of the two finalist firms, SchenkelShultz and GMA Architects & Planners, on their design idea for Station 172. SchenkelShultz outlined the existing site analysis, including that the communications tower must remain, a detached
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garage be kept for storage, and the existing infrastructure. It addressed functional requirements that were provided by the district and its staff-manned technical advisory committee. First floor requirements included three drive-thru apparatus bays, a bunker gear room, decontamination room, shop room, tools and equipment storage, treatment room, and public reception area. For the second floor, there was a living area, outdoor kitchen and dining, six bunk rooms, laundry, gym/fitness, and office area/IT room. See REBUILD, page 20
alsOInsIdetOday Guest Commentary........................4 Web Poll.........................................4 Captiva Current...........................6-7 Business......................................8 Preserving Paradise.....................12 Island Living................................14 Sports.........................................16 Classifieds 30