WEEK OF JUNE 4, 2025
VOLUME 63, NUMBER 29
Governor vetoes bill on medical malpractice
By NATHAN MAYBERG
nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com
Shell museum reopens first phase of Great Hall By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
C
ontinuing with its phased reopening in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in 2022, the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium on Sanibel
recently reopened its new Great Hall of Shells. On May 24, Phase 1 of the exhibit space — the first of two phases — was unveiled. The Great Hall of Shells has been See GREAT HALL, page 17
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
Volunteers are needed for an islandwide and causeway event to remove discarded fishing line. Mind Your Line will hold a Monofilament Cleanup on June 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. on Sanibel and the Causeway Islands. The community-driven event will help keep waterways clean and safe for wildlife. “It’s the end of season
ISLANDERINSIDE
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium on Sanibel recently reopened the first phase of its new Great Hall of Shells and exhibits in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in 2022. BAILEY-MATTHEWS NATIONAL SHELL MUSEUM & AQUARIUM
Mind Your Line signing up volunteers for cleanup
By TIFFANY REPECKI
Gov. Ron DeSantis made an appearance in Southwest Florida on May 29 to veto a bill regarding medical malpractice and “Free Kill” law. He was joined by Florida Department of Health Surgeon General Dr. Joe Gov. Ron DeSantis Ladapo at the Gulf Coast Medical Center in Fort Myers, where House Bill 6017 was formally vetoed. See GOVERNOR, page 18
and we wanted to kind of get a clean slate, a fresh start, and host this event islandwide so we can remove as much monofilament as we possibly can from the environment, from the mangroves, for the nesting birds,” SanibelCaptiva Conservation Foundation’s (SCCF) Coastal Watch Director Kealy Pfau said. “We want to make sure there’s not going to be any entanglements.” Fishing line that is left
in the environment does not biodegrade and can remain as a hazard for years. Discarded line, or monofilament, can pose serious threats to birds, fish and other marine animals. She noted that it is the first islandwide event focused on monofilament since Hurricane Ian. “There could be some areas we find that have a lot of monofilament concentration, so it’s super important that we get volunteers out there,” Pfau said. “We love our natural wildlife and we want to make sure that they See MIND YOUR LINE, page 18
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Guest Commentary........................4 Web Poll...........................................4 Captiva Current...............................6 Business......................................8 Preserving Paradise.....................12 Island Living..................................14 Sports.........................................16 Classifieds 35
3311 TWIN LAKES LANE Elevated Home in Lake Murex, Short Walk to Beach
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