Week of JUNe 14, 2023
VOLUME 61, NUMBER 30
Students, staff at Sanibel school mark last day of year By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
T
he Sanibel School held its last day of school on June 6 as classes let out for the summer. “I think it was just a very emotional day because it's been a tough year,” Principal Jamie Reid said. Students took part in the annual Talent Show, which saw a huge turnout from parents and members of the community. Prior to the ringing of the final bell, the eighth-graders moving on to high school participated in the traditional parade through the hallways, cheered on by students, faculty and parents. “Other grades held up signs, clapped and wished them good luck,” she said. The school year began with about 291 students enrolled and ended with 222. “We started off very positive after two years of dealing with COVID restrictions. It seemed like a more normal school year,” Reid said, noting
Property tax values on Sanibel take hit post-Ian Captiva sees small bump with county By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
Early preliminary property tax valuations for Sanibel have decreased significantly over 2022. The Lee County Property Appraiser's Office released its estimated tax roll values last week, which indicate a 30.85 percent drop for the city of Sanibel, but a 5.21 percent increase for Captiva as part of unincorporated Lee County. Early estimated valuations for the islands' fire districts also decreased. The official numbers will come out by July 1, then be sent to Tallahassee for state approval. According to the estimates, the city's taxable value dropped approximately See PRoPeRTY TAX, page 20
IslanderInsIde
See LAST DAY, page 19 As is tradition, faculty and staff at The Sanibel School wave goodbye to the student bus riders as they depart on the last day of school on June 6. THE SANIBEL SCHOOL
Community cheers on SanCap Chamber’s reopening During the past months since Hurricane Ian hit in September, the SanCap Chamber has strung yellow ribbon across about 50 island businesses for owners and staff to snip in celebration of their triumph over storm destruction. On June 6, chamber Board Chair Calli Johnson did the snipping as an estimated 125 chamber members and local residents gathered to cheer the reopening of the Francis P. Bailey Jr. Visitor Center on Sanibel. “It's hard to believe that on Oct. 5, the first day we were allowed back on the island after Ian, my board members and I
alsOInsIdetOday
came back on island by boat,” chamber President and Chief Executive Office John Lai said. “Eight months seems like
forever, and it seems like yesterday all at the same time. If you would have told me See CHAMBeR, page 20
Guest Commentary........................4 Web Poll.........................................4 Captiva Current..........................6-7 Business......................................8 Preserving Paradise.....................12 Island Living................................14 Sports.........................................16 Classifieds 27
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