WEEK OF JUNE 19, 2024
VOLUME 62, NUMBER 31
Signups open for Fourth of July parade on islands By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
egistrations are being accepted for this year's 31st Annual Independence Day Parade. Taking place on July 4 beginning at 9 a.m., the Fourth of July parade will follow its regular route, traveling from Tarpon Bay Road to Periwinkle Way on Sanibel, then east to Casa Ybel Road. Line up will be between 8 and 8:30 a.m. on Island Inn Road, with late entries placed at the end of the line. The parade categories include: Best Float — Commercial, Best Float — NotFor-Profit, Most Patriotic, Best Original Design and Best Music. Entry fee is $15 for non-commercial and $30 for commercial. Each entry fee is for a maximum of three vehicles. Participants are encouraged to sign up early as starting position is based on registration. Entry forms and payments must be received before June 28. A mandatory parade meeting is set for July 2 at 10 a.m. or 5 p.m. at Bank of the Islands, at 1699 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Each participant must send a representative to one of the meetings. In addition, the 2024 parade shirts are available at the bank. For more information or the entry form, visit https://files.constantcontact.com/97 af97e6001/a1f1e06f-e4a5-42d9-a44f-
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Rainy season opens with soggy start By CJ HADDAD
cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com
It is often said when it rains, it pours, and that was certainly the case for Southwest Florida last week. If residents were wondering when rainy season would start, it is here. It seems Mother Nature has made up for lost time, dumping heavy amounts of precipitation across Lee County and other local areas, putting an end to a countywide burn ban and causing flooding in many areas. On June 12, Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency due to severe weather that impacted areas of South Florida, including the county. Widespread, heavy rainfall saw cumulative totals of 10 to 15 inches of rain in areas, with the city of Sanibel closing some beach parking lots due to flooding. Other parts of South Florida reported more than 25 inches of rain. “Preliminary reports indicate that the rainfall and flooding has affected and may See RAINY SEASON, page 18
IslanderInsIde
4edb5aaed780.pdf. For questions, contact Trish Phillips at 239-246-2981.
Does beach renourishment affect turtle hatchling success? The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that following the first-ever renourishment of all of Sanibel’s beaches this year with sand trucked in from a sand mine in Moore Haven to offset impacts from Hurricane Ian, many beachgoers have questioned whether or not sea turtle nesting will be affected. As part of a study that the SCCF started in 2021, the sea turtle team is analyzing how the sand’s characteristics relate to hatchling emergence success through loggers installed at nests on Sanibel and Captiva. In June of
2021, the sea turtle team launched a project investigating how variation in sand grain size, color, compaction and bulk density influences temperature, moisture and water flow through the nest chamber. “We are also evaluating subsequent impacts on embryonic development and hatchling production,” Coastal Wildlife Director Kelly Sloan said. Since 2021, 111 nests have been outfitted with temperature, moisture and water level loggers on Sanibel and See BEACH RENOURISHMENT, page 18 SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
alsOInsIdetOday Guest Commentary........................4 Web Poll.........................................4 Captiva Current..........................6-7 Business......................................8 Preserving Paradise.....................12 Island Living................................14 Sports.........................................16 Classifieds 31
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