Volume 63, number 42
SCCF: Help prevent sea turtle hatchling disorientations
Sanibel library wraps up summer reading program
T
he Sanibel Public Library’s annual summer reading program, “Island Adventures: A Summer Reading Journey through Sanibel,” wrapped up on Aug. 1 with an End of Summer Celebration on Sanibel. This year’s program marked a milestone, offering a reimagined, island-focused experience that — for the first time — included adults alongside children and teens. Over the summer, participants logged their reading minutes, attended special programs and joined in an islandwide scavenger adventure that featured eight of Sanibel’s nonprofit organizations.
The library reported that the program not only promoted literacy and encouraged daily reading habits across all ages, it made a meaningful impact through the “Read for Others” initiative. For every 150 minutes read by participants, one book was donated to Lee Health’s Golisano Children’s Hospital. The effort is made possible by the continued support of the Sanibel Public Library Foundation. Participants logged a total of 276,339 minutes of reading, resulting in 1,843 books donated to the hospital. Adults led the
The city of Sanibel has been working to restore its beach shorelines with native dune plantings. Last month, Natural Resources Department environmental biologist Joel Caouette reported that about 18,000 native plants were staged at Bowman’s Beach. They were set to be installed on Aug. 20-22. “We’ll be planting all these plants as part of a two-phase project at Bowman’s,”
he said. Caouette added that the Lee County Tourist Development Council (TCD) provided the funding. “We’ll be planting about six different species at Bowman’s Beach and Gulfside City Park initially as part of a beautification — also erosion control — project,” he said. With the city having recently completed a renourishment of its beaches in response to the impacts from the hurricanes over the last few
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years, Caouette explained the importance behind the dune plantings. “They provide erosion control to retain the sand and also to provide habitat for wildlife,” he said. Caouette reported that more projects are planned in the coming months. “We’ll be planting at Bock Peace Park, Bailey Beach Park and Buttonwood beach access,” he said. The city extended a thank to the TDC and Florida Department of Environmental Protection for supporting “this important See NATIVE PLANTS, page 21
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See DISORIENTATIONS, page 19
See SUMMER READING, page 18
City protecting beaches, dunes with native plants
By STAFF REPORT
captivasanibel.com
SANIBEL PUBLIC LIBRARY
From left, Sanibel Public Library staffer Shannon Gafgen and Executive Director Amber Cox, Sanibel Public Library Foundation Treasurer Bill Fellows, library Assistant Director Danny Hussey, Barbara’s Friends’ Reading Adventures Volunteer Chair Polly Woodring, Golisano Children’s Hospital Medical Library Manager Elaine Sullo, and library staffer Duane Shaffer, youth volunteer Maya Brennan, and staffers Eden Sherman and Cathy Cameron.
The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) reported that it is only partway through hatching season on the islands, and it is already seeing a higher rate of sea turtle hatchling disorientations than in past years — almost 10% of total nests laid. By the end of the 2024 nesting season, Sanibel and Captiva recorded a 5.9% disorientation rate, with 50 disoriented nests out of 843. As of Aug. 19, this year’s rate had already climbed to 9.5%, with 84 out of 884 nests — two months before the season even finishes. “We still have many more nests left to hatch, which means the percentage will only continue to rise,” sea turtle biologist Savannah Weber said. “The increase from last year is likely tied to ongoing impacts from hurricanes, starting with Hurricane Ian in 2022 and worsening with Hurricanes Milton and Helene, which hit last fall. Much of the natural
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