WEEK OF OCTOBER 22, 2025
Volume 63, number 49
School district continues to grapple with late buses
By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
Annual picnic to honor cancer survivors, fighters By TIFFANY REPECKI
I
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
t is estimated that 316,950 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the United States this year, as well as 59,080 new cases of non-invasive See PICNIC, page 21
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
Pet owners are invited to register their four-legged family members for a dog-friendly event. The Sanibel Recreation Center will host the Howl-O-Ween Costume Parade on Oct. 25 from noon to 1 p.m. Free and open to the community, it will feature the parade and activities for man’s best friend. “Pets and Sanibel go hand in hand,” Recreation Department Marketing & Events Coordinator Denise Dillon said.
See BUSES, page 21
ISLANDERINSIDE
The San Cap Pink Project will hold its Annual Pink Out Picnic: Health & Hope Wellness Expo on Oct. 23 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Sanibel Fire and Rescue District’s Station 171 on Sanibel. SAN CAP PINK PROJECT
Rec center to host Howl-O-Ween Costume Parade
By TIFFANY REPECKI
While the numbers have improved since last year, more than 2,500 bus riders are still getting to school late. “We have a lot more work to do moving forward,” Safety, Security, & Fleet Operations Chief Dave Newlan said at the Lee County School Board’s meeting earlier this month. Last year, 83% of students arrived to school on time meaning 7,990 students per day arrived late. In the afternoon, numbers rose significantly — 18,800 students per day were picked up late for their bus ride home, with only 60% of students picked up from their school on time. Those numbers improved in the first
“We are such a pet-focused community, what better than to get our furry friends and dress them up for Halloween.” She added that non-participants and non-pet owners are encouraged to attend. “Even if you do not have a pet registered for the parade, you can come on out in your costume and participate with crowd support as the parade goes by,” Dillon said. Pets and owners will line up and parade around The Sanibel School’s
pavilion. “We’re going to have seven categories for prize winning,” she said. “From the most creative for DIY costume to the best dynamic duo, so that is pet owner and pet.” The following Spooktacular Prizes will be awarded: ∫ The Phantom of the Pawpera for Best in Show ∫ The Creature Feature for Scariest Costume See PARADE, page 21
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