WEEK OF NOVEMBER 2, 2022
VOLUME 60, NUMBER 50
City provides updates on recovery effort
CROW announces island event canceled
By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The city of Sanibel reported that the Sanibel Causeway will be open daily for all pass-holders. During the city's Facebook Live on Oct. 28, City Manager Dana Souza explained that access to the islands on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 would be open to residents, businesses, private contractors and property owners, versus only essential response personnel as was previously discussed as part of a schedule. He continued that the city would reaccess the traffic situation on a weekly basis, and if it finds the need to limit access on certain days to expedite cleanup and debris removal on the island, then it will. Souza added that the city may close certain streets rather than the causeway to allow for work. He also reported that the normal speed limits of 30-35 mph on Sanibel have resumed. Motorists should still yield to workers, bicyclists and pedestrians in the road; passing is not recommended at this time. In addition, the city had released the following updates as of Oct. 26:
he Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife reported that this year would have marked the 41st year for its Taste of the Islands fundraiser. In a brand new format, it would have been Sanibel and Captiva’s first official restaurant week, where diners could experience everything the islands have to offer — food, recreational activities, businesses, and breathtaking resorts. Hurricane Ian changed those plans. With events scheduled from Nov. 1219, CROW planned to feature trolleys on both Saturdays so patrons could enjoy Taste features across the islands. “Our goal was to bring the 'fun' people reminisced about from past events on the field back to the Taste event,” Director of Development and Advancement Aimee White said. “We are deeply saddened by the collective loss on the island and can only hope we are able to return to Taste in 2023.” Amongst the islands' destruction, remnants of the long-running Taste of the Islands still remain. Last year’s first-time Taste of the Taste winner Sanibel Fresh owner Troy Thompson found pieces of the most honored trophy in the damaged
T
See CROW, page 10 Last year’s first-time Taste of the Taste winner Sanibel Fresh owner Troy Thompson found pieces of the most honored trophy in the damaged restaurant following Hurricane Ian.
Re-entry procedures ∫ Inbound access open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. See UPDATES, page 9
CLINIC FOR THE REHABILITATION OF WILDLIFE
Officials: Sanibel school deemed structurally sound IslanderInsIde By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
The Sanibel School community received some great news last week — their school does not have to be torn down, due to recently passing the engineering test of being structurally sound. School District of Lee County Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier said the island school is being cleaned and dried out. “The building itself is sound. Instead of Sanibel being a rebuild, it will be a renovation. We will not have to tear it down,” he said. Principal Jamie Reid said she met with Bernier and his cabinet, as well as the parent liaison group, on Oct. 26. The main concerns are with the electrical systems, due to the surge going into the buildings. “They are going through each electrical grid,” she said. The elementary section of the school,
which is lower in elevation, suffered a lot more damage and had 3 feet to 4 feet of flooding. “Every classroom is gutted,” Reid said of crews having to go through each room and remove drywall and carpeting. The middle school section, which includes the offices, fared better as the newer middle school classrooms are 4 feet higher.
“Right now they are drying out the section,” she said. Teachers' personal items have been boxed up and are currently sitting on the stage in the cafeteria. The boxes will be sent to San Carlos Elementary School in Fort Myers, where The Sanibel School is sharing the campus. “My staff was really happy about that,” Reid said. Although officials do not have a timeline of when students will return to the Sanibel campus, the hope is before the end of the school year. Many of the classrooms are now doubled up at San Carlos Elementary, as the island school began with nine classrooms before being given four more. “We don't have all of our supplies, textbooks and reading books. They (teachers) are trying to get by with limited resources,” Reid said. See SANIBEL SCHOOL, page 10
Farmers markets make adjustments
Page
18
alsOInsIdetOday Guest Commentary........................4 Web Poll.........................................4 Captiva Current..........................6-7 Business......................................8 Preserving Paradise....................11 Island Living................................14 Sports.........................................16