WEEK OF DECEMBER 28, 2022
VOLUME 61, NUMBER 6
City council proceeds with slated opening for causeway By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
REFUGE/DDWS
RIGHT: Patriot Elementary School student Ochun Lopez Valdez took first place in the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge's annual Conservation Cartoon Contest. ABOVE: First place drawing by Ochun Lopez Valdez.
Patriot Elementary students winners of refuge’s contest By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
hree fourth-grade students at the Patriot Elementary School in Cape Coral were selected as the winners of the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge's annual Conservation Cartoon Contest. The winners include first place Ochun Lopez Valdez, second place winner Karolina Machado and third place winner Brody Howdyshell. The three
T
students were chosen from more than 160 entries. Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland said Lopez's “message 'we can work together' seems just so appropriate right now, and I talked to the students how people are working together to bring the refuge back, so it was a great teaching moment.” The winners were chosen from staff at the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, which is now part of the greater
“Ding” complex. The students were awarded mouse pads with their art printed on them, along with art supplies. The artwork will be hung on the walls of the refuge's Visitor & Education Center once the facility reopens. “We go to the schools when school starts and explain about 'Ding' Darling the man and current conservation issues that affect our world,” Westland, who has been overseeing the contest for more See CONTEST WINNERS, page 2
During a special meeting, the majority of the Sanibel City Council supported staff's recommendation to end the requirement for city-issued hurricane reentry passes at the Sanibel Causeway starting Jan. 2. On Dec. 20, the council voted 4-0 to remove the pass requirement for entry onto the islands. While Mayor Holly Smith, Vice Mayor Richard Johnson and Councilmembers Mike Miller and John Henshaw were physically present and voted in favor of the recommendation, Councilmember Dr. Scott Crater expressed concerns and voted no; he was attending via phone, though, so his was not an official vote. Prior to the vote, Crater pointed out that the majority of public letters received on the topic opposed the slated reopening. He noted a recent rise in burglaries and that people have no place to go on-island. Crater added that he would be more comfortable with a 12-month security plan and beach parks opened. In press releases issued after the meeting, See CITY COUNCIL, page 3
IslanderInsIde
Record numbers expected to travel over the holidays By CJ HADDAD
cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com
If you want to be home on time for the holidays, forecasters warn to give yourself plenty of time this year. Record numbers are anticipated this year, as AAA estimates 6.3 Floridians will journey at least 50 miles from home during the holidays from Dec. 23 through Jan. 2. That number marks an increase of nearly 108,000 people over last year and a new record-high for the year-end holiday travel period in the Sunshine State. National travel numbers are also expected to grow from last year, though remain slightly lower than pre-pandemic levels, according to AAA. They estimate 112.7 million American will travel this holiday season, an increase of 3.6 million from last year and the third busiest since AAA began keeping track in 2000.
“Despite inflationary pressures, consumers remain resilient and dedicated to travel this year, and the holidays will be no different,” Debbie Haas, vice president of Travel for AAA — The Auto Club Group, said. “Americans are spending more on travel than any other time in the past two years. The good news is the cost for a holiday road trip will be less expensive than anticipated, now that gas prices are on the way down.” Across the board, 90% of holiday travelers will drive to their desired location. In Florida, AAA said nearly 5.8 million will take at least one holiday road trip, which is 110,000 more than last year and a 2% bump from 2019. AAA predicts a 14% increase in air travel from last year, with more than 7.2 million Americans expected to take to the skies.
“Flights and airports will be packed this holiday season, reminiscent of prepandemic days,” AAA officials said. AAA expects that, despite high ticket prices, the number of people taking holiday flights this season will be similar to numbers in 2019 when 7.3 million Americans traveled by air. “If the distance is not reasonable to drive, more people are flying to maximize the time spent at their destination,” Haas added. “Conversely, if the travel distances are reasonable and more than one or two people in the household are taking the trip, it may be more cost-effective to drive rather than buy multiple air tickets and rent a car.” AAA said other modes of transportation are also rebounding in a big way, as travel by bus, rail, and cruise ship are See TRAVEL, page 3
PAGE
18
‘WILD About CROW’ to raise needed funds for mission
alsOInsIdetOday Guest Commentary........................4 Web Poll..........................................4 Captiva Current..........................6-7 Business......................................8 Island Faces..................................10 Preserving Paradise....................12 Island Living................................14 Sports.........................................16