The Florida Department of Environmental Protection issued a critical permit for the Yacht Club Community Park renovation yesterday afternoon, bringing the City of Cape Coral one step closer to breaking ground on the park’s improvements.The environmental resource permit will now be sent to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), with federal approval anticipated in April 2025, barring unforeseen circumstances. Once received, the construction manager at risk will advertise the marine improvement portion of the project for construction bids, marking a significant step forward in the project.

Sanibel's Natural Resources Department has been busy preparing for the final phase of the Lighthouse Beach renourishment project by preparing to plant nearly 30,000 pieces of dune vegetation. Yesterday, a team was out sorting, measuring, and preparing the area for plantings made on Thursday.

The South Seas Group has been battling residents and civic groups on Sanibel and Captiva as it tries to persuade the Lee County Board of County Commissioners to sign off on a deal that would significantly expand the number of people at the resort.South Seas encompasses the northern third of Captiva Island.To get to Captiva by car, you have to drive through Sanibel Island. Both islands swell significantly during the winter tourist season.

The human services organization FISH of SANCAP will participate in Elevate Florida, a new statewide residential mitigation program designed to help homeowners strengthen their properties against future hurricanes and floods. The Florida Dept. of Emergency Management (FDEM) announced the launch of Elevate Florida on Feb. 7.

Individuals impacted by Hurricanes Helene or Milton may be eligible for financial assistance through the American Red Cross. The Red Cross is providing financial assistance to Floridians whose homes suffered major damage or were destroyed by the hurricanes and who still face obstacles in their recovery. Red Cross financial assistance is not a loan and does not need to be repaid.

More than two years after Hurricane Ian devastated the island, Fort Myers Beach is a sea of construction and new developments. Not everyone is pleased. With so much change in so little time, some feel that the town is moving away from its small, coastal community roots.

The U.S. Small Business Administration will hold an information session from 2-3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 1 at Tringali Park Community Center, 3460 N. Access Road in Englewood.

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Proposed rate increases that could have taken effect Jan. 1 for customers of the state’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. remain unresolved — with any hikes now unlikely to hit customers’ bills for months.The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has not ruled on the proposal, which the Citizens Board of Governors approved in June. The proposal, for example, could lead to an average 13.5 percent rate increase for the most-common type of Citizens policy, known as homeowners’ multi-peril coverage.