Sanibel

The City of Sanibel's Planning Department is hosting a public workshop Tuesday evening as it gears up to review and update what's called the Sanibel Plan.

In the midst of grappling with its own building height limitation and flood zones, members of the Sanibel City Council are sending a strong message of opposition to its counterparts in the county who are considering a plan to allow an additional level of living space for homes on Captiva Island.

Sea turtle nesting season ended in October and it was a record season for loggerhead sea turtles on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Going back in history, early conservation efforts seemingly have paid off.

The Community House, a historic symbol of Sanibel Island, held its grand reopening on Thursday after it was damaged during Hurricane Ian in September 2022. The champagne and cake celebration drew dozens of islanders who cheered the progress since Ian.

As islanders rebuild after Hurricane Ian, they will have to do so at a much higher elevation

Florida's bald eagle season underway now through May 15.

Lee County spends tens of millions of dollars to replace sand Hurricane Ian washed away

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife's hospital, visitor center, and student housing all sustained damage a year ago from Hurricane Ian, but staff were able to return in the months following the storm. CROW on Tuesday held a groundbreaking for new outdoor enclosures, which had not fared well. The event marked a significant milestone in CROW’s recovery from the devastating effects of Hurricane Ian.

People living on Sanibel and Captiva weren’t the only ones driven from their homes by Hurricane Ian’s churning storm surge.Wildlife, amphibians and birds were displaced. Some species have come back fine, others are struggling to survive while others yet remain missing-in-action.

The Captiva Community Panel will meet at 9 a.m. Tuesday via Zoom to hear panel reaction to last week’s Lee County Commission vote to lift height restrictions on Captiva were lifted.