Danya Harpster

Ken Suarez owns condos on the South Seas property. Several taller buildings and a water park has been proposed to be built on the land around his building. “All the buildings now are not higher than the trees,” Suarez said. “If what was proposed is built, the buildings will be higher than the trees.” Demolition has begun on the South Seas Island Resort Hotel on Captiva Island. The new owners presented plans for much higher buildings with more rooms to be built on the land. Local residents, like Ken Suarez, are prepared to fight.

South Seas resort wants to quadruple the number of hotel rooms, build 270 condominiums

Danya Harpster

For decades, South Seas Island resort has been bound to the same set of strict density and height restrictions as the rest of Captiva Island in unincorporated Lee County. Until recently, when the Lee County Board of County commissioners exempted the resort from such restrictions. Residents now believe their worst fears could come true.

Family owned Captiva Cruises celebrated its return after effects from Hurricane Ian with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and boat tour. The cruise excursion service has operated on Captiva Island since 1986.

Government & Politics

Lack of height language could pave way for much taller buildings on Captiva

Danya Harpster

Commission vote on removing height language from code has islanders roiled; Litigation and state legislation expected

Government & Politics

Upset islanders expected to fill Lee County chamber Wednesday. Will Lee County leaders listen this time?

Danya Harpster

Lee County leaders are planning to do away with language that currently restrict heights of homes on Captiva Island to two-stories. Islanders fear the charm will be lost and they will be in harm's way as more people pack onto the island.

The Lee County Legislative Delegation will meet Thursday at Florida Southwestern College and will include discussion of a possible future referendum on merging the Fort Myers Beach Mosquito Control District with the Lee County Mosquito Control District.

Government & Politics

Lee legislative delegation to eye home rule, mergers and more in Thursday meeting at FSW

Danya Harpster

A different form of county government, Captiva building heigth, and merging the Fort Myers Beach and Lee County mosquito control districts are some of the topics to be touched upon at Thursday's Lee County Legislative Delegation meeting.

Government & Politics

Draft bill being considered to keep Captiva building heights lower

Danya Harpster

Southwest Florida’s Legislative Delegation will consider a draft bill that could stymie attempts build considerably taller homes and buildings on Captiva Island, as the island community and other barrier island town rebuild after Hurricane Ian.The draft bill creating the Captiva Island Conservation Area Act is modeled after the Gasparilla Island Conservation District Act which has protected building heights and density on Boca Grande since the 1980s.

The Collier County School Board rejected a proposal to have a prayer before each meeting. But the issue will likely be raised again at a future meeting.

Education

Does an invocation before Collier County school board meetings have a prayer of a chance?

Danya Harpster

The Collier County Board of County Commissioners begin its meetings with prayer. So does the Florida Legislature and House and Senate.But not the Collier County School Board.But that could change.

Hurricane Recovery

Meeting scheduled Tuesday on review, update to Sanibel Plan

Danya Harpster

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.

Government & Politics

Sanibel council voices opposition to Captiva homes height changes

Danya Harpster

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.

The iconic Bailey's General Store on Sanibel Island had to be torn down so it could be built again. The well loved Southwest Florida landmark, established in 1899, was badly damaged in Hurricane Ian but the owners want to rebuilt the shopping center to stand another 100 years. Recovery will take years on our barrier islands, but as the months tic by, little slivers of change emerge from the rubble.

Hurricane Recovery

A Sanibel skyline? The island's homes and businesses will certainly be much taller

Danya Harpster

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

Lucas Benitez, a farmworker and co-founder of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers was awarded the Wallenberg Medal by the University of Michigan for his extraordinary achievements in the field of human rights. Here is Benitez as he helped lead the march. Around 500 peaceful protesters came out on the last day of the march in support of the farmworkers. With the determination to “build a new world”, where farmworkers can live free of human rights abuses and have dignified work the Farmworkers and allies marched the 45, plus, miles. On Tuesday they left the fields of Pahokee, FL, and walked to the wealthy enclave of Palm Beach. One of the biggest goals for the march was to put pressure on Wendy’s, Publix and Kroger corporations into joining the Fair Food Program. FFP was started by the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.

Public Affairs

Local farmworker and human rights advocate awarded with prestigious medal of honor

Danya Harpster

Lucas Benitez is a founder of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers. He is now in the company of the Archbishop Desmond Tutu, John Lewis and the 14th Dali Lama of Tibet