On Thursday the City of Sanibel was advised that a Rec Center staff member, who was on duty Wednesday afternoon, has tested positive for COVID. As a result the Rec Center will be closed today while the facility is disinfected. The city is contact tracing anyone who was in the facility Wednesday.

On Thursday the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued executive order #21-19 that states the take or transport of all freshwater softshell turtle species or yellow-bellied sliders is prohibited until the order is repealed. 

All of us remember how busy CenturyLink stadium was last year during the first wave of COVID-19. That site is opening again now that cases are surging again.

Friends of Lovers Key is hosting Beach N’ Brews on the beach at Lovers Key State Park on Thursday from 5pm to 9pm. The event will include craft beer from local breweries, live music, a silent auction and food trucks. Admission is $50

SCCF is looking for volunteers to count the birds. Global shorebird counts have been done as part of World Shorebirds Day since 2014. It helps spread the word about shorebird conservation. September 6th is World Shorebird Day.

Earlier this week the Sanibel City Council unanimously passed a modification to its noise ordinance that will ban the use of gas powered leaf blowers on Sanibel after December 31, 2022. There was a lot of community support for the ban from local residents. 

First responders and public officials are holding a special 9/11 remembrance ceremony on Saturday, September 11th at 8:30 a.m. 2021 marks the 20th anniversary on the terrorist attacks on our country. 

The Marine Resources Task Force's educational pop-up booth will be all over the beach in September. Volunteers share information about the environment, wildlife conservation, plant life, invasive species, ecology, and water quality.

Due to the spike in COVID-19 cases the Sanibel/Captiva Chamber has placed a pause on in-person monthly luncheon meetings. It has also scheduled a visit from the Golisano Children’s Hospital Mobile Pediatric Vaccination Clinic.

The submission deadline for the 29th annual “Ding” Darling Day Amateur Nature Photography Contest is Sept. 15th. Entries must be submitted electronically. First place in 2020 (pictured here) went to Ellen Trevor of Sanibel for her egret portrait titled “Carry Out Lunch.”

On Tuesday Lee Health reported another record number of COVID cases in their hospitals (641). The Sanibel City Council took notice.

This morning at 9AM members of the Bay Oaks Campus Advisory Committee will get their first look at the latest drawings for a brand new facility which is now 60% complete.