Skip to main content

Nearby Communities

State Edition

National Edition

Stay in the loop with what's happening in Sanibel

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.

šŸŒ± What Sanibel council decided on leadership, mini-golf, and e-bikes

Sanibel, Florida Patch AM: a 5 min read

Good morning Sanibel! We're back in your inbox this morning to keep you in the loop with what's happening in and around town. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ā˜•ļøļø

In today's newsletter:

  • What Sanibel council decided on leadership, mini-golf, and e-bikes
  • How Sanibel beachgoers can help protect this yearā€™s turtle nests
  • How a new $9.9 million plan will rebuild Station 171

Also on today's calendar: FORT MYERS / S.W.F.L. JobLink 2026 Job Fair Happening 4/29 and 3 more events.

Today's riddle: These are the 3 unwritten rules of life ? šŸ¤” (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Tuesday: Mostly sunny with a shower, with a high of 84 and low of 71 degrees.
  • Wednesday: Mostly sunny and pleasant, temps: high: 84, low: 71.
  • Thursday: Sunny and pleasant, with a high of 81 and low of 70 degrees.

šŸ“° News we're reading

1. City council elects officers and receives annual reports (captivasanibel.com) ā€” Sanibelā€™s city council kept Mike Miller as mayor and chose John Henshaw as vice mayor while advancing a possible miniature golf course and broader outdoor recreation options. Council also reviewed local water quality, rising Shared Use Path traffic and e-bike use, fireworks funding, code changes, and neighborhood traffic safety talks with Sanibel Police.
Ā Ā Ā 

2. Sea turtle nesting season kicks off on islands (captivasanibel.com) ā€” Sea turtle nesting season is underway on Sanibel and Captiva, and SCCF staff and volunteers are already patrolling 18 miles of local beaches every morning to protect nests. Residents and visitors are urged to follow strict lighting, beach-cleanup, and boating guidelines, and to report any turtle issues to the SCCF hotline so Sanibelā€™s long-running turtle program can keep these threatened species thriving.
Ā Ā Ā 

3. Sanibel fire board OKs construction contract for Station 171 (captivasanibel.com) ā€” Sanibelā€™s fire district has approved a nearly $9.9 million construction contract to partially demolish and rebuild Fire Station 171 on Palm Ridge Road, fully funded through federal disaster-recovery grants. With the city of Sanibel acting as grantee and waiving pass-through fees, the district now has enough HUD funding to cover the entire project cost.
Ā Ā Ā 

4. Funds being raised for temporary repair project to restore access to Sanibel Fishing Pier (gulfcoastnewsnow.com) ā€” Access to the Sanibel Fishing Pier could return soon, as the City of Sanibel and local partners are raising private funds for temporary repairs approved by city council. While those fixes move forward, the city is also planning a fully funded replacement pier through a beach and shoreline grant program, aiming to keep fishing and waterfront gatherings part of island life.
Ā Ā Ā 

5. Siesta Beach Named No. 1 in the U.S. for 2026, Anna Maria Island Also Ranks Among America's Best (suncoastpost.com) ā€” National beach rankings again put Floridaā€™s Gulf Coast in the spotlight, and Sanibel Island earns a nod for its shell-covered shoreline and famous ā€œSanibel Stoop.ā€ While Siesta Beach and Anna Maria Island top the 2026 list, Sanibel remains a recognized favorite among Floridaā€™s standout coastal getaways.
Ā Ā Ā 

šŸ“ø Around Sanibel

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

šŸ—“ Upcoming Events in Sanibel

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

ā˜… Featured events ā˜…

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

šŸ“£ Sanibel Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

šŸ—“ Events Nearby

    Tuesday April 28
  • Golden Brush (1)
    3300 Fourth Ave , St James City
    5:00 pm
  • Tennis Home V. Three Oaks
    Lexington Middle School Fort Myers, FL 33908
    6:30 pm
    • Wednesday April 29
  • Spring Arts Showcase
    Lexington Middle School Fort Myers, FL 33908
    6:00 pm
    • Thursday April 30
  • Tennis Playoffs 1st Round TBD
    Lexington Middle School Fort Myers, FL 33908
    6:00 pm
    • Monday May 4
  • Butterfly Craft DIY
    Captiva Memorial Library , 11560 Chapin Ln , Captiva
    10:00 am
    • Tuesday May 5
  • General Knowledge Trivia at The Shipyard - $100 prizes!
    'Tween Waters Inn & Marina , 15951 Captiva Dr , Captiva
    6:00 pm
    • Wednesday May 6
  • Meditation With Christine
    St James City Civic Association , 3300 Fourth Ave , St James City
    4:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

šŸ’¬ Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • We were driving down San-Cap around 1:15 today & on the opposite side of the bike path we're 2 bicyclists who had stopped & were protecting a precious gopher tortoise from getting into trouble by the road.
    Thank you, thank you, thank you for caring! Too many turtles & other species get hit & never survive. And thank you to all those who see something &ā€¦ (Nextdoor North Sanibel)
  • Do you have a Student in K-12th interested in Wildlife Medicine and Conservation?
    Consider signing them up for CROW's 2026 Conservation Summer Camp! Learn More: https://crowclinic.org/education/special-programs/camps/conservationā€¦ (Nextdoor Central Sanibel)
  • City of Sanibel Florida posted a job opening for Wastewater Plant Operator Trainee in Sanibel. Apply here.
  • Sam's Club posted a job opening for Food/Consumables Team Supervisor in Fort Myers Beach. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Sanibel here.

Ok Sanibel! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: 1)2)3) (Thank you Gary M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

šŸ‘‰ Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you whatā€™s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoorĀ Ā Ā Ā  Share to Facebook

Stay in the loop with what's happening in Sanibel

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.

Stay in the loop with what's happening in Sanibel

Never miss out on local news and events that matter to you.