Ne ar-a ve ra ge storm sea so n no w proje c te d

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

Following seven straight years of predicted “above-average” activity, top hurricane forecasters feel the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season will buck the trend

In their 40th year of forecasting the upcoming hurricane season, researchers at Colorado State University are predicting a “near-average” season for the Atlantic this year an increased description from the first report released in mid-April, which called for a “slightly below-average” season

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

Free programs planned over the summer aim to educate, while connecting people with nature

From June 11 through Aug 5, the J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge will provide weekly programming both on Sanibel and off-island Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland explained that three programs will be offered at the refuge, with a fourth one scheduled at Lakes Park in Fort Myers “We want to keep people learning during the summer,” she See SUMMER PROGRAMMING, page 19

The J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge will offer free summer programs from June 11 through Aug. 5 both on Sanibel and off-island. REFUGE/DDWS