WeeK OF OCTOBeR 18, 2023
VOLUME 61, NUMBER 48
Fire commission OKs legislative rep, hears update By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
Annual Let’s Pink Out to raise awareness, funds for cause By TIFFANY REPECKI
O
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
ne in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, according to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. In 2023, an estimated 297,790 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer. Organized by the San Cap Pink Project, Let's Pink Out will feature activities during October — Breast Cancer Awareness Month — to raise funds to help those in the island community who are impacted.
San Cap Pink Project founder and breast cancer survivor Mary Bondurant explained that over a decade ago, she was at a fundraiser when the then-Sanibel fire chief asked her about how to get the mobile mammogram coach to the fire station. In planning the event, Bondurant learned about Pink Out events. “I felt that was the way I could give back to the Sanibel community for the past two years,” she said, adding that the island had supported her while she had gone through her own journey with cancer.
The Sanibel and Fire Rescue District's commission selected a legal firm to represent the district on legislative matters and heard an update on the of reconstruction Station 172 during its recent meeting. On Oct. 11, the commissioners voted unanimously 3-0 to hire Manson Bolves Donaldson Tanner to serve as its legislative representative at the state level for $20,000. The district also received offers from two others: Ramba Consulting Group for $25,000 and Lewis, Longman & Walker for $45,000. Before the vote, Fire Chief Kevin Barbot explained that the district is still short on the funds needed to rebuild Station 172 on Sanibel-Captiva Road. Early project costs are estimated at about $8.6 million. See COMMISSION, page 19
IslanderInsIde
See LeT’S PINK OUT, page 19
School district provides one-year update on storm damage By MEGHAN BRADBURY
news@breezenewspapers.com
Hurricane Ian damage continues to be repaired by the School District of Lee County. The school board received an in-depth review of where the district stands in regards to damages and recovery, as well as the financial impact and recovery during a meeting on Oct. 2.
Damages and recovery Maintenance Services Assistant Director Toni Dent-McNair said the Operations Department received 2,317 total service requests. Of those 1,713 have been closed leaving 604 still in progress. “Advancements are made daily. As of last Friday (Sept. 29) an additional 11 were completed reducing to 593. This means we have now completed over 74%,” she said. Damage was sustained throughout all district sites with the most com-
mon being restoration of campus roofs, drywall, floors, ceiling tiles, canopies, sunshades, athletic fields and fencing. “Prioritization of securing building envelopes and restoring interior learning environments and guaranteeing student safety has been paramount and has been assigned to completion,” Dent-McNair said. There should be full completion by the end of 2023 with the exception of Hector A. Cafferata and some roof repairs, she said, adding the district has been proacSee STORM DAMAGe UPDATe, page 19
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