Overwhelmingly positive feedback from musicians, visitors and island merchants will prompt the return in 2015 of the Islander Hopper Songwriter Fest. Island Hopper was such a hit, in fact, that the city of Fort Myers will be added to the venue that begins in September 2015. Continue Reading

The Sanibel Planning Commission unanimously passed a Certification of Appropriateness and Development Permit for the reconstruction and reconfiguration of the exterior front entry staircase of what is known as the Beach House, which is at 3526 West Gulf Drive. The Beach Continue Reading

Although it took Mother Nature centuries to create the beauty of what is Sanibel Island, it has been the effort of a group of people to help preserve her work over the course of the last 40 years. The Committee of the Islands has been a driving force in preserving nature Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Dec. 2, 2014 – In response to new guidelines from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac effective Dec. 1, home lenders are expected to further loosen standards for borrowers and give thousands of additional customers access to a mortgage loan. The guidelines clarify Continue Reading

MIAMI (AP) – Dec. 1, 2014 – Hurricane season has ended with a whimper. Sunday marked the official close of the six-month Atlantic hurricane season, making it the ninth season without a major storm to hit Florida. The National Hurricane Center recorded eight named storms in Continue Reading

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Nov. 26, 2014 – Consumer sentiment among Floridians hit a post-recession high of 86 in November, an increase of two points over October, according to a monthly University of Florida (UF) survey. "The last time sentiment was this high in Florida was March Continue Reading

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Nov. 24, 2014 – Homeowners are showing a bigger appetite for smart home technology. Nearly half of consumers – 46 percent – say it's important their current home or the next home they purchase have smart home technology, according to a survey of nearly Continue Reading

WASHINGTON – Nov. 20, 2014 – Existing-home sales rose in October for the second straight month and are now above year-over-year levels for the first time in a year, according to the National Association of Realtors® (NAR). Total existing-home sales – completed transactions Continue Reading

WASHINGTON (AP) – Oct. 31, 2014 – Average U.S. long-term mortgage rates arrested their five-week decline this week, but the benchmark 30-year loan remained below 4 percent. Mortgage company Freddie Mac said Thursday the nationwide average for a 30-year mortgage rose to 3.98 Continue Reading

Tennis legend Nick Bollettieri and a couple of coaches from his Bradenton academy will roll into town Nov. 1 for a morning benefit. Aside from spectator and player fees and donor proceeds going to FISH of Sanibel, the other winners of the event will be the 40 players of a Continue Reading

The stork has been good to Gulf turtles. One sea-turtle nest remains in Captiva, which will officially close out the 2014 sea turtle season. Turtle biologist Kelly Sloan said this season has been good news for the ancient creature making its home for thousands of years along Continue Reading

ORLANDO, Fla. – Oct. 21, 2014 – Florida's housing market reported more closed sales, higher median prices, increased new listings and a rise in inventory in September, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®. Closed sales of single-family homes Continue Reading

t was billed in 1985 as Sam Bailey's way of giving back to the community. The 29th annual Bailey Fest returns Oct. 26. The event at the shopping complex at the corner of Periwinkle and Tarpon Bay will feature live entertainment under a bigtop tent, games, food, Continue Reading

It's the Big Four-Oh. Sanibel in November celebrates Independence Day, its fortieth anniversary as an incorporated city, one of a handful in Lee County. Estero voters on Nov. 4 will decide whether to incorporate and become the Village of Estero. Elected officials only in Continue Reading