Janine Zeitlin

Hibiscus Drive, one of the most Ian-damaged streets on Fort Myers Beach, is in a state of revival. Not exactly the same, but not so different.

After months of grief, stress and battles with agencies, Judi Woods moved back to her home on Hibiscus Drive, one of the streets hardest hit by Ian.

Sea turtle nesting season ended in October and it was a record season for loggerhead sea turtles on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Going basck in history, early conservation efforts seemingly have paid off.

More than 1,000 loggerhead nests were counted on Sanibel and Captiva islands. Research shows Sanibel is averaging about five times more loggerhead nests compared to the 1970s and ‘80s.

Sea turtle nesting season ended in October and it was a record season for loggerhead sea turtles on Sanibel and Captiva Islands.

One resident said it "might be the savior" to Fort Myers Beach, which was devastated by Hurricane Ian.

The documentary unit for WGCU has been interviewing Sanibel residents for a new program coming out next year. Recently, they interviewed Kenneth and Eugene Gavin, who grew up on Sanibel Island and are now in their early 80s. Their grandparents were among the first Black families to settle on Sanibel. Kenneth Gavin described how their grandparents chose the island.

The documentary unit for WGCU has been interviewing Sanibel residents for a new program coming out next year. Recently, they interviewed Kenneth and Eugene Gavin, who grew up on Sanibel Island and are now in their early 80s.

Kenneth and Eugene Gavin are part of the legacy of the Gavin and Walker families on Sanibel Island. The two families were among the first Black settlers on the island.

A nonprofit group that shepherded rebuilding in Harlem Heights after Hurricane Ian inundated the south Fort Myers neighborhood in 2022 recently declared: Mission Accomplished.Adventures in Missions helped residents of 258 homes and partnered to rebuild 176 homes along with hosting more than 5,000 volunteers to support hurricane recovery, said Chris and Sarah Horvath, disaster relief leadership for the interdenominational organization.