Business Notes
A LITTLE ADVENTURE TO HOST FREE EVENT
In celebration of the national event, A Little Adventure will host a celebration for Free Comic Book Day on May 2 from 10 a.m. to noon in the Tahitian Gardens shopping center on Sanibel.
It will feature free comic books, a special visit from Spiderman with complimentary caricaturist and photo opportunities, a decorate-your-own-super-hero cookie station and superhero scavenger hunt, along with complimentary drinks and snacks.
There will also be specials on superhero-themed merchandise.
The event is free and open to the public.
For more information, visit www.SanibelKidsStore.com.
A Little Adventure is at 2001 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.
CFI, FGCU PARTNER FOR WORKSHOP
In partnership with Florida Gulf Coast University’s Southwest Leadership Institute, the Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) will host a two-day Leadership Development Workshop on May 19-20 at the Sanibel Public Library, at 770 Dunlop Road, Sanibel.
Designed for current and emerging leaders, it will bring together staff, volunteers and community leaders from Sanibel and Captiva nonprofits, businesses and public sector organizations. The program is intended to strengthen leadership capacity across the island community through practical, skills-based learning.
Participants will engage in interactive sessions focused on leadership development, organizational culture, team management, communication and decision-making. The workshop will be structured to provide tools and strategies that can be applied in professional and community leadership roles.
Thanks to support from CFI’s Community Impact Fund, the cost has been reduced to $625 per person. To receive the discount code or learn about scholarship opportunities, email info@sancapcfi.org.
Registration will close on May 1.
To register or for more information, visit https://www.fgcu.edu/cob/sfli/register.
SCIAR HOLDS EAST CARAVAN MEETING
The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors (SCIAR) held its East Caravan Meeting on April 2 at its office on Sanibel.
The guest speaker was city of Sanibel Building Director and Chief Building Official Craig Mole’. His presentation featured updates from the city, as well as important information relevant to today’s Sanibel Realtor. Permitting was a big topic of conversation. Afterward, there was time for questions.
In addition, members presented their properties on tour east of Rabbit Road.
JOHN R. WOOD RANKS IN ANNUAL PROGRAM
John R. Wood Christie’s International Real Estate ranked No. 18 among the “Top Independents — Private” real estate brokerages in the 2026 RealTrends Verified, based on 2025 production.
The firm reported $4.39 billion in closed residential sales volume across 4,857 transaction sides.
RealTrends is recognized as one of the industry’s comprehensive and respected benchmarks, ranking top-performing brokerages by residential sales volume and transaction sides.
This year, a total of 1,267 firms qualified for inclusion in the rankings, collectively accounting for $2.24 trillion in sales volume and nearly 4 million transactions nationwide.
CITY OFFICIALS HONORED WITH AWARD
The city of Sanibel reported that the Florida League of Cities (FLC) named Mayor Mike Miller and Councilmember and past Vice Mayor Holly D. Smith as recipients of its Home Rule Hero Award for 2026.
They received the recognition for their tireless advocacy for the city and its residents.
Home rule is the ability of a city to address local problems with local solutions, with minimal state interference. The award recipients are government officials, elected and non-elected, who have consistently responded to the FLC’s request to reach out to members of the Legislature to provide a local perspective on an issue.
Miller currently serves as chair of the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) Board of Directors, and he is chair of the Lee County Local Coordinating Board for Transportation Disadvantaged.
Smith currently serves as president of the FLC. She is also Sanibel’s representative for the Lee County Tourist Development Council (TDC), and Smith is liaison and vice chair for the Lee County Horizon Council.
SAINT MICHAEL RECOGNIZED WITH AWARD
The Community Foundation and Donors Choice Network honored Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church with its 2026 Faith-Based Community Impact Award.
The church was named the recipient at the Power Players: Community Impact Awards on April 10 in Fort Myers, where regional leaders, nonprofits and philanthropists gathered to recognize organizations making a meaningful difference across Southwest Florida.
The award recognizes churches that serve as anchors of hope in their communities by providing essential services, mobilizing volunteers, and transforming lives through outreach and compassionate service.
Saint Michael was selected for its outstanding commitment to serving the Sanibel community and beyond through innovative initiatives like Love Sanibel Back and Spiritual Pathways, service and outreach to other nonprofits, and partnerships that strengthen the social and economic fabric of the region.
In honor of the award, the foundation also donated $5,000 to Community Housing & Resources (CHR), an organization that the church has been a partner with for many years.
SAN CAP BANK PROMOTES OAKLEY
Sanibel Captiva Community Bank announced the promotion of Brent Oakley to assistant vice president and loan servicing assistant manager.
The move recognizes his long-standing commitment to the bank and his diverse background in retail, deposit operations and loan servicing.
In his new role, Oakley will support the oversight of daily loan servicing operations, working with the loan servicing team to ensure accurate processing, strong internal controls and consistent service standards. He will assist with team leadership, workflow coordination and ongoing process improvement to support the bank’s lending activities.
Oakley joined the bank in 2015 as a teller and later advanced into deposit operations, where he developed a strong foundation in customer service and operational processes. In 2019, he transferred to loan operations as a loan servicing construction specialist, where he supported construction loan administration, documentation and disbursement activities.