by SC Features Writer Reanna Haase
Sanibel continues to recover from Hurricane Ian two years ago and weathered a tough 2024 hurricane season with impacts from two back-to-back storms. As residents work to rebuild, businesses reopen, and the community redefines normal, the Santiva Chronicle’s most viewed story collections from 2024 reflect the determination of our community.
No. 4 – Affordable Housing Goal: 100 Units in 5 Years, Starting with Riverview
Provided to the Santiva Chronicle | Published March 22 | 6,000 Total Reads
Community Housing & Resources announced its plans to restore most of the units lost to Hurricane Ian and have at least 100 units in its affordable housing inventory within five years. Though it ranks No. 4 in the most-read categories for 2024, this story provided by the CHR ranks No. 2 in overall story reads, with just over 6,000.
No. 3 – Hurricane Season [Sanibel-Captiva Continue Clean-Up After Helene; Businesses Reopen – Sanibel Photos A Day After Hurricane Milton – Sanibel Updates After Hurricane Milton – Restoration Continues on Sanibel Island After Hurricane Milton]
Written by SC Publisher Shannen Hayes | Published Sept. 29 – Oct. 12 | 14,100 Total Reads
The active hurricane season drew readers to keep up with the impacts of back-to-back Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Helene caused ground-level damage on Sanibel, while Milton passed about 150 miles from the island, causing a storm surge of over 5 feet in some areas and gusts of up to 72 mph.
The storm stories collection, including photos of the aftermath, community updates, and stories of restoration efforts, amassed a total of just over 14,000 reads, making hurricane season the third most-read category.
The most reads in this category went to the images published after Hurricane Milton with just over 5,900 reads, followed by island updates after Milton with 2,900 total views, the collective story on Helene updates gained 2,800 reads, and the restoration story following Milton racked up 2,500 reads.
No. 2 – Island Insiders [Susan Sadler – Calli Johnson – Teresa Riska-Hall – Laura DeBruce – Ty Symroski – Malia Sampson – Nicole Decker-McHale – Deb McQuade Gleason – Billy Kirkland – Toni Westland]
Written by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino | Published March 1 – Dec. 19 | 23,100 Total Reads
SC Reporter Emilie Alfino told the stories of these people who were nominated in 2024 as an Island Insider, someone who makes our community a better place. The series has become popular among readers.
The Island Insider series, started in 2024 by Santiva Chronicle’s very own writing team, garnered large support from the island community. These monthly stories were made possible by Sanibel neighbors who nominated members of the community who make the island a better place to live.
SC Reporter Emilie Alfino, the author of the series, told the stories of 10 community members nominated for their positive role in our community. Those stories collectively racked up over 23,000 reads, making the Island Insider series the second most-read category of the year.
No. 1 – Business Updates [Plans For Bailey’s General Store Explained – Lighthouse Cafe Reopens In New Location With Signature Atmosphere – Owners of Island Cow, Mad Hatter Opening Two New Eateries]
Provided to the Santiva Chronicle | Published Aug. 17, 2024 – April 19, 2024 – Sept. 12, 2023 | 26,400 Total Reads
The announcement of Bailey’s shopping center building plans took the No. 1 spot in the SC’s most-read story of 2024. As businesses reopened last year, two of them made the top stories of the year – Lighthouse Cafe and Wickie’s Lighthouse Restaurant.
The updates on some of the island’s most beloved local businesses take No. 1 in the Santiva Chronicle’s most-read story categories. The story that comes out on top is the piece explaining the plans for reopening Bailey’s General Store, accumulating over 15,500 reads since August.
The highly anticipated reopening story of the Lighthouse Cafe, in its larger location after the devastation of Hurricane Ian, followed in this category, accruing over 5,900 views.
Following the reopening stories of two well-known local businesses was a unique instance of a story ranking in the top numbers two years in a row.
The story announcing the opening of Wickie’s Lighthouse Restaurant and The Magic Bus Ice Cream and Caffeine, where the Lighthouse Cafe formerly resided, held the No. 1 spot last year, while still garnering over 5,000 reads in 2024.
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