Sanibel Island Reporter/Islander

VOLUME 61, NUMBER 14

Forum set for council candidates

By STAFF REPORT

trepecki@breezenewspapers com

The League of Women Voters of Sanibel will host a Public Candidate Forum for the city of Sanibel's election on Feb 23 from 5

t o 7 p m a t

B I G A R T S , w h i c h w i l l a l s o b e

l i v e s t r e a m e d on Facebook

T h e e l e c -

t i o n f o r t w o s e a t s o n t h e

S a n i b e l C i t y

C o u n c i l w i l l

b e h e l d o n

March 7

Winners of amateur nature photo contest announced

On Feb 6, the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge held an official judging f o r i t s 3 0 t h a n n u a l “ D i n g ” D a r l i n g

Amateur Nature Photography Contest

T h e 2 0 2 2 w i n n e r s w e r e t o b e announced in October at the J N “Ding”

D a r l i n g N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e R e f u g e ' s inaugural Art in the Wild festival, but Hurricane Ian in September canceled the event and judging Judges selected three winners and 10

honorable mentions out of 140 entries from 22 states and three countries All photograph entries were shot at the Sanibel refuge complex

“ D e s p i t e t h e d i s r u p t i o n f r o m Hurricane Ian, the contest generated much excitement and nostalgia among photographers and our judges,” contest c o o r d i n a t o r a n d D D W S A s s o c i a t e Executive Director Sierra Hoisington said “Our refuge may not look the same as it did when these photos were created,

but the wildlife is still here, and nature's resilience promises to return to its former beauty captured in these works ”

First place went to Frank Brinker, of Oberageri, Switzerland, for his portrait of a least tern hatchling titled “Speedy ”

“I love the movement portrayed in

See PHOTO CONTEST WINNERS, page 10

First

Busy week for crews at Sanibel, Captiva fire districts

By TIFFANY REPECKI

trepecki@breezenewspapers com

Island fire crews responded to separate incidents involving a store and a residence last week

The Sanibel Fire and Rescue District responded to a structure fire on Feb 13 at about 11:30 p.m. at Jerry's Foods, at 1700 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Fire Chief Kevin Barbot reported that police officers were conducting a routine check of the area on their patrol and went around the rear of the building

“They saw flames coming from a wall AC unit,” he said

It was mounted to the side wall of the structure Crews arrived on scene and located the source of the fire inside of a storage room Barbot reported that the unit caught on fire, catching the wall on fire.

“We showed up and put the fire out in about 30 minutes,” he said

Four candid a t e s h a v e been certified to run for the s e a t s T h e y include incumb e n t s M a y o r Holly Dineen Smith and Vice Mayor Richard Johnson, and challengers Jude Sincoskie and Troy Cobb Thompson

The league reported that the forum's moderator will be professor Roger Green, head of Florida Gulf Coast University's Political Science Department The ques-

See FORUM, page 5

place winner “Speedy.” FRANK BRINKER

SANIBEL FIRE AND RESCUE DISTRICT

The Sanibel Fire and Rescue District responded to a structure fire on Feb. 13 at Jerry's Foods, at 1700 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.

Easily access up-to-date Sanibel and Captiva businesses that have reopened using a smart device or computer.

Chamber creates interactive guide to open island businesses

The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce's latest tool for steering visitors and islanders to businesses back in operation after Hurricane Ian has gone live on Wander: Maps & Navigation

“We have literally put the status of Sanibel and Captiva businesses at your fingertips whether they’ve reopened onisland or elsewhere, such as Bell Tower,” chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said “We have the great flexibility to make changes within minutes when we learn of a new business reopening, a change in hours, traffic glitches due to clean-up operations and other new information in this ever-shifting post-hurricane world ”

The chamber has populated the interactive map with

businesses that have opened, whether or not they are chamber members The easy-touse, GPS-enabled map also pinpoints beach accesses that have opened, bike parking areas and the user's relative location Points of interest can be filtered by seven categ o r i e s : b e a c h e s , s h o p p i n g , a t t r a c t i o n s , lodging, vacation rentals, services and offisland businesses

Users can download the app onto their smart device from the Apple App Store and Google Play or by scanning a QR code

T h e y c a n a l s o a c c e s s i t t h r o u g h t h e w e b s i t e a t tinyurl com/sancapwandermap

In partnership with Billy’s Bike Shop on Sanibel, the Wander Map app is biker friendly Billy’s will distribute information to bicycle renters, post the QR code along

the city of Sanibel’s shared use path and keep users apprised of any parts of the path to avoid due to debris or construction

“We are only the second Florida community, along with Islamorada in the Florida Keys, to make use of this exciting navigational tool We thank the Wander Maps organization for making this application affordable to us and training our team to customize the platform and reduce costs as we as a chamber and community recover from the hurricane,” Lai said “We look forward to the day when individuals will be able to access the technology from our restored visitor center, which we hope to have reopened by April.”

For more information or to request updates to the app, contact Aaron Walton at aaron@sanibel-captiva org or 239-472-8759

With Harriet missing, mate and eaglets making do

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com

It has been nearly three weeks since Southwest Florida’s most popular eagle matriarch, Harriet, went missing She was last seen flying from the nest off Bayshore Road in North Fort Myers on Feb 2

Ground searches have thus far been unsuccessful and the longer she is missing, the more likely the outcome will not be a good one for those who follow the happenings in and around the nest on the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam

Meanwhile, M15 is alone to care for the eaglets, who are now about six weeks old and close to halfway before they fledge

The situation has brought all sorts of other eagles to the area to scope out territory of their own, sometimes even showing up at the nest tree This is interaction new to the eagle cam

G i n n i e M c S p a d d e n , o n e o f t h e founders of the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, said she does not know how to answer the big question: Is it possible Harriet will come back?

That said, the length of time she has been gone is not good

“All signs point to that she is not going to return and our new normal is going to have to be seeing how M15 does with keeping these eaglets alive,” McSpadden said

So far, that, at least, was going well as of last week M15 has gone above and beyond to keep the babies alive, having learned an awful lot from Harriet as he is a lot younger than his mate

“His natural instinct is so strong I’m s o i m p r e s s e d a n d w o w e d b y n a t u r e b e c a u s e u n d e r t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s i t ’ s amazing to see what a great job he’s doing,” McSpadden said

The eaglets have had quite the rivalry, with E21 at times brutally bullying E22 into submission. There is always some sibling rivalry, especially in the first week or so

“Sibling rivalry will increase if there is additional hunger M15 has been Dad of the Year because he’s bringing in so much food and putting himself in between the two to give them equal chances to eat,” McSpadden said “I am in awe He has to be dealing with so much ”

What happens from here is anyone’s guess The odds do not appear to be in

favor of two successful fledges with a single mate, but that is an unknown Since M15 has to hunt for food, the eaglets are often left alone

Intruders have begun to arrive at the nest, as they sense the vulnerability since Harriet is gone, and are already trying to

overtake the nest and, it appears, bond with M15

“I don’t know what will happen but it will be a definite learning experience for not only us and our viewers, but for eagle e x p e r t s a n d w i l d l i f e o f f i c i a l s , ”

SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA EAGLE CAM

M15 feeds a fish to the eaglets dubbed E 21 and E22 in the nest off Bayshore Road in North Fort Myers

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a C o n s e r v a t i o n F o u n d a t i o n Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis gives remarks at the dinner on Jan 27 during the 38th annual Everglades Coalition Conference in Coral Springs

Everglades Coalition Conference celebrates momentum

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that scientists, educators, contractors, conservationists, the media, students and citizens, as well as decisionmakers and representatives from federal, state, local and tribal governments, convened on Jan 26-28 for a singul a r g o a l : c o n t i n u e t h e w o r k t o r e s t o r e A m e r i c a ’ s

Everglades

The theme of this year’s 38th annual Everglades C o a l i t i o n C o n f e r e n c e i n C o r a l S p r i n g s w a s “ A Watershed Moment,” reflecting on the historic amount of progress, support and funding that has been spent and allocated to Everglades restoration projects

The SCCF and Conservancy of Southwest Florida sponsored the dinner on Jan 27 In his welcoming remarks, Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis highlighted the SCCF's commitment to the Everglades and the importance of continuing restoration efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, emphasizing how the resilience of Sanibel and Captiva was connected to the theme of the conference

“The Everglades is central to this resilience Even now, we are dealing with added stressors of water releases from Lake Okeechobee,” he said “With every step of Everglades restoration, we are closer to being able to send that water south, reinvigorating one of the most unique ecosystems in the world instead of adding undue pressures to our already struggling estuaries ”

DePaolis was followed by the dinner's keynote speaker, Florida Chief Resilience Officer Wes Brooks He reflected on his time growing up in Miami and fishing in the waters of the Florida Bay

“It was good to hear Dr Brooks reiterate the governor’s commitment to improving Florida’s water quality and that the Everglades is central to any progress we hope to make,” DePaolis said

Panels provided updates on a host of topics concerning Everglades restoration, including updates on Florida panther and Tree Island research and legal analyses of recent Supreme Court decisions and how they could affect restoration efforts Planning sessions focused on how to strengthen partnerships and continue the momentum that has been built

Harriet

McSpadden said

From page 2

Eagles have been known to kill the young or throw them out of the nest when they take over a nest If that happens, the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife will be on call to intervene in the event that the eaglets are injured in the fall

Whatever happens in the nest at that

time, McSpadden said that viewer discretion is advised, because the eagle cam brings nature at its best and sometimes the worst Eaglets have died and even been eaten for food

“If they can’t handle it or it gets too upsetting, turn it off and walk away We said that a while ago when eaglets passed

away,” McSpadden said Harriet began appearing in the area around 2003 with her then-mate Ozzie They came to the Pritchett farm in 2006, where she has remained ever since M15 a r r i v e d i n 2 0 1 5 , w h e n O z z i e d i e d McSpadden believes that Harriet is about 30 years old, which is the typical lifespan

of an eagle

“I never imagined this day would come because she’s been a staple with this project and in our lives for so long that she wouldn’t be around,” McSpadden said

For more information or to view the l i v e c a m , v i s i t d i c h p r i t c h e t t r e a l e s t a t e com

Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis, South Florida Water Management District Governing Board Member Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch and city of Sanibel Natural Resources Director Holly Milbrandt

OPInIOns

Guest Commentary

Social Security’s top 10 webpages for 2023

By SOCIAL SECURITY ADMIN

There’s no better place to Social Security programs and with us than on our redesigned SSA gov Visitors to SSA g experience a new design to them find what they need m easily

Here are our top 10 we pages:

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∫ Social Security blog: Ou hub for Social Security new a n d u p d a t e s i s o u r b l o g blog ssa gov You can use soc media to easily share these inf ative articles with others

∫ F r e q u e n t l y A s k e d Q u

(FAQ): Do you need answers Security-related questions? Ou page is another valuable sour mation at www ssa gov/faq

∫ Retirement Application: You can complete and submit your online application for retirement benefits in as few as 15 minutes at www ssa gov/retirement

Suppor t Smith for city council

To the editor: I’m writing to express our support for the re-election of Holly D Smith as a member of our Sanibel City Council And, to urge every voter to do the same

We have known Holly Smith for over 20 years when we were both volunteers for F I S H of Sanibel-Captiva This was the start of Holly understanding what Sanibel was all about and it was clear back then Holly had a passion for making sure all the citizens

Web Poll

Previous Web Poll Question

What is your biggest rebuilding concern?

∫ Debris removal, 12%

∫ FEMA 50% rule, 9%

∫ Insurance, 50%

∫ Permits, 23%

∫ Other, 6% Current Web Poll Question

Will you attend the Sanibel City Council candidates forum planned for Feb. 23?

∫ Yes, in person

∫ Yes, virtually

∫ No

Share your opinion at captivasanibel com

ations: Visit our online publiy for information on key subw ssa gov/pubs (includes audio f publications)

edicare: Sign up for Medicare w ssa gov/medicare/sign-up

Online Services: You can e care of most business with us visiting our online services a g e a t w w w s s a g o v / o n l i n eservices

∫ Forms: Find and fill out o u r f o r m s e a s i l y a t www ssa gov/forms

∫ F r a u d a n d S c a m P r e v e n t i o n a n d R e p o r t i n g : Learn how to recognize Social Security fraud and scams nd how to report them at ww ssa gov/fraud

Remember, if you need inforon or want to do business with e first place to go is our webease share these top resources loved ones

∫ Disability Application: You can conveniently apply online for disability benefits at www ssa gov/benefits/disability

Letter to the Editor

of Sanibel had a “hand up” when they needed it

Since then, she has performed many volunteer roles serving the Sanibel community

A s a m e m b e r o f t h e S a n i b e l P l a n n i n g Commission, as vice mayor and now as mayor she had the broad experience necessary to take on the leadership role before, during and after the Hurricane Ian disaster No one was better qualified or had a better understanding of what the people of Sanibel required than Mayor Holly Smith

e information, visit the Social ministration at www ssa gov People can also contact the area office in F o r t M y e r s a t 8 8 8 - 3 1 8 - 9 1 1 4 o r t h e national number at 800-772-1213 for assistance

Who could have imagined or have been perfectly prepared for what our community is going through? Under Holly Smith’s leadership we are making progress, we still have a long way to go, but we need her steady hand on the wheel to get us through this Virginia and I will be voting to re-elect Holly Smith to her seat on Sanibel’s city council on March 7 and we strongly encourage you to vote the same

Bill and Virginia Fellows Sanibel

F.I.S.H. on the importance of helping others post-storm

F I S H of Sanibel-Captiva has been working around the clock since Hurricane Ian devastated the islands

Officials reported that the outpouring of support from local partner agencies, national crisis groups, volunteers and donors from across the nation has been unprecedented, and F I S H cannot thank everyone enough for the continued support

“The road to recovery for our islands is going to be lengthy, but we’re so grateful to everyone for their support that allows us to continue our work,” Executive Director Maria Espinoza said

Through financial donations, grant awards and in-kind product donations, F I S H has been able to continue pro-

viding assistance of all kinds to community members most affected by the storm

Officials reported that many continue to struggle with the cost of living, particularly those whose homes are uninhabitable on the islands and who had to find temporary housing until repairs or rebuilds are complete Numerous individuals have reached to F I S H for disaster related financial assistance, many of which have never had to ask for assistance before

For more information about hurricane recovery and other services provided by F I S H , contact Espinoza at 239-472-4775 For more information about F I S H , visit https://www fishofsancap org/

Lee Health seeks blood donations

Lee Health is seeking blood donations to help replenish supply levels

Blood and blood products are not only used in the trauma center, but also to treat cancer patients, premature babies, anemia and a variety of other conditions Lee Health’s blood centers are the sole supplier of all products for the health system About 800 units of blood are needed per week, and the blood centers rely on life to saving donations from the community to maintain inventory levels

The Lee Health Blood Mobile will be at the following locations:

∫ Feb 23: Lee County VA Clinic, at 2489 Diplomat Parkway E , Cape Coral, from 10 a m to 2 p m

∫ Feb 25: American Legion 136, at 4106 Stringfellow Road, Fort Myers, from noon to 4 p m

∫ Feb 26: Cypress Lake Presbyterian Church, at 8260 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers, from 8:45 a m to 12:45 p m

∫ Feb. 26: St. Hilary’s Episcopal Church, at 5011 McGregor Blvd , Fort Myers, from 9 a m to noon

∫ Feb 28: Lee County Government and Clerk of Courts, at the corner of Second Street and Broadway, Fort Myers, from 9 a m to 3 p m

∫ Feb 28: Lee County Public Education Center, at 2855 Colonial Blvd , Fort Myers, from 9 a m to 2 p m

All blood donated at Lee Health stays within the system to care for patients in Southwest Florida If unable to attend a drive, donations can also be made at one of Lee Health’s blood centers

For more information on how and where to donate, visit https://www leehealth org/our-services/bloodcenters

New filter marsh to improve Caloosahatchee, SCCF reports

O n F e b 1 5 , t h e S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a Conservation Foundation celebrated the g r o u n d b r e a k i n g f o r p h a s e I I o f t h e

Caloosahatchee River Estuary Storage and Treatment (CREST) project

The SCCF reported that when finished, the project will use a filter marsh to treat water from the Hendry Canal in Lehigh Acres before it is transported to the Caloosahatchee, removing an expected 1,622 pounds per year (79%) of total nitrogen and 169 pounds per year (76%) of total phosphorus

Phase III of the CREST project will utilize the rest of the 104 5-acre parcel for storage to hold water before it can be t r e a t e d a n d t r a n s p o r t e d i n t o t h e

Caloosahatchee

“Projects like CREST demonstrate the momentum we have right now to improve r e g i o n a l w a t e r q u a l i t y , ” S C C F E n v i r o n m e n t a l P o l i c y D i r e c t o r M a t t DePaolis said. “People sometimes think of fixing our water quality as a matter of finishing one large project, but the reality is that it will take incremental growth through myriad projects like this, all contributing to the larger goal of cleaning the Caloosahatchee ”

CREST is being carried out by the L e h i g h A c r e s M u n i c i p a l S e r v i c e s Improvement District, which hopes to break ground on phase III by the end of 2023

tions will be posed in a balanced way. They will be a combination of ones moderated by Green and questions taken from the in-person audience

The door will open at 4:30 p m The community is welcome and urged to attend The forum will be recorded and made available for later viewing

https://www.facebook.com/events/58267 0233793927/

Impor

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis, left, with South Florida Water Management District Governing Board Chairman Chauncey Goss in front of the Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District's high water emergency service vehicle.

NICK ADAMS PHOTOGRAPHY

CCP covers ordinances, salary survey and more

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

T h e C a p t i v a C o m m u n i t y P a n e l received an update on ordinances it had proposed to Lee County during its recent meeting, as well as heard about its administrator's salary survey and post-storm recovery

O n F e b . 1 4 , V i c e P r e s i d e n t a n d Government Affairs Committee Chair

David Mintz reported that he heard back

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

A series of classes aims to offer the community some healing and mindfulness post-hurricane.

The Captiva Civic Association is hosting “Yoga with Malu” on Feb 23 and 27 and March 2, 6 and 8 from 9:30 to 10:45 a m at the Captiva Civic Center The series is open to CCA members and non-members, and participants can take part in one class or more Prior yoga experience is not necessary

CCA Executive Director Emily Hess Ankerson explained that the South Seas Island Resort housed a yoga studio Closed due to the storm, some islanders have been going to the Sanibel Recreation Center

“But on Captiva there's not another option right now,” she said

Yoga instructor Malu Doherty, a CCA member who has hosted other classes in partnership with the organization, approached Ankerson with the idea of offering the series in light of the recent hurricane

“It's something she felt could be beneficial to members of the community,” she said

Part of the CCA's mission is to provide educational experiences and promote quality of life

“I think this is one of those ways to do this,” Ankerson said “And we want to try to offer diverse programming, so there's something for everybody ”

Doherty reported that she hopes the classes bring respite and healing to participants.

“I feel that there's been so much pain and suffering,” she said “I felt this was one way we could come together as a community and support each other, while doing something wonderful for our bodies ”

The classes will focus on gentle and moderate yoga postures, combined with breath work and relaxation Having some general experience with yoga will be beneficial, but it is not necessary

“The way I offer classes is in a gradient approach,” Doherty said Participants will begin with centering, followed by breath practice and warm-up exercises to start moving. Next, there will be strength building and balancing poses, with an option to build on those

“If they want to try something a little more strenuous,” she said

from county staffers on four ordinances that the panel had presented based upon community feedback Last year, the count y c o m m i s s i o n a p p r o v e d L a n d Development Code changes it proposed

Mintz reiterated that the panel had recommended six ordinances, but two were not taken up by the county One involved plastic straws and the other addressed septic systems As for the remaining four, which are related to fertilizer, golf carts,

noise and parking, the county staff has finished its review

“The county has accepted virtually our whole proposal with no change,” he said of the fertilizer one, adding that it is consistent with Sanibel's regulations, making it easily applicable for landscapers

For the golf cart ordinance, the panel formed a committee to review an existing ordinance and make suggestions Once

See CCP, page 7

CEPD signs off on more funding for vehicle, more

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

T h e C a p t i v a E r o s i o n P r e v e n t i o n District's commission approved additional funds to replace the district's beach v e h i c l e a t i t s r e c e n t meeting, as well funding for beac t i l l i n g a n d i t s accountant

O n J a n 9 , E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r D a n i e

Munt explained th last month the b had approved up to $20,000 for a new v e h i c l e f o r m o n i t o r i n g t h e b e a c h t o replace the one damaged by Hurricane Ian Staff had not considered the insurance, however, and needed a not-toexceed amount of $30,000 instead

A motion to approve up to $30,000 for the purchase of a replacement beach vehi-

See CEPD, page 7

Fire board picks organization and hears of finances

Participants will then go through cool down postures, concluding with a rest period

Doherty added that while the classes will incorporate modifications to support most people's abilities, participants will need to be able to transition from the floor to standing and vice versa on their own

The cost is $20 for members and $25 for non-members per class

It will be the participant's responsibility to bring their own yoga mat, as well as props, to support the exercises It is suggested that they bring two blocks, a strap and any other props they would like to use.

The community is encouraged to sign up and take part

“Come and take an hour for yourself to feel good with other people,” Doherty said

“It may be an opportunity to try something new,” Ankerson added

M

t https://www eventbrite com/e/yoga-with-malu-at-the-cca-nonmember-tickets-546412453357

For more information, visit https://ccacaptiva org/ or contact 239-472-2111 or info@ccacaptiva org

The Captiva Civic Center at 11550 Chapin Lane, Captiva.

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

T h e C a p t i v a I s l a n d F i r e C o n t r o l District's commission elected its officers for the year during its recent meeting, as well as was updated on the potential impact of Hurricane Ian on the district's finances

O n J a n 2 4 , F i r e

C h i e f J e f f P a w u l

e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e board decides on its o r g a n i z a t i o n a t t h e s t a r t o f e a c h y e a r

H o w e v e r , t h e a c t i o n

Fire Chief Jeff Pawul

had been postponed due to some commissioner changes recently

In the following discussion among the board, Jeff Brown was nominated as chairman, Sherrill Sims was nominated as vice chairman, and Carole Campbell was nominated as secretary and treasurer

See FIRE BOARD, page

CCP From page 6 a g a i n , c o u n t y s t a f f a c c e p t e d a l m o s t i d e n t i c a l l a n g u a g e t o w h a t i t h a d p r o p o s e d . M i n t z e x p l a i n e d t h a t i t w i l l r e q u i r e l e a s e a n d r e n t a l g o l f c a r t s a n d o n e s p r o v i d e d b y r e n t a l p r o p e r t i e s t o h a v e t h e c o m p a n y ' s n a m e o r p r o p e r t y i d e n t i f i c a t i o n o n b o t h s i d e s ; h a v e a s t i c k e r o n t h e d a s h b o a r d o r w i n ds h i e l d t h a t s a y s n o u n l i c e n s e d d r i v e r s a n d n o d r i v i n g o n t h e b e a c h , r o a d s h o u l d e r o r o u t s i d e o f t h e g o l f c a r t z o n e ; a n d r e n t a l c o m p a n i e s m u s t p r o v i d e a w r i t t e n n o t i c e o f t h e r u l e s f o r d r i v i n g o n C a p t i v a H e a d d e d t h a t t h e p a n e l s u g g e s t e d i n c l u d i n g n o u n d e r a g e d r i v e r s , w h i c h c o u n t y s t a f f c h a n g e d t o u n l ic e n s e d d r i v e r s I t a l s o i n c l u d e d n o o p e n a l c o h o l c o nt a i n e r s , b u t t h e r e a r e a l r e a d y e x i s t i n g r u l e s . O n t h e n o i s e o r d i n a n c e , M i n t z r e i t e r a t e d t h a t t h e r e w a s a n e x i s t i n g o n e f o r t h e c o u n t y , b u t t h e r e w a s n o t hi n g i n i t s p e c i f i c t o C a p t i v a C o u n t y s t a f f d i d m a k e s o m e c h a n g e s t o w h a t t h e p a n e l r e c o m m e n d e d “ B u t b a s i c a l l y , i n s u b s t a n c e , i t i s w h a t o u r c o m m un i t y w a s l o o k i n g f o r , ” h e s a i d T h e p a n e l ' s s u g g e s t e d o r d i n a n c e r e g a r d i n g p a r k i n g u n d e r w e n t t h e m o s t c h a n g e s b y t h e c o u n t y M i n t z e x p l a i n e d t h a t i t i s i l l e g a l t o p a r k o n a n y s t r e e t o r r i g h t - o f - w a y o n C a p t i v a T h e p a n e l p r o p o s e d a l l o w i n g a n e x c e p t i o n f o r t h e C a p t i v a E r o s i o n P r e v e n t i o n D i s t r i c t ' s v e h i c l e w h e n i t i s c o n d u c t i n g b u s i n e s s a n d f o r t h o s e a t t e n d i n g s e r v i c e s a t t h e C a p t i v a C h a p e l b y t h e S e a f o r c e r t a i n d a y s a n d t i m e s “ T h e c o u n t y w a s v e r y c o n c e r n e d t h a t t h e r e w o u l d b e a v i o l a t i o n o f t h e F i r s t A m e n d m e n t a n d s t a t e C o n s t i t u t i o n i f t h e y m a d e a n e x c e p t i o n t o t h e n o p a r ki n g r u l e s f o r t h e c h a p e l , ” h e s a i d T h e c o m p r o m i s e c o u n t e r e d b y c o u n t y s t a f f w a s t o e l i m i n a t e a l l l a n g u a g e a b o u t t h e c h a p e l a n d h a v e t h e c o u n t y ' s D e p a r t m e n t o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n i n s t a l l s i g n a g e i n t h e d e s i g n a t e d a r e a s w i t h t h e d a y s a n d t i m e s “ I t h i n k t h a t w o r k s f o r u s , ” M i n t z s a i d , a d d i n g t h a t t h e s i g n s w i l l s t a t e w h a t t h e p a n e l w a n t e d . A m o t i o n t o a c c e p t t h e n e g o t i a t e d c h a n g e s t o t h e i r p r o p o s e d o r d i n a n c e s w a s a p p r o v e d

CEPD

cle passed 4-0.

From page 6

A l s o d u r i n g t h e m e e t i n g , M u n t explained that the CEPD is required to till the beach every year in advance of sea turtle nesting season Staff received a quote from Perry's Beach Service for the work

A motion to approve up to $20,000 for beach tilling passed 4-0

Also at the meeting, Munt presented the commission with an engagement letter f r o m t h e d i s t r i c t ' s a c c o u n t i n g f i r m , W i l t s h i r e , W h i t l e y , R i c h a r d s o n & English, to extend its contract and services

Fire board

Administrator salar y sur vey

I n D e c e m b e r , t h e p a n e l a p p r o v e d r a i s i n g

Administrator Ken Gooderham's annual salary from about $22,000 to $30,000 As part of the motion, a committee would do a more thorough salary comparison

At the meeting, Panel Member Ann Brady explained that she and Secretary Bruce McDonald took on the job of conducting the salary survey She reported that although Gooderham's official title is administrator, he actually is conducting the job of a director based upon his responsibilities and duties

The committee examined 13 nonprofits on the islands and within the Fort Myers area that were comparable to the panel in budget size, salary, responsibilities, duties and such She reported that the organization with a position that most closely aligned with it was the Captiva Civic Association

The committee determined that a salary of $70,000 to $80,000 would be reasonable and fair if the position was full-time However, Gooderham's position is part-time so $30,000 seemed correct.

“We thought that the $30,000 that Ken was given was fair and just,” Brady said

She noted that moving forward the panel now has a good job description for its administrator position, along with comparables if they have to fill the role because Gooderham retires or leaves the panel

In the following discussion, Panel Member Linda Laird brought up the multitude of things Gooderham has been doing for the panel and community post-hurricane and suggested a bonus to say thank you

Others on the panel voiced their support for the idea

“I find that to be a good suggestion,” President Jay Brown said

A motion to provide a one-time bonus of $5,000 for his post-storm contributions was approved

Post-hurricane recover y

During the meeting, Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane provided the panel with an update on happenings o c c u r r i n g a t t h e c o u n t y - l e v e l i n t h e a f t e r m a t h o f Hurricane Ian He discussed recent trips to Tallahassee and legislative asks, a Sanibel Causeway project work-

He noted that its fee went up by 10 percent for the same provided services

A motion to extend the contract was approved 4-0

In other news

∫ Staff reported that Lee County is c l e a r i n g o u t t h e s a n d i n t h e A l i s o n H a g e r u p B e a c h p a r k i n g l o t t h a t w a s brought in by the hurricane It also will clear out the debris from the damaged retaining wall

Afterward, staff will focus on reinstalling the portable toilets, bike racks and

From page 6

A motion to approve a resolution organizing the commission as such passed 3-0

Also at the meeting, Pawul gave an update on the property tax relief that stemmed from the recent storms, as well as covered the district's line of credit and FEMA's Community Disaster Loan Program

He reported that he recently met with Lee County Property Appraiser Matt Caldwell and his deputy regarding the tax refund for homeowners impacted by the hurricane The relief portion will come off of building value and that number for the district in terms of total building value is about $1 10 billion

“Obviously, every property on the island isn't going to qualify,” Pawul said

But not knowing which will and which will not, he calculated the worst case scenario of them all

“It is just shy of $500,000,” he said of if

every Captiva property did qualify

“The refund amount would come out of our tax disbursement that they owe us,” Pawul added, referring to the property appraiser's office and the payments received from it as homeowners pay their tax bills

As for the disaster loan program backed by FEMA, he explained that the funding is intended to enable “essential operations” to continue, so it cannot fund capital expenses, for example There are limits FEMA does the analysis, and it determines what the applicant qualifies for Pawul noted that the amount approved is typically about 25 percent of the applicant's fiscal year operating budget.

The application process usually takes about three to five months

“So it's a lengthy process,” he said Pawul added that he is going to apply for the district to see if it qualifies

shop and resiliency updates, a new task force that will look at future resiliency, and the need to harden utilities, like water and electric

He also touched on the status of debris pickup and offered guidance for property owners

Ruane reported that Feb 13 was the deadline on Captiva to get storm debris to the right-of-way for collection Now, owners need to place their debris on the edge of their property not the right-of-way and contact the county to arrange for pick up They will also need to sign a Right of Entry form

For the form, visit https://survey123 arcgis com/share /23e165f3f9e945a19319b4e6aebf59a2

Ruane reported that he and his staff are helping to coordinate the debris removal moving forward Owners can contact him at dist1@leegov com and 239-5332224 for questions or a copy of the form

In other news

∫ Laird, chair of the Stormwater Committee, reported that a proposed study to look at improving stormwater management in the Village area has been submitted to two separate sources for possible funding The committee's next step will be to look at the same for the areas outside of the Village.

∫ Mintz reported that the Lee County Property Appraiser's website at www leepa org has aerial photos available of properties the day after the storm struck, as well as information on the tax relief refund

“Property owners have until April 3 to apply,” he said

∫ Brown reported that about 40 donors initially signed up to support the fundraiser for Captiva Fire Chief Jeff Pawul and his family Half of them have sent in their donations, which total about $40,000

“Which I think it just a terrific start to this,” he said Gooderham noted that more have come in since, but have not been added.

Brown encouraged the community to show its support by donating toward the fundraiser, explaining that is it not just about helping the family to rebuild, but also showing that Captiva supports them

“Whatever anybody can do is welcome,” he said

signs.

∫ S t a f f r e p o r t e d t h a t c o n s u l t a n t APTIM Coastal Planning & Engineering revised the vulnerability assessment it conducted A workshop for the board is set for Feb 23 at 1 p m to review the updates

∫ B e c k e r r e p r e s e n t a t i v e N i c k Matthews reported that the lobbying firm has submitted four legislative asks on behalf of the CEPD in the aftermath of the s t o r m T h e y i n c l u d e $ 6 , 8 8 6 , 4 6 4 f o r beach renourishment, $400,000 for phase II of the APTIM study, $500,000 for

“This is another option, along with a line of credit,” he said of filling any deficiencies in the district's revenues for the current year and coming year due to the hurricane, resulting legislation and such

In terms of a line of credit, Pawul reported that the one the district has is about to expire He explained that the board can renew it, let it expire and go for a higher amount, or let it expire and go elsewhere

“We need to make sure we have enough cash to operate until December,” Brown said

He cited the outgoing monthly expenses and not knowing if another future disaster will happen.

“We're going to need a little bit of a cushion,” Brown said “We need to have some kind of a contingency plan ”

He suggested letting the current line expire and establishing a new, higher one

dune walkovers and $36,000 for the beach vehicle He noted that neighboring communities are asking for similar projects

“All of the projects have kind of been well received so far,” Matthews said

As part of the firm's update, Munt added that there have been discussions about FEMA's Community Disaster Loan Program, which offers up to $5 million Staff are determining if the CEPD qualifies

■ W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , F e b r u a r y 2 2 , 2 0 2 3 b r e e z e n e w s p a p e r s . c o m I s l a n d R e p o r t e r

with the same bank

The rest of the commission voiced its agreement

In other news

∫ The district responded to 31 incidents in the month of January

Pawul reported that they usually are fielding about 60 to 70 calls this time of year.

“All of the above have been slow,” he said of incidents, training hours and fire inspections

The district is still not conducting annual inspections as of now

“We've held off on those The only inspections we're doing is to get businesses open,” Pawul said, referring to the basic, life safety inspection that is required for a business to reopen post-storm

BUsIness

SCCF welcomes new wildlife biologist intern

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation's Wildlife & Habitat Management Department recently welcomed Cody Weber as its new wildlife biologist intern

A native Floridian, he has always had a passion for wildlife After pursuing management roles at Publix for several years, Weber switched gears to pursue a degree in biology at Florida SouthWestern State College As a student, he has gained experience tracking Florida box turtles, surveying diamondback terrapins and publishing a geographic distribution note on variable helmeted turtles in Florida Weber's currently working with FSW Professor Jordan Donini to track three-striped mud turtles

At the SCCF, he will assist Wildlife & Habitat Management staff with wildlife tracking, monitoring, habitat surveys, and data entry and management

“I’m really excited to be a part of the SCCF team and look forward to learning everything I can here,” Weber said

Business Notes

SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce cut the ribbon on Feb. 14 for John R. Wood Properties Christie's International Real Estate post-hurricane reopening on Sanibel

Chamber celebrates on-island real estate office opening

As part of a “We Love Our Islands” Valentine’s Day celebration on Feb 14, the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce staged a ribbon-cutting for John R. Wood Properties Christie's International Real Estate on Sanibel It is currently operating out of its “Island RV” in front of the landmark office, the former home and original office of island real estate pioneer Priscilla Murphy

“Our office was completely flooded by the hurricane,” President and Chief Executive Officer Phil Wood said “We are still in the process of remediating it with an estimated time frame of one year until completed Our island agents had been working remotely out of our Fort Myers office ”

Its Captiva office will also undergo reconstruction in coming weeks to reopen

Agents have been on the island since the storm, helping residents understand the build-back and 50-percent rules, coordinating contractors, answering real estate questions, and helping owners understand their options.

“It’s great to have the John R Wood team back here boots on the ground,” chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said “That office is an island gem, and we’re so pleased to see it being restored ”

John R Wood has been in operation on Sanibel since 2008

Current operating hours are Sunday through Friday 10 a m to 2 p m

John R Wood Properties Christie's International Real Estate is at 1019 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

Open For Business Post-Storm

(Editor's note: To add a reopened business on Sanibel or Captiva to the list, contact Editor Tiffany Repecki at trepecki@breezenewspapers com )

Grocer y

∫ Jerry's Foods, at 1700 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

∫ Sanibel Spirits, at 1700 Periwinkle Way, Suite 6 Sanibel

∫ The Island Store, at 11500 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva

∫ Timbers Fish Market, at 703 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel

Restaurants

∫ Blue Giraffe food truck, at 2075 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

∫ Cantina Captiva food truck, at 14970 Captiva Drive, Captiva

∫ Captiva Island Pizza, at 11513 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva

∫ Cielo, at 1244 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

∫ Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille, at 2500 Island Inn Road, Sanibel

∫ Gramma Dot's food truck, at 634 N Yachtsman Drive, Sanibel

∫ Huxters Market & Deli food truck, at 1203 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

See OPEN FOR BUSINESS POST STORM, page 9

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

Cody Weber

Open For Business Post-Storm

Retail

From page 8

∫ Island Pizza, at 1619 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

∫ Jerry's Cafe, at 1700 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

∫ MudBugs Cajun Kitchen, at 1473 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

∫ Old Captiva House, at 15951 Captiva Dr, Captiva

∫ Sanibel Deli & Coffee Factory, at 2330 Palm Ridge Road, Sanibel

∫ The Great White Grill, at 2440 Pine Ridge Road

∫ The Green Flash, at 15183 Captiva Drive, Captiva

∫ The Mucky Duck, at 11546 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva

∫ The Sanibel Grill, at 703 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel

∫ The Shack of Sanibel, at 1219 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

∫ Timbers Restaurant, at 703 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel

∫ Traders, at 1551 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

∫ Tutti Pazzi Italian Kitchen, at 1200 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

From page 8

The program will begin with a complimentary continental breakfast at 9:30 a m

It is designed for people with $2 million and higher in investable assets

Seating is limited, and reservations are required

For more information, contact Frances Steger at fsteger@sancaptrustco com or 239-472-8300

Rec center adds to Hall of Sponsors

B l e u R e n d e z v o u s F r e n c h B i s t r o , I s l a n d H o m e Services, The Sanctuary Golf Club Foundation and Tree West have joined the Sanibel Recreation Center's Hall of Sponsors as sponsors

Proceeds from sponsor signs financially assist parents, grandparents and legal custodians who qualify for their children to attend the: after-school program; summer day, winter and spring break camps; fun days; babysitter training camp; basketball league; volleyball camp; and Counselor In Training (C I T ) programs at the center

A printout of all the sponsors can also be obtained at t h e c e n t e r ' s r e c e p t i o n c o u n t e r o r b y v i s i t i n g https://files constantcontact com/97af97e6001/51af58d 4-47d6-4372-932a-fc131961dce7 pdf

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , c a l l v o l u n t e e r s p o n s o r

Chairperson Barry Alan Roth at 239-313-9591

SCBR announces hire, promotion

Sanibel Captiva Beach

Resorts recently announced t h e a p p o i n t m e n t o f K i m

M c G o n n e l l t o f o o d a n d beverage operations manager and the promotion of J o h n F e a g a n s J r . t o c o -

executive chef

M c G o n n e l l ' s p r i m a r y focus is the three restaurants at the 'Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa on C a p t i v a P r e v i o u s l y s o u s chef, Feagans teams with food and beverage operations at the restaurants

A native of Southwest Florida for 30 years with experience in barrier island h i g h - v o l u m e r e s t a u r a n t s , McGonnell was employed b y R e s o r t R e s t a u r a n t s

Hospitality Group of Fort Myers Beach before joining Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille on Sanibel, where she served as general manager over a 12-year career

A Southwest Florida

∫ Ace Hardware, at 2025 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

∫ Barracudas, at 14970 Captiva Drive, Captiva

∫ Beach Stuff, at 14900 Captiva Drive, Captiva

∫ BIG ARTS gift shop, at 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel

∫ Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife gift shop, at 3883 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel

∫ Footloose H2O Outfitters, at 1700 Periwinkle Way, Suite 4, Sanibel

∫ Gold Parrot, at 11512 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva

∫ Jungle Drums Gallery, at 11532 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva

∫ Nanny's of Sanibel, at 1700 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

∫ Rachel Pierce Art Gallery and Market, at 1571 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

∫ Sanibel Surf Shop, at 1700 Periwinkle Way, Suite 10, Sanibel

∫ Sea Oats Day Spa, at 1149 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

∫ Tarpon Bay Explorers gift shop, at 900 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel

∫ Tower Gallery, at 751 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel

Business Notes

native since the 1980s, Feagans grew up learning from his grandmother “a great country cook” and stepfather

“an incredible chef and mentor ” In the early 1980s, he moved to Captiva to assist his mother in opening and operating the Greenhouse Restaurant on the island

Feagans has served in executive chef, general manager and partnership positions with multiple island restaurants, such as The Mad Hatter Restaurant, Sunshine Cafe, Tarpon Lodge and Lazy Flamingo.

At 'Tween Waters, McGonnell joins an experienced and award-winning team with responsibilities including the Old Captiva House and coming-soon Shipyard Restaurant and Crow's Nest Chophouse Feagans joins an award-winning, top-rated culinary team that includes Executive Chef Greg Nelson

∫ Traders gift shop, at 1551 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

∫ Whitney's Bait and Tackle, at 1554 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

∫ YOLO Watersports, at 11534 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva

Ser vice

∫ Bank of the Islands, at 14812 Captiva Drive, Captiva

∫ Bank of the Islands, at 1699 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

∫ Captiva Post Office, at 14812 Captiva Drive, Captiva

∫ Chase Bank, at 2441 Palm Ridge Road, Sanibel

∫ SanCap Pak-N-Ship, at 2341 Palm Ridge Road, Sanibel

∫

Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

∫ Sanibel Post Office temporary facility, at 650 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel

∫ Sanibel Primary/Walk-In Care, at 2495 Palm Ridge Road, Sanibel

tion with clients' key external advisors

Frost has a background in client service in relation to income taxation for estates, trusts and individuals She has knowledge of fiduciary law, estate taxes, wealth management and wealth management planning, financial planning, and tax planning

Prior to joining the company, Frost served at Hughes Snell & Co PA in Fort Myers as tax manager

She obtained a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the University of South Florida and a Master of Science in accounting and taxation from Florida Gulf Coast University

Frost is a Certified Public Accountant in Florida and a Certified Professional through the Society of Human Resource Management She holds memberships in the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Florida Institute of CPAs

Frost is located at the company's temporary offices in Fort Myers

San Cap Bank promotes Har tman, hires Smith

San Cap Community Bank donates to project

Sanibel Captiva Community Bank and Fort Myers High School have partnered to support the renovation of the school's track and field facilities

The bank donated $275,000 toward the project, fulfilling the $1 million needed to fund it In recognition of the donation, the school has given the bank exclusive corporate sponsorship of its athletic complex, including Edison Stadium and Sam Sirianni Field

For the last eight years, the field has not been able to maintain healthy grass and has undergone five major renovations Last year, the School District of Lee County approved the construction of a state-of-the-art stadium renovation, including the installation of synthetic turf and a new rubberized track

Construction is scheduled to begin in March and is expected to take three months to complete

Frost joins Trust Company

The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company announced the addition of Laura A Frost as director of operations.

S h e w i l l o v e r s e e t h e c l i e n t s e r v i c e s a n d t r u s t operations department companywide and is responsible for cash management a n d r e p o r t i n g o f c l i e n t accounts, as well as communication and collabora-

S a n i b e l C a p t i v a Community Bank recently announced the promotion of M i k e H a r t m a n t o s e n i o r vice president and the hiring of Jessica Smith as a compliance assistant in the compliance department

It is Hartman's second promotion within a year

Last year, he was promoted from assistant vice presid e n t t o v i c e p r e s i d e n t H a r t m a n i s b a s e d a t t h e b a n k ' s B r i d g e B r a n c h i n Fort Myers

Smith is responsible for assisting the compliance officer with the day-to-day compliance management system program, including compliance monitoring to ensure that bank policies and practices are in accordance with federal and state regulations

She is also at the Bridge Branch in Fort Myers

Hartman joined the bank in 2015 and works in conv e n t i o n a l a n d p o r t f o l i o lending He brings decades of experience in the real estate, development and construction fields to the residential lending division and specializes in construction lending, refinancing and residential purchases

Smith has prior experience working in retail banking, customer service and office management

Kim McGonnell

John Feagans Jr.

SANIBEL CAPTIVA COMMUNITY BANK

Laura A Frost

Mike Hartman

Jessica Smith

Photo contest winners

From page 1

this photo,” contest judge and refuge Ranger Jessica Barry said “During a dark time of Sanibel, to me this photo signifies hope and a new beginning ”

In second place was Scott Becque, of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, with a photograph of an anhinga titled “Azure Eye Ring.”

“The gleam of his striped feathers caught my eye first,” judge Carrie Harmon, executive development and outreach assistant for the DDWS, said “The longer I looked, the more the bouquet of black and white feathers he was so carefully preening seemed to come alive with color I could see the rainbow in the small feathers atop his head This photo spoke to me of the nuances of nature and what you can find when you look a little closer ”

Scott Davidow, of Bayside, New York, took third place with “The Whimsical River Otter ”

“The otter is posing for the picture and does not seem afraid or wary of the photographer,” DDWS business office manager and judge Joy Robertson said “I believe our animal friends will allow us into their environment if we show respect and patience ”

The winners received cash awards from the DDWS: $300 for first place, $225 for second place and $175 for third place Each honorable mention winner received a $25 award, which reflects a refund of the contest entry fee.

The honorable mentions included:

∫ Tamara Barry-Peebles, of Vancouver, Washington, for “Turtle Trio”

∫ Constance Bauer, of Sanibel, for “Sunshine on a Cloudy Day”

∫ Calum Bruce, of Glasgow, Scotland, for “Mellow Yellow”

∫ Rebecca Clemens, of Sanibel, for “Spotted!”

∫ Heidi Dirkse, of Wolverine, Michigan, for “The Strike”

∫ Paul Harmon, of Sanibel, for “Restful Pondering”

∫ Linda Normoyle, of Fort Myers, for “Silky”

∫ Conrad Peloquin, of Walnut Creek, California, for “Tip Dip”

∫ Fred Ryckman, of Sanibel, for “Sipping in the Afternoon Sunshine”

∫ Jeanne Tunnell Swope, of Berwyn, Pennsylvania, for “Struttin' My Stuff”

Once the refuge's Visitor & Education Center reopens, the winners and honorable mention award photographs will be on display throughout the year

To view all of top-ranking entries, visit dingdarlingsocie t y o r g

information on the 2023 photo contest The deadline for submissions will be Sept. 15.

ABOVE: Second place winner “Azure Eye Ring ”

SCOTT BECQUE

LEFT: Third place winner “The Whimsical River Otter.”

SCOTT DAVIDOW

The Sanibel Fire and Rescue District assisted the Captiva Island Fire Control District with a structure fire on Feb. 16 at 16898 Captiva Drive, Captiva.

Busy week

From page 1

The crews remained on scene for three hours to ensure it was out

No injures were reported

There was damage to the exterior and interior wall The crew had to knock out the AC unit

“Our guys acted really quickly The whole restaurant was really smoked out,” Pawul said “The damaged was contained to the storage room, and Jerry's was able to reopen the next day ”

The cause of the fire is unknown and under investigation “

I t ' s m o s t l i k e l y u n i n t e n t i o n a l a n d e l e c t r i c a l i n nature,” he said

Assisting agencies included the Iona McGregor Fire District and Sanibel Police Department

Three days later, crews from Sanibel were assisting with another fire this time on Captiva

The Captiva Island Fire Control District responded to a structure fire on Feb 16 at about 8:30 a m at 16898 Captiva Drive, Captiva Fire Chief Jeff Pawul reported that when his crews arrived, they found a generator on fire It was placed on a platform that had been attached to the south side of the residence.

“It was fully engulfed,” he said, adding that crews could see the black column of smoke while driving along the 'Tween Waters stretch “The amount of smoke and flames coming off the side was a lot ”

It only took a couple of minutes for the crews to extinguish the flames

They also remained at the scene longer to ensure the

fire was out

Pawul reported that when the initial call came it, there was one person inside of the home and one person outside However, both occupants and a dog were outside when the crews arrived

No injuries were reported

There was damage to the generator, platform and south side of the residence. He noted that the homeowner was lucky the structure is made of concrete and not a lot of combustible materials If the residence had been a wood-frame building, the fire would have quickly gotten into the interior

The cause of the fire in unknown and under investigation

“Most likely due to electrical,” Pawul said

SANIBEL FIRE AND RESCUE DISTRICT

The Captiva Island Fire Control District responded to a structure fire on Feb 16 at 16898 Captiva Drive, Captiva The Sanibel Fire and Rescue District responded as an assisting agency.

SANIBEL FIRE AND RESCUE DISTRICT

W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , F e b r u a r y

PreserVInG ParadIse

Endowed fund supports volunteer program at refuge

Second only to his wife and children, resident Tom Edgar loved the “family” of volunteers he joined at the J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge in 2003, shortly after moving to Sanibel In appreciation for the happiness the refuge and his work there brought Edgar, his family has established the Tom Edgar Volunteer Fund

“While he was attending Rollins College, he visited Sanibel Island and the refuge and knew this would be a place he would one day live,” wife Connie Edgar said. “We eventually made that dream a reality when we moved to the island He volunteered for several organizations after we moved here However, it was his unique connection to 'Ding' Darling, its staff and volunteers that was closest to his heart ”

c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m

During his nearly 20 years at the refuge, Edgar volunteered at the front desk of the Visitor & Education Center and served on the board of directors for the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge for three years Before his death last year, he earned his 2,500hour volunteer award in 2020

“Tom understood the value of volunteerism to the refuge, and the good work that was being done by the volunteers, but he also saw the true value of what volunt e e r i s m m e a n s t o i n d i v i d u a l v o l u n t e e r s , ” D D W S Executive Director Birgie Miller said “Volunteers often gain a sense of purpose, a sense of family, a connection with the community, and a chance to meet others with similar interests ”

REFUGE/DDWS

Tom Edgar ’s legacy lives on through a permanently endowed fund at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel.

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation

Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis s p e a k s a t t h e S o u t h F l o r i d a Wa t e r M a n a g e m e n t D i s t r i c t G o v e r n i n g B o a r d ' s meeting on Feb 9 meeting

SCCF urges SFWMD to bring lake levels down

I s l a n d R e p o r t e r

Knowing the importance of the refuge to Edgar, Connie and their three daughters chose to establish a permanent fund to help with the expenses for running the volunteer program, knowing that he would have been

supportive of anything to do with volunteers and the refuge

For more information on establishing an endowed fund, contact Miller at 239-472-1100, ext 4

World record-size shell donated to museum

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum recently received a world record-size shell for its collection Officials reported that Donald Dan, of Fort Myers, acquired and donated the record-size West Indian Chank for the museum's collection Collected years ago by shrimp fishermen offshore of Roatan, Honduras, the shell measures 499 millimeters just under 20 inches It will be included in a refurbished version of the “World Record Size Shells” exhibit in the museum's Great Hall of Shells

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum is at 3075 Sanibel Captiva Road, Sanibel

Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum Science Director and curator Dr José H Leal with the recently donated West Indian Chank

BAILEY-MATTHEWS NATIONAL SHELL MUSEUM

Naples Botanical Garden assists SCCF

About 20 staff from the Naples Botanical Garden recently assisted the S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a C o n s e r v a t i o n Foundation over two weeks in the c o n t i n u e d r e c o v e r y o f t h e N a t i v e

Sanibel A previous SCCF intern, Associate Director of Horticulture Elizabeth Beans and her staff brought special equipment to remove debris and dead plants in the demonstration gardens and Shipley trail It included an extendable chainsaw to cut limbs up high, as well as a landscaping dump truck to bring debris piles to the

Botanical Garden are also collaborating to provide thought leadership around best planting practices for Lee and Collier counties

SCCF

S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a C o n s e r v a t i o n F o u n d a t i o n E n v i r o n m e n t a l P o l i c y D i r e c t o r M a t t D e P a o l i s expressed both hope and concern as he asked the S o u t h F l o r i d a W a t e r M a n a g e m e n t D i s t r i c t ' s Governing Board to bring down Lake Okeechobee levels before the rainy season in his comments at its Feb 9 meeting

“With a lake level of 16 feet in February, we don’t have a lot of time to lower the lake before the wet season,” he said “The Caloosahatchee has been seeing flows that have been on the high side of optimal since Hurricane Ian, and we are worried that the lake hasn’t gone down at all ”

DePaolis called on the board to “use every tool they have to bring the lake down safely now” before the community starts seeing damaging discharges into the estuaries in the upcoming rainy season

The meeting was the first after a flurry of activity f r o m t h e S F W M D i n J a n u a r y D e P a o l i s a l s o expressed hope that this was going to be the trend for the future

“It’s important to keep the momentum on the longterm projects We absolutely need to complete the C43 and EAA reservoirs, as well as get the stormwater treatment areas right,” he said “We also need shortterm solutions to protect the lake, estuaries and Everglades without causing additional pressures on o u r c o m m u n i t i e s t h a t a r e s t i l l r e c o v e r i n g f r o m Hurricane Ian ”

D e P a o l i s f o l l o w e d w i t h a d d i t i o n a l c o m m e n t s expressing support for the recent executive order and mandate that it gives the SFWMD to continue to work to improve water quality and resilience

“I look forward to exploring creative solutions with you and working to improve water quality on the Caloosahatchee,” he said

Isl and lIVInG

Sanibel library to present next lecture in virtual series

W i t h s u p p o r t f r o m t h e S a n i b e l P u b l i c L i b r a r y F o u n d a t i o n , t h e S a n i b e l P u b l i c L i b r a r y h a s l a u n c h e d a s e r i e s o f v i r t u a l a u t h o r t a l k s t o i n c l u d e b e s t s e l l i n g a u t h o r s a n d t h o u g h t l e a d e r s T h e n e x t l e c t u r e w i l l b e h e l d o n F e b 2 8 a t 4 p m a n d w i l l f e a t u r e S a d e q a J o h n s o n , a w a r d - w i n n i n g a u t h o r o f f o u r n o v e l s i n c l u d i n g “ Y e l l o w W i f e . ” S h e w i l l t a l k a b o u t h e r n e w o n e , “ T h e H o u s e o f E v e ” J o h n s o n ' s a c c o l a d e s i n c l u d e t h e N a t i o n a l B o o k C l u b A w a r d , P h i l l i s W h e a t l e y B o o k A w a r d a n d U S A B e s t B o o k A w a r d f o r B e s t F i c t i o n S h e i s a K i m b i l i o F e l l o w , f o r m e r b o a r d m e m b e r o f t h e J a m e s R i v e r W r i t e r s a n d a T a l l P o p p y W r i t e r A q u e s t i o n - a n d - a n s w e r s e s s i o n w i t h t h e a u t h o r w i l l f o l l o w T o r e g i s t e r f o r t h e a u t h o r t a l k , v i s i t h t t p s : / / l i b r a r y c o r g / s a n l i b / u p c o m i n g S t o p b y t h e l i b r a r y t h i s m o n t h t o s e e W o r l d W a r I I m o d e l s m a d e b y s t a f f e r D u a n e S h a f f e r . T h e c o l l e c t i o n i n c l u d e s 1 9 p l a n e s , s e v e n t a n k s , o n e J e e p a n d t h r e e s o l d i e r s p l u s o n e d o g T h e l i b r a r y i s o f f e r i n g c u r b s i d e p i c k u p s e r v i c e “ o n d e m a n d ” T o u s e t h e s e r v i c e , p l a c e i t e m s o n h o l d T o p l a c e i t e m s o n h o l d , l o g i n t o o n e ' s a c c o u n t o r c a l l 2 3 9 - 4 7 2 - 2 4 8 3 P a t r o n s w i l l b e c o n t a c t e d w i t h t h e p i c k u p d a y . U p o n a r r i v i n g f o r p i c k u p , c a l l 2 3 9 4 7 2 - 2 4 8 3 a n d s t a f f w i l l b r i n g t h e b o r r o w e d i t e m s o u t T h o s e w h o d o n o t r e q u e s t c u r b s i d e w i l l h a v e t h e i r “ h o l d ” i t e m s a v a i l a b l e a t t h e W e s t S e r v i c e D e s k A l s o , t h e l i b r a r y o f f e r s p r o g r a mm i n g p o s t - s t o r m f o r a d u l t s a n d y o u t h s

F o r t h e m o s t u p - t o - d a t e i n f o r m at i o n , v i s i t t h e l i b r a r y ' s c a l e n d a r a t w w w s a n l i b o r g

T h e S a n i b e l P u b l i c L i b r a r y i s o p e n

M o n d a y t h r o u g h F r i d a y f r o m 1 0 a m

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3 p m

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , c a l l 2 3 9 -

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T h e S a n i b e l P u b l i c L i b r a r y i s a t

7 7 0 D u n l o p R o a d , S a n i b e l

Stop by the Sanibel Public Library to see a collection of World War II models

San-Cap Kiwanis Club accepting scholarship applications

T h e S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a K i w a n i s Club is accepting scholarship applications for the 2023-24 school year Scholarships in varying amounts are available

Eligible applicants of any age must be a Sanibel-Captiva resid e n t , e m p l o y e d f u l l - t i m e o n t h e islands, or a family member of such and attending a college for an under-

SPD releases weekly blotter

A s S a n i b e l c o n t i n u e s t o r e c o v e r f r o m H u r r i c a n e I a n , t h e S a n i b e l P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t i s c o m m i t t e d t o k e e p i n g t h e c o m m u n i t y s a f e a n d s e c u r e . T o s u p p o r t t h a t e f f o r t , a w e e k l y p o l i c e b l o t t e r w i l l b e i s s u e d o n T u e s d a y t h a t w i l l i n c l u d e r e a l t i m e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t l a w e n f o r c e m e n t r e s p o n s e t o c r i m i n a l a c t i v it y

Other enforcement actions

∫ A complainant observed an unknown man attempting to remove a piece of plywood from their property The plywood was returned and the subject was issued a written trespass warning

∫ Officers continue to issue warnings and citations for the dewatering of pools in violation of the city ordinance

Enforcement operations statistics

Week to date for Feb 7-13:

∫ Alarm calls (business and residential): 3

∫ 911 non-emergency calls: 49

∫ Traffic crashes: 4

∫ Traffic stops: 17

∫ Field interviews: 0

∫ Residential area checks: 437

∫ Business area checks: 411

∫ Reported burglaries: 1

∫ Reported thefts: 2

∫ Total CAD calls: 1,350

February 2023 to date:

∫ Alarm calls (business and residential): 5

∫ Non-emergency calls: 101

∫ Traffic crashes: 4

∫ Traffic stops: 46

∫ Field interviews: 4

∫ Residential area checks: 850

∫ Business area checks: 803

∫ Reported burglaries: 2

∫ Reported thefts: 3

∫ Total CAD calls: 2,572

Reminders from the SPD

Roadside parking on Sanibel is not allowed except in the case of special events requiring a permit It is enforced and can result in a $150 fine.

Several beach park facilities are open to the public For more information on Sanibel beaches, visit h t t p s : / / w w w m y s a n i b e l c o m / g o v e r n m e n t / p u b l i cworks-department/useful-links/parks-public-beaches

Dewatering of a pool or spa directly into a waterbody, into the city’s stormwater system or onto any third-party’s property without the third party’s consent is expressly prohibited

Solicitation is not allowed on Sanibel Please share a n y p h o t o s o f s o l i c i t a t i o n h a n g t a g s t o police@mysanibel com or use Tip411

y s a t 2 3 9 - 5 7 9 - 0 6 6 0 o r m j @ s a n i b e l i n s u r a n c e c o m , B i l l Traum at 239-671-0155 or billtraum@me com, Chris Heidrick at 239-579-0660 or chris@sanibelinsurance com or Emily Ankerson at 8 0 2 - 5 9 8 - 5 1 9 4 o r e m i l y a n k e rson@ccaptiva org

Sanibel Public Meeting

The following public meetings/hearings are scheduled:

∫ Feb 28: Sanibel Planning Commission meeting at 9 a m at BIG ARTS, at 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel, and via Facebook Live For more information or the agenda, visit www mysanibel com

Repor ting suspicious activity

Anonymous tips regarding crimes or suspicious activity can be submitted via Tip411:

∫ Text the keyword SANIBEL then your tip to 847411

∫ W e b t i p s c a n b e s u b m i t t e d a t https://www tip411 com/tips/new?alert group id=2 2450

∫ Use the free “Sanibel PD” app for your Android or iOS device

The SPD's non-emergency line is 239-472-3111. Find the SPD on Facebook at https://www facebook com/SanibelPolice

SANIBEL PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Sanibel Public Library will host a virtual author talk on Feb 28 with Sadeqa Johnson

sPOrts

DDWS reports on refuge programming and more

The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge reported that the J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge's Visitor & Education Center and Wildlife Drive remain closed to the public due to the hurricane damage Consequently, many programs and events are canceled

In addition, the DDWS provided the following updates:

∫ Refuge Cleanup with a Ranger takes place on Wednesdays at 9 a.m. Participation is limited; prer e g i s t r a t i o n i s r e q u i r e d a t

DingDarling Eventbrite com

∫ “Ding” Darling Nature Wellness is partnering with the Sanibel Recreation Center to offer free Mindfulness Meditations and free Mindful Nature Walks Preregister at DingDarling Eventbrite com

∫ Most Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, the Nature Store will pop up at the Outdoor Gallery and Island Market from 10 a m to 2 p m at the Rachel P i e r c e A r t G a l l e r y , a t 1 5 7 1 P e r i w i n k l e W a y , Sanibel

∫ The deadline for the annual Florida Junior Duck Stamp Contest is March 15 For more information, contact Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland at Toni Westland@fws gov or 239-9400169

∫ The deadline to apply for DDWS scholarships for environmental studies is March 31

∫ In concert with Earth Day, the “Ding” Darling Day Conservation Carnival will take place on April 22 at the Lakes Park in Fort Myers

∫ “Ding” Wellness Week will precede National Mental Health Awareness Week, May 3-10

∫ The annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament will take place on May 19 Registration is open As of Feb 16, there were four spots left The DDWS thanked the 2023 sponsors To become an event sponsor, contact April Boehnen at aprilb@dingdarlingsociety org or 239-292-0566

Rec center to host free screening

The Sanibel Recreation Center announced that complimentary skin cancer screenings will be provided by Harris Dermatology on Feb. 24 from 9 a.m. to noon at 3880 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel Quick and easy, the exam is a non-invasive, visual inspection of exposed areas of the body that will be done after a brief medical history is completed No appointment or registration is necessary; walk-ins will be welcomed For more informat i

www mysanibel com

New nesting area signs have been put up on east Sanibel for returning shorebirds

Snowy plovers returning to island

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that snowy plovers began to return to their nesting grounds on Sanibel in advance of the breeding season, which officially started on Feb 15 for Florida

Given ongoing hurricane recovery efforts bringing large equipment and vehicles to the beach, the SCCF shorebird team decided to mark off a popular nesting area on east Sanibel a few weeks early to ensure the safety and

protection of the nesting habitat The decision was made i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h t h e F l o r i d a F i s h a n d W i l d l i f e Conservation Commission

The new signs feature artwork from the winners of the SCCF's K-6 snowy plover art contest held over the summer The Sanibel-Captiva Audubon Society and city of Sanibel supported funding and education for the signs

SCCF: Bill aims to use tech to improve water quality

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that U S Rep Byron Donalds (R-FL) introduced H R 873, the “Water Quality and Environmental Innovation Act,” on Feb 10 The bill directs the U S Environmental Protection Agency to repurpose unused funds to support innovative technology to help tackle water quality issues

“Every day, nutrient-filled water flows into Lake Okeechobee and is subsequently discharged throughout east, west and South Florida ultimately resulting in poor water quality and the outbreak of Harmful Algal Blooms,” he said

The SCCF reported that the bill would fund projects that aim to improve multiple sources of poor water quality from nutrient pollution and algal blooms, to plastics and sea-level rise Projects would be able to implement various innovative technologies, including artificial intelligence and quantum computing, emerging technology using living shorelines, and the cultivation of aquatic species

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

“This bill will help us jump-start the protections of our waterways It’s heartening to see our leaders reach across the aisle to make major investments, not only in solving the problems that plague America’s waters, but also recognizing the importance of naturebased solutions,” SCCF Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis said “Nature has done most of the difficult engineering for us over millions of years, and now it is up to us to determine innovative ways to deploy seagrass, mangroves, algae and bivalves to

tackle the water quality issues that we collectively face ”

The bipartisan bill is co-led by U S Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ). It has been referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Committee on Energy and Commerce and Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

To read the full text of the bill, visit https://donalds.house.gov/ uploadedfiles/water quality environmental inn ovation act pdf

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

Dani Moser, of Cape Coral High School, won first place in last year's contest with “Fly ” / DANI MOSER

Deadline approaching for annual photo contest for high schoolers

T h e 1 0 t h a n n u a l “ D i n g ” D a r l i n gTheodore Cross High School Photography Contest has kicked off with a deadline of March 1. It invites high school students in Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades and Hendry counties to compete for prizes that include a Canon digital SLR camera package, one-year subscription to Adobe photography software, and one-year family pass to all Florida state parks Cross, who lived part-time on Sanibel, marched with Dr Martin Luther King Jr ; advised the Johnson and Nixon administrations on anti-poverty programs; wrote the influential book “Black Capitalism,” among others; played a prominent role in President B a r a c k O b a m a ’ s e l e c t i o n ; a n d c r e a t e d Birders United a birding website that ranked legislators according to their record of bird protection support

Late in life, Cross decided to indulge his love for birds and photography and traveled the world to collect stunning portraits and stories to chronicle his adventures He shot often at the J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel, and a number of the images in his book reflect his love for it Cross published “Waterbirds” in 2009 at age 85; he passed away shortly after that in 2010

“The Theodore Cross Family Charitable Foundation has made possible this contest with a generous grant to the 'Ding' Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge,” DDWS Executive Director Birgie Miller said “We couldn’t be more thrilled that they wanted their donation used in this way for a 10th year ”

“We are so happy to be supporting a contest in my father’s name, a contest that will get our youth involved with nature by looking at it as my father so loved doing through a camera lens,” daughter Amanda Cross said

Digital image entries can be shot from any outdoor venue in Florida A writing component to the contest requires entrants grades 9-12 to submit a 100-word

description of the “moment” captured and how it reflects what nature and wildlife mean to the photographer

The entry rules and guidelines are as follows: Entries and information must be submitted in digital format to ddhsphotocontest@gmail com Submit your full name, high school, grade and an original photograph that you took of nature and/or wildlife in the open outdoors Include a title for the photograph and a written

description (minimum 100 words) of the “moment” captured and how it reflects what nature and wildlife mean to you You and your entry must comply with the following requirements:

∫ Students attending schools in Lee, Collier, Hendry, Glades and Charlotte (Florida) counties in grades 9 through 12 may enter the contest

∫ Only digital images are accepted and may be taken with any camera, including smartphones

∫ Images must be submitted in JPEG format and must have a size of at least 2000-by1500 pixels or resolution of 2 megabytes

∫ The photograph must be taken of nature and/or wildlife in the open outdoors in the state of Florida, which may include parks, refuges, backyards, and other open spaces

∫ Panoramic photos are not allowed

∫ Filters, cropping, enhancements and boarders are permitted However, adding any elements not existing in the original scene will not be allowed Judges, at their discretion, will disqualify any photos that a p p e a r t o b e m a n i p u l a t e d b e y o n d t h e s e guidelines

∫ Each participant may enter up to two photos but is eligible to win only one award.

∫ Judging will be anonymous Please do not put your name or anything that will identify you on your photograph

∫ There are three judges: a refuge staff person, professional photographer and resident of the five-county region

∫ Judging criteria: technical excellence (sharpness, lighting, composition, exposure); creativity; and explanation of photograph (minimum of 100 words)

∫ All photos will become the property of the DDWS. Photos may be used by the society in any way with appropriate credit

Find guidelines and prize information at www dingdarlingsociety org/articles/photocontests

For more information, contact the DDWS at 239-292-0566

RYAN MITCHINSON

“Frog in the Shade” by Ryan Mitchinson took second place in last year's contest.

CLAIRE HENRY

In third place for last year's contest was Claire Henry’s “Peeking Lizard.”

REFUGE/DDWS

Refuge’s WoW reaching out to area Title I schools

T h e “ D i n g ” D a r l i n g W i l d l i f e S o c i e t y - F r i e n d s o f t h e R e f u g e r e p o r t e d t h a t f o r t h e l a s t c o u p l e o f w e e k s , t h e J N “ D i n g ” D a r l i n g N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e R e f u g e ' s W i l d l i f e o n W h e e l s h a s b e e n t u r n i n g s t u d e n t s o n t o t h e w o n d e r s o f n a t u r e a t H a r n s M a r s h E l e m e n t a r y S c h o o l i n L e h i g h A c r e s T h i s i n c l u d e d a V a l e n t i n e ' s D a y s h o w o f l o v e f r o m t h e y o u t h s

Stumbling blocks or stepping stones?

The mobile classroom is now at Oak Hammock Middle School in Tice through March 16.

The WoW currently operates with a reduced team because of the hurricane's impact on staffing

To donate to support the upkeep and programming for the WoW efforts, visit https://interland3 donorperfect net/weblin k/WebLink aspx?name=E54182&id=12

DDWS annual fundraiser filling up fast

T h e “ D i n g ” D a r l i n g W i l d l i f e Society-Friends of the Refuge reported that reservations are selling quickly for its annual fundraiser, “Go Bully for “Ding” An Evening with Teddy Roosevelt ” As of Feb 16, 30 tickets were available. The event will take place on March 6 at the Broadway Palm

in Fort Myers In consideration of the hardships island residents and business owners have suffered due to Hurricane Ian, the DDWS has lowered the price of tickets to $75 per person this year For tickets or sponsorship information, visit https://www.dingdarlingsociety.org/arti cles/go-wild-for-ding \

Recently, I saw a post on Facebook that caught my attention It said, “The r o a d l e s s t r a v e l e d h a s r o u g h s p o t s ” T h e r e ’ s probably many of us that would easily agree with that statement, especially as we navigate our way t h r o u g h o u r i s l a n d ’ s Hurricane Ian recovery. But doesn’t our experience depend largely on how we approach these rough spots? A stumbling b l o c k i s d e f i n e d a s a n impediment or obstacle, while a stepping stone is a m e a n s o f a d v a n c e m e n t and improvement So it’s possible that what seems like a rough spot to one person might just be the path to moving forward to another We see this not only in our own lives, but during Biblical times, this same statement held true A t o u r l o c a l d i n n e r t h e a t e r , t h e Broadway Palm, the story of Joseph and his amazing technicolor dreamcoat has b e e n f e a t u r e d L o o k i n g b a c k o n J o s e p h ’ s r e c o r d f r o m t h e b o o k o f Genesis in the Bible, we see that his e x p e r i e n c e i s a p r i m e e x a m p l e o f approaching life experiences differently After his brothers sold him into slavery, Joseph could have given up in despair over the years of bondage that lay ahead of him Anger and hate for his jealous brothers could have consumed him, along with self pity and a sense of futility at what lay ahead His father and brothers were living a life of freedom in their own beloved country while Joseph w a s e n s l a v e d a n d l i v i n g a m o n g strangers in a strange land But Joseph did not give up in despair, but instead used every experience to improve each day Eventually he became a trusted member of his master’s household Joseph’s challenges were not over however Early on he had shown the innate ability to understand and interpret

Mary L Miller

Faces on Faith

dreams Shortly Joseph expanded on this great talent, and he was called from prison to interpret Pharaoh’s dream With humility and wisdom, he stood before the Pharaoh and bravely predicted the famine that would shortl y d e v a s t a t e t h e l a n d With this dire predication, Pharaoh was able to store surplus grain that would see Egypt through the seven year crisis of lack Joseph’s integrity a n d i n t e l l i g e n c e s o impressed Pharaoh that Joseph was released from prison and given a position of authority second only to Pharaoh himself

It was during these seven severe years of drought that the surrounding nations came to Egypt to buy bread Joseph’s brothers were sent among this group, but with the passage of many years, they were unable to identify him But Joseph did recognize them and eventually after a few more trials, he fed them and generously forgave them for the many stumbling blocks that he had overcome during his lifetime Despite all the adversity Joseph had to deal with, he never lost faith in his heavenly Father or his fellow man No matter how difficult or unfair the circumstances seemed to be, Joseph was able to make stepping s t o n e s o u t o f t h e s t u m b l i n g b l o c k s which could have so easily impeded his progress

We too, can follow Joseph’s example and turn whatever seems like a stumbling block in our Hurricane Ian restoration process into stepping stones that lead to progress and improvement And we can, like Joseph, know that God is always there to guide and support us through this rebuilding process

Grant matching challenge benefitting TCH on Sanibel

The Community House on Sanibel has received

“As you know September 28, 2022, was the day that Hurricane Ian came pummeling into our area, devastating lives, dwellings, and buildings. Today is Day 1 3 9 , a l m o s t f i v e m o n t h s p a s s e d , w e humbly ask you again for your help, as we can not rebuild and recover on our own,” she shared on Feb 14

“ Y o u r h i s t o r i c S a n i b e l C o m m u n i t y House, the island gathering place, was severely damaged and we lost everything,

including tables, chairs, office and AV equipment, restaurant-grade kitchen appliances and kitchenware, and many other supplies,” Riska-Hall reported “Your taxdeductible gift will enable us to move forward, build back and be here for you for many years to come ”

“One of the greatest lessons we have learned over the years is the importance of community,” she added “Any help you could please provide would be deeply appreciated ”

Donations can be made payable to the S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a R o t a r y T r u s t w i t h “Community House” in the memo line and be sent to The Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Trust, P O Box 686, Sanibel, Florida 33957

For more information, contact RiskaHall at 239-472-2155

Mary L Miller is affiliated with the Sanibel Christian Science Church

Isl and HOMe islander

SCCF guide offers incentives for resilient rebuilding

In the wake of Hurricane Ian, Sanibe Captiva and Southwest Florida communitie are rebuilding Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundatio Coastal Resilience Manager Dr Carrie Schuman invites the public to learn how they can make choices now that will increase the region's resilience not only to specific events like hurricanes, but against the broader backdrop of climate change

In the SCCF's new “Rebuilding for Resilience,” an in-depth guide to tax credits, rebates and other financial incentives, she outlines four main pathways to becoming more resilient:

∫ Energy generation

∫ Energy efficiency

∫ Transportation

∫ Hurricane proofing

Pygmy date is small palm with big appeal

The pygmy date palm (Phoenix roebelenii) is considered one of the most popular palms seen in the residential landscape It is hard not to admire the palm as it stands out in the lands c a p e . I t s f e a t h e r l i k e fronds are bright green and curved, which gives it the tropical look that many people look for in their garden Its relativel y s m a l l h e i g h t a n d graceful appearance is one of the main reasons for its appeal

The pygmy date palm is available and installed as a single trunk or in multiple trunks It is a slow growing palm which reaches a maximum height of about 10 feet Often it is referred to as a dwarf palm and can be used in multiple areas within the landscape They are ideal for a small garden area They are adaptable and very popular for lanais or atriums, as well as growing in containers or pots The pygmy date palm will often be seen as an accent within a garden or placed in front of a wall or window for privacy It is diverse in its use and aesthetically pleasing to plant enthusiasts In addition, they are a great choice to be included in a pool planter given enough space to grow. One thing to consider, especially if you have small children, is that they do have 2-3 inch spines that grow at the base of the fronds, so some thought in placement is recommended

The pygmy date palm prefers full sun, however it can tolerate partial shade They prefer moist to well drained soils, but they are also moderately drought tolerant These palms are not self cleaning therefore periodic trimming is necessary Overall, the pygmy date palm is a beautiful, low maintenance, accent palm that continues to be a favorite choice among landscapers and gardeners.

In The Garden is a joint effort by all at the local garden center, at 3889 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel For more information, contact 239-3955859 or visit www facebook com/rswalshinthegarden

“One of the most obvious ways many of these incentives contribute to resilience is through their collective potential to reduce greenhouse gases,” Schuman writes “This translates into reducing rising temperatures and subsequently, the

intensity of future climate change impacts that we’ll need to adapt to.”

The guide includes a variety of available financial incentives that can help homeowners, businesses and other entities such as nonprofits, schools and municipalities make some of these choices, while taking advantage of potentially significant savings

She reminds the public of other longterm benefits, as well

By adopting solar and other renewable nergy sources, one will become less ependent on a volatile fossil fuel market and ave the availability of backup power as batry technology improves By choosing enery-efficient appliances, one can help streamline overall energy usage, resulting in lower bills Savings range from hundreds of dollars to several thousand

To download the guide, visit https://issuu com/sccf3/docs/sccf rebuilding for resilience a guide to incenti

Update contact information to keep in touch with FEMA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency reported that applicants for FEMA assistance after Hurricanes Ian and Nicole should ensure that FEMA has their current contact information FEMA may need to contact applicants for more information or to arrange a home inspection to verify damage

If you are referred for a FEMA inspection and have been waiting three weeks or longer, contact FEMA to

check on the status of your application

If your contact information has changed, you should update your FEMA application immediately

“DRC” and your Zip Code to 43362 or visit fema gov/drc

Muhly grass

By SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

M u h l y g r a s s ( M u h l e n b e r g i a capillaris) is a tough native grass t h a t h a s p r o v e n i t s r e s i l i e n c e across the island after Hurricane Ian This hardy grass can handle a variety of growing conditions but p e r f o r m s b e s t w h e n p l a n t e d i n areas with full sun and dry to moist soils It can be grown in a wide

To find a nearby center, text

To update your information, you can create an account at DisasterAssistance gov, click “Check Status” and follow the prompts to create an account or access your account; call 800-621-3362 from 7 a m to 11 p m ; or visit a Disaster Recovery Center

Applicants should update FEMA concerning changes in insurance, current housing situation, phone number, mailing address and payment preference Missing or wrong information could delay the financial assistance you may be eligible to receive When contacting FEMA, refer to the nine-digit number assigned to you when you applied

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

Muhly grass is hardy native

range of soil types and it tolerates drought, salt and short periods of inundation The native range of muhly grass extends throughout the southeastern United States and it can naturally be found in the coastal uplands and pine flatwood habitats of Florida This perennial grass reaches up to 3 feet tall and produces flower stalks that extend above the fine textured, dark green

foliage in the fall and early winter

An exciting indicator of the arrival of cooler weather is the emergence o f m u h l y g r a s s f l o w e r s T h e s e

wispy, reddish-purple flowers provide striking fall color when planted singly or in large groups Its clumping habit provides cover for wildlife, and birds eat the tiny seeds it produces during the fall and winter

Sanibel Captiva

PHOTO PROVIDED

Pygmy date palm

Recipe of the Week:

Mini Crab Cakes with Roasted Red Pepper Remoulade Sauce

By CHEF LORETTA PAGANINI

Crab cakes are very popular on Sanibel They have become a regular staple on the menus of local restaurants You can buy them already prepared at our grocery store or seafood shop, or even at our farmers market Everyone will tell you that they make the very best and charge you quite a bit of money for that delicious morsel of happiness The various ingredients are more or less the same: Bread crumbs or crackers, eggs, mayonnaise, mustard, pickle vegetables, seasoning and lump crab meat I want to share my favorite recipe for crab cakes that is so easy to prepare Enjoy them with arugula salad and remoulade sauce Makes 16 pieces (Chef tip: Do not overwork your crab mixture; try to keep your crab chunks intact This will give your crab cakes a better texture )

4 cups arugula

Olive oil, as desired

Salt and pepper, to taste

Remoulade sauce:

1 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1/2 cup red bell pepper, roasted and diced

2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, chopped

2 tablespoons pickles, minced

1/2 teaspoon capers, chopped

Salt and pepper, to taste

Tabasco sauce, to taste

BIG ARTS Calendar

BIG ARTS, at 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel, will present the following:

Workshop

Zentangle Drawing with Donna Cole today, Feb 22, from 10 a m to 1 p m at BIG ARTS Cost is $39 for donors and $48 for non-donors

Workshop

Landscape Oil Painting En Plein Air with Douglas David

, Fort Myers

Workshop A

m to noon virtually via

Zoom Cost is $72 for donors and $90 for non-donors

Workshop

ArtTalk: Looking To Learn with AnneMarie Bouché on Feb 27 from 10 to 11:30 a m virtually via Zoom Cost is $20 for donors and $25 for non-donors

Workshop

Capture the Moment in Plein Air with Kathleen Conover on Feb 28 from 9 a m to 1 p m at the Berne Davis Botanical Gardens, at 2166 Virginia Ave , Fort Myers Cost is $96 for donors and $120 for non-donors

Pre-registration is required for workshops by contacting 239-395-0900 or info@bigarts org

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t www bigarts org or call 239-395-0900

CROW Calendar

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, at 3883 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel, will present the following:

∫ Today, Feb. 2 2

Speaker Series at 1 p m

Curator of Florida and manatees at ZooTampa, Molly Lippincott will present “Manatee Critical Care” via Zoom The talk will dive into the care facility at ZooTampa It will discuss the rescue, rehab and release of injured, orphaned and sick manatees Cost

is free or by donation To register, visit https://www eventbrite com/o/clinic-fort h e - r e h a b i l i t a t i o n - o f - w i l d l i f e - c r o w -

32068914951

CROW's campus on Sanibel is currently closed due to Hurricane Ian

For more information, visit http:// www crowclinic org/ or call 239-4723644

Lee Health to offer selfmanagement programs

Lee Health's “It’s All About You” a self-management resource program with the SMRC is offering the following research-based virtual programs for free to the community:

Chro ni c D i s e as e S e l f - Manag e me nt Program

T h e C h r o n i c D i s e a s e S e l fManagement Program is designed for people ages 18 and older with chronic health conditions to help them learn ways to better manage the chronic conditions a n d s y m p t o m s t h a t o f t e n a c c o m p a n y chronic health conditions The workshops

Crab cakes:

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 green onion, finely chopped

2 tablespoons red bell pepper, finely chopped

1 tablespoon frozen corn

1 garlic clove, minced

3 tablespoons heavy cream

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon fresh parsley, minced

Pinch Cayenne pepper

1 cup fine bread crumbs

1 pound white or claw crabmeat, picked free of any bits of shell

1/2 cup olive oil

To make sauce, combine all ingredients in a food processor Set aside

To prepare the crab cakes, melt butter in a heavy skillet over medium heat Saute the green onion, bell pepper, and garlic for five minutes Add the cream, mustard, one egg, parsley, corn and cayenne pepper and bread crumbs, and mix well Gently fold in the crabmeat Form the mixture into 16 small patties. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.

In a skillet, heat the oil and saute the crab cakes for approximately five minutes on each side or until golden brown Place the crab cakes in a preheated 350 degree oven and baked for 10 minutes

Dress arugula with olive oil and season with salt and pepper Divide arugula salad among serving plates Top each plate with two crab cakes and top with a dollop of remoulade

Island Worship

∫ Bat Yam Temple of the Islands

2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel (Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ), https://www batyam org/, https://www facebook com/batyamsanibel/

Rabbi Stephen Fuchs and Cantor Rabbi Sunny Schnitzer

Sabbath service on Friday at 7 p m at the Jewish Federation of Lee & Charlotte Counties, at 9701 Commerce Center Court, Fort Myers, and via Zoom. For Zoom links, email batyamsanibel@gmail com

∫ Captiva Chapel by the Sea

11580 Chapin Lane, Captiva, 239-472-1646, https://www captivachapel com/, www facebook com/Captiva-Chapel-By-The-Sea

Rev Larry Marshall

In-person service on Sundays at 11 a m through April Services will be videotaped and posted on the chapel's website and Facebook page Services from the past season can also be found online

∫ Chavurat Shalom of Southwest Florida

www chavuratshalomofsouthwestflorida org

Lecture and discussion on Thursday at 11 a m via Zoom Torah Talk on the third Thursday of each month at 11 a.m. via Zoom. Friday Shabbat service at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom Len Minsky Current Events discussion on Saturday at 11 a m via Zoom For Zoom links, email ChavuratShalom@gmail com

∫ Sanibel Christian Science Church

2950 West Gulf Drive, Sanibel, 239-810-1077

Due to the hurricane, it is not currently holding services

∫ Sanibel Community Church

1740 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 239-472-2684, https://sanibelchurch com/, https://www facebook com/sanibelchurch/

Pastor Jeramie Rinne

Sunday service at 10 a m in the SCC Historic Chapel Sunday service at 5 p m at the Fort Myers Community Church, at 8440 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers Services will be recorded and posted on the SCC's YouTube channel on Monday.

∫ Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ

2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 239-472-0497, https://www sanibelucc org/, https://www facebook com/sanibelucc/

Senior Minister Dr Mark Boyea

Sunday service at 10 a m at The Refuge Church, at 1901 Brantley Road, Fort Myers

∫ St. Isabel Catholic Church

3559 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel, 239-472-2763, https://www saintisabel org/, https://www facebook com/stisabelcatholicchurch/

Father Ed Martin

Due to the hurricane, it is not currently holding services

∫ St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church

2304 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 239-472-2173, https://www saintmichaelssanibel org/, https://www facebook com/saintmichaelssanibel/

Rev William “Bill” Van Oss

Service with optional healing prayers on Wednesday at 9 a m at the Peace Lutheran Church, at 15840 McGregor Blvd , Fort Myers Sunday service at 11:30 a m at the same location, followed by a coffee hour in Fellowship Hall

are held once a week for six weeks

Thursdays starting on Feb 23 from 1 to 3:30 p m at the Providence Family Life Center, at 3592 Broadway, Suite 100, Fort Myers

Participants will receive a copy of the b o

For more information or to register for one of the programs, call 239-424-3121

Loretta Paganini

islandBeat islander

Purple Tea, a symposium outlining developments in the fight against breast cancer, will be held on Feb 23 from noon to 2 p m at the Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, at 1380 Colonial Blvd , Fort Myers

It will feature a panel of distinguished breast health experts who will discuss advancements in prevention, screening and treatment of breast cancer in a supportive, inspiring environment.

The keynote speaker will be Dr Alan Brown, a board-certified radiation oncologist at Advocate Radiation Oncology Former chairman of the Lee

Health Regional Cancer Center Multidisciplinary

Breast Clinic, he is nationally recognized for his community involvement and research efforts

The additional speakers will include:

∫ Dr Magali Van de Bergh, a medical oncologist and principal investigator with Florida Cancer Specialists who has led multiple clinical research studies with a focus on lymphomas, chronic leukemias and lymphoproliferative disorders

∫ Dr Natalia Spinelli, a board-certified breast surgical oncologist who specializes in benign and

Last call for Florida Fish Art Contest entries

The deadline is approaching for this year's Art of Conservation Florida Fish Art Contest, hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission It is open to kindergarten through 12th grade Students from Florida can win top honors, international recognition and prizes

T w o f i r s t - p l a c e w i n n e r s w i l l b e selected for each grade bracket (kinderg a r t e n t h r o u g h t h i r d g r a d e , f o u r t h through sixth grade, seventh through ninth grade, and 10th through 12th grade) one for illustrating the best freshwater fish species and one for the best saltwater fish species All firstp l a c e w i n n e r s w i l l a d v a n c e t o t h e national competition to be judged for top prizes, including Best of Show

The deadline to enter is Feb 28

To enter, Florida students should submit their entry at Wildlife Forever Florida Art at https://www wildlifef o r e v e r . o r g / h o m e / f i s h - a r t / f i s h - e n t r yforms/florida-entry-forms/

It should consist of the following:

∫ An original piece of artwork featuring any fish including one or more of the following Florida native species from the same category:

JULIANA SESSUM

A w a h o o b y l a s t y e a r ’s 1 0 - 1 2 grade first place winner, Juliana Sessum.

C a t e g o r y 1 ( f r e s h w a t e r ) : Largemouth bass, striped bass, black crappie, bluegill, redear sunfish, spotted sunfish, channel catfish, Forida gar, chain pickerel, bowfin

Category 2 (saltwater): snook, redfish, spotted seatrout, flounder, tarpon, mahi-mahi, Spanish mackerel, hogfish, queen snapper, black grouper

∫ A piece of creative writing, no longer than one page, about the chosen species Required for grades 4-12

∫ A Florida State-Fish Art Contest entry form

‘Normal is Overrated’ to address youth mental health

Worldwide, 10-20% of children and adolescents experience mental health disorders and the stigma surrounding mental and behavioral health issues can be a challenge for many students These mental health disorders are often heightened after a traumatic event, like Hurricane Ian

To help break barriers and improve communication, Healthy Lee Behavioral

Health Coalition of SWFL, Kids’ Minds Matter and community partners invite area teens and their families to the annual “Normal is Overrated” on Feb 25 from 8 : 3 0 a m t o 1 2 : 3 0 p m a t F l o r i d a Southwestern State College

It is a free community event aimed at shining a light on the struggles of students with behavioral and mental health issues

malignant diseases of the breast and is trained in the latest surgical approaches in breast cancer care

∫ Debra Wilson, who serves as the vice president of oncology services at Lee Health

Attendees are encouraged to dress in purple

The event is free, but advance registration is required

For more information or to register, visit e v e n t b r i t e c o m / e / p u r p l e - t e a - t i c k e t s503552447927 or call Sherri Kubesh at 239839-6015

Symphony to present annual gala

The Gulf Coast Symphony will host its “Shaken, Not Stirred” Annual Gala on Feb 25 at the Sanibel Harbour

a r r i o t t R e s o r t & S p a , a t 1 7 2 6 0 H a r b o u r P o i n t e D r i v e , F o r t M y e r s Celebrating

28 years of creating community through music, it will feature a night of music, gourmet dining and fun. There will be live and silent auctions to support MusicWorks! and other community engagement and education programs Single tickets are $300 For m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o r t i c k e t s , v i s i t https://gulfcoastsymphony org/

i s i t

and to help them achieve greater acceptance in our community

The program will feature three local students who will share their first-hand experiences with behavioral and mental health issues and will provide live insightful commentary on the additional toll misunderstanding and fear can have on those already struggling

https://www gulfshoreopera org/

Q&A

expert panel

t i c k e t s a r e r e q u i r e d . T o r e g i s t e r , v i s i t

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t HealthyLee com

Florida Southwestern State College is at 8099 College Parkway, Fort Myers

1551 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel PETER REDPATH 5 to 8 p m

DANNY

PETER

JOHN

Cielo, 1244 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel SCOTT McDONALD 4 to 7:30 p m SCOTT McDONALD 4 to 7:30 p m

McDONALD 4 to 7:30 p m

Th e G u lf s h o r e O p er a w ill present “The Barber of Seville” on Feb 23 at 7 p m at the C h a r l o t t e P e r f o r m i n g A r t s Center, at 701 Carmalita St , Punta Gorda The classic opera comedy, with playful energy springing from Rossini’s exuberant music, will be presented in a whimsical new production directed by Josh Shaw The colorful touring opera production f e a t u r e s n a t i o n a l l y r e n o w n e d artists, chamber orchestra and sets inspired by the art of Antoni Gaudi English surtitles will be provided Tickets range from $35-65 For m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o r

‘Fanciful’ exhibit opens at Shell Point

T h e e x h i b i t i o n

“Fanciful: Art That Makes You Smile” will be on display now through March 1 8 i n t h e T r i b b y A r t s Center at the Shell Point Retirement Community, at 17281 On Par Blvd , Fort Myers

The light-hearted exhibit seeks to uplift spirits still coping with the effects of a hurricane.

The artists on display are paper sculptor Maxine B r o o k s , p a i n t e r s N a n c y D i m i c k a n d H e l e n K e t t e m a n , a n d t e x t i l e artists Barbara Heatherly and Carol Mann, all Shell P o i n t r e s i d e n t s I t a l s o includes fiber sculptor by Katie Gardenia, who is form e r l y o f S a n i b e l a n d Captiva and now from San Antonio, Texas

The exhibition is free of charge and open to the public

For more information, call 239-415-5667

Sounds of the Sand to support refuge’s recovery and mission

In partnership with Bell Tower and Two Lane Lager, the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge will present Sounds of the Sand on March 25 from 1 to 7 p m to support the recovery efforts and conservation outr e a c h o f t h e J N “ D i n g ” D a r l i n g N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e R e f u g e s i n c e Hurricane Ian destroyed much of its habitat and infrastructure

The event will take place at the shopping plaza in Fort Myers, featuring Sanibel musician Danny Morgan and other local bands and entertainers It will be open to the public free of charge

The three-pronged partnership grew from a past relationship between Bell Tower and Two Lane Lager hosting fundraisers to support the community Last year, the DDWS developed a strong connection with Two Lane as a supporter of its annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament, and both parties wanted to keep the relationship going

“It all came full circle when DDWS and Two Lane brought Bell Tower into the equation to help with a special, unique event to benefit the refuge,” DDWS Executive Director Birgie Miller said “We wanted to get musicians who have played at local island bars and resorts to help them with their own recovery We also hope this reminds people the island is resilient, and music continues to help us heal and get back to our happy places ”

The Sanibel refuge will set up stations with nature games for families, along with information about it, its recovery and how to donate to the DDWS to support refuge conservation

work, including post-hurricane habitat restoration, wildlife protection and environmental education

Suncoast Beverage Sales, distributor of Two Lane American Golden Lager Beer brand, will sell beer with the profits going directly to the DDWS

Other Bell Tower merchants, including several displaced from their island locations, will participate Activities will also include face-painting, axe throwing, a bounce house, lawn games and cotton candy Musicians will perform on the main stage and at stations at either end of the shopping plaza

“As an icon in the community, Bell Tower is committed to supporting the 'Ding' Darling National Wildlife Refuge and its mission of conservation and wildlife protection,” Shannon Palzer, marketing manager for the shopping plaza, said “Never before has this mission been more important than in the w a k e o f H u r r i c a n e I a n , w h i c h h a s destroyed so much of the area’s natural habitat ”

“At Bell Tower, we have helped seven displaced area retailers get back on their feet, and we stand ready to help this worthy organization raise the funds it needs to recover and reopen,” she added “We look forward to seeing everyone at the Sounds of the Sand event in March as we work together to keep Southwest Florida strong.”

For more information or to become a sponsor, contact event organizer April B o e h n e n a t aprilb@dingdarlingsociety org or visit dingdarling org

Bell Tower is at 13499 S Cleveland Ave , Fort Myers

HELEN KETTEMAN “Self Portrait”

MAXINE BROOKS

REFUGE/DDWS

Danny Morgan and Johnny Boy Reggae will headline the live entertainment at the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge's Sounds of the Sands on March 25 in Fort Myers

GULF COAST SYMPHONY Symphony to present ‘Forever Plaid’

The Gulf Coast Symphony will perform “Forever Plaid” now through March 11 at the Music & Arts Community Center, at 13411 Shire Lane, Fort Myers. One of Broadway's most popular and successful musicals, the show is chock-full of classic barbershop quartet harmonies and pitch-perfect melodies Once upon a time, there were four guys (Sparky, Smudge, Jinx and Frankie) who discovered that they shared a love for music and then got together to become their idols The Four Freshman, The HiLo's and The Crew Cuts On the way to their first big gig, the “Plaids” are broadsided by a school bus and killed At this moment their heavenly journey and final chance at musical glory begins Tickets range from $39-50 For more information or tickets, visit https://gulfcoastsymphony org/

e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , F e b r u a r y 2 2 ,

3 b r e e z e n e w s p a p e r s . c o m I s l a n d R e p o r t e r