City committee resumes free guided plant walk

The city of Sanibel's Vegetation Committee will offer a guided native vegetation and landscaping tour on March 18 at 9 a.m. of the City Hall grounds, which is planted exclusively with native plants

Walk the grounds for ideas on p l a n t i n g n a t i v e v e g e t a t i o n t h a t requires no fertilizer See how to plant a garden that reseeds itself with very little maintenance, is good for the environment and will attract birds and butterflies

Vegetation Committee members will provide valuable information on proper planting and care of native v e g e t a t i o n T h e c i t y e n c o u r a g e s planting of vegetation that is indigenous to the area as it requires very little maintenance, no fertilizer and no supplemental irrigation

Registration is not required

Meet in front of the main staircase at the Sanibel City Hall, at 800 Dunlop Road, Sanibel

For more information, contact the Natural Resources Department at s a n d n r @ m y s a n i b e l c o m o r 2 3 9472-3700

LCEC: So many ways to save

Little changes can have a big impact on your energy consumption, which means savings on your electric bill The following tips are easy to implement and impactful

∫ Trees: Not only is planting a tree good for the environment, it can help shade your home and keep it cool For information on planting the right tree in the right place, visit lcec net

∫ Kitchen: Be aware when getting things in and out of the refrigerator since you lose one-third of cold air each time that door opens If you don’t have an energy efficient fridge yet, invest in one soon. There are many affordable options that will help reduce your electric consumption

∫ Laundry: Washing your clothes in hot water can be pricey depending on how many loads you do in a week and what time of day you do them Consider washing your clothes in cold water to cut down on energy usage

∫ Lights: Always turn off lights, ceiling fans, televisions or anything else that is plugged into the wall when not in use Also, change out incandescent bulbs for compact fluorescent These light bulbs use 75 percent less energy and can last up to 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb For more ways to reduce your energy usage, visit lcec net

Recipe of the Week: Chicken Parmesan Milanese with Salad and Grape Tomatoes in Balsamic Glaze

By CHEF LORETTA PAGANINI

So many emotions filled me as I drove onto the Sanibel Causeway on my way to the island It has been almost six months since Hurricane Ian unleashed his terrible destruction onto our peaceful Sanibel and most of Southwest Florida The familiar site is now replaced by the loud noise of large machinery creating a larger entrance to the island At first you only feel a sense of loss and only see desolation, broken down trees, trash everywhere and boarded up storefronts and are impatient with the slow traffic of contractors Then you notice the little things that made you love Sanibel and you cry with happiness as a group of pelican lazily bobs in the Gulf, or you see dolphins swimming, or notice hibiscus flowers blooming, or the new green growth of the trees, or notice people on bicycles and at the beach, or the joy you feel visiting the Sunday farmers market in Jerry's Foods parking lot, or notice that the beacon of our Sanibel Lighthouse is work-

BIG ARTS Calendar

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

Workshop

Glass Fusing with Petra Kaiser on March 16, 23 and 30 and April 6 from 10 a m to 1 p m at BIG ARTS Cost is $135 for donors and $168 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, March 15

Speaker Series at 1 p m

Michael P Jones, with the American Eagle Foundation, will present “Infectious Diseases in Birds of Prey” via Zoom

Infectious diseases are relatively common in free-ranging birds of prey presented for veterinary care and rehabilitation, as well as those maintained permanently in managed care He will discuss the etiology, clinical signs, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases of raptors Cost is free or by donation To register, visit https: / / w w w e v e n t b r i t e c o m / o / c l i n r e h a b i l i t a t i o n -

32068914951

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

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t http://www.crowclinic.org/ or call 239472-3644