Sanibel Island Reporter/Islander

Refuge to reopen Wildlife Drive, center and Bailey Tract

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

T w o i n c u m b e n t s r e - e l e c t e d t o t h e Sanibel City Council earlier this month b y th e is lan d ' s v o ter s were sworn in at c o u n c i l ' s r e c e n meeting, then the c o u n c i l s e l e c t e d t h e n e w m a y o r and vice mayor

On March 21

C o u n c i l m e m b e Richard Johnson Holly D Smith were sworn into office by City Clerk Scotty Lynn Kelly Both were r e - e l e c t e d d u r i n g t h e c i t y ' s R e g u l a r Election held on March 7

Following the oaths of office, Johnson was nominated to serve as mayor for the new year.

time with a S a n i b e l & C a p t i v a I s l a n d s

Chamber of Commerce ribboncutting ceremony at 9:30 a m

T h e r e f u g e ' s V i s i t o r & Education Center and Bailey Tract will also reopen that day

“The 'Ding' team, with help from refuge crews around the U S , has been working nonstop to get parts of the refuge open so the public can once again view the wildlife, which has made a remarkable comeback since Hurricane Ian, especially t h e b i r d s , ” R e f u g e C o m p l e x Project Leader Kevin Godsea said “It's fitting that we make the auspicious, highly antici-

See REFUGE, page 11

Red tide subsiding in Southwest Florida, SCCF reports

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that Southwest Florida residents and spring breakers can literally breathe a sigh of relief Over the past weeks, red tide has subsided in the region

As of March 17, the Florida Fish and W i l d l i f e C o n s e r v a t i o n C o m m i s s i o n reported 18 out of 79 samples along the Gulf Coast taken the week prior contained b l o o m l e v e l s o f t h e r e d t i d e - c a u s i n g organism Karenia brevis, primarily in Pinellas County to the north In Lee County, samples had background to low concentrations

“Beaches in Lee County were recently covered in thousands of decomposing fish, and beach-goers were exposed to brevetoxins released by K brevis,” SCCF R e s e a r c h a n d P o l i c y A s s o c i a t e L e a h

Reidenbach said on March 22 “Today, our beaches are safer and more pleasant ”

On some beaches dead fish have been manually removed, and in other areas

many fish were naturally washed away by the tide

“With Lake Okeechobee at 14 87 feet today, we're still concerned about getting the lake low enough before the wet season begins and about the ecology of the lake, which requires lower-stage levels to support wading bird populations at this time

The council voted unanimously 5-0 to approve his election to the seat “Fellow councilmembers, thank you It's an honor and a privilege to serve as your leader for council in this role,” Johnson said “I have a terribly tough act to follow, and I will do my absolute level best ”

He also took a moment to acknowledge Smith's role as the past mayor “I want to recognize Holly, and the tremendous work that you've done under tremendously difficult circumstances,”

See COUNCIL, page 12

of

year,” she said “That said, with releases to the northern estuaries and lack of substantial rainfall, the lake stage has been declining steadily with a decrease of 0 85 feet in the past month ”

The SCCF reported that it will continue to monitor lake levels, estuary flows, and red tide

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

Islander-Reporter to resume printing paper post-hurricane

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

Print publication of the Sanibel-Captiva Islander and Island Reporter will resume next week.

Beginning with the April 5 issue, the islands' community newspapers will once again be available in print The online e-editions, which the Islander-Reporter published on its website despite the impacts of Hurricane Ian to its on-island office, will continue to be available at http://www captivasanibel com/

Islanders and visitors will be able to pick up the paper across the islands, including at:

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

∫ Billy’s Rentals, at 1470 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

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

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

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

∫ MudBugs Cajun Kitchen, at 1473 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

∫ Royal Shell, at 1547 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

∫ Royal Shell, at 15050 Captiva Drive, Captiva

∫ SanCap Gateway Realty, at 1177 Causeway Blvd , Sanibel

∫ Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce, at 1159 Causeway Blvd , Sanibel

∫ Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, at 2406 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

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

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

∫ Sanibel Public Library, at 770 Dunlop Road, Sanibel

∫ The Timbers Restaurant & Fish Market, at 703 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel

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

For more information about a subscription to the print edition of the Islander-Reporter or to subscribe to the newspaper, visit http://www captivasanibel com/ and click on “Store” or call 239-574-1936.

Businesses ready or interested in advertising in the print edition of the paper or on its website can contact Advertising Sales Executive Mark Martens at mmartens@breezenewspapers com for details

The Islander-Reporter's office, at 2340 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, remains closed at this time as it undergoes restoration from the damages caused by the storm To reach the newsroom or for additional information, contact Editor Tiffany Repecki at trepecki@breezenewspapers com or 239-472-1587

Like and follow on Facebook at “Sanibel-Captiva Islander | Island Reporter | Captiva Current.”

Chamber panel: Now is the time to invest in energy efficiency

As island businesses build back from Hurricane Ian damages, the time is opportune to reduce energy costs and environm e n t a l i m p a c t t h r o u g h c l e a n e n e r g y , Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation

representatives told the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce at its monthly business lunch on March 15 at the Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort in Fort Myers

Chief Executive Officer James Evan spoke first on behalf of the SCCF, and SCCF Coastal Resilience Manager Carrie Schuman led a panel discussion focused on “Resilient Recovery.”

“We recognize the mission of the chamber to promote the prosperity of our members and preserve the quality of life in our community,” she said “We’re all looking for that quality of life to return … The timing of today’s program is positive, not only because so many are in the midst of rebuilding their homes and businesses, but also because new federal legislation has added to existing incentives to make c l e a n e n e r g y i n v e s t m e n t s e v e n m o r e attractive with better returns on investment ”

Panelist Diana Giraldo, chief creative o f f i c e r o f C o m m u n i t y D e v e l o p m e n t

Reimagined, responded to issues concerning building code impacts on energy-effic i e n t b u i l d i n g l o c a l l y , n o t i n g t h a t California and Florida have the strictest building codes

“If you are looking for energy efficiency to work for you, you have to go beyond the building codes,” she said “You have to have a baseline audit. You want to make sure you benchmark the building ”

Panelist Julia Herbst, Florida's Gulf C o a s t p r o g r a m c o o r d i n a t o r f o r S o l a r United Neighbors, addressed the practicalities and wisdom of converting to solar power

“It’s a great business decision with good return on investment,” she said

Herbst advised adding extra resiliency with battery storage and offered tips for shopping for solar installation contractors

The panelists enumerated tax and other incentives for businesses and residents to install solar now, informing attendees that Sanibel and Captiva are eligible for the Rural Energy for America Program

Richard Johnson, a “surprise” panelist who spoke from experience after converting his Bailey’s General Store to solar in 2 0 0 8 , a d d r e s s e d t h e s o f t b e n e f i t s o f renewable energy:

“It does make a difference in the market It does make a difference to your customer base,” he said “I have people come up and thank me for what I’m doing for

the environment ”

J o h n s o n s u p p o r t e d t h e w i s d o m o f

working through a co-op, which does all the research as well as lowers the cost t h r o u g h c o l l e c t i v e b u y i n g H e l a t e r affirmed that he will again install solar energy when Bailey’s rebuilds

“This panel of informed experts gave us a load of information to digest and con-

sider as we rebuild,” chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said “The bottom line? On islands known for their conservation ethic since the conception of the Sanibel Plan in 1976, planning ahead for climate change, sea level rise, water quality, and disaster resiliency is the only strategy that makes sense ”

The SCCF sponsored the luncheon

SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Panelists at the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce's monthly business lunch on March 15 shared their expertise about the benefits of renewable energy at work and home From left, Julia Herbst, Diana Giraldo and Carrie Schuman

Interactive guide to open island businesses

T h e S a n i b e l & C a p t i v a I s l a n d s C h a m b e r o f Commerce has a list available of businesses back in operation after Hurricane Ian on Wander: Maps & Navigation The GPS-enabled interactive map also pin-

points beach accesses that have opened, bike parking areas and the user's relative location Points of interest can be filtered by seven categories. Users can download the app from the Apple App Store and Google

Property appraiser reminds public about refund deadline

T h e L e e C o u n t y P r o p e r t y

Appraiser's Office recently reminded property owners that the deadline to a p p l y f o r 2 0 2 2 H u r r i c a n e I a n

Pro p e r t y T a x R e f u n d s i s A p r i l 3

O w n e r s w h o s e r e s i d e n c e w a s u n i n h a b i t a b l e f o r m o r e t h a n 3 0 d a y s i n 2 0 2 2 c a n a p p l y . F o r t h o s e

w h o h a v e a l r e a d y a p p l i e d , t h e o f f i c e w i l l c o n t a c t t h e m r e g a r d i n g

t h e s t a t u s o f t h e i r r e f u n d a p p l i c at i o n T o a p p l y f o r t h e r e f u n d , v i s i t w w w l e e p a o r g P r o p e r t y A p p r a i s e r M a t t C a l d w e l l e n c o u r a g e d a l l t a x p a y e r s ,

e s p e c i a l l y t h o s e w h o w e r e i m p a c te d a n d c o n t i n u e t o b e i m p a c t e d b y H u r r i c a n e I a n , t o v i s i t t h e w e b s i t e 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 F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , c o n t a c t

2 3 9 - 5 3 3 - 6 1 0 0 o r h u r r i c a n e u pd a t e @ l e e p a . o r g .

First lecture on Sanibel Plan series draws dozens

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reporte d t h a t S C C F P f i e f e r C o n s e r v a t i o n F e l l o w a n d U n i v e r s i t y o f F l o r i d a P r o f e s s o r E m e r i t u s T h o m a s Ankersen visited the Bailey Homestead on Sanibel on March 16 for the first in a series of lectures about the Sanibel Plan

Completed in 1976, the plan protects Sanibel from overdevelopment by prioritizing natural systems in landuse planning. Ankersen, an expert in law and coastal policy, discussed the historical context of the Sanibel Plan, the leaders who brought it to life, how it has prevailed amid ever-increasing development pressure, and what future threats to the plan could lie ahead

“The Sanibel Plan holds a remarkable place in the history of land use planning in Florida, the United States, and even beyond,” he said “This pioneering piece of public policy emerged from a milieu that featured the convergence of a novel approach to physical planning, the birth of a political movement, and a 'quiet revolution' in public policy ”

The SCCF reported that the authors of the Sanibel Plan were preeminent thought leaders in each of those areas, and the newly incorporated city had both the vision and wherewithal to bring them to the island for the mind meld that became the plan

“The result was and is a plan like no other; one in which the protection of nature serves as the central organizing principle of governance,” Ankersen said

Ankersen is professor emeritus at UF's Levin College of Law and director emeritus of the Coastal Policy Lab at UF’s Center for Coastal Solutions and the Florida Sea Grant Legal Program In addition to a law degree, he holds a master’s degree in history from the University of South Florida

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION SCCF assists students with ecosystem study

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that environmental educator Richard Finkel recently visited with seventh-graders at The Sanibel School to discuss the ecology of the back bay estuary and SCCF’s ongoing research to help inform an ecosystem project The students are learning about the components of various ecosystems in Florida and presenting their research “As a leader in ecosystem conservation for Southwest Florida, it’s important for SCCF to provide experiential learning opportunities for all ages focusing on how interconnected we are to our environment,” Finkel said.

For three decades, Ankersen and his students worked to move the public policy needle in the direction of conservation at all levels of government

T o w a t c h t h e l e c t u r e , v i s i t h t t p s : / / w w w youtube.com/watch?v=elV7oxK9BBM&feature=youtu. be

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

Web Poll

SCCF’s legislative update on Weeks 2, 3

By SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION

FOUNDATION

There was a flurry of activity the second week of session as flooding and sea level rise bills advanced through their respective committees

C l i m a t e C h a n g e / S e a L e v e l

Rise/Resiliency

SB 734 Saltwater

Intrusion Vulnerability Assessments passed 9-0 through the Senate Environment and N a t u r a l R e s o u r c e s C o m m i t t e e T h e b i l l authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to provide grants and cost share funding and requires study updates to be available on its website It requires resiliency studies of all 35 coastal counties The House version, HB 1079, had yet to be heard in its f i r s t c o m m i t t e e t h e A g r i c u l t u r e , Conservation and Resiliency Subcommittee

Guest Commentary

Development Initiative was heard in the

o u r c e s

Committee by a vote of 9-0 The bill revises grant provisions under the Resilient Florida Grant Program and requires state financed building projects to take specified actions prior to construction of potentially at risk structures The similar House version, HB 1 1 1 , p a s s e d 1 7 - 0 i n t h e A g r i c u l t u r e , Conservation and Resiliency Subcommittee on March 15 Both bills are expected to appear on the agenda of their next committee stops shortly

S

Ecosystem Restoration SB 724

The bill is designed to give authority to the Mote Marine Laboratory to study and develop mitigation strategies for seagrass to survive under current water conditions Some committee members expressed concern that we must also focus on the causes that are creating the adverse water quality conditions It passed 9-0 and will appear next in the Senate Appropriations Committee on A g r i c u l t u r e , E n v i r o n m e n t a n d G e n e r a l Government The similar House bill, HB 1181, had not yet been scheduled in its first hearing in the Agriculture, Conservation and

See UPDATE, page 5

What can property owners do about red tide?

What can you do about red t i d e ? T h e r e i s s o m e t h i n g Maybe you have done it, or are already doing it Maybe you haven’t done it yet, but you will hopefully, soon

What is it that you can do?

G o n a t i v e ! G e t r i d o f t h a t green, grassy lawn and replace it with native vegetation City of Sanibel guidelines state that at least 75 percent of your yard and garden should be planted with native plants To meet the guidelines, only 25 percent can be non-natives

In many ways, green, grassy lawns are the worst of the nonn a t i v e s b e c a u s e , a s S a n i b e l City Councilmember Dr Scott

Gratitude for for mer mayor's leadership

To the editor:

Barbara Joy Cooley Guest Commentary

I am writing to express my deep gratitude for the exceptional leadership demonstrated by our former Sanibel Mayor Holly Smith, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian As a resident of this city, I have personally witnessed the remarkable efforts made by her in coordinating relief and recovery efforts

During the disaster, Mayor Smith showed unwavering commitment to the people of our city Her tireless efforts in providing guidance, support, and comfort to those in need were truly remarkable and inspiring The remarkable dedication and hard work that she

Crater stated so clearly on March 7, “You can’t grow grass on sand. You cannot do it It is impossible The only way to grow grass on sand is to dump chemicals on the ground ”

Those chemicals include nutrients that eventually make their way into coastal waters to feed the red tide algae, contributing to red tide blooms like those that are plaguing our coastal waters now Green, grassy lawns also require plenty of water; that water increases the runoff into coastal waters

Sanibelians who are “in the know” about water quality

Letter to the Editor

put into helping our community recover is something that will be remembered for years to come

In addition, I would like to commend Mayor Smith for her crucial role in securing funding and resources from the state and federal government The mayor’s persistence and determination in advocating for our city’s needs ensured that our community received the support it deserved This was instrumental in ensuring that our city could r e b u i l d a f t e r t h e d e v a s t a t i o n c a u s e d b y Hurricane Ian

As a former mayor who will remain on the Sanibel City Council, now Councilmember Smith’s continuing presence in our local gov-

tend to not have green, grassy lawns For example, each of us on the Committee of the Islands board does not have a green, grassy lawn

Tempting as it may be to hire a landscaper to install sod for an immediate “greening up” of your yard and garden, please resist that urge Native plants may be a little more difficult to find now after Hurricane Ian, but they are available, and will become increasingly available

Which native plants survived best after the hurricane?

“Some of the most resilient native plants were cabbage palms, saw palmettos, and green and silver buttonwoods But so were coonties, wild olives, necklace pods, joewoods, Christmas berries, sea oxeye daisy, Simpson’s stoppers, sea-grapes, bay cedars

See RED TIDE, page 5

ernment is a great asset to our community

Her experience, knowledge, and leadership will be invaluable in helping us face any future challenges that may arise. We are all aware of her unwavering dedication to our water quality issues and look forward to her continued efforts on behalf of our city

On behalf of myself and my fellow citizens, I would like to express our sincere appreciation for Mayor Smith's leadership and dedication to our community during one of its darkest moments Her service to our city has left an indelible mark, and we are deeply grateful for her contributions

Robert Brooks Sanibel

We want your opinion

com

Resiliency Committee

Water Quality SB 910 Management and Storage of Surface Waters was also presented in the Environment and Natural Resources Committee on March 14 The bill removes requirements for adverse impacts on water resources for certain agricultural and government owned land that are supposed to ultimately result in net improvements for the environment In contrast to the discussion the committee had regarding the importance of finding water quality solutions for sea grass restoration, it quickly passed with statements made about the urgency to expedite permits because any delay results in cost increases Based upon past experience and DEP enforcement staff shortages, the Sanibel-Captiva C o n s e r v a t i o n F o u n d a t i o n r e m a i n s c o n c e r n e d t h a t removal of any current regulations designed to protect surface waters will not result in a net benefit to the environment. The bill passed 9-0 and is headed next to the Senate Community Affairs The comparable House version, HB 371, had not yet been scheduled in its first committee the Water Quality, Treatment and Supply Subcommittee

Week 3

Statewide, land acquisition programs fared well in the t h i r d w e e k o f s e s s i o n a s t h e H o u s e a n d S e n a t e A g r i c u l t u r e a n d N a t u r a l R e s o u r c e A p p r o p r i a t i o n Subcommittees introduced their budgets, but it was a bad week for home rule and citizen challenges of comprehensive growth management plans

The House and Senate introduced their respective budgets last week The agriculture and natural resource related appropriations subcommittee chairs highlighted the billions of dollars proposed to be spent on behalf of the environment

The 2023-24 Senate natural resources budget proposal includes:

∫ $560 million for Everglades restoration

∫ $420 million for Florida Forever land acquisition programs

Red tide

From page 4

a n d m u h l y g r a s s , ” S t e p h e n B r o w n , a h o r t i c u l t u r a l a g e n t with the Lee County Extension Service, said at a recent Sanibel Vegetation Committee program at BIG ARTS “Although gumbo limbos, mahoganies, and strangler figs were badly broken, they have been quick to rebound Sprouting from seeds in the sediment were natives such as blue porterweeds, seaside goldenrods, and beach sunflowers ”

Now is the time Go native!

Don’t feed the red tide

Below are some resources for you to use as you go native:

∫ S C C F ’ s P o s t H u r r i c a n e R e p l a n t i n g G u i d e ( D e c e m b e r 2022)

https://issuu com/sccf3/docs/ sccf replanting guide-final

∫ C i t y o f S a n i b e l ’ s

Horticulturally Available Plant List (2021)

https://www mysanibel com/ c o n t e n t / d o w nload/29309/191415

Barbara Joy Cooley is chair of the Environment Committee for the Committee of the Islands COTI is a Florida not-for-profit c o r p o r a t i o n d e d i c a t e d t o t h e continuity of good local government, protection of the environment and preservation of the small town character of the barrier island community For more information, visit www coti org or “COTI Committee of the Islands” on Facebook

∫ $300 million for Rural and Family Lands program, including land acquisition and purchase of conservation easements

∫ $140 million for Resilient Florida Program to address flooding and sea level rise

The 2023-24 House natural resources budget proposal includes:

∫ $568 million for Everglades restoration

∫ $100 million (recurring) for Florida Forever land acquisition program

∫ $50 million for Rural and Family Lands program

∫ $164 million for individual water quality projects, including $1 million for the Sanibel Slough Stormwater Capacity and Water Quality Improvement Project

Any differences between the two budgets are worked out in the budget conference committees closer to the end of session

Growth Management/Land Use HB 359 Local Government Comprehensive Plans was debated and passed the House State Affairs Committee by a vote of 13-5 The bill adds the “prevailing party attorney fees,” which means any citizens choosing to challenge a local comprehensive plan decision will be responsible for all of the other party’s legal fees if they lose This would include the (uncontrolled) legal fees of the local government and any intervening parties The SCCF believes that this effectively freezes citizen’s involvement in challenging those land use decisions that are inconsistent with their local comprehensive plans and that adding this provision is unnecessary because current law allows for prevailing parties fees if a challenge is found frivolous This would severely hamper concerned citizens from protecting their natural resources and encourage irresponsible development across Florida There may be a friendly amendment added that would allow the payment of prevailing parties attorney’s fees to be discretionary per the local government With no committee debate, the

similar Senate version, SB 540, passed its first committee stop in Community Affairs by a vote of 6-3 There are two Senate committee stops remaining These bills runs contrary to the governor’s Environmental Executive Order (23-06) that pledges to ensure sustainable growth and protect natural resources while improving long-term local government planning The SCCF anticipates bill amendments to be introduced that are more in line with the governor’s Executive Order or there will certainly be calls to veto these bills

Local Government Preemption/Citizen's Rights

HB 1515 Local Ordinances passed the House State Affairs Committee by a vote of 14-6 The bill allows local governments to be sued by local businesses that may be impacted by enacted ordinances Some committee members debated the bill includes vague and arbitrary language that will result in conflicts on ordinances on conservation efforts, such as regulating sea turtle lighting or on animal welfare measures to regulate puppy mills Those in opposition to the bill say this will result in freezing local governments from working with its citizens to solve local problems The overwhelming sentiment of the 25 members of the public that were present were in opposition to the bill The similar Senate version, SB 170, has already passed the full Senate and is heading to the House floor for a vote A similar bill was passed by the full legislature in 2022 and was vetoed by Gov Ron DeSantis Opponents will work toward the same fate for this year’s version should it pass the full legislature again. The SCCF opposes bills such as these that would preempt our local government from making decisions with the best interest of their constituents in mind

V i s i t t h e 2 0 2 3 S C C F L e g i s l a t i v e T r a c k e r a t https://www sccf org/our-work/environmental-policy

Founded in 1967, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation's mission is to protect and care for Southwest Florida’s coastal ecosystems For more information, visit www sccf org

BARBARA JOY COOLEY

This sturdy groundcover, called “mimosa” or “powderpuff” (Mimosa strigillosa), is native to states bordering the Gulf of Mexico. It attracts butterflies, and can even tolerate being mowed.

County outlines guidelines for waste collection

Lee County recently reminded resid e n t s t h a t t h e F l o r i d a D i v i s i o n o f Emergency Management will continue to take applications for removal of storm debris from private property until today, March 29

Qualifying debris includes lost and displaced vehicles, vessels and other titled property from waterways and private and commercial sites impacted by Hurricane Ian To apply, visit iandebriscleanup com

The county noted that property owners who already submitted an application for qualifying debris removal will still have their parcels processed; the deadline will not affect on-going work on parcels

For more information, visit iandebriscleanup com or call 850-961-2002 from 8 a m to 8 p m Monday through Friday or 9 a m to 5 p m on the weekends Assistance is available in English and Spanish

In addition, the county thanked the public for its efforts as Ian debris collection wraps up Lee County Solid Waste is asking residents to follow guidelines with their regular service, which allows for unlimited collections In all areas of unincorporated Lee which includes Captiva the city of Bonita Springs, village of Estero and town of Fort Myers Beach, residents have access to unlimited quantities of in-com-

Final ‘Porch & Patio Series’ to offer music and more

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

Reservations are open for a last series gathering hosted by the Captiva Civic Association

The final “Porch & Patio Series” event of the season will be held on April 3 from 5 to 7 p m at the Captiva Civic Center on Captiva Free and open to the community, the casual cocktail p a r t y w i l l o f f e r i s l a n d e r s a c h a n c e t o c o n n e c t w i t h o l d friends or meet new ones and will feature live entertainment

“The purpose of the Porch & Patio Series is just to really foster that sense of community,” Executive Director Emily Hess Ankerson said “It's an opportunity to open our doors for people to have a place to gather to socialize, to come together and connect with others, to enjoy a community-based event ”

Live music will be provided by The Hot Buttered Nuggets

“They're not on island, but they are local to the area,” she said, adding that the band has performed previously at CCA events and the Sanibel Public Library “They're just a really fun band ”

“They kind of range from s w i n g m u s i c , t o C a j u n , a n d e v e r y t h i n g i n b e t w e e n , ”

pliance household garbage, recycling and yard waste collection weekly

Household garbage

All household garbage placed in a container will be collected, including up to two car tires per week

Recyclables

Unlimited quantities of loosely con-

See WASTE COLLECTION, page 7

Report horseshoe crab sightings to FWC for science

It is peak mating season for horseshoe crabs in Florida Help biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission gather valuable information about the ancient creatures by reporting sightings on the online survey

The FWC reported that horseshoe crabs mate by pairing up with a smaller male attached to a larger female. They then crawl onto the beach up to the high tide line, the female digs a nest and lays her eggs, all while the male is attached and fertilizing the freshly laid eggs They mate year-round but it is most common to see mating groups along the shore of sandy lower-wave action beaches in March and April, as well as September and October Beach-goers will have the best luck spotting horseshoe crabs around high tide, within a few days of a new or full moon

Reporting horseshoe crab sightings provides valuable information to the FWC about habitat use, population distribution and environmental conditions for nesting Although horseshoe crabs have existed for more than 450 million years, scientists are still learning about Florida populations Public sighting information helps FWC researchers target nesting beaches for the Florida Horseshoe Crab Watch Program, a citizen-science based initiative to collect data throughout the state

The FWC reported that if you see a horseshoe crab on its back, you can help it flip back over by gently picking it up holding both sides of the shell turning it over and releasing it back into the water Simple actions like this help conserve the species and the many other species that depend on it

To report sightings, visit MyFWC com/research and click on “Crustaceans,” then “Horseshoe Crabs” and select “Report Your Nesting Horseshoe Crab Sighting” to complete the online survey

FWC

Waste collection

From page 6

tainerized recyclables that are empty, clean and dry will be collected Program recyclables include paper, glass bottles and jars, metal cans, plastic containers #1-7 and c a r d b o a r d F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t

www leegov com/solidwaste/recycling/yes

Vegetative waste

Haulers will collect unlimited quantities of vegetation each week based on the following standards:

∫ First 50 pounds of palm fronds neatly stacked

∫ Remaining branches or fronds tied into bundles 6

Ankerson added

feet or shorter in length and 50 pounds or less per bundle

∫ Loose vegetative waste can placed in a container weighing 50 pounds or less per container with a weather-tight lid and handles, or paper lawn and leaf bags

Bulky waste

Residents can set bulky waste, such as furniture and appliances, curbside next to the regular garbage

If the item will not fit in the regular truck or needs a separate collection, the hauler will schedule a different truck to come out within three business days

SeriesFrom page 6

Hors d'oeuvres will be provided, along with cocktails and refreshments

“It's an open bar,” she said “We usually put out a donation jar to support CCA's programming ”

Attendees can also pop inside the center and enjoy the CCA's current exhibit, “Island Love Stories,” featuring works by photographer Rob Hoovis. The exhibition is a collection of his photos showcasing Captiva, Sanibel, and the islands around the Pine Island Sound It is on display up through April 28

“

P e o p l e a r e l o v i n g t h e e x h i b i t , ”

Ankerson said “There's been a lot of enthusiasm about the photos on display, so I think it's worth checking out ”

The pieces in “Island Love Stories” are available for purchase, and people can order prints Hoovis is donating a portion of the proceeds to island organizations to assist with their hurricane recovery

While the event is free, RSVPs are requested in advance

To make a reservation, visit www ccacaptiva org

The Pfeifer Realty Group is the sponsor for this season's Porch & Patio Series Bank of the Islands is the sponsor for the CCA's art exhibitions for 2023

The community is invited to make a reservation to attend

“The CCA traditionally has an end-ofseason party,” she said, adding that it will not be hosting one this year “So, it's anothe r o p p o r t u n i t y t o c o n n e c t w i t h o t h e r islanders before heading out for the season ”

For more information, visit the CCA's website or contact 239-472-2111

The CCA gallery is usually open for viewing on Monday through Thursday from 10 a m to 1 p m People can also schedule an appointment to stop by There is no admission cost for the gallery

The Captiva Civic Center is at 11550 Chapin Lane, Captiva

Construction, demolition waste

If a project does not require a permit, place the material in containers with curbside garbage, up to 2 cubic yards per week and 50 pounds per container if collection is not automated Cut carpet down to 6 feet lengths and roll it up in sections weighing 50 pounds or less If a project does require a permit, it may be subject to mandatory recycling regulations For more information, residents and businesses can visit www leegov com/solidwaste/business/recycling/constructiondebris.

CAPTIVA CIVIC ASSOCIATION

For the Captiva Civic Association's unveiling of “Island Love Stories,” photographer Roy Hoovis participated in an opening reception for the exhibit on March 2, along with an Artist Talk on March 9.

BUsIness

SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

S a n i b e l &

Chamber, city partner on open-for-business sign program

A t t h e r e q u e s t o f s e v e r a l reopened businesses on Sanibel and the city of Sanibel for conf o r m i n g , u n i f o r m s i g n s , t h e S a n i b e l & C a p t i v a I s l a n d s Chamber of Commerce was able to design, purchase, and distribute “OPEN” flag signs to herald island recovery – all within a two-week period

“We want people to know what great progress the island business community is making, and to be able to readily identify what shops, restaurants, services, a n d o t h e r b u s i n e s s e s h a v e reopened since the storm,” chamb e r P r e s i d e n t a n d C h i e f Executive Officer John Lai said “Our 6-foot-high flag sign brings uniformity and unity to island enterprises ”

“In speaking with several business owners, we recognized the limitation of visibility of signage for open businesses,” Sanibel Mayor Holly D Smith said “Partnering with the chamber was a win-win City Manager (Dana) Souza and chamber Director (John) Lai worked on a standardized flag sign allowing for better visibility for businesses Council discussed this at the March 7 meeting and unanimously supported this temporary signage legislation to help businesses have a more visual option from the street for temporary signage ”

Free to all island businesses, the flag banners will be available to storefronts that open in the future upon request by contacting Aaron Walton at aaron@sanibel-captiva org or 239-472-8759

According to city Executive Order 23-01: “Flag or feather banners not provided by the Sanibel Captiva Chamber of Commerce are prohibited All temporary signs must be placed on the commercial property (premise) only, a minimum distance of two feet from any property line, parallel to the street ”

The chamber sign program is funded in part by the Charitable Foundation of the Islands

Chamber ribbon-cuttings celebrate reopening of Huxters and CROW

Sanibel continues to make headway toward recovery with the recent partial reopenings of a landmark deli and top island attraction, both historic fixtures The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce staged a ribboncutting on March 14 at Huxters Market & Deli and another on March 16 at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife

“We welcome the optimism and breakthrough victory of these two important elements of our community,” chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said “We encourage others to follow their lead in creating a well-planned path to full recovery in manageable steps The community is so happy at each and every sign

of normalcy that returns to our beloved islands ” Huxters took its first step toward recovery by opening a food truck on Dec 12 for serving its deli dishes to a grateful fan base

“David Geyer is our store manager,” Susan Murphy, who has owned Huxters since 2014 with her husband, Dan, said “He and his team have performed miracles by opening the food truck and getting the store ready to open I don’t know what we would have done without them All this while they have also been dealing with Ian’s aftermath at their homes ”

See RIBBON-CUTTINGS, page 9

SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce staged a ribbon-cutting on March 14 at Huxters Market & Deli, at 1203 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.

The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce staged a ribbon-cutting on March 16 at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, at 3883 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel.

Record-breaking $6M commercial sale on Sanibel

Brokered by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

Florida Realty, duPont Residential and Commercial recently announced the largest commercial center sale transaction on Sanibel in almost 20 years

E v a n d u P o n t , f o r m e r l y o f J o h n N a u m a n n & Associates which was purchased by Berkshire represented the buyer and the seller in the $6 million deal for the property at the corner of Rabbit Road and SanibelCaptiva Road The 2 9-acre center with 14,994 square feet under air sold on March 1

The buyer is an islander who owns and operates other businesses on Sanibel and Captiva

“I take great pride in stewarding a trade of this magnitude at this specific time in the island's history,” duPont said of the Rabbit Road Center “It is my pleasure to facilitate transactions between two businesses heavily invested in our community ”

The center features about 6,000 square feet of exterior decking The newly opened Rosalita's Cantina the main building has about 4,000 square feet under air, with a smaller 1,432-square-foot “cabana” and 1,300-plus square feet of outside deck seating The Sanibel Health Club will not reopen in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian

“This trade was a classic mutually beneficial transaction on Sanibel,” duPont said “The buyer is the perfect fit for the center and he will bring a new life and valuable opportunities to the uniquely located space Meanwhile, the sale will allow the seller to allocate the additional

time, efforts, and resources towards improving and building back his other (island) holdings ”

He noted that the both the buyer and seller have a common aim for the future of Sanibel.

“Each (are) a true testament to the resiliency of our island and our community,” duPont said “Their invest-

Business Notes

Open house, food drive planned

The Sea Oats Day Spa will host an end-of-season open house, along with a food drive for an island nonprofit, on April 1 from 4 to 7 p m at 1149 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

There will be an opportunity to tour the spa and meet the team

In addition, it will collect non-perishable food donations for F I S H of Sanibel-Captiva

For every 10 items donated, attendees will be entered into a drawing to win a Sea Oats gift basket valued at over $300 Attendees will also get one drawing entry for every $10 donated to F.I.S.H.

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t @ s e a o a t s d a y s p a o n Facebook or call 239-401-8011

SCCF staffer to speak at Shell Point

The Shell Point Retirement Community will present “Resilient Restoration in Southwest Florida & the Everglades Ecosystem” on March 31 from 10 to 11 a m in the Connie Brown Hall at the Tribby Arts Center, at 17281 On Par Blvd, Fort Myers.

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

Director Matt DePaolis will discuss how local interconnected waterways directly i m p a c t t h e r e s i l i e n c e o f Southwest Florida and the greater Everglades ecosystem

The event is open to the public. No registration required.

For more information, visit https://sccf org/events /resilient-restoration-in-southwest-florida-and-the-everglades-ecosystem?eventDate=2023-03-31

Ribbon-cuttings

I n o p e r a t i o n o n S a n i b e l s i n c e t h e 1950s originally a truck selling tomatoes and later a produce stand Huxters has been feeding islanders for decades. The owners are thankful they were able to open their second liquor store, Sanibel Spirits, early on at Jerry’s shopping center, and to sell fresh-made sandwiches and snacks from the truck so soon in the game

“We have had so many customers tell us how much they appreciate us being open,

Rec center adds to Hall of Sponsors

Allied Air Services has 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

Chamber to host business luncheon

The Sanibel & Captiva I s l a n d s C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e w i l l h o l d i t s next business luncheon on April 12 from 11:30 a m to 1:30 p m at the Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort, at 1 7 2 6 0 H a r b o u r P o i n t e Drive, Fort Myers

The guest speaker will be Michael Polly, president and managing partner of Royal Shell Real Estate and Royal Shell Vacations He will talk about what is next for RLR Investments' business assets on Sanibel and Captiva

Cost is $35 for chamber members only Advanced registration is required by April 7 at 5 p m at sanibel-captiva org or by contacting Aaron Walton at aaron@sanibelcaptiva org or 239-472-8759; walk-ins will not be accepted Payment is due at time of registration

From page 8

and we’re grateful for their support,” Murphy said “Keeping our employees has been our top priority and they have come through for us with flying colors.”

CROW evacuated its animal patients to the Animal Refuge Center in North Fort M y e r s b e f o r e H u r r i c a n e I a n h i t a n d returned them and its hospital and rehabilitation team home on March 15 It has now opened most of the exhibits in its Visitor Education Center, but it currently

ments into the future are encouraging and prove that while there will be changes to our post-Ian island, not all change is bad In fact, some will even make the island and its available offerings better than it ever was, while maintaining the same sense of community and charm we have always enjoyed ”

Lions Club to host county group meeting

The Sanibel Captiva Lions Club will host the Lee County group meeting on April 4 at 6 p m at Shoeless Joe's Sports Cafe at the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops, at 13051 Bell Tower Drive, Fort Myers All Lions are encouraged to attend, bring a friend and reconnect Attendees will learn about future volunteer and service opportunities coming up For more information about the San Cap Lions Club, visit www sanibelcaptivalionsclub org

SCA to hold annual meeting

The Sanibel Community Association will hold its Annual Meeting on April 26 at 8:30 a m at The Community House, at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Learn the status of the SCA and The Community House.

SCA members should look for a ballot via email

See BUSINESS NOTES, page 10

does not have its Animal Ambassadors on show, nor all its programs running

“Hopefully our full education program will be back up and running this summer,”

E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r A l i s o n C h a r n e y

Hussey said “We do offer educational programs to schools and organizations ”

The clinic’s rehab enclosures suffered the most damage, she said Staff is working with contractors to replace about a third of them with stronger, more resilient

versions

C u r r e n t l y , t h e V i s i t o r E d u c a t i o n

Center and gift shop are open Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for free. Its website and social media channels keep visitors up-to-date on new information

Huxters Market & Deli is at 1203 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

CROW is at 3883 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel

DUPONT RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL

Matt DePaolis

Michael Polly

Business Notes

Reservations are encouraged by calling 239-4722155 or stopping by The Community House

To make a donation to the SCA, visit www sanibelcommunityhouse.net.

San Cap Community Bank hires Rodriguez

Isabela Rodriguez has joined the Sanibel Captiva Community Bank as a customer service representative at the Bridge Branch in Fort Myers

She is responsible for a s s i s t i n g c u s t o m e r s w i t h p e r s o n a l a n d b u s i n e s s banking transactions

Rodriguez recently relocated to Southwest Florida from Colorado She has a background working in the banking industry, as well as experience in customer service.

VIP Realty announces top agents for year

VIP Realty Group held its annual recognition ceremony on March 10 at the Crowne Plaza Fort Myers at Bell Tower Shops, with Realtors from the Sanibel, Captiva and Fort Myers offices in attendance

Karen Bell and the Bell Team, which includes John Bates and Sherill Sims, were recognized as the SanibelCaptiva and All Company Top Team for 2022 It also received the most prestigious individual honor, the All Company Sales Team of the Year, which is awarded to the top team out of all of the company's offices in Lee County

Teresa Baker was awarded Associate of the Year for Sanibel-Captiva

Becky Mulka was given the Cramer Award for her dedication and service to VIP Executive Club recipients were Dan Cohn, Mary Morris, Diane Stocks and Connie Walters.

President's Club recipients were Mary Lou Bailey, Bates, Ted Benjamin, Bob Berning, Glenn Carretta, Tina DiCharia, Susan Dunn, Kathryn Gaeta, Cathy Gerasin, Jim Hetmanek, Ken King, Mulka, Debbie Ringdahl, David Schuldenfrei, Glen Simmons, Sims, Charlie Sobczak, Lynda Traverso and Janka Varmuza

Chairman's Club recipients were Baker, Bell, Rose Dakos, Jim Hall, Deb Smith and Amy Wainwright Champions Club recipients were Jayne Lumley and Debbie Staley

Isabela Rodriguez

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Karen Bell, Jim Hall, Teresa Baker and Deb Smith

Janka Varmuza, Becky Mulka, Bob Berning and Ken King

Ted Benjamin

Connie Walters

Refuge From page 1

p a t e d a n n o u n c e m e n t o f o u r S a n i b e l reopening to honor the occasion when, 1 2 0 y e a r s a g o , P r e s i d e n t T h e o d o r e Roosevelt created the National Wildlife Refuge System right here in Florida, at P e l i c a n I s l a n d N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e Refuge ”

The observation tower on Wildlife Drive suffered little damage from the storm, and it too will be accessible as of April 4, along with a section of the I n d i g o T r a i l , W i l d l i f e E d u c a t i o n B o a r d w a l k , a n d W u l f e r t K e y T r a i l Fishing and paddlecraft-launching spots on Wildlife Drive will also reopen, and narrated tram tours will recommence initially on Tuesday and Thursday only

For more information about the tours, visit tarponbayexplorers com

The Wildlife Drive hours will start out on Saturday through Thursday from 7 a m to 5 p m Entrance fees remain the same as pre-Ian: $10 for vehicles, and $1 for pedestrians and cyclists older than 15

Along with the exhibit area in the center, the Refuge Nature Store will be o p e n o n S a t u r d a y t h r o u g h T h u r s d a y from 9 a m to 4 p m The auditoriums and classroom will remain closed until further notice Facilities also to remain closed will include: part of the Indigo Trail, between the center and Wildlife D r i v e ; t h e M a n g r o v e O v e r l o o k ; a n d Calusa Shell Mound Trail Staff continues cleanup efforts in these areas with the help of volunteers No reopening dates have been set for these facilities.

At the Tarpon Bay Recreation Area, t h e T a r p o n B a y E x p l o r e r s r e c r e a t i o n concession is offering limited facilities, rentals, and tours Hours are from 8 a m to 5 p m Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, with last rentals issued at 3 p.m. Guided kayaking tours of the Commodore Creek Trail are available on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 10 a m

“We could not have mitigated the severe damage we suffered this quickly without the incredible support of our w o n d e r f u l f r i e n d s g r o u p , t h e ' D i n g ' Darling Wildlife Society, and all the help w e received w ith cleanup from civic groups, condo associations, students, and just so many other volunteers,” Godsea said. “Thanks to everyo n e w h o b r o u g h t u s t o t h i s p o i n t Cleanup will be ongoing for quite a while, so it’s tremendously gratifying to see and feel the love from friends and fans all over the U.S.”

I n a d d i t i o n , t h e “ D i n g ” D a r l i n g Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge reported:

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

∫ In concert with Earth Day, the “ D i n g ” D a r l i n g D a y C o n s e r v a t i o n 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 F o r d ’ s T a r p o n T o u r n a m e n t w i l l t a k e place on May 19 Registration is open

As of March 23, there were two spots left The DDWS thanked the 2023 sponsors. To become an event sponsor, contact Boehnen at aprilb@dingdarlingsociety org or 239-292-0566

∫ The refuge will host Art in the Wild on Oct 21

REFUGE/DDWS

The J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge's observation tower will reopen on April 4 on Sanibel, along with Wildlife Drive

Johnson said “The leadership that you helped provide during this most troubling time has been extraordinary. You make it tough to follow you But I also will look forward to continuing many of the efforts that you were on before ”

“It's going to take all five of us to get the work done, working with Dana and his staff and others in the community,” he added “But I see a brighter future than we've had over the last six months, and I think that will continue ”

Also at the meeting, Councilmember Mike Miller was nominated to serve as vice mayor.

The council again voted 5-0 to approve his election to the seat

“I'm honored to be nominated,” Miller said

The rest of the council is made up of Councilmembers Dr Scott Crater and John Henshaw

Four th of July fireworks

During the meeting, City Manager Dana Souza brought up a discussion about the city's traditional fireworks display held on the Fourth of July and asked if council wanted to proceed with it He noted that staff again explored the possibility of a drone program, but the costs would exceed the budget

Souza also reported that the organizers of the annual parade will not be doing it this year

Smith pointed out that the Sanibel Causeway is typically the site from where people watch the show and it is currently closed post-Hurricane Ian She also cited the city's restricted budget due to the storm

Others on the council agreed that it is not the right time for it

Johnson asked if staff could recommend an alternative, like an activity at the rec center

“I think we can look at that and bring something back to you, in terms of what recreation staff might be able to plan,” Souza said, adding that staff will inform the vendor there will be no fireworks this year

Stor m recover y updates

Also at the meeting, some of the recovery updates included:

∫ Souza reported that Lighthouse Park and Turner Beach are the only beach facilities that remain closed He added that he had a meeting planned with county officials to discuss Turner Beach

“I do want to note that the beach area at the boat ramp remains closed to the public,” Souza said

“It is only open for boat use,” he added

Souza reiterated that the fee is $40 to launch a vessel from the boat ramp for those without a city permit In addition, the ramp is only open to permit holders on the weekends and on holidays

∫ Deputy City Manager and Finance Director Steve Chaipel gave an update on finances

In his presentation, he outlined the city's available cash resources as the FEMA Community Disaster Loan for $5 million, Line of Credit for $20 million, a n d t h e F l o r i d a L o c a l G o v e r n m e n t Emergency Bridge Loan for an unknown amount He noted that the city has not drawn down on the active LOC

“We're still in the process of applying f o r t h e C o m m u n i t y D i s a s t e r L o a n , ” Chaipel added, explaining that the city has

not received the final approval on that

For the bridge loan, the program is administered by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity He explained that it provides interest-free loans to local g o v e r n m e n t s t h a t w e r e i m p a c t e d b y Hurricanes Ian and Nicole The city can determine the amount it requires to fund operations for a one-year period.

The $50 million appropriation will fund governmental operations for counties and municipalities, and it bridges the gap between the time of the hurricane and the time additional funding sources or revenues are secured “Government operations” means costs associated with continuing, expanding or modifying local governmental operations to meet disasterr e l a t e d n e e d s , w h i c h i n c l u d e s s t a f f salaries and payroll

“It's intended as a short-term gap to fund operations,” Chaipel said

He noted that there is an option for a six-month extension, for a maximum of 18 months interest-free At maturity, the simple interest will accrue on any unpaid principal balance at a rate of 10 percent

Several on council voiced concern about the 10 percent at maturity

“ T h a t ' s a t o u g h p i l l , ” S m i t h s a i d , adding that there has been communications with state representatives about the figure. “We are hopeful that that percentage might be decreased to something reasonable ”

“This is not something that we can take advantage of,” Henshaw said “The 10 percent is a killer in my mind ”

Souza reported that staff has been in communication with the city's lobbyists and there are active conversations taking place about lowering that to more reason-

able figure, like 2 or 3 percent

He also pointed out that it is supposed to be an interest-free loan

“So we're a little puzzled by this,” Souza said

Community Housing and Resources

Also during the meeting, the council discussed and then voted 5-0 to proceed with drafting an ordinance related to the city's Below Market Rate Housing Rental

P r o g r a m t h a t i s a d m i n i s t e r e d b y

Community Housing and Resources The ordinance would provide that tenants displaced due to a natural or man-made disaster shall be granted the right of first refusal to reoccupy the repaired or reconstructed housing unit in any property managed by the foundation by amending the Code.

Prior to the vote, Crater explained that it would codify the idea of giving current residents the right to return to their unit or another CHR unit without going through the formal application process again

Miller reported that CHR has implemented an identical policy

On the subject of CHR, Crater reported during his council comments that it has

applied for a $5 1 million grant to rebuild the Riverview property In addition, a travel trailer was scheduled to arrive at Periwinkle Park and serve as temporary housing for one CHR resident who was displaced by Ian

He explained that it was a group effort

F I S H of Sanibel-Captiva worked with CHR residents to sign them up for the program, while Periwinkle Park worked on the agreement with the state to receive reimbursement Souza worked with the F l o r i d a D e p a r t m e n t o f E m e r g e n c y Management on securing it

Crater added that more trailers may arrive

In a social media post after the meeting, he confirmed that five trailers had arrived at Periwinkle Park to house those who were displaced from the city's affordable community housing due to the storm

In other news

∫ The council voted 5-0 to amend the c i t y ' s l o a n a g r e e m e n t w i t h S t e r l i n g National Bank for the property at 2475 Library Way to allow for additional usage to be added that will permit the Building and Planning Departments to operate in the space, until they can be relocated back to City Hall

Post-hurricane, both department have been operating at 6200 Whiskey Creek in Fort Myers

∫ The council voted 5-0 on a resolution sunsetting the Sanibel Recreation Financial Assistance Committee as of April 4 and thanking current and past members for their service to the city

∫ The council voted 5-0 to approve a resolution establishing an auditor selection committee in accordance with Florida statutes to evaluate potential external auditing firms for the city Prior to the vote, staff explained that the city's contract with its existing auditor firm is scheduled to expire

The council also voted 5-0 for Miller to serve as chair of the committee

∫ The council held the first reading for an ordinance that would amend the Code to allow for the amendment of hours for construction or repairing of buildings via a resolution or mayoral proclamation following the declaration of a state of local emergency related to a natural or manmade disaster

The second reading will be held on April 12

∫ The council held the first reading for an ordinance that would amend the Code to allow for the use of prohibited temporary signage for a defined period of time via a resolution or mayoral proclamation following the declaration of a state of local emergency related to a natural or man-made disaster

The second reading will be held on April 12

∫ U S Coast Guard Chief Boatswain Mate Tim Owen presented the council with the retired Sanibel Lighthouse lens He reported that the agency has installed a new LED beacon as its replacement.

Sanibel City Councilmember Mike Miller is sworn in as vice mayor at the March 21 meeting

PHOTOS PROVIDED

Sanibel City Councilmember Richard Johnson is sworn in as mayor at the March 21 meeting.

PreserVInG ParadIse

Giant African land snail quarantine

On March 16, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and its Division of Plant Industry announced that a quarantine has been established in specific areas of Lee County in response to previously detected giant African land snails

The department reported that under the quarantine, it is unlawful to move a snail or regulated article, including, but not limited to, plants, plant parts, plants in soil, soil, yard waste, debris, compost or building materials, within, through or from the quarantine area without a compliance agreement

In December, a detection of giant African land snails was confirmed in Lee, prompting required increased survey and voluntary treatment in the area Continued survey resulted in an increase in the number of snails found dead and alive requiring the department to enact the quarantine

established in county

The quarantine is in place starting at the inlet of Billy Creek at the Caloosahatchee River

The department will continue to use the same treatment methodology for the pest, which is a metaldehyde-based molluscicide (snail bait) and is approved for residential use

The giant African land snail is one of the most damaging snails in the world, consuming at least 500 different types of plants They could be devastating to Florida agriculture and natural areas as they cause extensive damage to tropical and subtropical environments The snails also pose a serious health risk to humans by carrying parasite rat lungworm, known to cause meningitis in humans They are illegal to import or possess in the United States without a permit

For more information, visit FDACS gov/GALS

cycle of the giant African land snail.

Biannual monitoring of Sanibel rice rat begins

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that twice per year, staff assess the population status of the endemic Sanibel rice rat a state-threatened rat species found only on Sanibel

Historically, they were known to occur in vast cordgrass swales that were once widespread

“These habitats, like others on S a n i b e l , a r e b e i n g l o s t t o t h e encroachment of hardwoods caused by human-induced changes to the island’s hydrology and natural fire regime,” SCCF wildlife biologist Mike Mills said “Lack of fire has

caused a reduction in open grassy swales that several species, like the Sanibel rice rat, Florida chicken turtle, and various wading birds depend on ”

The SCCF reported that staff monitor several remaining swales using motion-activated cameras and specially designed traps called Hunt traps The baited traps take a photo of the rat next to a measuring tape and allow rats to move in and out freely, without any stress caused by capture

Trapping occurs biannually in March and November to determine the presence and abundance of

Sanibel rice rats and hispid cotton rats

“Long-term monitoring of this rare and state-protected rice rat species, as well as other species such as frogs and aquatic macro-invertebrates, helps us to gauge the health of the swale and the effects of any hydrological changes in the Sanibel River,” Mills said “The upcoming monitoring season will be important as we assess the effects of Hurricane Ian, which caused saltwater inundation of the island’s freshwater wetlands The drastic increase in salinity in these areas will undoubtedly affect many species ”

Coastal Watch thanks volunteer crews

Coastal Watch extended its g r a t i t u d e t o r e c e n t v o l u n t e e r groups from Santa Fe College and Cape Christian The Santa F e C o l l e g e s t u d e n t s v i s i t e d Sanibel on an alternative spring break based around volunteering They potted hundreds of mangroves for future shoreline r e s t o r a t i o n e f f o r t s . T h e C a p e

Christian group helped rake up dead, mucky grass at the Bailey H o m e s t e a d o n S a n i b e l a n d loaded it into a dump truck Coastal Watch is part of 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 family

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

S e c r e t a r y o f t h e F l o r i d a D e p a r t m e n t o f Environmental Protection Shawn Hamilton, l e f t , w i t h 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 Chief Executive Officer James Evans.

State leaders hear from SCCF on red tide

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that senior staff met with state leaders on March 14 to discuss red tide and what actions need to be taken The group included Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Shawn H

Thomas Eason and South Florida Water Management District Governing Board Chairman Chauncey Goss They learned about the SCCF's water quality monitoring and red tide research and discussed the importance of decreasing nutrient pollution, equitable water management, and sending more water south to the Everglades

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION Cape Christian church group.

Isl and lIVInG

SPD releases weekly blotter

As Sanibel continues to recover from Hurricane Ian, the Sanibel Police Department is committed to keeping the community safe and secure To support that effort, a weekly police blotter will be issued on Tuesday that will include real time information about law enforcement response to criminal activity

Arrests

∫ Andrew A Feher, 45, of 9658 Kasamar Circle, Fort Myers, was charged on March 21 with DUI unlawful blood alcohol DUI influence of alcohol or drugs and resist officer obstruct without violence

∫ James Kevin Walters, 61, of 2112 W Columbia Court, Mequon, Wisconsin, was charged on March 16 with DUI unlawful blood alcohol DUI influence of alcohol or drugs

Other enforcement actions

∫ On March 14, a traffic stop resulted in the driver being issued a citation for speeding and a criminal citation for operating a vehicle without a driver's license The vehicle was removed from the scene

∫ On March 17, a traffic stop resulted in the driver being issued a citation for speeding and a criminal citation for operating a vehicle without a driver's license The vehicle was towed from the scene

∫ On March 20, officers safely relocated a 3-foot alligator from a community pool.

∫ Officers continue to respond to calls concerning illegal dumping

∫ 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 March 14-20:

∫ Alarm calls (business and residential): 8

∫ 911 non-emergency calls: 43

∫ Traffic crashes: 2

∫ Traffic stops: 55 Citations issued: 23 Written warnings issued: 2

∫ Field interviews: 0

∫ Residential area checks: 974

∫ Business area checks: 468

∫ Total area checks: 1,855

∫ Reported burglaries: 1

∫ Reported thefts: 0

∫ Total CAD calls: 2,243 March 2023 to date:

∫ Alarm calls (business and residential): 16

∫ Non-emergency calls: 156

∫ Traffic crashes: 5

∫ Traffic stops: 113 Citations issued: 44

Written warnings issued: 17

∫ Field interviews: 2

∫ Residential area checks: 2,068

∫ Business area checks: 1,181

∫ Total area checks: 4,273

∫ Reported burglaries: 2

∫ Reported thefts: 3

∫ Total CAD calls: 5,294

Impor tant reminders

Updated information on the Sanibel Boat Ramp:

∫ The boat ramp is open to permit holders on weekdays, weekends and holidays

∫ The boat ramp is open to the public (non-permit

See BLOTTER, page 16

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 Library Foundation, the Sanibel Public Library has launched a series of virtual author talks to include bestselling authors and thought leaders

The next lecture will be held on April 4 at 7 p m and will feature New York Times bestselling cartoonist Kate Beaton, the author of “Hark! A Vagrant” and “Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands ”

Beaton was born and raised in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada After graduating from Mount Allison University with a double degree in history and anthropology, she moved to Alberta in search of work that would allow her to pay down her student loans During the years she spent out west, Beaton began creati n g w e b c o m i c s u n d e r t h e n a m e “ H a r k ! A Vagrant ” The collections of her landmark strip “Hark! A Vagrant” and “Step Aside, Pops” each spent several months on the New York Times graphic novel bestseller list, as well as appearing on best of the year lists from Time, The Washington Post, Vulture and NPR Books, and winning the Eisner, Ignatz, Harvey, and Doug Wright Awards. Beaton has also published the picture books “King Baby” and “The Princess and the Pony ”

A question-and-answer session with the author will follow

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 https://libraryc org/sanlib/upcoming

The library is offering some programs for adults and youths

On April 1 from 11 a m to 3 p m , patrons can assemble Easter baskets at “Build-a-Basket” that will be donated to F I S H of Sanibel-Captiva In addition, the library is collecting donations for the baskets.

In addition, stop by the library during March to see

World War II models made by Shaffer The collection includes 19 planes, seven tanks, a Jeep and three soldiers plus a bull terrier

As the library continues to recover from the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, staff is working to update the library's records, including books checked out prior to the storm Patrons can help the library update their records by sharing the status of their borrowed items that are possibly lost. At this time, there are no fines for late or lost items For more information, contact 239472-2483 or notices@sanlib org

The Sanibel Public Library is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a m to 5 p m

For more information, call 239-472-2483 or visit www sanlib org

The Sanibel Public Library is at 770 Dunlop Road, Sanibel

Island events planned for On the Table SWFL

The community has an opportunity to engage in conversations with others to generate ideas to create a m o r e s u s t a i n a b l e a n d v i b r a n t Southwest Florida through On the T a b l e S W F L O r g a n i z e d b y C o l l a b o r a t o r y , t h e C o m m u n i t y Foundation of Collier County and Charlotte Community Foundation, the regional civic engagement conversations will be held on March 30

As of March 23, the following On

the Table SWFL events were scheduled on Sanibel-Captiva:

∫ Sanibel Community Park, at 2231 Periwinkle Way Sanibel, from 8 to 9 a m

∫ F I S H of Sanibel-Captiva, at 2430 Periwinkle Way Sanibel, from 9 to 9:45 a m

∫ Bailey Homestead Pavilion, at 1300 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, from 10 to 11 a m

∫ Community Network, at 2430

Periwinkle Way Sanibel, from 10 to 11 a m

∫ Sanibel-Captiva Conservation

F o u n d a t i o n , a t 1 6 4 8 P e r i w i n k l e Way, Suite B, Sanibel, from 10 to 11 a m

∫ Sanibel Deli & Coffee Factory, at 2330 Palm Ridge Road, Sanibel, from 2 to 3 p m

To join an event or for more inform a t i o n , v i s i t o n t h e t a b l e s w f l c o m /join

Citizens for a Resilient Future opens survey for islands

In collaboration with the city of Sanibel, the newly formed SanCap Citizens for a Resilient Future hosted a community event, “Emerging from Hurricane Ian: Stronger & More Resilient,” on March 9

It featured a keynote address from Sanibel's first mayor, Porter Goss, community stories about Hurricane

Ian experiences, and conversations about the need for resiliency into the future Also, an interactive survey tool was used to gather community data about impacts from the storm, concerns about Sanibel's future, and w

To watch a recording of the event, v i s i t h t t p s : / / w w w f a c e b o o k c o m / watch/live/?ref=watch permalink&v =8862576847116888.

SANIBEL PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Sanibel Public Library will host a virtual author talk on April 4 with Kate Beaton.

sPOrts

Survey open for Bicycle Friendly Community

In 2018, the city of Sanibel was awarded Gold status as a Bicycle Friendly Community. It recently reapplied for the Bicycle Friendly Community status from the League of American Bicyclists

The city reported that the league seeks input to gain a better understanding of local bicyclists' experiences on Sanibel Open to anyone familiar with bicycling on the island, a brief survey is meant to provide context for the

review team's decision-making process, as well as feedback for the city.

The survey will remain open through April 5

To take the survey, visit https://www surveymonkey com/r/BFC Spring23

For more information, contact the Public Works Department at sanpw@mysanibel com

Dunes to regrass course with drought-tolerate turfgrass

The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club on Sanibel recently announced a project to completely regrass the tees, fairways and roughs of the 18-hole championship course from Bermuda to Paspalum turfgrass

Known as the most versatile species of warm season grass, Paspalum is able to tolerate drought conditions, as well as elevated salinity levels that can destroy other turfgrass, according to the club

“Following the devastation of Hurricane Ian, our Bermuda greens were badly damaged from floodwaters and would have required nearly the same duration of time to repair as they

Monthly water sample results

will have to be completely regrassed with a superior playing surface,”

General Manager Brian Kautz said

The club reported that with water conservation and water quality issues of importance on Sanibel, Paspalum can be irrigated with recycled water or water with high salt content, not just potable water

“Our ownership is committed to investing in every aspect of the club, be it high-quality performance Paspalum grass, environmentallysound groundskeeping processes or elegant dining spaces with the finest, locally sourced ingredients on the menu,” he said

While regrassing is often done in phases, the Dunes will transition the course immediately as it reimagines the club's dining room and tennis and pickleball complex following the hurricane

The club is scheduled to reopen on Oct 1

“The Dunes will reopen dining, tennis, pickleball and the pool area as repairs warrant,” Kautz said For more information, visit DunesGolfSanibel com or call 239472-3355

Part of The Inns of Sanibel, The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club is at at 949 Sand Castle Road, Sanibel

LOSOM delayed for examination of red tide impact

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that the U S Army Corps of Engineers recently announced there would be a delay in the implementation of the Lake Okeechobee Systems Operating Manual (LOSOM), the updated guidance document for water releases from Lake Okeechobee

LOSOM was planned to begin operation after the issuance of a Record of Decision in June However, the National Marine Fisheries Service, which is responsible for submitting a Biological Opinion, has determined that a formal consultation is necessary, delaying submission by 135 days It stated that this is necessary to fully examine the effects the new water management regime could have on exacerbating red tide, and how that may impact endangered sea turtles

With the new timeline, the Corps expects LOSOM to be operational in December

“SCCF has been intricately involved throughout the LOSOM process While it’s unfortunate that LOSOM implementation has been delayed, we’re glad the potential impacts on red tide are being evaluated,” Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis said, adding that the SCCF submitted comments on LOSOM asking for a deeper evaluation of red tide “With the announcement of a full Biological Opinion, SCCF is joining other conservation partners to call for the evaluation of potential impacts to sea turtles and the endangered smalltooth sawfish ”

Refuge welcomes cleanup crews

The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge reported that last week, the J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel tackled the muck, debris, and other hurricane destruction at the Bailey Tract. It thanked the 60 volunteers students and chaperones from Marquette High School in St Louis, Missouri who worked through Keep Lee County Beautiful for their service project The DDWS noted that the ongoing cleanup at the Bailey Tract involves hard work and heavy lifting removing furniture and lots of other household wash-up from the storm's flood A Refuge Cleanup with a R

Participation is limited; preregistration is required at DingDarling Eventbrite com

REFUGE/DDWS

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

CALUSA WATERKEEPER

Blotter From page 14

holders) on weekdays that are not holidays for a $40 daily fee

∫ There is no beach access at the Sanibel Boat Ramp at this time.

∫ Commercial use of the boat ramp is prohibited

∫ Fines for violations at the boat ramp are $250 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

Additional beach park facilities are open to the public For more information

o n S a n i b e l b e a c h e s , v i s i t 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 nm e n t / p u b l i c - w o r k s - d e p a r t m e n t / u s e f u llinks/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 any photos of solicitation hang tags to police@mysanibel.com or use Tip411

Repor ting suspicious activity

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

∫ Text the keyword SANIBEL then

Obituaries

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 g roup id=22450.

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

The SPD's non-emergency line is 239472-3111

F i n d t h e S P D o n F a c e b o o k a t https://www facebook com/SanibelPolice

Refuge retains artist for new season

The J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge began its artist-in-residence program in 2019 as part of a 75th anniversary celebration, with plans to continue in years to follow For its 2023-24 season, it with support from the “Ding” Darling Wildlife SocietyFriends of the Refuge will hold over award-winning Miami artist Jacqueline Roch due to Hurricane Ian's interruption of her 2022-23 term

Born in California and raised on Miami Beach, Roch t e r m s h e r s t y l e a s “ t r o p i c a l r e a l i s m ” K n o w n a s “Jacqui” to her friends, her greatest local inspiration had been the Everglades and Big Cypress National

Preserve, where Roch spends much of her time painting plein air She has found inspiration, too, at the Sanibel refuge.

“I am so thrilled to be able to call myself artist-inresidence at this wonderful, natural oasis,” Roch said “It's like getting the backstage pass to meet your favorite band You really get to immerse yourself in a space that may sometimes be off limits to most and, even better, you meet the people who live and work so hard to maintain the space and help the refuge recover post-hurricane ”

Her fine art pastels capture Florida's natural beauty from River of Grass panoramas, to detailed portraits of flowers and seashells Roch considers pastels her passion, and she works primarily in the medium to create collectible one-of-a-kind works

W i t h a b a c k g r o u n d i n a r t e d u c a t i o n f r o m t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f M i a m i a n d F l o r i d a I n t e r n a t i o n a l University, Roch has been teaching art since 1992, starting with the Miami-Dade County Public Schools She currently teaches at the Bakehouse Art Complex in Miami Recently, Roch won awards at the Coconut Grove Arts festival in Miami: second place in 2022 and bronze in 2023

She stepped into her role as the refuge's artist-in-residence in April at the “Ding” Darling Day Conservation Carnival at Lakes Park in Fort Myers. Throughout the following months, Roch held programs at the refuge and in the community Shortly before Ian struck on Sept 28, she mounted an exhibition of her refugeinspired work in the Visitor & Education Center Luckily, all her paintings were safely relocated and protected when the hurricane blew through Roch will continue her workshops and indoor and plein-air demonstrations at the refuge and for outreach programs, including tat this year's “Ding” Darling Day Conservation Carnival on April 22 at Lakes Park in Fort Myers

“Our refuge was created by conservation artist Jay Norwood 'Ding' Darling in 1945, so our artist-in-resid

“Darling created the Federal Duck Stamp program and

designed the first duck stamp and the refuge system's Blue Goose logo He won the Pulitzer Prize twice for his political cartoons, which were syndicated across the country throughout the 1920s and five decades ”

The artist-in-residence program began with Idaho wildlife journal artist Ed Anderson, who worked with children from the Quality Life Center of Southwest Florida in Fort Myers and Pace Center for Girls, Lee, along with visitors to the refuge for his programs and exhibition Sanibel artist Rachel Pierce continued the tradition, creating a community mural at the refuge with the help and hands of residents and visitors of all ages

The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is at 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel

JACQUELINE ROCH

JACQUELINE ROCH

Sanibel Sea School resumes guided beach walks

The Sanibel Sea School has partnered with the Island Inn to offer weekly guided b e a c h w a l k s T a k i n g p l a c e o n Wednesdays from 9 to 10:30 a m , they start and end on the Gulfside of Matthews Lodge

The first walk took place on March 15 with 12 participants

“A slight drizzle didn’t stop us from exploring what’s washed ashore. There were many interesting finds, including whole sand dollar skeletons, a molt from an iridescent swimming crab, and an alphabet cone,” marine science educator Joey Garofano said “To top it off, a pod

of dolphins swam by as we finished our walk ”

O n t h e c a u s a l w a l k s , S a n i b e l S e a School marine science educators dive d e e p i n t o t h e b i o l o g y o f m y s t e r i o u s objects on the beach The group looks for fascinating animals and identifies shells along the way The walks also offer an opportunity for world-class shelling, birding, and wildlife watching.

They are free for Island Inn guests and $20 per person for the public

For more information or to register, visit https://www sanibelseaschool org/at yourresort

Junonia found on Sanibel

Johnnie Ennis, of Fort Myers, found a junonia on March 19 at Bowman's Beach on Sanibel He and his girlfriend, Andrée Sanquini, headed to the beach early and were shelling for about three hours when Ennis saw the prized shell rolling in the surf Sanquini reported that he was shocked and excited at the same time and quickly snatched it up before the surf took it back Ennis reloc a t e d t o t h e a r e a l a s t y e a r f r o m

Huntington, Long Island. She added that he has been shelling for years and always joked about wanting to find the prized junonia With Sanibel's beaches closed because of Hurricane Ian, it was t h e i r s e c o n d t i m e b a c k s i n c e t h e y reopened Sanquini added that they are earlier riser shellers and try to be the first ones on the beach To report a shell find, contact 239-472-1587 or trepecki@breezenewspapers com

WoW beginning to wrap up school year

The “Ding” Darling Wildlife 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 l l o w i n g S p r i n g Break for local schools last week, the J N “Ding” Darling National 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 Wheels headed to Title I Sunshine Elementary in Lehigh Acres on March 27 for a four-week stay

It will wind up the school year with Lehigh Senior High on April 24-28

U r b a n E d u c a t i o n L e a d e r Melissa Maher is currently schedu l i n g s u m m e r c a m p s f o r o n c e school is out

In addition, educators at local Title I schools continue to rave a b o u t t h e e f f e c t i v e n e s s o f t h e refuge's WoW in helping their students become excited about and engaged and invested in nature.

R e c e n t l y , G W e a v e r H i p p s

Elementary Science Coach Monica Glewa sent a thank-you letter after the WoW's first visit: “Each grade level that participated had their own standards-based lesson that was on-point The lesson mixed content with heart Helping our students to understand content is obviously important, however, helping

Pacifico raises $6K for SCCF

In December and January, every 12-pack of Pacifico beer sold in Lee, Charlotte, and Collier counties included a $1 donation to the SanibelCaptiva Conservation Foundation The proceeds from the campaign were presented to the SCCF on March 15 at the Bailey Homestead on Sanibel The SCCF reported that the funds will help it in its continued Hurricane Ian recovery and rebuilding efforts

them to understand the ‘why’ we need to care is just as important ”

The public can experience the WoW for free on April 22 to celeb r a t e “ D i n g ” D a r l i n g D a y a n d Earth Day at Lakes Park in Fort Myers

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 e f f o r t s , v i s i t https://interland3 donorperfect net/ weblink/WebLink aspx?name=E5 4182&id=12

SANIBEL SEA SCHOOL

PHOTO PROVIDED

Isl and HOMe islander

PHOTO PROVIDED

Cycadophyta are ancient plants

Cycadophyta, or cycads, are an ancient group of tropical and subtropical plants dating back more than 200 million years ago, from the time of the dinosaur age! While they dominated the landscape then, they are now becoming endangered Often mistaken for palms, cycads are gymnosperms (naked seeded), meaning their u n f e r t i l i z e d s e e d s a r e open to the air to be directly fertilized by poll i n a t i o n T h e l e a v e s grow directly from the trunk and fall off as the p l a n t a g e s , l e a v i n g a crown of leaves at the top. Research shows there may be over 200 species of cycads and more are still being discovered

While there are hundreds of different species of cycads, there is one type the dioon (Dioon Edule) that does well in Zones 8 to 11 This cycad has stiff upright leaves that are almost blue-green in color While the leaves look feathery in appearance, they are actually rather spiny The dioon is a good alternative for the popular sago palms that were planted for decades, but which are very susceptible to scale This plant can produce multiple trunks and can grow up to 8 feet tall, though it is very slow growing. The plant can work well as a specimen or a more architectural background plant and lends a modern edge in the landscape compared to the older varieties of sago

Cycads are great for beginner gardeners as they are very easy to maintain It is a very hardy, slow growing evergreen and can be grown indoors or outdoors They are not picky about the type of soil they are planted in, but the soil should be kept moist and not overwatered The most important thing to remember is to make sure they have adequate drainage as they will not thrive in very wet soil This type of dioon prefers full sun to partial shade, and its high tolerance for salt makes it a perfect fit for our island environment Enjoy this ancient plant in your landscape

In The Garden is a joint effort by all at the local garden center, at 3889 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel For more information, contact 239-395-5859 or visit www facebook com/rswalshinthegarden

Horticulture, vegetation waste collection resumes

The city of Sanibel reported that Waste Management resumed the collection of horticulture and vegetation waste on March 20 It is the resumption of services that it provided prior to Hurricane Ian

The city added that vegetation or horticulture waste should be set out on the day of one's typical horticulture-

plover, but there is another nesting plover species that you may find right outside your front door the killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) Killdeer get their name from their distinct call that sounds like their

See KILLDEER, page 23

City

The city of Sanibel's Vegetation Committee will offer a guided native vegetation and landscaping tour on April 1 at 9 a m of the City Hall grounds, which is planted exclusively with native plants Walk the grounds for ideas on

requires

plant

garden that reseeds itself with

very little maintenance, is good for the environment and will attract birds and butterflies Vegetation

Sanibel Captiva

Recipe of the Week:

Pineapple Walnut Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

By CHEF LORETTA PAGANINI

A delicious pineapple dessert that is easy to prepare and perfect to enjoy at any time from breakfast to an afternoon snack or even as an after-dinner dessert. This recipe was shared by my friend, Andrea, who works with me at the cooking school It is a very special recipe since it was her mother's favorite I like to make it and give it to as a hostess gift It can be made ahead and kept in the freezer for a few weeks (Chef tip: For extra delicious flavor, it can be made with fresh ripe pineapple )

2 large eggs

2 cups granulated sugar

2 cups AP flour

1 20-ounce can crushed pineapple with heavy syrup

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

1/8 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts

For garnish: Crushed walnuts

BIG ARTS Calendar

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

Workshop

The Story of Your with Barbara Freeman today, March 29, from 10 a m to 1 p m at BIG ARTS Cost is $39 for

donors and $48 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 29

Speaker Series at 1 p m

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 shorebird biologist Audrey Albrecht will present “Status of Birds

Following Hurricane Ian” via Zoom She will discuss the impacts of Hurricane Ian on the birds themselves and their habitat, focusing primarily on shorebirds and nest-

ing bald eagles Cost is free or by donation To register, visit https://www event b r i t e c o m / o / c l i n i c - f o r - t h e - r e h a b i l i t a t i o nof-wildlife-crow-32068914951

C R O W h a s r e o p e n e d i t s V i s i t o r Education Center and gift shop Currently, admission is free.

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

Power of working together for greater good

Recently, I read an article related to how one city has been able to cut homicides in half For the past 1 5 y e a r s O m a h a , Nebraska, has implemente d a p l a n c a l l e d O m a h a 3 6 0 T h e p l a n i n c l u d e d participation from nonprofit organizations, neighborh o o d a s s o c i a t i o n s , f a i t h communities, and local law e n f o r c e m e n t T h e d e p u t y chief of the Omaha police d e p a r t m e n t i s q u o t e d a s saying “empowerment networking is the hub because it kind of pulls together these organizations that by themselves tend not to stay connected ” Omaha 360’s s t r a t e g y i s c o l l a b o r a t i o n , p r e v e n t i o n , i n s t r u c t i o n , e n f o r c e m e n t , reentry, and support services What a wonderful example of working together for the greater good.

Rev. Larry L. Marshall Faces on Faith

Preheat oven 350 degrees F Prepare a 9-by-13 baking pan by greasing it with butter and flour.

Cream together sugar and eggs Add vanilla and pineapple with the heavy syrup

In a bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, and salt

Add flour mixture to egg mixture until incorporated Do not over mix Fold in walnuts

Pour batter into prepared pan

Bake until golden brown and spongy firmness in center, approximately 30-35 minutes

Cream cheese frosting:

1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened

4 ounces unsalted butter (1 stick), softened

1 cup powdered sugar (can use more if needed)

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Whip cream cheese and softened butter together, then add powder sugar and vanilla extract until frosting is creamy and smooth Spread frosting over cooled pineapple cake Garnish with crushed walnuts Place cake in refrigerator to chill Serve cold

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 Sanctuary. Sunday service at 4 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/

people have been fatally shot in our country. Most weeks the media is reporting another mass shooting Leaders in local, state and federal governments struggle to work together on this issue

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

This article lifted my spirit because of recent trends; already more than 6,000

Unfortunately, we also hear too often of faithbased organizations that c a n n o t s e e m t o w o r k t o g e t h e r f o r t h e g r e a t e r g o o d . T h e a p o s t l e P a u l had to deal with leaders in the church at Corinth who quarreled over who was in charge In Chapter 3, Paul outlines what he believes constitutes a thriving faith community Paul says “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow So, neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who makes it grow. The one who plants and the one waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded

∫ 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

according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service, you are G o d ’ s f i e l d , G o d ’ s b u i l d i n g ” ( 1 Corinthians 3:5-9)

Whatever the challenges in our comm u n a l l i f e , w o r k i n g t o g e t h e r f o r t h e common good produces the best results Cooperation and collaboration, the open exchange of ideas, kindness and gentleness in our responses, listening to each

other; all this brings about results that are God-honoring and effective As we all work to restore our homes, businesses and faith communities on our beloved i s l a n d s , m a y G o d g u i d e u s t o w o r k together for the common good

at the Captiva Chapel by the Sea

The Rev. Larry L. Marshall is the pastor

Loretta Paganini

islandBeat islander

“Styled Steel: The Art of Automotive Design” is on display now through April 29 in the Shell Point Gallery at the Tribby Arts Center, at 17281 On Par Blvd , Fort Myers. It features works by Southwest Florida photographer Don Adams, watercolorist Shah Hadjebi, and miniaturist Alberto Chailosky

A retired executive of The Henry Ford Museum, Adams is displaying 32 photos of automobile details His images highlight iconic automotive design elements as seen on a wide variety of classic cars, from those of yesterday to modern day For the exhibit, he also developed a video presentation that presents automotive designs

from 1940 to 2020

Painting realistic images of classic and antique cars is one of Hadjebi's passions He is displaying 18 watercolors showing classic automobiles, from Model T (190827) and Model A (1927-31) vehicles to acknowledged stunners of more recent years, including Corvette, Alfa Romeo, Porsche, and Lotus Chailosky served for 11 years as a set designer in New York City for various Broadway shows and Saturday

Shell Point to present concer t

The Shell Point Retirement Community will present “Live in Central Park (Revisited): Simon and Garfunkel” on April 3-4 at 7 p.m. on the Connie Brown Hall Stage at the Tribby Arts Center, at 17281 On Par Blvd , Fort Myers It is a re-creation of the iconic 1981 reunion concert featuring awardwinning recording artists Lee Lessack and Johnny Rodgers They will perform all the masterpieces heard on the night that half a million people gathered in Central Park to witness musical history Tickets are $55 For more information or tickets, visit https://www tribbyartscenter com/ or call 239-4155667

Night Live He created three miniatures portraying gasstation culture of a past era, including “Texaco Gas Pumps,” “Mohawk Gas Station,” and “Sinclair Gas Station” all depicted as rusted versions of what they once were

In addition, the second-floor galleries of the Tribby display paintings of Anita Putnam, nature photography by Sallie Rich, and Nantucket baskets by Carolyn Wood, all of Fort Myers.

The galleries are open for free from 10 a m to 3 p m Tuesday through Saturday

1551 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel PETER REDPATH 5:30 to 8:30 p m

DANNY MORGAN AND JOHN McLANE 5:30 to 8:30 p m

DANNY MORGAN 5:30 to 8:30 p m PETER REDPATH 5:30 to 8:30 p m

JOHN McLANE 5:30 to 8:30 p m

DANNY MORGAN 5:30 to 8:30 p m

Cielo, 1244 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel SCOTT McDONALD 5 to 8:30 p m

SCOTT McDONALD 5 to 8:30 p m

SCOTT McDONALD 5 to 8:30 p m

SCOTT McDONALD 5 to 8:30 p.m.

SCOTT McDONALD 5 to 8:30 p m

SHELL POINT RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

ALBERTO CHAILOSKY

‘Styled Steel’ exhibit open at Shell Point’s Tribby center

DON ADAMS SHAH HABJEBI

F.I.S.H. donates to Sanibel fire crews

Killdeer

From page 20

name a shrill, high-pitched “kill-deer.”

They are visually striking, with tan-brown and white plumage, two black bands across their chests, and bright orange eye rings This plover species can be found year-round in Florida and across most of the United States, Central America, and the Caribbean Killdeer can be found near water along with other shorebirds, as well as in dry areas

“Due to Hurricane Ian, some killdeer may have been displaced from their original nesting areas on the island, and we've seen nesting pairs popping up in new places,” Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation shorebird technician Aaron White said “Interestingly, these birds have no problem nesting in close proximity to humans they prefer open fields

including but not limited to athletic fields, l a w n s , d r i v e w a y s , a i r p o r t s , a n d g o l f courses ”

Like other plovers, killdeer dig shallow depressions called scrapes, in which they lay four to six light brown and black speckled eggs When they sense a threat to their eggs, they may begin loudly calling and bobbing up and down or pretend to be injured in attempt to lure predators away from the nest called a “broken wing display” If you witness either of these behaviors, there may be a killdeer nest near you, so watch your step

If you suspect killdeer are nesting near you on Sanibel or Captiva, keep your distance and contact the SCCF at shorebirds@sccf org

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

Killdeer sprawl out their wings and tail to appear injured so potential predators will pursue them instead of their eggs

The Sanibel Fire and Rescue District recently thanked F I S H of Sanibel-Captiva for donating a grill for the fire crews at Station 171, at 2351 Palm Ridge Road, Sanibel SANIBEL FIRE AND RESCUE DISTRICT

Contractors

Tree Service