Sanibel Island Reporter/Islander

DeBruce to serve on ci ty council

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

The sole candidate to qualify for the city of Sanibel's Special Election in May, Laura DeBruce has been elected unopposed to serve out the remainder of f o r m e r C i t y C o u n c i l m e m b e r Dr Scott Crater's term

The qualifying period opened on M a r c h 2 5 a n d closed on March 29 at noon

“It is a great honor,” she said of taking up the seat on the dais “I have great regard and admiration for Scott Crater and the others on the city council ”

“I am overwhelmed by the amount of resilience that this island and islanders

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

A coalition seeking to maintain the longtime building height and density limitations on Captiva recently hosted a community gathering where it premiered a video about its efforts and gave a legal update.

On March 27, Protect Captiva the group established by citizens and organizations oppos ed to increas ed building heights and density on the island hosted the event at the Captiva Civic Center on Captiva About 120 people were in attendance for the update and release of the six-minute video

“The video chronicles why the Protect C a p t i v a c o a l i t i o n c a m e i n t o e

within the historical context of Sanibel and Captiva,” the group said “It also features comments made by the Lee County commissioners during hearings and meet-

Web Po ll

Previous Web Poll Question

Did you attend the Sanibel Shell Festival or Sanibel Shell Show?

∫ Yes, both events, 12%

∫ Yes, just the festival, 24%

∫ Yes, just the show, 24%

∫ No, did not attend, 40%

Current Web Poll Question

What do you think of the Presidential Preference Primary results for Florida?

∫ Expected it

∫ Did not expect it. Share your opinion at captivasanibel com

Massive victory made for Florida conservation

By ‘DING’ DARLING WILDLIFE SOCIETY-FRIENDS OF THE REFUGE

And when we say massive, we’re talking 4 million acres and a forever legacy to man and beast

On March 11, Florida and the entire U S Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) rejoiced with the final approval of the Everglades to Gulf Conservation Area, a wildlife corridor years in the planning The 571st FWS unit, it brought celebration and a new memorial plaque at the Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge in Sebastian, the nation’s first national wildlife

Guest Commentary

Taxpayers urged to protect themselves this tax season

By IRS CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

IRS Criminal Investigation (CI) dedicates 70% of its time and resources to investigating tax crimes that include questionable refund schemes, return preparer fraud, abusive tax schemes and more This tax season, CI is cracking down on schemes that victimize U S taxpayers

“Tax crimes surge during filing season because criminals steal unknowing taxpayers’ information, hack into the servers of CPA firms and tax preparation services and victimize unsuspecting taxpayers with the false promise of huge tax refunds,” CI Chief Jim Lee said

In fiscal year 2023 alone, CI initiated 1,409 tax crime investigations and identified $5 5 billion in tax fraud. Six hundred fifty-five defendants were sentenced for tax crimes during the last fiscal year

Recent cases include:

∫ Thein Maung and his daughter, Phyo Mi, ran an elaborate tax preparation scheme from their Iowa home that involved layers of subterfuge They victimized hundreds of immigrants and refugees who worked at meat-packing facilities in Iowa by claiming fraudulent tax credits and redirecting their customers’ tax refunds to their own accounts The scheme came to an end following an investigation by CI In October, Maung and Mi were sentenced to 12 and nine years in federal prison for fraud and related tax charges

∫ Ayodele Arasokun was sentenced to 34 years in federal prison in September for orchestrating an

See TAXPAYERS, page 22

See VICTORY, page 22

‘Ding’ cartoon of the month

L o n g b e f o r e A m e r i c a n s r e a li z e d t h e i m p o rtance of conservation education

t o s a v e o u r r e s o u r c e s , J a y Norwood “Ding”

D a r l i n g w a s broadcasting the m e s s a g e T h i s circa-1928 political cartoon titled “ W h y i t s e e m s a b o u t t i m e t o begin talk of conservation” seems a good way (and time) to hail the r e f u g e ' s n a m es a k e a s w e g e t r e a d y t o u n v e i l our newest conservation educat i o n t o o l n e x t m o n t h t h e R o v i n g R a n g e r A t w o - t i m e P u l i t z e r P r i z ewinning cartoonist, Darling went on to see to the preservation of Sanibel’s wetlands and the establishment of the Sanibel National Wildlife Refuge in 1945 After his death in 1962, locals petitioned to have it renamed the J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, the first national wildlife refuge named for a person The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge owns the copyright of the “Ding” Darling cartoons

REFUGE/DDWS

CCA to host fourth, final Porch & Patio event

By TIFFANY REPECKI

trepecki@breezenewspapers com

Reservations are open for the Captiva Civic Association's last Porch & Patio of the season

The Porch & Patio Aloha Party will take place on April 4 from 5 to 7 p m outd o o r s o n t h e p o r c h a n d p a t i o a t t h e Captiva Civic Center on Captiva. Free and open to the public, the casual cocktail party will feature live music, bar refresh-

CIYC presents free program on microplastic pollution

The Captiva Island Yacht Club annually hosts a boaters' awareness program focusing on safety, environmental awareness and the preservation of aquatic habitats that is free and open to the public On Feb 16, its Environmental Committee presented “Microplastic Pollution” at the Captiva facility

The CIYC reported that three local experts addressed different aspects of the issue

Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis discussed the current state of legislation to combat microplastic pollution at the federal, state and local levels He noted that more stringent limits need to be set, especially on large corporate offenders. Also much more international collaboration will be required to address the issue

J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge Urban

See CIYC, page 7

ments and light fare, along with a chance for the community to connect

“The Porch & Patio series is designed to bring the community together,” CCA Executive Director Emily Hess Ankerson said of the seasonal offering “It's a social event and is open to the community ”

The Aloha Party theme will serve as the perfect send-off to close and celebrate the season

See CCA, page 7

County library system offering virtual programs

T h e L e e C o u n t y L i b r a r y S y s t e m , which includes the Captiva Memorial Library, is offering the following free virtual programming:

Adult programs

∫ April 9: Online Time Saving Apps for Busy Genealogists from 10 to 11:30 a m

Learn about helpful apps and tools that will make it easier to manage research, scan photos, handle society meetings and conquer never-ending to-do lists The session will include a broad review of online tools, as well as apps for Android and iPhone/iPad platforms Registration is required before April 8 at 8 p m

∫ April 9: Online Author Event with Colum McCann and Diane Foley from 2 to 3 p m

A o n e - o f - a - k i n d c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h New York Times bestselling author and N a t i o n a l B o o k A w a r d w i n n e r C o l u m

McCann as he is joined by Diane Foley, the inspiration behind the heartrending book “American Mother ” Registration is required

Download books, stream video and other online content at www leelibrary net

The Captiva library is open on Mondays through Fridays from 10 a m to 12:30 p m and 1 to 4 p m

For more information, call 239-5334890

The Captiva Memorial Library is at 11560 Chapin Lane, Captiva

Captiva Public Meetings

District meeting at 1 p m via Zoom For more information or the agenda, visit mycepd com

∫ April 9: Captiva Community Panel meeting at 9 a m via Zoom For more information or the agenda, visit captivacommunitypanel com

CAPTIVA CIVIC ASSOCIATION

The Captiva Civic Association will host its last Porch & Patio of the season on April 4 from 5 to 7 p m at the Captiva Civic Center on Captiva

ISLAND YACHT CLUB

CCA

From page 6

“In Hawaiian tradition, aloha can be a welcome or a farewell,” she said Hawaiian-themed attire is encouraged but not required

“Hawaiian shirts or sundresses or tropical clothing,” Ankerson said.

Catering by Leslie Adams will serve up hors d'oeuvres

“She knows the theme and will do something to go with our aloha party theme,” she said

There will be a donation bar with refreshments

The CCA will also hold a silent auction featuring about a dozen items

CIYC

From page 6

Education Leader Melissa Maher, w i t h t h e r e f u g e ' s W i l d l i f e o n W h e e l s m o b i l e c l a s s r o o m , a l s o spoke She used an interactive program that she developed for school students to explain the basics of the problem with microplastics in all water, including in drinking water Refuge biological science technician Avery Renshaw talked about t h e e f f e c t s o f m i c r o p l a s t i c s o n a q u a t i c p l a n t a n d a n i m a l l i f e . Studies have shown negative effects on marine animals as they ingest the plastics with their food, resulting in w e i g h t l o s s a n d d i s t u r b a n c e s t o their reproductive functions

The panel also suggested ways that the public can limit its consumption of single-use plastic

The CIYC noted that there has been little research on the effects of m i c r o p l a s t i c p a r t i c l e s o n h u m a n beings, but it is established that h u m a n s i n g e s t a n d b r e a t h e t h e minute plastics into their bodies More will no doubt be revealed as the implications from animal studies prompt further examination of t h e i m p a c t o f m i c r o p l a s t i c s o n humans

Ankerson explained that they had a lot of donations come in for the CCA's ABC Gala, which took place in February They were not able to use some of the items and others came in too late to include

“We still wanted to honor the people who donated them,” she said

“We have some antique mirrors, some unique original artwork, an antique ship's wheel,” Ankerson added, noting that auction packages will also be available “And we have a private tiki cruise ”

The proceeds will go to the CCA Foundation, which supports the CCA and other island organizations

SCAL announces winners of exhibit

The Sanibel-Captiva Art League's annual juried show opened on March 21 at the C a p t i v a C i v i c C e n t e r , a t 1 1 5 5 0 C h a p i n

Lane, Captiva Sponsored this year by the SCAL and Captiva Civic Association, the title of the exhibit is “In the Sea ” The following winners were announced: first place is Joleen Raho for “Rare Sightings-Water Nymph”; second place is Maureen Ginipro f o r “ N a u t i l u s ” ; o t h e r w i n n e r i s L y n n e Wesolowski for “Deeper”; Captiva Award is Dana Enders for “Island Time”; and Judges Award is Barb Nicholson for “Night Before a Day on the Beach ” The show will be on display through April 19 The CCA gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a m to 1 p m

CCA apparel will also be available for sale, including a new limited edition shirt featuring the ABC Gala Octopus Painting that was designed by local artist Lacy McClary

The Pfeifer Realty Group is the sponsor for this season's series

“So this is a free event for the community,” she said

While it is free, RSVPs are requested

To RSVP, visit https://ccacaptiva org/ o r t h e C a p t i v a C i v i c A s s o c i a t i o n o n Eventbrite

The community is encouraged to come out and enjoy the evening

“It's a tradition for the CCA to do an end-of-season farewell party It's in celebration of a full season and a farewell for now to our friends who go home north or to other places for the summer,” Ankerson said. “It's just a nice way to celebrate the end of the season on the islands and to gather with neighbors and other members of the community ”

For more information, visit the CCA w e b s i t e o r c o n t a c t 2 3 9 - 4 7 2 - 2 1 1 1 o r

info@ccacaptiva org

The Captiva Civic Center is at 11550 Chapin Lane, Captiva

JOLEEN RAHO

“Rare Sightings-Water Nymph”

CAPTIVA ISLAND YACHT CLUB

Attendees at the Captiva Island Yacht Club's program, “Microplastic Pollution,” on Feb. 16 participate in group projects at the Captiva facility.

discusses the

BUSINESS

Business Notes

San Cap Community Bank hires Mendez

Melissa Mendez has j o i n e d t h e S a n i b e l C a p t i v a C o m m u n i t y B a n k a s a c u s t o m e r s e r v i c e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e and teller at the Main Office on Sanibel

She is responsible for assisting customers with p e r s o n a l a n d b u s i n e s s banking transactions

M e n d e z h a s p r i o r experience in property management and is curr e n t l y e n r o l l e d a t F l o r i d a S o u t h W e s t e r n State College

THE SANIBEL CAPTIVA TRUST COMPANY

F r o m l e f t , T h e S a n i b e l C a p t i v a Tr u s t Company Sanibel-Captiva Office President J e f f M u d d e l l , S t e p h a n i e M u d d e l l a n d Olympian Rowdy Gaines

Trust Company hosts Olympian

The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company kicked off its 2024 Speaker Series on March 6 with three-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer Rowdy Gaines

The U S Olympic and International Swimming Hall of Fame member talked about his swimming days, spending time on Little Gasparilla Island as a youth and his view from the press box for the past 30 years as NBC’s swimming analyst

Gaines also gave a sneak peek at some of the names people should watch in the pool at this year’s Summer Olympic Games in Paris

SCCF study included in repor t

T h e 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 reported that the Florida Restore Act Centers of Excellence Program recently published the results of research studies funded over the past decade through civil penalties paid in connection with the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill

SCCF Coastal Wildlife Director Kelly Sloan was the lead author of a four-year study included in the publication Conducted on Sanibel, it examined the health and reproductive impacts of brevotoxin exposure on nesting loggerheads.

The SCCF is one of 10 Florida research institutions and nonprofit organizations in the Centers of Excellence program, which funds projects and activities that restore and protect the environment and economy of the Gulf Coast region

John R. Wood adds new agents

John R Wood Christie’s International Real Estate announced the addition of 23 new agents in January and February

See BUSINESS NOTES, page 10

FRLA official lauds island tourism representation in Tallahassee

The Florida tourism industry fared well in the 2024 state legislative session, thanks in part to competent representation, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association's Vice President of Government Relations and general counsel Samantha Padgett told SanCap Chamber of Commerce and FRLA members at the chamber's business luncheon on March 19 at the Sanibel Harbour Marriott Resort & Spa in Fort Myers

“I will try to be as honest and blatant as I can,” she said. “I will say you are very lucky. You are very wellrepresented in this area of the state Some of the best advocates for the tourist industry for everything you do every day to serve your community, you have the best representatives ”

Padgett presented a scorecard demonstrating the legislative passage of most FRLA-supported bills related to tourism They included increased oversee of vacation rental and food delivery platforms to protect resorts, traditional vacation rentals and restaurants

She commended the approved $80 million funding of Visit Florida and the continuation of tourist development taxes for purposes they are intended.

“It is our responsibility as business owners and as the hospitality industry to tell our elected officials why is it important to do that,” Padgett said “Why should you take money from general revenue to fund Visit Florida? Why should we protect tourist development tax and maintain funds and dedicate them to the promotion and marketing of tourism? We are the engine for Florida’s economy

We constantly need to be responsible for educating all our officials ”

“Samantha is the most engaging government relations leader we have,” chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said. “She also explained the benefits of a bill loosening employment restrictions for 16- and 17year-olds a huge help in the current difficult labor market as our island hotels and restaurants reopen We are finding that allowing young adults to work additional hours is providing opportunities to learn valuable skills and earn money while preparing for life after high school ”

He also recognized elected officials attending the luncheon, presenting Rep Adam Botana with an encased

SANCAP CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association's Vice President of Government Relations and general counsel Samantha Padgett brought SanCap Chamber of Commerce members up-tospeed on Legislature-approved bills headed to the governor's desk at their business luncheon on March 19.

brick from the Sanibel Lighthouse keepers’ buildings destroyed by Hurricane Ian and recognizing him for his role in supporting the islands’ comeback Lai also thanked outgoing chamber Board President Calli Johnson for her two years of leadership during storm recovery

COTI's keynote speaker recalls causeway reopening efforts

Just before Hurricane Ian struck, Florida Department of Transportation resident construction engineer Kati Sherrard made sure evacuation routes were clear, opening highway shoulders to heavy traffic. At that point, she worried about fleeing families' vehicle breakdowns that might clog the escape routes on I-4 and I-75 Sherrard immediately joined others in rescue vans to assist stranded motorists

But her job quickly grew post-storm, when she became the lead engineer on the temporary Sanibel Causeway reconstruction project That assignment led to weeks of living out of an RV, little sleep and complex contractor contracts to keep repair crews on the job 24/7

Sherrard's task initially looked overwhelming: five of the six causeway approaches had complete failures and two washouts on the Causeway Islands had cracked the essential connection to Sanibel

“I was the chaos coordinator,” she told attendees at the Committee of the Islands' annual meeting on March 15 at the Captiva Civic Center on Captiva

Within just a few days, Sherrard had two contractors on the job one with paving expertise and the second

See COTI, page 10

On

of the

Captiva.

COMMITTEE OF THE ISLANDS

Mayor

Melissa Mendez

Rotary accepting scholarship applications

The Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club is taking applications for several college/post secondary scholarships, as well as a trade school scholarship, for the 2024-25 school year The awards are up to $5,000 and may be renewed for up to four years, subject to maintaining at least a 3 0 GPA The club prefers applicants who live or

COTI

From page 8

with water roadway expertise Among the myriad of challenges were lack of power, lights, communications, lodging shortages, traffic control, curfews and running two shifts a day of workers

The first priority was the reconstruction of McGregor Boulevard, which suff e r e d f r o m s e a w a l l a n d p i p e f a i l u r e beneath the roadway The worst damage was attributed to the pullback of water after the storm surge, tearing out land under the road She reported that engineering decisions that normally take six to eight months were made in an hour

The damage to Island A was 800 feet wide and 8 feet deep Tide changes were an immediate challenge, resulting in the construction of rock jetties to hold back the water from instantly washing out the new repairs On Island B, the washout was 400 feet wide and 4 1/2 feet deep More steel sheets and rock jetty work had to be in place as protection from the tides On the bridge approach, material had eroded under the abutments Dredging immediately began

work regularly on the islands or whose parents live or work on the islands, but it is not required Applicants should be attending a college for an undergraduate degree or a vocational school Strong academic performance and financial need are components of the selection process The deadline for applications is April 15 For

more information or to apply, visit https://sanibelrotary org/ and click on the “Club Links” tab For questions, contact Dolly Farrell at DFarrell@sancapcfi org or Chet Sadler at Chet@sanibelrotary org

Yet, the first utility truck convoy made its way over the bridge by day seven, with Sherrard in the lead vehicle By day 15, t h e t e m p o r a r y r e p a i r j o b a l l o w e d t h e opening of the causeway. The work permitted up to 1,000 trucks a day to access the islands. By its opening, 8,200 loads of fill had arrived and 2,400 loads of rock and 4,000 tons of asphalt had been laid Sherrard affectionately became known as “boss lady” during the temporary project

As for the permanent work currently t a k i n g p l a c e , s h e e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e “marine mattresses” seen by travelers are filled with rocks and attached to the road to act as flaps that will drop down in the event of future storms to protect the roadway as pressure mounts, preventing land erosion below By the end of the project, the work is expected to cost $300 million

In honor of their accomplishments, COTI Vice President Barbara Joy Cooley presented a certificate of appreciation to Sherrard and her team during the meeting

Also, Sanibel Mayor Richard Johnson recognized her with an award on behalf of the city

In addition, outgoing COTI President Larry Schopp presented Citizen of the Y e a r A w a r d s t o C a p t i v a C o m m u n i t y Panel Vice President and Government Affairs Committee Chair David Mintz and Captiva Civic Association Treasurer and Land Use Committee Chair Lisa Riordan They are key leaders in the Protect Captiva coalition and its efforts to block overdevelopment at South Seas and on the island The two noted that the proposed resort expansion is not good for nature, air quality, traffic or evacuations

The meeting ended with the election of new board members Elected for two-year t e r m s w e r e E m i l y A n k e r s o n , J e f f Blackman, Miriam Pepper, Carl “Bud” Reinhold and Ellen Smiley Returning for a one-year term is Schopp Continuing members include Allan Antley, Barbara J o y C o o l e y , E d H o l d e n a n d W i l l i a m Millar Leaving because of term limits is Treasurer Chet Sadler

In addition, the following new officers were chosen: Millar as president; Pepper as vice president; Blackman as secretary; and Reinhold as treasurer

“As the only locally-focused watchdog organization on Sanibel, COTI plays an important role in protecting the values that motivated the city's founders 50 years ago,” Schopp said “That's an ongoing process, so we hope people will continue to support our work well into the future ”

Business Notes

From page 8

In Lee County, Peter Brancato joined

Vojnovic joined the Fort Myers Beach o f f i c e , a n d R i c k A d k i s o n , K a t h l e e n B u r c h , N i n a M a s s e a n d D e n i s e R u i z joined the University office

In Collier County, Jennifer Bryer, Sean Coleman, Rebecca Hallett, Jacob Hansen, Darko Kondev, Steve Suddeth, Brandon Weiss and Paul “PJ” White joined the F i f t h A v e n u e o f f i c e ; N i c h o l a s B r u n o , Gina Kadah and Jane Mitchell joined the B r o a d A v e n u e S o u t h o f f i c e ; J e n n i f e r S c a n c a r e l l a j o i n e d t h e C e n t r a l o f f i c e ;

Thomas Andrea III joined the Charleston Square office; Danielle Poe joined the N o r t h N a p l e s o f f i c e ; M a u r e e n G r o v e joined the Vineyards office; and Chris A d a m s a n d L a u r a A d a m s j o i n e d t h e Marco Island office

SCBWA welcomes board member

T h e S a n i b e l C a p t i v a B u s i n e s s Women’s Association recently welcomed Carolyn Rogers as its new board member

She brings more than 30 years of experience in business to the position

As a wealth advisor at The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company, Rogers is responsible for developing client relationships throughout Lee County, including the islands She assists clients in identifying and

prioritizing their wealth management needs

Prior to joining the company, Rogers served as vice president of Development and Communications for the Southwest Florida C o m m u n i t y F o u n d a t i o n now

c a l l e d Collaboratory in Fort Myers, where she worked with professional advisors and donors

Prior to serving at the f o u n d a t i o n , she led he

SimplifyPR public relations firm and was instrumental in the longstanding success of the Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest Rogers also guided fundraising growth a t T h e C a n t e r b u r y S c h o o l a n d t h e G o l i s a n o C h i l d r e n ’ s H o s p i t a l o f Southwest Florida.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in mass c o m m u n i c a t i o n , s p e c i a l i z i n g i n p u b l i c relations, from the University of South Florida and certifications in public relations and philanthropy Rogers is working toward certification as a trust and fiduciary advisor (CTFA)

Carolyn C Rogers

COMMITTEE OF THE ISLANDS From right, outgoing Committee of the Islands President Larry Schopp honors Captiva Civic Association Treasurer and Land Use Committee Chair Lisa Riordan and Captiva Community Panel Vice President and Government Affairs Committee Chair David Mintz with Citizen of the Year Awards during the meeting.

PRESERVING PARADISE

Revised petition for clean, healthy waters going out

Lee County voters who signed a petition to qualify a proposed “Right to Clean and Healthy Waters” Constitutional Amendment for the 2024 ballot will soon receive a 2026 petition in the mail, according to FloridaRightToCleanWater org the organization b e h i n d t h e s t a t e w i d e effort

Officials noted that credit goes to Lee volunteers who are piloting the targeted mail camp a i g n f o r s t a t e w i d e application

“With massive water r e l e a s e s f r o m L a k e O k e e c h o b e e p u t t i n g Southwest Floridians on e d g e , a n d w i t h E a r t h Day just weeks away, finding these petitions in their home mailboxes could not be timelier for citizens,” Mary Kay Kralapp, who leads the Lee County team, said F l o r i d a R i g h t T o C l e a n W a t e r o r g r e p o r t e d t h a t 7,000 county voters signed the petition in the last election cycle With three petitions being mailed to known supporters, volunteers are aiming to surpass last cycle's total in weeks A cover letter urges supporters to get two other registered voters to sign and to mail all three to the state's petition headquarters in Fort Myers in the provided return envelope It noted not to send more than five petitions in one envelope as the postage will not cover the weight of more.

“Especially commendable is that Lee County volunteers organized the entirety of this mail campaign,” organization Operations Director Joseph Bonasia said “They raised the thousands of dollars needed to fund this project They worked with the Lee County Supervisor of Elections office, USPS and local printing firm to get this done Results from this pilot program will inform our statewide mail campaign And if you see a Right to Clean Water billboard in the months ahead, you can bet that will be their doing, too They are passionate about this amendment ”

Revised for 2026, the amendment would give all Floridians a Constitutional fundamental right to clean and healthy waters with which they can hold state a g e n c i e s a c c o u n t a b l e w h e n t h e y a l l o w h a r m t o Florida waters Nearly 900,000 signed and verified petitions are required to qualify for the state ballot

FloridaRightToCleanWater org reported that over 200 organizations and businesses support the amendment, including Calusa Waterkeeper, Friends of the Everglades, the League of Women Voters, SanibelCaptiva Conservation Foundation and VoterWater

For more information about the petition, visit FloridaRightToCleanWater.org.

DDWS reports on refuge programming and more

The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge provided the following updates for the J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, at 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel:

∫ The new Roving Ranger will be set up on April 810 in the Visitor & Education Center parking lot Next, it will head to the SanCap Chamber of Commerce on Sanibel on April 11, followed by Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille on Sanibel on April 12

∫ The “Ding” Darling Day Conservation Carnival will be held on April 20 at Lakes Park in Fort Myers.

∫ The 12th annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament will take place on May 10

∫ Art in the Wild will return on Oct 19

∫ Photographer-artist Niki Butcher's “Daydreaming” exhibition kickoff has been postponed until the late fall or early 2025

A few spots remain to participate in the 12th annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament on May 10

REFUGE/DDWS

SanCap Resilience to hold next community event

T h e f i f t h p r o g r a m i n i t s “Emerging from Hurricane Ian Stronger and More Resilient” series, SanCap Resilience will h o s t “ A f f o r d a b l e , E f f i c i e n t , a n d S u s t a i n a b l e B u i l d i n g

P r a c t i c e s ” o n A p r i l 8 f r o m

6 : 3 0 t o 8 p m a t T h e Community House on Sanibel and livestreamed via Zoom

The community event will feature three speakers and the program is being presented in collaboration with the SanibelC 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 a n d C o m m u n i t y Housing & Resources

Dr Jennifer Languell

T r i f e c t a C o n s t r u c t i o n S o l u t i o n s President and founder Dr Jennifer Languell will present practical building and design practices that improve efficiency, reduce energy impacts and costs, improve water conservation, increase interior air quality and m i n i m i z e n e g a t i v e e n v i r o n m e n t a l impacts while keeping costs similar to more conventional building practices

“Homeowners and their contractors often have misconceptions about what 'green' building is, why it’s

James Evans

i m p o r t a n t t o r e s i l i e n c e a n d h o w much it costs,” she said Languell holds a Ph D in civil engineering and sustainable development She is a recognized state leader who has championed the integration of “green” building principles and sustainable design within the construction industry for more than 28 years

SCCF Chief Executive Officer

James Evans and CHR Executive Director Nicole Decker-McHale will report on how their nonprofits are incorporating resilient and sustaina b l e b u i l d i n g p r a c t i c e s i n t o t h e i r

Nicole Decker-McHale

reconstruction efforts and why those decisions fit with their organizations' strategic goals and missions

“Building a more resilient community is a top priority for SCCF There is not only a need for our community to adapt to the impacts of climate change, we must also do our part to mitigate our contributions to the climate crisis,” Evans said “Our hope is that Sanibel and Captiva can be a nationally-recognized model for resilience one home and one business at a time ”

See COMMUNITY EVENT, page 17

SCCF: First snowy plover nest of season on islands

O n M arch 2 6 , the S anibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that the first snowy plover nest of the 2024 breeding season was recently discovered by the shorebird team, which promptly roped off the area to give space and protection to the state-threatened birds.

The nest belongs to a familiar male, known as White/Blue, who was banded as an adult on Sanibel in 2019 and has fledged chicks on the island every year since

“Last year, White/Blue, or Super Dad, as we call him, raised two full broods of chicks to fledging that's six total chicks with a 100% fledge success rate,”

shorebird technician Aaron White said “We're hoping that White/Blue and all of our other future nesting pairs will be just as successful at raising chicks as he was last year ” The SCCF reported that with help from volunteers, White/Blue's nest and any other snowy plover activity on the island is monitored on a daily basis

Shorebird numbers are declining worldwide due to habitat loss, development projects, climate change and other factors The public can help contribute to the preservation of the species by giving them the space that they need to rest, forage and raise their

See PLOVER NEST, page 22

Joseph Bonasia

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

Other enforcement actions

∫ On March 19, a traffic stop was initiated on a vehicle for excessive speed. The driver was subsequently issued a notice to appear for unlawful speed (65 mph in a 35 mph zone)

∫ On March 19, a traffic stop was initiated on a vehicle for excessive speed The driver was subsequently issued a notice to appear for unlawful speed (60 mph in a 30 mph zone)

∫ On March 19, a traffic stop was initiated on a vehicle for expired registration The driver was subsequently issued a notice to appear for never having a driver’s license issued

Enforcement operations statistics

From March 19-25:

∫ Alarm calls (business and residential): 4

∫ 911 non-emergency calls: 18

∫ Traffic crashes: 3

∫ Radar details: 44

∫ Traffic stops: 49

Citations issued: 12

Written warnings issued: 0

Verbal warnings issued: 37

∫ Residential area checks: 500

∫ Business area checks: 234

∫ Total area checks: 1,174

∫ Reported burglaries: 0

∫ Reported thefts: 0

∫ Total CAD calls: 1,435

March 2024 to date:

∫ Alarm calls (business and residential): 23

∫ Non-emergency calls: 75

∫ Traffic crashes: 11

∫ Radar details: 161

∫ Traffic stops: 166

Citations issued: 33

Written warnings issued: 1

Verbal warnings issued: 134

∫ Residential area checks: 1,685

∫ Business area checks: 643

∫ Total area checks: 3,472

∫ Reported burglaries: 2

∫ Reported thefts: 2

∫ Total CAD calls: 4,447

Impor tant reminders

Those attending the Sanibel Island Farmers Market on Sundays are reminded to park their vehicles in the designated lots Roadside parking is not allowed on Sanibel and is enforceable with a $150 fine.

When leaving Sanibel, motorists are encouraged to travel east on Periwinkle Way In order to minimize the number of vehicles driving through residential neighborhoods and increase traffic flow, priority is being given to vehicles eastbound on Periwinkle Motorists using Bailey Road southbound, Lindgren northbound and Periwinkle westbound may experience additional delays as traffic flows are adjusted for efficiency

The 2024 Annual Beach Parking Permits are available at the Sanibel Recreation Center and are valid from the date of purchase through Nov 30 The

Sanibel library offers range of programs and topics

The Sanibel Public Library provides a variety of programming for adults and children.

W i t h s u p p o r t f r o m t h e S a n i b e l P u b l i c L i b r a r y Foundation, the library has launched a series of virtual author talks to include bestselling authors and thought leaders The next one will take place on April 9 at 2 p m with New York Times bestseller and National Book Award winner Colum McCann He will be joined by Diane Foley, the inspiration behind the heartrending book “American Mother ”

McCann is the author of seven novels, three collections of stories and two works of non-fiction He has been the recipient of international honors, including the U S National Book Award, International Dublin Literary Prize, a Chevalier des Arts et Lettres from the French g o v e r n m e n t , e l e c t i o n t o t h e I r i s h A r t s A c a d e m y , European awards, 2010 Best Foreign Novel Award in China and an Oscar nomination In 2017, McCann was elected to the American Academy of Arts His work has been published in over 40 languages He is the president and co-founder of the non-profit global story exchange organization, Narrative 4 McCann is the Thomas Hunter Writer in Residence at Hunter College in New York His novel, “Apeirogon,” became a New York Times bestseller and won several international awards His first major non-fiction book, “American Mother,” published in March

Foley is a mother of five, including American freelance conflict journalist James W Foley She founded the James W Foley Legacy Foundation in 2014, less than a month after his public execution Foley is currently serving as president and executive director of the foundation Since 2014, she has led its efforts to fund the start of Hostage US and the International Alliance for a Culture of Safety, ACOS In 2015, Foley participated in the National Counterterrorism Center hostage review, which culminated in the Presidential Policy Directive-30 The directive reorganized U.S. efforts on behalf of Americans t a k e n h o s t a g e a b r o a d i n t o a n i n t e r a g e n c y H o s t a g e Recovery Fusion Cell, Special Presidential Envoy for Hostage Affairs and a Hostage Recovery Group at the White House Previously, she worked first as a community health nurse and then as a family nurse practitioner for 18 years Foley received both her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the University of New Hampshire

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

Progressive Club to host learning program

The Progressive Club of the Islands' Intergenerational Group will present its next program on April 6 from 10 a m to noon in the Second Floor Conference Room at the Sanibel Public Library, at 770 Dunlop Road, Sanibel Led by Dr MaryAnn Wilbur, it will be about knot tying Participants will learn how to tie knots on personalized practice boards, while learning the purpose of a variety of knots They will also make a keepsake knot to decorate and take home The program is geared to all ages For m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n o r t o r e g i s t e r , c o n t a c t

pcisancap@gmail.com. For more information about the club, visit https://pcislands org

SANIBEL PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Sanibel Public Library will host a virtual author talk on April 9 with Colum McCann and Diane Foley

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

Additionally, the library has the following programs scheduled:

See LIBRARY, page 15

CECI to host community event

The Children’s Education Center of the Islands will hold a Community Day Celebration on April 6 from 10 a m to 2 p m at 350 Casa Ybel Road, Sanibel Free and open to the public, it will feature face painting, crafts, games and silent auction baskets Attendees will have the chance to see the campus, while supporting the CECI's post-hurricane recovery and the 50th anniversary of its creation For more information, visit http://www childrenseducationcenter com/

Sanibel Public Meetings

Library

From page 14

Poetry Share will be held today, April 3, from 10 a m to 1 p m

Participants can bring a poem to read that is not theirs

Also today, April 3, a Rainbow Scavenger Hunt and Craft will take place from 3:30 to 4 p m Go on a r a i n b o w s c a v e n g e r h u n t , e n j o y a rainbow snack and make a rainbow craft with staffer Shannon Gafgen Youths must be accompanied by a caregiver

Family Storytime for ages 5 and under and their caregiver will be held on April 5 from 10:30 to 11 a m with Gafgen Sing, read, question and move around during the stories, followed by early literacy centers of play to flex minds, motor skills and creativity The program will include an art/craft center

On April 8, an Eclipse Watch Party will take place from 1:30 to 4:30 p m View the solar eclipse in a d e s i g n a t e d v i e w i n g a r e a . E c l i p s e glasses will be available, while supplies last Peak totality will occur at about 3 p.m. for the area.

Blotter From page 14

Be a Librarian! will be held on April 10 from 3:30 to 4:30 p m

C e l e b r a t e N a t i o n a l L i b r a r y w e e k with a “library” themed story and an opportunity for youths to learn how to work as a librarian, to include checking out books to patrons, shelving and labeling new books, and other fun duties Suitable for ages 512

For the most up-to-date information, visit the calendar at https://sanlib org/

Library cards are available to residents of Sanibel and Lee County at no charge Visitor library cards are available for a $10 annual fee

T h e S a n i b e l P u b l i c L i b r a r y i s open Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a m to 8 p m and Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a m to 5 p m

For more information, call 239472-2483 or visit https://sanlib.org/.

The Sanibel Public Library is at 770 Dunlop Road, Sanibel

2023 permits have expired and are no longer valid

The city of Sanibel's 2021 and 2022 Hurricane Re-entry Passes are still valid If you have one, you do not need to reapply for a new pass

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

∫ Commercial use of the boat ramp is prohibited

∫ Fines for violations at the boat ramp are $250

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 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

SANIBEL PUBLIC LIBRARY

Family Storytime will take place on April 5 from 10:30 to 11 a m at the Sanibel Public Library

SPORTS

Sanibel Sea School provides youth camp highlights

When Lee County Public Schools are closed for select holidays, the Sanibel Sea School offers a Community Camp for ages 6-17. Held on March 15, the theme for the most recent camp was “Celebration of the Sea ”

“Our sandy shores were buzzing with excitement as we hosted a full-day celebration dedicated to our beloved oceans,” marine science educator Annie Clinton said “The kids were extremely engaged and happy to learn all about the sea that they love so dearly ”

Campers were treated to a blend of fun, education and salty escapades There was snorkeling, surfing, building sandcastles and engaging in friendly beach games. Campers delved beneath the waves to explore the secrets hidden in the seagrass and got their creative juices flowing with ocean art projects

The free Community Camp Days is a part of the A Chance to Sea Program

The Sanibel Sea School is part of the SanibelCaptiva Conservation Foundation family

T h e “ D i n g ” D a r l i n g Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge will host a free Solar Eclipse Celebration on April 8 from 2:30 to 3:30 p m at The Roost at the J N “ D i n g ” D a r l i n g N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e R e f u g e , a t 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel The fun and educational event will feature speaker Quinn Verdeyen, president of the A s t r o p h y s i c s C l u b a n d

San Cap Motor Club to hold monthly event

The San Cap Motor Club will host its last Cruise-in of the season on April 7 from 9 to 11 a m at the Periwinkle Place Shops, at 2075 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Free coffee and donuts will be provided, and club shirts will be available for half-price The event is open to the community; no pre-registration is required For more information, contact Scot Congress at scot@scongress com or 239-560-8994

Students for the Exploration and Development of Space a t F l o r i d a G u l f C o a s t University Attendees will also have the chance to sign up for a drawing, eat moon pies, visit the new Roving R a n g e r a n d w a t c h t h e eclipse with a free pair of I S O 1 2 3 1 2 - 2 c e r t i f i e d eclipse glasses

SANIBEL SEA SCHOOL

District looks to maximize funds, provide principals with flexibility

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The School District of Lee County implementing a new school allocatio which will drive more dollars to school for the next year’s budget

Budget Director Kelly Letcher said during the March 26 school board meeting that they have had some meetings with principals who shared tha they wanted more flexibility with th dollars provided to them in fiscal y 2024-25

Specifically, principals want to ma funds are properly allocated for full-time student numbers, or FTEs FTEs can also be weighed to allow for the additional services students with special needs may need

“We are looking at not just the number of students, but the weighted FTE turned in for the schools and basing their allocation on weighted FTE,” she said, which would allow the funding to follow the students. “FTE is now the driver for their allocation It’s very important that FTE is reported accurately ”

With this flexibility, principals must continue to meet class size and provide the services students need based on their Individual Education Plans, with the remainder

Community event

“We are committed to providing our residents with a safe home in the face of f u t u r e s t o r m e v e n t s , ” D e c k e r - M c H a l e said “It's also important to incorporate

being flexible for the principal to decide hat will help them make the best, most nded decision for students and school,” etcher said “We will continue to meet with principals to go over the process, get their feedback to make sure we are n o t m i s s i n g a n y t h i n g , a n d h e l p i n g them, not hindering them ”

Board Member Debbie Jordan asked f the allocation would include funds for n art teacher to purchase such materials clay, a kiln, paper, as it has been essed to her that teachers are without ow.

“Kilns, clay and supplies have line items in the budget,” Superintendent Dr Christopher Bernier said, adding that certain subjects are consumable “Science taught the right way always need more supplies the next year Something like art, at the end of the year, the paint, paper, clay are gone You have to consider that in your budgetary appropriations ”

Letcher said those types of asks for supplies are part of the dollar amount the principal will receive “I am sure they will have the conversations with the teachers to find out what the needs are and plan accordingly,” she said. “In the past, we provided a dollar amount per student for their consumables We will still

From page 12

b u i l d i n g p r a c t i c e s t h a t r e d u c e e n e r g y costs and provide a clean and healthy living environment ”

The event is free to attend, but registra-

tion is required

be providing on top of their capital dollars in case they need to replace a kiln. We have always provided a material supply allocation to our schools Right now, that is in their number They will make the decision of what they want to use for that purpose ”

Letcher said they are still working on the exact figure

“My staff is running the allocations the old way and the new way to make sure there is no loss coming forward to make sure it is better for the school and making some tweaks to cover all the needs that we have,” she said

Chief Financial Officer Dr Ami Desamours said the school allocations will be a training and learning process for everyone. They were meeting with principals that week to explain the concept and allocation

Once the principals receive their allocation, they will be walked through in small groups to understand everything that comes with it, everything they need to cover with the funds

“We have worked through the process of formulating this whole new system with the executive directors as well,” she said “They will be the support for each of the principals to work with them To review budgets and making sure meeting requirements, potential recommendations and ramifications are to decisions ”

Read the full article for free online by visiting www captivasanibel com

For more information or to register, visit https://bit ly/3v6zXzK

Attendees are also encouraged to invite

their contractor

The Community House is at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

Shared use path advocate remembered for faith, philanthropy

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

M a r y “ M a r i e l ” L a u g h l i n R o b i n s o n Goss, 83, passed away on March 25, 2024, surrounded by family

Described as a woman of strong faith and character, she was born in Sewickley, P e n n s y l v a n i a , t o M a r y a n d W i l l i a m Robinson Jr. Goss attended St. Timothy's School in Stevenson, Maryland, and studied at Briarcliff College in New York

She met her husband, Porter Goss, on Fishers Island, New York, and they were married in 1962 They began their lives together in McLean, Virginian, and then moved to London, where they lived for a number of years with their four children, two dogs and cat In 1970, the couple moved to Sanibel with their young family

“The first of her many contributions to Sanibel arose when the roads became too dangerous for children to ride bicycles She rallied her friends and worked tirelessly to raise support for a bike path,” her family shared “Her determination led to the construction of a shared use path that is known worldwide for its beauty, is enjoyed by thousands each year and helps define the Sanibel community ”

Goss had an artist's eye for beauty, and after raising her children on the island and splitting time in Washington, D C , she fulfilled her vision of creating an organic farm and raising sheep and hens

“An avid gardener with a remarkable talent for creating a comfortable home, s h e t e n d e d R e t r e a t F a r m i n R a p i d a n , Virginia, as a place of respite that provided her family and friends many happy memories,” her family shared “A wonderful cook, she was known for her shep-

PHOTO PROVIDED

sickness when she was quick to step up, take charge and offer prayer, vitamins lots of vitamins bandages or chicken soup,” her family shared

A woman of unwavering faith, Goss was instrumental in planting and growing churches and in helping to spread God's Word She was always a champion of the u n d e r d o g , a n d h e r q u i e t p h i l a n t h r o p y made a meaningful impact on the communities in which she lived

“She served on many boards and loved organizations that encouraged, educated and lifted people, as well as those that stewarded and protected the natural environment,” her family shared “She was feted in 2021 by the Pace Center for Girls in Fort Myers an organization for which she had tremendous regard as a 'Grand Dame,' and although not fancy, the sobriquet fit her well ”

Goss is survived by: her husband; d a u g h t e r , L e s l i e ( S a m G r u n e r ) ; s o n s , Chauncey (Allison), Mason (Janie) and G e r r i t ( T e s s a ) ; s i s t e r , E l i s e B r o w n e (Pierce); and 13 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, who lovingly know her as “Ganny ”

“Mariel drew great joy from her family, and while Porter was the true love of h e r l i f e , h e r t w o G o l d e n d o o d l e s R h u b a r b a n d M i l o u w e r e n o t f a r behind,” her family shared

herd's pie, sea grape jelly and the delicious raspberry pepper jam she sold in her farm market ”

Although her husband was the public figure in their marriage, Goss worked

behind the scenes as a pillar of support to her family and friends and was always guided by her strong moral compass

“Her caring and generous spirit were most evident to her family in times of

A celebration of life service will be held in the spring in Orange, Virginia, with an interment at a later date on Fishers Island, New York.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to o n e ' s f a v o r i t e c h a r i t y i n h e r m e m o r y would be appreciated

Mary “Mariel” Laughlin Robinson Goss and Porter Goss.

Shell museum to host next lecture in series

T h e B a i l e y - M a t t h e w s N a t i o n a l S h e l l

Museum & Aquarium on Sanibel is continuing with its Season Lecture Series at The Community House, at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel The next one will be:

∫ April 10 at 5:30 p m : “Precious Luster: On Pearls and Value” with Paul C a l l o m o n , c o l l e c t i o n m a n a g e r a t T h e Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

In this wide-ranging and entertaining talk, Callomon will explore the concept of value through one of its best-known historical emblems pearls Starting with their genesis within the shells of living oysters, we see how this one-time natural rarity and talisman of royal status was transformed into a mass-produced product that nevertheless retains its preciousness

He is collection manager in malacology and general invertebrates at The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Philadelphia. Though originally a designer, Callomon's lifelong engagement with shells led him further into collecting, research and publishing about them during a prolonged stay in Japan His interests today focus on the social history of natural science, in the West and in Japan, and on the museum as a m e t r o p o l i t a n a n d c o s m o p o l i t a n f o r u m Callomon has advanced degrees in museum l e a d e r s h i p a n d s c i e n c e , t e c h n o l o g y a n d society

The cost is $10 per person or free for mu s eu m memb er s ; memb er s h ip w ill b e confirmed upon registration It includes choice of wine, beer or non-alcoholic beverage and a light snack

To register and for more information, visit ShellMuseum org/in-person-lectures

Historical village to present At The Shore Haven

The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village will host “A Land Remembered,” part of its At The Shore Haven programs, on April 8 from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Shore Haven building, at 950 Dunlop Road, Sanibel Island artist and personality Rachel Pierce will lead a discussion of the book by Patrick D Smith “A Land Remembered” tells the story of three generations of the MacIveys, a Florida family that battles the hardships of the frontier to rise from a dirtpoor Cracker life to the wealth and standing of real estate tycoons Seating is limited, so registration is recommended To register, contact 239-472-4648 or info@sanibelmuseum org

Lee County Public Meetings

The following public meetings/hearings are scheduled:

∫ April 9: Lee County Charter Review Commission meeting at 5 p m in Room 118, First Floor, at the Lee County Administration Building East, at 2201 Second S t , F o r t M y e r s F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t https://www leegov com/charterreview

BAILEY-MATTHEWS NATIONAL SHELL MUSEUM & AQUARIUM

Paul Callomon

Spring Concert

The Spring Concert will take place on April 5 at 7 p m in the Christensen P e r f o r m a n c e H a l l a t B I G A R T S o n Sanibel The theme for this year's performance will be “Americana, Cowboys and Classics ”

“They have been a part of BIG ARTS for over 20 years They love to sing and bring joy,” Executive Director Lee Ellen Harder said “They are often invited to perform throughout the community ”

T h e a l l - v o l u n t e e r g r o u p r e h e a r s e s throughout the year. Typically, it practices from October through to the holiday concert, then resumes practices in January on through to the performance in the spring

“They're all community members,” she said

The chorus is normally made up of 80plus members, but many are still not back on the island

“This spring, there will be 33 beautiful voices on stage,” Harder said

She noted that no audition is needed to join the group.

“We are always looking for new voices,” Harder said

For the Spring Concert, the performers w i l l b e l e d b y l o n g t i m e B I G A R T S Chorus Director Ellen Whitten Joined by accompanist Karen Maxwell on piano and synthesizer, the program will include:

∫ “Siyahamba”

∫ “Summer Is A-Coming In”

∫ “It Was A Lover And His Lass”

∫ “One Minute Madrigal”

∫ “Giovani Lieti”

∫ “Pie Jesu”

∫ “Little Innocent Lamb”

∫ “Let The River Run”

∫ “Ching A Ring Chaw”

∫ “Oklahoma!”

∫ “Old Joe Clark”

∫ “Old West Medley”

From page 1 If

Tickets are $20 for adults and free for students

∫ “Ashokan Farewell”

∫ “Happy Trails”

“There will be sing-a-long songs,” she said “So that will be a lot of fun ”

The bar will be open for refreshments

“You're allowed to bring your beverages in,” Harder said of the performance hall

Tickets are $20 for adults and free for students

T h e c o m m u n i t y i s e n c o u r a g e d t o reserve their seats for the show

“It's going to be a wonderful evening for the community, and it supports our community members,” she said. “It has always been kind of a rite of spring when the Community Chorus performs its concert ”

For more information or tickets, visit BIGARTS ORG or call the box office 239-395-0900

For more information about joining the chorus, contact BIG ARTS

BIG ARTS is at 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel

Obituaries

DeBruce

From page 1

have shown since the hurricane It's incredible the progress that's been made,” DeBruce added “I am very eager to roll up my sleeves and jump right in and get to work ”

Crater resigned from the seat in late December, citing a new state law regarding financial disclosures In February, the council considered nine applicants for a partial appointment that will expire on June 4

“I have enjoyed watching Arlene Dillion in action in the very short time that she's been on there,” DeBruce said of the appointee currently serving “In a way, it's a shame that she can't stay on longer ”

Dillion made a commitment to the appointment only and not to run for the seat in the election

“She's been doing a great job,” she said “I certainly have two sets of big shoes to fill ”

Asked about being elected unopposed, DeBruce spoke about her surprise

Protect Captiva

∫ Protect Captiva Steering Committee Member Lisa Riordan

∫ South Seas Presidents Council of Associations Chairman Ken Suarez

D u r i n g t h e l e g a l u p d a t e , P r o t e c t Captiva highlighted the following:

∫ The coalition's petition claiming that the county's Land Development Code a m e n d m e n t s , w h i c h i n c r e a s e b u i l d i n g heights and density at South Seas and on

Victory

From page 4

n t h

n c o m p a s s i n g p a r t s o f 1 2

i d a c o u n

s

i n c l u d

Taxpayers

e C o

“I am very surprised I'm not running against anyone,” she said “I am incredibly surprised that no one else went through the process to qualify or maybe they went through the process but didn't quality ”

DeBruce pointed to the high level of interest in the community to get involved and participate

“I don't know why more people did not put their hat in the ring,” she said

Set to hold the seat through March, DeBruce cited “protecting and rebuilding” as her priorities

“Protecting the extraordinarily special island that we have, especially in terms of being a wildlife sanctuary with an emphasis on conservation,” she said “But I also think we need to protect our small business community and our residents Those would be the things that I would want to focus on ”

C u r r e n t l y s e r v i n g a s a m e m b e r o n t h e S a n i b e l Planning Commission, DeBruce will have to vacate the

From page 1

Captiva, are inconsistent with the Lee Plan has been filed and is scheduled for a hearing before the Florida Department of Commerce on April 4 The group added that the dispute will eventually go before an administrative law judge

∫ Protect Captiva will seek to enforce a n e x i s t i n g a g r e e m e n t b e t w e e n S o u t h S e a s , t h e c o u n t y a n d C a p t i v a C i v i c Association that limits development den-

n t y , i t e n d s i n t h e n o r t h a t t h e E v e r g l a d e s H e a d w a t e r s N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e R e f u g e n e a r L a k e l a n d

From page 4

international tax scheme that involved wire fraud and aggravated identity theft He coordinated a scheme to file 1,701 false tax returns and claim $9 1 million in refunds, which ultimately resulted in $2.2 million in refunds issued by the Internal Revenue Service Arasokun then transferred the money to prepaid debit cards and checking accounts that he monitored The investigation revealed that he was t r a c k i n g m o r e t h a n 7 0 0 U S - b a s e d accounts containing more than $50 million

CI urges U S taxpayers to be vigilant this tax season:

Plover nest

young during nesting season

For more information on how to help shorebirds, visit https://sancaplifesavers.org/sh orebirds/ Shorebird nesting season began in February and will c o n t i n u e t h r o u g h A u g u s t

The SCCF shorebird team monitors the nesting activity of snowy plovers, Wilson's p l o v e r s , l e a s t t e r n s a n d killdeer

The SCCF noted that if y o u f i n d a s h o r e b i r d n e s t with eggs, do not touch it leave enough space for the b i r d t o r e s u m e i n c u b a t i n g a n d c o n t a c t t h e s h o r e b i r d t e a m i m m e d i a t e l y a t 8 1 3756-8773

F o r q u e s t i o n s , e m a i l shorebirds@sccf org

∫ Avoid return preparers who claim they can obtain larger refunds than other preparers or whose fee is a percentage of your tax refund

∫ Use a reputable tax professional who signs and enters a preparer tax identification number (PTIN) on your tax return and provides you with a copy of the return for your records

∫ Never sign a blank tax form and ensure your refund goes to your account, not your tax preparer’s

∫ Protect your personal and financial information Do not click links or open attachments in unsolicited emails or text

From page 12

position in order to take up the seat on the council She pointed to that as one small regret she has

“I've learned so much about the island through that process,” DeBruce said

An attorney and a partner in DeBruce Blackman, she is also co-owner of Sanibel Carts with her husband An island resident since 2015, DeBruce has owned a home on Sanibel since 2010

She serves on the Island Water Association's board of directors, is board secretary for Community Housing & Resources and serves as a Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation board trustee DeBruce is a founding member of the Sanibel Captiva Business Women's Association and has been involved with the Zonta Club of SanibelCaptiva

She earned a Bachelor of Science in communications from the University of Florida and graduated from Boston University Law School

sity at the resort to 912 units a limitation that has been in effect for 50 years

∫ The coalition reiterated that the Planned Development application submitted by South Seas to increase its density from 247 to 707 units has been deemed insufficient by county staff, and the group has submitted an initial list of problems with the application It added that it is unknown when the application will be

The “Ding” Darling Wildlife SocietyFriends of the Refuge is the nonprofit that financially supports nature conservation, wildlife protection and education efforts

messages about your tax return or those claiming to be from the IRS These messages are fraudulent and could contain malware that could compromise your personal information.

∫ Report fraud to law enforcement S u b m i t F o r m 3 9 4 9 - A , I n f o r m a t i o n Referral, if you suspect an individual or a business is committing fraud

The 2024 Tax Filing Season began on Jan 29, and the deadline to file, pay any tax owed or request an extension to file for most of the nation is April 15 The d e a d l i n e f o r t a x p a y e r s i n M a i n e a n d Massachusetts is April 17

deemed sufficient, which would be foll o w e d b y a p u b l i c h e a r i n g b e f o r e a Hearing Examiner and then review and consideration by the county commissioners for approval.

T o w a t c h t h e v i d e o , v i s i t https://www youtube com/watch?v=xQXi izGLC0I&feature=youtu be

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t ProtectCaptiva org

for the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge in Southwest Florida For more information, visit www dingdarlingsociety org

IRS Criminal Investigation is the law enforcement arm of the IRS, responsible for conducting financial crime investigations, including tax fraud, narcotics trafficking, money-laundering, public corruption, healthcare fraud, identity theft and more IRS-CI special agents are the only f e d e r a l l a w e n f o r c e m e n t a g e n t s w i t h investigative jurisdiction over violations of the Internal Revenue Code The agency has 20 field offices located across the U n i t e s S t a t e s a n d 1 1 a t t a c h é p o s t s abroad

Nudists have their rights too

Have you heard about the latest civil rights battle going on on Sanibel the rights of sunbathers to lounge around in the altogether? A group of stark n a k e d s u n b a t h e r s w a s arrested recently for indecent exposure and civil disobedience The naked sunbathers were not to be trifled with They protested They told the judge t h e i r c i v i l r i g h t s w e r e being violated That they had every right to worship the sun in their own w a y . F o r t u n a t e l y , t h e y d i d n ' t m a k e m a t t e r s worse They wore clothes in the courtroom

Art

Stevens

Shell Shocked

T h e i r a r g u m e n t s seemed to make sense to the judge He threw the case out He said these folks were not doing anyo n e a n y h a r m b y n o t wearing clothes; in fact, his judicial ruling seemed to encourage all of us to take our clothes off whenever we wanted. I went into a Sanibel restaurant recently, and the hostess asked me if I wanted the smoking or non-smoking section I said I wanted the non-smoking nudist section “The what?” she asked I told her a judge recently ruled that public nudity was all right as long as it was done discreetly She asked me how I could be discreet without any clothes on I said that these recent judicial rulings opened the door for public nudity and soon after, in such places as public buses, sports arenas, supermarkets, city council meetings and courtrooms Well, after a few words with the restaurant manager and an offer to compromise by garnishing with parsley, I was shown the door. They refused to be a guinea pig in this new wave of civil rights

Of course, a number of Sanibel restaurants don't even permit the wearing of tank top shirts and sandals How will they handle the new wave of public demonstrations by nudists who feel they have the same rights as smokers? There will come a time on Sanibel when all kinds of groups with narrow interests will protest that their civil rights are being violated It won't be limited to nudists or smokers For example, Sanibel's alligator population plans to ride on the coattails of the nudists and take their case all the way to the Supreme Court Alligators will claim that the constitution provides for the rights of all citizens to congregate peaceably regardless of the size of our noses, the number of teeth or the texture of our skin

If the Supreme Court rules in favor of alligators, they will have the right to shop at Jerry's, dine at Traders and sunbathe on our beaches And if nudists, smokers and alligators take their respective cases all the way to the Supreme Court, can such other downtrodden minority groups as jet skiers, sky divers, snorers and vegetarians be far behind?

A r t S t e v e n s i s a l o n g - t i m e c o l u m n i s t f o r t h e Sanibel-Captiva Islander His tongue-in-cheek humor is always offered with a smile

Registration open for Kiwanis’ ‘King of the Rock’ golf tourney

By TIFFANY REPECKI

trepecki@breezenewspapers

com

The Sanibel-Captiva Kiwanis Club will hold its Doc Ford's Invitational 2024 “King of the Rock” tournament on April 20 at The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club on Sanibel

Registration will open at 7:30 a m , with a shotgun start at 9 a m

“Entrants will enjoy 18 holes of tournament golf in a spectacular setting, range balls, and lunch following the round, plus prizes and trophies awarded to the top finishers,” the club shared.

The tourney will be structured as a single round, twoperson scramble, with teams and flights organized into a Men's Division and a Ladies' Division Awards will be made for flight winners with a verified GHIN handicap The overall champion must come from the Championship F l i g h t ; p l a y e r s m a y r e q u e s t t o b e p l a c e d i n t h e

Championship Flight

“All proceeds from the event will benefit the SanCap Kiwanis Foundation Scholarship Fund, which provides support to deserving local high school grads headed for college and professional training programs,” the club shared.

The assignment of the teams and flights will be announced at a gathering on April 19 at 6 p m at The Dunes' Clubhouse All participants are invited; food will be served, but drinks will not be included

The entry fee is $150 per golfer

The deadline to register is April 12

For more information or the registration form, visit https://sanibelkiwanis org/ or stop by The Dunes Golf Shop Forms and fees may be returned to Chris Pais at the golf shop (239-472-3355) or event Co-Chair Eric Pfeifer at the Pfeifer Realty Group (239-472-0004)

Sponsorship opportunities are also available

The community is encouraged to register and take part.

“People love to play 18 in the wonderful tropical environment that our islands provide this time of year,” Pfeifer said “The Doc Ford's 'King Of The Rock' gives them that opportunity in spades and also the chance to see how they stack up against others in a friendly competitive situation ”

“Our community also sees this as a chance to support a good cause, while they enjoy a day on the golf course,” event Co-Chair Jason Smith added “There is a real a p p r e c i a t i o n o f t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h e K i w a n i s Scholarship Program in advancing the development of our young people.”

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

T h e B a t Y a m T e m p l e o f t h e I s l a n d s o n S a n i b e l r e p o r t e d o n i t s n e w s a n d a c t i v i t i e s ∫ B u s t r a n s p o r t a t i o n b e i n g p r o v i de d f r o m t h e S h e l l P o i n t R e t i r e m e n t

C o m m u n i t y i n F o r t M y e r s t o t h e

S a n i b e l t e m p l e i s e n s u r i n g t h a t c o n g r eg a t i o n m e m b e r s d o n o t m i s s o u t o n a n y s e r v i c e s o r e v e n t s .

∫ T h e P u r i m S e r v i c e , S p i e l a n d R e c e p t i o n w a s h e l d o n M a r c h 2 3

∫ T h e c o n g r e g a t i o n ' s A n n u a l M e e t i n g w i l l t a k e p l a c e o n A p r i l 4 a t 4 p m i n F e l l o w s h i p H a l l a t t h e S a n i b e l C o n g r e g a t i o n a l U n i t e d C h u r c h o f

C h r i s t , a t 2 0 5 0 P e r i w i n k l e W a y , S a n i b e l P i z z a w i l l b e s e r v e d a f t e rw a r d . A l l a r e w e l c o m e . B a t Y a m t h a n k e d i t s t r u s t e e s a n d c o m m i t t e e s f o r t h e i r w o r k , l e d b y i t s p r e s i d e n t , a n d n o t e d t h a t o n e n e w c o n g r e g a n t i s s e r vi n g o n t h e b o a r d ∫ C o m m u n i t y P a s s o v e r S e d e r w i l l b e h e l d o n A p r i l 2 2 a t 5 p m i n F e l l o w s h i p H a l l a t t h e S C U C C o n S a n i b e l T h e r e w i l l b e m a t z o , c h o p p e d l i v e r , c h a r o s e t a n d c h i c k e n s o u p w i t h m a t z o b a l l s R a b b i S u n n y S c h n i t z e r w i l l e x p l a i n t h e e s s e n c e o f t h e h o l i d a y a n d c e l e b r a t i o n o f f r e e d o m H a

of the Islands Vice President Greg Blurton, Chief Executive Officer Geoff Roepstorff, Sanibel Police Department Police Chief William Dalton, Lee Coast Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America President Tim Moore, Past President Fred Bondurant and retired U.S. Army Lt. Col.

Memorial, more presented at motor club event

T h e S a n C a p M o t o r C l u b h o s t e d its monthly Cruise-in on March 3 at the P e r i w i n k l e P l a c e S h o p s o n S a n i b e l D u r i n g t h e e v e n t , m e m b e r s T o d d

R o b e r t s a n d R o g e r Grogman unveiled a memorial commemorating the many lost vehicles in Hurricane Ian Created by artist Ray Drea, the piece i s a w o r k i n g “ e x p i r e d ” p a r k i n g meter with a listing o f m o r e t h a n 5 0 vehicles In addition, t h e c l u b h o n o r e d f o u n d e r S c o t Congress for keeping the group going after t h e h u r r i c a n e H e was presented with a w a t e r c o l o r p a i n t i n g o f h i s 1 9 6 8 O l d s 442, also created by Drea

SAN CAP MOTOR CLUB

PHOTOS

ISL AND HOME islander

Regina iris is striking example of species

Irises join other perennials in the great flower blooming season of springtime The Regina iris (Neomarica caerulea “Regina”) is a striking example o f t h e s p e c i e s A l s o commonly called apostle iris or giant walking iris, it is a beautiful representation

The Regina iris is a w i d e r - l e a f e d v a r i e t y w i t h s t r o n g u p r i g h t blades in a vibrant green that can reach 3-4 feet in height From February t h r o u g h t h e s u m m e r , f l o w e r s p i k e s b l o o m with bluish-purple irises, lined with a darker blue vein Each bloom is 3-4 inches wide and several blooms will appear on each plant Though the individual blooms will only last a few days, the iris will bloom several times through the season

The Regina iris does best in full sun to partial shade and is slightly drought tolerant, as well as salt tolerant It does very well in larger pots on a patio or deck, as well as in the ground Its architectural fan shape and sharp leaf blades make it a striking plant on its own and it blends well with the modern architecture currently popular In a flower bed area, it makes a good background plant with smaller annuals or groundcovers in front of it

Caring for this iris is easy Do not overwater them, plant them in well-draining soil, fertilize lightly and enjoy them

In The Garden is a joint effort by all at the local g a r d e n c e n t e r , a t 3 8 8 9 S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a R o a d , Sanibel For more information, contact 239-3955859 or visit www.facebook.com/rswalshinthegarden.

Native landscape tips heading into rainy season

By SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

As you prepare your yard for the upcoming summer and rainy season, SanibelCaptiva Conservation Foundation's Native L a n d s c a p e s & G a r d e n C e n t e r M a n a g e r Becca Grotrian shares some tips to consider

“This time of year, we hear a lot of the same questions, so we put together some answers on planting establishment timelines and preparing your landscape for summer,” she said

∫ If you are a seasonal resident, do you have enough time to install plants to get them well established before leaving?

Most of our seasonal residents leave between AprilJune If you are on the early side of that, the answer would be no While we’ll be moving closer to the rainy months of summer, it’s never a guarantee that we’ll get enough rain often enough to supplement watering newly planted plants

When installing plants even though they are native species they still require anywhere from a month up to a year to get fully established depending on what you’re planting and the size you’re starting with

Many of our smaller, more herbaceous plants like wildflowers establish quickly within a few weeks Shrubs and trees will take much longer and require more water to get established The smaller the sizes you install, the quicker they get established

∫ Are there any larger, open areas of your property that you didn’t get to planting yet?

Consider mulching unplanted areas The mulch will help suppress unwanted weedy plants from coming up. Mulch with also help give the soil nutrients as it breaks

down Fallen leaves make a great mulch that also adds great nutrients to your soil, and it’s free!

This time of year, many of our trees, like seagrapes (Coccoloba uvifera), strangler figs (Ficus aurea) and gumbo limbos ( B u r s e r a s i m a r u b a ) a r e s h e d d i n g o l d e r leaves, so can be a great time to utilize what nature is giving you If you have areas that flood, take into consideration that mulching isn’t recommended it will just wash away in heavy downpours

∫ Do you need to prune to prepare for hurricane season?

We encourage you to let your native plants grow as naturally as possible in order to be beneficial for our wildlife However, there are certain cases where pruning/trimming might be needed One example is monitoring your large trees Do you notice any dead or broken branches that might be problematic in a storm?

You may want to consider having a tree company or arborist come out to examine your large trees, especially s i n c e m a n y o f o u r t r e e s a r e s t i l l r e c o v e r i n g f r o m Hurricane Ian We do not recommend pruning of palms as it’s good habitat for wildlife If you do prune your palms, consider only removing the older, brown fronds Cutting off green fronds can be harmful to the palms’ health, so please avoid the “hurricane prune ”

To download our planting guide, which includes specific guidelines on watering to establish plants, best pract i c e s f o r p l a n t i n g a n d m o r e t i p s , v i s i t h t t p s : / / i s s u u c o m / s c c f 3 / d o c s / s c c f r e p l a n t i n g g u i d efinal.

F.I.S.H. to host monthly luncheon with speaker

F . I . S . H . o f S a n i b e l -

C a p t i v a i s c o n t i n u i n g i t s

c o m m u n i t y - w i d e F r i e n d l y

Faces Luncheon The next one will be held on April 9 at 1 1 a m a t t h e S a n i b e l

R e c r e a t i o n C e n t e r , w i t h a

virtual option available

It will feature J N “Ding”

D a r l i n g N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e

Refuge Supervisory Refuge

Ranger Toni Westland and “

D i n g ” D a r l i n g W i l d l i f e

S o c i e t y - F r i e n d s o f t h e

Refuge Executive Director

Ann-Marie Wildman They will discuss “How the J N 'Ding'

Darling National Wildlife Refuge

S u r v i v e d t h e H u r r i c a n e a n d

Recovery Efforts ”

“The refuge is part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States and world famous for spectacular migratory bird populations,” Wildman said “From free programming like walks in nature to photography to scholarships to urban outreach through a mobile classroom and our April 20 Conservation Carnival at Lakes Park, we will feature the many ways that 'Ding' Darling is a big part

of the community.”

W e s t l a n d g r a d u a t e d f r o m t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f

W i s c o n s i n - S t e v e n s P o i n t with a Bachelor of Science in natural resource managem e n t a n d a B a c h e l o r o f S c i e n c e i n e n v i r o n m e n t a l e d u c a t i o n a n d i n t e r p r e t ation, with a minor in environmental communications She worked five years for t h e U . S . A r m y C o r p s o f Engineers as a federal park ranger before transferring in 2022 to the U S Fish & W i l d l i f e S e r v i c e a t t h e r e f u g e Westland has 20-plus years conducting environmental education, interpretation, outreach and media, planning special events, and more She oversees the Visitor Services pro-

See LUNCHEON, page 30

City committee to offer free guided plant walk

The city of Sanibel's Vegetation Committee will offer a guided native vegetation and landscaping tour on April 10 at 9 a m of the City Hall grounds, which is planted exclusively with native plants

Although the FNPS award-winn i n g N a t i v e P l a n t D e m o n s t r a t i o n Garden sustained a great deal of damage during Hurricane Ian, new wildflowers sprout every day Walk the grounds for ideas on

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

Committee members will provide v a l u a b l e i n f o r m a t i o n o n p r o p e r planting and care of native vegetation The city encourages planting of vegetation that is indigenous to the area as it requires very little mainte-

nance, no fertilizer and no supplemental irrigation Registration is not required. Meet at the bottom of the main staircase at City Hall, at 800 Dunlop Road, Sanibel

For more information, contact the N a t u r a l R e s o u r c e s D e p a r t m e n t a t s a n d n r @ m y s a n i b e l c o m o r 2 3 9472-4135

Becca Grotrian

Toni Westland

Ann-Marie Wildman

By CHEF LORETTA PAGANINI

When the heat gets to be too much for me, I turn on the grill and prepare my meals outside leaving the heat of the kitchen for the winter months. One of my favorite summer treats on the grill is to make pizza It took me 30 years to realize that the best place to get the crispy flavor of Neapolitan pizza is to make it on the grill Makes eight individual pizzas (Chef tip: Make sure that you pre-heat the grill to hot and brush it with oil Brush both sides of your pizza dough with olive oil once you see bubbles forming on the skin of the dough, flip over and cook for few more minutes )

1 cup warm water (95°F-110°F)

1 teaspoon dry yeast

1 teaspoon sugar

3 cups “00” flour

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup basil olive oil, plus extra

CROW Calendar

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife's Visitor Education Center, at 3883 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel, will present the following:

∫ Today, April 3

Program of the Week at 11 a m

The presentation will be about “A Day in the Life at CROW ”

∫ Thursday, April 4

Program of the Week at 11 a m

The presentation will be about “Road Ecology ”

∫ Friday, April 5

Program of the Week at 11 a m

The presentation will be about “If You Care, Leave it There ”

∫ Monday, April 8

Program of the Week at 11 a m

The presentation will be about “One Health ”

∫ Tuesday, April 9

Program of the Week at 11 a m

The presentation will be about CROW Speaker Series at 4 p m

B a i l e y - M a t t h e w s N a t i o n a l S h e l l

For those who deal with c h a l l e n g e s a n d o b s t a c l e s on a daily basis, it’s important for us to know that overcoming them is a real possibility No one wants to go through life beating t h e i r h e a d a g a i n s t t h e p r o v e r b i a l w a l l w h e n i t c o m e s t o c i r c u m s t a n c e s t h a t a r e i n s u r m o u n t a b l e Just the hope of occasionally coming out on top is enough to sustain us and to motivate us to put one foot in front of the other Christians live in a hope that goes beyond possibility to certainty The good n e w s o f E a s t e r i s t h a t because God raised Christ from the dead, “he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet” (1 Corinthians 15:25) In other words, no p o w e r e x i s t s t h a t c a n c i r c u m v e n t t h e power and the purpose of the risen Christ When we trust ourselves to that power, God promises we can know victory in the face of all the trials that come our way each day We can abound in the work of the Lord “forasmuch as we know that our labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1

Toppings:

10-ounce bag frozen artichoke hearts, thawed, drained and chopped

1 cup kalamata olives, pitted, cut in half

1 cup arugula leaves, cleaned and trimmed

1 cup Fontina cheese, shredded

Place water in a bowl, stir in yeast and sugar Cover with a plastic wrap and let it proof for 10 minutes in a warm spot Mix two cups of flour with the proofed yeast Mix with the help of a fork The dough will be sticky and wet Place in a bowl covered with plastic wrap and allow to rest for 30 minutes or more in a warm spot away from drafts

Add remaining one cup of flour, 1/4 cup of oil and salt Mix ingredients well by hand or in a food processor Work the dough for 10 minutes until smooth and elastic; adding a little more flour or water, if needed Shape the dough into a ball and place it in an oiled bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise until it doubles in bulk for 40 minutes

Brush with oil the clean grill grate Fire up the grill Punch down and divide dough in eight equal pieces Roll out each piece to about 1/8-inch thick Brush lightly with oil on both sides

Place dough directly on the grill grate 4 to 6 inches above the heat Allow dough to rise and puff and grill marks to appear Grill about five minutes on both sides

Remove from direct heat Brush with additional oil and place off to the side Repeat with the other pieces of dough Place cheese, artichokes and olives on pizza and close the lid to cook for about five minutes Remove from the grill Prior to serving the pizzas can be topped with the arugula and drizzled with more oil

org/

∫ Wednesday, April 1 0

Program of the Week at 11 a m

The presentation will be about “A Day in the Life at CROW.”

Admission is $12 for ages 13 and older, $7 for ages 4-12 and free for ages 3 and under

In addition, CROW offers a Wildlife Walk Hospital Tour on Mondays through F r i d a y s a f t e r t h e d a i l y p r e s e n t a t i o n Limited to 12 people; participants must be age 10 or older The cost is $25 per person; advanced registration and payment is required To register, contact 239-4723644 ext. 229 or reservations@crowclinic org

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

Corinthians 15:58).

I find it unfortunate that too many of us Christians see the Easter promise as only a single day on the calendar Easter is in reality an ongoing experience Every day should be marked by the presence of the risen Jesus and the power of his resurrection he invites us to enjoy If at any point in the day discouragement sets in, it’s only because we have not fully yielded to Easter’s assurance

Because I am a sports enthusiast, April is a month t h a t h o l d s a l l k i n d s o f promise March Madness g i v e s w a y t o a n A p r i l champion The Masters golf tournament separates the contenders from the pretenders Major league baseball cranks up and every team’s fanbase has its dreams of a pennant Victories are being won all around us and there is no end to the celebrations of those who will be enjoying their spoils

Just remember that you have something to celebrate as well, the most important victory of all Don’t let this time pass

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 Sunny Schnitzer

Sabbath service on Friday at 7 p m 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 Dr Doug Dortch

In-person service on Sunday 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

P O Box 722, Sanibel, www chavuratshalomofsouthwestflorida org

Shabbat service on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Torah Talk on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. There is also speakers, discussions and informal “schmoozes ” For Zoom links, email ChavuratShalom@gmail com

∫ Sanibel Community Church

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

Pastor Jeramie Rinne

Sunday service at 8:30 and 10:30 a m in the Sanctuary Services will be recorded and posted on the SCC's YouTube channel on Monday

∫ Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ

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

Senior Minister Rev. Dr. Mark Boyea

Sunday service at 10 a m in Fellowship Hall

∫ Saint Isabel Catholic Church

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

Father Edward Martin

Friday Mass at 9 a m Saturday Vigil Mass at 4 p m Sunday Mass at 8:30 and 10 a m

∫ Saint 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

Saturday service at 5 p.m. in the Sanctuary, with a social to follow. Sunday service at 8 and 10:30 a m , with a coffee hour to follow each

without tapping into the power that makes life worth living and promises everlasting joy

“Where, O Death, is your victory?

Where, O Death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the

law But thanks be to God! He gives us t h e v i c t o r y t h r o u g h o u r L o r d J e s u s Christ!” (1 Corinthians 15:55-56)

The Rev Dr Doug Dortch is the pastor at the Captiva Chapel by the Sea

Loretta Paganini

The Santiva Islanders will present the following:

Cardio & Strength

Mahnaz Bassir will host Cardio & Strength today, April 3, from 10 to 11 a m in the Parish Hall at Saint Michael and A ll A ngels Epis copal Church, at 2304 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Bring water and a towel; no mat is required Light weights may be brought Cost is $5 per class and $60 per month for members or $10 per class and $120 per month for non-members

Santiva Islanders Calendar

Breakfast Club

Breakfast Club will be held on April 4 from 8 to 9 a m at Jerry's Cafe, at 1700 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Attendees will order and pay individually. For more information, contact Dan Hopta at 978239-4612

Social Bridge

Social Bridge will be held on April 4 from noon to 2:30 p.m. in the library at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal C h u r c h , a t 2 3 0 4 P e r i w i n k l e W a y , Sanibel Cost is $5 For more information,

BIG ARTS Calendar

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

Workshop

Glass Fusing with Petra Kaiser will be held today, April 3, and April 10, 17 and 24 from 9:30 a m to 12:30 p m

Cost is $135 for donors and $168 for non-donors

Workshop

W a t e r c o l o r F u n d a m e n t a l s w i t h

Sunny Krchmar will be held on April 4, 11 and 18 from 9 a m to noon Cost is $119 for donors and $149 for nondonors

Workshop

Silk Painting with Deborah Zwetsch will be held on April 5 from 10 a m to 2 p m Cost is $76 for donors and $95 for non-donors

Per for ming Ar ts

Stacey Kent will perform on April 6 at 8 p m Tickets are $68 for adults and $10 for students

Workshop

Painterly Florals with Kathy Summer will be held on April 8-9 from 9 a m to 3:30 p m Cost is $148 for donors and $185 for non-donors

Film Series

“The Zone of Interest” (2023) will be shown on April 8 at 7 p m Tickets are $12

Workshop

Tape It Up: Technique of Masking Tape Sculpture with Jeff Ocasio will be held on April 9 from 10 a m to 1 p m

Cost is $52 for donors and $65 for nondonors

Workshop

Fluid Art with Tammy DeCaro will be held on April 10 from 10 a.m. to 1 p m Cost is $39 for donors and $48 for non-donors

Registration is required for workshops by calling 239-395-0900

For more information or tickets, visit www.bigarts.org.

contact Bryant Korn at bryantekorn@ gmail com

Coffee & Conversation

Coffee & Conversation will be held on April 5 from 9:30 to 11:30 a m in the library at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, at 2304 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Volunteers will be available to answer questions, register new members, sign up for activities and more

Cardio & Strength

Mahnaz Bassir will host Cardio & Strength on April 5 from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Parish Hall at Saint Michael and All A n g e l s E p i s c o p a l C h u r c h , a t 2 3 0 4 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Bring water and a towel; no mat is required Light weights may be brought Cost is $5 per class and $60 per month for members or $10 per class and $120 per month for non-members

Cardio & Strength

Mahnaz Bassir will host Cardio & Strength on April 8 from 10 to 11 a m in the Parish Hall at Saint Michael and All A n g e l s E p i s c o p a l C h u r c h , a t 2 3 0 4

Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Bring water and a towel; no mat is required Light weights may be brought Cost is $5 per class and $60 per month for members or $10 per class and $120 per month for non-members

Happy Hour at MudBugs

Happy Hour at MudBugs will be held on April 8 from 4 to 6 p m at MudBugs

Cajun Kitchen, at 1473 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Enjoy happy hour drink and appetizer specials Attendees will order and pay individually

Page Tur ners Book Club

Page Turners Book Club will meet on April 9 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. via Zoom. The book for discussion will be “No-No Boy” by John Okada For questions or to receive the Zoom login, contact santivaislanders@gmail com

Cardio & Strength

Mahnaz Bassir will host Cardio & Strength on April 10 from 10 to 11 a m in the Parish Hall at Saint Michael and All A n g e l s E p i s c o p a l C h u r c h , a t 2 3 0 4 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Bring water and a towel; no mat is required Light weights may be brought Cost is $5 per class and $60 per month for members or $10 per class and $120 per month for non-members

The Santiva Islanders serve all adult islanders and visitors, regardless of age

The cost is $25 for an annual membership The Island Seniors raise funding to help defray the cost of the program activities.

For more information, visit https://sant i v a i s l a n d e r s o r g / o r c o n t a c t s a n t i v a i slanders@gmail com

Cajun Kitchen, 1473 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

Tutti Pazzi Italian Kitchen, 1200 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel CHRIS WORKMAN 6:30 to 9:30 p m JENNY

S a n i b e lC a p t i v a I s l a n d e r c a p t i v a s a n i b e

San Cap Community Bank collecting donations

From now through April 5, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank is accepting donations for the Pace Center for Girls, Lee's Point Store.

New items including clothing, jewelry, makeup and hair products, stuffed anim a l s , p a j a m a s , f u z z y s o c k s , b e d r o o m decor, art supplies and gift cards are being collected to stock the Point Store

Year-round, the girls earn points by a c h i e v i n g g o o d g r a d e s , b e h a v i o r a n d attendance Every month, they “spend” their earned points on items for themselves or their families at the Point Store at the center

Items may be donated at the following bank branches:

Luncheon

∫ Main Office, at 2406 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 239-472-6100

∫ Bridge Branch, at 9311 College Parkway, Fort Myers, 239-274-6250

∫ M c G r e g o r B r a n c h , a t 1 5 9 7 5 McGregor Blvd , Fort Myers, 239-2107100

∫ Winkler Branch, at 7040 Winkler Road, Fort Myers, 239-274-7400

∫ College Parkway Branch, at 7500 College Parkway, Fort Myers, 239-2746200

∫ Downtown Branch, at 1533 Hendry St , Fort Myers, 239-274-6205

∫ Gateway Branch, at 11691 Gateway Blvd., Fort Myers, 239-274-6210

From page 26

gram and Tarpon Bay Explorers contract, and she is a refuge liaison to the DDWS Westland was named one of Southwest Florida's Defenders of the Gulf in 2023 by Gulfshore Life

W i l d m a n ' s e n t r e p r e n e u r i a l s u c c e s s b e g a n i n t h e f i n e a r t w o r l d f i r s t i n Honolulu and then in Whistler, British Columbia, where she started several businesses from the ground up In 2009, she moved to Sanibel, where she continued to represent artists and set up fine art shows i n M a u i a n d N e w Y o r k W i l d m a n ' s involvement with the DDWS began as a supporter and board member and later as a part-time turned full-time staff member overseeing The Nature Store and develop-

ing its online presence She ultimately moved into the area of donor development and philanthropy Today, Wildman uses her entrepreneurial skills from the development of her for-profit businesses to help build and develop programs, implement budgets, manage grants and coordinate special events as the executive director

Prepared by the Sanibel Deli, the lunch will be complimentary for those who attend in-person.

The program will also include giveaways and interactive group games

R e s e r v a t i o n s a n d m e a l c h o i c e s a r e required by April 5

For more information or to make a r e s e r v a t i o n , c o n t a c t S e n i o r S e r v i c e s

‘Villanelle of the Senior Tennis Round Robin’

(For Carmine Marotta)

Returning each morning to dust and clay, We brave the ibuprophened shore

To beat oblivion one more day

On court number one we start the fray

Not waiting for Time to settle the score, Returning each morning to dust and clay.

Life’s easy volleys all put away, Above the waist-high net we soar To beat oblivion one more day

We spin and slice to dupe our prey

With chips and drops and lobs galore, Returning each morning on dust and clay;

No ace or smash to ease our way, Just rallies longer than ever before To beat oblivion one more day.

So toward the final court we’ll play Tomorrow and forevermore,

Returning each morning to dust and clay

To beat oblivion one more day

Director Erika Broyles at 239-472-4775

Once registered, Zoom instructions will be provided to those planning to attend virtually

The Sanibel Recreation Center is at 3880 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel

Joe Pacheco

Dr. Mark Boyea Rev. Dr. Doug Dortch Mary L. Miller

Topics and speakers announced for annual scholar program

The 2024 Interfaith Shared Scholar Program will take place on April 7 from 3 to 4:30 p m in the Sanctuary at the Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ, with a reception to follow

T h i s y e a r ' s t o p i c i s “ L e a r n i n g s f r o m A N a t u r a l

Disaster: Faith Communities Post-Hurricane Ian ”

A panel of spiritual experts will discuss how a natural disaster impacts faith communities The speakers will include SCUCC Senior Minister Rev Dr Mark Boyea, Captiva Chapel by the Sea Rev Dr Doug Dortch, Mary L Miller with the Christian Science Church, Bat Yam Temple of the Islands Rabbi Sunny Schnitzer and Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church Rev William “Bill” Van Oss

The Interfaith Shared Scholar Program is made possible by an interfaith coalition of congregations on Sanibel and Captiva Funding for this year is provided by a grant from the Leo Rosner Foundation

SCUCC is at 2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Keep Sanibel

Rabbi Sunny Schnitzer

Alphabet cone found on Sanibel

Maci Sossin, 8, of Buffalo Grove, Illinois, found an alphabet cone on the morning of March 25 along West Gulf Drive on Sanibel Karen Sossin reported that her daughter woke up at 6:30 a.m. to make sure to take advantage of the winds and low tide It was Maci's fifth time on the island, but it was her first year as a truly advanced sheller “She found her dream shell,” Sossin added “This made her whole trip to Sanibel!” To report a shell find, contact 239-4721587 or trepecki@breezenewspapers. com PHOTO

Annual music festival wraps up

C e l l i s t F i n c k e l a n d p i a n i s t H a n , t h e h u s b a n d - w i f e d u o , t r e a t e d t h e i r a u d ie n c e t o a c a p t i v a t i n g p r o g r a m o f 1 9 t h c e n t u r y c e l l o s o n a t a s b y S a i n t - S a n s , M e n d e l s s o h n a n d G r i e g T h e d e m a n di n g p i a n o p a r t s s p a r k l e d i n H a n ' s

h a n d s , w h i l e F i n c k e l w a s a j o y t o l i st e n t o a n d w a t c h a s t h e c e l l o b a l a n c e d p e r f e c t l y , w a r m a n d g e n e r o u s T h e y

c o n c l u d e d w i t h a n e n c o r e o f

R a c h m a n i n o f f ’ s c e l l o s o n a t a s l o w m o v e m e n t

H a n o p e n e d t h e e v e n i n g w i t h a

m i n i l e c t u r e - r e c i t a l o n t h e u p c o m i n g

m u s i c a l s e l e c t i o n s , s h a r i n g d e t a i l s

a b o u t t h e c o m p o s e r s ' l i v e s a n d t h e i r

d i f f e r e n t n a t i o n a l b a c k g r o u n d s

S a i

T h e 3 7 t h a n n u a l S a n i b e l M u s i c F e s t i v a l t o o k p l a c e f r o m M a r c h 5 - 2 3 a t t h e P e a c e L u t h e r a n C h u r c h i n F o r t M y e r s a n d f e a t u r e d s i x p r o g r a m s , i n c l u d i n g t h e V i a n o S t r i n g Q u a r t e t o n M a r c h 1 6 a n d D a v i d F i n c k e l a n d W u H a n o n M a r c h 1 9 F e s t i v a l o f f i c i a l s r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e V i a n o S t r i n g Q u a r t e t ' s H a y d n “ T h e L a r k ” e n t r a n c e d t h e a u d i e n c e w i t h a r i v e t i n g p e r f o r m a n c e b y f i r s t v i o l i n i s t L u c y W a n g a n d s e c o n d v i o l i n i s t H a o Z h o u I t w a s p u n c t u a t e d b y s h o r t e r p i e c e s b y c o m p o s e r s F l o r e n c e P r i c e a n d A s t o r P i a z z o l l a , a d d i n g v a r i e t y t o t h e s e l e c t i o n s A c a m e o a p p e a r a n c e b y v i o l i s t A i d e n K a n e h i g h l i g h t e d P r i c e s ' s S Q N o 1 i n G m a j o r F i r s t a n d s e c o n d v i o l i n i s t s s w i t c h e d f o r t h e B e e t h o v e n “ S e r i o s o , ” w i t h Z h o u e x e c u t i n g t h e f i r s t v i o l i n p a r t S c a n d i n a v i a n p r o c l i v i t y t o p e r i o d s o f d a r k n e s s a n d s n i p p e t s o f f o l k d a n c e w e r e e v i d e n t i n E d v a r d G r i e g ' s S Q O p 2 7 i n G m i n o r A c a p e l l a S w i n g L o w S w e e t C h a r i o t m e d l e y f o l l o w e d a n d t h e n a n i n s t r u m e n t a l q u a r t e t e c h o i n g o f D v o r a k N e w W o r l d S y m p h o n y , e s p e c i a l l y b y c e l l i s t T a t e Z a w a d i u k

“Lemon, Egg, and Tomato”

“Gold and Silver”

MARCY CALKINS

KEITH JOHNSON

“White Boots”

JOHN RIZZA

SCAL announces exhibit winners

The Sanibel-Captiva Art League's “Still Life Exhibit” is on display from now through April 30 at the Sanibel Public Library, at 770 Dunlop Road, Sanibel The following winners were announced: first place is Keith Johnson for “Lemon, Egg, and Tomato”; second place is John Rizza for “White Boots”; and third place is Marcy Calkins for “Gold and Silver ” A members only exhibition, it was judged by artist and art educator Deborah Butler The library is open on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a m to 8 p m and on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a m to 5 p m

San Cap Bank staff work on Habitat home

Sixteen employees from Sanibel Captiva C o m m u n i t y B a n k a n d N o r - T e c h B o a t s r e c e n t l y v o l u n t e e r e d w i t h H a b i t a t f o r Humanity Lee and Hendry Counties to raise t h e w a l l s o n a n e w h o m e i n M c N e i l l Village. Habitat’s newest HOA neighborhood in North Fort Myers, it spans 10 acres and will have 36 single-family homes Construction is underway, with the first homes to be completed this summer

SANIBEL CAPTIVA COMMUNITY BANK

Junonia found on Captiva

J enny H ornacek, of M i d d l e b u r y , I n d i a n a , f o u n d a j u n o n i a o n March 25 at South Seas o n C a p t i v a K a y E n g e l b r e c h t r e p o r t e d that her daughter-in-law has been searching for one every year since her first trip to the island in 2015 Hornacek immediately called her husband, PJ Hornacek, back at the condo to let him k n o w a b o u t h e r g r e a t find! To report a shell find, contact 239-4721 5 8 7 o r t r e p e c k i @ breezenewspapers com

PHOTO PROVIDED

Shell Find

Exhibits on display at BIG ARTS

B I G A R T S i s h o s t i n g “ U p r i s i n g , ” b y W e n d y Klemperer, from now through A p r i l 2 8 o n t h e o u t d o o r grounds on Sanibel The exhib i t i o n f e a t u r e s d r a w i n g s , paintings and sculptures that capture the essence of local w i l d l i f e H e r w o r k , o f t e n likened to three-dimensional drawing, utilizes the boundless n a t u r e o f l i n e t o c o n v e y motion and emotion Also, “Gatha Poem Painting” by Beth Schroeder in on display f r o m n o w t h r o u g h A p r i l 2 1 i n t h e Mezzanine Gallery Inspired by nature, Asian art and meditation, the intention is to give viewers an opportunity to cultivate a feeling of safety, lovingkindness and peace The BIG ARTS Fine Arts Series is sponsored by Jim and Gaye Pigott The galleries are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a m to 1 p m For more information, visit https://bigarts org/ or call 239-395-0900 BIG ARTS is at 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel

The Community House Calendar

From page 28

Ar ts & Crafts Fair

An Arts & Crafts Fair will take place on April 7 from 9 a m to 2 p m It will feature fine art, handcrafted clothing, jewelry and accessories, greeting cards, beach d cor and baked goods Free admission and parking

Shellcrafters

The Shellcrafters will meet on April 8 from 10 a m to 1 p m in the lobby A shell crafting class will take place at 10 a.m.; it is free and supplies range from $510 Items will be available for sale All sales benefit the operations of TCH

Painting with Friends

Painting with Friends will be held on April 10 from 12:30 to 3:30 p m Bring you own supplies Cost is a $10 donation at the door For more information, contact J a n e H u d s o n a t janehudsonpainter@yahoo com

Shell Critter Kits are available for purchase in a variety of different options

Cost is $5 per kit with all of the supplies included, except for glue Order them inperson at TCH or call 239-472-2155

TCH office hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a m to 1 p m

For more information, visit www sanibelcommunityhouse net or contact 239472-2155 or office@sanibelcommunityhouse net

WENDY KLEMPERER

BETH SCHROEDER