Sanibel Island Reporter/Islander

Student winners named in refuge’s annual contest

On April 13, the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) announced and awarded winners

a n d f i n a

Theodore Cross High School Photography Contest at the J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel, following a contest judging on March 8

S p o n s o r e d b y t h e T h e

Foundation, the competition invites high school students from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Glades and Hendry counties to compete

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The School District of Lee County has received $507 million so far from the voterapproved half-cent sales tax and every school has benefited.

Money from the sales tax can be used for construction, safety, maintenance and technology

During an update last week before the Lee County School Board, Independent Sales Surtax Oversight Committee Chair Steve Shimp said the district has only expended $352 million, but a considerably higher amount is committed to projects

He shared some highlights of what the money has supported:

∫ 4,767 new student seats created

∫ Eight new schools being built ∫ Seven schools undergoing substantial renovations that are in progress ∫ Safety systems are in place at each school weapons detection system, traffic

ware and one-year pass to the refuge

Luke Guillette took first place in the 10th annual

Sea turtle nesting season underway on islands with first nest

By STAFF REPORT

trepecki@breezenewspapers com

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

Foundation reported that a leatherback nest was found on Sanibel on April 24, marking the first sea turtle nest of the season for the islands

L e a t h e r b a c k s a

species in the world and are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act

“Leatherback nesting on the Florida's Gulf Coast is rare,” SCCF sea turtle biologist Jack Brzoza said “These turtles

Photography Contest with his entry “Swamp Puppy.” LUKE GUILLETTE The SanibelCaptiva Conservation Foundation's sea turtle team found a leatherback nest on Sanibel on April 24 the first sea turtle nest of the season for the islands.

Man faces DUI charges in fatal crash that injured two islanders

By CJ HADDAD cjhaddad@breezenewspapers com

A driver accused of crashing into a Matlacha restaurant, killing an 80-year-old woman and injuring four other patrons including two Sanibel residents is now facing multiple DUI-related charges

C o d y J a m e s C u r t i s , 2 4 , o f

Andalusia Blvd., Cape Coral, was arrested on April 22 and charged with one count of DUI manslaughter, three counts of DUI with serious bodily injury, one count of DUI property damage and one count of D

Highway Patrol press release

The FHP reported that Curtis' blood alcohol concentration was 0 137%

Cody James Curtis

The level at which a driver is considered impaired is 0 08%

According to an earlier FHP release, Curtis was driving a 1992 Nissan sedan east on Pine Island Road, south of Island Avenue, on April 13 when the vehicle drove off the roadway and entered the north gravel shoulder at about 5:50 p m It then collided with a no-parking sign and wooden decorative post and traveled into the outside seating area of That BBQ Place, at 4590 Pine Island Road N W

The vehicle struck the building, as well as a motorcycle parked at the restaurant, mailboxes and garbage cans, re-entered the roadway and struck a pickup truck, according to the FHP T h e 8 0

with friends at the outside tables

Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District officials reported that one victim was found to be deceased, three

victims were trauma alerted to the hospital by ambulance and another was taken by helicopter

The FHP release states that a 58-year-old man and 55year-old woman, both of Sanibel, were among those transported They sustained minor injuries The others included a 77-year-old Matlacha man with serious injuries and a 67-year-old Matlacha man with minor injuries The woman who died was from Matlacha Curtis was not injured in the crash

The conditions of the island residents were unknown on April 25

Curtis was transported to the Lee County Jail

As of April 25, he remained in custody on $252,000 bond

Curtis has a court hearing set for May 28

“Florida Highway Patrol State Troopers continue to conduct an exhaustive investigation,” FHP officials said, adding that the crash remains under active investigation

School district's updated code of conduct now available

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

More parent involvement and support for teachers and administrators was the overall message that came from the proposed updated School District of Lee County code of conduct on April 23

C o n s t i t u e n t S e r v i c e s a n d S t u d e n t

Discipline Director Tammy Scott said the code was reduced from a little more than 100 pages down to 56, with the elementary code and secondary code now in one b o o k T h e b o o k i s n o w a v a i l a b l e i n English, Spanish and Haitian Creole

The district has added a landing page to its website that provides a more online type of book, rather than parents accessing the book and having to flip through the pages in a PDF format

There is one change to the adult code of conduct

C o n s t i t u e n t S e r v i c e s a n d S t u d e n t

Discipline Director Rachel Gould said the provision states, “If a student chooses to use a restroom designated for the opposite sex and the sex based at birth refuses to leave, that student will face a level three consequence ”

The district met with many stakeholder groups, which also included teachers and administrative staff, regarding the code of conduct The meetings led to some proposed changes in the elementary and secondary code of conduct

There also are proposed changes to the student codes

Gould said there were some concerns raised about students engaging in con-

flicts in secluded areas like bathrooms She said because the state changed how a fight is defined, schools had to rely on peer conflict more

The proposal is for administrators to r e c o m m

S u c c e s

A

m y Review Committee a team from the district office and school-based administrators to review specifics of an incident

Another proposed change is for a new local code physical harm, as there were a lot more elementary administrators stating that they were seeing more serious behaviors than horseplay, but less than battery

There was also a concern using racial slurs toward other students at the secondary level, which resulted in principals recommending using the Success Academy Review Committee

One of the larger discussed sections of the code stemmed around use of electronic devices which also would include watches and ear buds, in addition to cell phones Clarification of when the devices can and cannot be used will come before the board at its next meeting

C

Discipline Director Dr Ron Iarussi said

the proposed language around the misuse of AI would fall within the cheating portion of the code of conduct

Board Member Chris Patricca questioned the discipline for cheating

“We are not treating cheating more seriously This kind of stuff gets you kicked out of college I am really concerned about AI and potential for cheating,” she said

Patricca asked what they are doing as a district to teach AI responsibility, as well as teachers using it to make it easier for themselves

“Do we want to lead in this area, or do we want to react,” she said “We can react by putting a clarified definition in the code of conduct Lead in the area because this is the future ”

Other board members agreed that the topic of AI should be brought back during a workshop for more discussion

“AI is about deep learning and deep learning is the obligation we have to the kids If you just say using AI is cheating and you are not looking at how the child is using AI, then you have a problem,” Board Member Cathleen Morgan said

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

From left, Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club President Don McDonald and Chris

of the

Rotar y holds meeting with speaker

Oikos Food Buyer's Club out of North Fort Myers, as its guest speaker at a recent meeting He spoke about the membership-based association, which uses collective buying power to negotiate wholesale prices and source products from local farmers The club meets on Fridays at 8

Sanibel, and via Zoom For more information, visit sanibelrotary org

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA ROTARY CLUB

Johnson,

Oikos Food Buyer's Club.

OPINIONS

Web Poll

Previous Web Poll Question

Did you

Time to turn attention to watershed nutrient runoff

Whenever water is being released from Lake Okeechobee into the northern estuaries of the St Lucie and the Caloosahatchee, people become concerned about the impact it is having to our water quality

This concern is borne from the experience of past releases, and memories of coffee-brown water flooding down the river and out into the turquoise waters of the Gulf of Mexico

It also brings worries of larger ramifications, of the potential for harmful, toxic algal blooms causing devastation to our local environments and our economies We know that large, harmful releases from the lake have the potential to transmit blue-green algae blooms into our estuaries. A landmark study conducted in partnership with the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation's Marine Lab showed that the releases also exacerbate red tides in our marine environment

It’s important to understand that while the lake has a huge impact on our estuaries, fixing the lake will not be a “silver bullet” for our water pollution problems When we can reliably

and continuously send clean water south to the Everglades, our estuaries will not be treated as the dumping ground for polluted lake water and will be in a much better position

At the same time, we need to look at what’s happening in our own backyard Recent research by North Carolina State University, the University of Florida and SCCF’s Marine Lab confirms what we had long suspected the majority of the nutrient pollution in the Caloosahatchee comes from the watershed itself

To be sure, large damaging releases have a detrimental impact on our estuaries. Even without the pollution in the water, the huge freshwater releases turn our brackish estuaries fresh, stressing the organisms that live there However, this new publication demonstrates how the watershed is responsible for more nutrient inputs overall than the lake releases

Letter to the Editor

Far mers are not water-quality bad guys

To the editor:

There’s a troubling trend of painting farmers as the scapegoats for environmental issues surrounding Lake Okeechobee Having grown up in Clewiston, I’ve witnessed firsthand how certain groups vilify our farming communities, jeopardizing not just our way of life but also the stability of our nation’s food supply

Glades-area farmers are responsible for feeding more than 180 million Americans a year Special interest groups have unfairly targeted them, particularly sugarcane farmers, while disregarding the realities faced by our many smaller, family-run operations

It’s important to set the record straight on these special interest, activists groups They’ve relentlessly pursued agendas that would cripple our farming communities, seeking to convert large pieces of productive farmland into restoration projects to solve various water issues throughout the region oblivious to the economic devastation and food shortages that would follow.

Despite farmers’ significant contributions to improving water quality over the

years, relentless attacks and misinformation campaigns have continued while the true sources of Lake Okeechobee’s water issues remain largely unaddressed

Behind their facade of environmental concern lies a stark reality: These groups are driven not by a desire to protect our natural resources, but by a blatant antifarming agenda. They’ve capitalized on crises like the blue-green algae blooms and red tide to further their fundraising, all while conveniently ignoring the fact that over 95% of the lake's water/pollutants flows in from the north through a chain of lakes not farms south of the lake

We need to move beyond the divisive rhetoric and false narratives that have hindered progress of the big lake’s restoration A cleaner lake benefits all areas and all interests connected to it.

As president of the Lake Okeechobee Business Alliance, I’m committed to shedding light on the realities faced by our farmers and rural communities and advocating for their interests in the face of relentless, misinformed opposition

Julia du Plooy President Lake Okeechobee Business Alliance

We aren’t always receiving large releases from the lake, but the Caloosahatchee remains impaired for nutrients There are many sources of nutrient pollution nitrogen and phosphorous within our watershed Stormwater runoff, golf courses, reuse water, septic systems, agriculture run-off, home fertilizer and even car washes can contribute to excess nutrients running into our watershed With new peer-reviewed science showing the true impact of these sources, hopefully we can refocus our efforts on nutrient reductions within our watershed

It is going to take a large effort to clean the Caloosahatchee When the water budget was last calculated it showed that in order to manage

As the J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge prepares for its 12th annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tourney on May 10, we revisit a 1937 cartoon by refuge namesake Jay Norwood “ D

Washington fish don't even give him a workout ” Having nothing to do with tarpon-fishing, the cartoon, in typical Darling style, used a wildlife creature as a metaphor for political transgressions Here, he lampoons President Franklin Roosevelt “57 Senate votes hooked, gaffed and on ice,” it reads, “for packing the Supreme Court before he started to fish ” The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge owns the copyright of the “Ding” Darling cartoons REFUGE/DDWS

n d m u s t c o n t a i n a p h o n e n u m b e r f o r v e r i f ic a t i o n p u r p o s e s L e t t e r s c o n s i d e r e d f o r p u b l i c a t i o n m u s t r e l a t e t o s u b j e c t s o f p u b l i c i n t e r e s t L e t t e r s t

Matt DePaolis

Captiva to vote on bond referendum for project

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

Island property owners wi vote on a referendum this month that will decide whether the Captiva Erosion Preventing District can proceed with funding for the post-Hurricane Ian beach renourishment.

A bond referendum Spe Election is scheduled for May 21 for the

i

The referendum on the ballot will read as:

“Should the Captiva Erosion Prevention District (CEPD) issue Special Assessment Bonds not exceedng $25,000,000, maturing at uch times as the CEPD shall ermine not exceeding 20 years from issuance bearing interest not

exceeding the maximum legal interest rate, payable from special assessments on benefited lands within the CEPD boundaries for the emergency maintenance and renourishment of beaches, pursuant to the Captiva Island Emergency Maintenance Plan and Captiva Island 2024-2025 Emergency Beach Maintenance Renourishment Project?”

For the referendum to pass, it will require a majority vote of 50% plus one

Captiva library, county system offer programs

Part of the Lee County Library System, the Captiva Memorial Library is offering the following free programming:

Adult programs

∫ May 6: Make a Handmade Bookmark (daily during operating hours)

Never lose your place in a book Make a handmade bookmark for yourself or a friend Looking for that perfect summer read? Ask the librarian about the hottest new titles for adults and teens.

∫ May 8: Make a Handmade Bookmark (daily during operating hours)

Never lose your place in a book Make a handmade bookmark for yourself or a friend Looking for that perfect summer read? Ask the librarian about the hottest new titles for adults and teens

Teen programs

∫ May 6: Make a Handmade Bookmark (daily during operating hours)

Never lose your place in a book Make a handmade bookmark for yourself or a friend Looking for that perfect summer read? Ask the librarian about the hottest new titles for adults and teens

∫ May 8: Make a Handmade Bookmark (daily during operating hours)

Never lose your place in a book Make a handmade bookmark for yourself or a friend. Looking for that perfect summer read? Ask the librarian about the hottest new titles for adults and teens

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

For more information about a program or to register, call 239-533-4890

In addition, the library system is offering the following free

virtual programming:

Adult programs

∫ Today, May 1: Online Author Event with Douglas Brunt from 3 to 4 p m Chat with New York Times bestselling author Douglas Brunt about the instant bestselling debut non-fiction work, “The Mysterious Case of Rudolph Diesel: Genius, Power, and Deception on the Eve of World War I ” The book reveals the hidden history of Rudolf Diesel, one of the world’s greatest inventors, and his mysterious disappearance on the eve of WWI Brunt reopens the case and provides a compelling new conclusion about Diesel's fate Registration is required

∫ May 7: Online What Is a Homesteader? from 10 to 11:15 a m

Homestead laws were enacted in United States and Canada The goal was to encourage settlement in the sparsely populated western lands The application process was detailed Researchers can discover a significant amount of genealogical and family history information in the materials The program will discuss the research benefits of the process in the United States and Canada. Registration is required before May 6 at 8 p m

∫ May 8: Online Author Event with Nina Simon from 7 to 8 p m

Join Nina Simon online as she chats about her lighthearted whodunnit about a grandmother-mother-daughter trio of amateur sleuths, “Mother-Daughter Murder Night ” Harness your inner detective and sign up for the investigation Registration is required

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

The Captiva Memorial Library is at 11560 Chapin Lane, Captiva

CEPD Executive Director Daniel Munt explained that there has been some confusion surrounding the referendum and $25 million bond loan It is not intended to be an assessment on property owners

“The CEPD has no intention of assessing property owners that $25 million,” he said Munt reported that they have obtained a $13 2 million commitment from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

See BOND REFERENDUM, page 7

FEMA grants county more time to

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Lee County and four municipalities have been granted an additional 30-day extension to respond to the Federal Emergency Management Agency with documents that could change a decision by the agency to downgrade their ratings through the National Flood Insurance Program

The time extension will run to June 10. The rating downgrade would result in the loss of a 25% flood insurance discount that the county including Captiva as part of unincorporated Lee town of Fort Myers Beach, cities of Cape Coral and Bonita Springs, and village of Estero receive The cities of Sanibel and Fort Myers were not impacted

One of the main reasons cited by FEMA for its downgrading of the county's rating, as well as the municipalities, is that work was done without permits after Hurricane Ian.

In an April 19 letter to county officials, FEMA Regional Administrator Robert Samaan approved the extension He wrote “all communities must be in compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program's minimum floodplain management standards to be eligible to participate in the Community Rating System ” Samaan added additional FEMA staff has been deployed throughout the county to address the issues of the county and municipalities

“Lee County appreciates its partnership with FEMA as both parties work to retain the county's and four municipalities' Community Rating System (CRS) classifications,” the county said in prepared statement on April 19 “The Lee Board of County Commissioners is committed to retaining the CRS rating of 5 to maintain the discount available to residents with NFIP policies ”

The county also pointed out that FEMA acknowledged in its letter that a letter sent the previous week by the county and municipalities matches the expectations of the necessary documentation It added that county staff are working to provide specific documentation that reflects the actions taken post-Ian

“The documentation will reflect the county's records of site work review, includ-

Bond referendum From

Staff is seeking additional potential funding at the state and federal levels, as well as funds from the county through a new interlocal agreement that is currently under discussion.

“The amount of the assessment is going to be reduced by the amount of grant funding that we've already been obligated, and we're seeking additional grant funding,” he said

The goal is to fully fund the project, or at least to reduce the cost to the smallest assessment possible

“Because many property owners are still paying on the 2021 beach renourishment,” Munt said

Approval of the referendum would provide the interim cash flow to cover the project

“The reason we have to go out for the $25 million (bond loan) is grant funding is obligated on a reimbursement basis,” he said. “We have to expend the funds in order to seek reimbursement for them ”

Covering from the northern end at Redfish Pass on south to Blind Pass, the Captiva Island 2024-2025 Emergency Beach Maintenance Renourishment Project will involve about 800,000 to 900,000 cubic yards of sand placed over

ing but not limited to: violations for unpermitted work, stop work orders, complaint code cases, processed renovation permits, documents demonstrating work was not substantial damage, documents proving work was substantial damage and demolition permits,” the county said

On April 16, Lee County Manager Dave Harner told the county commissioners that he believes the county will able to keep its rating through providing the requested documentation

25,600 feet of shoreline and an average added beach width of 80 to 100 feet

The bid window for the project is open.

As of last week, the CEPD had received bid proposals from Great Lakes Dredge and Dock, Marinex Construction and Weeks Marine Staff is currently evaluating the proposals and documentation

Three project timelines were sought as part of the bid:

∫ Fall of this year, with a start date of Oct 1

∫ Winter of 2025, with a start date of Jan 1

∫ Spring of 2025, with a start date of May 1

A tentative special meeting is set for May 23 for the CEPD commission to pick a contractor

Staff has provided updates on the project during the commission's monthly meetings.

In his January report, Munt explained that staff had submitted funding assistance requests to the U S Army Corps of Engineers as the beach projects are federally authorized and constructed projects and FEMA in October of 2022 The FEMA application was put on hold for the Corps

“I do feel confident that we will be able to provide the documentation based on the conversations we had to ensure we meet compliance and keep our rating,” he said

Harner also reported the county received a 90-day extension on its annual CRS recertification from FEMA since the county is concerned with staff taking the time to provide “voluminous” amounts of material for the current appeals process and would not have enough time to meet the recertification deadline without an extension

to respond first

Munt continued that the Corps denied financial assistance due to issues associated with easements and public access, but it did not “officially decline” until October Next, FEMA also declined participation due to a new interpretation about providing assistance to federally authorized and constructed projects

Because of the timing, staff was unable to pursue alternative funding In response, it began preparing the bid under an emergency response plan in connection with a $15 million referendum passed in 1999 However, the CEPD's attorney determined that the bond was too old and a new one would be needed

Munt reported that the project could not commence without first obtaining one via voter approval.

“Without the passage of a bond loan, the district does not have the financial capital to complete this project,” he said at the time

He said county staff had met directly with FEMA administrators, including the district administrator who made the initial decision on the rating downgrade

“Through these conversations, we got to the point where they guaranteed they would have staff in the county (to meet with directly),” Harner said, adding that the county has worked with the impacted municipalities to have a unified message to FEMA

“We continue to provide feedback collectively,” he said

Harner said staff had also met weekly with U S Sen Rick Scott to discuss the situation

“The folks we have our committed to what they are doing They live and breathe this stuff. They take every comment to heart,” he said

“I am very confident that we will have the documentation,” Harner added

The county has created a landing page at www leegov com/femacrs for more information

School district sees increase in students with disabilities

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

The School District of Lee County continues to see an increase in students who have an identified disability an uneven rise in students they serve

S t u d e n t S e r v i c e s E x e c u

Duncan said the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is for students ages 3-21 Unlike the 504 plan, IDEA includes an individualized education plan, or IEP, which provide for the specialized instruction and support a student requires in an education environment

Exceptional Student Education Assistant Director Scott Kozlowski said there has been a 4 3% increase of students with disabilities. As of October, there were 11,905 students with disabilities who are served under IDEA

“We are seeing an uneven rise in our students that we serve,” he said, adding that 14 7% of the total are students who are on the autism spectrum

There has been an 8% increase in the number of students who have other health impairments; a 49 7% increase in the number of students who have developmental disabilities; and a 16 9% increase in the number of student with speech impairments

T h e d i s t r i

t h increasing populations, one of which is students who have developmental delays, which went from 819 in the

fall of 2022 to 1,174 in the fall of 2023

Duncan said two things are happening Last year, legislation passed which allows students to keep their eligibility until they are age 9; previously it was 6 years old

“We really appreciate the extra years in that area,” she said, adding that it does not account for the entire increase “Additionally, a number of students in pre-K make up the majority and those numbers continue to grow ”

The areas in which the district saw a small decrease are students with specific learning disability, language impaired, emotional/behavioral disability eligibilities, deaf or hard of hearing, and orthopedically impaired

There have also been other eligibilities that have not increased or decreased by more than 10 students, which include hospital homebound, intellectual disability, dualsensory impairment, traumatic brain injury and visually impaired.

Kozlowski also touched upon students who have disabilities scoring 3 or higher on state assessments for grades 3-10 He said prior to 2022-23 school year different standards were used for the general and modified assessment

“The gap between the percentage of 3 or above are also decreasing We are closing that gap with students with and without disabilities scoring a 3 or above,” Kozlowski said

Duncan said two years ago the focus was on student support A new math and reading intervention program was given for teachers, which includes technology to assess student gaps

Duncan said 338 students are in supplemental reading and 113 students in math. With 27 weeks, it has allowed 113 students in reading and 45 students in the math program to increase their skill by one or more grade level

Kozlowski said what he is most excited about is the gap being closed on the graduation rate between students with and without an identified disability There are two paths that can be taken for graduation, the general and traditional path, and the modified path, a path determined by the IEP team

“Both paths do lead to a standard diploma,” he said One path includes standard curriculum, standard courses and participates in FAST, compared to the other path that includes a modified curriculum, ACCESS courses and participation in FAA

Kozlowski said the Florida ACCESS points takes the general standard and modifies it to the basic components and gives the teachers a little more flexibility to make sure students have access to standards He said they have access to standards, the same courses, but are modified to their level

Volunteers leaving islands with end of season

F I S H of Sanibel-Captiva volunteers are the lifeblood of the nonprofit, assisting w i t h f o o d p r o g r a m s , e d u c a t i o n w o r kshops, senior and social service programs, and Helping Hands services year-round

This time of year the end of season comes with mixed emotions for the organization

“We witness our volunteers, many of whom are snowbirds, return to their northe r n h o m e s b e g i n n i n g i n l a t e A p r i l , ”

Executive Director Maria Espinoza said “Volunteers are the essence of our organ-

ization We couldn’t exist without the people who share their treasured time and warm hearts with us and our community

Volunteers help us with everything from delivering meals and assembling backpacks, holiday baskets and Smile Boxes, to stocking shelves, grocery shopping and transportation and we appreciate all of it ” As almost half of its volunteers head

b a c k h o m e t h r o u g h a t l e a s t O

e r , F I S H will find creative ways to continue to provide its services

“Our year-round volunteers really go above and beyond to help us continue critical services to our residents and workforce throughout the year, including summer months,” she said F.I.S.H. uses the volunteer platform POINT to enlist volunteers They are fulland part-time residents, retired and working Some help in one service area, and others assist in several areas Some volunteers can only give mornings or afternoons or certain days of the week, while others have more availability

become involved as a regularly scheduled volunteer or a one-day family activity while visiting the area Volunteer groups are also welcome at F I S H for special projects or events. New volunteers are trained in their area(s) of interest and placed with a seasoned volunteer, giving them the tools for success

BUSINESS

Business Notes

SCBWA to hold annual open house

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 W o m e n ' s

Association will host its Third Annual Open House on May 7 from 5 to 8 p m at The Community House, at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

The event is intended to s h o w m e m b e r a p p r e c i a t i o n and welcome new prospective members

I t w i l l f e a t u r e n e t w o r k i n g , s o c i a l i z i n

,

o o d , refreshments and door prizes

Event sponsors are Custom Goods Unlimited and MHK Architecture

Tickets are $10 per person

Registration is required on Eventbrite.

For more information, contact taylor@irisprintdesigns com

U p d a t e s a r e p o s t e d a t www facebook com/SanCapBWA

City official receives FLC award

The city of Sanibel reported that the Florida League of Cities (FLC)

h a s n a m e d C i t y

C o u n c i l m e m b e r H o l l y Smith as a recipient of t h e H o m e R u l e H e r o Award for 2024

S h e r e c e i v e d t h e recognition for her tireless advocacy for the city and its residents.

It is the seventh consecutive time that Smith has been awarded the honor

“I am honored and privileged to continue to be a strong voice for our community in both Tallahassee and in Washington, D C , on matters of importance to our residents and businesses here on Sanibel,” she said “That is the core of what home rule is about ”

Home rule is the ability of a city to address local problems with local solutions, with minimal state interference. The award recipients are government officials, elected and non-elected, who have consistently responded to the FLC's request to reach out to members of the Legislature to provide a local perspective on an issue

Smith currently serves as 2nd Vice President for the FLC and serves as president of the Southwest Florida League of Cities Chapter

SCCF staffer elected to board

At a recent annual

SanCap Group holds annual shareholders meeting

The SanCap Group Inc , holding company of The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company and its divisions, held its 23rd Annual Shareholders Meeting on March 20 at the Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa in Fort Myers for nearly 100 guests

Founder and Chairman S Albert D Hanser opened the meeting by emphasizing the importance of client services and satisfaction, demonstrated by the company's retention rate of 98% He also lauded the work of employees Cherry Smith and Steve Greenstein in Wealth Services and fiduciary counsel David Port, all of whom recently retired

“We are grateful for the dedication of these retirees who have been an integral part of the company’s quality and growth over many years,” Hanser said

Chief Executive Officer Terence M Igo applauded the nearly 60 employees for an outstanding job in 2023 of serving clients and community organizations while navigating a “bumpy” market and keeping expenses in line

“We’ve been balancing growth with client services and managing significantly increased interest and participation in Family Office Services across our corporate footprint,” he said

Chief Operating Officer Ian Breusch spoke about projects undertaken in 2023 to scale efficiencies, including profitability, marketing efforts and service delivery, additional fiduciary services, and clarity of roles and responsibilities across the team He also introduced new strategic hires and an equal number of team members who were recently promoted

“Career opportunities are strong at the trust company,” Breusch said “And we are pleased to have a breadth of talent to serve our clients now and into the future ”

Chief Financial Officer Beth Weigel spoke about the client relationships and related accounts the company services She also touched on meeting client needs through the remodeling and expansion of existing offices in Tampa, Belleair Bluffs, Tarpon Springs and the new Sanibel office, as well as the establishment of a new office at Bell Tower in Fort Myers

Fort

“We ended 2023 with a little more than $4 billion and now we have passed $4 2 billion That's a healthy increase to start 2024, so the organization is off to a great start,” Weigel said of assets under management, adding that they have exceeded goals, assets, and overall revenues and net income.

Guests also heard stories from market presidents Michael R Dreyer in Tampa, Jeff Muddell on Sanibel, Megan Marquardt in Fort Myers and West McCann in Naples about the connections their teams have made with clients, not just with wealth management, but on a personal level

Naples President West McCann announced that he was stepping down effective April 1 to serve as Naples market executive Billie Ann Porter will assume the leadership role in Naples She has served as senior vice president, senior trust officer in Naples with significant experience in the trust industry.

Chamber ribbon-cuttings mark return of historic businesses

Commerce and islands community

cheered as two iconic Sanibel busi-

doors following hurricane recovery

They included Sanibel Siesta on the Beach on April 8 and the Historic Bait Box on April 9

Director Matt DePaolis was elected to join its board of directors

He will help manage the coalition by sharing leadership responsibilities to carry out its mission

T h e c o a l i t i o n i s a group of 57 environmental organizations that share a goal of restoring the Everglades In addition to organ-

See BUSINESS NOTES, page 22

“I guess you could say our official reopening was April 1, which is when we officially opened up to new

“But we have had guests with existing reservations staying with us since

buzzing with almost pre-hurricane activity

Fifty-four of the condo complex’s 62 units are open, 60 of which are on Sanibel Siesta’s rental program The eight remaining units were ground See CHAMBER, page 22

Stevens Construction begins work on church

Stevens Construction is renovat-

heavily damaged in Hurricane Ian The church will be completed in phases, allowing it to remain open

Slated for completion in late sum-

New

and landscaping

and Gio Cardet, superintendent Gary Tipton and project administrator Kelsey Pojafsky The project is

Holly Smith

Matt DePaolis

THE SANIBEL CAPTIVA TRUST COMPANY

From left, front row, The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company's Tampa President Michael R. Dreyer, founder and Chairman S. Albert D. Hanser, and Chief Executive Officer Terence M Igo; back row,

Myers President Megan Marquardt, Sanibel President Jeffrey Muddell and Naples President West McCann

PRESERVING PARADISE

REFUGE/DDWS

New philanthropic fund supports volunteers and more at refuge

With decades of service as a J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge volunteer, Is Cloak traveled from Bonita Springs for years to perform her volunteer hours and she loved every minute of her time

The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge reported that surrounded by wooded property, Cloak learned to love wildlife and birds at a young age But her love of birding really began when she moved to Florida Cloak's friend came to visit and had the Sanibel refuge on her list, so the two went for the first time After a positive experience and interactions with volunteers on Wildlife Drive, her friend suggested that she volunteer Cloak joined the Calusa Bird Club and became a refuge volunteer She trained to become a Rover, helping to enhance the experience for visitors on Wildlife Drive Cloak would point out wildlife, share stories and interesting facts, Cloak also entered sightings for all the volunteers into the Cornell bird site and worked in the office with administrative duties

When Cloak was able to make a gift from her IRA, she chose to establish a Philanthropic Fund to support the volunteers and programs that support them at the refuge The DDWS noted that volunteers play a crucial role in the work that takes place and Cloak wanted to ensure that they would have the support needed for their work at the refuge.

SCCF: Gopher tortoise population still recovering

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that it has been conducting annual gopher tortoise burrow surveys on Sanibel preserves since 2000. Frannie's Preserve and C R Johnston Tract surveys began in 2000, while the Dayton Preserve, Walker Preserve and Wulfert Gopher Tortoise Preserve began in 2007

The average active burrow percentages across all five preserves stayed relatively consistent between 2007-21, with a decrease of 2 3% of active burrows overall However, Hurricane Ian in September of 2022 changed that consistency

“Hurricane Ian’s storm surge event drastically altered the landscape with dead overstory trees and shrubby vegetation, flooding that left Gulf soils as the water receded, and many collapsed or filled gopher tortoise burrows,” wildlife biologist Mike Mills said

Post-Ian, the SCCF documented a 59 2% loss of all active burrows on all sites, with no burrows remaining at all at the Dayton Preserve Although this year’s survey still found a drop of 5 8% in active burrows, the future is promising for Sanibel’s gopher tortoise population

“An inactive or abandoned burrow does not necessarily mean the loss of the tortoise, just that the burrow is not being used,” he said

Fourteen burrows that were considered inactive or abandoned in 2022 are now actively being used again, while eight new ones were discovered.

A state-threatened and keystone species, gopher tortoises require an open-canopy habitat and an abundance

of grasses and ground-level plants Historically, Sanibel was made up of this type of habitat, but due to the lack of naturally occurring fires and the changing of the island’s hydrology, closed-canopy hardwood hammocks started to dominate the landscape

“Since Hurricane Ian, SCCF continues to remove a large amount of dead vegetation, opening up areas of the island that haven’t been exposed to sunlight for decades,” Mills said “This will allow the naturally occurring grassland habitats to return and offer more areas for gopher tortoises to thrive ”

The habitat management team is also thinning out shrubby and woody vegetation in uplands to attract gopher tortoises back to the areas.

Par ticipants sought for mollusk count

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium will hold a Live Mollusk Count on May 6 at 6:30 p.m. on Sanibel. Participants will be assigned a section of beach to walk and will receive a shell guide to help identify species They will observe and document sightings of living mollusks The collected data will be used to help benchmark the health and prevalence of local species on Sanibel There is no cost to participate, but registration is required For more information or to register, contact Jorden Falker at jfalker@shellmuseum org or 239-347-5119

SCCF celebrates volunteers at recognition party

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation celebrated its hundreds of volunteers at its annual Volunteer Appreciation Party on April 10 at the Bailey Homestead Preserve on Sanibel

“Our volunteers are the heart and

Executive Officer James Evans said “Since 1967 when a group of volunteers founded SCCF, those who generously donate their time and talents have served as the basis for our miss

amazing community support.”

Last year, more than 860 volun-

across program areas

S e t a

April’s Earth Month, the theme was “You Mean the World to Us ”

“By acting locally, you are having a global impact on many species that depend on our conservation efforts, like our sea turtles, shorebirds, raptors like our bald eagles and ospreys, as well as other species that are not as well studied like our mud turtles and diamondback terrapins,” he said

One of the highlights was a glob-

al trivia contest, hosted by Coastal Watch Director Kealy McNeal From questions about mangrove ecosystems in Asia to locally threatened bird species, volunteers showcased their conservation knowledge.

Coastal Watch volunteers were

honored for their efforts in helping

Hurricane Ian In 2023, over 650 individual volunteers logged more than 3,000 volunteer hours across 45 cleanup events, removing several

See SCCF, page 13

From left, Is Cloak and J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland.

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA

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 April 16, a traffic stop was initiated on a vehicle for excess speed The driver was subsequently issued a citation for speeding ans a notice to appear for never having a driver’s license issued The vehicle was removed from the scene by a licensed driver.

Enforcement operations statistics

From April 16-22:

∫ Alarm calls (business and residential): 4

∫ 911 non-emergency calls: 22

∫ Traffic crashes: 2

∫ Radar details: 66

∫ Traffic stops: 40

Citations issued: 7

Written warnings issued: 1

Verbal warnings issued: 32

∫ Residential area checks: 511

∫ Business area checks: 237

∫ Total area checks: 1,149

∫ Reported burglaries: 1

∫ Reported thefts: 1

∫ Total CAD calls: 1,429

April 2024 to date:

∫ Alarm calls (business and residential): 16

∫ Non-emergency calls: 59

∫ Traffic crashes: 10

∫ Radar details: 204

∫ Traffic stops: 157

Citations issued: 49

Written warnings issued: 5

Verbal warnings issued: 111

∫ Residential area checks: 1,474

∫ Business area checks: 716

∫ Total area checks: 3,391

∫ Reported burglaries: 2

∫ Reported thefts: 2

∫ Total CAD calls: 4,306

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 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 re-apply for a new pass

Information for the Sanibel Boat Ramp:

∫ Parking and boat launching fee is $40 per day

∫ Parking and boat launching on weekends and

See BLOTTER, page 13

Sanibel library offers range of programs

The Sanibel Public Library provides a variety of programming for adults and children Crafternoon with Ms Shannon will take place today, May 1, from 3 to 4 p m Ages 4 and up and their caregiver can join staffer Shannon Gafgen to make a work of art A variety of craft supplies will be available, along with examples of craft options to complete The Sanibel Public Library will host a Harry Potter Celebration on May 2 from 5 to 7 p.m.

Island resident Linda Linsmayer reported that Sanibel Police Department Lt Steve Royka was caught going above and beyond his job description on April 12 to protect and serve the community He was digging out and removing oversized marine debris, like a truck tire, that washed up on the shore after a week of on-shore winds She encouraged the community to celebrate and thank the humble heroes, like Royka, who recognize every day as Earth Day and help make the sanctuary island more beautiful

LINDA LINSMAYER

MAYRA CASTILLO

From page 12

On May 2, celebrate International Harry Potter Day with a Harry Potter Celebration from 5 to 7 p m Enjoy

H

Broomsticks, a game of trivia and crafting, all while watching “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone ” Wear your favorite Hogwarts House colors

Family Storytime for ages 5 and under and their caregiver will be held on May 3 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 May 8, Crafternoon with Ms Shannon will take

Blotter

From page 12

holidays is with AC/BC permit only

∫ Commercial use is prohibited

∫ Fines for violations at the boat ramp are $500

Solicitation is not allowed on Sanibel

Please share any photos of solicitation hang tags to police@mysanibel com or use Tip411

SCCF

From page 10

thousand pounds of debris They also p l a n t e d 3 , 5 0 0 m

SCCF restoration sites

In a major milestone, Dean Skaugstad was celebrated as SCCF's longest-running volunteer, with his 30-year tenure as a Hammerhead and all-around volunteer earning him a standing ovation

“While we know that you choose to volunteer selflessly and without expectation of being recognized or rewarded, today we wish to do just that,” Evans said

place from 3 to 4:30 p m Ages 4 and up and their caregiver can join Gafgen to make a work of art A variety of craft supplies will be available, along with examples of craft options to complete

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

In addition, the library is getting a new roof The parking garage and other areas may be blocked off for safety and, at times, there may be loud construction noise Visitors are advised to use caution The major project is predicted to be completed within three to four weeks Officials thanked the public for its understanding during the work

Repor ting suspicious activity

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

Additionally, the SCCF recognized the following volunteers for achieving fiveyear milestones in 2024: Susan Beittel, Ruth Brooks, Tory Burch, Claudia Burns, Dean Caple, Mayri Caple, Fay Carney,

Dunham, Michael Galloway, Barb Halko, Gwenda Hiett-Clements, Jewel Jensen, W

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

The Sanibel Public Library is open Mondays and T h u r s d a y s f r o m 9 a m t o 8 p m a n d T u e s d a y s , Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a m to 5 p m

For more information, call 239-472-2483 or visit https://sanlib org/

The Sanibel Public Library is at 770 Dunlop Road, Sanibel

∫ Text the keyword SANIBEL then your tip to 847411

∫ W e b t i p

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

McCallum, Lynn Meline, Pam Miller, Tom Miller, John Morse, Audrey Mulka, Becky Mulka, Lisa Newmeyer-Cochrane,

Puschel, Roberta Puschel, Joleen Raho, Mike Rice, Nancy Riley, Joan Rogers, D o u g R y c k m a n , K a y S a d

Salatino, Laura Shaffer, Dean Skaugstad,

Uhler, Tom Uhler, Marsha Walsh, Rachel Walsh, Karl Werner, Phil Weyman and

Tina Weyman

They contributed their time and talents across an array of departments and program areas, including: shorebird and sea turtle monitoring; Coastal Watch; board of trustees and board advisory committ e e s ; M

Landscapes & Garden Center; education and outreach, including Weeds 'n' Seeds; H

construction and repairs); administrative work; and wildlife monitoring

SPORTS

Rec center provides update on activities, events

The Sanibel Recreation Center reported on upcoming programs and activities

The outdoor courts have reopened. The new and improved courts are dual-lined for tennis and pickleball and can be reserved for free for one hour per day by members

T h e p o s t - H

c

involved the removal and replacement of damaged light poles, light fixtures and fencing Crews removed the asphalt courts and added a new subsurface and 24,000 square feet of asphalt and surfacing

On April 24, members of the community, staff and The Sanibel School celebrated the reopening with a ribbon-cutting It was followed by a friendly tennis match between Mayor Richard Johnson, City Manager Dana Souza and students from the school's Tennis Team

“What a difference 18-plus months makes,” Johnson said “The fact that we're standing here celebrating the reopening of these courts signifies, to a large extent, a sense of normalcy I can't express how good that makes me feel ”

“This reopening is extra special because our parents are now able to come here and cheer on their students there is extra sentimental value,” Principal Jennifer Lusk added “Our community is back and better than ever ”

Pick-up tennis has resumed on the outdoor courts It will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8 to 11:30 a m Limited racquets are available on first come, first served basis

A Youth Dodgeball Showcase will be held on Fridays from now through May 10 Tiny Tots are from 3:45 to 4:15 p m , grades K-1 are from 4:30 to 5:30 p m in Gym A, grades 2-3 are from 4:30 to 5:30 p m in Gym B and grades 4-8 are from 6 to 7 p m in Gym A The cost is $26 for members and $32 for non-members

A May Madness 3V3 Adult Basketball Tournament

REFUGE/DDWS

Free Summer Programs will return in June at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel.

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 refuge will offer Free Summer Programs beginning in early June

∫ Art in the Wild will return on Oct 19

∫ P h o t o g r a p h e r - a r t i s t N i k i B u t c h e r ' s “Daydreaming” exhibition kickoff has been postponed until the late fall or early 2025

∫ Wellness in Nature is scheduled for January

The outdoor courts at the Sanibel Recreation Center are open for use.

will take place on May 4 at 10 a m Open to ages 18 and older, prizes will be awarded to the first and second place teams The cost is $10 for members and $12 50 for nonmembers Registration is required

New and current members can call 239-472-0345 or stop by the front desk for assistance with setting up their CivicRec account

CITY OF SANIBEL

The center is open on Mondays through Thursdays from 7 a m to 7 p m , Fridays from 7 a m to 5 p m and Saturdays from 8 a m to 5 p m A variety of memberships, passes and punch cards are available For more information, visit https://www mysanibel .com/sanibel-online.

The Sanibel Recreation Center is at 3880 SanibelCaptiva Road, Sanibel

Progressive Club to host learning program

Islands' Intergenerational Group will present its next program on May 4 from 10 a.m. to noon in the First

Dunlop Road, Sanibel Led by Ambu

Shade structure installed at CECI

Yoga owner Yali Zawady, it will be a yoga session for all levels in an inclusive and friendly environment Participants should wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat if they have one; extra mats will be available Bringing a beach towel is also

The Children's Education Center of the Islands on Sanibel announced the completion of its new shade structure It was added to the preschool's playground following the loss of a previous s h a d e s

o n

n Hurricane Ian The CECI reported that the new structure will allow students and staff to spend more time outside It was funded through a grant from The Sanctuary Golf Club Foundation.

Jim Pouliot, Kathy Wiesemann, Lisa Schmidlin, Steve Klug and Charlie Sheetz, with The Sanctuary Golf Club Foundation's board of directors

CHILDREN'S EDUCATION CENTER OF THE ISLANDS

geared to all ages For more information or to register, contact pcisancap@gmail.com. For more information about the club, visit https://pcislands org

Half-cent tax

patterns and security in terms of cameras

∫ 22,000 Chromebooks for elementary school students

∫ 73,000 Chromebooks for student refresh program

Shimp said they are also providing PowerPoint presentations in the community to such groups as Rotary Clubs of Cape Coral, Estero, Fort Myers and North Fort Myers

“We ought to step outside and speak to what is happening as a result of the sales tax,” he said “It has been interesting to be a presenter We do encounter people that are against the tax, and they speak up.

Runoff

From page 4

our pollutant load we would need to build the capacity to store and treat 400,000 acrefeet of water

The good news is that there is currently a project underway that will take a large chunk out of that number The C-43 reservoir is a massive storage and treatment component of Central Everglades Restoration Project that will hopefully come online in 2025 When it is complete it will store about 170,000 acrefeet of water

While this is a massive amount of water, it is still less than half of the amount of storage needed Furthermore, it will be difficult to find enough land to build another reservoir of a similar size Instead, communities must begin to think of creative solutions to tackle this issue

However, the best thing we can do to clean the water in our own watershed is source control This means converting from

From page 1

Generally speaking, the public reception of those presentations has been positive ”

Board Member Cathleen Morgan complimented Shimp, as he has really pushed the committee to put together the presentation peers speaking to peers

Superintendent Dr Ken Savage also thanked Shimp for his service, as the committee is independent in nature

“This is not district advocacy,” he said “Our role is to provide facts and that is all we should do This is not our sales tax This is the community, the voters Our obligation is to provide information to the voters of what the impact is.”

septic to sewer, creating Best Management Practices that remove agriculture pollution from our waterways, and helping people to understand the importance of selective fertilizer usage on their own properties or eliminating the need for fertilizer by planting natives

While it is daunting to face the scale of the nutrient pollution issues facing the Caloosahatchee, it is also empowering to know that the solutions to many of our water quality issues can come from our own backyard

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

Winners

From page 1

Cross, who lived part-time on Sanibel, marched with Dr M a r t i n L u t h e r K i n g J r ; advised the Johnson and Nixon administrations on anti-poverty programs; wrote the book “

United, a birding Web site that ranked legislators according to their record of bird protection support

Late in life, Cross decided to indulge his love for birds and photography and traveled the world to collect stunning portraits and stories to chronicle his adventures He photographed often at the Sanibel refuge, and a number of the images in his book reflect his love for it Cross published “ W

m B i r d i

g Adventures” in 2009 at age 85; he passed away shortly after that in 2010 His family established the contest in his memory in 2015 Refuge facilities operations specialist Scott Norwood, professional photographer Daniel Suarez and island community m e m b e r L i z B i r m i n g h a m j u d g e d t h i s year's contest They reviewed 295 images taken by students from six schools and selected three winners and 12 honorable mentions.

In second place, Hannah Finman submitted her “Testudinidae” photo

Norwood said “It’s the circle of life Without bees, life doesn’t even exist ”

The honorable mention winners are as follows in alphabetical order:

∫ Tyler Guillette, of Estero High School, “Gator's Gaze”

∫ Eden Harris, of Cape Coral High School, “Macro Bee”

First place went to an image titled “Swamp Puppy” by Luke Guillette of Estero High School In the description he wrote about his entry, he pondered the survival of nature: “While I was sitting there watching and photographing the gators I saw many people come by and see the alligators then they would get scared by them and would run away or go somewhere else which made me think about why and how nature can be scary to some people as they don’t actually understand that everything just wants to survive ” Suarez complimented the photographer’s skill

“One of my favorite things in good wildlife photographs is getting eye level with the subject,” he said “It’s a good technique, and this one achieves that ”

In second place, Hannah Finman from Naples High School named her portrait of the gopher tortoise “Testudinidae,” the Latin name for the tortoise family

“I just like the way the turtle is looking right at you,” Birmingham said “The photographer zoomed in so close that the eyes are right there ”

Third place winner Kenzie Wallace from Cape Coral High School took third place with “Bee on a Flower ”

“ I

, ”

∫ Melissa Hiatte, of Cypress Lake High School, “Best Friends”

∫ Carter Koehler, of Cypress Lake High School, “Fall Leaves in Florida”

∫ Ron Marquette, of Lemon Bay High School, “Fading Echoes”

∫ Hannah McDaniel, of Cape Coral High School, “The Bee and the Flower”

∫ Ryan Mitchinson, of Cape Coral High School, “Holding On”

∫ Luis Ojeda, of Lehigh Senior High School, “Lakeside View”

∫ Angelina Pizarro, of Cypress Lake High School, “Flor Morado”

∫ Keilly Viera, of Cape Coral High School, “Rainy Flower”

∫ Lilly Witz, of Cypress Lake High School, “Rainy Succulent”

∫ Dahney Yan, of Lehigh Senior High School, “Hidden Colors”

expressed difficulty in narrowing down the choices

“It always amazes me, the quality of photos we get from these young adults,” April Boehnen, who coordinates the contest for the DDWS, said “We marvel at the unique perspectives and angles ” To view the winning images and for more information about the contest, visit dingdarlingsociety org/photo-contests

HANNAH FINMAN

KENZIE WALLACE

“Bee on a Flower” by Kenzie Wallace took third place

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

Tracks made by a nesting female leatherback For context, the stake is 4 feet long

Nesting season

more commonly nest on the east coast of the state ” T

leatherback nesting in 2009, 2015 and 2020 The 2009 and 2015 seasons each had one nest, but in 2020 a single turtle, identified during night surveys, laid six nests across Sanibel and Captiva

At an average of 6 feet long and between 500-1,500 pounds, leatherbacks are significantly larger than loggerheads the islands' most abundant nesting sea t

Sanibel and Captiva

April 15 officially marked the first day of nesting season, which will run through October

The SCCF reported that hundreds of more sea turtle nests will be laid across the islands, and staff and volunteers will be out daily to monitor and protect each one Beginning at sunrise, the sea turtle team s

S a n i b e l a n d C a p t i v a l o o k i n g f o r n e w

nests, monitors existing ones and collects inventory data on hatched ones

“The vast majority of these nests will be laid by loggerheads, but it's possible

Brzoza said

Sea turtle monitoring originally began on Sanibel in the 1950s with Charles LeBuff and Caretta Research Inc., making it one of the longest-running monitoring programs in the country When Caretta Research disbanded in 1992, the SCCF took over the program and continues to manage it today.

It provided the following tips to help keep the islands sea turtle-friendly:

∫ After 9 p m , it is turtle time! Turn off/shield all lights visible on or from the beach, which disorient hatchlings Do not use flashlights or cell phone lights on the beach. If necessary, use amber or red LED bulbs

∫ R e m o v e o b s t a c l e s f o r n e s t i n g females, such as beach furniture, toys and sandcastles

∫ Fill in holes, which can trap sea turtles, especially hatchlings

∫ Pick up all trash on the beach Litter can attract predators, and sea turtles can ingest or become entangled by discarded trash and fishing line

From page 1

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Leatherback nest density (measured in number of nests per kilometer of beach) in Florida from 2011-15. Highdensity beaches are those with the top 25% of density values, low-density beaches have the lowest 25%, and beaches with densities between the two are defined medium-density beaches White indicates beaches where leatherbacks were not observed to have nested during the five-year period

∫ Keep at least 10 feet from marked sea turtle nests Do not disturb nesting turtles do not to get too close, shine lights on or take flash photos of nesting sea turtles

∫ Do not disturb the screens covering nests They prevent predators from eating the eggs Hatchlings can emerge through the holes without assistance

In addition, boaters can do their part to keep the surrounding waters sea turtlefriendly by:

∫ Avoiding the area along the beach, if possible

∫ Having a designated spotter on the boat to look out for sea turtles

∫ Wearing polarized sunglasses to help with spotting sea turtles.

∫ Going as slow as possible in areas where sea turtles are or might be

For more ways to protect and care for sea turtles, visit https://sancaplifesavers org/

To report issues with nests, nesting turtles or hatchlings, call the SCCF's Sea Turtle Hotline at 978-SAVE-ONE (978728-3663)

For more information about the SCCF's Sea Turtle Program, visit https://sccf org/ w

program/

Chamber cuts ribbons at two Sanibel restaurants

The island dining scene continues to come back strong with two restaurant openings celebrated by the SanCap Chamber of Commerce on April 11 on Sanibel: The O r i g i n a l C h e e b u r g e r C h e e b u r g e r a n d W

Lighthouse Restaurant

Named for the immortal “Saturday Night Live” bit when it first opened in 1986, Cheeburger's new owners added “The Original” when they purchased the business just prior to Hurricane Ian The new name recognizes the Sanibel restaurant’s lead in a franchise that spread across the nation after it first opened The owners planned to renovate the classic island restaurant, then Ian pushed the envelope.

Cheeburger debuts a total facelift and a few new surprises on the menu, including chicken tacos, shrimp and grouper, in addition to its famous cheeseburgers now made with 100% fresh Angus beef sundaes and milkshakes

“We’ve had a full remodel, from floor to ceiling, and from kitchen to bathrooms to dining room,” General Manager Sithembile Khumalo said “Perhaps our most obvious change is the addition of a large sports bar right in the center of our circular building We plan to bring a roster of varied entertainment options to the island, fitting for both our family-friendly dining room as well as our bar patrons And, we’ve added some really unique retrovibe decorations to the space, including a red '59 Corvette and yellow '58 Indian Chief motorcycle ”

“Judging by the calls and emails we receive, visitors and islanders alike have eagerly awaited Cheeburger’s reopening,” chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said “Not only does it bring back its popular repertoire of food and drink, but reinvents itself with fun decor and a new bar and entertainment area at its core ”

The new Wickies Lighthouse Restaurant held its soft opening on April 1 for dinner and on April 2 for breakfast and lunch, but its owners considered the chamber's ribbon-cutting as the official opening

“Our official announcement to the community that we are finally ready for you,” co-owner Bridgit Kolshak said “We feel we have ironed out most of the early-stage kinks and are now taking reservations ”

The restaurant incorporates the best of former Sanibel

SANCAP CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Original Cheeburger Cheeburger on Sanibel celebrated its ribbon-cutting with the SanCap Chamber of Commerce on April 11

landmark restaurant The Mad Hatter and The Island Cow in the spot where the longstanding Lighthouse Restaurant formerly resided

“Wickies has become the perfect combination of both businesses,” she said “We combined the relaxed, beachy feel of Island Cow with the upscale Mad Hatter menu items and ended up with something completely new for Sanibel ”

Bridget and Max Kolshak formerly owned The Mad Hatter, which Ian wiped out Friends and partners Brian and Elke Podlasek operated The Island Cow before a fire destroyed it in August of 2022 Both couples plan on reopening their original respective restaurants in time

In February, the partners opened The Magic Bus Ice Cream & Caffeine next door to Wickies, and that marriage has worked well, Kolshak said The Magic Bus provides a place for guests to purchase Wickies merchandise and have dessert at the same time, returning the oncelively shopping and dining element to Sanibel’s east end

The owners heard early on from neighborhood locals a need to serve dinner, so they added a bar as they completed renovations on every inch of the building

“The space is bright and airy with a coastal modern feel,” she said “We are very happy with the way it turned out, and visitors and locals alike love the food and are already return customers ”

Chamber From page 8

level and most damaged by hurricane flooding, along with the office, which required total demolition Most amenities have been restored, including an essentially new swimming pool Elevator repairs and a new office are on their way

Sanibel Siesta has upgraded its internet and television service and restored destroyed landscaping It launched the Sanibel Siesta Family Bricks Fundraiser to help with the latter

“One casualty was our ‘big blue chair,’ which was swept away by the flood,” Keneford said “It was found some distance away and returned to us and is back in its former location It has become symbolic of our determination to restore the Siesta to its former glory ”

“Originally a motel and cottages in the 1960s, Sanibel Siesta became the condo complex it is today in 1974 the same year Sanibel incorporated as a city,” chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said “So, we congratulate them on their rebound and, at the same time, wish them a happy 50th anniversary, right along with the city ”

An essential part of the business community since island pioneer Ralph Woodring started it with his moth-

“What a pleasure it was to cut the ribbon at this dreamcome-true,” Lai said “Sanibel’s east end is once again a foodie destination, where some of the islands’ savviest restaurateurs have turned disaster into delight ”

Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

Restaurant is at 362 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

Wickies Lighthouse Restaurant on Sanibel celebrated its ribbon-cutting with the SanCap Chamber of Commerce on April 11

Business Notes

From page 8

Everglades restoration, it serves as an advocacy engine for the Everglades restoration process

John R. Wood adds new agents

John R Wood Christie’s International Real Estate announced the addition of 16 new agents in March

In Lee County, Dean Bach, Joe Carfora, Amber Cory and James Faircloth joined the Bonita Springs office, and Patrick Crawford, Cathy Johnson, Eric Schnake and Alison Schnake joined the University office

In Collier County, Charles “Chuck” Agrusa, Luisa Cestari and Rachael Rogala joined the Fifth Avenue office; Gail Archer, Alexa Chase and Alyssa Taylor joined the Broad Avenue South office; Robin Lane joined the North Naples office; and Heidi Bennet joined the Vineyards office

PHOTO PROVIDED

From left to right, John Grim, Sanibel resid

Professor Emeritus Dr Peter Blaze Corcoran and Mary Evelyn Tucker

Islander recognized with award

The Thomas Berry Foundation named Sanibel resident and Florida Gulf Coast University Professor Emeritus Dr Peter Blaze Corcoran a 2024 Thomas Berry Award winner at the Earth Charter International Education Conference on April 12-14 at Rollins College in Winter Park

He was honored for his work in the field of Earth Charter scholarship.

The other winners were University Leaders for a S

Clugston and Earth Charter International Executive Director Mirian Vilela

Themed “Reimagining Education for Ecological Civilizations” this year, the conference was a gathering of educators and researchers from around the world to discuss new ways to advance the mission of the Earth Charter, a statement of ethical principles for sustainability

er, Esperanza, in 1971, the Bait Box began as a trailer selling bait and other fishing supplies Later, Woodring moved the old Sanibel-Captiva firehouse to the location

“My family is a long line of Chicago firemen,” Matt Joyce, owner since 2022, said “My grandfather, father, uncles and many cousins One cousin was the Chicago Fire Department Commissioner years ago I love that tie in ”

The historic building survived the hurricane, but flood waters pushed it off its foundation of palm tree stumps. The owners raised the cottage-style building by crane to

put new concrete footings in place

“I, along with every person who has driven by the Bait Box since Ian, have watched curiously and hopefully as the building was happily rescued,” Lai said “It represents our history, our fishing heritage, our resilience, and we welcome its comforting presence ” Sanibel Siesta on the Beach is at 1246 Fulgur St , Sanibel

The Historic Bait Box is at 1041 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.

islanders cheer the reopening of the Historic Bait Box on Sanibel on April 9.

SANCAP CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

islanders cheer the reopening of Sanibel Siesta on the Beach on April 8 on Sanibel.

Famous movie lines

Great movies often contain memorable lines that a r e r e m e m b e r e d l o n g a f t e r t h o s e m o v i e s a r e

Everyone knows where the great line, “frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn” comes from It came, of course, from “Gone with the Wind.” It’s in the very final scene where a frus-

t r a t e d a n d d i s i l l u s i o n e d Clark Gable bids farewell

t o h i s w i f e p l a y e d b y Vivien Leigh.

B u t d o e s a n y o n e remember where this next

g r e a t m o v i e l i n e c a m e from? The line is “beyond those trees lurks an evil that even evil fears ” That line is from the movie

“ A b b o t t a n d C o s t e l l o

M e e t R o c k y ” I f y o u recall, the line is uttered during the movie’s clim a c t i c b o x i n g s c e n e where Lou Costello beats Sylvester Stallone to a pulp but is disqualified because his boxing gloves contain several grams of Vitalis A little dab did it

And what about the line from “Gidget Goes to the Bronx?” As played by the ever youthful Sandra Dee, who in real life was once Bobby Darin’s wife, Gidget says to one of her high school suitors, “Is that a comb in your hair or are you just glad to dye me?” A truly memorable line

Here are some other memorable movie lines you’ll surely remember: “The stuff dreams are made of” from “The Maltese Falcon,” “Here’s looking at you, kid” from “Casablanca” and “I love the smell of napalm in the morning” from “Apocalypse Now ”

But in the 1990 blockbuster “Hotel Shortage” the Burt Lancaster character says to Shirley Maclaine “Okay, sister, hand it over ” That movie line has met the test of time and is currently uttered in every geometry class in the country during the first session of the third week High school teachers start their classes by u t t e r i n g t h a t l i n e b e f o r e e v e n c a l l i n g t h e r o l l

Common usage of that line has changed during the past twenty plus years and is now used to invite students to drop their mobile devices in a special bin before entering the classroom

I n “ S a v i n g S e r g e a n t G o l d b e r g , ” t h e S t e v e n Spielberg war classic, the lead character, played by Tom Hanks utters the following line when seeing his troops attack the Normandy beaches: “Do you know if the Yankees won yesterday?” Clearly, this line is meant to reflect the courage and resolve of U.S. fighting forces The fact that the New York Yankees won had nothing to do with the eventual outcome of the invasion

Other famous movie lines were: “What we have here is a failure to communicate” from “Cool Hand Luke”; “Oh, no, it wasn’t the airplanes It Was Beauty Killed the Beast,” from “King Kong”; and “Show me the money,” from “Jerry Maguire ”

But, again, there are famous movie lines that may have been forgotten with the passage of years For example, “who’s going to leave the tip?” from “The Stranger who Knew Me.” And “nerve, verve, who’s going to serve?” from the sports classic “Wimbledon Uncovered ”

And, “you call this rice pudding?” from the cult favorite the “Vanilla Horror Picture Show ” There are so many famous movie lines that it’s hard to remember all of them But think “White Heat” and you have “top of the world, ma”; “Casablanca” and “round up the usual suspects; and “I see dead people” from “The Sixth Sense ”

Then there are those least remembered movie lines that predated similar but more memorable lines in later movies, like “I could have been a barber, I could have been a somebody, instead of a bum, which is what I am,” from “On the Diving Board ”

Or “I have always depended on the kindness of morons,” from the silent film classic “A Bus Named Repulsive.”

See MOVIE LINES, page 25

Fundraiser to feature dinner, raffle and more to support island school

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

An upcoming fundraiser will offer a variety of ways to support The Sanibel School and its students

The Sanibel School Fund will host its annual Blue Ribbon Golf Classic & Gala on May 11 at The Sanctuary Golf Club on Sanibel. While the golf scramble has sold out, tickets are still available for the gala and dinner The event also includes a helicopter ball drop and raffle giveaway for two e-bikes

“We hope you can join us as we celebrate this year's theme, “The Future is Bright!,” the group shared “We are excited for what's ahead at The Sanibel School and for all of our students' bright futures ”

The proceeds from the fundraiser will supplement the school's budget to enhance the curriculum, including its STEAM Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics program

“All funds raised will support The Sanibel School's STEAM program and help the Sanibel School Fund expand the enrichment programming that it provides,” the group noted

Following the golf tournament, the gala will kick off at 5 p m with a cocktail hour

At 5:30 p m , the helicopter ball drop will take place

“Back by popular demand, we are thrilled to present the helicopter ball drop at the gala cocktail party on the back patio,” the group shared

Four hundred golf balls will be dropped on to the course from the helicopter A “hole in one” would be deemed the winner. If no balls fall in the hole, then the closest to the flag wins the cash grand prize

The cost to take part is $25 per ball or five for $100

“You do not need to be present at the event to win the hole-in-one,” the group noted

The gala will continue from 6 to 11 p m with dinner, dancing, and a silent and live auction The winner of two HyperScorpion Expresses moped-style e-bikes from Juiced Bikes will also be announced

“The HyperScorpion Express is the ultimate high-performance cargo e-bike that the winner can customize to their liking by adding a passenger kit, insulated grocery bag and more,” the group shared.

The bikes are valued at $2,599 each

The raffle tickets cost $50

Again, the winner does not need to be present to win Raffle tickets and golf balls will be available for purchase until the night of the event

THE SANIBEL SCHOOL

STEAM students at The Sanibel School assemble two moped-style e-bikes that will be raffled off for the Sanibel School Fund's annual Blue Ribbon Golf Classic & Gala on May 11 on Sanibel

Gala tickets are available until May 4

“Please celebrate with fun attire aligned with the future, scientific discovery, space exploration or any other interpretation that inspires you,” the group noted

As the Blue Ribbon Partner, The Sanctuary Golf Club Foundation is this year's presenting sponsor Claremont Property Company is the Premier Blue Ribbon Partner, while Haas Financial and Shamrock Roofing Company are the Grand Blue Ribbon Partners Adventures in Paradise Outfitters is sponsoring the helicopter golf ball drop Laurie and Bill Harkey are sponsoring the bikes as they donated them.

“Many thanks to our community and school parents for your continued support of our special school,” the group shared “We look forward to another fun and successful event ”

For more information or to purchase tickets or golf balls, visit www sanibelschoolfund org

The Sanctuary Golf Club is at 2801 Wulfert Road, Sanibel

w i t h h i s c o n g r e g a t i o n a n d r e a s s u r -

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

a r k B o y e a , C a p t i v a

C h a p e l b y t h e S e a R e v D r D o u g

D o r t c h , M a r y L . M i l l e r w i t h t h e

C h r i s t i a n S c i e n c e C h u r c h , B a t

Y a m T e m p l e o f t h e I s l a n d s R a b b i

S u n n y S c h n i t z e r a n d S a i n t M i c h a e l a n d A l l A n g e l s E p i s c o p a l C h u r c h

R e v W i l l i a m “ B i l l ” V a n O s s T h e p r o g r a m o p e n e d w i t h t h e p a n e l i s t s d e s c r i b i n g t h e h i s t o r y o f t h e i r c o n g r e g a t i o n s A t t e n d e e s h e a r d a b o u t h o w e a c h c o n g r e g a t i o n d e a l t w i t h t h e d e v a s t a t i o n f r o m t h e

h u r r i c a n e T h e p a n e l i s t s a l s o

d e s c r i b e d w h a t i t w a s l i k e f r o m

t h e i r p e r s o n a l p e r s p e c t i v e o n t h a t

d a y a n d t h e i r t h o u g h t s w h e n t h e y f i r s t s a w t h e i r s a n c t u a r i e s

B o y e a s p o k e o n c o m m u n i c a t i o n

D o r t c h e x p l a i n e d t h a t t h e c h a p e l d i d n o t s u f f e r a s m u c h d a m a g e a s t h e o t h e r h o u s e s o f w o r s h i p o n S a n i b e l H e t a l k e d a b o u t t h e l e s s o n o f f i n d i n g w a y s t o c l a i m t h a t t i m e a s a n o p p o r t u n i t y f o r r e n e w a l M i l l e r d e s c r i b e d h o w t h e h u r r ic a n e d e c i m a t e d t h e i r c h u r c h T h e d e c i s i o n w a s m a d e o n e o f t h e b l e s s i n g s , s h e s a i d t o c l o s e

d o w n T h e c o n g r e g a t i o n i s n o w g a t h e r i n g a t a C h r i s t i a n S c i e n c e C h u r c h i n F o r t M y e r s M i l l e r e x p l a i n e d h o w t h e w e e k l y l e s s o n s a r e s e n t f r o m B o s t o n , s o t h e y k n o w w h a t l e s s o n t h e y a r e g o i n g t o s t u d y

o n S u n d a y S c h n i t z e r s p o k e a b o u t h o w B a t Y a m ' s H o l o c a u s t T o r a h w a s r e t r i e v e d b y S c o t a n d M e l i s s a

C o n g r e s s , w h o r o d e a b o a t t o

S a n i b e l T h e c o n g r e g a n t s w e r e

a f f e c t e d b y t h e s t o r y , a l o n g w i t h h i m s e l f a s S c h n i t z e r h a d b e e n t o t h e t o w n i n E u r o p e w h e r e t h e t o r a h c a m e f r o m V a n O s s f i r s t s a w t h e d a m a g e a t t h e i r c h u r c h n i n e d a y s a f t e r t h e s t o r m H e w o n d e r e d h o w t h e y w e r e g o i n g t o b u i l d b a c k , b u t p e o p l e k n e w h o w a n d t h e y b e g a n V a n O s s t a l k e d a b o u t m i r a c l e s a n d g r a t i t u d e f o r w h a t d i d n o t h a p p e n I n a d d i t i o n , t h e p a n e l i s t s s h a r e d l e s s o n s l e a r n e d f r o m b i b l i c a l s t or i e s a n d s c r i p t u r e s . T h e i r m e s s a g e w a s I a n i s n o t g o i n g t o h a v e t h e l a s t w o r d , a c h a i n o f r e s p o n s e i s a w a ke n e d b y G o d ' s p r e s e n c e , h o p e i s p r o d u c e d , a n d o n e i s n o t a l o n e T h e p r o g r a m e n d e d w i t h a r e c

Art Stevens Shell Shocked

BIG ARTS to hold reception for new exhibits

BIG ARTS will host a multi-artist reception on May 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. for two new exhibits, “Art as Therapy, Hope and Healing Through Art” and “Inaugural Artists Collective ” Free and open to the public, it will feature the opportunity to meet with the artists and complimentary wine and light bites

On display from May 3 through June 7 in the Dunham Family Gallery, “Art as Therapy, Hope and Healing Through Art”

i s a c o l l a b o r a t i o n b e t w e e n H o p e Healthcare and Lee Health Expressive arts, in all forms, strive to provide hope and healing through the creative process The exhibit shares the journey of each

artist during bereavement, grief, illness, depression, physical and emotional challenges, rehabilitation, and recovery

On display from now through July 19 i n

Artists Collective” features BIG ARTS' instructors exhibiting an eclectic body of work that includes a range of mediums, including oil painting, watercolor pencils, acrylics, mixed media, fused glass, poetry and more Explore their creative expertise through the exhibit, which provides a glimpse into the artistic prowess they bring to their classes and workshops.

The BIG ARTS Fine Arts Series is sponsored by Jim and Gaye Pigott

Movie lines From page

My own personal movie line favorite is the Greta Garbo line from “Grand Hotel,” a line that has become immortal and forever linked to this mysterious Swedish beauty: “I want to be with freaks ”

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

BIG ARTS is at 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel

“2 Of A Kind”

24

TAYLOR SCALZO “Star And

“Rocky” “yo, Adrian ” With movie lines like this who needs Lord Byron?

Art Stevens is a long-time columnist for the Islander His tongue-in-cheek humor is always offered with a smile

Stripes”

KATHLEEN CONOVER

ISL AND HOME islander

Running

over beaches

Watch out for Florida’s railroad vine (Ipomoea pes-caprae) as its fast pace might surprise you With its signature “track-like” branches and bright pink blooms, the vine makes a r a c y s t a t e m

n t i n beachfront gardens and dune plantings

A ls o referred to as t h e b e a c h m o r n i n g glory, the vine gets its nickname for good reason, as it’s tolerant to the salty winds of our local b

p

e for sandy soil makes it a good candidate for dune stabilization The Sunshine State offers the native perfect conditions for full sun year-round, and though it blooms sparingly throughout the year, its peak bloom time is May through November. An occasional flowering of lovely pink buds follows a pattern of opening in the mornings and closing by mid-afternoons, so catch a must-see glimpse of its beauty before it goes away

Something to remember when installing the plant is to give it plenty of room to grow and blossom

Nothing can quite stand in the way of its weaving tendrils, so be sure to trim your railroad vine before it latches onto another plant among your landscape

Providing 3-5 feet of space in between fresh sprouts gives potential for the vines to tangle among each other and create sufficient groundcover. With a height reaching about 16 inches, the plant grows out more than up, though if managed properly, the railroad vine is not too much of a burden, but rather an attraction to your garden

Plant this Florida native among your garden and watch in amazement as its vining branches grow before your eyes

In The Garden is a joint effort by all at the local

, Sanibel For more information, contact 239-3955859 or visit www.facebook.com/rswalshinthegarden.

F.I.S.H. distributes holiday baskets

preparation for Easter, F I S H of

holiday dinner baskets for families and

books, candy, small toys, school supplies and more This year, F I S H distributed 200 dinner baskets and 200 bunny baskets to neighbors The recipients were known to F I S H through their usage of its other programs, like the food pantry

F I S H thanked Bank of the Islands for accepting donations and The Community

Association of Realtors and many others who donated to the cause F

Deadline extended for hurricane protection giveaway

Advanced Hurricane Technology announced an extension for its 2024 Hero Giveaway

This year's giveaway will provide one veteran, first responder, active military member or their immediate family residing in Lee or Collier counties with hurricane rolldowns, accordions or screens

Community heroes have until May 6 to register for a chance to win

The winner will be revealed on May 10

Jaime Zabala Jr said “It's our way of saying 'thank you' for their unwavering service ” To qualify, candidates must be first responders, active military members or military veterans residing in Lee or Collier Homeownership within the counties and availability for interviews to share their service stories are also required

For more information or to sign up, visit https://ahtworldwide.com/2024-aht-giveaway/.

“We realized that more heroes deserve a chance to secure their homes against nature's fury. Extending the deadline ensures that every community guardian has the

F.I.S.H. to hold distribution event

In partnership with the United W

F I S H of Sanibel-Captiva contin-

Hurricane Ian Point of Distribution (POD) program The next event will take place on May 3 from 9 to 11 a m at the Walk-In Center, at

The program is available to Sanibel

and Captiva residents and workers; recipients must show proof of resid

a vehicle large enough for the items and some extra hands to lift them

Robyn Moran and Phaidra McDermott, with Kingfisher Real Estate, were home sponsors of the Bayou Manor for the Zonta Club of Sanibel-Captiva's A Peek at the Unique on March 16 on Sanibel

Proceeds from the annual home tour will be awarded in grants to local nonprofits whose programs build better lives for women and girls

PHOTO PROVIDED Railroad vine

wild

Recipe of the Week: Salsa Al Pomodoro Fresh Tomato Concasse Sauce

By CHEF LORETTA PAGANINI

A quick and easy tomato sauce that can be made in 20 minutes or less You are not dreaming, this is it Toss it with your favorite pasta and magic will be happening at you dinner table Makes 3-4 cups (Chef tip: Use red ripe tomatoes for best results )

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 small onion, finely minced

1/4 cup carrot, grated

4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

1 cup tomato sauce

2 cups ripe Italian plum tomatoes, cored, seeded and diced (concasse)

Loretta Paganini

CROW Calendar

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

∫ Today, May 1

Program of the Week at 11 a m

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

∫ Thursday, May 2

Program of the Week at 11 a m

The presentation will be about CROW

∫ Friday, May 3

Program of the Week at 11 a m

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

∫ Monday, May 6

Program of the Week at 11 a m

The presentation will be the presenter's choice

∫ Tuesday, May 7

Program of the Week at 11 a.m.

“Climate Change ”

∫ Wednesday, May 8

Program of the Week at 11 a.m.

The presentation will be about “Road Ecology ” 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

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

http://www crowclinic org/ or call 239472-3644.

Will we choose disruption or relationship?

A short time ago, the singer, musician and songw r i t e r J o h n M e l l e n c a m p , who over a 40-plus year career has sold more than 60 million albums worldwide and is well-known for

h u g e p o p - r o c k h i t s l i k e

“ J a c k a n d D i a n e ” a n d “Small Town,” had one of his concerts disrupted by a heckler.

A s M e l l e n c a m p w a s telling a story in preparation for the next song he was about to perform, a m e m b e r o f t h e a u d i e n c e y e l l e d , “ J u s t p l a y t h e music!” Mellencamp, not

Dr.

Mark Boyea

Guest Commentary

e x a c t l y n o t e d f o r h i s patience at times, immediately went back at the heckler and then walked off the stage He did return awhile later, but only performed a couple of m o r e s o n g s b e f o r e d e c i d i n g t h a t t h e evening’s environment had been completely disrupted the appropriate and necessary relationships among him, the i n d i v i d u a l a u d i e n c e m e m b e r s a n d t h e audience as a whole, as a community disrupted.

Just like in the Garden of Eden

A couple of weeks ago in this same space, my colleague and friend, the Rev Bill Van Oss, rector of Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, eloquently commented on the wonders of God’s crea t i o n i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e

1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

In a six-quart stock pot, saute onion, carrot and garlic in the olive oil until onion is transparent, about five minutes

Add prepared tomatoes concasse, tomato sauce and pepper flakes Cook at medium heat for 20 minutes or until reduced Add basil Season with salt and pepper and cook for 10 minutes

Serve over pasta

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

Services will return for season in November Videos of services from the past season can be found on the chapel's website and Facebook page

∫ 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 are 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 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Services will be recorded and posted on the SCC's YouTube channel

∫ 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

eclipse Rev Bill, referencing the creation stories found in the first two chap-

t e r s o f t h e B o o k o f

G e n e s i s , d e s c r i b e d h o w they point to the wonder of God, and the vast expanse

o f s p a c e , t h e s u n s a n d planets, and, of course, this earth Oh so right

At the same time, the second of those creation stories also offers us a God who, more than anything,

d e s i r e s r e l a t i o n s h i p deep, meaningful, lasting, h e a l t h y r e l a t i o n s h i p among God, humanity and the rest of creation. The k i n d o f r e l a t i o n s h i p s which, as we know from our own experience, are impossible without appr opr iate and neces s ar y bou ndaries.

And in what could be seen as Part 2 of t h a t s e c o n d c r e a t i o n s t o r y , h u m a n i t y transgresses the one boundary that God has given them After God places the man who we come to know as Adam in the Garden of Eden in the creation in order to keep it “keep” as in “watch

o v e r , ” l i k e a l i g h t h o u s e k e e p e r , n o t “own” or “possess” God tells the man that everything in the garden is there for him to sustain and for it to sustain him and the woman we know as Eve who will soon be created as well Everything, that is, except one particular tree the tree

∫ 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 5 p m Sunday Mass at 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; 10:30 a m service is available via livestream, with the link on the website

of “the knowledge of good and evil ”

Now why God would not want humanity to have that knowledge is a question that has been debated since the story was written, with no one explanation ever serving as the definitive one What is d e f i n i t i v e t h o u g h , i s t h a t a s s o o n a s humanity transgresses that boundary once it is led by the “crafty” serpent to decide that it’s perfectly fine for them to ignore that boundary to do whatever it wants in and with the creation every relationship in the Garden is disrupted

The relationships among God, humanity and creation are all disrupted

Because that’s what happens when we decide that we can do whatever we want in and with creation When we convince ourselves that we are its owners rather than its keepers as that word is understood in the story Disruption Disruption of our relationship with the rest of crea t i o n D i s

i o n s h i p s with each other Disruption of our relationship with God Disruption resulting in all kinds of physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual harm

Which, though framed differently, was exactly what troubled Mellencamp After that night, Mellencamp explained that he as well as many other musicians, as well as actors, athletes and comedians have become increasingly frustrated with a g r o w i n g r e s i s t a n c e i f n

refusal on the part of fans to keep to the appropriate boundaries necessary for all to enjoy the environment of the performance or game, a growing attitude of “I bought a ticket, so I own this environment I can do whatever I want in and with it ”

But all that mindset does is cause disruption in a theater, in an arena, and, most importantly, in the creation that God has blessed us with and given us to watch over

In the shadow of that recently passed solar eclipse and the Earth Day which followed shortly after then, what will we choose disruption or relationship?

The Rev Dr Mark Boyea is senior minister at the Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ

Cheeburger Cheeburger, 1975 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

Cielo, 1244 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

MudBugs Cajun Kitchen, 1473 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

Otter's Island Eats, 11506 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva

islandBEAT islander

Tutti Pazzi Italian Kitchen, 1200 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

The Santiva Islanders will present the following:

Cardio

& Strength

Santiva Islanders Calendar

Social Bridge

Mahnaz Bassir will host Cardio & Strength today, May 1, from 10 to 11 a m in the Parish Hall at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal 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

Breakfast Club

Breakfast Club will be held on May 2 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 978-239-4612

Social Bridge will be held on May 2 from noon to 2:30 p m in the library at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, at 2304 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Cost is $5 For more information, contact Bryant Korn at bryantekorn@gmail com

Social Mahjong

Social Mahjong will be held on May 2 from noon to 2:30 p m in the music room at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, at 2304 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Cost is $5 For more information, contact Beth Funderburg at bfundy4648@gmail com

Coffee & Conversation

Coffee & Conversation will be held on May 3 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

The Community House, at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, will present the following:

Shellcrafters

The Shellcrafters will meet on May 6 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

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 in-person 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 sanibelcommun

-

office@sanibelcommunityhouse net

Mahnaz Bassir will host Cardio & Strength on May 3 from 10 to 11 a m in the Parish Hall at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal 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

Coffee & Conversation

Coffee & Conversation will be held on May 6 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 May 6 from 10 to 11 a m in the Parish Hall at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal 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

Happy Hour

Happy Hour will be held on May 6 from 4 to 6 p m at Tutti Pazzi Italian Kitchen, at 1200 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Enjoy happy hour drink and appetizer specials Attendees will order and pay individually

Cardio & Strength

Mahnaz Bassir will host Cardio & Strength on May 8 from 10 to 11 a m in the Parish Hall at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal 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

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://santivaislanders org/ or contact santivaislanders@gmail com

The Mucky Duck, 11546 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva

Rosalita's Cantina, 975 Rabbit Road, Sanibel

1551 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

Shelly Cove suppor ts sea tur tle program

Conservation Foundation's sea turtle program Founded nine years ago with a purpose to save sea turtles, the clothing company donates 10% of its net profits to various sea turtle and ocean conservation organizat

$200,000 to date

The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge reported that for the final visit of the school year, the J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge's Wildlife on Wheels has pulled into Oak Hammock Middle School in the Tice community through May 7 The WoW team came up with a way to teach sixth-graders about the scientific concepts of weathering, land erosion and depositing using relay racing and building blocks

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

From left, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Chief Executive Officer and Shelly Cove Sales Manager Ali Pfeifer

Commerce co-presenters of the 50th anniversary of

Captiva Community Bank is the gold sponsor for the 13month celebration starting on Nov 5 It will kick off a continuous celebration with island businesses and organizations that will end with Holiday Luminary on Dec 6,

50YearsofSanibel com For sponsorship and support

SANCAP CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

From left, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank President and Chief Executive Officer Kyle DeCicco and SanCap Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai.

Eclipse celebration held at refuge

Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge h

Celebration on April 8 at The Roost that drew a full house of sun-watchers It

Florida Gulf Coast University, moon pies, a chance drawing for a framed print of the

phases of the moon and free eclipse glasses Sue Hamblen, of Fort Myers, was the winner of the drawing In addition, 216 students from Lehigh Elementary used solar eclipse glasses from the DDWS with their science coach, Angi McStravic, and other teachers to watch the eclipse from behind their school

Nicholas Linsmayer shot a photo of the eclipse from The Roost at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel.

B a n k o f t h e I s l a n d s h o s t e d a n

E v e n i n g o f A p p r e c i a t i o n o n A p r i l 9

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c o m m u n i t y l e a d e r s O f f i c i a l s a n n o u n c e d t h a t t h e b a n k h a s d o n a t e d

o v e r $ 4 0 0 , 0 0 0 s i n c e H u r r i c a n e I a n i n 2 0 2 2 I n r e c o g n i t i o n o f i t s W e

L o v e O u r I s l a n d s p r o g r a m p a s s i n g

t h e $ 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 g i v i n g m i l e s t o n e , t h e

b a n k p r e s e n t e d 3 4 e n t i t i e s e a c h w i t h

a $ 1 , 0 0 0 g i f t T h e y w e r e t h e B a i l e y -

M a t t h e w s S h e l l M u s e u m &

A q u a r i u m , B a t Y a m T e m p l e o f t h e

I s l a n d s , B I G A R T S , C a p t i v a C i v i c

A s s o c i a t i o n , C a p t i v a C o m m u n i t y

P a n e l , C a p t i v a I s l a n d H i s t o r i c a l

S o c i e t y , C h a p e l b y t h e S e a ,

C h a r i t a b l e F o u n d a t i o n o f t h e I s l a n d s ,

C h i l d r e n ’ s E d u c a t i o n C e n t e r o f t h e

I s l a n d s , c i t y o f S a n i b e l , C o m m u n i t y

H o u s i n g & R e s o u r c e s , C l i n i c f o r t h e

R e h a b i l i t a t i o n o f W i l d l i f e , “ D i n g ”

D a r l i n g W i l d l i f e S o c i e t y - F r i e n d s o f

t h e R e f u g e , F . I . S . H . o f S a n i b e l

C a p t i v a , S a i n t I s a b e l C a t h o l i c

C h u r c h , S a i n t M i c h a e l ' s a n d A l l

A n g e l s E p i s c o p a l C h u r c h , S a n C a p

C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e , S a n i b e l

C a p t i v a B u s i n e s s W o m e n ’ s

A s s o c i a t i o n , 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 , S a n i b e l -

C a p t i v a K i w a n i s C l u b , S a n i b e l -

C a p t i v a L i o n s C l u b , S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a

R o t a r y C l u b , S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a S h e l l

C l u b , S a n i b e l C o m m u n i t y

A s s o c i a t i o n , S a n i b e l C o m m u n i t y

C h u r c h , 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 , S a n i b e l

Bank of the Islands celebrates islands

Bank of the Islands President Robbie Roepstorff, Chief Executive Officer Geoff Roepstorff and staff with the recipients of the Evening of Appreciation on April 9 on Sanibel.

F i r e a n d R e s c u e D i s t r i c t , S a n i b e l H i s t o r i c a l M u s e u m a n d V i l l a g e , S a n i b

SHANE ANTALICK

‘Subways Were for Seeking’

Subways were for seeking where the sidewalk ended and subways were for descent into the mouth of station entrance and subways were for crawling under the turnstile and subways were for the stealth of eight-year-old me down the platform toward the front car of the Lexington Avenue Local, and subways were for once again to play at Motorman, right hand firm on the handle of the locked front car door, and subways were for imagination seizing control from the Motorman coffined in the booth to the right,

yes, subways were for speeding and slowing the team of cars through those dusty tunnels with mock precision and power and knowledge of every signal, marker and light no one to stop me now,

and subways were for remembering every detail of the journey, and for wondering what might be in the buildings and stores that sped unseen over me and for how bright and clear after rain the city sidewalks might glisten with unknown angels and delights who and what was up there?

Poetic License

Subways were for getting older and still guiding the train but now pretending to be Sinatra singing at the Paramount to the horde of screaming bobby-soxers under the cloak of full speed volume, I roared and hit the high notes between the stations, crooned as we cruised to a halt, waited for the doors to close, started another song

Subways were for that last trip at the front of the train, when for the first time, I steered the cars past 149th Street and Third Avenue and for a moment, just after I lifted the train from the darkness of tunnel into the nightmare daylight of elevated Jackson Avenue station, my eyes dazzled

then adjusted to the gray reality of dreary Bronx buildings zooming past an elevated railway train

the enchanting dark gone, nothing but disappointing light at the end of the tunnel, subways were no longer for dreaming and seeking

suppor ts island school

Sanibel Captiva Community Bank recently donated $2,500 to underwrite The Sanibel School's eighth grade promotion ceremony, which recognizes the students for their achievements as they prepare to enter high school

Keep Sanibel beautiful... Please recycle!

Joe Pacheco

SANIBEL CAPTIVA COMMUNITY BANK San Cap Bank