Shell museum closes again as it undergoes storm restoration work

By STAFF REPORT trepecki@breezenewspapers com

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum on Sanibel closed its doors effective May 1 Following a period of being open to the public from Feb 1 to April 28, it closed again for reconstruction to begin

“We are excited to rebound, make repairs, make improvements to the galleries and visitor experience, and to reopen,” officials reported, adding that they hope to reopen the doors as soon as possible.

The museum was severely impacted by Hurricane Ian

The ground floor, which houses the aquariums, flooded with over 5 feet of water, causing extensive damage throughout While some animals were saved, the majority perished The storm also tore a hole in the new roof, exposing the second and third floors which include The Great Hall of Shells and storage for the museum's shell collection to water damage and the elements

“The Living Gallery of aquariums and marine life will be restored and again feature the beloved giant Pacific

Shell Find

octopus, giant clams, cuttlefish, Florida mollusks and over 60 species of marine life,” officials reported “The exhibits of the Great Hall of Shells will be updated and refreshed to exhibit thousands of beautiful shells from all over the world ”

While it is closed, people are invited to check out the online exhibition that the museum curated “In the Wake of the Flood: Community Photographs of Hurricane Ian and Its Impact” features photo submissions from the pub- lic It is an inclusive, participatory and collage-like exhibit that reflects a community's collective views of the major event To view it, visit https://www shellmuseum org/ian-photo

In addition, educational programming and ways to engage with the museum for adults and youths will continue during the rebuilding process For more information about those opportunities, visit the “Education” section of the museum's website at https://www shellmuseum org/educational-programs

“We will be back as soon as we can, and we look forward to welcoming you,” officials reported “We can't wait to see you on Sanibel and at the museum and are working daily towards that goal.”

T o s u p p o r t t h e m u s e u m ' s r e s t o r a t i o n , v i s i t https://donorbox org/bmnsm-greatest-need

For more about the museum, visit https://www shellmuseum org/

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

Farewell shabbat held for retiring island rabbi

Bat Yam Temple of the Islands enjoyed a special shabbat on April 28 honoring Rabbi Stephen Fuchs, w h o a f e w w e e k s e a r l i e r h a d announced his retirement He has served as the rabbi for six years

The service was held at Peace Lutheran Church in Fort Myers as the Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ remains damaged from the hurricane More than 100 people took part, including guests from SCUCC, friends of the Fuchs' from the Beachview Tennis Club and their neighbors from their Sanibel Community of Farm Trail, along with those attending via Zoom

Following the shabbat, attendees listened to speeches by dignitaries f r o m b o t h c o n g r e g a t i o n s , w h i c h included retired Bat Yam Cantor M u r r a y S i m o n , r e t i r e d S C U C C

Senior Pastor the Rev Dr John H Danner, SCUCC Senior Minister the Rev Dr Mark Boyea, Alan Lessack who was president at the beginning of Fuchs' time at Bat Yam and incoming Bat Yam Rabbi and Cantor Sunny Schnitzer

Lightning whelk found on Sanibel

Stormyrose Tokotaha, 9, of Cape Coral, found a lightning whelk on April 14 at Bowman's Beach on Sanibel Jillian Murphy reported that her daughter started hunting for shells on the islands at the age of 5 and always finds the most amazing shells Their home is filled with vases and jars of shells, all of which Stormyrose has found on Sanibel. “It's our favorite beach and we are so happy and relieved it is f i n a l l y r e o p e n e d a f t e r H u r r i c a n e I a n , ” M u r p h y added “We were actually there for opening day!” To report a shell find, contact 239-472-1587 or trepecki@breezenewspapers com

PHOTOS PROVIDED

S e v e r a l p r e s e n t a t i o n s f o l l o w e d S i m o n ' s r e t i r e m e n t c e l e b r a t i o n s cheduled after Y om K ippur had been postponed due to the storm He and his wife, Toby, were recognized for their service and friendship In addition, a gift was made in the m e m o r y o f t h e i r l a t e d a u g h t e r , R a c h e l , f o r t h e R a c h e l S i m o n Theater Project in Israel

Bat Yam reported that Danner's heartfelt speech indicated the strong bond he and Fuchs have developed, jointly leading their congregations to Israel, exchanging pulpits over the years and a mutual love of p u p p e t s A t t h e s e r v i c e ,

D a n n e r p r e s e n t e d F u c h s with an angel puppet he had created

B a t Y a m P r e s i d e n t

J a n i c e B l o c k - C h a d d o c k p r e s e n t e d F u c h s w i t h a b o u n d b o o k w r i t t e n b y congregants from Bat Yam and SCUC and filled with pictures, entitled “Finding

Ourselves in the Teachings of Rabbi Stephen Fuchs ” She also presented Fuchs and his wife, Vickie, with gold l a p e l p i n s d e s i g n e d b y S c o t a n d Melissa Congress, showing a Magen D a v i d e n f o l d i n g t h e i s l a n d o f

Sanibel

The evening ended with a celebratory feast provided by Bat Yam congregants

Bat Yam reported that the Fuchs have decided to remain residents on Sanibel They also plan to continue enjoying their sunrise and sunset walks on the beaches, as well as playing tennis

REFUGE/DDWS

Refuge Wildlife on Wheels intern Diana Iglesias and John Bailey, shared educator with the School District of Lee County, conducted water quality demonstrations at Lehigh Senior High School.

Refuge’s WoW graduates to high school

The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge reported that the J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge's Wildlife on Wheels recently visited its only high school of the school year, the second one it has visited since it hit the road in December 2020 In high schools, the WoW team teaches a special curriculum based on water quality demonstrations

A t L e h i g h S e n i o r H i g h S c h o o l , s t u d e n t s learned about measuring fertilizer pollution in water samples collected from eight different

Kiwanis donates to F.I.S.H.

T h e S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a Kiwanis Club recently prov i d e d F I S H o f S a n i b e lCaptiva with $500 in Home Depot gift cards The club t h a n k e d t h e L o n g I s l a n d South Central Kiwanis Club for donating the cards It also thanked F I S H for its help in distributing the cards to islanders who need support in rebuilding after Hurricane Ian locations The WoW educators introduced them to the concepts of measuring nitrate, nitrite, and phosphate levels and identifying the presence of aerobic bacteria Through the lab station, the students gained knowledge on how fertilizer pollution can contribute to red tide and affect the environment and human health

To donate to support the upkeep and prog r a m m i n g f o r t h e W o W e f f o r t s , v i s i t https://interland3 donorperfect net/weblink/Web Link.aspx?name=E54182&id=12.

Joe Pacheco

Poetic License

‘Minority Alligator Rap’

I’m Minority Alligator with minority views

Life’s all a croc so I’m rappin’ the blues

Some call me cocodrilo and others caimán, Lagarto de Indias from days bygone

Black, brown or green, you gringos don’t care, You just hate us all ‘cause we never grew hair

You treat us like rednecks out drinking all night, Maintaining your distance for easy flight

But I gotta tell you you’re not all alone

When we’re swimming bayou and you’re on your cell phone

You said you’d protect us from growing extinct, But now that we’re thriving you’ve had to rethink

Just a few bad gators is all that it takes

To look on us all as Nature’s mistakes

And decide we’re illegal and should all be returned To swamps that we came from that you guys have churned, Or harvest us like oranges to protect the crop And the flow of tourists pouring in non-stop

But let me tell you right now and my language is clear: We were on Earth when no warm bloods were here

And before you discovered we would make great shoes, None of us were singing the Alligator Blues, Which we now sing at night till our eyes are red And it sounds like a bark to all you gringos in bed

But they’re not crocodile tears and they help us survive What you’ve done to our race, our species and tribe

So go look for new worlds and aim for the stars; Go build your golf courses on Jupiter and Mars

While you’re busy polluting the new worlds that you’ve found We’ll be waiting right here bellies firm on the ground,

And when you’re gone from this planet that you’ve ruined for good, We’ll be cruising again like kings of the hood

San Cap Community Bank donates to chamber

Sanibel Captiva Community Bank recently donated $50,000 to the SanCap Chamber to support its ongoing work assisting island businesses recover and rebuild in after Hurricane Ian The funds will assist the chamber in the

Chamber Board Chair Calli Johnson, chamber Board Secretary and Treasurer Ron Clayton, chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai and bank Senior Vice President of Residential Mortgage Lending David Wright SANIBEL CAPTIVA COMMUNITY BANK