Sanibel Island Reporter/Islander

Page 24

Ne ar-a ve ra ge storm sea so n no w proje c te d

Following seven straight years of predicted “above-average” activity, top hurricane forecasters feel the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season will buck the trend

In their 40th year of forecasting the upcoming hurricane season, researchers at Colorado State University are predicting a “near-average” season for the Atlantic this year an increased description from the first report released in mid-April, which called for a “slightly below-average” season

Free programs planned over the summer aim to educate, while connecting people with nature

From June 11 through Aug 5, the J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge will provide weekly programming both on Sanibel and off-island Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland explained that three programs will be offered at

the refuge, with a fourth one scheduled at Lakes Park in Fort Myers “We want to keep people learning during the summer,” she See SUMMER PROGRAMMING, page 19

The J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge will offer free summer programs from June 11 through Aug. 5 both on Sanibel and off-island. REFUGE/DDWS

District: Cell phone search policy not new for Lee schools

S c h o o l D i s t r i c t o f L e e County officials have a mess a g e f o r p a r e n t s c o n c e r n e d about new s tudent code of c o n d u c t l a n g u a g e p r o v i d i n g for a search of student cell phones if there is “reasonable suspicion” of prohibited activity: The legally-allowed practice has been used for years “ W h a t b o t h e r e d m e t h e most was the press coverage They made it seem like it is a

Armor Persons

brand new policy (That)

Any teacher can grab a cell phone with no reason and look That is definitely not the case,” school B o a r d C h a i r A r m o r P e r s o n s s a i d r e c e n t l y . “Sometimes what is on the phone, knowing right away, can save lives A drug deal going down in school texting back and f o r th Y o u d o n ’ t k n o w w h a t t i m e , w h a t b a t hroom A shooting plan

Maybe looking at a phone you can find out who the other person is If a child is doing something that is against policy, they can take the phone, but cannot look at the phone in that case because there is no reason to look at the phone I am comfortable with having it in there (the code of conduct ) I understand the concerns and if someone does look through a phone inappropriately, we will deal with that The administrator will be in trouble It’s as simple as that ”

In 1985, the Supreme Court ruled in New Jersey v T L O “that school offi-

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Guest Commentary........................4 Web Poll.........................................4

Captiva Current 6-7

B u s i n e s s 8

Preserving Paradise.....................12

Island Living................................14 S p o r t s . .

Classifieds 26

6

See STORM SEASON, page 20 See PHONE SEARCH, page 20

WEEk Of JUNE 7, 2023 VOL UME 6 1, NUMBER 2 9
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
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City retains Gold-level Bicycle Friendly Community status

The League of American Bicyclists renewed the c i t y o f S a n i b e l ' s G o l d - l e v e l d e s i g n a t i o n f o r t h e Bicycle Friendly Community award on May 31. It joins 506 communities across t h e c o u n t r y i n t h e m o v e m e n t for safer streets and better bicycling for everyone The award r e c o g n i z e s t h e city for its commitment to creating transportatio a n d r e c r e a t i o resources that b residents of all ages and abilities, while encouraging healthier and more sustainable transportation choices

The Bicycle Friendly America program sets the standard for how communities build and benchmark progress toward making biking better Earlier this year, the league made updates to add and integrate equity and accessibility into the program's application and emphasize the importance of building and connecting low-speed and low-stress bike networks.

This round of awards included 45 new and renewing awardees, joining communities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia The Gold-level BFC award recognizes the city's commitment to improving conditions for all people who bike through investments in bike education programs, regular bike events that promote and encourage people to choose biking, pro-bike policies, and bike infrastructure

Teen drivers urged to take extra care

With the school year just about in the rear-view mirror and freedom at their fingertips, what experts call the “100 Deadliest Days” for teen drivers has commenced.

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, an average of seven people are killed per day in teen driver-related crashes, according to AAA Nationwide, 31% of deaths involving teen drivers take place over the 100-day span

There are 2,341 deaths per year connected to teen crashes, with 732 coming in the aforementioned window

“Summer is historically a dangerous time for teen drivers,” AAA spokesperson Mark Jenkins said “Now that school is out, teens will spend more time on the road, often driving with friends at odd hours of the day and night Because of their inexperience, teens are more susceptible to dangerous driving behaviors like speeding, driving distracted, and not wearing a safety belt AAA urges parents to model safe driving behavior and reinforce safe driving habits with their teen drivers to help keep them safe this summer ”

AAA officials say traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for teens 16 to 19 For every mile driven, new teen drivers (16-17) are three times more likely to be involved in a deadly crash compared to adults, AAA said In Florida, 153 teen drivers on average are involved in fatal crashes each year, with 40 (26%) occurring during the 100 Deadliest Days

AAA officials said understanding the risks and knowing the facts will prepare teens for the road ahead

Risks factors for teen drivers include:

∫ Distracted driving: Distraction plays a role in nearly six out of 10 teen crashes Electronics like cell phones and in-vehicle infotainment systems are considered the second-biggest distraction to teen drivers The biggest distraction is teen passengers

∫ Driving with teen passengers Research shows that the risk of a fatal crash increases in direct relation to the number of teenagers in a car (NHTSA) Having other passengers in the car can contribute to peer pressure and the impulse to engage in d a n g e r o u s h a b i t s l i k e s p e e d i n g a n d a g g r e s s i v e driving

∫ Speeding Speeding is a factor in nearly 30 perc e n t o f f a t a l c r a s h e s involving teen drivers

∫ Not wearing a safety belt Teens who buckle up significantly reduce their risk of dying or being seriously injured in a crash.

“The single most important thing parents can do to h e l p t h e i r t e e n s b e c o m e s a f e d r i v e r s i s t o b e involved in their 'learning t o d r i v e ' p r o c e s s S p e n d time coaching your teen while they’re behind the wheel and have a serious discussion about safety,”

A A A D r i v e r E d u c a t i o n P r o g r a m s D i r e c t o r R a c h e l Wilson said “While parents can be a great teacher, it also helps to seek out professional training courses, like those provided by AAA ”

The School District of Lee County offers classes

“Both off and on campus, the safety of our students is our highest priority We offer Drivers Ed classes at our high schools during the school year and summer so students learn in the classroom and on the road how to drive safely We also partner with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and other community based agencies to provide educational opportunities for our students to improve their skills and understand the consequences of impaired driving,” district officials said

A t a r e c e n t n e w s c o n f e r e n c e w i t h t h e F l o r i d a Department of Transportation in Gainesville, Attorney General Ashley Moody urged parents and guardians to play an active role in safeguarding their teens and equipping them with the necessary tools for responsible driving.

“As parents, we worry about our children’s safety,” she said “Our kids face many dangers, but one of the scariest things they do is get behind the wheel The 100 Deadliest Days pose a significant risk to teenaged drivers and all those who share the road with them That’s why I am encouraging parents to talk with their teens about safe driving habits and join us in this vital effort to protect our roadways and safe lives ”

AAA’s “How to Drive Online” course provides a foundation of the knowledge and skills necessary to reduce a teen’s risk behind the wheel For more teen driver safety tips and to register for AAA’s online driving course, visit www aaadriverprogram com

I s l a n d R e p o r t e r c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , J u n e 7 , 2 0 2 3 ■ P a g e 2
P a g e 3 ■ W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , J u n e 7 , 2 0 2 3 c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m I s l a n d R e p o r t e r

Ask governor to veto HB 1191

In a session where a number of environmentally damaging bills were passed, one of the most egregious was HB 1191 Use of Phosphogypsum

The bill promotes the use of a radioactive waste by-product from phosphate mining to be used in road construction and includes a study and demonstration projects. The study in the bill focuses on the usefulness of phosphogypsum as aggregate material for road construction, and will not fully address the health risks posed by distributing cancercausing radioactive material throughout the state

The waste created by phosphate fertilizer production is called phosphogypsum and is stored in large piles, hundreds of feet high, referred to as “gyp stacks According to the Environmental Protection Agency, most of the naturally-occurring uranium, thorium and radium found in phosphate rock ends up in this waste Uranium and thorium decay to radium which, in turn, decays to the radioactive gas, radon Because the wastes are concentrated, phosphogypsum is more radioactive than the original phosphate rock

Supporters of the use of phosphogypsum in our roads claim that the radioactive elements of the aggregate would be contained

Guest Commentary

process The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation and other water quality advocates are concerned that toxic leachate may occur once the confining layer of asphalt cracks or erodes from weatherization, wear or a large storm event with the direct potential to contaminate our groundwater and nearby waterways.

Southwest Florida has already seen the devastating harm our weather can have on our infrastructure, including complete wash-outs of our roads during Hurricane Ian The impact to our bays and estuaries from radioactive phosphogypsum contained in our road beds would be catastrophic and not worth the risk

Supporters of the bill claimed during legislative committee debate that it would be up to the EPA to regulate the health and safety of the product on both the construction workers applying the material and on the long-term exposure to our environment The EPA has studied this issue and has concluded that the use of phosphogypsum in road construction remains prohibited For more information on the EPA’s findings, visit https://www federalr

phosphogypsum-in-road-construction

In addition to the immediate health risks to ourselves and to our waterways, the SCCF believes the production costs associated with t h e h i g h l y p r o f i t a b l e p h o s p h a t e i n d u s t r y should not be shifted to the citizens of Florida We have seen this occur before, most recently with the Piney Point disaster that resulted in the contamination of Tampa Bay, a devastating nutrient-fed red tide, and the taxpayers of Florida shouldering the cleanup burden of $100 million

HB 1191 does not address the existing accumulation of phosphogypsum around the state it only seeks to use the by-product of future phosphate production, increasing profits within the phosphate mining industry The r e s p o n s i b i l i t y t o a d d r e s s t h e d a n g e r o u s radioactive waste should remain with the multi-billion dollar industry that created the w a s t e , n o t b e p a s s e d o n t o t a x - p a y i n g Floridians

The SCCF and 33 other clean water advocates have sent a strong HB 1191 veto request to Gov Ron DeSantis

Please visit https://p2a co/ZGyq0Lx to urge the governor to veto HB 1191 to protect

See HB 1191, page 5

DeSantis is flying Florida into the dark

The governor said it wasn’t his bill, but he was plainly happy to sign it Not long after a few strokes of his pen, he flew off into a new darkness

The news media promptly found Ron DeSantis in Iowa, w h e r e h e w a s c a m p a i g n i n g f u l l - t i l t f o r t h e R e p u b l i c a n presidential nomination, having yet at that time to actually announce he wants it

H e l e f t b e h i n d i n Tallahassee a new law that draws an iron curtain of secrecy over where he and certain other state officials travel and who they might be seeing on their trips and at home

Guest Commentary

CS/SB 1616, enacted by the ruling Republican superm a j o r i t y i n t h e L e g i s l a t u r e , f o r b i d s t h e Florida Department of Law Enforcement and other police agencies from releasing any records pertaining to those officials’ travels or security arrangements DeSantis is the most conspicuous beneficiary

Those documents have been the public’s go-to resource when governors have failed to post their travel itineraries and visitor logs

DeSantis is the most secretive governor yet

The new law also shields, at their request, the comings and goings of the lieutenant governor, elected members of the Cabinet, the chief justice and the House Speaker and Senate President It extends to anyone else they may designate. The entire bill is retroactive in its application

So if the public wants to know, for example, who may have provided private corporate air travel to Florida’s public officials, it will be harder than ever to answer that question The failure to report such f r e e b i e s w o u l d b r e a k o t h e r laws, of course, but there is now one fewer way to expose potential violations of law.

The travel secrecy bill, enacted on the fraudulent premise that to disclose where p e o p l e h a v e b e e n w o u l d e n d a n g e r t h e i r future security, is just the worst of the 18 new exemptions from the public records and open meeting laws enacted during the 2023 legislative session That is the most since the

2014 session, when there were 22 The Legislature also renewed nine other exemptions, an action required under the Open Government Sunset Review Act

The Constitution emphasizes the importance of Government in the Sunshine by requiring a two-thirds vote in each legislative house to enact or renew an exemption But virtually all of the proposed exemptions pass unanimously or nearly so to oblige politicians and bureaucrats who dread sunlight like fictional vampires fear the dawn

Another significant new exemption, in CS/SB 404, shields photos or videos of the killing of children under 18 and of their corpses The media as a rule doesn’t intend to publish such tragic material, but there are times when investigative journalists and public watchdogs do need to see the photos and videos to determine whether the government has been doing its job On rare occasions, publication serves a public purpose The picture of Emmitt Till, the 14-year-old victim of a racist lynching in Mississippi, lying in his coffin, his face grotesquely battered, inspired the civil rights movement His mother had insisted on publicizing the photo to show the world what had been done to her son

See DESANTIS, page 5

I s l a n d R e p o r t e r c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , J u n e 7 , 2 0 2 3 ■ P a g e 4 Report your news to CAPTIvASANIBEL.COM OPINIONS The views expressed on the Opinions Pages are just that opinions These pages are intended to convey a range of viewpoints; opinions printed on these pages do not necessarily reflect the views of The Island Reporter Opposing views are welcome All letters must be signed and must contain a phone number for verification purposes Letters considered for publication must relate to subjects of public interest Letters to the Editor may be e-mailed to Tiffany Repecki at trepecki@breezenewspapers com; posted to the virtual newsroom at captivasanibel com; or mailed to 2340 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957 Letters are due no later than noon Thursday The Island Reporter reserves the right to edit or reject any submission
want your opinion
Previous Web Poll Question What is your opinion on the new approved Guardian Program for Lee County schools? ∫ Agree with it, 52% ∫ Disagree with it, 20% ∫ Do not know what it is, 28% Current Web Poll
Hurricane season began on June 1 Are you prepared? ∫ Yes, all is in order ∫ No, still things to do ∫ No, nothing is done Share your opinion at captivasanibel com
We
Web Poll
Question
u n d e r a s p h a l t i n t h e r o a d c o n s t r u c t i o n
e g i s t e r g o v / d o c u m e n t s / 2 0 2 1 / 0 7 / 0 7 / 2 0 2 11 4 3 7 7 / w i t h d r a w a l - o f - a p p r o v a l - f o r - u s e - o f -
Martin Dyckman

HB 1191 From page 4

our waterways and to hold the phosphate industry accountable for their own costs of production

Another avenue to send the governor this veto message would be to call his office directly at 850-717-9337 or email him by visiting https://www flgov com/email-the-

DeSantis From page 4

The new law allows a parent not blamed for the death of a minor to view and release a photo or video It also allows a court to order release for good cause such as “the public evaluation of governmental performance ” How that works in practice will tell whether the Legislature did right or wrong

Notably, the new law applies only to public agencies Citizens who take cellphone videos of a fatal incident involving a child under 18 would be free to do what they wish with those videos

As enacted, CS/SB 404 is better than its original version, which prohibited the release of autopsy reports of minors Autopsy reports have been a key resource for journalists investigating the shortcomings of the government agencies tasked with protecting dependent children

A n o t h e r d u b i o u s n e w e x e m p t i o n ( C S / C S / S B 2 3 8 ) c o v e r s u p c o m p l a i n t s a g a i n s t b u s i n e s s e s , s c h o o l s o r g o v e r nm e n t a g e n c i e s a c c u s e d o f d i s c r i m i n a ti n g a g a i n s t e m p l o y e e s o r c u s t o m e r s o v e r t h e i r “ h e a l t h c a r e c h o i c e s ” T h a t p a r t i c u l a r n e w D e S a n t i s l e g i s l a t i o n i s a i m e d a t d i s c o u r a g i n g m a s k i n g a n d v a cc i n a t i o n , a n i s s u e w h e r e t h e g o v e r n o r i s f a r t o t h e r i g h t o f e v e n f o r m e r P r e s i d e n t D o n a l d T r u m p T h e e x e m p t i o n s w o u l d e x p i r e w h e n t h e i n v e s t i g a t i o n s a r e c o mp l e t e , b u t s o m e i n v e s t i g a t i o n s c o u l d b e

governor/. This is a way that those of you who do not have qualifying Florida zip codes can still make sure your voices are heard

Thank you for joining our campaign to roll back harmful restrictions on citizens' rights!

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

In a similar vein, CS/SB 1542 conceals the names of victims in cases studied by the teams that review cases of elder and vulnerable adult abuse The exemption is overly broad and could create an obstacle in monitoring how well or poorly those agencies are doing their jobs

Innocuous, perhaps, but facially unconstitutional, is HB 1127, which serves as a virtual blank check to conceal anything the state receives from an interstate commission to license teachers in other states The problem is that it vaguely exempts “other matters as set forth by the commission’s bylaws and rules ” The Constitution does not permit the Legislature to delegate its exemption authority, and it should not get into the habit of writing legislation as loose as this

In the small favors department, nine exemption bills were marked dead on adjournment One of them would have revived an expired law that concealed the home addresses and telephone numbers of certain present and former armed service members, their spouses and dependents The definition was restricted to those who were in special operations or who had access to information classified as secret or

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

higher, but there are a lot of them

Another failed bill would have allowed local governing boards to meet secretly with their attorneys to discuss claims under the Bert Harris Act from land owners claiming that government regulation has depressed the value of their property The Bert Harris Act should be repealed, but at least the 2023 session didn’t make it worse

Something else the Legislature didn’t do, regrettably, was close the giant loophole created by last year’s law that made secret all but the “finalist” stage of a state college or university presidential search Applicants have been gaming that by refusing to be identified as anything but the only finalist.

That’s already happened at two of Florida’s major universities: Florida International University and the University of Florida It’s how Ben Sasse, a Republican senator from Nebraska, became the new UF president

More recently, Rep Randy Fine, a stridently right-wing Republican from Brevard County, said he’s been approached about the presidential vacancy at Florida Atlantic University

Former House speaker and education commissioner Richard Corcoran, who’s now the acting president at New College, is the odds-on favorite for the permanent job there if he wants it

State Rep Fred Hawkins, R-St Cloud, was left as the only finalist at South Florida State College after three identified finalists withdrew. Hawkins, a second-term House member best known for being DeSantis’ spear carrier for an anti-Disney bill, is qualified only because the school’s trustees waived the requirement for a terminal degree a Ph D or its equivalent He has only a bachelor’s degree

According to the Tampa Bay Times, one of the trustees freely conceded the situation was political

“You have to understand that we are political appointees, and they were all Democrats,” said trustee Louis Kirschner, speaking of the withdrawn finalists “The governor doesn’t appoint all Republican trustees and expect us to select a Democrat ”

The Legislature was warned that the secret presidential search bill would lead to politicians becoming the presidents of Florida’s colleges and universities

That’s probably why they passed it

Martin Dyckman provided the guest commentary on behalf of the Florida Center for Government Accountability It is a nonprofit 501(c)3 dedicated to helping enforce open government laws For more information, visit https://flcga org/

P a g e 5 ■ W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , J u n e 7 , 2 0 2 3 c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m I s l a n d R e p o r t e r

u

,

W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y

CIHS documentary screened at film festival

By STAFF REPORT trepecki@breezenewspapers com

producer and CIHS documentarian

fish

“ T i g h t L

e

a n d g r e a t l i v e t u n e s r ' s l i n e u p i s t h e l a r g e s t a n d m o s t d i v e r s e s e t o f t a l -

c i a n s y e t

r e a l l y w o r k e d t o p r o v i d e o u r i s l a n d r e s i d e n t s a n d

w t a s t e o f a l l t h a t m a k e s o u r i s l a n d s a n d i s l a n d

i f i c , ” D i r e c t o r o f R e s o r t O p e r a t i o n s M i c h e l e

d “ C o u n t r y , c l a s s i c r o c k , r e g g a e , b l u e s , b r e e z y

a n d m o r e , o u r g u e s t s w i l l b e i n f o r t h r e e d a y s o f g e n t e r t a i n m e n t ” o w i n g a r t i s t s a r e s c h e d u l e d t o p e r f o r m : d A d k i n s : T h i s s i n g e r - s o n g w r i t e r f r o m S o u t h w e s t f e a t u r e s s t o r y t e l l i n g l y r i c s a n d a f o l k s y - b l u e s y S h e e n a B r o o k : L o c a l f a v e a n d l o n g - t i m e v a v i l l e s t a r , B r o o k ' s c o u n t r y - r o c k s o u n d s a n d r f u l v o i c e h a v e c r e a t e d a n a t i o n a l f o l l o w i n g

∫ C h r i s C a s d i a : F r o m r e g g a e t o b l u e s t o c l a s s i c k , C a s d i a i s a 2 0 - y e a r h e a d l i n e r a c r o s s S o u t h w e s t r i d a

∫ J e s s e H u g h e s : A s a k i d , H u g h e s s a n g t o h i s h e r ' s C h r i s t i a n r a d i o m u s i c a n d t h e n h e d i s c o vd t h e g u i t a r a t 1 6 a n d h a s n o t l o o k e d b a c k

∫ J o h n M c L a n e : M c L a n e i s a v e r s a t i l e c o n c e r t

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

D a n n y M o r g a n : I f S a n i b e l a n d C a p t i v a h a v e a y B u f f e t , M o r g a n i s i t a n d h i s i s l a n d s t y l e s w i l l y o u s i n g i n g a l o n g e t e r R e d p a t h : B e a c h , M o t o w n , r o c k , c o u n t r y a n d s o u n d s a l l d e f i n e R e d p a t h ' s a c o u s t i c g u i t a r v e m u s i c w i l l t a k e p l a c e p o o l s i d e a n d a t T h e r e s t a u r a n t g u e s t s w i l l r e c e i v e f r e e a c c e s s t o a l l p e r f o r m a n c e s s e s f o r t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c m a y b e a v a i l a b l e b a s e d c y T h o s e i n t e r e s t e d c a n c o n t a c t t h e r e s o r t o n J u n e

3 9 - 4 7 2 - 5 1 6 1 # 7 t o i n q u i r e N o i n f o r m a t i o n w i l l

l e e a r l i e r . m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t w w w T w e e n -

c o m / C a p t i v a v i l l e r r e s o r t r e s e r v a t i o n s , v i s i t w w w T w e e n -

e r s c o m o r c a l l 8 0 0 - 2 2 3 - 5 8 6 5 T h e ' T w e e n W a t e r s I s l a n d R e s o r t & S p a o n C a p t i v a i s a t 1 5 9 5 1 C a p t i v a D r i v e , C a p t i v a

Organizers thanked everyone who participated in the cleanup

Coastal Watch is part of the SanibelCaptiva Conservation Foundation family

Captiva Public Meetings

∫ J u n e 1 2 : C a p t i v a E r o s i o n Prevention District monthly meeting at 1 p m via Zoom For more inform a t i o n o r t h e a g e n d a , v i s i t mycepd com

∫ June 13: Captiva Community Panel monthly meeting at 9 a m via Zoom For more information or the agenda, visit captivacommunitypanel com

∫ June 13: Captiva Island Fire Control District meeting at 4 p.m. at the fire station, at 14981 Captiva Drive, Captiva For more information or the agenda, visit captivafire com

I s l a n d R e p o r t e r J
c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m n e 7 , 2 0 2 3 ■ P a g e 6
O r g a n i z e d i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h t h e Captiva Civic Association, Coastal Watch hosted a beach cleanup on May 19 from Turner Beach to the South Seas Island Resort on Captiva
V o l u n t e e r s c o l l e c t e d h u n d r e d s o f pounds of trash
T h e f o l l o w i n g p u b l i c meetings/hearings are scheduled:
s
s h Stories: The History o f A n g l i n g o n C a p t i v a ” w a s s c r e e n e d o n M a y 19 “ A w a r d - w i n n i n g p r o d u c e r K e n Sneeden has 'reeled in' an enlightening a n d e n t e r t a i n i n g f e a t u r e - l e n g t h f i l m
h i c h c h r o n i c l e s h o w C a p t i v a I s l a n d
to be defined by fishing,” the CIHS reported
The Captiva Island Historical Society reported that one of its films was selected for inclusion at the 13th Annual Fort Myers Film Festival, which was held on May 17-21 at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center and other venues around Fort Myers
i
& B i g F i
w
came
rare
presents an enlightening tale of C a l u s a a n d C u b a n s f i s h i n g t h e l o c a l waters; of
camps and commercial fishing; the
the
guides and the industry that developed to support the sport; and the famous visitors who came to Captiva to fish F e a t u r i n g a m i x o f e n g a g i n g c h a r a ct e r s a n d t h e i r b i g f i s h t a l e s , t h e d o c u -
cleanup called a success
organizers See FILM FESTIVAL, page 7
The ninth documentary in its Captiva Memories series, the full-length film was the brainchild of Dave Jensen, a founding CIHS board member who had served the organization until his death in 2021 With
footage and photography,
Ken Sneeden
emergence of sport fishing;
origins of fishing
Beach
by
Captivaville Singers-Songwriters Weekend returns
COASTAL WATCH

Film festival

From page 6

m e n t a r y i n c o r p o r a t e s f o o t a g e f r o m o v e r 2 5 i n t e r v i e w s , i n c l u d i n g h i s t o r i a n a n d a u t h o r R o b e r t M a c o m b e r , f i s hi n g g e a r h i s t o r i a n J o h n J e n s e n , J a y a n d C i n d y B r o w n ,

D a n S t e g m a n n a n d m e m b e r s o f C a p t i v a R o d & G u n

C l u b , D a v e G o d f r e y , R i c h S t e g m a n n a n d K a t h y K u r t z

F e r r a r i

Sneeden, who directed and produced the film and others in the Captiva Memories collection, spent hundreds of

hours conducting interviews and researching historical records, including the CIHS online archives CIHS archivist Queenie Viglione also did her characteristic deep dive in sourcing content

The documentary was made possible by the underwriting support of the CIHS Producers Club

The film is available to rent for $1 99 or buy for $7 99 on Amazon Prime

To watch the documentary, visit www.amazon.com.

“Tight Lines & Big Fish Stories: The History of Angling on Captiva” is also available on DVD for a $20 d o n a t i o n a t http://www captivaislandhistoricalsociety org/documentaries/dvds-1; shipping is free

For more information, visit www captivaislandhistoricalsociety org

DOH-Lee issues blue-green algae bloom alert

On May 26, the Florida Department of Health in Lee County issued a health alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in the Caloosahatchee RiverFort Myers Shores It was in response to a water sample taken on May 23 The public should exercise caution in and around t h e C a l o o s a h a t c h e e R i v e r - F o r t M y e r s Shores

The public is advised to take the following precautions:

∫ Do not drink, swim, wade, use personal watercraft, water ski or boat in waters where there is a visible bloom

∫ Wash your skin and clothing with soap and water if you have contact with algae or discolored or smelly water

∫ Keep pets away from the area Waters where there are algae blooms are not safe for animals Pets and livestock should have a different source of water when algae blooms are present

∫ Do not cook or clean dishes with w a t e r c o n t a m i n a t e d b y a l g a e b l o o m s Boiling the water will not eliminate the toxins

∫ E a t i n g f i l l e t s f r o m h e a l t h y f i s h caught in freshwater lakes experiencing blooms is safe Rinse fish fillets with tap

or bottled water, throw out the guts and cook fish well

∫ Do not eat shellfish in waters with algae blooms

What is blue-green algae?

Blue-green algae are a type of bacteria

that is common in Florida’s freshwater e n v i r o n m e n t s A b l o o m o c c u r s w h e n rapid growth of algae leads to an accumulation of individual cells that discolor water and often produce floating mats that emit unpleasant odors

Some environmental factors that contribute to blue-green algae blooms are sunny days, warm water temperatures, still water conditions and excess nutrients Blooms can appear year-round but are more frequent in summer and fall Many types of blue-green algae can produce toxins

Is it har mful?

Blue-green algae blooms can impact human health and ecosystems, including fish and other aquatic animals For addit i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n o n p o t e n t i a l h e a l t h e f f e c t s o f a l g a l b l o o m s , v i s i t f l o r i d ahealth gov/environmental-health/aquatictoxins

F i n d c u r r e n t i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t Florida’s water quality status and public h e a l t h n o t i f i c a t i o n s f o r h a r m f u l a l g a l blooms and beach conditions by visiting ProtectingFloridaTogether gov P r o t e c t i n g F l o r i d a T o g e t h e r i s t h e

state’s joint effort to provide statewide water quality information to prioritize environmental transparency and commitment to action

What do I do if I see an algal bloom?

T h e F l o r i d a D e p a r t m e n t o f E n v i r o n m e n t a l P r o t e c t i o n c o l l e c t s a n d analyzes algal bloom samples To report a bloom to the DEP, call the toll-free hotline at 855-305-3903 or report online

To report fish kills, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute at 800-636-0511.

Report symptoms from exposure to a harmful algal bloom or any aquatic toxin to the Florida Poison Information Center; call 800-222-1222 to speak to a poison specialist immediately

C o n t a c t y o u r v e t e r i n a r i a n i f y o u believe your pet has become ill after consuming or having contact with blue-green algae contaminated water

If you have other health questions or concerns about blue-green algae blooms, call the DOH-Lee at 239-690-2100.

Monthly water sample results

The Calusa W a t e r k e e p e r recently released it and the Florida Department of Health's water sample results for fecal indicator bacteria for the month of May For more information and an interactive map, visit https: / / c a l u s a w a t e r keeper org/issue s / b a c t e r i a - m o n i toring/

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CALUSA WATERKEEPER

CHARITABLE FOUNDATION OF THE ISLANDS

Island residents establish $2M fund with CFI

Sanibel residents Laurie and Bill Harkey created a $2 million Donor Advised Fund with the Charitable Foundation of the Islands, as well as a legacy commitment by naming CFI as a successor trustee

“This is our home now,” Laurie Harkey said “We’re shifting our support and our interest here That was the catalyst We’ve been here almost four years We’ve been gone from Akron 35 years Now it’s time to shift our focus ”

The couple looked at various local organizations before establishing the fund with CFI

“We are so grateful to the Harkeys and all of our D A F ( D o n o r A d v is ed F u n d ) d o n o r s , ” Ex ecu tiv e Director Dolly Farrell said “DAFs are easy to set up and are tax-efficient ”

The CFI has offered DAFs to its donors since 2011

“CFI is still relatively young as an organization and needs to grow,” Bill Harkey said “I would encourage anyone within earshot that is looking for a philanthropic way of doing things to consider CFI as a very good place to start Donor Advised Funds help your money grow ”

The CFI works with a variety of island nonprofits that are important to the couple, including the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife, J.N. “Ding” Darling N a t i o n a l W i l d l i f e R e f u g e , F I S H o f S a n i b e lCaptiva, Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum and The Community House

“We wanted to do our philanthropy while we could see the impact,” he said “The need is great, and the need is now ”

From California, Bill Harkey spent almost 30 years in the U S Army, primarily in public affairs and instructing at the Army War College Originally from Akron, Laurie Harkey was a medical social worker Now full-time residents, they volunteer their time reg-

See FUND, page 9

Data trends predict Southwest Florida’s population, job growth

The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company's four-part 2023 Speaker Series concluded with an in-depth examination of data predicting Southwest Florida's future population and job growth

Titled “The Past, Present and Future of Southwest Florida,” the session on April 4 explored two decades of population data From 2000 to 2010, the five-county region grew 30% From 2010 to 2020, the region's growth was 20%.

“In economics, a lot is based on historical data where things are now and where they are going,” speaker Aysegul Timur, then vice president and vice provost for strategy and program innovation at Florida Gulf Coast University, said

The region's three largest age groups are 65 to 74 years old, 55 to 64 years old and 75 to 84 years old, respectively, across Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties

“It's important to recognize that our population is aging, so we can start preparing for that now,” he said “Right now, the workforce we will need to support our population is less than where it needs to be ”

FGCU, along with other universities, colleges, technical centers and high schools, are implementing academic and training programs to prepare graduates for the jobs of

San Cap Community Bank office fully operational

tomorrow Given the region's aging population that means more jobs in health care, as well as construction to b u i l d s e n i o r c o m m u n i t i e s a n d m e d i c a l f a c i l i t i e s Additional retirees and seniors moving to the region, along with the aging of the current population, also means more jobs in hospitality, including restaurants, retail and entertainment

Overall, the proportion of adults ages 65 and above is predicted to continue growing:

∫ 2020: 32%

∫ 2030: 36%

∫ 2040: 38%

∫ 2050: 40%

Timur said when considering births minus deaths, Southwest Florida had a net decline of 8,826 people from 2020 to 2021 However, migration to the region people moving here versus people moving away amounted to a one-year gain of 55,806 people By 2050, the five-county region will be home to an estimated 2 2 million people

The Speaker Series also featured discussions about estate planning, advocating for caregivers and the importance of establishing a will The company will announce plans for its 2024 series in the fall

Business Notes

Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has regained full operations of its Main Office at 2406 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

Since November, it had been using the board room as a temporary branch while construction continued on the remainder of the building

Prior to that, the bank provided services in the parking lot for seven weeks after Hurricane Ian caused minor water damage to the building

L o c a t e d a t 1 0 1 9 P e r i w i n k l e W a y , S a n i b e l , t h e Periwinkle Branch sustained considerable storm damage and is projected to reopen in early 2024

See BUSINESS NOTES, page 9

I s l a n d R e p o r t e r c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , J u n e 7 , 2 0 2 3 ■ P a g e 8 Report your news to CAPTIvASANIBEL COM BUSINESS
CAPTIVA COMMUNITY BANK
SANIBEL
THE SANIBEL CAPTIVA TRUST COMPANY Speaker Aysegul Timur presents data to attendees at The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company's 2023 Speaker Series session, “The Past, Present and Future of Southwest Florida,” on April 4.

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA ROTARY CLUB

Bill Rahe Memorial Scholarship recipient Jackson McKee with his mother, Denise, and the Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club's Scholarship Committee

Scholarship recipient Malley Menna with her parents, Rae Riki and Anthony, and the Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club's Scholarship Committee

Rotary announces this year ’s scholarship winners

w e r e v o l u n t e e r / s e r v i c e h o u r s , e x t r a c u r r i c u l a r a c t i v it i e s , e m p l o y m e n t o r i n t e r n s h i p s , R o t a r y / I n t e r a c t i n v o l v e m e n t a n d t h e i r r e l a t i o n s h i p w i t h S a n i

a l s o w a s c h o s e n f o r a s c h o l a r s h i p S h e p l a n s t o a t t e n d t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f C e n t r a l F l o r i d a a n d m a j o r i n b i o l og y T h e c l u b c h o s e f r o m 2 5 q u a l i f i e d a p p l i c a n t s f r o m v a r i o u s L e e C o u n t y h i g h s c h o o l s T h e r e c i p i e n t s w e r e c h o s e n p r i m a r i l y b a s e d o n n e e d a n d a c a d e m i c a c h i e v e m e n t . O t h e r f a c t o r s t a k e n i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n b e lC a p t i v a T h e c l u b h a s s e v e n d i f f e r e n t s c h o l a r s h i p s t o t a l i n g o v e r $ 2 0 , 7 0 0 T h e y a r e g i v e n f o r f o u r y e a r s , p r o v i di n g t h e r e c i p i e n t s m a i n t a i n a 3 . 0 G P A .

From page 8

Rec center adds to Hall of Sponsors

s h a s joined the Sanibel Recreation Center's Hall of Sponsors as sponsors Proceeds from sponsor signs financially assist parents, grandparents and legal custodians who qualify for their children to attend the: after-school program; summer day, winter and spring break camps; fun days; babysitter training camp; basketball league; volleyball camp; and Counselor In Training (C I T ) programs at the center A printout of all the sponsors can also be obtained at t h e c e n t e r ' s r e c e p t i o n c o u n t e r o r b y v i s i t i n g https://files.constantcontact.com/97af97e6001/51af58d 4-47d6-4372-932a-fc131961dce7 pdf F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , c a l l v o l u n t e e r s p o n s o r Chairperson Barry Alan Roth at 239-313-9591

Fund

From page 8

ularly with CROW, the refuge, SanibelCaptiva Rotary Club and other wildlife, e n v i r o n m e n t a l , e d u c a t i o n a n d v e t e r a n affairs causes

At one time they had considered estab-

lishing their own foundation and had even started setting one up Then they found out about DAFs and realized they require far less maintenance on the donors' part

“You don’t need to start with a big

sum,” he said. “You can let it grow with CFI (or the organization managing it) and recommend grants to the nonprofits you want to support We let the people who do this for a living handle it It’s a no brainer

and it’s so easy.”

For information about establishing a DAF with the CFI, visit mycfi org or contact Farrell at dfarrell@sancapcfi org or 239-322-3818

P a g e 9 ■ W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , J u n e 7 , 2 0 2 3 c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m I s l a n d R e p o r t e r
T h e S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a R o t a r y C l u b r e c e n t l y a n n o u n c e d t h i s y e a r ' s s c h o l a r s h i p r e c i p i e n t s T h e r e c i p i e n t o f t h e B i l l R a h e M e m o r i a l S c h o l a r s h i p i s J a c k s o n M c K e e , o f F o r t M y e r s H i g h S c h o o l H e w i l l b e a t t e n d i n g t h e U n i v e r s i t y o f S t F r a n c i s i n F o r t W a y n e , I n d i a n a , a n d p l a n s t o m a j o r i n b u s i n e s s . M a l l e y M e n n a , o f C a p e C o r a l H i g h S c h o o l ,
B e a c h w a l k e r M a r k e t i n g & C o m m u n i c a t i o n
Business Notes

Interactive guide to open island businesses

The SanCap Chamber has a list available

Navigation. The GPS-enabled interactive map also pinpoints beach accesses that have opened, bike parking areas and the user's relative location Points of interest can be filtered by seven categories Users can download the app from the Apple App Store and Google Play They can also access the map online at tinyurl com/sancapwandermap

Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday for consumers

Consumers in Florida can purchase qualifying disaster preparedness supplies exempt from tax during the 2023 Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday, which is running now through June 9.

Qualifying supplies include:

∫ Dog and cat food if sold individually and the equivalent if sold in a box or case costing $10 or less

∫ Manual can openers, collapsible or travel-sized pet food or water bowls, cat litter pans, pet waste disposal bags, and hamster or rabbit substrate costing $15 or less

∫ Reusable ice, pet leashes, pet collars, muzzles and pads, and pet pads costing $20 or less

∫ Cat litter weighing 25 or fewer pounds costing $25 or less

∫ Laundry detergent and supplies (powder, liquid and pods), fabric softener, dryer sheets, stain removers, bleach, toilet paper, paper towels, paper napkins and tissues, facial tissues, hand soap, bar soap, body wash, sunscreen and sunblock, dish soap and detergents (powder, liquid and pods), dishwasher rinse agents, cleaning or disinfecting wipes and sprays, hand sanitizer, and trash bags costing $30 or less

∫ Portable self-powered light sources and pet beds costing $40 or less

∫ Portable self-powered radios, two-way radios, weather-band radios, gas and diesel fuel tanks, and AAcell, AAA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, six-volt and nine-volt batteries including rechargeable ones costing $50 or less

∫ Nonelectric food storage coolers and portable power banks costing $60 or less

∫ Smoke detectors and alarms, fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors costing $70 or less

∫ Tarpaulins or other flexible waterproof sheeting, ground anchor systems, portable pet kennels and carriers, dog and cat food weighing 50 or fewer pounds, and overthe-counter pet medications costing $100 or less

∫ Portable generators used to provide light or communications or to preserve food in a power outage costing $3,000 or less

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t https://floridarevenue com/disasterprep/Pages/default as px

I s l a n d R e p o r t e r c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , J u n e 7 , 2 0 2 3 ■ P a g e 1 0
o f b u s i n e s s e s b a c k i n o p e r a t i o n a f t e r H u r r i c a n e I a n o n W a n d e r : M a p s &
SANCAP CHAMBER
P a g e 1 1 ■ W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , J u n e 7 , 2 0 2 3 c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m I s l a n d R e p o r t e r

PRESERVING PARADISE

Nine bald eagle chicks fledge on islands

Sea turtles named after female musical artists

As of May 30, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation's nighttime sea turtle tagging team had encountered 86 unique sea turtles this nesting season I t i n c l u d e d t u r t l e s w i t h e x i s t i n g t a g s t h a t s t a f f could identify and document, as well as turtles that were tagged for the first time this year.

“Sea turtles without tags could be first-time nesters, r e t u r n i n g t u r t l e s t h a t weren't encountered by the team in previous years, or turtles that have nested on other beaches that aren't monitored by nighttime teams,” SCCF sea turtle biologist Savannah Weber said “We've been seeing an average of four or five sea turtles each night, which is nearly twice the average last year at this time ”

After the SCCF applies tags to the turtles which allows staff and other scientists to see the individual's nesting and movement patterns the team also gets the pleasure of “naming” the turtle Themes in past years have included shells, ice cream flavors, spices and Pokémon This year, the theme is female musical artists

“Some of the names we've given turtles include Tina Turner, Fergie, Gwen Stefani, Reba McEntire

See SEA TURTLES, page 13

n M a y 3 1 ,

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 total of nine bald eagle chicks fledged this year on Sanibel, Captiva, and North Captiva, despite Hurricane Ian wiping out all known nests.

With the help of partners and volunteers, it monitors bald eagle nests on the islands during the nesting season Oct 1 through May 15 and reports data to the Audubon Society's EagleWatch program

“It was a challenging season for bald eagles, but they wasted no time rebuilding their nests and laying eggs,” S C C F s h o r e b i r d t

h n i c i a

A a

o n W h i t e s a i d “Rebuilding is a particular feat for bald eagles, which typically re-use and build upon the same nest year after year ”

Among the 10 breeding pairs that the SCCF monitors, seven successfully nested and fledged chicks. Two pairs did not renest, while one nest failed due to an unknown cause “The eagles really bounced back from Hurricane Ian, and we're hopeful the rest of the nesting wildlife across the islands will do the same,” he said

Volunteers clean up San-Cap Road

Organized in partnership with the city of Sanibel, Coastal Watch hosted a p o s t - h u r r i c a n e c l e a n u p o n M a y 1 7 along the seven-mile stretch of SanibelCaptiva Road on Sanibel It thanked the following volunteers: Vicki and Dick B o u r d o w , B o b B r o o k s , C h r i s t o p h e r Comer, Cheryl Day, Carol Fey, Dan Hopta, Richard and Bailie Johnson, B a r b L a s k y , T e r e s e L i b b y , S h a r o n Michie, John Niesel, Lori and Robert Poole, Lori and Steve Schulz, Kris and P e t e S q u i b b , L i n d a T e d e s c h i , J u l i e Weaver, Joan Wurmbrand, and Pam, Alison and Michelle with the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife Coastal Watch also extended a special thanks to American Legion Post 123, the BaileyMatthews Shell Museum and Sanibel Recreation Center for allowing volunt e e r s t o u s e t h e i r p a r k i n g C o a s t a l Watch is part of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation family

COASTAL WATCH

SCCF: Lake levels high as rainy season begins

As summer approaches, the water is getting warmer and daylight hours are increasing. Most people see this as an opportunity to spend more time outside, enjoying nature and waterbased recreational activities Algae, like cyanobacteria, also love these conditions

T h e S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a C o n s e r v a t i o n F o u n d a t i o n r e p o r t e d that in recent weeks, algae blooms h a v e b e e n o b s e r v e d i n L a k e O k e e c h o b e e , a s w e l l a s i n t h e Caloosahatchee River While it is typical to see algae blooms this time of year due to high concentrations of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous in nearly all Florida waterbodies, there is always great concern that t h e b l o o m s c o u l d b e c o m e t o x i c , affecting wildlife, human health and pets

“At SCCF, we are particularly c o n c e r n e d w i t h m o n i t o r i n g a l g a e blooms on Lake Okeechobee this year because lake levels are uncomfortably high,” Research and Policy

As of May 30, the lake was at 13 87 feet To put that in perspective, the average lake elevation for this time of year since the implementation of the LORS08 the U S Army Corps of Engineers' guidance manual on the lake releases has been 12 3 feet Since it was implemented in 2008, lake levels have ranged from a low of 9 63 feet in 2008 to a high of 14 59 feet in 2010

“The 'sweet spot' for the lake for this time of year is closer to 12 5 feet, which benefits the ecology of the lake and provides assurance that the lake can safely act as a reservoir

during the rainy season,” she said “The lower level allows it to gradually fill up until the water is needed in the dry season for environmental, agricultural and municipal needs ”

When the lake is too high before the wet season, damaging nutrientrich releases could be made to the Caloosahatchee River to prevent the lake from getting too high If there are toxic algae in the lake, they can end up in the river

“We will continue to monitor cond i t i o n s i n L a k e O a n d t h e Caloosahatchee and advocate for the e n v i r o n m e n t t h r o u g h o u r w e e k l y Caloosahatchee Conditions Report, as well as our conversations with the U S Army Corps of Engineers and other South Florida stakeholders duri n g t h e C o r p s ' p e r i o d i c s c i e n t i s t calls,” Reidenbach said

I s l a n d R e p o r t e r c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , J u n e 7 , 2 0 2 3 ■ P a g e 1 2
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SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION
SANIBEL-CAPTIVA
CONSERVATION
FOUNDATION An adult bald eagle with two fledglings.
Junonia

Impacts of storm advance restoration of grasslands

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported the current clearing of dead vegetative debris that created a fire hazard on many of its preserve lands will have the long-term effect of accelerating the restoration of native habitats

“State contractors are doing their best to maneuver through the habitats with minimal disturbance to living native flora,” Wildlife and Habitat Management Director

Sea turtles

and Dolly Parton,” she said

From page 12

Previously tagged turtles seen this year have included frequent nesters such as V e n u s a n d C o n c h , w h o h a v e b e e n encountered every one-to-two years since 2016 Staff were also pleased to see the

The dead trees and shrubs created a fuel load that increased the chance of wildfires

“Removing them will provide native grasses and ground cover plants an opportunity to take hold again from remaining seed sources in the ground and from any plantings we do to fill in the areas,” he said.

The SCCF reported Sanibel was mostly a vast open canopy grassland prior to development that was kept in that state by wildfires and a hydrology that limited freshwater to the center of the island along the Sanibel Slough during the long dry season

H i s t o r i c a l a e r i a l p h o t o g r a p h s s h o w that buttonwood, a freshwater-loving tree i n t h e w h i t e m a n g r o v e f a m i l y C o m b r e t a c e a e , b o r d e r e d t h e S a n i b e l Slough because it was the wettest part of the island.

“Historically, natural wildfires would c o n s u m e y o u n g b u t t o n w o o d s t h a t attempted to establish outside of this b u f f e r o f t h e r i v e r o n h i g h e r l a n d , ” Lechowicz said.

In the early 1990s, the city adopted a weir control policy to better manage surface water on the island The objective of the policy is to attempt to retain as much fresh surface water as possible for the environmental benefit of the interior wetlands, as long as developed areas are not

return of Junonia, a satellite-tagged loggerhead who has nested on Sanibel for six of the past seven years

“Generally, sea turtles exhibit 'natal homing,' which means nesting females will lay nests near the same beach they

adversely impacted

The weir system allows the water level to be kept higher on the west end of the island as opposed to the east end because there are more conservation lands and less developed areas west of Tarpon Bay Road

The SCCF reported that post-Hurricane Ian, saltwater inundation of the freshwater wetlands caused highly brackish water to stand for long periods of time As a result, woody vegetation had higher mortality on the west end because the salty water inundated the root systems longer

“The storm surge seemed to 'turn back the clock' slightly by decreasing living hardwood densities that overtook the expansive grasslands we once had,” he said

hatched from,” Weber said “Some turtles have very precise natal homing, where they lay nests within a few miles from the exact spot of beach from which they hatched Others have more general homing, where they may lay anywhere within

the general region of where they originally hatched ”

S i n c e t h e S C C F ' s t a g g i n g p r o j e c t began in 2016, staff have encountered over 950 unique individuals

Over 350 sea turtle nests have been

P a g e 1 3 ■ W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , J u n e 7 , 2 0 2 3 c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m I s l a n d R e p o r t e r
SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

Isl and lIvIng

SPD

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

Arrest repor ts

∫ Robert David Goldsmith, 52, of 19404 Elston Way, Estero, was charged on May 27 with drive while license suspended revocation equivalent status

Other enforcement actions

∫ On May 27, a traffic stop was initiated on a vehicle for impeding the flow of traffic The driver was subsequently issued a notice to appear for never having a driver's license issued

∫ On May 28, a traffic stop was initiated for excessive speed The driver was subsequently issued a notice to appear for unlawful speed (62 mph in a 30 mph zone).

∫ On May 28, a traffic stop was initiated on a vehicle for expired registration A records check revealed the vehicle did not have the correct license plate attached The driver was issued a notice to appear for operating a vehicle with an attached license plate not lawfully assigned and the vehicle was towed

∫ On May 28, a traffic stop was initiated for excessive speed A records check revealed the driver was unknowingly driving with a suspended license The driver's license and vehicle tag were seized and arrangements made to tow the vehicle

Enforcement operations statistics

From May 23-29:

∫ Alarm calls (business and residential): 8

∫ 911 non-emergency calls: 60

∫ Traffic crashes: 2

∫ Radar details: 80

∫ Traffic stops: 70 Citations issued: 28

warnings issued: 2

∫ Field interviews: 0

∫ Residential area checks: 730

∫ Business area checks: 168

∫ Total area checks: 1,384

∫ Reported burglaries: 0

∫ Reported thefts: 2

∫ Total CAD calls: 1,741

From May 2023 to date:

∫ Alarm calls (business and residential): 25

∫ Non-emergency calls: 246

∫ Traffic crashes: 8

∫ Radar details: 387

∫ Traffic stops: 291 Citations issued: 110 Written warnings issued: 14

∫ Field interviews: 5

∫ Residential area checks: 3,069

∫ Business area checks: 1,077

∫ Total area checks: 5,796

∫ Reported burglaries: 2

∫ Reported thefts: 7

∫ Total CAD calls: 7,376

Sanibel library offers mix of programs

t i o n , t h e l i b r a r y h a s l a u n c h e d a s e r i e s o f v i r t u a l a u t h o r t a l k s t o i n c l u d e b e s t s e l l i n g a u t h o r s a n d t h o u g h t l e a d e r s T h e n e x t o n e w i l l b e h e l d o n J u n e 7 a t 4 p m a n d w i l l f e a t u r e D r M i k e R u c k e r , a u t h o r o f “ T h e F u n H a b i t : H o w t h e D i s c i p l i n e d P u r s u i t o f J o y a n d W o n d e r C a n C h a n g e Y o u r L i f e ” R u c k e r i s a n o r g a n i z a t i o n a l p s y c h o l o g i s t a n d c h a r t e r m e m b e r o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l P o s i t i v e P s y c h o l o g y A s s o c i a t i o n w h o s e w o r k h a s b e e n p u b l i s h e d i n t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l J o u r n a l o f W o r k p l a c e H e a l t h M a n a g e m e n t a n d N u t r i t i o n R e s e a r c h H i s i d e a s a b o u t f u n a n d h e a l t h h a v e b e e n f e a t u r e d i n T h e W a l l S t r e e t J o u r n a l , F o r b e s , V o x , T h r i v e G l o b a l , m i n d b o d y g r e e n a n d m o r e N a m e d o n e o f 1 0 d i g i t a l c h a n g e m a k e r s b y t h e H e a l t h c a r e I n f o r m a t i o n a n d M a n a g e m e n t S y s t e m s S o c i e t y , R u c k e r s e r v e s a s a s e n i o r l e a d e r a t A c t i v e W e l l n e s s A q u e s t i o n - a n d - a n s w e r s e s s i o n w i t h t h e a u t h o r w i l l f o l l o w T o r e g i s t e r f o r t h e a u t h o r t a l k , v i s i t h t t p s : / / l i b r a r y c o r g / s a n l i b / u p c o m i n g L o c a l s a n d v i s i t o r s a g e s b a b y t o t e e n c a n s i g n u p f o r t h e a n n u a l S u m m e r R e a d i n g P r o g r a m S t o p b y t h e l i b r a r y o r r e g i s t e r w i t h B e a n s t a c k a t w w w . s a n l i b . o r g / c h i l d r e n . P a r t i c i p a n t s w i l l r e c e i v e a s p e c i a l g i f t T h e p r o g r a m w i l l r u n f r o m n o w t h r o u g h J u l y 2 9 P a r t i c i p a n t s e a r n b o o k s f o r t h e i r o w n c o l l e c t i o n a n d f o r p a t i e n t s a t t h e G o l i s a n o C h i l d r e n ’ s H o s p i t a l o f S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a A s i n y e a r s p a s t , b a b i e s t h r o u g h s i x t h g r a d e c a n e a r n b o o k s a n d m o r e T e e n s c a n e a r n v o l u n t e e r t i m e w h e n t h e y r e a d a b o o k a n d w r i t e a b o o k

SANIBEL PUBLIC LIBRARY

A Saturday Crafterday! will take place on June 24 at the Sanibel Public Library with professional artist and coloring book creator Melissa Gindling

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

A d d i t i o n a l l y , t h e l i b r a r y h a s s c h e d u l e d u p c o m i n g p r o g r a m s .

T e e n s c a n j o i n s t a f f e r M e g a n W i l l i s o n J u n e 8 a t 3 : 3 0 p m f o r p i z z a a n d t r i v i a T h e t r i v i a w i l l b e b a s e d

See LIBRARY PROGRAMS, page 15

Summer program to provide free breakfast, lunch

T h e S c h o o l D i s t r i c t o f L e e County is partnering with Florida’s Summer BreakSpot program to provide free meals to children ages 18 and younger at no cost to them during the summer while school is out.

Between June 9 and July 28, breakfast and lunch will be served at more than 80 school-based and community sites There are no income requirements or registration; meals must be consumed on site

“ T h e S c h o o l D i s t r i c t o f L e e

C o u n t y h a s p a r t n e r e d w i t h t h e Summer Feeding Program for over 2 0 y e a r s , ” F o o d a n d N u t r i t i o n Services Department Director Kandy Messenger said “Serving summer meals to the students when school is not in session is an important service that we are able to provide ”

As of July 2, there was one site listed on the islands:

Sanibel Recreation Center, at 3 8 8 0

Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel ∫ June 12-30: Breakfast from

8:30 to 9:30 a m and lunch from noon to 1 p m Monday through Friday

∫ July 3: Breakfast from 8:30 to 9:30 a m and lunch from noon to 1 p.m.

∫ July 5-28: Breakfast from 8:30 to 9:30 a m and lunch from noon to 1 p m

Monday through Friday

For all sites and times, dial 2-1-1, Text “Food” to 304-304, or visit www SummerBreakSpot org

I s l a n d R e p o r t e r c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , J u n e 7 , 2 0 2 3 ■ P a g e 1 4 Report your news to CAPTIvASAnIBEL COM
Written
Impor tant reminders Updated information
the Sanibel Boat Ramp: ∫ The boat ramp is open to permit holders on weekdays, weekends and holidays
on
See BLOTTER, page 15 T h e f o l l o w i n g p u b l i c meetings/hearings are scheduled: ∫ J u n e 1 3 : S a n i b e l P l a n n i n g Commission meeting at 9 a m at BIG ARTS, at 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel, and via Facebook Live For more information or the agenda, visit www mysanibel com Sanibel Public Meetings T h e S a n i b e l P u b l i c L i b r a r y p r o v i d e s a v a r i e t y o f p r og r a m m i n g f o r a d u l t s a n d c h i l d r e n W i t h s u p p o r t f r o m t h e S a n i b e l P u b l i c L i b r a r y F o u n d a
releases
FINLEY SKELTON The Sanibel Public Library will host a virtual author talk on June 7 with Dr Mike Rucker PHOTO PROVIDED On June 20, the Sanibel Fire and Rescue District will stop by the Sanibel Public Library

o n f a m o u s f r i e n d s h i p s i n b o o k s , m o v i e s a n d t e l e v i s i o n V o l u n t e e r h o u r s w i l l b e g i v e n f o r a t t e n d a n c e T h e B a i l e y - M a t t h e w s N a t i o n a l S h e l l M u s e u m w i l l p r e s e n t “ M o l l u s k s o n t h e M o v e ” o n J u n e 9 a t 3 p m T h e p r o g r a m w i l l s t a r t w i t h a s h o r t c h i l d r e n ' s b o o k a b o u t w h a t m a k e s a s n a i l a s n a i l , w i t h a s h e l l p a i n t i n g a c t i v i t y t o f o l l o w A l i v e l o c a l m o l l u s k w i l l b e a v a i l a b l e f o r a g e n t l e t o u c h F a m i l y S t o r y t i m e f o r a g e s 5 a n d u n d e r w i l l b e h e l d o n J u n e 1 0 a n d 1 4 a t 1 0 : 3 0 a m w i t h W i l l i s L i t e r a c y i s a f a m i l y b o n d i n g e x p e r i e n c e w i t h s t o r i e s r e a d a l o u d , f o l l o w e d b y e a r l y l i t e r a c y c e n t e r s o f p l a y t o f l e x m i n d s , d e v e l o p m o t o r s k i l l s a n d i n c r e a s e c r e a t i v i t y P r o g r a m s w i l l i n c l u d e a n a r t / c r a f t c e n t e r P a r e n t s a n d c a r e g i v e r s s h o u l d p l a n t o b e e n g a g e d w i t h t h e i r c h i l d . O n J u n e 2 1 , F a m i l y S t o r y t i m e w i l l m o v e t o 4 p m w i t h a S t u f f e d A n i m a l S l e e p o v e r C h i l d r e n a r e i n v i t e d t o c o m e i n t h e i r p a j a m a s , w i t h a b l a n k e t B r i n g a s t u f f e d a n i m a l t o l e a v e a t t h e l i b r a r y o v e r n i g h t P h o t o s w i l l b e t a k e n o f t h e i r w i l d n i g h t a n d s e n t t o f a m i l i e s p e r i o d i c a ll y R e t u r n t o t h e l i b r a r y o n J u n e 2 2 a t 1 0 a m t o r e u n i t e a n d e n j o y s o m e b r e a k f a s t a n d c a r t o o n s T h e 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 w i l l p r e s e n t a w i l d l i f e p r o g r a m o n J u n e 1 3 a t 3 p m O n J u n e 2 0 a t 3 p m , f i r e f i g h t e r s f r o m t h e S a n i b e l

Blotter From page 14

∫ The boat ramp is open to the public (non-permit holders) on weekdays that are not holidays for a $40 daily fee

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

∫ Commercial use of the boat ramp is prohibited

∫ Fines for violations at the boat ramp are $250 Roadside parking on Sanibel is not allowed except in the case of special events requiring a permit It is enforced

F i r e a n d R e s c u e D i s t r i c t w i l l c o m e t o t h e l i b r a r y

A t t e n d e e s c a n m e e t i n t h e p a r k i n g l o t f o r a f i r e t r u c k

p r e s e n t a t i o n . B e p r e p a r e d t o s t o p , d r o p , a n d r o l l !

A S a t u r d a y C r a f t e r d a y ! w i l l t a k e p l a c e o n J u n e 2 4 a t

1 0 a m P r o f e s s i o n a l a r t i s t a n d c o l o r i n g b o o k c r e a t o r

M e l i s s a G i n d l i n g w i l l p r o v i d e a d r a w i n g l e s s o n t o p a rt i c i p a n t s P r o g r a m s a r e d e s i g n e d f o r c h i l d r e n a n d a c c o m p a n yi n g a d u l t s F o r t h e m o s t u p - t o - d a t e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t t h e c a l e nd a r a t w w w s a n l i b o r g I n a d d i t i o n , t h e S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a A r t L e a g u e ' s j u r i e d e x h i b i t , “ F o o d f o r T h o u g h t , ” i s o n d i s p l a y T h e r e a r e 1 2 a r t i s t s r e p r e s e n t e d , w i t h 1 7 w o r k s i n p e n a n d i n k , o i l , f i b e r , a c r y l i c , a n d w a t e r c o l o r t o v i e w . L i b r a r y c a r d s a r e a v a i l a b l e t o r e s i d e n t s o f S a n i b e l a n d L e e C o u n t y a t n o c h a r g e V i s i t o r l i b r a r y c a r d s a r e a v a i l a b l e f o r a $ 1 0 a n n u a l f e e T h e S a n i b e l P u b l i c L i b r a r y i s o p e n M o n d a y t h r o u g h S a t u r d a y f r o m 9 a m t o 5 p m F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , c a l l

r v i s i t w w w s a n l i b o r g T h e S a n i b e l P u b l i c L i b r a r y i s a t

u n l o p R o a d , S a n i b e l

and can result in a $150 fine

Some beach park facilities on Sanibel are still closed For more information on S a n i b e l b e a c h e s , v i s i t h t t p s : / / w w w m y s a n i b e l c o m / g o v e r nm e n t / p u b l i c - w o r k s - d e p a r t m e n t / u s e f u llinks/parks-public-beaches

Dewatering of a pool or spa directly into a waterbody, into the city’s stormwater system or onto any third-party’s property without the third party’s consent is expressly prohibited

The Sanibel-Captiva Art League is exhibiting “ F o o d f o r T h o u g h t ” a t t h e S a n i b e l P u b l i c Library.

Solicitation is not allowed on Sanibel

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

Repor ting suspicious activity

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

∫ Text the keyword SANIBEL then your tip to 847411

∫ W e b t i p s c a n b e s u b m i t t e d a t https://www tip411 com/tips/new?alert g roup id=22450

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

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

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

P a g e 1 5 ■ W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , J u n e 7 , 2 0 2 3 c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m I s l a n d R e p o r t e r
2 3 9 - 4 7 2 - 2 4 8 3
7 7 0 D
programs From page 14
o
Library
SANIBEL PUBLIC LIBRARY

Beach Bucket Stations going back up on Sanibel

Coastal Watch has partnered with the city of Sanibel and Bailey's General Store to install Beach Bucket Stations at beach access points on Sanibel again The stations were originally installed in July, but unfortunately all were lost during Hurricane Ian

It reported that there has been an amazing effort from the city and residents to get the island beaches cleaned up after the storm However, trash continues to be uncovered and washed in from the Gulf of Mexico. The goal of the project is to provide beachgoers both with a more convenient way to collect trash and act as reminder that everyone needs to do their part to keep the beaches clean

“We hope people take advantage of this resource, as there is still a continuous flow of debris washing onto our beaches in addition to the hurricane debris still buried and scattered,” Director Kealy McNeal said “We've noticed many people stuffing trash into their pockets, tackle boxes, shell bags, et cetera, and we wanted to cre-

See BEACH BUCKET STATIONS, page 17

Rec center provides update on facility and programming

The Sanibel Recreation Center reported on the following activities for the month of June

T h e w e i g h t r o o

reopened on June 2 Officials reported that the gymnasium remains closed but is scheduled to tentatively reopen the week of June 12

“We understand the important role the recreation center plays in our members' physical and emotional health Our team is committed to providing a safe and friendly environment for everyone to achieve their health and wellness goals,” officials reported. “We truly appreciate your patience as we continue to make positive steps forward ”

The hours for the lap pool and slide have been expanded to 8:30 a m to 4:30 p m

The Lee County Mosquito Control District will have an outreach table set up on June 9 from 8 a m to noon Representatives will share information on how to “Fight the Bite” heading into summer There will be samples of mosquito repellent, residential mosquito traps while supplies last and informational materials available

The Sanibel Fire and Rescue District will offer complimentary blood pressure screenings on June 12 from 9 and 11:30 a m High blood pressure increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney disease and even blindness in some cases The screenings are offered as a first step in determining if further examination by a health care professional is necessary

Also on June 12, Weight Room 101 will take place It will include weight room orientation, specific instruction on upper and lower body exercises and cardiovascular training tips Instruction and guidance on how to properly train one's entire body safely and effectively will help participants to gain muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance. Class is limited to 10 participants; pre-registration is required Closed-toe footwear is required

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum and Sanibel Recreation Department will host Shelling With A Pro on June 14, July 10, Aug 25 and Sept 27 from 9 to 11 a m Destination and topic will vary for each excursion Bring a water bottle, sunscreen and a small collec-

tion bag for shells Cost is $10 for members and $12 50 for non-members; transportation will be provided by city van Seating is limited; reservations required at 239-4720302

Harris Dermatology will offer complimentary skin cancer screenings on June 29 from 8:30 a m to noon Quick and easy, the exam is a non-invasive, visual inspection of exposed areas of the body that will be done after a brief medical history is completed No appointment or registration is necessary; walk-ins will be welcomed

The center is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8 a m to 5 p m and on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7 a m to 5 p m

Daily, weekly, semi-annual and annual memberships are available

For more information, call 239-472-0302 or visit www mysanibel com

The Sanibel Recreation Center is at 3880 SanibelCaptiva Road, Sanibel.

TBE offering discount to students

From now through Aug 31, Tarpon Bay Explorers on Sanibel will give a 25 percent discount to any student ages 18 and older on kayak, SUP stand up paddleboard and Hobie fishing kayak rentals. A student ID is required. “We hope students take advantage of the discount and support us, the refuge and the island in general,” TBE Managing Partner Wendy Schnapp said TBE is the concessionaire for the J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge It is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 8 a m to 5 p m , with the last rentals at 3 p m For more information or reservations, visit www tarponbayexplorers com or call 239-472-8900 TBE is at 900 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel

Early registration, sponsorships open for road rally

Presented by the Friends of Randy of Sanibel, the 4th of July Sanibel Island Road Rally will take place on July 4 starting at noon at the Timbers R e s t a u r a n t & F i s h M a r k e t o n Sanibel Marking its 43rd year, this y e a r ' s p r o c e e d s w i l l b e n e f i t A m e r i c a n L e g i o n P o s t 1 2 3 o n Sanibel as it rebuilds from the hurricane The event is an in-vehicle, visual scavenger hunt for answers to ques-

tions Participants are provided with instructions, questions and driving directions and they must find the clues along the way It is not a speed r a c e i t i s s c o r e d o n c o r r e c t answers, time and mileage The route will take under two hours

The rally will finish at Timbers, where a party will be held afterward for participants only

T h e F O R O S i s s e e k i n g e v e n t sponsors It added that it understands

t h e s i t u a t i o n f o r m a n y p o s tHurricane Ian, so any amount $100 and up will be accepted equally and greatly appreciated

To register early or for sponsors h i p i n f o r m a t i o n , c o n t a c t R a n d y Carson at rcarsonsan@gmail com or 239-699-8739 or Allen Dunham at c o u g a r 3 3 3 @ y a h o o c o m o r 2 3 9699-9474

The FOROS is an all-volunteer, non-profit Florida corporation

I s l a n d R e p o r t e r c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , J u n e 7 , 2 0 2 3 ■ P a g e 1 6 Report your news to CApTIvASANIBEl COm SPORTS
COASTAL WATCH
l o b b y a n d m u l t i - u s e r o o m s
m ,
CITY OF SANIBEL The lap pool and slide hours at the Sanibel Recreation Center are now 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Beach Bucket Stations

ate an easier way to collect debris ”

As of June 1, the stations that had been r e i n s t a l l e d a r e a t T a r p o n B a y B e a c h Access and Bowman's Beach (after the bridge) Those who participate in cleaning up can fill out a short survey to tell Coastal Watch what they collected and how much; a QR Code for the survey is on

From page 16

the stations and buckets

Station monitors needed Coastal Watch reported that stations will be installed at various access points on Sanibel, and volunteers are needed to help maintain them and report any issues

The responsibilities include:

∫ Checking for damaged or missing buckets

∫ Reporting any issues with the stations (broken hooks, scales, et cetera)

∫ Making sure trash has been removed from buckets

∫ Rinsing buckets if needed

Sanibel Sea School staff finish safety training

S u m m e r c a m p s a r e around the corner for the S a n i b e l S e a S c h o o l , which will begin hosting its week-long programs on June 12 In preparation, staff recently comp l e t e d l i f e g u a r d , C P R , AED and first aid training through the American R e d C r o s s T h e y r a n d r i l l s , l e a r n e d r e s c u e s and perfected life-saving skills

To sign up to become a Beach Bucket S t a t i o n m o n i t o r , v i s i t h t t p s : / / d o c s google com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJURy jWkcHNalb79WVXML2hMKiGYmbQk Yu91j-9wSwXVSTcg/viewform

C o a s t a l W a t c h i s p a r t o f t h e S a n i b e lC 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 f a m il y

P a g e 1 7 ■ W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , J u n e 7 , 2 0 2 3 c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m I s l a n d R e p o r t e r
SANIBEL SEA SCHOOL

0

Homework: 365 days a year, the summer rise

,

W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , J u n e

Gwyn Gittens Guest Commentary

mainly, and other academic measures that slide downward during the summer. Data shows that if children do not read over the summer, they can lose as much as three months of reading progress! Why? Because it is like any skill If you stop practicing for a period of t i m e , y o u r p e r f o r m a n c e goes downhill A dancer or m u s i c i a n o r s i n g e r w h o doesn't practice cannot perf o r m a t t h e s a m e l e v e l . Remember to balance and mix learning and fun

When students return in the fall, they will be tested to see how much they did “ s l i d e , ” a c a d e m i c a l l y I n order to know how much they slid, they have to know scores at the end of the year Parents must know those scores, too Make sure you have talked to the teachers and have your student’s latest academic scores. You should know if your child is in the achievement gap, so you can work o n g e t t i n g t h e m t o “ r i s e ” o u t o f i t Homework can reduce the summer slide and maybe even create a “summer rise ”

∫ Know your child’s scores, not just their end of year grade; they are different

n o t s u c c e s s f u l ”

There is an education concept called the “summer slide ” It means the difference between a student’s reading scores,

∫ Ask for “summer learning” packets and reading lists from their school

See HOMEWORK, page 20

7
I s l a n d R e p o r t e r 2
c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m 2 3 ■ P a g e 1 8
Wait, before you get up i n a r m s a n d s t o r m t h e school board, this is not a p a r t o f t h e C o d e o f C o n d u c t , l e t m e e x p l a i n Summer is here! Schools will look very different for a while; busses will not be lined up, the parking lot will not be full, you do not have to raise your voice to be heard in the hallways, p a r e n t s d o n o t h a v e t o threaten sleepy children to “hurry up or you’ll be late for school,” or to “turn off your phone and do your homework” or do you? Homework is not just work t h a t w a s a s s i g n e d b y a t e a c h e r ; i t i s w o r k d o n e together with your child at home reading a book, story or magazine, games, movies, a trip, flashcards, just talking, et cetera
S u m m e r m a y m e a n r e l a x i n g a n d s l o wi n g d o w n , a n d c h i l d r e n n e e d t i m e t o r e l a x , b u t i t d o e s n ’ t m e a n s t o p , e s p e c i a ll y l e a r n i n g ! L e a r n i n g s h o u l d b e h a p p e ni n g 3 6 5 d a y s o f t h e y e a r , w h e t h e r a t s c h o o l o r a t h o m e A g r e a t a u n t o f m i n e u s e d t o s a y , “ I f y o u d o n ’ t l e a r n a t l e a s t o n e n e w t h i n g e a c h d a y , y o u r d a y w a s

said, noting that continued education is especially important for youths to prevent what educators call the “summer slide” for students

“And teach about the refuge and the importance of wildlife and conservation,” Westland added

She continued that the one of the refuge's goals is to connect people with nature In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, the community has found stress relief through the refuge's nature-based programs

“I think one thing that we learned from the hurricane is life is precious and things can change in a moment,” Westland said “So it's having quality time with your family and doing it in nature ”

On Wednesdays at 9 a m , Wildlife Drive with a Ranger will be held at the refuge

“It is a one-hour caravan tour, so people will follow the ranger in their own vehicle,” she said

Participants will receive free entry to the drive, and there will be stops on the way.

“People can ask about hurricane recovery We will talk about what wildlife and plants we're seeing and what is going on at the refuge,” Westland said “Every tour will be different based on what we see ”

Participants can stay for the whole prog r a m o r h e a d o f f o n t h e i r o w n a n d explore “ T h e y c a n k e e p r e c r e a t i n g o n t h e drive,” she said

Also at the refuge, Rangers Choice will take place on Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. in the free Visitor and Education Center

classroom Lasting about 30 minutes, the program topics will change weekly

“It can be hot in the summer, it can be buggy,” Westland said “This gets people out of the heat ”

The topics will be picked by the presenting ranger, but all will be wildlife focused

“There will be things to study and look at,” she said “They can ask all sorts of questions ”

The program is designed for all ages

“It's good for kids to keep learning during the summer and that's one way to do it,” Westland said.

The final on-island program will be Reading at the Refuge on Saturdays at 11 a m Participants will join a ranger or volunteer in the birding room at the center to enjoy a 30-minute reading session

“It's usually geared toward younger kids,” she said, noting that each week will be a different book “They're all naturebased and focused books we sell in the store and that we've loved over the years ”

There will also be hands-on items to go with each story, like furs, skulls or skins.

“They'll complement the subject in the book,” Westland said

T h e l a s t p r o g r a m L a k e s P a r k Exploration will be held on Fridays at 8 a m

“This is a good way for us to go offisland into the community,” she said Meeting outside of the Whistle Stop Shop at Lakes Park, participants will take part in a one-hour walk covering about a mile The program will rotate each week between slow birding and kids exploration

“Slow birding is like birding, but looking at what the animals are doing It's less about identifying them and more about their behavior,” Westland said, adding that it is something all ages can take part in

From a scavenger hunt to games, kids exploration will feature a different activity each time

“This one's going to be more active learning and exploring,” she said The programs will be led by Rangers Jess Barry and Yvette Carrasco

Westland noted that Carrasco is fluent in Spanish

A few tips were offered for those planning to take part in the outdoor programs

“ P e o p l e a r e g o i n g t o w a n t t o c o m e p r e p a r e d w i t h b u g s p r a y a n d s u n s c r e e n H a v e a h a t a n d b r i n g w a t e r , ” W e s t l a n d s a i d , n o t i n g t h a t t h e r e a r e r e f i l l s t a t i o n s “ I t ' s a l w a y s g o o d t o h y d r a t e a h e a d o f t i m e ”

While the programming is free, space is limited so people must register.

To register, visit dingdarling eventbrite com

For more information, call 239-4721100, ext 237

T h e J N “ D i n g ” D a r l i n g N a t i o n a l Wildlife Refuge is at 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel

Lakes Park is at 7330 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers

P a g e 1 9 ■ W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , J u n e 7 , 2 0 2 3 c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m I s l a n d R e p o r t e r
page 1
Summer programming From
REFUGE/DDWS

CSU is now forecasting there will be 15 named storms, seven hurricanes and three major hurricanes for the '23 season, which opened on June 1 Last year, CSU predicted 19 named storms, including nine hurricanes and four major

C S U ’ s M e t e o r o l o g y P r o j e c t t e a m anticipates the Atlantic hurricane season to be near average due to a number of factors, but uncertainty still remains

Often used to paint a picture of the upcoming season is the El Nino Southern O s c i l l a t i o n ( E N S O ) w h e t h e r t h e waters in the central and eastern Pacific

page 1

Ocean are warmer or cooler, typically referred to as El Nino (warmer) or La Nina (cooler).

“El Nino development appears imminent, as water temperatures across the eastern and central tropical Pacific have anomalously warmed over the past couple of months,” CSU researchers stated in their second report on June 1

Tropical and subtropical Atlantic sea s u r f a c e t e m p e r a t u r e s a r e n o w m u c h warmer than normal

“C u r r en t lar g e- s cale co n d itio n s an d forecasts indicate that a transition to El

Obituaries

Nino is virtually assured in the next couple of months However, there remains uncertainty as to how strong El Nino will be,” they stated

C S U r e s e a r c h e s s t a t e d t h a t w h e n waters in the eastern and central tropical and subtropical Atlantic are warmer than normal, it tends to force a weaker subtropical high and associated weaker winds blowing across the tropical Atlantic

“These weaker winds favor additional a n o m a l o u s w a r m i n g o f t h e t r o p i c a l Atlantic for the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season,” CSU officials stated “The w a r m e r - t h a n - n o r m a l t r o p i c a l A t l a n t i c may counteract some of the increase in vertical wind shear typically associated with El Nino The increase in sea surface temperature anomalies in the Atlantic are the primary reason for the increase in forecasted hurricane activity ”

The CSU team bases forecasts on a statistical model, as well as four models that use a combination of statistical information and model output from the European C e n t r e f o r M e d i u m - R a n g e W e a t h e r F o r e c a s t s , U K M e t O f f i c e , J a p a n M e t e o r o l o g i c a l A g e n c y a n d E u r oMediterranean Center on Climate Change

The models use 25 to 40 years of historical hurricane seasons and evaluate conditions including: Atlantic sea surface temperatures, sea level pressures, vertical wind shear levels (the change in wind direction and speed with height in the atmosphere), El Nino (warming of waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific)

Phone search

cials do not need to have probable cause or a warrant to search a student Rather, per the Supreme Court, school officials may use a reasonable suspicion standard to initiate a search This includes searches of a student’s locker, backpack and cell p h o n e s , ” d i s t r i c t s p o k e s p e r s o n R o b Spicker said in an email.

T h e d i s c u s s i o n s t e m m e d a r o u n d a briefing on the 2023-24 Code of Conduct for Students Within the policy, under student Search and Seizure and school board policy 4 03, it states that “school personnel may conduct a search of a student, a student’s possessions, a student locker, or any other storage area on school property, including cell phone and other electronic devices without a warrant when school personnel have reasonable suspicion that illegal, prohibited, harmful items, or substance or stolen property may be concealed ”

Board Attorney Kathy Dupuy-Bruno said the student absolutely has an expectation of privacy that is protected by the Fourth Amendment She said the analysis that goes along with that is different from an adult

“A student is based on reasonable suspicion A warrant is not required,” DupuyBruno said

Homework

and other factors

CSU said that thus far, the 2023 hurricane season is exhibiting characteristics similar to 1951, 1957, 1969, 2004 and 2006

“Our analog seasons exhibited a wide range of outcomes, from below-normal s e a s o n s t o h y p e r a c t i v e s e a s o n s , ” P h i l K l o t z b a c h , r e s e a r c h s c i e n t i s t i n t h e Department of Atmospheric Science and lead author of the report, said “This highlights the large uncertainty that exists with this outlook ”

C S U p r e d i c t s t h i s y e a r ’ s h u r r i c a n e activity will be about 100% of the average season from 1991-2020 By comparison, 2022’s hurricane activity was about 75% of the average season Last year’s season will be most remembered for its two major hurricanes: Fiona and Ian, which reached a Category 5 but made landfall as a Category 4 in Southwest Florida, resulting in more than 150 fatalities and $113 billion in damage

“It takes only one storm near you to make this an active season for you,” M i c h a e l B e l l , p r o f e s s o r i n C S U ' s Department of Atmospheric Science, said The CSU team will issue additional forecast updates on July 6 and Aug 3

T h e T r o p i c a l M e t e o r o l o g y P r o j e c t team also includes Alex DesRosiers, a PhD candidate in the same department Bill Gray, who originated the seasonal forecasts, launched the report in 1984 and continued to author them until his death in 2016

From page 1

There is a two-pronged approach The first is to be able to justify a search through reasonable suspicion The second part is staying within that scope that initiated the review

“That analysis is very subtle,” DupuyBruno said of the legal analysis “Over the summer, when we do training, we are working with principals, assistant principals and administrators to make sure they understand it ”

S u p e r i n t e n d e n t D r C h r i s t o p h e r Bernier said the Code of Conduct will be addressed during the weeks that they train principals, assistant principals and now athletic directors for professional development Part of that will include Legal 101, which will talk about consistency and the approach to disciplinary responses

Dupuy-Bruno said she understands the concerns

“Nothing allows the school district to pull the cell phone to see what is going on It is narrowly tailored, something that rises to the level,” she said of a circumstance that does not happen on a regular basis “It’s a very egregious situation that reasonable suspicion rises to that level ”

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

From page 18

∫ Make a summer learning plan with your child and the family

∫ Continue to ask the question, “What did you learn today?” Wait for an answer

Homework 365 days a year is a must! There are many simple, easy and fun ways to have a “summer rise” not a “summer slide” and gain academic achievement.

G w y n G i t t e n s i s t h e d i r e c t o r o f GwynEducation A former Lee County School Board member, she has experience as a K-12 educator and in adult education and has been an adjunct professor For more information, visit GwynEducation com

Report your news to THE REPORTER: captivasanibel.com

I s l a n d R e p o r t e r c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , J u n e 7 , 2 0 2 3 ■ P a g e 2 0
Storm season From
Shell Shocked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Poetic License . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 In the Garden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Island Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 CROW Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Island Seniors Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Island Worship . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Recipe of the Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Island Beat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 aLSOinSidetOday aLSOinSidetOday aLSOinSidetOday aLSOinSidetOday WEEK OF JUNE 7, 2023 Annual Art Vibe to feature art, music and more Page 22

What’s the name of that drug again?

As we age, we are prescribed more medications

It’s astonishing how far the pharmaceutical industry has come in researching, testing, and introducing m e d i c a t i o n s f o r e v e r ything from a runny nose to an ingrown toenail

T h e r e a r e c o u n t l e s s commercials on TV that d e m o n s t r a t e r e l i e f a n d cures for everything that ails us We sit in front of the TV set and take in dramatic scenes that demonstrate how an individual has recovered from arthritis, gout, psoriasis, sexual dysfunction, and thinning hair There are products that diminish eye bags, reduce stress, and make you breathe better

Shell Shocked

They turn you from an aging octogenarian to a hip middle ager But the most difficult part of taking prescription drugs is remembering their names There is a method to the madness of naming prescription drugs that only an elite group of pharmaceutical biologists know. It’s for the rest of us to figure out which prescription aids which symptoms

For example, Viagra is named for its suggestion of vitality, virility, and vigor the big three “V’s ” And, it rhymes with Niagara, a famous water fall that was once a puny stream But the present-day Niagara signifies force and endurance There is also conjecture that the Sanskrit word “vyaghra,” meaning tiger, was also in the equation

Viagra is probably one of the best-known sexual dysfunction drugs But its medical name, one used by pharmacists and physicians, is Sildenafil.

If someone suggested that you take Sildenafil, would you even know what it is and does? Another example is the prescription drug Triamcinolone Do you know what it’s for? It’s for rashes

Fasenra relieves eosinophils symptoms Since I have no idea what eosinophils is, I wouldn’t urge my physician to prescribe Fasenra

Apparently, there are some rules of thumb that pharma companies use in naming drugs It’s a combination of disease or ailment, some Latin thrown in and a syllable suggesting relief But the average layman has no ins with pharma companies and is powerless to suggest more understandable names

There’s a drug called Anakinra Will this drug make you a sky walker? Well, if you have rheumatoid arthritis, it may help And did the people who named this drug (brand name Kineret) have a fondness for Star Wars? It appears to be a coincidence

How about Cisplatin? Would you put a splat right in your drug name? Well, this chemotherapy drug for cancer a pioneer in its class and on the market since 1978 got its name from being an isomer of a platinum-containing compound The two isomers (molecules that are the same except for their orientation) of the compound are the trans (“that side”) and cis (“this side”) isomers The first syllable “cis” works against some kinds of cancer Would you have known this without my help?

Are you with me so far?

If your stomach is not moving food through quickly and you're experiencing nausea, would you want a glass of Dom P rignon? Hmm How about a tablet of Domperidone? It's used to treat that as well as to help nursing mothers with milk production, and is a popular choice in some places, though not officially approved in the U.S. But say … how did it get this name? All the other drugs that end in peridone are antipsychotics Yes, but they have this in common w i t h D o m p e r i d o n e : T h e y b l o c k t h e e f f e c t s o f dopamine in your system (Champagne, as it happens, does the opposite )

R HIERREZUELD

BIG ARTS to host Annual Art Vibe

B y T I F FA N Y R E P E C K I t r e p e c k i @ b r e e z e n e w s p a p e r s c o m T h e c o m m u n i t y i s i n v i t e d o u t f o r a n e v e n i n g o f l o c a l l y - c r e a t e d a r t w o r k , l i v e m u s i c a n d m o r e

If you go

What Annual Art Vibe

When June 10 from 5 to 8 p m

Where BIG ARTS, 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel Details Free and open to the public

B I G A R T S w i l l h o s t i t s A n n u a l A r t V i b e o n J u n e 1 0 f r o m 5 t o 8 p m F r e e a n d o p e n t o t h e p u b l i c , i t w i l l h i g h l i g h t a n e w e x h i b i t a n d s c h o l a r s h i p r e c i p i e n t s , a s w e l l a s f e a t u r e e n t e r t a i nm e n t , f o o d a n d d r i n k s “ T h i s h a s b e e n o n g o i n g f o r a f e w y e a r s n o w , ” E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r L e e E l l e n H a r d e r s a i d o f t h e e v e n t “ I t ' s t o s u p p o r t a n d t o s h o w c a s e w h a t B I G A R T S d o e s f o r o u r a r t s e d u c a t i o n i n t h e c o m m un i t y ” “ L a s t y e a r , w e h a d a h u g e t u r n o u t , ” s h e a d d e d “ W e h o p e t o h a v e a n o t h e r o n e t h i s y e a r ” I n t h e D u n h a m F a m i l y G a l l e r y , “ A M o m e n t o f S e e i n g ” c u r a t e d b y s e n i o r v i s u a l a r t s s t u d e n t s f r o m F l o r i d a S o u t h W e s t e r n S t a t e C o l l e g e w i l l b e o n d i sp l a y I t i s a p h o t o g r a p h y a n d f i l m e x h i b i t i o n “ T h e y c r e a t e , h a n g a n d j u r y t h e s h o w , ” H a r d e r s a i d “ I t ' s a w o n d e r f u l p r o j e c t a n d e x p e r i e n c e f o r t h e m o n h o w t o m o u n t a n e x h i b i t a n d h o w t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n a g a l l e r y , a l o n g w i t h a n a r t i s t s ' r e c e p t i o n ”

T h e s t u d e n t s a n d t h e i r p r o f e s s o r s w i l l b e o n h a n d “ W e a s k s o m e o f t h e m t o s p e a k a b o u t t h e i r w o r k , ” s h e s a i d

B I G A R T S w i l l a l s o r e c o g n i z e t h i s y e a r ' s P e r f o r m i n g a n d C r e a t i v e A r t s S c h o l a r s h i p w i n n e r s “ W e w i l l a n n o u n c e t h e m a n d p r e s e n t t h e m w i t h t h e i r a w a r d s a n d c h e c k s , ” H a r d e r s a i d O p e n t o L e e C o u n t y r e s i d e n t s , t h e p r o g r a m i s f o r s t u d e n t s w h o a r e a t t e n d i n g c o l l e g e t o p u r s u e a p r o f e s -

s i o n a l c a r e e r i n c r e a t i v e o r p e r f o r m i n g a r t s N i n e r e c i p i e n t s a r e r e c e i v i n g a t o t a l o f $ 4 0 , 0 0 0 S h e n o t e d t h a t i t i s a b o u t B I G A R T S ' c o m m i t m e n t t o a r t s e d u c a t i o n , a n d t h e o b j e c t i v e i s t o e x p a n d t h e d o n o r - b a c k e d p r o g r a m A t t e n d e e s w i l l h a v e t h e c h a n c e t o l e a r n a b o u t w a y s t o s u p p o r t t h e p r o g r a m T h e e v e n t w i l l a l s o f e a t u r e l i v e d e m o n s t r a t i o n s b y o i l a r t i s t J a n E l l e n A t k i e l s k i , p a s t e l a r t i s t M a r y K l u n k a n d w a t e r c o l o r a r t i s t S u n n y K r c h m a r i n t h e g a r d e n , a l o n g w i t h t h e i r p i e c e s o n d i s p l a y “ W e ' r e g o i n g t o h a v e t h r e e o f o u r i n s t r u c t o r s d o i n g d e m o s , ” H a r d e r s a i d , e x p l a i n i n g t h a t t h e d e m o n s t r at i o n s w i l l s h o w c a s e w h a t t h e y w i l l t e a c h f o r t h e u p c o m i n g f a l l - w i n t e r s e a s o n

L i v e m u s i c w i l l b e p r o v i d e d b y W i l d e r D u o

“ W e ' r e v e r y e x c i t e d b e c a u s e t h i s w i l l b e t h e i r d e b u t

a t B I G A R T S , ” s h e s a i d

T h e y a r e m e m b e r s o f t h e W i l d e r S o n s b a n d , a n

a l t e r n a t i v e - r o c k g r o u p f r o m S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a

W e a r e j u s t b r i n g i n g t h e d u o f o r t h i s e v e n t , ”

H a r d e r s a i d

S a n i b e lC a p t i v a I s l a n d e r c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , J u n e 7 , 2 0 2 3 ■ P a g e 2 2
See NAME, page 23
K COLLINS A APPADOO See ART VIBE, page 25
“A Moment of Seeing” by Florida SouthWestern State College students will be on exhibit in the Dunham Family Gallery during the Annual Art Vibe on June 10 at BIG ARTS on Sanibel.

‘Ladybug’ tractor suppor ted by Mariel Foundation

T h e S a n i b e l -

Captiva Conservation

Shell museum, CROW receive donations

The Sanibel Corgis recently presented both the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum and Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife with a $550 check donation to support their Hurricane Ian recovery and rebuilding efforts The group raised the monies through a fundraiser It added that it learned the donations will be matched, so both the museum

CROW will

Bur ns Family Team, Premier donate to school

License ‘Denial’

It was not in another country

Nor in another time

There was no music playing And we did not dance or dine

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

F o u n d a t i o n r e p o r t e d that a $55,000 donation from the Mariel F o u n d a t i o n h a s allowed it to purchase a n e w t r a c t o r t o replace the one that w a s l o s t t o s t o r m surge from Hurricane Ian The SCCF will use it to make sure its preserves' fire lanes a r e c l e a r a n d d e a d v e g e t a t i o n i s removed The found a t i o n w a s e s t a blished by Sanibel winter residents John H and Carolyn Talbot Hoagland and their children in memory of Carolyn's sister, Mariel Alice Talbot After the hurricane, the family wanted to do something special beyond its normal contributions to the SCCF The tractor has been designated “Ladybug” in honor of Mariel Alice Talbot, whose parents often called her “Ladybug ”

Name From page 22

I’ve taken the liberty of creating names for prescription drugs that would serve useful medical purposes:

∫ Vigiscallopine curing allergic reactions to restaurant tablecloths

∫ Predniblink limiting eye blinks to 70 per minute

F r a n k i e L i n s m a y e r found a massive 3 33-inch lion's paw on May 22 on Sanibel while on her morning w a l k t o t r a c k d o l p h i n s a n d give thanks for the surrounding beauty A lifel o n g S a n i b e l r e s i d e n t , s h e h o p e s t h a t everyone pauses to see and feel the beauty and l o v e t h a t remains on the b e l o v e d i s l a n d

To report a shell find, contact 239-472-1587 or trepecki@breezenews papers com

PHOTO PROVIDED

∫ Sidafodil relief of hay fever; also works for dirt stains on T-shirts

∫ Conviggarivva soothes the pain of gout on one’s nose

∫ V e g i t s u r a s s t r e n g t h e n s one’s ability to learn Yiddish

Well there you have it a crash course that will generate oohs and

ahhs from your local pharmacist He may even ask you to fill in for him during his lunch break

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

There was no suite I rented

To which we did retire,

And no romantic breakfast

Relit our evening fire

No moonlit beach for lovers

To frolic on the sand, No sun-drenched orange morning For bodies to withstand,

Nor back seat in a drive-in

With a movie rated R, And girl to whom I’d promise

Someday to make a star

Nor did we dare a hammock

With swinging to and fro, Or standing up in rowboats, Or slip-sliding in the snow

It was not a brief encounter

Two strangers on a train,

Over before it started

Until we’d meet again

Nor just a night to remember

Until the seas run dry

Or morning in December

When a kiss became a sigh

It’s not a true love story

Yet I simply can’t forget

The love that never happened

On the day we never met.

P a g e 2 3 ■ W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , J u n e 7 , 2 0 2 3 c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m S a n i b e lC a p t i v a I s l a n d e r
(From “Sanibel Joe’s Songbook” ArtPoem inspired by Carol Rosenberg) Joe Pacheco Poetic
end up r e c e i v i n g $ 1 , 1 1 0 T h e S a n i b e l C o r g i s t h a n k e d e v e r y o n e w h o s u p p o r t e d i t s fundraiser SANIBEL CORGIS
and
The Burns Family T e a m a n d P r e m i e r S o t h e b y ' s I n t e r n a t i o n a l R e a l t y r e c e n t l y p r e s e n t e d The Sanibel School with a $1,500 check d o n a t i o n O f f i c i a l s r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e school is grateful for its island community THE SANIBEL SCHOOL
Shell Find Lion’s paw found on Sanibel

Sanibel Captiva

0

W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , J u n e 7 ,

Are you looking for a dramatic, low-water succulent plant? Try a desert rose

In collaboration with the city of Sanibel, the group hosted its second community event, “Emerging from Hurricane Ian: Stronger & More Resilient (Part 2),” on April 11 Panelists answered a series of audience questions focused on built environment (structures) and natural systems (conservation lands, coastlines and residential landscapes) SCCF Chief Executive Officer James Evans was one of the panelists focused on natural systems

Report your news to captivaSanibel.com

The real appeal of the desert rose stems from its showy, trumpet-shaped flowers that appear in festive shades of pink, white, purple and red The beautiful blooms sit atop a

b o n s a i - l i k e swollen trunk that holds water d u r i n g t i m e s o f d r o u g h t a m o n g s h i n y , dark green leaves

T h e r e a r e a l s o b i c o l o r v a r i e t i e s a v a i l a b l e , t y p e s with double flowers, or even some w i t h v a r i e g a t e foliage to choose from

W a t e r t h e desert rose spari n g l y I n m a n y s i t u a t i o n s , s u mm e r r a i n f a l l i s e n o u g h t o k e e p the plant flourishing in all but the w o r s t d r o u g h t c o n d i t i o n s B l o o m s u s u a l l y t e n d t o a p p e a r during warm months and even periodically throughout the year if winter is mild Do not be alarmed if your desert rose loses its leaves in the winter, as that is a common occurrence Even in summer months, the plant is more stems and blooms than foliage itself

PHOTO PROVIDED Desert rose

The desert rose generally only grows to a maximum height of about 4 feet and will take many years to reach full maturity Due to its slow-growing nature, trimming is considered optional A light spring pruning or pinching of stem tips can help create more branches and a possibly a fuller blooming effect On the other hand and great news for the less experienced gardener many of the plants have a wonderful shape without any help from their owners if planted in the right conditions

Interesting fact: Due to the toxins contained in its sap, the desert rose is deer and rabbit resistant

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

To view the Q&A pertaining to the natural environment and landscaping, visit https://files constantcont a c t c o m / 9 a 6 9 8 4 4 f 6 0 1 / 1

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SANIBEL-CAPTIVA

CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

T o w a t c h a r e c o r d i n g o f t h e e v e n t , v i s i t https://www facebook com/watch/live/?ref=watch

The Shack collecting used backpacks

The Shack of Sanibel is hosting a backpack drive to help unsheltered friends on the streets in the Fort Myers area It will collect used backpacks from now through June 11, which will go to a location that works with people on a daily and weekly basis It reported that backpacks are a much needed item, as well as shoes, toiletries and clothes Located at 1219 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, The Shack of Sanibel is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a m to 8 p m

Sea oats provide variety of benefits

By SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

Sea oats (Uniola paniculata), the ubiquitous and charismatic dune species, is beginning to show off its summer glory The gentle swaying “oats,” which are the plant's seedheads, typically form spikes or panicles, in botanical terminology in the early summer Despite Hurricane Ian's storm surge and strong winds, the areas where sea oats remain are recovering quite well and are thriving despite last fall's difficult conditions Sea oats are perfectly suited for shifting winds; with roots that can grow until they hit the water table, they can often extend in our area downwards of 10 feet or more. In addition, clumps will spread horizontally by underground stems, the seeds provide food for birds and small mammals, and the grass blades trap windborn sand to create and build new sand dunes

Sea oats

County accepts state grant funds to reduce homelessness

The funds are a one-year allocation expected to serve 638 individuals The grants are part of a three-year contract totaling more than $1 2 million

P e o p l e w h o a r e e x p e r i e n c i n g

homelessness or are at risk are served through the Lee County Continuum of Care, which includes local governments, agencies, advocates and program users who collectively plan and implement programs The Lee County Homeless Coalition and Lee County Human and Veteran Services coordinate the effort, and the county officially submits grant applications for Florida Department of Children

Persons who are experiencing homelessness can contact Coordinated Entry at 239-533-7996 to receive an assessment for housing and services. Agencies or stakeholders who are interested in participating in the Continuum of Care can contact the Lee County Homeless Coalition at info@leehomeless org or Lee County Human and Veteran Services at coc@leegov com

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The desert rose (Adenium obesum) is the star of a n y s u c c u l e n t g a r d e n , which thrives in hot, dry sunny conditions As its name implies, this is a v e r y d r o u g h t t o l e r a n t plant that performs best in a well-drained area of the landscape If such an area does not exist in your yard, the plants perform wonderfully in a container garden accompanied by cacti and other succulents In fact, it is one of the few plants that sometimes does better in a pot where you can control the drainage than in the ground
ISL AND HOME islander
The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation is one partner organization within the SanCap Citizens for a Resilient Future, a group that aims to help the island community as it rebuilds from Hurricane Ian and to explore long-term resilience measures for future storms and other impacts like sea level rise
1
To view the Q&A pertaining to resilient building, visit https://files constantcontact com/9a69844f601/ea6fa33
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Panel talks on resilient building and natural environment
On May 16, the Lee County Board of County Commissioners voted to accept $407,750 in grant funds from the Florida Department of Children and Families for housing and services for people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness
a n d F a m i l i e s ’ O f f i c e o n
Homelessness funding

Recipe of the Week: Grilled Polenta Cake

The texture of this cake is wonderful, especially if you use freshly milled corn The longer the corn sits after being ground, the more it loses its sweet flavor and becomes starchy Keep cornmeal in the freezer Serves eight. (Chef tip: Use unsalted butter for best results.)

8 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1/4 teaspoon sugar, divided

8 large egg yolks

1/2 orange, grated zest

1/2 lemon, grated zest

1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste

1 cup un-blanched almonds

1/2 cup potato starch

1 cup fine stone-ground cornmeal

CROW Calendar

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

∫ Today, June 7

Triage of Wildlife Patients at 11 a m

The program will discuss the steps CROW's veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and wildlife rehabbers take when wild animals are admitted to the hospital for treatment

∫ Thursday, June 8

Program of the Week at 11 a m

The program will cover a variety of topics related to wildlife and patient care at CROW

I

1 teaspoon baking powder

8 large egg whites

Confectioners' sugar

Preheat oven to 350°F Generously butter and line with parchment paper a nine-inch cake pan Place butter, sugar, egg yolks and citrus zests in large bowl Add vanilla paste Beat until light and creamy

In a food processor, combine nuts, starch, cornmeal and baking powder Process until finely milled

Beat egg whites with remaining sugar until they form soft peaks Gently fold dry ingredients and 1/2 of beaten egg whites into butter mixture; fold in remaining whites just until incorporated Gently scrape batter into pan

Bake until cake is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, usually about 40 minutes Do not over bake

Cool cake briefly in pan on wire rack Run the tip of knife around the sides of cake to loosen it from pan; invert onto rack. Let it cool overnight. Slice the cooled cake and brush with melted butter and grill for a few minutes on each sides

∫ Friday, June 9

Wild Babies at CROW at 11 a m

The program will discuss the different wild babies admitted at CROW, including birds, mammals, and reptiles. It will cover how CROW's certified wildlife professionals treat, raise, and prepare the babies for release back to the wild

Admission to the center is free for a limited time It includes the above daily p r e s e n t a t i o n s , a n d n o r e s e r v a t i o n s a r e required to attend F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t

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

Island Seniors Calendar

Page Tur ners

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 at the Jewish Federation of Lee & Charlotte Counties, at 9701 Commerce Center Court, Fort Myers, and via Zoom For Zoom links, email batyamsanibel@gmail com

∫ Captiva Chapel by the Sea

11580 Chapin Lane, Captiva, 239-472-1646, https://www captivachapel com/, www facebook com/Captiva-Chapel-By-The-Sea

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

www chavuratshalomofsouthwestflorida org

Classes and discussion on Thursday at 11 a.m. via Zoom. Torah Talk on the third Thursday of each month at 11 a m via Zoom Friday Shabbat service at 7:30 p m via Zoom Len Minsky Current Events discussion on Saturday at 11 a m via Zoom An informal “schmooze” session on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p m via Zoom For Zoom links, email ChavuratShalom@gmail com

Captiva Road, Sanibel, will present the following:

Senior Social

A Senior Social will be held on June 10 from 11:30 a m to 1:30 p m in the Osprey Room Attendees can partake in deli food, including sandwiches with all the fixings, and trivia Donation of $5 is appreciated

The Page Turners will be meet on June 13 at 2:30 via Zoom The book for discussion will be “Horse” by Geraldine Brooks For information, email Louise Fitzgerald at sanibelbum22@gmail com

M e m b e r s h i p t o t h e c e n t e r i s n o t required to attend the activities F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t https://www.center4life.org/ or call 239472-0302 or 239-395-1860

Shell Find

Junonia found on Sanibel

Wendy Olson, of Sanibel, found a junonia on May 2 9 n e a r t h e S u n d i a l B e a c h Resort and Spa on Sanibel Found in knee-deep water, it is her first one after searching for 2 0 y e a r s T o report a shell find, contact 239-4721587 or trepecki

@ b r e e z e n e w s papers com

PHOTO PROVIDED

∫ Sanibel Community Church

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

Pastor Jeramie Rinne

Sunday service at 10 a m in the SCC Sanctuary Sunday service at 4 p m at the Fort Myers Community Church, at 8440 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers Services will be recorded and posted on the SCC's YouTube channel on Monday

∫ Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ

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

Senior Minister Rev Dr Mark Boyea

Sunday service at 10 a m at The Refuge Church, at 1901 Brantley Road, Fort Myers

∫ St. Isabel Catholic Church

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

Father Edward Martin

Friday Mass at 9 a m Weekend Masses on Saturday at 4 p m and Sunday at 10 a m

∫ St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church

2304 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 239-472-2173, https://www saintmichaelssanibel org/, https://www facebook com/saintmichaelssanibel/

Rev William “Bill” Van Oss

Service with optional healing prayers on Wednesday at 9 a m at the Peace Lutheran Church, at 15840 McGregor Blvd , Fort Myers Sunday service at 11:30 a m at the same location, followed by a coffee hour in Fellowship Hall

Art Vibe

From page 22

A t t e n d e e s w i l l e n j o y h e a r t y a p p e t i ze r s b y C a t e r i n g b y L e s l i e A d a m s , a l o n g w i t h P o i n t Y b e l B r e w i n g C o m p a n y ' s c r a f t s b e e r s T h e B r e w B o x C o f f e e C o m p a n y w i l l a l s o h a v e d i f f e r e n t c o ff e e s o n h a n d .

T h a t ' l l b e a f u n n i c e a d d i t i o n , ” s h e s a i d

W e w i l l a l s o h a v e a n o p e n b a r w i t h w i n e a n d s o d a a n d w a t e r , ” H a r d e r a d d e d B I G A R T S w i l l h a v e i t s g i f t s h o p o p e n f o r b r o w s i n g a n d s h o p p i n g . T h e L A T F o u n d a t i o n i s t h e e v e n t

s p o n s o r . T h e c o m m u n i t y i s i n v i t e d t o c o m e o u t t o t a k e i n t h e s i g h t s , s o u n d s a n d t a s t e s “ H a v e a w o n d e r f u l e v e n i n g f i l l e d w i t h a r t a n d m u s i c a n d s h o w s u p p o r t f o r t h e s t u d e n t s a n d w h a t t h e y ' r e d o i n g , ” s h e s a i d “ A n d f o r a n i g h t o f c a m ar a d e r i e l i k e w e h a v e b e e n d o i n g w i t h t h e s e e v e n t s ”

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Sanibel Captiva Traders, 1551 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel PETER REDPATH 5:30 to 8:30 p m
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Cielo, 1244 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel SCOTT McDONALD 5 to 8:30 p m SCOTT McDONALD 5 to 8:30 p m SCOTT McDONALD 5 to 8:30 p m SCOTT McDONALD 5 to 8:30 p m SCOTT McDONALD 5 to 8:30 p m
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