Sanibel Island Reporter/Islander

School dist rict works t o hone its new budget

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Although the School District of Lee County received a significant increase to its budget, there is still a shortfall, which officials said they are working through to create a balanced budget for the upcoming school year

“It is important for the public to unders t a n d t h i s i s a p r e l i m i n a r y b u d g e t , ” Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier said last week “The district is in a good financial position ”

Some of the planned operational effic i e n c i e s i n c l u d e e l i m i n a t i n g a b o u t 15,000 collective miles per day at the elementary level for busing which, at 4 miles a gallon at diesel fuel prices, is a cost savings that will feed into the district’s general, or operating, fund

“We are going to be able to balance the budget and do things all of you as a board prioritized moving forward,” he said. T h e p r e l i m i n a r y b u d g e t i s s e t a t

$2,353,112,738 Within the budget the

New administration at Sanibel school to host meet-and-greet

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

The Sanibel School Principal Jennifer Lusk and Assistant Principal Jill Gurgal will host a Meet and Greet with the New Administration Team on July 10 starting at 9:30 a m at the school Free and open to enrolled families, it will entail introductions, sharing their vision for the school's future and more Lusk explained that she has served as assistant principal at

the school for the last three years

“So families know me in that capacity,” she said “This is an opportunity for me to present my vision as principal for the upcoming year and some of the exciting opportunities we will be bringing back or introducing ”

Before joining the island school, Lusk served as the assistant principal at Lehigh Elementary School for four years A lifelong Lee resident, she has worked for the School District of Lee County since 2004.

See MeeT-AND-GReeT, page 17

State legislators announce funds for clean water projects

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

R e p J e n n a P e r s o n s - M u l i c k a

(R-78) was joined by members of Lee County’s state legislative delegation, county lawmakers and other local politicians on June 23 at Riverside Community Center in Fort Myers to announce planned water infrastructure projects that were funded in the latest legislative session, as well as other funding for Lee County to recover from Hurricane Ian

At a press conference over-

l o o k i n g t h e

C a l o o s a h a t c h e e

R i v e r , P e r s o n s -

M u l i c k a s p o k e o f

$ 1 2 5 m i l l i o n f o r

w a t e r i n f r a s t r u c t u r e

p r o j e c t s i n t h e

C a l o o s a h a t c h e e a n d

S t L u c i e b a s i n s which she said would “help ease the cost of b u i l d i n g m o d e r n w a s t e w a t e r a n d s t o r m w a t e r i n f r astructure to help pre-

vent against local water quality challenges like red tide and harmful blue-green algae blooms ” She said the newly-passed state b u d g e t i n c l u d e s l o c a l i n f r a s t r u c t u r e improvements for water quality, stormwater management, water treatment and septic-to-sewer conversion projects

Persons-Mulicka, whose district covers Fort Myers, said the state budget recently signed by Gov Ron DeSantis allocates funds for projects in Lee County from “hurricane recovery to infrastructure and resiliency to water quality and numerous c o m m u n i t y i n i t i a t i v e s ” T h e s t a t e

State Rep Jenna Persons-Mulicka

Jennifer Lusk

Jill Gurgal

Chamber urged to stay aware of water quality calls-to-action

Local water-quality watchers voiced concern about current water levels in Lake Okeechobee relative to future algae a n d o t h e r w a t e r - q u a l i t y i m p a c t s o n

Southwest Florida at the monthly SanCap C h a m b e r b u s i n e s s l u n c h e o n a n d t h e y cautioned attendees to keep alert and ready to spring into action in weeks to come

Held on June 21 at Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort in Fort Myers, the meeti n g f e a t u r e d 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 C h i e f E x e c u t i v e O f f i c e r J a m e s E v a n s a n d C a p t a i n s f o r C l e a n W a t e r E x e c u t i v e

Director Daniel Andrews as the guest speakers

Andrews referenced previous water crises in 2013, 2016 and 2018 and the positive results of united local efforts to effect change during those events

“That gives me hope that anything on the horizon, any risk, any threat, any political strategy by our opposition has little chance if we stay together, stay focused,” he said “Because when there’s a crisis, this community has come together and, working with the chamber of commerce, with SCCF, the more water gets bad and there’s attention on it, we will also see progress this summer but you have to be a part of that ”

“It is our responsibility as residents and stewards to this area to stand up and fight and demand better so that we can see those policies advance,” Andrews added “It requires everybody coming together and standing up with a single voice ”

Evans also emphasized the need for g r a s s r o o t s i n v o l v e m e n t w h e r e w a t e r

releases from Lake Okeechobee are concerned this summer, noting that a month ago the blue-green algae coverage in the lake was at 65 59 square miles, whereas now it is at 420 square miles

“You need to be watching this very closely, and John (Lai)’s been doing a wonderful job at the chamber to be putting out this info, along with Captains for Clean Water on social media,” Evans said o f t h e c h a m b e r ' s p r e s i d e n t a n d c h i e f executive officer “Continue to follow all those postings on social media and get

engaged ”

“We’re probably going to need you to speak up to the Army Corps and South Florida Water Management District to try t o r e d u c e t h o s e d a m a g i n g d i s c h a r g e s Because the lake where it is now, I’m not that hopeful,” he added “Start speaking up now ”

“As we’re looking at a lake that’s at 14 19 feet this morning, we would like to see that around 12 feet or less right now a n d t h a t ’ s p r e t t y c o n c e r n i n g , ” Andrews said “But again, we have to stay focused on those lasting solutions ” Both speakers addressed ongoing proj-

ects that would redirect water flow from Lake Okeechobee back to historic patterns through the Everglades for filtering of algae and relief from high winter salinity levels In response to an attendee’s question, they reported on the status of Reservoir C43, which would specifically a i d d r y s e a s o n i s s u e s , b u t h a s b e e n delayed to a 2025 completion date due to building contractor problems

Evans urged members of the chamber a n d F l o r i d a R e s t a u r a n t & L o d g i n g Association to fight the sugar industry a n d b a d l e a d e r s h i p t h r o u g h p o l i t i c a l channels because litigious strategies are not effective

“From a political standpoint we have a lot more control of who we elect, who leads and who allows developments to be put in places where they shouldn’t be,” he said “Those are the folks who need to be put out of office ”

“Elect leaders who are going to look out for your best interests, the best intere s t s o f y o u r b u s i n e s s , ” E v a n s a d d e d “You’ve got to be electing leaders that are going to bat for you ”

“As you know, water quality is priority number one for chamber legislative efforts,” Lai said “We are exceedingly f o r t u n a t e t o h a v e o r g a n i z a t i o n s l i k e SCCF and Captains for Clean Water, under the capable leadership of James and Daniel, to partner in this long fight We are making progress, thanks to our strong community, but, as they pointed out, we still have our work cut out for us in the future Thanks to everyone who has supported these efforts to create a unified front ”

Clive Daniel Home and Simple Social Marketing Agency sponsored the luncheon

Traffic crash sends one to hospital

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

A motorist was taken to the hospital last week after turning in front of a dump truck on Sanibel

On June 26 at approximately 7:15 a m , t h e S a n i b e l P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t responded to a vehicle crash involving injuries at 1048 Periwinkle Way Jeffrey Lee Becker, 62, was driving a pickup t r u c k e a s t b o u n d o n P e r i w i n k l e a n d Angelo M Diaz Valdez, 32, was driving the dump truck westbound on Periwinkle.

According to a report, Becker made a left turn in front of the dump truck just west of Causeway Boulevard Valdez was unable to stop and struck the pickup truck

the hospital by Lee County EMS

The SPD released a traffic alert, notifying motorists that the westbound and on-island traffic was affected and advising all to avoid the area is possible The crash scene was cleared by 9 a m According to the report, Becker was found at fault for a moving traffic violation The offense was failing to yield to oncoming traffic/vehicle passing on left when making a left turn

His condition was unknown last week as he was not listed in Lee Health's patient directory.

SANCAP CHAMBER Captains for Clean Water Executive Director Daniel Andrews and SanibelCaptiva Conservation Foundation Chief Executive Officer James Evans field audience questions following their presentations on water-quality outlook at the SanCap Chamber's monthly business luncheon on June 21

Web Poll

Previous Web Poll Question

How

Current Web Poll Question

Property title transfer protection pilot program a good start

Google “deed theft scams in Florida” and you will find that the real estate market is not only hot for those looking to buy or sell

It’s a market ripe for property thieves who use forged documents and identity theft to transfer title and then sell or mortgage homes or lots they do not own.

While such transfers are obviously not legal, they cause both legal and financial problems for the true property owner as once such a deed is recorded, “it appears valid, and others may purchase the property from the fraudster or the third party named as guarantee in the deed in the belief that such person owns and has the right to sell the property,” according to an analysis of recently approved legislation designed to address the problem starting with a pilot program to launch here in Lee County

Thanks to the efforts of Lee County Clerk of the Courts Kevin Karnes, who realized how easy it was for sophisticated scammers to steal properties because existing state law tied the hands of such officials when it came to recording deeds, it’s going to become a whole lot less easy

The “Title Fraud Prevention Through Identity Verification Pilot Program” will be test-

Editorial

ed in Lee County for two years after which Mr Karnes will make a recommendation to legislators whether the program that allows clerks to require specific identification should be expanded statewide

The pilot program, among the provisions of HB 1419, was recently passed unanimously by both the State House and Senate and signed by Gov Ron DeSantis

Mr Karnes said that the law gives the Lee County Clerk’s Office the ability to require government-issued IDs from anyone who records a deed before that deed is processed

“We can turn over that information to law enforcement and do a better investigation,” he said in an interview with The Breeze “It gives law enforcement a starting point ”

A government-issued ID will provide a photograph of all parties on the deed with an address and name, which Mr Karnes said will allow law enforcement to better follow the path back to those who fraudulently transfer ownership of properties

Previously, the Clerk’s Office was required

Guest Commentary

Governor signs budget: The good and the bad

By SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

F l o r i d a ’ s $ 1 1 6 5 b i l l i o n 2023-24 budget was signed by Gov Ron DeSantis two weeks prior to the beginning of the state fiscal year, which starts July 1

The good news

The budget includes a record $1 6 billion for the environment, including $356 5 million for the C o m p r e h e n s i v e E v e r g l a d e s Restoration Plan (CERP), $850 m i l l i o n f o r l a n d s w i t h i n t h e Florida Wildlife Corridor and $100 million for the Florida Forever land acquisition program.

The bad news

Unfortunately, some of the b u d g e t ’ s e n v i r o n m e n t a l g a i n s will be offset by an effort from the fertilizer industry to prevent cities and counties from enacting their own environmental protections Included in the budget is

an appropriation to study seasonal fertilizer bans, while also prohibiting local governments from passing any new fertilizer bans or amending any existing ones after July 1 This language to limit fertilizer bans was added outside of the normal committee process, preventing any public input

“ R e g u l a t i n g f e r t i l i z e r a p p l ic a t i o n d u r i n g t h e r a i n y s e a s o n h a s b e e n w i d e l y s t u d i e d a n d p r o v e n e f f e c t i v 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 E n v i r o n m e n t a l P o l i c y A s s o c i a t e H o l l y S c h w a r t z s a i d “ F e r t i l i z e r r e g ul a t i o n s h o u l d r e m a i n a n i m p o rt a n t t o o l f o r l o c a l g o v e r n m e n t s t o p r o t e c t w a t e r q u a l i t y ”

F o u n d e d i n 1 9 6 7 , t h e S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a C o n s e r v a t i o n Foundation's mission is to prot e c t a n d c a r e f o r S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a ’ s c o a s t a l e c o s y s t e m s F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t

www sccf org

to accept and record a document if it met statutory requirements, which did not include any sort of identification

The required presentation of a governmentissued ID, complete with photo, is a good starting point, and we thank Mr Karnes and members of the Lee County Legislative Delegation for being among those committed to mitigating the problem

Meanwhile, property owners here and statewide have another protection in place they can sign up for a free notification service that will alert them whenever an instrument purporting to convey title, such as a deed, is recorded in the county’s official records

While the service does not prevent the recording of the deed, it lets the property owner know they may need to contact an attorney or law enforcement to report the fraud, as well as take other steps to undo the fraudulent conveyance, including filing for a court-ordered “quiet title ”

We urge anyone who owns property to take that protective step Visit leeclerk org/fraudalert

Titled “Helping us celebrate the Fourth,” this Jay N. “Ding”

Darling political cartoon ran in 1945, the same year the Sanibel National Wildlife Refuge was established The Refuge was renamed for Darling after his death by petition of islanders and others Created in the midst of World War II, the cartoon

r e f l e c t s t h e e x p l o s i v e n e s s o f world politics during that era.

Darling's body of editorial cartoons spanned 50 years and won him two Pulitzer Prizes The “ D i n g ” D a r l i n g W i l d l i f e Society-Friends of the Refuge o w n s t h e c o p y r i g h t o f t h e “Ding” Darling cartoons REFUGE/DDWS

DOH-Lee issues blue-green algae bloom alerts

On June 29, the Florida Department of Health in Lee County issued a health alert for the presence of harmful blue-green algal toxins in the Caloosahatchee RiverJaycee Park, Caloosahatchee River-end of Coon Road and Hancock Creek-Moody Ramp It was in response to water samples taken on June 26.

In addition, the DOH-Lee issued the same health alert on June 23 for the Able Canal-Connie Avenue North and Caloosahatchee River-north of Loftons Island (North Shore Park), West First Street and Altamont Avenue, and Fort Myers Shores It was in response to water samples taken on June 19 and 21

The public should exercise caution in and around the identified areas

It is also 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

∫ Avoid getting affected water in your eyes, nose or mouth

∫ 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 water contaminated by algae blooms Boiling the water will not eliminate the toxins

∫ Eating fillets from healthy fish 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

Also on June 29, the DOH-Lee cautioned the public of the presence of blue-green algae blooms in the C a l o

Caloosahatchee River-Harbor View Canal Blooms have the potential to produce toxins Since bloom conditions

can change at any time, it is important to exercise caution as if the bloom were toxic, even if toxin presence has not yet been confirmed

The public is advised to take the following precautions:

∫ Do not drink, swim, wade, water ski or engage in activities that may cause you to come in direct contact with waters where there is a visible bloom

∫ Exercise caution when using personal watercraft or boating to avoid stirring up or contacting the algae or the affected water

∫ Avoid getting affected water in your eyes, nose or mouth

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

∫ Keep pets and livestock away from the waters in the location.

∫ Eating fillets from healthy fish 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 from the location

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and partners collect algae samples from reported bloom locations for toxin analysis Once completed, the results will be posted on the DEP Algal Bloom Dashboard at h t t

g o v / , w h e r e y o u c a n sign up to be notified of the latest conditions

What is blue-green algae?

Blue-green algae are a type of bacteria that is common in Florida’s freshwater environments A bloom occurs when 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 tempera t u r e s , s t i l l w a t e r c o n d i t i o n s a n d e x c e s s n u t r i e n t s 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 additional information on potential health effects of a l g a l b l o o m s , v i s i t f l o r i d a h e a l t h g o v / e n v i r o n m e n t a lhealth/aquatic-toxins.

Find current information about Florida’s water quality status and public health notifications for harmful algal b l o o m s a n d b e a c h c o n d i t i o n s b y v i s i t i n g 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 g o v P r o t e c t i n g F l o r i d a Together is the 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?

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection collects and analyzes algal bloom samples To report a bloom to the DEP, call the toll-free hotline at 855-3053 9 0 3 o r r e p o r t o n l i n e a t h t t p : / / w w w s u r v e y g i z m o c o m / s 3 / 3 4 4 4 9 4 8 / A l g a l -

Bloom-Reporting-Form

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

Report symptoms from exposure to a harmful algal b l o o m o r a n y a q u a t i c t o x i n t o t h e F l o r i d a P o i s o n Information Center; call 800-222-1222 to speak to a poison specialist immediately

Contact your veterinarian if you believe your pet has become ill after consuming or having contact with bluegreen algae contaminated water

If you have other health questions or concerns about blue-green algae blooms, call the DOH-Lee at 239-6902100

Fire district offers storm season tips and more

By STAFF REPORT trepecki@breezenewspapers com

Guidance

“We strongly encourage all residents, business owners and visitors to have a hurricane plan A hurricane plan is vital for everyone who resides on the island,” the site states “The plan should include an evacuation procedure and the knowledge that you may not be able to return to Captiva for an extended period of time ”

The district notes that the Lee County Emergency Operations Center has developed a series of instructional videos that

cover everything from making a plan, to the post-storm recovery process

“ W i t h q u i z z e s a n d a p r i n t a b l e Certificate of Completion, these videos a r e a g r e a t w a y t o l e a r n f r o m o u r Emergency Management experts at any time with zero risk,” the site states

The district explains that it works in a unified command system, and it is one of 10 disaster response geographic zones located in Lee County, with Captiva in the

CIHS reports History Gallery sailing again at library

By CAPTIVA ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The Captiva Island Historical Society is pleased to announce its History Gallery, designed to be a replica of the old mailboat Santiva, is once again open and completely refurbished

Located at the Captiva Memorial Library, it had been closed since July 2022 due to structural damage to the floor and the closure of the library due to Hurricane Ian The gallery illustrates Captiva's unique diverse history The space takes on the wooden look of the interior of the old mailboat, which serviced the islands prior to the construction of the Sanibel Causeway in 1963.

Last July, a soft spot was detected in the floor at the entry to the gallery Moisture had eaten away at the subfloor, leaving a hole under the floor tiles

The bigger problem

The problem was not restricted to the entrance of the gallery Upon further investigation, additional soft spots and rotted subfloor were discovered in other areas of the gallery and adjacent office space of the library

An entire section of the library flooring showed signs of deterioration The repair would be extensive, requiring the entire floor be pulled up But before work could commence, the gallery would need to be dismantled and removed

The Captiva Civic Association, the owner of the building, would take full responsibility for repairs to the subflooring,

including the section that housed the gallery However, the CIHS would be responsible for removal and reinstallation of the “Santiva” exhibit

The dilemma

It presented an unexpected and expensive dilemma for the CIHS Its history gallery had only recently undergone a complete refashion and upgrade It was in top notch condition and now had to be dismantled

Big daunting questions loomed, presenting one challenge after another for the CIHS Board of Directors Could the “Santiva” exhibit be disassembled without being severely damaged? If so, who had the expertise to do the work? What about storage? Once disassembled, how and where could it be stored? And more troubling, how could it be reinstalled to look as good as it did before?

The solution

CIHS Vice President Mike Boris, the only remaining director on the board when the gallery was opened in 2014,

Sanibel-Captiva zone. Agencies within the zone include the fire district, Sanibel Fire and Rescue District, Lee County

E m e r g e n c y M a n a g e m e n t , L e e C o u n t y Sheriff’s Office, city of Sanibel, Sanibel

P o l i c e D e p a r t m e n t , I s l a n d W a t e r

A s s o c i a t i o n a n d L e e C o u n t y E l e c t r i c

Cooperative

“All of these agencies work within the unified command system, with the fire

See TIPS, page 7

County library system offering virtual programs

The Lee County Library System, which includes the Captiva Memorial Library, is offering the following free virtual programming:

Adult programs

∫ July 18: Online Wellness Book Club at 12:30 p m

The Online Wellness Book Club will feature a variety of books on this month's topic, “Disease Management ” Guest panelists will share their expertise and participate in the book discussion Participants are invited to share books that they have read related to the topic Advance registration required before July 18 at 12:30 p.m.

For more information or to register, visit leelibrary librarymarket com

Questions can also be directed to 239479-INFO (4636)

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

The Captiva Memorial Library is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a m to 12:30 p m and 1 to 4 p m For more information, contact the library branch at 239-533-4890.

The Captiva Memorial Library is at 11560 Chapin Lane, Captiva

Captiva Public Meetings

T h e f o l l o w i n g p u b l i c meetings/hearings are scheduled:

∫ T o d a y , J u l y 5 : C a p t i v a Community Panel special meeting at 9 a m via Zoom For more information or the agenda, visit captivacommunitypanel com

∫ July 11: Captiva Community Panel monthly meeting at 9 a m via Zoom For more information or the agenda, visit captivacommunitypanel com

∫ July 11: 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

Wilderness Graphics dismantles the “Santiva” for safe storage at the Captiva Civic Center.

History Gallery

From page 6

thought the best place to start was Wilderness Graphics of Tallahassee, which originally designed, fabricated and installed the exhibit

When Boris contacted Wilderness Graphics, it was a pleasant surprise to connect with Cindy Abaco, the original project manager for the exhibit Fortunately, all the plans still existed Wilderness Graphics assured the CIHS that it could successfully disassemble and reinstall the exhibit. The CIHS was delighted and drew up the necessary agreement for the project

The arrangement called for Wilderness Graphics to send two crew members to Captiva for an estimated three days to disassemble the exhibit After the CCA contract o r c o m p l e t e d t h e s t r u c t u r a l r e p a i r s t o t h e f l o o r , Wilderness Graphics would return to reinstall the exhibit

It was the responsibility of the CIHS to arrange housing for the crew for the nights that they would remain on C a p t i v a P r e s i d e n t a n d C h i e f E x e c u t i v e O f f i c e r o f

Rochester Resorts and CIHS Director Tony Lapi provided complimentary lodging at the 'Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa The CCA provides a section of the Captiva Civic Center hall for storage of the disassembled exhibit sections

Enter Mother Nature

By mid-September all plans and arrangements were in place and set to go The Wilderness Graphics crew was

scheduled to arrive on Captiva the afternoon of Sept 26 With news of the impending Hurricane Ian, Abaco notified Boris it might be best to postpone the arrival of the crew until after the storm passed On Sept 27, she notified Boris that the crew had been rescheduled to begin on Oct 4

A resilient reset

I t t o o k u n t i l m i d - D e c e m b e r f o r t h e W i l d e r n e s s Graphics crew to be able to dismantle, piece-by-piece, the “Santiva” and store it safely in the center's hall Repair of the structural damage to the library floor then began By mid-January, they came back to reinstall the exhibit in better condition than before

In addition to being completely repainted, new softon-the-feet, wood-simulated flooring was installed, along with a new exhibit feature the hourly timetable of the mailboat Santiva

Coming to the rescue

In addition to the disruption and dislocation from Ian, the CIHS faced a substantial unexpected expense associated with its gallery more than $30,000 Yet, in the midst of the challenges and uncertainty that the island community and it faced, one certainty was support from CIHS' supporters Thanks to the generous gifts from friends of the CIHS, the gallery's unexpected expenses are now covered

The CIHS History Gallery can be accessed during l i b r a r y h o u r s , w h i c h c u r r e n t l y a r e o n M o n d a y s , Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10 a m to 12:30 p m and 1 to 4 p m

For more information, visit http://www captivaislandhistoricalsociety org/

T h e C a p t i v a l i b r a r y i s a t 1 1 5 6 0 C h a p i n L a n e , Captiva

Tips

From page 6

chiefs, public safety chief officers as the Incident Commanders,” the site states “The IC's work closely with Lee County Emergency Management to determine the need for evacuations, search/rescue and recovery ”

L i s t e d r e l a t e d t o p i c s i n c l u d e H u r r i c a n e s & Tropical Storms, Getting Prepared, Preparing Your Home, Shelters, Information & Telephone Numbers, Clean Up & Recovery, and Other Hazardous Events

The district notes that it available to assist with one's hurricane plan and to answer questions

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t http://captivafire com/emergencies/ or call 239-4729494

The Captiva Island Fire Control District is at 14981 Captiva Drive, Captiva

CAPTIVA ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The “Santiva” exhibit was dismantled in mid-December.

The repair work begins on the floor of the CIHS History Gallery

BUSINESS

Kiwanis Club announces scholarships for local students

The Sanibel-Captiva Kiwanis Club recently announced its Kiwanis Scholarship Awards Program recipients for the coming 2023-24 school year This year, 20 students received scholarships

They were introduced and honored at the SanCap Chamber's luncheon meeting in June

With the club's fundraising efforts interrupted due to Hurricane Ian, it turned to donation support from its members, private individuals and major-level corporate sponsors, including the Sanibel Captiva Community Bank, Pagel Foundation and Tim O'Neill

“We had a strong feeling that we needed to find a way to keep the program going this year despite losing our usual funding activities,” President Joel Goodman said “Fortunately our members, friends and sponsors came through ”

Repeat multi-year scholarships were presented to Daisy Arensman, Arabella Arado Lilleslatten, Riley Mann, Aisha Smaller, Kiandre Smaller, Samantha Strickland and Amy Walker; with a new multi-year scholarship awarded to Jackson McKee One-year scholarships were presented to Brooke Adams, McKenna Adams, Alayna Aracri, Noah Barbot, Calie Connor, Bailey Drobnyk, Sage Holaway, Sam Lessinger, Kaia Miller, Camryn Peach, Daniel Romulus and Daniel Trier

Some scholarships carried a special designation to honor donors and in memory of past Kiwanis members: Arensman received the Joan Kearny Scholarship; Aisha Smaller received the Carl Dietz Memorial Award; Mann received the Peter Cola Memorial Award; Strickland received the Barry Gordon Memorial Award; Walker received the Tom Jones Memorial Award; and Lilleslatten received the Wally Kane Memorial Award In addition, two awardees received Sam and Frances Bailey Islands Night Memorial Scholarships: McKenna Adams for achievement in athletics, and Aracri for achievement in community service

To be eligible, students must have a connection to Sanibel or Captiva, which means they must be residents or have parents who work on-island The program is overseen by Kiwanians Bill Traum and Chris Heidrick, who accept the applications and submit them for review to an independent board

Over the past 17 years, the program has provided $615,675 in financial support It has been made possible by the community’s support of the fundraising activities that the club holds each year, including its Spaghetti Dinner, Diner’s Delight coupon book, golf tournaments and also donations

The Community House on Sanibel recently provided an update on the progress of its post-hurricane rebuilding phases As of June 19, it had completed phase I and made great headway on phase II The drywall was completed in the Community Room and Great Hall (phase II) On June 28, officials reported that the concrete stem wall project had begun (phase III). In addition, TCH is taking reservations for meetings, classes and small gatherings For more information, contact 239-472-2155 or info@sanibelcommun i y h o u s e n e t T h e

School district to host Summer Virtual Recruitment Fair

The School District of Lee County will host a Summer Virtual Recruitment Fair on July 12 from 3 to 5 p m to recruit for a range of positions for the 2023-24 school year

Principals and department hiring managers will interview and hire teachers, school counselors and instruct i o n a l s u p p o r t p r o f e s s i o n a l s H i g h - d e m a n d p o s i t i o n s include English, elementary education, science, math and special education, as well as non-instructional positions

The school district is among the largest in Florida and the United States To be considered for a teaching or school counselor position, candidates must meet one of the following criteria:

∫ Hold a valid standard teaching certificate (Florida

or out-of-state)

∫ Expected to graduate from a college of education by August

∫ Hold a bachelor’s degree in an area where certification can be obtained or any degree major and a passing score on a subject area exam

School counselors must hold a master’s degree in the proper area.

A p p l i c a n t s c a n r e g i s t e r f o r t h e f a i r a t LeeSchools net/Careers/Work In Lee

F o r s u p p o r t o r a d d i t i o n a l q u e s t i o n s , c o n t a c t careers@leeschools net or 239-337-8676

For more information about career opportunities, visit LeeSchools net/Careers

SCCF’s inter n housing demolished

I n e a r l y J u n e , t h e S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a Conservation Foundation said a final farewell to its intern housing that was destroyed during Hurricane Ian The SCCF reported that the housing provided a place for interns and staff for 34 years. It will be collaborating with award-winning architectural firm CO-G on a new structure that will be built around the concepts of resilience, native landscapes and community The SCCF noted that the original intern buildings were set to be demolished by a resort in the 1980s Former Chief Executive Officer Erick Lindblad decided to save the structures, moving them to their permanent location on Sanibel-Captiva Road and raising them 13 feet off the ground

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA KIWANIS CLUB

From right, Sanibel-Captiva Kiwanians Chris Heidrick and Emily Ankerson and Sanibel Mayor Richard Johnson present recipient McKenna Adams with the Sam Bailey Island Night Scholarship

TCH gives update on post-stor m recover y

THE COMMUNITY HOUSE

Last week, Phase III began at The Community House on Sanibel.

PRESERVING PARADISE

Low dissolved oxygen, fish kill alert for Sanibel lakes

T h e S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a C o n s e r v a t i o n F o u n d a t i o n reported that the storm surge from Hurricane Ian drastically changed the characteristics of most freshwater lakes and ponds on Sanibel

“As a result, current conditions add up to an increased potential for fish kills in Sanibel lakes this summer, especially following cloudy days,” Marine Lab research associate Mark Thompson said

He explained the following:

∫ Freshwater was immediately displaced by the storm surge and saltwater from the Gulf of Mexico took its place

∫ Freshwater fish that were resident in the lakes and ponds died immediately or over the next few months

∫ The storm surge also introduced estuarine and marine fishes within some lakes and ponds The marine fish are accustomed to tidal exchange and water with high levels of dissolved oxygen

∫ Deeper larger lakes on Sanibel, such as those in The Dunes, East and West Rocks, Lake Murex, The Sanctuary and Beachview Estates, will be very slow to change back to freshwater possibly taking years

∫ Most of the salty lakes are not experiencing blooms of marine and estuarine microorganisms, known as phytoplankton or algae

∫ The phytoplankton produce oxygen during sunny days due to photosynthesis and add oxygen into the water

∫ During the nighttime, phytoplankton use oxygen out of the water, and oxygen levels drop Cloudy days, like the weekend of June 16-18, disrupt the ability of phytoplankton to photosynthesize, and they are not able to produce oxygen and add it to the water. However, they continue to use oxygen from the water to respire, along with fish and other lake inhabitants

∫ Low levels of dissolved oxygen in Sanibel lakes result from the combination of the above events Marine fish are not adapted to low dissolved oxygen levels and dire during the low oxygen events brought on by cloudy days

The SCCF reported there is an increased potential for fish kills on cloudy days in lakes post-Ian

“Over the course of years, these lakes which are now marine waterbodies will become more fresh and marine fish like mullet, snook, tarpon will either adapt while others such as shad, herring, redfish, porgies will die off,” Thompson said “Meanwhile, freshwater fish such as non-native cichlids, bass and sunfish will begin to reappear ”

Season’s first sea turtle hatchings on islands

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that the first sea turtle hatchlings of the season have emerged on Sanibel and Captiva The first nest hatched on June 21, and several other nests had hatched as of June 28, with 387 hatchlings starting their journey into the Gulf of Mexico.

“Our volunteers have been incredibly busy this year, and we are so grateful for the long hours they're spending on the beach to protect our sea turtles,” sea turtle biologist Jack Brzoza said

The SCCF reported that the islands are on track for a record-breaking nesting season, with more than 855 nests on Sanibel and Captiva as of June 28, including 18 green sea turtle nests

In addition, the SCCF reported that it recently asked the community to help replenish its supply of towels, which help cover buckets that hold and protect hatchlings

“We've received an outpour of responses to this request and have enough towels for the foreseeable future during this busy season,” he said “Thank you to those who donated these crucial supplies ”

Sea tur tle rescue

On June 27, the SCCF reported that an adult loggerhead sea turtle was rescued off Sanibel the prior week after being found swimming sideways, struggling to come up for air Some crew members aboard a boat spotted it in distress and were able to bring her to the beach, where SCCF staff dove into the water to help retrieve the turtle

“With the help of other crew members on the beach, the sea turtle was safely moved to a SCCF vehicle so we could transport her to a rehab center where she is receiving expert care,” Coastal Wildlife Director Kelly Sloan said

The AshBritt boat crew, a contractor working for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, and their local subcontractor RJ Gorman, called the SCCF after seeing the sea turtle hotline on a sign on a turtle nesting

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that an adult loggerhead sea turtle was recently rescued off Sanibel after being found swimming sideways, struggling to come up for air

site Two SCCF staff quickly came to the beach area to meet the crew, who swam to shore while holding onto the turtle

The SCCF reported that thanks to everyone's assistance, the turtle is in Sarasota under the care of the Mote Marine Lab and Aquarium, where she has been named Artemis Sloan noted that they remain hopeful for a successful recovery

If you find a sick or injured sea turtle, call the SCCF Sea Turtle Hotline at 978-728-3663

For more information about the SCCF's sea turtle prog r a m , v i s i t h t t p s : / / s c c f o r g / w h a t - w e - d o / p r o t e c twildlife/sea-turtle-program/

SCCF shorebird team shares guide to aging chicks

By SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

With the arrival of July, shorebird and seabird nesting season is starting to wind down Most of the final renesting attempts will be occurring this month, which means you could be seeing shorebird and seabird chicks soon, if you have not already

On Sanibel and Captiva, we currently have snowy plover and least tern chicks of varying ages In case you see one and wonder how to tell how old that little bird is, we have put together some identifying characteristics by age to help you figure that out.

Least ter n chicks

After hatching, least tern chicks appear sand-colored, speckled, and without visible wings or tails looking very similar to the eggs from which they just hatched

page 20

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

Isl and lIvIng

SPD releases weekly blotter

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

Other enforcement actions

∫ On June 24, an officer on the beach issued a violation of city ordinance citation for dogs off a leash after giving the owner a verbal warning earlier in the day

Enforcement operations statistics

From June 20-26:

∫ Alarm calls (business and residential): 3

∫ 911 non-emergency calls: 74

∫ Traffic crashes: 2

∫ Radar details: 69

∫ Traffic stops: 28

Sanibel library offers mix of programs

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

Family Storytime for ages 5 and under will be held today, July 5, at 10:30 a m with Megan Willis Literacy is a family bonding experience with stories read aloud, followed by early literacy centers of play to flex minds, develop motor skills and increase creativity Programs will include an art/craft center Parents and caregivers should plan to be engaged with their child An additional Family Storytime will take place on July 7 at 3 p.m. with a teacher from the Children's Education Center

Also today, July 5, a Lee County Sheriff's Office deputy will bring in the famous Robotic Dog at 3 p m Children will get to interact, learn and see how science helps serve to keep the local community safe.

On July 6, Snack and Craft will take place for incoming grades 6-12 at 3 p m Participating teens will make no-sew blankets to donate to the Lee County Humane Society There will be snacks provided and it is an opportunity to earn volunteer hours

Stop by for Movie Monday on July 10 starting at 1 p.m. for a family-friendly film.

Also on July 10, Didgeridoo Down Under is set for 3 p m in the Children's Area The program is an energetic fusion of Australian music, comedy, character-building, storytelling, and audience participation

Programs are designed for children and accompanying adults

For the most up-to-date information, visit the calendar at www sanlib org

Locals and visitors ages baby to teen can sign up for

SANIBEL PUBLIC LIBRARY Didgeridoo Down Under will perform on July 10 at the Sanibel Public Library

the annual Summer Reading Program Stop by or register with Beanstack at www sanlib org/children Participants can pick up their registration gift

The program will run from now through July 29

Summer Book Bingo is a self-directed reading challenge for adults, with opportunities for prizes Pick up your card at the library's service desks or download it from the “News Blog” at www sanlib org

The library is hosting “In the Wake of the Flood: Community Photos of Hurricane Ian and Its Aftermath,”

See LIBRARY, page 13

∫ Radar details: 201

∫ Traffic stops: 131 Citations issued: 37

Written warnings issued: 2

∫ Field interviews: 2

∫ Residential area checks: 2,089

∫ Business area checks: 602

∫ Total area checks: 4,401

∫ Reported burglaries: 1

∫ Reported thefts: 3

∫ Total CAD calls: 5,428

Impor tant reminders

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

Updated information on the Sanibel Boat Ramp:

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

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

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

∫ Commercial use of the boat ramp is prohibited

∫ Fines for violations at the boat ramp are $250 Roadside parking on Sanibel is not allowed except in the case of special events requiring a permit It is enforced and can result in a $150 fine

Some beach park facilities on Sanibel are still closed For more information on Sanibel beaches, visit https://www mysanibel com/government/publicworks-department/useful-links/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

See BLOTTER, page 13

Community Housing and Resources reported that Kingfisher Real Estate recently helped to clean up one of its properties Officials expressed their appreciation to the volunteers For more information on how to help CHR, visit

Sanibel Public Meetings

Commission meeting

Education Notes

Blotter From page 12

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

Library From page 12

an exhibit curated by the BaileyMatthews National Shell Museum

It features photos of Ian's aftermath taken by island residents and others l i v i n g i n S o u t h w e s t F l o r i d a Photographs from the exhibition will b e d i g i t i z e d a n d a d d e d t o t h e l i b r a r y ' s d i g i t a l a r c h i v e a t sanlib.org/digitalarchive.

Also on display near the Study Rooms are plant resin specimens collected by staffer Matt Gindling The specimens are from all over the globe, and some are hundreds of years old

If you have a unique collection that you would like to share, contact the library

People can also try the library's Computer Coach service Schedule a n a p p o i n t m e n t t o l e a r n h o w t o download eBooks, magazines and audiobooks, or stream music and movies For the appointment, bring in a device for assistance To register, visit www sanlib org/techappointment or call 239472-2483

Library cards are available to residents of Sanibel and Lee County at no charge

Visitor library cards are available for a $10 annual fee

The Sanibel Public Library is open Monday through

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 group id=2245 0.

Friday from 9 a m to 5 p m and Saturday from 9 a m to 1 p m

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

The Sanibel Public Library is at 770 Dunlop Road, Sanibel.

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

The SPD's non-emergency line is 239-472-3111

Find the SPD on Facebook at https://www facebook com/SanibelPolice

SANIBEL PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Sanibel Public Library is hosting “In the Wa k e o f t h e F l o o d : C o m m u n i t y P h o t o s o f Hurricane Ian and Its Aftermath,” an exhibit curated by the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum

Staffer Matt Gindling's plant resin specimens are on display at the Sanibel Public Library

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

y

e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , J u l y 5 ,

3

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

y

e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , J u l y 5 ,

3

REFUGE/DDWS

The refuge is offering Free Summer Programs from now through Aug 5

DDWS reports on refuge programming and more

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

∫ Free Summer Programs will run from now t h r o u g h A u g 5 F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t h t t p s : / / w w w . d i n g d a r l i n g s o c i e t y . o r g / a r t i c l e s / f r e erefuge-programs

∫ Art in the Wild Day will take place on Oct 212 2 a t t h e r e f u g e F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t h t t p s : / / w w w d i n g d a r l i n g s o c i e t y o r g / a r t i c l e s / a r t - i nthe-wild

∫ Photo-artist Niki Butcher will mount an exhibition of her work in January and February in the refuge's Visitor & Education Center

∫ The “Ding” Darling Lecture Series will return to the refuge from Jan 18 through March For more i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t h t t p s : / / w w w . d i n g d a r l i n g s o c i e t y . o r g / a r t i c l e s / l e c t u r eseries

∫ Nature Wellness @ Ding will return to the refuge and beyond on Jan 18-21

∫ A free Estate Planning Seminar will be held on Jan 30 at the refuge

∫ The next Go Wild for “Ding” fundraiser is slated for Feb 8

∫ The “Ding” Darling Day Conservation Carnival will be held on April 20 at Lakes Park in Fort Myers For more information, visit https://www dingdarlingsociety org/articles/ding-darling-days

∫ The 12th annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford's Tarpon Tournament will take place on May 10 For m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t https://dingdarlingsociety org/articles/tarpon-tournament-1

Rec center provides update on facility and programming

The Sanibel Recreation Center reported on the following new and upcoming activities

Indoor pick-up pickleball has resumed. It will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from noon to 2 p m

A Thrift & Sift will take place on July 14 Participants will “thrift and sift” their way through local secondhand shops in Fort Myers, with a self-pay lunch along the way; lunch stop to be determined Transportation will be provided via city van, departing from the center at 9:30 a m and returning at 4:30 p m Cost is $5 for members and $7 50 for non-members The van seating is limited; a prepaid registration is required to reserve a space

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

CITY OF SANIBEL

www mysanibel com

The Sanibel Recreation Center is at 3880 SanibelCaptiva Road, Sanibel

City reopens last of beach park locations

The city of Sanibel announced that the bayside parking lot at the Lighthouse Beach Park and the Causeway Beach parking lot, located next to the Sanibel Boat Ramp, reopened on June 30. All public access beach park locations on the island are now open The city noted that the fish-

ing pier near the Lighthouse Beach Park remains closed Sanibel beach park locations require a parking permit or hourly paid parking For information about the mobile beach parking system or to apply for a parking permit, visit https://www mysanibel com/government/recreation2 For information

about beach parking, visit https://www mysanibel com/government/public-works-department/usefull i n k s / p a r k s - p u b l i c - b e a c h e s / b e a c hparking-faq-s The bayside lot is at 110-153 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. The Causeway Beach lot is at 888 Sextant Drive, Sanibel

Sanibel Sea School summer camps going strong

M a r k i n g i t s t h i r d w e e k , t h e S a n i b e l S e a S c h o o l i s d e l i g h t i n g c a m p e r s a g e s 4 - 1 7 t h r o u g h i t s i m m e r s i v e summer camp programm i n g R e c e n t l y , i t s y o u n g e s t c a m p e r s enjoyed an adventure to the sandbar in search of s a n d d o l l a r s , t h e n w r a p p e d u p t h e w e e k with some surfing The summer camps will continue through Aug 25, with spaces still open in its final weeks. For more information or to register, v i s i t h t t p s : / / w w w s a n ib e l s e a s c h o o l o r g / c a m ph o m e s t e a d P a r t o f t h e S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a Conservation Foundation family, the Sanibel Sea S c h o o l ’ s m i s s i o n i s t o i m p r o v e t h e o c e a n ’ s future one person at a time

SANIBEL SEA SCHOOL

Interactive guide to open island businesses

The SanCap Chamber has a list available of businesses back in operation after Hurricane Ian on Wander: Maps & 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

Meet-and-greet

Employed by the district since 2006, Gurgal spent the last five and a half years a s t h e a s s i s t a n t p r i n c i p a l a t S k y l i n e Elementary School in Cape Coral Her prior experience includes teaching fifth grade, ESE Resource for grades 1-4 and AVID and math for grades 6-8 Gurgal's husband is also a county educator

“This will also be the first time our families are meeting the new assistant principal,” Lusk said

“I want to ensure that our parents feel c o m f o r t a b l e c o m m u n i c a t i n g w i t h o u r teachers and administration,” she added “This is an opportunity to help families feel at ease throughout the transition of our leadership team.”

During the meet-and-greet, Lusk will provide a brief overview of her vision and h i g h l i g h t w a y s f o r f a m i l i e s t o g e t involved at the school They will also

From page 1

announce some upcoming family events

“The rest of the time will be spent talking with our parents and families, answering questions they may have and giving families the opportunity to sign up for PTA,” she said

Both the Parent Teacher Association and the Sanibel School Fund will have informational booths for families to learn m o r e a b o u t t h e i r o r g a n i z a t i o n s T h e Sanibel Recreation Center will also take part

“Allowing families to sign up for afterschool at the rec center,” Lusk said

The PTA will provide a spread of donuts and coffee

Island school families are encouraged to come out and meet the new team

“As the new principal, I want families to feel welcomed, heard and valued on our campus,” she said “I understand that

summer is also a popular time for family vacations and want to emphasize I am only a phone call or email away ”

“We also look forward to many family and community involvement opportunit i e s t h r o u g h o u t t h e s c h o o l y e a r , ” s h e added, noting that the opportunities will be posted on the school's website and social media pages, as well as in the school's newsletter

Families interested in enrolling at the school can schedule a tour by calling the front office at 239-472-1617 or emailing

D o n n a M a r k s a t DonnaMM@leeschools net

“We would love to share what makes our Sanibel school special,” Lusk said.

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t sbl leeschools net

The Sanibel School is at 3840 SanibelCaptiva Road, Sanibel

If you go

What Meet and Greet with the New Administration Team

Who

Principal Jennifer Lusk and Assistant Principal Jill Gurgal

When July 10 starting at 9:30 a m

Where The Sanibel School, 3840 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel

Details

Free and open to island school families

SANCAP CHAMBER

General Fund is $1,156,204,071; $94,744,982 for debt services; $768,406,058 for capital; $67,694,027 for special revenue grants; $70,363,267 for special revenue food service; and $195,700,333 for internal services

Director of Budget Kelly Letcher said they have a $72,893,529 increase over the fiscal year 2023 budget. The $30 million increase is due to new students, while $10 million of the increase is for state-funded discretionary for Family Empowerment Scholarship

“That leaves about $33 million for new initiatives and inflationary costs,” she said

Chief Financial Officer Dr. Ami Desamours said the challenges include increasing retirement rates from 11 91 percent to 13 57 percent, or $8 3 million, increase in health benefits for employees of $10 9 million, increased dependent care health benefits of $8 3 million and increased property insurance of $12 million

“Just those things together (put us) at $39 million. That is the work that we have ongoing right now We have to determine how we come into balance with the resources that we have and all the things we know we need to do,” she said “We know every year we will balance our budget and we will do that with our priorities in mind ”

Letcher said the preliminary numbers will change between the tentative and final budget and when student counts are done

Desamours said there is much ground to cover between now and when the final budget hearing is set for Sept. 6.

“When we talk about this budget information today we are talking about six different funds,” she said, which include the general fund, debt service fund, capital funds, special revenue fund, internal service fund and food service fund.

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

Water projects

Legislature approved a $350 million funding package for hurricane recovery throughout the state

Sen Jonathan Martin (R-33) said the state budget includes more than $ 6 9 4 m i l l i o n f o r E v e r g l a d e s restoration projects, which will help Lee County’s estuaries and tourism

The funds include $58 million for r e s t o r a t i o n s t r a t e g i e s , m o r e t h a n $ 3 5 6 m i l l i o n f o r t h e C o m p r e h e n s i v e E v e r g l a d e s Restoration Plan, $64 million for the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir project, more than $96 million for protection for northern Everglades estuaries and $50 mill i o n f o r p r o j e c t c o m p o n e n t s t o reduce harmful discharges to estuaries

Martin, whose district includes

From page 1

m o s t o f L e e C o u n t y , s a i d “ t h i s budget is a continuation of what we have seen with Gov DeSantis His focus on making sure that our environment is taken care of because our environment is important to every c o m p o n e n t o f o u r l i v e s h e r e i n Southwest Florida, to our personal lives to tourism, to development, most importantly to the quality of our lives ”

“We have to make sure the water coming out of Lake Okeechobee is good for our estuaries, good for our neighbors, good for our health and good for tourism,” he said Rep. Tiffany Esposito (R-77), whose district includes part of Fort M y e r s , E s t e r o , B u c k i n g h a m a n d Lehigh Acres, said “we have red tide simmering and blue-green algae

showing up in local canals The best w a y t o m i n i m i z e h a r m f u l a l g a l blooms of all types is to stop feeding them That’s how we will continue to repair our seagrass and our fisheries and that’s how we will continue to stop the health risks associated w i t h e x p o s u r e W i t h t h e s e s t a t e investments that we’ve seen this year, we can build resilient water infrastructure without leaving home and business owners to bear that cost There are far too many people in this region with failing septic tanks and it’s creating a significant impact on our water quality as we know.”

She said local estuaries cannot handle the hurricane flooding the area witnessed during Ian

State Sen Jonathan Martin

PHOTO PROVIDED

SCCF: West coast stakeholders concerned about lake

On June 28, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that Lake Okeechobee was full of water and blue-green algae, creating a dismal outlook for a summer without damaging releases The lake level had increased 0 40 feet over the previous week, bringing the lake up to 14 59 feet, which was well above the preferred 12-foot level during the start of the rainy season

It continued that the previous week's steep incline was caused by rain over the lake and in the Kissimmee River Basin, which eventually makes its way down to the lake

“There is essentially no water leaving the lake,” SCCF Research and Policy Associate Leah Reidenbach, who compiles weekly conditions reports, said

On the Caloosahatchee side, watershed flows were exceeding the schedule set by the U S Army Corps of Engineers of a weekly average of 2,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) at S-79, preventing releases from the lake

On the east coast, the Corps schedule called for no releases to the St. Lucie Estuary. The SCCF reported that releases cannot be made due the presence of potentially toxic algae near the Lock and Dam structure (S-80), which is connected to the St Lucie Estuary Additionally, no releases were being made to the Everglades Agricultural Area

With a shift to an El Ni o climate pattern, above-average rainfall patterns are predicted in South Florida for the rest of the year

“With all of these factors converging, Lake Okeechobee is going to be on the verge of reaching dangerously high levels,” Reidenbach said “That

Shorebird

inevitably means the Caloosahatchee will be receiving damaging releases from the lake at some point this year.”

The SCCF reported that after Hurricanes Ian and Nicole and limited releases made during the dry season, it and west coast stakeholders remain concerned about the conditions

From page 10

They are able to walk within hours of hatching, but will stay in their nest for a few days

“After about two weeks, their downy fluff is replaced with light brown or gray, scaly feathers, and they are much more mobile,” shorebird intern Jessie Macaluso said “They often venture outside of posted nesting areas, so if you’re near a colony, watch your step ”

Three to four weeks after hatching, least tern chicks are able to fly in short bursts, and their body shape more closely resembles that of an adult At more than 4 weeks old, juveniles can be distinguished from younger fledglings by the black stripe running through their eyes and around the back of their head These juveniles are also identifiable by being more adept flyers

When these non-reproducing adult birds that fledged the year prior enter their second year, they look similar to fledglings, but have smooth back feathers, and the black feathers around the eye do not extend to the bill.

For a more detailed guide on least tern chicks, visit https://flshorebirdalliance org /media/1058/aging-least-tern-chicks pdf

Snowy plover chicks

Snowy plover chicks also start out sand-colored and speckled, but unlike

least tern chicks, they waste no time staying put in the nest You may see them running about on their disproportionately long legs hours after they hatch

“This notable difference is because snowy plover chicks are precocial; they’re born in an advanced stage of development and are able to forage for their own food,” shorebird technician Aaron White said “Least tern chicks are altricial, which means they still rely on their parents for food until they are able to fly and feed themselves ”

A f t e r t w o w e e k s , s n o w y p l o v e r c h i c k s a r e l e s s “ f u z z y ” a n d m o r e “ s c r u f f y ” a s t h e i r p r i m a r y f e a t h e r s s t a r t t o c o m e i n T h e y b e c o m e m o r e a d v e nt u r o u s , l e a v i n g t h e d u n e h a b i t a t t o e x p l o r e t h e s h o r e l i n e

After four to six weeks of development, the chicks look like slightly smaller, skinnier versions of their parents, minus the bold breeding plumage exhibited by mature adults. At this point, they are flight-capable and may be seen flying with their parents or siblings before venturing out on their own

For a more detailed guide on snowy plover chicks, visit https://flshorebirdall i a n c e o r g / m e d i a / 1 2 0 4 / 2 0 1 9 - s n o w yplover-chick-aging-guide pdf

Being a vampire on Sanibel is no easy chore

I find it tough being the only male vampire on Sanibel I have to stay in all day and only come out at night to play and dine That’s why you never see me out in public during the day

Another problem I have is that I need to drive into Fort Myers periodically at night in order to prevent myself from pouncing on Sanibel residents The blood supply on Sanibel is very thin because of the age of most people here I need healthy blood and need to hang out at late night fraternity parties at Gulf Coast University.

Tower Gallery to host open house

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

An island gallery is planning a first-ever event to meet the community and highlight its artists

The Tower Gallery will host a Summer Open House on July 6 from 5 to 7 p m on Sanibel Free and open to the public, the event will feature meet-and-greets with the co-operative's artists and more

“It's trying to get some traffic and some interest and let p e o p l e k n o w w e ' r e o p

c o - o p b o a r d President Marianne Ravenna said, referring to Hurricane Ian and ongoing storm recovery “And I think a lot of people look for things to do now that there's not a whole lot going on on the islands ”

“It's about getting the artists together and hopefully we'll get some island people,” she added

With about two dozen artists in the co-op, not all of them will be in attendance but many will

If you go

What Summer Open House

When

July 6 from 5 to 7 p m

Where

Tower Gallery, 751 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel

Details

Free and open to the public

ters, to include wildlife.

Beer and wine will be available, along with some hors d'oeuvres

Art Stevens

Shell Shocked

Whenever my wife and I arrange to meet socially with Sanibel friends for dinner I tend to stare longingly at their necks What’s interesting is that no one has questioned the fact that I haven’t aged in the more than twenty years I’ve been on Sanibel People who know me obviously think I have youthful genes

I’ve looked long and hard to see if there are any other vampires on Sanibel but so far I haven’t come across any The problem is the vampires I’ve known for centuries simply can’t afford homes on Sanibel They tend to live near college campuses so that they can dine young and stay young They say that there is an embarrassment of riches where they live Sometimes I visit my friends in college towns and get there by way of overnight delivery via a Federal Express big box While visiting with my old vampire friends I also manage to fatten up somewhat before returning home But I can’t get any of my old friends to visit me on Sanibel

Yes, I’ve made many friends on Sanibel but I’m concerned that one day they will find me out Most people are rather uncomfortable around vampires and fear for their wellbeing Not too many folks have a thing about living forever and that’s the real problem They can’t imagine that their great grandkids could look older than they do one day

I’ve been a vampire exactly 287 years I was a member of the Cheyenne nation Yes, I have Native American blood in me along with all the other ethnic traces of blood that I’ve accumulated through the centuries I remember the moment I became a vampire I was out hunting for bison when I came across a band of Spanish conquerors I was chatting with them about what America would be like in a hundred years when they surrounded me, held me down and started biting my neck

At first I thought that this was the Spanish way of greeting new friends But after they left me I began to feel dizzy That night I had the most incredible urge to drink blood Now, mind you, I had never had a taste for drinking blood before It certainly wasn’t a Cheyenne thing to do

I went out of my village tepee that first night and wandered over to the nearby Mohican camp I crept into the barracks tent of division A warriors and had my first neck bite After that it became second nature to me

I’m sure you guessed by now that my girlfriend is also a vampire How could she put up with me otherwise? I was single for about a hundred years after my initiation into the vampire nation and at that time we didn’t have online dating services I met her about 135 years ago at a pottery show in New York and we’ve been together ever since In fact, we’re about to celebrate our 130th wedding anniversary soon I get goose pimples whenever I think about that

But she and I have had to make major sacrifices living the vampire life It’s so wonderful that Sanibel has such a great night life I can honestly say we’re literally out every night. We’re very sensitive about biting necks on Sanibel though We’re eager to protect the environment because if we didn’t would Sanibel still be Sanibel?

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

“They can definitely meet with the artists. They can talk to the artists and talk about their artwork,” Ravenna said, explaining that the gallery is usually manned by one member at time when open

“It will be a good group of us,” she added

It will be an opportunity to see what the artists have been working on the last several months

With many faced with rebuilding or restoring their homes due to last year's hurricane, attendees can also use the event to inquire about commissioned artwork for when they are ready to redecorate

“Most of us, if you give us an idea, we can run with that idea,” Ravenna said.

Those interested in commissioning a special piece to fit a particular space, such as over a doorway, a tall narrow area between windows or over a bed, are encouraged to bring those measurements with them She added that the artists can work with specific colors and subject mat-

She noted that the Bleu Rendez-Vous French Bistro is a neighbor and located in the same plaza Attendees could make an evening out of it by visiting the gallery and enjoying a great meal

“Once season starts back up, we'll have themed shows this winter again,” Ravenna said

Residents and visitors are encouraged to swing by and take part

“It's a good way to change up what you're doing and come out to enjoy some camaraderie with the artists and see some beautiful art,” she said “We would love to see old friends in the community ”

For more information, contact 239-579-0659 or visit www towergallery net

The gallery's summer hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10 a m to 5 p m

The Tower Gallery is at 751 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel

WoW hosting summer camps

The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge reported that after reaching 300 students at Immokalee’s Eden Park Elementary during its first week of summer camp, the J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge's Wildlife on Wheels team moved on to Harlem Heights Community Charter School in Fort Myers Micro-Mania is the summer’s theme for learning about microscopic creatures and damaging microplastics

Last week, the WoW visited Harns Marsh Elementary summer camp in Lehigh Acres

The WoW's summer schedule is as follows:

∫ Now through July 7: Sunshine Elementary in Lehigh Acres

∫ July 24-28: PACE Center for Girls, Lee in Fort Myers

To donate to support the upkeep and programming for the WoW efforts, visit https://interland3 donorperfect net/weblink/WebLink aspx?name=E54182&id=12

REFUGE/DDWS

Harns Marsh Elementary summer campers learn about the effects microplastics have on fish cells

F I S H OF SANIBEL-CAPTIVA

From left, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank Vice President and Marketing Director Amy McQuagge and F I S H of Sanibel-Captiva Senior Services Director Erika Broyles

F.I.S.H. receives grant funding

F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva reported that it recently received a $7,000 grant from CAMEO of Lee County The funds will be used to partially fund its Smile Box and Friendly Faces programs Inspired by the

subscription box trend, the Smile Box program provides goodies to over 60 participants as a monthly offering Friendly Faces is a monthly gathering with a program, lunch provided and activities

SANIBEL CAPTIVA COMMUNITY BANK

From left, front row, Sanibel-Captiva Kiwanis Club President-elect Jeff Blackman and Sanibel Captiva Community Bank Main Office Branch Manager Sandy Doubles; back row, club Director Eric Pfeiffer, bank Vice President and Director of Marketing Amy McQuagge, club members Les Boyle, Barry Roth and Ken Burgener, club Vice President Ed Hendrick and club Director Jason Smith

San Cap Community Bank donates to Kiwanis

Sanibel Captiva Community Bank recently donated $5,000 to the Sanibel-

scholarships, totaling close to $50,000, to island youth Eight of the scholarships are multi-year and 12 are one-year scholarships

ISL AND HOME islander

Staghorn fern is vegetated art

The staghorn fern is a tropical plant native to the Philippines, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Australia, Madagascar, Africa and America Mainly known for their growth in northern Florida, they can also thrive in Southwest Florida, with the most common type for our area being the Platycerium superbum

Known for their artistic look with their two distinctive fronds the foliar fronds (fertile fronds) and the basil fronds (sterile fronds)

The foliar fronds are the brownish fronds that are erect or pendant-shaped and have spores on the underside called sporangia that, when germinated, form new plants The basil fronds are the most apparent fronds that have rounded, thick overlapping layers with an upper portion that resembles the horns on male deer This is where it gets its staghorn name

It thrives in a tropical environment with filtered light where it’s off the ground and can naturally gather rainwater It gathers its nutrients by trapping debris within its rounded fronds and from the fronds that slowly decay in the inner core or “nest” of the plants. The ferns like a slightly acidic environment, so to encourage growth in propagated plants, some growers recommend adding used tea leaves or banana peels directly to the plant's nest

This slow-growing plant can live for decades in the ideal environment and can eventually grow to as much as a meter in width and height and weigh more than 100 pounds

Staghorn ferns can be artistically grown on a small piece of driftwood when it’s small to serve as a piece of art on an accent wall, tree or column But keep in mind that it will continue to grow around the driftwood and eventually need to be moved into a more supportive wooden or wire structure to allow it to have something to grow around Ideally, it will need to be hung up in a large tree or from a very sturdy frame structure

If you are looking for a unique focal point in your landscape that needs very little care, a couple of properly placed staghorn ferns might be just what you are looking for

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

Sanibel Captiva

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

F I S H of Sanibel-Captiva is continuing its community-wide Friendly Faces Luncheon The next one will be held on J u l y 1 1 a t 1 1 a m a t t h e S a n i b e l Recreation Center, with a virtual option available

I t w i l l f e a t u r e J e n n C a r o l l u z z i , ReUnite Program coordinator for the United Way of Lee, Hendry and Glades She will discuss ReUnite, a potentially life-saving program designed to reduce the search time for a missing individual, and the pet therapy program Beesley's.

“We are really looking forward to learning more about these very important programs,” Senior Services Director Erika Broyles said “The United Way ReUnite Program aids first responders in search and rescue operations for individuals, particularly those at-risk with cognitive disabilities, through use of a scent kit, which potentially reduces search time The Beesley's program brings pets to agencies and

Black torch is threatened species

By SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

Black torch (Erithalis fruticose) is an evergreen shrub, and its lightly fragrant white flowers bloom throughout the year The fruits are plentiful and start out greenish-white, maturing to pink to dark purple or black when ripened Birds love the berries, and the Miami blue butterfly uses the flowers for nectar The black torch grows well in coastal communities with high-pH soils It can tolerate saltwater inundation and did well with Hurricane Ian’s storm surge It does best in moist soils but can take short periods of dry weather The black torch is listed as a threatened species in Florida because many of the coastal hammocks in which it grows have been lost to development

schools to help stimulate laughter and joy in people whose lives have been affected by illness or depression ”

She noted that over 30 community members took part in the June luncheon

“We were so happy to reconnect,” Broyles said “Friendly Faces offers an opportunity to reconnect, while learning about offerings in our area We hope to see many more of you in July!”

Prepared by the Sanibel Deli, the lunch will be complimentary for those who attend in-person. Reservations and meal choices are required by July 7

For more information or to make a reservation, contact the F I S H Walk-In-Center at 239-472-4775 Once registered, F I S H will provide Zoom instructions for those planning to attend virtually

The Sanibel Recreation Center is at 3880 SanibelCaptiva Road, Sanibel

Generator safety for storm season

By LCEC

Storm season is officially here. As you prep your storm kit, be sure to consider the following if you plan to use a generator in the event of a power outage These tips will keep you, your loved ones, and utility workers safe:

∫ Do not connect your generator directly to your home’s wiring at the breaker panel or meter or a regular h o u s e h o l d o u t l e t C o n n e c t i n g a portable electric generator directly to your household wiring can be deadly to you and others A generator that is directly connected to your home’s wiring can “back feed” onto the power lines connected to your home

Y o u c o u l d a l s o c a u s e e x p e n s i v e damage to utility equipment and your generator

∫ The only safe way to connect a portable electric generator to your existing wiring is to have a licensed electrical contractor install a transfer switch. The transfer switch transfers power from the utility power lines to

the power coming from your generator

∫ Connect individual appliances that have their outdoor-rated power cords directly to the receptacle outlet of the generator, or connect these c o r d - c o n n e c t e d a p p l i a n c e s t o t h e generator with the appropriate outdoor-rated power cord having a sufficient wire gauge to handle the electrical load

∫ Do not overload the generator

Do not operate more appliances and equipment than the output rating of the generator Overloading your generator can seriously damage your valuable appliances and electronics

Prioritize your needs A portable electric generator should be used only when necessary, and only to power essential equipment

∫ Never use a generator indoors or in an attached garage Just like your automobile, a portable generat o r u s e s a n i n t e r n a l c o m b u s t i o n e n g i n e t h a t e m i t s d e a d l y c a r b o n monoxide Be sure to place the generator where exhaust fumes will not

enter the house, in a well-ventilated, dry area, away from air intakes to the h o m e , a n d p r o t e c t e d f r o m d i r e c t exposure to rain, preferably under a canopy, open shed or carport

∫ Do not store fuel indoors or try to refuel a generator while it is running Gasoline (and other flammable liquids) should be stored outside of living areas in properly labeled, nonglass safety containers They should not be stored in a garage if a fuelburning appliance is in the garage

The vapor from gasoline can travel invisibly along the ground and be ignited by pilot lights or electric arcs caused by turning on the lights Avoid spilling fuel on hot components Always have a fully charged, approved fire extinguisher located near the generator ∫ Turn off all equipment powered b y t h e g e n e r a t o r b e f o r e s h u t t i n g down your generator.

Visit the Storm Center at lcec net to download the LCEC Hurricane Guide and find other useful links

PHOTO PROVIDED Staghorn fern

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION Black torch

Recipe of the Week: Grilled Flank Steak with Wild Mushrooms, Cherry Tomatoes and Arugula Pesto

By CHEF LORETTA PAGANINI

In Rome, there is a great restaurant called “Vecchia Roma” near the beautiful Piazza Campitelli I have had many memorable meals there, but my favorite dish is this great steak topped with arugula and tomato salad and finished with balsamic glaze This is my version of that fabulous dish for you to enjoy Serves eight (Chef tip: Do not overcook flank steak or it will become tough )

1 flank steak, approximately 1 pound

2 teaspoons fresh oregano, chopped

1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped

1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon sea salt

2 bay leaves

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Salsa verde:

2 anchovy filets, soaked in milk

1 tablespoon capers, rinsed and drained well

1 clove garlic, minced

1 cup fresh Italian parsley, minced

1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup lemon juice, to taste

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

Faces on Faith

By RABBI SUNNY SCHNITZER

One of my early childhood memories is the evening when members of a local Baptist Church came to our synagogue on a Friday night to sing, pray with our congregation and hear American religious pluralism extolled as a gift to the world And I recall going to their Sunday services instead of to our usual Sunday Hebrew School and listening to their prayers, their very spirited music, their language about God and a complementary sermon from their pastor I reveled in the expressions of spirit, passion and love for God contained in every moment I even got up and danced (something rarely, if ever, done in our decorous synagogue)

But it later became clear to me that these were courtesy visits That to be American meant to be respectful of each others’ “faiths” in public, even though in “private,” among our own, we might whisper that only one of us could be “right ” We were all “triumphalists ” We were the most loved as evidenced by the sacrifice of God’s son We were the chosen people We were the ones who replaced or failed to replace the “others ”

This ancient and still current approach focuses us on the differences, the uniqueness of various religious traditions Truth becomes a competitive commodity. There were boundaries being protected: we didn’t eat their food and we didn’t date each other It was all about boundaries

But, we are in the midst of a paradigm shift and “Deep Ecumenism” is a fundamental part of it My teachers of blessed memory, Rabbis Zalman Schacter Shalomi and Shaya Isenberg, head of the Jewish Studies department at the University of Florida, taught that when it comes to our dogmas, myths and theologies our “revelations” that divide us we miss the point of our most dearly held religious traditions The world’s religions are akin to a giant Venn diagram, the largest parts of the circles are where we are in agreement It is the

smallest parts where there is intersection, tension and even conflict that challenge us

We have the choice to focus on the big parts of the circle When we go deeply inside in contemplation, meditation, prayer, devotion, blessing, we can understand each other’s traditions from the level of, as Rabbi Zalman called them, “system files ”

When considering the interactions of religions, we must ask first, where are we coming from? Are we “protectionists,” guarding our own borders, protecting our revelations? Are we “good citizens,” glorying in the various ways that people are spiritual? Do we believe that all religions are basically the same, with merely cultural differences? Or do we believe that while traditions may differ, they all have essentially the same goals, including the spiritual evolution of their participants?

The very word religion offers us a hint of our holy task Modern biblical scholars such as Tom Harpur and Joseph Campbell teach that religion is derived from the Latin religare, “re” (again) plus “ligare” (connect) We enter the realm of religion to reconnect with God, ourselves and with each other

So, the approach of “deep ecumenism” comes from a recognition that on this planet in this dangerous time, we need each other and we need each other to be the best Jews and Christians, Muslims and Buddhists, secular and New Age practitioners, we can possibly be We need to learn from each other We don’t have to become each other In fact we need each religious “organ” to be working at peak efficiency so that the “body” of humanity can be healthy Moreover, the very possibility of overcoming the internal and external conditions, the mindsets, that result in current crises depends on our ability to collaborate with others And that requires a deep understanding of each other’s spirituality A non-reductive way of thinking comparatively about each other’s spirituality and the right to exist as we are is crucial

We are human before we are Jewish or

Combine the solid sauce ingredients and blend them with the olive oil and lemon juice; salt and pepper to taste. The consistency of the sauce should be fairly loose.

In a small bowl, combine pepper, salt, oregano, parsley, crushed red pepper, garlic, oil, balsamic vinegar and brown sugar together, forming a coarse paste Spread paste evenly over both sides of flank steak Wrap flank steak with plastic wrap and refrigerate for two hours

Heat the grill to approximately 350-400°F Grill steak directly over coals for six minutes on each side Internal temperature of steak should reach 130-135°F for medium doneness

Let the steak rest for 10 minutes covered with foil

For optimum tenderness, cut flank steaks against the grain into 1/4-inch slices Serve with mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and arugula pesto

Arugula pesto (makes about 1 1/2 cups)

2 cups fresh arugula, de-stemmed and tightly packed

1/4 cup pine nuts

2 cloves garlic

Salt and pepper, to taste

1/2 cup olive oil

1/4 cup Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, grated

Place arugula, nuts, garlic, salt and pepper in the bowl of a food processor Pulse until ingredients are chopped With processor running, slowly add the olive oil Add grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese to the pesto after it is removed from the food processor

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

Rev Dr Doug Dortch

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

∫ Chavurat Shalom of Southwest Florida

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

∫ 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 saintmichaels-sanibel 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

Christian or Buddhist or Muslim; we are human before we are male or female! And the crises we face today are not merely local, but planetary, affecting us at the species level well beyond the religio-cultural levels We are a species that needs to evolve in consciousness in order to respond to the crises which mainly result from our failures, so far, to “grow up ” Humankind’s greatest

advances have come when our social systems embrace the gifts that each culture and religion bring to the table Real ecumenism comes from sharing at that evolutionary level More than ever before, we need each other

Rabbi Sunny Schnitzer is with the Bat Yam Temple of the Islands ˚

Loretta Paganini

We are human before all else

islandBEAT islander

ISL AND FACES

CHR team holds get-together

The Community Housing and Resources team recently gathered for an afternoon of food and fun at Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille, which sponsored the event It welcomed Sanibel City Manager Dana S o u z a , M a y o r R i c h a r d J o h n s o n a n d C i t y

Councilmembers Holly Smith and Scott Crater, who also attended CHR acting Executive Director Nicole Decker-McHale shared the news about a new office space on Sanibel post-hurricane “Everyone at CHR looks forward to this milestone,” officials stated The goal is to get residents back in their homes as quickly as possible For more information about CHR, visit SanibelCHR org PHOTOS PROVIDED BY COMMUNITY HOUSING AND RESOURCES

(A “Fib,” or Fibonacci poem, counts the number of syllables in every line according to the Fibonacci sequence of numbers introduced into Western mathematics by Leonardo Fibonacci in the 13th century: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13 The sequence occurs often in nature: spirals of shells, flowerets of sunflowers, bracts of a pine cone, and the scales of a pineapple )

Full Moon

Over Florida, Come to me tonight

Let your milky light nurse my eyes

With silver bright, soothe my sighs with silent lullabies

Let us make love, you from above, I dreaming below, Before daylight uncovers us Florida full moon, Come to me, Tonight, Come. Come

Joe

Poetic License

THE COMMUNITY HOUSE

Rotar y Club donates to TCH

The Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club, Rotary District 6960, recently donated $30,000 to The Community House on Sanibel The funds will support the facility's Hurricane Ian recovery.

The Community House Calendar

Shellcrafters

The Shellcrafters will meet on July 10 from 10 a m to 1 p m in the lobby A shell crafting class will take place at 10

m ; it is free and supplies range from $510. Items will be available for sale. All

TCH is accepting art vendors for the 87th Sanibel Historical Annual Shell Festival on March 7-9 Reservations are available for 8-foot tables for $150 and include all three days

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

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

MORGAN AND JOHN McLANE DUO

to 8:30 p m

REDPATH 5:30 to 8:30 p m

McLANE 5:30 to 8:30 p m

MORGAN 5:30 to 8:30 p m

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

McDONALD 5 to 8:30 p m

McDONALD 5 to 8:30 p.m.

McDONALD 5 to 8:30 p m

‘Fibonacci Moon Song’

Pacheco

PASCALE DOXY