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Chamber ribbon-cutting celebrates Jerry’s Foods reopening

As a big first step toward island recovery from Hurricane Ian, Jerry’s Foods on Sanibel celebrated its reopening with a ribbon cutting hosted by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 25. “We are all very excited about Jerry’s reopening, ” chamberPresidentandChiefExecutiveOfficerJohnLai,whohas been at the forefront of island recovery efforts, said. “Our goal right now is to celebrate everything positive that points toward a return to normalcy. ” Rick Winningham, general manager of the island store, announced the official reopening at the city of Sanibel’s Facebook Live on Oct. 24. He also presented a $20,000 donation in partnership with the Johnson family, the owner of Bailey’s General Store on Sanibel, to F.I.S.H. of SanibelCaptiva — the islands' food pantry and human services organization. “We have had a longtime partnership with Richard (Johnson), ” Jerry’s Foods Vice President of Operations DougWinsor,whoalsoparticipatedinthepresentation,said. “We help each other out all the time when one or the other runs out of supplies. We’re competitors, but at the same time, it feels like we’re more partners than competitors. We want to be there to help Bailey’s get back up and going. ” Winsor added that the two grocery stores' shared supplier, United Natural Foods, also partnered on the donation. Like most businesses, Jerry’s suffered extensive damage from the Category 4 hurricane that leveled a crippling blow totheislandsonSept.28.Itlostmuchofitsoperatingequipment and most of its air-conditioning units, causing roof damage. Its second-story structure, however, gave the business an advantage in recovering quickly, and Winsor credited Winningham’s hard work for making it happen. “During this unprecedented time when many of our own staff have lost their homes and personal possessions and have been displaced, our team reflected on the philosophy and passion of the company, which is to be a community gathering place for the neighborhoods in which we operate, ” Winninghamsaid. “Ourteamhaspulledtogetherandishonored to partner with Bailey’s, UNFI and F.I.S.H. to focus on 'neighbors helping neighbors, ' because we believe everyone, especially in this time of hardship, deserves nutritious food and a friendly smile. ” “It’s not going to look like it did before the storm, ” Winsor said. “The store is not yet able to offer frozen foods, andrefrigerateditemsarelimited,butJerry’steamovercame enormous obstacles, including limited island access for construction workers and employees, to be able to officially open on Tuesday, Oct. 25, for daily operation 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. ” The restaurant was scheduled to open on Oct. 28 for first responders only. It will open to the public the following day with a limited menu for breakfast and lunch. The Sanibel Surf Shop, the primary tenant at the Jerry's shopping center, has reopened and Sanibel Spirits was expected to open last week. “My hats off to what the city has done. This is a once-ina-hundred-years hurricane, and three weeks later they have the causeway open. They’re amazing, ” Winsor said, giving special gratitude to Vice Mayor Richard Johnson for stepping in two days after the hurricane to help Jerry’s “figure things out. ” “As the vice mayor of the city of Sanibel, I am proud to work with the team from Jerry’s Foods to be one of the first businesses to reopen post catastrophe to provide for our community during Bailey’s absence from the marketplace, ” Johnson said. “Bailey’s General Store suffered significant damage. We look forward to the day that we can welcome our work family and our customers back. ” “Jerry’s reopening is not only a symbol of hope for all islanders, but a potent demonstration of the island spirit — where people all work together for the better good and competitors join forces, ” Lai said. Jerry’s Foods is at 1700 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.

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Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce representatives were on hand to celebrate the reopening of Jerry’s Foods with a ribbon cutting on Oct. 25 on Sanibel. At the city of Sanibel’s Facebook Live on Oct. 24, Jerry’s Foods on Sanibel presented a $20,000 donation in partnership with Bailey’s General Store on Sanibel to F.I.S.H. of SanibelCaptiva.

Trust Company takes temporary space in Fort Myers

The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company has taken up temporary office space for its Lee County team within the RE/MAX Realty Group, at 7910 Summerlin Lakes Drive, Fort Myers. “Since our flagship office was damaged on Sanibel due to Hurricane Ian, we felt it best to assist our clients of Sanibel, Captiva, Fort Myers and greater Lee County by promptly securing office space in Fort Myers, ” founder and Chairman S. Albert D. Hanser said. “We wereabletosettleouremployeesinquicklyandbephysically accessible to our clients and professional advisors in the area. ” The team began working from the temporary office a few days after the storm. “We are grateful for some quick teamwork and our generous friends at RE/MAX Realty Group, ” Sanibel market President Jeffrey A. Muddell said. “Mike and Coleen Frye have donated ample office space for several of our employees to use and meeting rooms for our inperson client visits. ” Updates on the Sanibel office renovation progress will be forthcoming. For more information, call 239-472-8300 or visit www.sancaptrustco.com.

Report your news to THE ISLAND REPORTER: captivasanibel.com Bed tax deadline extended by FDOR

The Florida Department of Revenue has extended the deadline for hotels and businesses to remit any bed taxes collected in Lee County, according to the Lee County Clerk of the Court. After Hurricane Ian, the agency issued an emergency order to extend the due dates for September and October to Nov. 23. The 5 percent bed tax, also known as tourist development tax, applies to hotel stays and all rentals of six months or less. The monies help fund destination marketing, local sports facilities and maintenance of 50 miles of beach and shoreline.

Collected and distributed by the Lee County Clerk, the funds also go toward funding local non-profit organizations at more than 40 local attractions. For more information about tourist development tax, visit www.leeclerk.org/tdt. County DCD adjusts hours for permitting lobby

As of Oct. 29, the permitting lobby at the Lee County Department of Community Development is closed on Saturdays to allow for the processing of an increasing number of building permits. It had been offering expanded hours, including on Saturday, since Oct. 17 at its Monroe Street office in Fort Myers to assist homeowners with emergency permits to address damage from Hurricane Ian. The DCD has seen an ever increasing amounts of emergency permit activity, while also processing the regular building permits already in the works prior to the hurricane, as well as new building permit requests submitted since the storm. Processing emergency permits remains the priority. The lobby will continue to be open to the public and taking phone calls from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Contractors have continued to be directed to file for permits using the county’s online system. Homeowners can also choose to utilize that option. For more information, visit www.leegov.com.

Business Note

McQuagge named as finalist for ENPY

Pace Center for Girls, Lee volunteer Amy McQuagge was a finalist for Nonprofit Volunteer of the Year for the Cape Coral Community Foundation’s 2022 ENPYs — Excellence in Nonprofit Performance Yearly — awards. The award honors a volunteer who goes above and beyond to support the objectives of an organization to enhance its ability to deliver on its mission for maximum impact on the community and the lives of those it serves. McQuagge joined the PACE board of directors in 2020. She serves on the executive committee as the resource development chair and she has co-chaired the Love That Dress! fundraiser for three years. The awards presentation was held on Oct. 18.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Jacksonville District reported that beginning on Oct. 29, it would make releases from Lake Okeechobee to the Caloosahatchee Estuary from the W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam (S-79) at a seven-day average pulse release of 1,200 cubic feet per second. No lake releases were planned for the St. Lucie Estuary. The target is right in the middle of the REstoration COordination & VERification (RECOVER) optimal flow envelope for the Caloosahatchee. Water from the lake will only be released in amounts needed to supplement local basin runoff to meet the downstream target of 1,200 cfs, and the target is consistent with the South Florida Water Management District’s position statement as of last week. “Lake Okeechobee rose more than 2.5 feet in the month since Hurricane Ian brought historic rainfall to the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes, ” Jacksonville District Deputy Commander Lt. Col. Todd Polk said on Oct. 28. “The rise in lake stage has slowed significantly over the past week, providing an opportunity to start making lake releases within the RECOVER optimal flow envelope. ” RECOVER is a multi-agency team of scientists, modelers, planners and resource specialists who organize and apply scientific and technical information in ways that are essential in supporting the objectives of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. The Corps also expects to begin executing the HHD Surveillance Plan as the lake approaches 16 feet. At that stage, teams will begin inspecting the south side of the lake from Moore Haven to Belle Glade every two weeks. If the lake rises to 16.5 feet, the frequency of inspections on the south side of the lake will increase to weekly and the remainder of the dike will start receiving inspections every two weeks. HHD was inspected thoroughly following Hurricane Ian and no problems were identified. As of Oct. 28, Lake Okeechobee was 15.74 feet. That is approximately 3.5 inches higher than the prior week, 2 feet 5 inches higher than 30 days ago, and 1.5 inches lower than on the same day of last year.

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Updates From page 1 ∫ There are two inbound lanes: The left lane is for residents, businesses, property owners and private contractors, and the right lane is for emergency vehicles and emergency government contractors ∫ A valid 2021 or 2022 city-issued Hurricane Re-Entry Pass must be prominently displayed or a Florida driver's license with a Sanibel or Captiva address readily available when approaching checkpoint. ∫ Outbound access open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. ∫ There is one outbound lane from the causeway and two outbound lanes on McGregor Boulevard. ∫ A curfew is in effect on Sanibel and Captiva from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. No vehicle, bicycle or pedestrian movement is permitted, except for essential response personnel. The curfew is being strictly enforced.

Hurricane re-entry passes

∫ Resident: Residential Hurricane Reentry Pass or valid ID with island address ∫ Property owner: Residential Hurricane Reentry Pass with valid ID For a Residential Hurricane Reentry Pass, visit https://www.mysanibel.com /content/download/30505/file/Residentia l%20Pass%20Application%202022.pdf. ∫ Contractor: Commercial Hurricane Reentry Pass with valid ID For a Commercial Hurricane Reentry Pass, visit https://www.mysanibel.com /content/download/30506/file/Commerci al%20Pass%20Application%20%202019%20-%20MASTER.pdf. ∫ Insurance adjuster: Insurance Adjuster Reentry Pass with valid ID For an Insurance Adjuster Hurricane Reentry Pass, visit https://www.mysanibel.com/news-announcements/news/hurricane-ian-recovery-insurance-adjusteraccess-to-sanibel. Passes are issued Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. at the city of Sanibel's Temporary City Hall, which located in the Captiva Room at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, at 13051 Bell Tower Drive, Fort Myers. For more information, visit https://www.mysanibel.com/.

LeeTran shuttle service

LeeTran is operating two shuttle bus routes to help residents move through the islands. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the service is free. For a map of the Sanibel route, visit https://cc-mysanibel-storage.s3.amazonaws.com/main /images/9/8/5/1/201589-1-engUS/ian%20transit%20map%20v2PAL1.PNG. For a map of the Captiva route, visit https://cc-mysanibel-storage.s3.amazonaws.com/main/images/3/9/5/1/20159 3-1-eng-US/ian%20transit%20map%20 v2PAL-2.PNG.

Curfew

A curfew is in effect on Sanibel from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. No vehicle, bicycle or pedestrian movement is permitted, except for essential response personnel. The curfew is being strictly enforced.

Sanitary sewer

The city's sewer system can receive limited toilet flush. However, other domestic water use should be minimized, including showering and dishwasher use; do not do laundry until full sanitary service is restored. When performing an initial home cleaning, limit water use so sediment does not enter the wastewater system. Homeowners are reminded to have their plumbing inspected for any leaks and broken lines prior to any use.

Debris removal

Debris removal is ongoing on Sanibel; for more information, visit https://www.mysanibel.com/newsannouncements/news/hurricane-ianrecovery-debris-hauling. Residents can request the removal of debris from private property, including vehicles, vessels, motorcycles, trailers and ATVs. To make a request, visit IanDebrisCleanup.com.

FEMA 50% rule, substantial damage/improvement

At the city's Facebook Live on Oct. 28, staff referenced the FEMA document titled “Substantial Improvement /Substantial Damage Desk Reference. ” To review the FEMA document, visit https://www.fema .gov/sites/default/files/2020-08 /fema _p_ 758 _ complete _ r3 _ 0.pdf.

On-island resources

The city reported that it has received the following list of on-island resources: ∫ F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva, at 2430 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel: Water, non-perishable food, hygiene products, and cleaning supplies like mold liquid, buckets, trash bags and gloves are available ∫ Sanibel Community Church, at 1740 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel: Water, ice, charging station, shower and laundry are available ∫ Sanibel Sea School, at 455 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel: Water and ice are available ∫ Palm Ridge Plaza, at 2330 Palm Ridge Road, Sanibel: Hot food and ice are available after noon ∫ The Shack of Sanibel, at 1219 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel: Hot food is available after noon ∫ Jerry's Foods, at 1700 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel: Open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with limited options

Mail pickup

Island mail may be picked up at the JetPort Loop Mail Station, at 14080 JetPort Loop, Fort Myers. Hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon.

City operation adjustments

The city of Sanibel is operating from a Temporary City Hall, located in the Captiva Room at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, at 13051 Bell Tower Drive, Fort Myers. ∫ Phone numbers are 239-472-3700 or 239-603-7261 ∫ Call Center is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ∫ Information Desk is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 to 5 p.m. ∫ Sanibel Police Department: 239472-3111 ∫ Emergencies: Call 911 The city will continue to provide information at https://www.mysanibel.com/ and on Facebook at “The City of Sanibel, Florida, ” as well as email those who have signed up for city announcements. To sign up, visit https://www.mysanibel .com//government/city-manager-soffice/useful-links/sign-up-for-cityannouncements.

The coveted People’s Choice Award trophy was found in Mudbugs Cajun Kitchen.

CLINIC FOR THE REHABILITATION OF WILDLIFE

CROW From page 1

restaurant. The coveted coral trophy representing the People’s Choice Award was found in Mudbugs Cajun Kitchen, the consecutive winner of the title. Many Sanibel and Captiva restaurants adorned their walls with Taste of the Islands plaques as memorabilia of past years’ successes in serving the Best Dessert, Best Seafood, Best Appetizer and more. “These trophies are a symbol of our islands and our community — battered and broken but not gone. We will embrace our restaurant partners and their staff as we rebuild. These restaurants have supported CROW for decades and we are here for them now and in the future, ” Executive Director Alison Charney Hussey said. “Taste will be back, and I am looking forward to reopening of all of our restaurants. ” For more information on helping with the recovery, email volunteer@mysanibel.com. To donate toward CROW's recovery, visit crowclinic.org/donate/donate-today. For updates on clinic needs and ways to get involved, follow on Facebook at “CROW — Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife” and on Instagram @crowclinic. If you find injured, orphaned or sick wildlife, bring them to the BluePearl Pet Hospital, at 9500 Marketplace Road, Fort Myers. For wildlife or operational inquiries, contact info@crowclinic.org.

Sanibel school From page 1

Although the current situation is not ideal, it has improved every day, as more resources are being sent by the school district. “We are happy to have a home, even though it's a temporary home. It's very much appreciated, ” she said. “He (Bernier) has been amazingly supportive. His whole team reached out to me. Every day I hear from them. They are amazing. They want what's best for students. ” As of Oct. 27, Reid said they had lost about 25 percent of their students. “We were at 292 before the hurricane. We are down to 214 right now. We are seeing kids trickling back every day, ” she said. Although many staff members have lost their homes and are dealing with their own post-storm recovery outside of the classroom, Reid said they are just amazing in front of the children. She said the community has been extremely generous in providing supplies. With that said, they are running out of storage to keep the supplies. Reid asked that people send their donations to the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools, as they can put those items in the hands that need them. To donate, visit https://thefoundationforleecountypublicschools.networkforgood.com/projects/171342-hurricaneian-relief-fund. Those who would like their donation to directly benefit the island school should type “Hurricane Relief for The Sanibel School” into the “Your Note for the Donor Scroll” field. Checks can also be made out to the Foundation for Lee County Public Schools with “Hurricane Relief for The Sanibel School” written in the memo line and sent to 2266 Second St., Fort Myers, FL 33901.