Sanibel Island Reporter/Islander

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Starting this week, tax bills will be m a i l e d o u t b y

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Collector’s Office for the 2022 period There will be payment extensions avail able for property owners whose homes were destroyed or rendered uninhabitable by Hurricane Ian, as well as an extension on discounts for all property owners

The Lee County Tax Collector’s Office announced extensions for all property tax payers for the 4 percent discount for those who pay their 2022 tax bills before Dec 31, a 2 percent discount for those who pay in February, and 1 percent in March before the March 31 deadline

For those whose homes were rendered uninhabitable or destroyed, the deadline for tax payments will be extended to May 31 In addition to the 4 discount, those property owners will also be eligible for a 3 percent discount for taxes paid in

according to Lee County Tax Collector Noelle Branning

To qualify for the additional exten sions, property owners whose homes or b

destroyed must notify the Lee County Property Appraiser’s Office of the dam a g e T h e o

o n t a c t e d a t www.leepa.org. Property owners can pro vide detailed explanations of the damage and length of time their property has been uninhabitable or if it has been totaled

“We want everybody to contact us at our website and upload photos We want to have it processed as soon as possible,”

Sea turtle season comes to an end on islands

On Nov 16, the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation report ed that sea turtle nesting season has officially ended on Sanibel and Captiva, with the last remaining nest inventoried the prior week

A total of 787 nests were laid this year, and 35,857 hatchlings successfully emerged Loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) laid 769 of the nests, and green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) laid 18 nests

Although numbers were down a bit this year on Sanibel and Captiva com pared to the previous year, other areas in the region such as Bonita Springs and L o v e r s K e y S t a t e P a r k e x p e r i e n c e d record nesting

“Preliminary statewide numbers for the 2022 season are pretty encouraging, and our lack of a record is not necessari ly a big cause for concern,” SCCF sea t u r t l e b i o l o g i s t J a c k B r z o z a s a i d “Turtles don’t typically nest every year, and it could be a year where a lot of their off years coincide, or they could be nest ing on other local beaches, among other potential factors. For instance, one of our

DeSantis announces $7.7M more in workf orce grants

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

Gov Ron DeSantis made another visit to Matlacha on Nov 16 to assure Southwest Floridians that the state is financially behind those who have been affected by Hurricane Ian, announcing another $7 7 million in workforce grants

“You’ve seen me here a lot over the last six or seven weeks,” he said, adding that he has had to spend time on the other coast due to Hurricane Nicole, which made landfall on Nov. 10.

DeSantis acknowledged widespread damage in Lee County, giving a verbal thumbs up to locals who have been working hard to get everything back on track, as well as those on the state level and even those across the country who came to help and assist

“It was something that we knew would be difficult, but we said, we understand it’s going to require a lot of effort, but we’re going to do well by this and we’re going to get it done,” he said as he stood with Senate President Designate Kathleen Passidomo and Department of Economic Opportunity

SANIBEL CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

Lee County Property Appraiser Matthew Caldwell said

“The communication is critical to the process,” Branning said “We really need property owners to be communicating with the property appraiser’s office so they know what the overall community impact looks like ”

T h e p r o p e r t y a p p r a i s e r w i l l a l s o reassess properties in January and will use information provided from property own ers with damage from Ian Caldwell said property owners who suffered damage during the hurricane should notify the department of storm damage regardless of whether the property was left uninhabit able in order to update assessments

The relief is part of declarations made by Gov Ron DeSantis through an execu tive order last month regarding property tax relief for those in counties most impacted by Ian.

Gov Ron DeSantis

CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

Puschel Preserve being used for community recovery

The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation report ed that after Hurricane Ian, the amount of debris on the islands began accumulating quickly To help accelerate the recovery of the community, the SCCF worked with

its conservation partners at the city of Sanibel and J N “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge to identify on island locations that might be used as debris processing sites

The SCCF’s Puschel Preserve was identified as a suit

able location given the size, location and condition of the preserve following the storm. Since the property was still

See PUSCHEL PRESERVE,

Roskamp study links red tide to neurological impacts

The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that during the last active red tide bloom off the coast, about 80 islanders took part in a study that found a connection between exposure to airborne red tide and neurological symptoms

The Sarasota based Roskamp Institute parked a mobile lab on Sanibel where islanders with red tide exposure volun teered to provide blood samples The study recruited Southwest Florida resi dents and examined individuals during the periods of a red tide bloom and also when there was no bloom.

The SCCF reported that results of the study released this summer found partici pants exhibited symptoms previously only a s s o c i a t e d w i t h e a t i n g c o n t a m i n a t e d seafood It is the first study to suggest that certain people are susceptible to symp toms like neurotoxic shellfish poisoning,

such as nausea, dizziness and headaches, from breathing red tide

“Even though volunteers had not eaten contaminated shellfish, some reported symptoms similar to neurotoxic shellfish poisoning,” lead author and Roskamp I n s t i t u t e r e s e a r c h s c i e n t i s t D r L a i l a

Abdullah said “Among individuals who experienced NSP like symptoms, more tended to have a prior medical history of migraine or chronic fatigue syndrome ”

The SCCF reported that prior to the study, it was known that eating red tide t o x i n c o n t a m i n a t e d s h e l l f i s h p r o d u c e s NSP, which causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, numbness and tingling, dizzi ness, headache and a reversal of hot and cold sensations

The study included 250 volunteers from five Gulf coast areas, including Lee, Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties. About one third of the study participants were from Sanibel and Captiva thanks to recruitment that was facilitated by the SCCF

With the current active red tide bloom in the area, the institute plans to resume the study

“As with previous studies, we also found that participants also reported expe r i e n c i n g r e s p i r a t o r y s y m p t o m s w i t h increasing intensities of red tide blooms in the area,” Abdullah said

The SCCF reported that the studies indicate that different people respond to the red tide toxins in different ways from not reacting at all, to having varying symptoms

“We need to better understand why this happens We don’t understand why that is the case, nor do we know the dose levels of toxins that are needed to cause neuro logical symptoms,” Abdullah said “There is still much to understand about this toxin and the levels of the threat it poses to human brain health ”

The SCCF reported that it will provide information about the study once it is underway

SANIBEL CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

SANIBEL

Teachers given opportunity to visit Sanibel school campus

By MEGHAN BRADBURY news@breezenewspapers com

Some good news was shared about two of the School District of Lee County's most Hurricane Ian impacted schools during an afternoon workshop for the Lee County School Board on Nov 16

Chief of Staff Michael Ramirez said that at 2:45 p m , buses arrived at San Carlos Park Elementary School to pick up The Sanibel School teachers to bring them out to the island campus for the first time He said mental health teams would be on the bus as well, as most of the staff and teachers have not been to the school since the storm

Progress has already been made for the temporary H e c t o r A C a f f e r a t a E l e m e n t a r y S c h o o l c a m p u s

Ramirez said there is a proposed Dec 5 completion date, which he said will include a lot of preparation after that date for teachers and staff setting up their spaces

Pre planning meetings are already underway of what that transition will look like, as well as mapping out the portables and which ones will be used for classrooms

“Portable buildings have started to arrive this week The kitchen and dining buildings are being installed today,” Ramirez

As far as Fort Myers Beach Elementary School,

engagement continues on a weekly basis He said they shared proposed possibilities for the school on Nov 11 “There is no decision that has been made,” he said “We are trying to do our due diligence ” Ramierz said they are committed to engaging the Fort Myers Beach community in those conversations, as well

as the newly appointed officials

“We are working together as we come up with the potential solutions,” he said

The meeting is done with a core group that represents a larger group As they continue to move with plans, much more dialogue will open up.

Currently there are 50 students enrolled at Fort Myers Beach Elementary School, which is not driving any or all decisions

It was also shared with the board that Imperium held a presentation on Nov. 11 with the district's Recovery Team specific to damages and assessments, as well as next steps Ramirez said they are in the process of sched uling a presentation to come before the board in December to share the information

Emergency grant funds were also shared with the board, which is being done through The Foundation for Lee County Public Schools. The grant process A Florida Disaster Fund is up to $5,000 with an appli cation process open until today, Nov 23 Ramirez said the prioritization is around housing and transportation

The grant process B Hurricane Ian Relief Fund which is still being worked on, will also address stu dents He said more will come with those particular pieces

Kindergarten pre-registration open through November

B y M E G H A N B R A D B U RY

i s t e r k i n d e r g a r t e n s t u d e n t s t h r o u g h t h e S c h o o l D i s t r i c t o f L e e C o u n t y ’ s F O C U S P a r e n t P o r t a l

S t u d e n t E n r o l l m e n t E x e c u t i v e D i r e c t o r S o r e t t a R a l p h s a i d t h e y a r e p i l o t i n g t h e n e w o n l i n e o p t i o n t h r o u g h F O C U S j u s t f o r i n c o m i n g k i n d e r g a r t e n s t u d e n t s I t i s a c o n v e n i e n t o p t i o n f o r f a m i l i e s a s t h e y c a n p r e r e g i s t e r f r o m a n y w h e r e 2 4 / 7

F a m i l i e s s i m p l y h a v e t o e n t e r t h e i r c h i l d ’ s i n f o r m a t i o n a n d u p l o a d t h e c o r r e c t d o c u m e n t s n e e d e d a f t e r c r e a t i n g a n a c c o u n t

“ E v e n t u a l l y w e w i l l d o a l l o f o u r e n r o l l m e n t i n F O C U S W e a r e r o l l i n g i t o u t s l o w l y w i t h k i n d e r g a r t n e r s , ” R a l p h s a i d

P a r e n t s c a n p r e r e g i s t e r a s t u d e n t w h o w i l l b e g i n k i n d e r g a r t e n i n A u g u s t a t h t t p s : / / w w w l e e s c h o o l s n e t / o u r d i s t r i c t / d e p a r t m e n t s / a c a d e m i c s e r v i c e s / s t u d e n t e n r o l l m e n t / k i n d e r g a r t e n p r e r e g i s t r a t i o n b y N o v 3 0 A c o n f i r m a t i o n e m a i l w i l l b e s e n t t o t h e p a r e n t a f t e r s u b m i t t e d w i t h a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n R a l p h s a i d t h e y w i l l l i k e l y e x t e n d t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n , a s t h e d i s t r i c t i s s t i l l d i s c u s s i n g a p r o x i m i t y p l a n a n d h a s n o t m a d e a n y d e c i s i o n s a s t o h o w s u c h a p l a n w i l l a f f e c t s c h o o l a s s i g n m e n t .

T h e p r e r e g i s t r a t i o n d o c u m e n t s r e q u i r e d i n c l u d e :

∫ C o p y o f p a r e n t p h o t o I D

∫ C o p y o f b i r t h c e r t i f i c a t e

∫ P h y s i c a l h e a l t h e x a m i n a t i o n t h a t h a s b e e n d a t e d w i t h i n 1 2 m o n t h s p r i o r t o r e g i s t r a t i o n

∫ D H 6 8 0 F l o r i d a C e r t i f i c a t e o f I m m u n i z a t i o n , w h i c h c a n b e o b t a i n e d f o r f r e e b y t a k i n g i m m u n i z a t i o n r e c o r d t o t h e L e e C o u n t y H e a l t h D e p a r t m e n t , a t 3 9 2 0 M i c h i g a n A v e . , F o r t M y e r s , a f t e r m a k i n g a n a p p o i n t m e n t b y c a l l i n g 2 3 9 4 6 1 6 1 0 0

∫ S o c i a l S e c u r i t y C a r d ( o p t i o n a l ) ∫ C u s t o d y d o c u m e n t s ( i f a p p l i c a b l e ) ∫ P r o o f o f a d d r e s s

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

P r e r e g i s t r a t i o n a l s o h e l p s i n k e e p i n g s i b l i n g s t o g e t h e r A k i n d e r g a r t e n s t u

d e n t c a n b e p a i r e d w i t h t h e i r o l d e r e l e m e n t a r y s i b l i n g a t t h e s a m e s c h o o l t h r o u g h t h e p r e r e g i s t r a t i o n o p t i o n P r e r e g i s t r a t i o n i s o f f t o a b i t o f a s l o w e r s t a r t , w h i c h m i g h t c o n t r i b u t e t o H u r r i c a n e I a n “ O u r n u m b e r s a r e r e a l l y d o w n , ” R a l p h s a i d , a d d i n g t h a t w i t h s t u d e n t s o u t o f s c h o o l d u e t o t h e h u r r i c a n e i t s l o w e d d o w n t h e p r o c e s s . “ W e a r e h o p i n g t o g e t t h a t g o i n g ”

R a l p h s a i d o n a v e r a g e t h e y h a v e 5 , 0 0 0 t o 6 , 0 0 0 k i n d e r g a r t e n s t u d e n t s e n r o l l e v e r y y e a r

“Lee County is still growing by leaps and bounds We are enrolling many families brand new When storms come, district’s loose families to moving away because of homes and displacement,” she said

F o r L e e C o u n t y m a n y f a m i l i e s h a v e m o v e d a w a y a n d m a n y f a m i l i e s a r e m o v i n g t o t h e a r e a

“ W e e n c o u r a g e p a r e n t s t o c o n t i n u e t o u s e t h e p o r t a l a n d g e t d o c u m e n t s i n a n d g e t c o n n e c t e d w i t h o t h e r s i b l i n g s W e w a n t t h e m t o h a v e c o n v e n i e n c e o f g e t t i n g p r e r e g i s t e r e d a n d e n r o l l e d A g a i n i t h e l p s t h e d i s t r i c t t o k n o w t h e n u m b e r o f s t u d e n t s c o m i n g i n , ” R a l p h s a i d

T h o s e w h o h a v e p r e r e g i s t r a t i o n q u e s t i o n s c a n e m a i l s t u d e n t e n r o l l m e n t @ l e e s c h o o l s n e t

SCHOOL DISTRICT OF LEE COUNTY

RALPH ARWOOD/CALUSA WATERKEEPER

Tell Corps not to fuel red tide with releases

Southwest Florida was recently devastated by the recent impacts of Hurricane Ian Rainfall and runoff has inundated the Gulf of Mexico with huge amounts of nutrients This is coinciding with a red tide b l o o m a n d t h e S a n i b e l C a p t i v a Conservation Foundation has been watching the counts of Karenia brevis rise in the Gulf Two weeks ago we saw the first fish kills on Sanibel and Captiva

Captains For Clean Water and the SCCF are partnering to monitor and and better understand this lat

est bloom This has included joint sampling efforts and a letter to the U S Army Corps of Engineers expressing our concern about pro posed water releases from Lake Okeechobee.

The deluge from Ian and Nicole dumped massive amounts of water onto Florida, which has resulted in Lake Okeechobee rising to over 16 feet While this is a large increase from its pre storm levels, the lake is not so high that the Corps should r i s k e x a c e r b a t i n g t h e r e d t i d e bloom that we are currently experi

encing Research published this summer by the SCCF and our part ners at the University of Florida d e m o n s t r a t e s t h a t h u m a n m a d e n u t r i e n t s r e l e a s e d i n t o t h e

Caloosahatchee can further fuel red tide Lake Okeechobee is full of legacy nutrients and releasing this water into the Caloosahatchee estuary now is too large of a risk Please take this opportunity to tell the Corps and Jacksonville District Commander Col James B o o t h t h a t t h e C a l o o s a h a t c h e e

Matt DePaolis

Shrimpers, maritime industry find support following hurricane

Weeks have passed since Hurricane Ian made landfall, yet the images of destruc tion are still so vivid barren slabs of concrete or splintered pilings where busi nesses and homes once stood, piles of household items stacked on the curb, crumpled cars tossed on their roofs by powerful storm surge

The images that stand out to me are faces of our Southwest Florida residents who lost their homes, belongings and livelihoods The storm affected everyone, from millionaires living in beachfront mansions to working class people and retirees

Guest Commentary

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

Leaders of local nonprofits have been surveying our community and supporting those who need help. On a recent visit to Fort Myers Beach, I had an opportunity to speak with some shrimpers and commercial fishermen who rode out Ian on their boats They showed me pic tures and videos shot as the eye wall passed, waves crash ing with unimaginable force and 16 feet of storm surge rising so high that nearby roofs were barely visible

When asked what they need, though, the men weren’t focused on personal items

From page 4

estuary and surrounding areas of the Gulf need time to heal following Hurricane Ian and we need to do everything we can to min imize the impacts of this red tide bloom

“We’re hoping to get back in the water so we can go fishing,” Richard Browne said “We desperately need to get back on the water ”

In the meantime, shrimpers and fisher men cannot earn a living They take great pride in catching wild caught fish and “Gulf pink” shrimp, which then makes their way to local restaurants and super markets They worry that further delays c o u l d l e a d r e s t a u r a n t s t o s e r v e m o r e imported and farm raised products damag i n g t h e l o c a l e c o n o m y . T h e y w a n t Southwest Floridians to have fresh, local caught seafood on their dinner plates

Although these shrimpers and fisher men spend much of their time at sea, they a r e s t i l l a p a r t o f o u r c o m m u n i t y

Community Cooperative identified this group as one needing extra support, recent ly partnering with The Joel Foundation to offer long term recovery assistance and set up pop up distribution centers like one near Matanzas Harbor There, shrimpers, fishermen and Fort Myers Beach resi dents could receive hot meals, water and essential items like hygiene and cleaning supplies, canned goods and shelf stable foods, pet food, baby products, tarps and direct assistance to help with bills

Led by Billy and Alexis Joel, the foundation donated $250,000 to Community Cooperative’s Lee County Strong Hurricane Relief Fund The donation is support ing relief and rebuilding efforts in Southwest Florida for those impacted by the storm, for children and school pro

To send an email, visit https://p2a co/wVMwhRp

Thank you for taking action to protect our wildlife, waters and local economy!

Puschel Preserve

From page 2

grams, and the local maritime community.

“When we were looking for an organization to donate to, we really wanted to speak with someone directly who had boots on the ground,” Alexis Joel said “They were really doing everything, from helping people rip out their drywall to doing Meals on Wheels ”

Joel visited Southwest Florida a week after Ian made landfall to survey the damage

“It’s a beautiful area, but it’s also the epicenter of the shrimping industry, a lot of commercial fishing,” Joel said “They’re going to need help for a long period of time ”

The dedication of shrimpers and fishermen effective ly saved their vessels from being severely damaged, effectively saving Southwest Florida’s shrimping and fishing industry, which along with tourism and agricul ture are the region’s economic pillars

I a n d e p o s i t e d m a n y c o m m e r c i a l f i s h i n g v e s s e l s onshore, some just feet from the water Now, these hard working captains, crew and ship owners must wait Joel offers a sense of hope and optimism

“ T h e r e a r e p e o p l e r o o t i n g f o r y o u , ” J o e l s a i d “Hopefully we can bring a little bit of awareness and peo ple can try to donate whatever they can time, food, money and help them get back on their feet ”

To support Community Cooperative’s Lee County S t r o n g E m e r g e n c y R e l i e f F u n d , p l e a s e v i s i t CommunityCooperative com/LeeCountyStrong or call 239 332 7687

Stefanie Ink Edwards is the chief executive officer of Community Cooperative It is a nonprofit that provides innovative food, education and social service programs For more information, visit CommunityCooperative com

Matt DePaolis is the environmental policy director for the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation Founded in 1967, the SCCF's mission is to protect

in the beginning stages of restoration prior to the hurricane, the land was mostly cleared of invasive exotic vegetation and provided the neces sary space for processing debris

Sign of resilient wildlife community

The SCCF reported that biologists have been actively monitoring the Puschel Preserve since Ian to track impacts to local wildlife Shortly after the site had been authorized for

and care for Southwest Florida’s coastal ecosystems For more information, visit www sccf org

debris sorting and work began, they noticed sticks placed in a nearby tree adjacent to the preserve The follow ing morning, staff confirmed that the sticks had in fact been placed there by a pair of bald eagles that recently lost its original nest tree nearby Both eagles have been observed bringing sticks to the new structure Partners at the U S Fish and Wildlife Service, city and Audubon Florida’s Eagle Watch were immedi ately notified of the new eagle activ

i t y A f t e r c o n s u l t i n g w i t h t h e USFWS, it was determined that since the birds are continuing to build the nest and not exhibiting signs of dis turbance, debris sorting work may proceed According to the USFWS, the period of nest construction is one of the most highly sensitive phases of nesting for bald eagles, so the fact that the pair is continuing to build is a good indicator that it is not being disturbed

T h e S C C F r e p o r t e d t h a t i n Florida, bald eagle nest ing behavior begins in the fall, and females typically lay eggs in December or early January The SCCF is monitoring eight addi tional nests on the island.

“Our staff and trained volunteers will continue to monitor all eagle activ i t y o n S a n i b e l a n d C a p t i v a t h r o u g h o u t t h e nesting season, with daily checks to this new nest to ensure ongoing hurricane restoration activities do n o t d i s t u r b t h e b i r d s , ” s h o r e b i r d b i o l o g i s t Audrey Albrecht said.

F o r q u e s t i o n s o r t o share eagle observations, e m a i l e a g l e s @ s c c f o r g and submit sightings to t i n y u r l c o m / S C C F

Stefanie Ink Edwards

s d a y , N o v e m b e

‘Tween Waters reopens to those allowed access

e e

“ W e a r e a b s o l u t e l y d e l i g h t e d t o o p e n o u r d o o r s t o s o m a n y h a r d w o r k i n g i n d i v i d u a l s , i s l a n d f a m i l i e s a n d o t h e r s d i s p l a c e d b y

c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m

SANIBEL CAPTIVA BEACH RESORTS

H u r r i c a n e I a n , ” S a n i b e l C a p t i v a B e a c h R e s o r t s o f f i c i a l s s t a t e d “ O u r g o a l i s t o h e l p m a k e l i f e a l i t t l e b e t t e r a n d e a s i e r f o r r e s i d e n t s l i v i n g o f f i s l a n d w i t h a d e s i r e t o r e t u r n c l o s e r t o t h e i r h o m e , a s w e l l a s t h e m a n y r e p a i r , r e s t o r a t i o n , d e b r i s r e m o v a l , p o w e r , w a t e r , f i r e , l a w e n f o r c e m e n t a n d c i t y w o r k e r s w h o ' v e b e e n s o d e d i c a t e d t o t h e r e t u r n o f

o u r i s l a n d s ”

T h e r o o m s h a v e b e e n i n s p e c t e d a n d a r e c l e a n a n d s a f e , w i t h e l e c t r i c i t y , a i r c o n d i t i o n i n g , w a t e r a n d S t a r l i n k I n t e r n e t a v a i l a b l e C u r r e n t a m e n i t i e s a r e t h e O a s i s f a m i l y p o o l , S e r e n i t y P o o l , f i t n e s s c e n t e r , t e n n i s a n d p i c k l e b a l l O n N o v 2 8 , t h e O l d C a p t i v a H o u s e w i l l o p e n f o r b r e a k f a s t , l u n c h a n d d i n n e r

County library system offering virtual programming

T

or to register, visit leelibrary

Questions can also be directed to 239 479 INFO (4636)

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

The Captiva Memorial Library is currently closed due to Hurricane Ian

The Captiva library is at 11560 Chapin Lane, Captiva

CEPD provides information on TRIM notices

On Nov 14, the Captiva Erosion Prevention District reported that TRIM notices have been sent out to Lee County residents Island proper owners may notice tha the first payment for the 2021 beach renourish ment project has already been placed on their prop erty tax bill

For those who paid or plan on paying the CEPD in full, the office will be filing a form with the Lee County Tax Collector to amend their bill The CEPD reported that for those who plan to be on the amor tization schedule, no action needs to be taken; they will pay their property tax bill as presented

For questions, contact the CEPD at mycepd@mycepd com

County reports on schedules for upcoming holiday

M o s t L e e C o u n t y a d m i n i s t r a t i v e operations will be closed on Nov. 24 25 in observance of the Thanksgiving holi day Other schedules will be adjusted

T h e a d j u s t m e n t s i n c l u d e

∫ D o m e s t i c a n i m a l s e r v i c e s

offering the following free virtual programming: Adult programs ∫ N o v . 3 0 : O n l i n e B o o k D i s c u s s i o n f o r A d u l t s a t 1 0 a m C a l l i n g a l l r e a d e r s ! A l i v e v i r t u a l b o o k d i s c u s s i o n f o r a d u l t s T h e r e i s n o a s s i g n e d t i t l e I n s t e a d , p a r t i c i p a n t s t a k e t u r n s s h a r i n g a b o u t t h e l a t e s t b o o k s t h a t t h e y h a v e r e a d A d v a n c e r e g i s t r a t i o n r e q u i r e d b e f o r e N o v 3 0 a t 1 0 a mL e e C o u n t y D o m e s t i c A n i m a l S e r v i c e s , a t 5 6 0 0 B a n n e r D r i v e , F o r t M y e r s , w i l l b e c l o s e d o n N o v 2 4 2 5 T h e L o s t & F o u n d P e t C e n t e r w i l l r e o p e n a t 8 a m a n d t h e a d o p t i o n c e n t e r w i l l r e o p e n a t 1 0 : 3 0 a m o n N o v 2 6

∫ L e e T r a n

See ‘TWEEN WATERS, page 7 See SCHEDULES, page 7

CEPD reports of red tide on Captiva beaches

The Captiva Erosion Prevention District reported on Nov 14 that upon visual inspection of Captiva's beach es, red tide was present Fish kills could be found along the mean high water line island wide Karenia brevis, the organism responsible for red tide, produces aerosolized neurotoxins which are harmful to

‘Tween Waters

From page 6

I n a d d i t i o n , t h e ' T

n W

t o b o a t e r s a n d w e l c o m i n g o v e r n i g h t d o c k a g e T o r e q u e s t a b o a t s l i p , c a l l 2 3 9 6 7 1 0 4 9 9 o r c o m p l e t e t h e o n l i n e f o r m a t T w e e n W a t e r s c o m / M a r i n a ' T w e e n W a t e r s i s a l s o o f f e r i n g a s p e c i a l r o o m r a t e s t a r t i n g a t $ 9 9 p e r n i g h t n o w t h r o u g h D e c 3 1 t o l i n e m e n , u t i l i t y w o r k e r s a n d e m e r g e n c y f i r s t r e s p o n d e r s C a l l 2 3 9 4 7 6 0 3 1 1 t o b o o k t h e o f f e r

animals and humans alike, according to the CEPD. Avoiding the beach is advised at this time Do not swim Do not attempt to pick up any remains yourself For in depth information about red tide, visit the 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 a t https://www sccf org/water quality/red tide resources

Schedules

∫ Parks & Recreation

Lee County Parks & Recreation centers, pools and administrative offices will be closed on Nov 24 25 Some recreation centers and pools will resume normal hours on Nov 26; for the list of open loca t i o n s , v i s i t w w w l e e p a r k s o r g Administrative offices will resume normal hours on Nov 28

Some boat ramps, parks and pre

From page 6

For an interactive map of the current red tide status a l o n g F l o r i d a ’ s c o a s t s , v i s i t https://myfwc com/research/redtide/statewide/

To report a fish kill to the Florida Fish and Wildlife C o n s e r v a t i o n c o m m i s s i o n , v i s i t h t t p s : / / m y f w c c o m /research/saltwater/health/fish kills hotline/

serves will be open on Nov 24 25 and through the holiday weekend; for the list of open locations, visit www leeparks org All beach parks remain closed at this time ∫ Solid waste

A l l c o u n t y f a c i l i t i e s w i l l b e closed on Nov 24 and no garbage, yard waste or recycling will be col lected; collections will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the

week On Nov 25 26, the Waste to Energy Facility in Buckingham will be open from 6 a m to 6 p m and the Lee Hendry Landfill will be open from 7 a m to 4 p m ; all other S o l i d W a s t e f a c i l i t i e s w i l l b e closed

T o r e c e i v e u p d a t e s f r o m t h e county, sign up at www.leegov com/resources/newsletters

T h e S a n i b e l C a p t i v a

Conservation Foundation reported that thanks to the partnership with Captains For Clean Water, its Marine Lab will fill in a recent data gap in

t h e F l o r i d a F i s h & W i l d l i f e

Conservation Commission's Daily Sample Map for red tide

According to the FWC, sampling has been slower to pick back up in

The SCCF reported that displaced fishing guides with Captains

F o r C l e a n W a t e r w o u l d d o n a t e t h e i r time and ves sels on Nov 1 7 t o t a k e M a r i n e L a b staff out to do a full day of w a t e r s a m p l i n g f r o m North Captiva to the Sanibel L i g h t h o u s e , from zero to 10 miles off s h o r e T h e s a m p l e s would be ana l y z e d b y t h e lab and shared with the FWC to help better understand the i n t e n s i t y o f the current red tide bloom

FWC to hold public meeting

T h e F l o r i d a F i s h a n d W i l d l i f e C o n s e r v a t i o n Commission will meet on Nov 30 and Dec 1 at 7:30 a.m. at the Bluegreen’s Bayside Resort and Spa in Panama City Beach; the meeting is open to the public There are opportunities prior to the meeting to pro vide comments Also, time is allotted for public speakers during the meeting Public speaking is organized using a registration process and time limits

Additionally, at the end of the second day on Dec 1, the commission will provide no more than one hour for public comment on items not on the agenda Those people who wish to offer comments during this peri od will be asked to ensure their comments are not related to any agenda item

A d v a n c e c o m m e n t s c a n b e s u b m i t t e d a t https://myfwc wufoo com/forms/s1g2xh6f009a30i/? utm content=&utm medium=email&utm name=&u tm source=govdelivery&utm term=campaign or by m a i l i n g t h e F W C C o m m i s s i o n e r s , 6 2 0 S o u t h Meridian Street, Tallahassee, FL 32399

The deadline for submitting advance comments is Nov 23 at 5 p m

For the full agenda and links to background reports, go to MyFWC com/Commission and select “ C o m m i s s i o n M e e t i n g s ” F o l l o w a t Twitter com/MyFWC (@MyFWC) and sign up for news updates at MyFWC.com. Live coverage may be a v a i l a b l e v i a t h e F l o r i d a C h a n n e l

Lee County for a variety of reasons related to Hurricane Ian, and then its recent plans were impacted further by Nicole

County board inaugurates new members

Commissioners

Trust Company leases permanent space at Bell Tower

While The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company remains committed to the rebuilding of and return to its namesake islands, the firm has secured a permanent new office to serve its clients in Fort Myers

“We stand with our Sanibel and Captiva clients fol lowing Hurricane Ian, and have every intention of finish ing the buildout of our new office on the island when it is prudent to do so,” founder and Chairman S Albert D Hanser said “In the meantime, we had always planned to extend to Fort Myers, as our client base has expanded greatly off the islands We accelerated those plans to meet their needs, as well as the needs of so many of our clients and employees who have resettled, even tem porarily, in other areas of Lee County ”

The two story office building is 10,520 square feet, with ample room for growth

“The Trust Company has experienced significant growth over the last few years, spurring strategic hires across wealth services, portfolio management, trust oper ations and client services,” Chief Executive Officer Terence M Igo said “This building provides us with a comfortable and beautiful space to serve our clients, add talent as needed and host our events ”

Architect

materials

“The Trust Company has a long standing relationship with Joyce She is responsible for the design work of our Sanibel and Tampa offices, as well,” Sanibel market President Jeffrey Muddell said “The new Fort Myers office will align well with the way our team members work and collaborate, allowing us to continue to work s e a m l e s s l y , a s w e d e m o n s t r a t e d d u r i n g a n d a f t e r Hurricane Ian ”

Anticipated occupancy is in spring

Currently, The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company has set up temporary offices at RE/MAX Realty Group, at 7910 Summerlin Lakes Drive, Fort Myers In person appoint ments are welcome at the location.

For more information, call 239 472 8300 or visit www sancaptrustco com

The permanent new office is at 13525 Bell Tower Drive, Fort Myers

Congress Jewelers to relocate to Bell Tower

The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce reported that Congress Jewelers has signed a lease to relocate its headquarters to the Bell Tower in Fort Myers in the wake of Hurricane Ian

C o o w n e r s S c o t a n d M e l i s s a

Congress shared that the storm dev astated Sanibel and their store at the Periwinkle Place Shops They plan to eventually be a part of the rebuild of the island and of their store.

“Our planned opening is for Dec

2 inside Bell Tower Shops, Suite 165 This date is special to the i s l a n d e r s , a s t h e f i r s t F r i d a y i n December is traditionally the annual L u m i n a r y C e l e b r a t i o n , ” M e l i s s a Congress said “While the storm has been a devastating experience for our team of 17, we are looking forward to reuniting and serving our clients and meeting many new friends with in our community ”

In addition, Congress Jewelers has designed a special collection of pen

dants, including a Florida Strong, Sanibel Strong and Captiva Strong design A portion of proceeds will ben efit F I S H of Sanibel Captiva and Sanibel Captiva Recovery Fund of the Charitable Foundation of the Islands

“These pendants are a promise to our community and to ourselves to return stronger than we left it,” Scot Congress said

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

https://www.congressjewelers.com/c ollections/sanibel strong

Three commissioners were sworn in on Nov 15 as

The newly inaugurated board members are: ∫ District 2 Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass, who was re elected on Nov 8 after serving since 2012

PHOTOS PROVIDED The 2022 23 Lee County Board of County Commissioners From left, Vice Chairman Mike Greenwell (District 5), Chairman Brian Hamman (District 4), Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass (District 2), Commissioner Ray Sandelli (District 3) and Commissioner Kevin Ruane (District 1)

Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman, who represents District 4, is sworn in on Nov. 15. He was also selected by the board to serve as the chairman for the year

Lee County Commissioner Mike Greenwell, who represents District 5, is sworn in on Nov 15 He was also selected by the baord to serve as the vice chairman for the year

THE SANIBEL CAPTIVA TRUST COMPANY

From left, front row, Sanibel market President Jeffrey A. Muddell, founder and Chairman S. Albert D. Hanser and Chief Executive Officer Terence M. Igo with a mix of The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company's local team members, board members and advisory board members.

Joyce Owens, of Architecture Joyce Owens, will complete the interior plans for the building, and Benchmark General Contractors will execute the build out Owens is known for her award winning designs of contemporary and coastal style and use of sustainable

Bank of the Islands to offer services at Sanibel office

Beginning on Nov 28, Bank of the Islands will offer banking services out of a temporary on site operation at its Sanibel office, at 1699 Periwinkle Way The office will remain open Monday through Friday from 9 a m to 4 p m for safe deposit box access

In addition, its Edison National Bank Cleveland Avenue Office in Fort Myers welcomes islanders.

The bank is also continuing Thankful Tuesdays, a way to support the communi ty's recovery

“We need each other now more than ever, so take a break and come by for a visit,” President Robbie Roepstorff said “Every Tuesday morning, we are offering food, services and other surprise gift items We will also continue to offer other refreshments It's our way of saying how thankful we are to be your island bank ”

T h e b a n k s t a r t e d t h e T h a n k f u l Tuesdays on Nov. 8. Previous offerings of support have included refreshments and 4,000 pounds of bagged ice to help those working on their homes and businesses

Another Disaster Recovery Center opens in Lee

FEMA and the state of Florida announced the opening of a new Disaster Recovery Center in Lee County located at the Bonita Spring Recreation Center, at 26738 Pine Ave , Bonita Springs

The hours for the center are Monday through Saturday from 8 a m to 7 p m

No appointment is necessary to get assistance at a DRC

Additional centers in Lee are located at:

∫ Sanibel Community Church, at 1740 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

∫ Lakes Regional Library, at 15290 Bass Road, Fort Myers

∫ Lake Kennedy Center, at 400 Santa Barbara Blvd , Cape Coral

DRCs provide disaster survivors with information from state agencies, FEMA and U S Small Business Administration Survivors can get help applying for fed eral assistance and disaster loans, update applications and learn about other resources available To find a center close to you, go online to: DRC Locator or floridadisas ter org, or text DRC along with your zip code to 43362

It is not necessary to visit a center to apply Survivors can go online to disasterassistance gov, use the FEMA mobile app or call 800 621 3362. The line is open every day from 7 a m to 11 p m Help is available in most lan guages If you use a relay service, such as video relay (VRS), captioned telephone or other service, give FEMA the number for that service To view an accessible video about how to apply, visit https://www youtube com/

watch?v=LU7wzRjByhI.

Interpretation services and translated materials are available at the centers to help you communicate in the language with which you feel most comfortable DRC locations are chosen for their accessibility, with the goal of reaching as many people as possible

In addition, FEMA Disaster Survivor Assistance (DSA) teams are canvassing neighborhoods in areas

impacted by Hurricane Ian to help residents apply for FEMA assistance and answer questions about federal assistance DSA teams wear FEMA attire and have fed eral photo identification badges There is no charge for service

FEMA Individual Assistance can help with temporary lodging expenses, basic home repairs and other essential disaster related needs

Following the ceremony, the commission held its regularly scheduled meeting

Lee County Clerk of Court Kevin Karnes presided over the board's selection of its new leadership for the year ahead Hamman will serve as the chairman, and Greenwell will serve as the vice chairman

District 4 Commissioner Brian Hamman, who was re elected on Nov 8 after serving since 2013

District 5 Commissioner Mike Greenwell, who was elected on Nov 8 after being appointed to serve in July by Gov Ron DeSantis

PHOTO PROVIDED

Lee County Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass, who represents District 2, is sworn in on Nov

Islanders are welcomed by Bank of the Islands lead teller Heather Harrison BANK OF THE ISLANDS

City provides updates on hurricane recovery efforts

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

The city of Sanibel provided the following informa tion at last week's Facebook Live updates:

Hurricane Reentr y Passes

Effective Nov 21, Hurricane Reentry Passes to access Sanibel and Captiva will be issued at a new location the Lee County Talking Book Library, at 1651 Lee St , Fort Myers There is free parking in the Lee Street park ing lot for the library campus

The passes will no longer be issued at the Crowne P l a z a H o t e l o r t h e T i t l e G r o u p o f F o r t M y e r s Office/ReMax Building, at 7910 Summerlin Lakes Drive, Fort Myers.

The passes will be issued at the new location as fol lows:

∫ Today, Nov 23: Open from 8 a m to noon and from 1 to 5 p m

∫ Nov. 24: Closed for Thanksgiving holiday

∫ Nov 25: Closed for Thanksgiving holiday

∫ Nov 26: Open from 8:30 a m to 12:30 p m ∫ Nov. 27: Closed

Effective Nov 28, operational hours will be Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a m to noon and from 1 to 5 p m and Tuesday from 8 a m to noon and from 1 to 4 p m

The city thanked Lee County for providing the space

at the

library

Facebook Live updates

Effective Nov 22, the city’s Hurricane Ian Facebook

Live Updates will be broadcast from a new location the Lee County Talking Book Library, at 1651 Lee St , Fort Myers at 5 p m

The city reported that it will continue to broadcast the commu nity updates via Facebook Live Those interested may follow the city's official page on Facebook @The City of Sanibel, Florida

In addition, the city’s updates will now be held once each week on Tuesdays at 5 p m except on days when the Sanibel City Council meets City staff will provide an update at each council meeting.

In other news

∫ City Manager Dana Souza r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e S a n i b e l R e c r e a t i o n C e n t e r r e c e n t l y received a good air quality report. Staff will start relocating to the center to provide more of a pres ence on the island

∫ L e e C o u n t y P r o p e r t y Appraiser Matt Caldwell demon strated where owners of single family residences can find the mar ket value for their structure, which is necessary to determine if repairs t o t h e s t r u c t u r e a r e b e l o w o r exceed the requirements of the FEMA 50 percent rule.

Visit the “Hurricane Ian Relief” s e c t i o n a t t h e t o p o f t h e L e e County Property Appraiser's web site at https://www leepa org/ for more information Staff can assist property owners with any ques tions

In addition, the Lee County Property Appraiser's website has a FAQ page that is available

∫ City staff provided an update on debris removal and building permits To view the presentation, v i s i t h t t p s : / / f i l e s c o n s t a n t c o n t a c t c o m / 9 7 a f 9 7 e 6 0 0 1 / a 7 c e a 2 b c 4 b 7 5 4 7 9 f 8 6 f 2 d 4 d 7 4 2 4 b3ed4 pdf

CITY OF SANIBEL

Sea turtle season

satellite tracked loggerheads, Pepper, was observed to have nested on nearby beaches in Sarasota and Bonita based on satellite transmission data and visual confirma tion ”

The SCCF reported that before Hurricane Ian, the sea son was already beginning to wind down, as peak nesting tends to occur in June and July The vast majority of nests had already hatched and been inventoried There were 17 remaining nests when the storm hit, only one of which a green sea turtle nest survived Staff were able to confirm the nests' outcomes with Trimble GPS data

Two weeks ago, SCCF biologists inventoried the final nest to evaluate its contents and determine nest produc

Workforce grants

From page 1

tivity The nest was not observed to have hatched, but because it incubated the full duration, it met state require ments for a nest evaluation. The team was only able to find 19 eggs, which is low given that green sea turtles in Florida lay an average clutch size of around 110 115 eggs, Brzoza said

“This nest experienced severe and prolonged inunda tion from the hurricane, and it’s likely that some eggs were washed out to sea,” he said “It’s possible the turtle who laid the nest successfully produced offspring earlier in the year, since nesting females can lay up to six clutch es over the season ”

Nesting multiple times per year helps sea turtles con

From page 1

Secretary Dane Eagle before a crowd at Miceli's Restaurant on Pine Island Road

In the days following Ian, DeSantis was contacted direct ly regarding the Matlacha Bridge, he said DeSantis was able to respond to islanders immediately after they were told there was not a solution to the road leading to the bridge being out, meaning travel to and from Pine Island was by water only

“We decided to take up the mantle on that not our road, not our bridge at the state level,” he said, adding that bureaucracy has to just be put aside to get things done “We got it up and running in three days,” DeSantis said He said the Florida First Lady, as he referred to wife Casey DeSantis, has established the Florida Disaster Fund for charitable contributions even before Ian made land fall a fund that has raised more than $55 million for storm victims

“We’ve already distributed more than $7 million through the fund and these are things for like helping our first responders that got impacted, helping our school teachers, helping residents repair and rebuild their homes, and there’s much more on the way,” DeSantis said

Some work may be done in the coming weeks to make funding available to groups that do not currently qualify under Florida statutes, although he said he was happy to announce another $1 million will be awarded from the Florida Disaster Fund.

“This will be to help emergency management personnel, National Guardsmen and other community members who have been displaced or negatively impacted by the hurri cane,” DeSantis said

The funds can help people with basic living essentials, like housing, food, transportation and also rebuilding and repair efforts

Extensions

From page 1

DeSantis has stated a special session will be called next month for additional proper ty tax relief for property owners impacted by Ian Property owners whose home or business was uninhabitable for 30 days or more due to the storm, could receive a prop erty tax refund of up to an amount equal to three months, Caldwell said He said his office will follow up with

property owners who are seeking the dis counts and extensions for homes reported to be uninhabitable or destroyed Aerial photographs taken by his office will aid in the process, though Caldwell acknowl edged that his office will not be able to tell in all cases from the photographs if there was water or flooding damage inside w i t h o u t p r o p e r t y o w n e r s a l e r t i n g h i s

office

tinually survive in environments with periodic large storms, Brzoza said, adding that he is hopeful sea turtles will be resilient and have another successful season next year despite 2022's setbacks

“Beaches are incredibly dynamic environments, and there’s a good chance the beaches will look different than they do now come the start of the 2023 nesting season in April There’s time for dune vegetation to regrow and areas will continue to accrete or erode over the winter,” Brzoza said “Suitable nesting habitat still remains, and there is the potential for that to further improve over the coming months ”

DeSantis said he has no doubt that the area is primed for a big economic recovery

“People see how beautiful it is. They’ve seen how resilient the community is, ” he said “At the same time, something like this really does impact the economy ”

DeSantis said the need to make sure everything is in place for a boom in the future is a priority, emphasizing making training available to people who will fill key positions in the workforce and economy, such as skilled laborers

He said $7 7 million was awarded to workforce educa tion funds through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act grant program and the Job Growth Grant Fund

State College of Florida received $2 9 million to expand commercial drivers license and logistics programs. Florida Southwestern State received $2 million to expand training for information technology South Florida State College received $618,000 to expand its CDL and welding pro grams Fort Myers Technical College received $973,000 to expand programs in diesel maintenance and machine manu facturing Cape Coral Technical College received $200,000 to expand its nursing program CareerSource Florida received $1 million to expand services

“This will end up representing about 3,200 students that will be equipped with skills, that can go out and help power this economy going forward We understand this is a very multifaceted recovery process. We’re going to look to do everything we can across all the different ranges,” DeSantis said “I know we’re going to be in a special session of the Legislature in December, we’ll announce those dates short ly, but it is going to happen we’re going to do the prop erty tax relief for those people whose homes were destroyed We look forward to being able to do that ”

The state currently has a statute on the books that will go into effect next year to provide tax relief for those whose proper ties were destroyed or rendered uninhabit able by a catastrophic event Branning and Caldwell said the state Legislature could make that retroactive to this year to pro vide tax relief, as DeSantis has requested.

B r a n n i n g s a i d t a x b i l l s w o u l d b e mailed out today, Nov 23, and property owners should expect to receive them after Thanksgiving The bills will also h a v e m a i l e r s e x p l a i n i n g d e t a i l s a n d instructions regarding the payment exten sions and discounts

The Lee County Property Appraiser’s Office can be reached at 239 533 6100.

PAULETTE LEBLANC

Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks in Matlacha on Nov. 16.

SANIBEL CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

PreserVInG ParadIse

SCCF: Water quality deteriorating after Ian and Nicole

The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that conditions around Sanibel deteriorated quickly after the passing of Hurricane Nicole, with red tide blooming in high concentrations that have caused large swaths of fish kills on Sanibel beaches and substantial respiratory irritation to people breath ing in the toxins Red tide first began blooming after Hurricane Ian due to upwelling of nutrients from off shore and the substantial amounts of nutrient rich runoff from flooding and rainfall Nicole hit Florida 43 days later and brought strong onshore winds that pushed the blooming red tide onshore

In addition to red tide, which is cause by micro scopic phytoplankton called Karenia brevis, Nicole also pushed copious amounts of red seaweed on shore, according to the SCCF. Red seaweed is not considered toxic, but it can be a nuisance when pushed onshore, where it degrades and reintroduces nutrients back into the water, which can exacerbate the red tide bloom When dead fish decompose in sea water, they also release nutrients back into the water, and rapid bacterial decomposition can create low oxy gen zones that perpetuate the red tide bloom and cause additional stressors for marine life

The SCCF reported that the natural, although dev astating, phenomena were caused by two sequential storms that caused upwelling followed by onshore

SCCF, Captains For Clean Water advocate against lake discharges

The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation report ed that a new joint letter from it and Captains For Clean Water urges the U S Army Corps of Engineers to refrain f r o m a u t h o r i z i n g a d d i t i o n a l r e l e a s e s f r o m L a k e

Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee Estuary

Sent on Nov 14, the letter comes as satellite imagery and water sampling indicate a red tide bloom along the Southwest Florida coast, including offshore from Sanibel and Captiva, with dead fish being washed up on multiple beaches. The SCCF reported that the harmful blooms were likely fueled by recent Hurricanes Ian and Nicole, which washed in high amounts of nutrients and pollutants through rain and runoff, as well as elevated the lake's water table

“We strongly urge the Corps to maintain (Lake Okeechobee) flows at the lower end of the optimal flow range of 750 cubic feet per second to ensure our coastal waters do not receive excess nutrients that could further feed the ongoing red tide bloom,” the letter states “Red tide is not caused by Lake O releases, but these releases and watershed runoff from Hurricane Ian will certainly fuel the intensity and duration of the present bloom.”

The SCCF reported that given wildlife and human health concerns from brevetoxins produced by red tide blooms, the letter asks the Corps to hold off on additional high volume, nutri ent loaded discharges, despite higher than normal water levels in the lake

“ F i s h i n g g u i d e s a n d b e a c h g o e r s a r e reporting dead baitfish, trout and mullet in Pine Island Sound and the surrounding barri er islands,” the letter states “Many have can celed charters and are also reporting breath ing issues.”

As of Nov 15, data from the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science and Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute showed significant red tide patches from Manatee County down to Lee County, the SCCF reported In addition to sickening or

SANIBEL CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

The Sanibel Lighthouse beach on Nov. 14.

Red seaweed at the Sanibel Lighthouse Beach Park on Nov. 14.

SANIBEL CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

Images from Sanibel's beaches on Nov 14

Army Corps resumes Lake Okeechobee releases to Caloosahatchee

The U S Army Corps of Engineers' Jacksonville District reported that beginning on Nov 19, it would

Caloosahatchee Estuary from the W P Franklin Lock and Dam (S 79) at a 14 day average pulse release of 1,200 cubic feet per second No lake releases are 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 supple ment local basin runoff to meet the target of 1,200 cfs, and the target is consistent with the recent recommenda tion from the South Florida Water Management District “Lake Okeechobee has risen 3 feet in the past seven weeks due to Hurricanes Ian and Nicole,” Jacksonville District Commander Col James Booth said “We had paused our releases for Hurricane Nicole and have not made releases since the storm Based on conditions in the

Lake discharges

lake, we must begin releases to help manage lake levels We have worked together with our partners and stakehold ers to understand how lake releases could affect conditions in the Caloosahatchee River Estuary at this time We are making our decision looking ahead toward next wet season and are developing a seasonal strategy where we aim to manage lake levels by making beneficial releases to the extent possible To curtail the high volume releases that our plan calls for right now, we are going to utilize our make up release tool which allows us to make releases at lower levels and bank the volume not released.”

Make up releases are a water management tool within the Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule 2008 (LORS08), which allow water managers to bank releases not made in order to release them later when the schedule calls for lower releases LORS08 Part D guidance current ly recommends up to 4,000 cfs at S 77 and up to 1,800 cfs at S 80 The volumetric difference between actual releases and the guidance will be put into a water bank As

From page 12

killing fish, birds, turtles and marine mammals, red tide blooms can also cause respiratory irritation in humans, skin and eye irritation by direct contact, and shellfish poi soning if contaminated shellfish are consumed

The SCCF noted that a 2022 paper from it and the University of Florida demonstrated a connection between Southwest Florida’s red tide blooms in 2018 and excess nutrients from lake discharges

“Our communities in Southwest Florida have been devastated by Hurricane Ian,” SCCF Chief Executive Officer James Evans said. “We do not need harmful freshwater discharges from Lake Okeechobee fueling red tide and compounding the impacts that we are already experiencing ”

Scientists from the SCCF Marine Laboratory were set to join Captains for Clean Water last week on a water sampling trip to gather additional data about the scope and intensity of local red tide blooms

“The red tide situation is deteriorating quickly Fishing guides are reporting dead fish inshore, offshore and on the beaches, canceling what few charters they had post Ian,” Captains For Clean Water co founder and Executive Director Capt. Daniel Andrews said. “Our battered com munity cannot afford another major red tide event like we had in 2018 Lake O is a loaded gun we urge the Army Corps not to pull the trigger ”

To read the letter, visit https://www sccf org/down loadable files/6373c55b0dd2f9cf1e92c9c1 pdf

To send an email asking Corps Jacksonville District Commander Col James Booth to hold off on releasing water from Lake Okeechobee until the threat of red tide has passed, visit https://p2a co/wVMwhRp

F o r m o

https://www sccf org/water quality/red tide resources F

https://habforecast gcoos org/

Water quality

winds, and they were worsened by nutri ent rich runoff Although nutrients from Lake Okeechobee water releases have been found to contribute to feeding red tide, lake releases during this period have been minimal, with most water coming from the watershed No releases have been made from the lake since Nicole hit,

From page 12

and flows to S 79 have been in the 14 day average optimal flow envelope (750 2,100 cubic feet per second) for 21 days since the recovery of high flows during Ian

As of Nov 16, Lake Okeechobee lev els were at their highest point this year (16 22 feet), and the U S Army Corps of

conditions in the estuaries recover and the schedule goes into dry season mode, releases will be continued using the available volume of banked water The intent is to release the volume at beneficial levels in the dry season The Corps reported that it is committed to transparency throughout the implementation of make up releases

With the lake over 16 feet as of Nov 18, the Corps has been executing inspections of the south side of the lake from Moore Haven to Belle Glade every two weeks Once the lake reaches 16 5 feet, the frequency of inspec tions on the south side of the lake will increase to week ly and the remainder of the dike will begin receiving inspections every two weeks

HHD was inspected thoroughly before and after Ian and Nicole, and no problems were identified

As of Nov 18, Lake Okeechobee was 16 30 feet That is 0 16 feet higher than the prior week, 0 94 feet higher than 30 days ago, and 0 3 feet higher than it was on the same day last year

The

end of the opti

mal flow envelope and consider other out lets from the lake for releases while the red tide bloom is raging off the coast adja cent to the mouth of the Caloosahatchee The SCCF reported that it should help to minimize the nutrient loading to the area and provide time to see how the bloom unfolds

Engineers was considering making releas es from the lake to protect its ecology and so that levels are low enough when the wet season begins next summer, accord ing to the SCCF

SCCF has requested that the Corps k e e p r e l e a s e s t o t h e C a l o o s a h a t c h e e Estuary within the lower

SANIBEL CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

The beach at the Sanibel Lighthouse on Nov 14

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

Arrest repor ts

∫

Nov 1: Jeffrey Scott Anderson, 60, of 750 Elinor Way, Sanibel, was charged with one count of larceny $10,000 less than $20,000 state of emer gency/riot

∫

Nov 3: Matthew Eric Alcedo, 31, of 36 S E 24th Ave , Cape Coral, was charged with one count each of moving traffic violation reckless driving, flee/elude police with disregard of safety to persons or property and moving traffic violation operate motor cycle without license

∫ Nov 6: Jeffrey Scott Anderson, 60, of 750 Elinor Way, Sanibel, was charged with one count each of nonmoving traffic violation fail to register motor vehicle and grand theft over $750

∫ Nov 13: Brian James Baugher, 52, of 275 Indies Way, Apt 506, Naples, was charged with one count of out of county warrant

∫ Nov 13: Joseph Michael Cabrera, 29, of 2729 Colonial Blvd , Fort Myers, was charged with one count of out of county warrant

∫ Nov 15: Dennis Clarence Seifert, 74, of 2465 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, was charged with one count each of DUI unlawful blood alcohol damage to prop erty or person of another and DUI unlawful blood alcohol refusal to submit DUI testing

∫ Nov 16: Michael David Joffe, 59, of 5908 Pendragon Lane, Fort Myers, was charged with one count each of battery touch or strike and burglary with assault or battery

∫ Nov 17: Jose Fernando Soares Depablos, 20, of 1111 S Main St , Apt 3205, Carrollton, Texas, was charged with one count each of moving traffic violation operate motor vehicle without valid license and nonmov ing traffic violation fail to register motor vehicle

The SPD added that several additional arrest war rant requests are currently in progress as a result of post hurricane investigations

Other enforcement actions

American Legion provides update on post-storm recovery

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

The American Legion Post 123 on Sanibel recently shared an update on the post Hurricane Ian recovery efforts taking place at the facility, which was devastated by the storm's surge and winds

Last week, past Ladies Auxiliary President and Post Manager Brandi Skog reported that crews comprised of Legion members and supporters showed up on multiple days to help with cleaning up and clearing out the facili ty, which was heavily impacted by several feet of flood ing in the hurricane

“We got the tile up and walls and insulation out,” she shared on Nov 17

“Huge steps for drying out and restoring our beloved American Legion,” Skog added

She extended a huge thank you to everyone who assisted with the efforts

“It takes a village and ours is strong. Thank you all a million times over,” Skog shared

The Legion has created the “Relief for American Legion Post 123 Sanibel” on GoFundMe to help with

∫

On Nov. 10 in the vicinity of Casa Ybel Road, officers observed a man loading mixed scrap metal from the roadway onto a trailer The man did not have a hurricane pass, and he was escorted off island with out incident

∫

On Nov 14, a complainant reported that two men on bicycles were going door to door soliciting yard cleanup services Upon arrival, officers made contact with the men, who were actively soliciting in the area of Cotten Court and Bunting Lane Both were educated on the city's ordinance violation and given verbal warnings for the offense

In addition:

∫ One misdemeanor summons request was in process

∫ One new search warrant was in process

∫ 29 illegitimate/counterfeit hurricane passes were seized at checkpoints

In cooperation with the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation, the SPD is

Comcast provides update on restoration timeline

On Nov 15, Comcast reported that as its restoration efforts continue following Hurricane Ian, services are back up for more customers throughout the eastern, northeastern and central parts of Sanibel

Crews are deployed all over the island, continuing to work on the network that was so heavily damaged by Ian that it must be entirely rebuilt to fully restore Xfinity services to residences and businesses

Comcast reported that the entire network rebuild will be completed ahead of schedule and most of the island would have customers restored by Nov 22 weeks ahead of the original date of Dec 16

Comcast can now provide a more detailed restoration timeline for specific locations and areas In the areas list ed as “predominantly restored,” the network is opera tional and services have been restored for approximately 90 percent of customers

Northeast Sanibel: Woodrings Point to Periwinkle W a y ; a n d C a u s e w a y B o u l e v a r d t o G u m b o Limbo/Peaceful Drive

∫ Some customers are already restored

∫ Services would be predominantly restored by Nov 19

Central Sanibel: Lindgren Boulevard to Sanibel Recreation Center and Seagate

∫ Some customers are already restored

∫ Services would be predominantly restored by Nov 20

∫ Full service restoration along the southern coastline will be completed by Dec 5

W e s t S a n i b e l : B l i n d P a s s B e a c h a n d T h e Castaways to Sanibel Recreation Center and Gulf Pines

∫ Services would be predominantly restored by Nov 20

∫ Full service restoration near Castaway Beach will be completed by Dec 4

East Sanibel: Point Ybel and Sanibel City Pier to Causeway Boulevard

∫ Some customers are already restored

∫ Services would be predominantly restored by Nov 22

∫ Full service restoration along East Gulf Drive will be completed by Dec 5

Comcast reported that restoration timelines are based on a number of factors, including the remaining work that crews need to complete in a neighborhood or on a spe cific street, ability of the crews to gain access to the loca tions, and whether debris will prevent the crews from performing the construction and connection work needed to restore connectivity Along the coastline, some work needed to complete the network may be impacted by access issues or additional damage that the crews must work around

Comcast added that as of Nov 15, an Xfinity WiFi van was currently stationed on Sanibel on Periwinkle Way, east of Tarpon Bay Boulevard, and across from Billy’s Bike Shop/Alecks Alley.

F o r u p d a t e s , v i s i t C o m c a s t ' s F l o r i d a b l o g a t florida comcast com

IWA issues precautionary boil water notice

The Island Water Association reported on Nov 16 that a large diameter water main on Periwinkle Way sustained major damage during a bridge repair project near Limpet Drive The damage resulted in a loss of water pressure in service territory extending from Tarpon Bay Road east to Lighthouse Beach

recovery efforts. Its insurance did not include wind or flood, so it is planning to rebuild from scratch

Donations will assist with rebuilding the Post and Timmy’s Nook Tiki Hut and easing the burden of unem ployment for its employees, many of whom lost their jobs and residences simultaneously

As of Nov 18, a total of $1,575 had been raised toward its $50,000 goal

Blotter

From page 14

enforcing the prohibition on unlicensed activity On Nov 14, DBPR officials distributed informational packets at the checkpoint and checked approximately 15 job sites; 22 informational door hangers were placed and two notices of noncompliance were issued As of Nov 15, approximately 45 job sites were checked, resulting in two notices of noncompliance and three referrals to Sanibel Code Enforcement.

Enforcement operations statistics

Week to date for Nov 11 17:

Alarm calls (business and residential): 11

Non emergency calls: 20

Traffic crashes: 3

Traffic stops: 37

Residential area checks: 1371

Business area checks: 117 ∫

Total CAD calls entries: 814

Month to date:

For more information about the GoFundMe or to sup p o r t t h e L e g i o n ' s r e c o v e r y , v i s i t h t t p s : / / w w w g o f u n d m e c o m / f / r e l i e f f o r a m e r i c a n

legion post 123 sanibel

The Post's new commander is John Hird

The American Legion Post 123 is at 4929 Sanibel Captiva Road, Sanibel

∫

Alarm calls (business and residential): 33

Non emergency calls: 41

Traffic crashes: 6

Traffic stops: 108 ∫ Residential area checks: 582 ∫ Business area checks: 273 ∫ Total CAD calls entries: 1,763

Reminders from the SPD

Sanibel Residential Hurricane Passes are not trans ferrable In addition, Sanibel Commercial Reentry Passes are not transferrable; unauthorized use of passes by indi viduals other than the contractor to whom a pass was issued will result in immediate revocation of the com mercial entry pass Contractors from whom passes have been revoked will be ineligible to receive new passes

Residents who have reported missing jewelry are encouraged to submit detailed information and descrip tions to Sanibel police investigators

As a precaution, the IWA is advising that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth or washing dishes be boiled A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient As an alternative, bottled water may be used.

The IWA reported that the precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until the necessary system repairs are completed and a bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink

The IWA added that until further notice, water services in the Caloosa Shores Association continue to remain under a boil water notice due to low pres sure delivery to the area

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 activ ity 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 h t t p s : / / w w w tip411 com/tips/new?alert group id=22450

∫ 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 face book com/SanibelPolice

ISLAND WATER ASSOCIATION

A map of the impacted area that is under a precautionary boil water notice as of Nov. 16.

American Legion

From page 14

AMERICAN LEGION

HABSCOPE

The HABscope forecast on red tide levels on Nov. 16.

HABscope forecast is useful tool for beach-goers

Using current wind predictions from the National Weather Service combined with Karenia brevis cell counts gathered by volunteers along Florida’s west coast, the HABscope forecast provides information on when the red tide could be impacting area beaches so that people who are susceptible to its impacts will know the risks

The Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that impacts happen when K brevis the organism that causes red tides in the Gulf of Mexico is present and winds blow onshore or alongshore, gen erally from the west Offshore winds, typically from the east, usually keep respiratory impacts to a minimum

Human health risks

Most people experience minor respiratory irritation coughing, sneezing, teary eyes and an itchy throat when red tide is present and winds are blowing onshore These symptoms go away when you leave the beach.

People with chronic lung problems, such as asthma, COPD or other lung diseases, can have severe reactions when they breathe in airborne red tide toxins Health officials advise that these people avoid red tide areas altogether and take all medications as prescribed, including having access to rescue inhalers People with chronic lung disease should leave the beach if they begin experiencing respiratory problems, even if red tide is at very low or low concentrations

The HABscope forecast includes:

∫ The day and time for the potential risk of respira tory impacts to beach goers.

∫ Forecasts in three hour increments projected over 24 hours that are updated with the latest wind models every three hours

∫ Wind speed and direction

∫ The day and time of day water samples were col lected

∫ The day and time of day that the forecast model was produced

N/A means that current water samples are unavail able, so no forecast is available at that time

For the current forecast, visit https://habforecast .gcoos.org/.

FWC extends deadline for waivers for unsalvageable vessels

Following Hurricane Ian’s landfall, vessel owners were given a 45 day grace period to bring derelict vessels into compliance or remove them from state waters The period ended on Nov 15 The number of impacted ves sels is significant and many residents are still assessing damages Taking these factors into consideration, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has extended the waiver acceptance deadline through the end of December

Owners are still encouraged to hire a salvage compa ny to recover their vessel to provide the safest method possible for the vessel and environment Owners may release ownership of a displaced vessel through the waiv er process if they do not have the resources to salvage or bring the vessel out of derelict status The FWC will then facilitate the removal and destruction of the vessel, and owners will not be charged for removal costs The p r o c e s s c a n b e i n i t i a t e d b y c o n t a c t i n g t h e F W C ' s

Hurricane Ian Vessel Hotline at 850 488 5600 and requesting to turn over a derelict vessel An FWC repre sentative will contact the owner to explain the waiver process and facilitate the potential turnover of ownership

The FWC and partner agencies are unified to ensure the continuity of the vessel removal operation As of Nov 18, over 4,000 vessels had been assessed and more than 500 of the vessels assessed were derelict That number is expected to change as more vessels are discovered and assessed or vessels are removed by owners or insurance companies

If your vessel is missing or you have located a vessel on state waters displaced by the hurricane, report it to the FWC's Hurricane Ian Vessel Hotline at 850 488 5600

The Division of Emergency Management has assumed the role of coordinating the removal and disposal of ves sels investigated by the FWC in Lee and Charlotte coun ties The DEM has worked with the FWC, Department of Environmental Protection, U S Coast Guard and local governments to identify and remove debris from water ways and upland private and commercial properties The state Debris Cleanup Program assists hurricane survivors with the removal of displaced and abandoned titled prop erty. Residents can request the removal of debris, includ ing vehicles, vessels, motorcycles, trailers and ATVs To make a request, visit IanDebrisCleanup com to report the presence of debris

FLORIDA FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

DDWS reports on refuge programming and events

reported that

∫ There will be holiday deals on S h o p D i n g D a r l i n g c o m f o r B l a c k Friday on Nov 25 and Cyber Monday on Nov 28 The islands are still closed to the general public There will be no local pickup opportunities for orders; all items will be shipped directly ∫ Starting on Dec 1, staff will sell Nature Store items and talk to visitors about the refuge at a pop up store at the Coconut Point Farmer’s Market in Estero The

DOH-Lee issues red tide alert for parts of county

On Nov 16, the Florida Department of Health in Lee County issued a health alert for the presence of red tide blooms near Boca Grande Pass, Captiva Pass, Red Fish Pass, Buck Key near Blind Pass and Little Bokeelia Island

The DOH Lee reported that the alert was issued in response to water samples taken on Nov 14 The public should exercise caution in and around the Pine Island Sound and South Charlotte Harbor

The public is advised to take the following precau tions:

∫ Look for informational signage posted at most beaches

∫ Stay away from the water, and do not swim in waters with dead fish

∫ Those with chronic respiratory problems should be especially cautious and stay away from the locations as red tide can affect your breathing

∫ Do not harvest or eat molluscan shellfish, or dis tressed or dead fish from the locations. If caught live and healthy, finfish are safe to eat as long as they are filleted and the guts are discarded Rinse fillets with tap or bot tled water

∫ Wash your skin and clothing with soap and fresh water if you have had recent contact with red tide

∫ Keep pets and livestock away and out of the water, sea foam and dead sea life If your pet swims in waters with red tide, wash it as soon as possible

∫ Those living in beach areas are advised to close windows and run the air conditioner, making sure that the A/C filter is maintained according to manufacturer's specifications.

∫ If outdoors near an affected location, people may choose to wear masks, especially if onshore winds are blowing

What is red tide?

Red tide is one type of harmful algal bloom caused by high concentrations of the toxic dinoflagellate Karenia brevis (K brevis), a type of microscopic algae found in

the Gulf of Mexico It typically forms naturally offshore, commonly in late summer or early fall, and is carried into coastal waters by winds and currents Once inshore, these organisms can use nearshore nutrient sources to fuel their growth Blooms typically last into winter or spring, but in some cases, can endure for more than one year

Is it har mful?

K brevis produces potent neurotoxins (brevetoxins) that can be harmful to the health of wildlife and people Wind and wave action can break open K brevis cells and release toxins into the air This is why you should moni tor conditions and use caution when visiting affected water bodies. People in coastal areas can experience varying degrees of eye, nose and throat irritation during a red tide bloom Some individuals with chronic respira tory conditions, like asthma or chronic lung disease, might experience more severe symptoms Red tide toxins can also affect the central nervous system of fish and other marine life, which can lead to fish kills and increased wildlife strandings or mortalities Eating con taminated seafood can cause neurotoxic shellfish poison ing in humans Symptoms include nausea and vomiting; tingling of the mouth, lips and tongue; and slurred speech and dizziness

To find current information about Florida's water quality status and public health notifications for harmful a l g a l b l o o m s a n d b e a c h c o n d i t i o n s , v i s i t 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 a n d floridahealth gov/environmental health/aquatic toxins For local shellfish harvesting status, visit the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at h t t p s : / / w w w f d a c s g o v / A g r i c u l t u r e I n d u s t r y /Aquaculture/Shellfish Harvesting Area Classification

Where to repor t issues related to red tide?

T h e F l o r i d a F i s h a n d W i l d l i f e C o n s e r v a t i o n Commission collects and analyzes red tide samples and r e s u l t s a r e u p d a t e d m u l t i p l e t i m e s d a i l y a t MyFWC com/redtidemap/ Status updates are issued

DDWS thanked Local Roots for making space for the setup each Thursday from 9 a m to 1 p m

∫ The DDWS is planning to host its annual “Go Wild for Ding” off island in February or March

∫ The annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament remains on the calendar for May 19 However, the opening for registration has been post poned until further notice The DDWS thanked the 2023 sponsors To become an event sponsor, contact April Boehnen at aprilb@dingdarlingsociety org

Periodic canal closings at East Periwinkle bridge

The city of Sanibel reported that emergency work is continuing at the East Periwinkle bridge near Limpet Drive The work will require intermittent clo sures of boat traffic at the bridge canal

The closures began the week of Nov 14 and should end prior to Thanksgiving, weather permitting They are temporary in nature and should typically be limited to one hour during weekdays No weekend closures are anticipated The closures are necessary to allow repair of the bridge abutments and to replace washed out materials in the bridge canal to protect the bridge from potential scouring

Proceed slowly and cautiously through the area when work operations are underway

For more information, contact the Public Works Department at 239 603 7261

t w i c e w e e k l y d u r i n g b l o o m s a t h t t p s : / / m y f w c com/research/redtide/statewide/ To hear a recording about red tide conditions throughout the state, call the toll free hotline at 866 300 9399

To report fish kills, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute via the FWC Reporter App, call 800 636 0511 or report online at https://myfwc com/research/saltwater/health/fish kills hotline/

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

Contact your veterinarian if you believe your pet has become ill after consuming or having contact with red tide affected water or contaminated marine life

For other health questions or concerns about red tide blooms, call the DOH Lee at 239 690 2100

Free seasonal LeeTran downtown trolley to resume

LeeTran’s seasonal downtown trolleys will resume free service on Nov 27 The Blue and Gold Line trolleys provide free access to and from the historic Fort Myers River District

LeeTran trolleys allow for a fun and convenient way to enjoy shopping, dining a n d e n t e r t a i n m e n t , w i t h o u t h a v i n g t o drive and park downtown The trolley routes are:

∫ The Blue Line runs through down town Fort Myers The route loops from the Oasis Condominiums to West First Street and McGregor Boulevard along F i r s t S t r e e t , t h e n t o R o s a P a r k s Transportation Center, Fowler Street and Second Street The Route 500 also has a modified path this year, due to the new bi directional traffic on Palm Beach Blvd and Second Street This change created

two new eastbound stops on Palm Beach Boulevard

∫ The Gold Line connects North Fort Myers to downtown Fort Myers The r o u t e l e a v e s f r o m t h e R o s a P a r k s Transportation Center traveling over the

Caloosahatchee

Cleveland Avenue, then back across the bridge to First Street and returns to Rosa Parks Transportation Center

The seasonal downtown Fort Myers trolley service will run through April

L e e T r a n a l s o a n n o u n c e d t h a t s o m e r o u t e s h a v e b e e n a d j u s t e d t o i m p r o v e t i m i n g a n d f r e q u e n c y R o u t e s a f f e c t e d i n c l u d e t h e 4 0 , 5 0 , 1 2 0 a n d 1 3 0 T h e s e c h a n g e s w i l l a l s o g o i n t o e f f e c t o n N o v 2 7 L e e T r a n ’ s F o r t M y e r s B e a c h r o u t e w i l l c o n t i n u e t o r u n i t s m o d i f i e d s c h e d u l e a n d r o u t e u n t i l f u r t h e r n o t i c e .

Riders can access schedules for routes at www leegov com/leetran/how to ride /maps schedules

To follow service related updates or l e a r n m o r e a b o u t L e e T r a n , v i s i t www RideLeeTran com

Bridge, makes a left on Hancock Bridge Parkway, left on Moody Road, right on Skyline Drive, and right on Hancock Bridge Parkway The route con tinues to Beau Drive, makes a left on N o r t h K e y D r i v e , r i g h t o n N o r t h

e e k o f

A day in the life of a Sanibel hurricane victim

c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m

When the initial predic tions were made public about the head on colli sion the hurricane would have with Sanibel, I began t o p a y a t t e n t i o n W e Sanibelites have dodged many bullets in the past w h e n p r e d i c t i o n s w e r e m a d e f o r h u r r i c a n e s t o m a k e d i r e c t h i t s o n Sanibel Often, the hurri c a n e s v e e r e d i n o t h e r d i r e c t i o n s a n d s p a r e d Sanibel Not this time

Art Stevens

As the hurricane pro gressed in its full force, it became clear that Sanibel was its target and there wasn’t a blessed thing any of us could do about it. As the sheer magnitude of the destructive path the hurricane took became evident, all I could do was stare at the TV screen in horror and began to make a list of what I needed to do

The first thing I needed to do was to get a sense of the damage to my house I followed all the mailings, news announcements and daily briefings to try to get a sense of what my house’s fate was I began to reach out to the three insurance companies I held flood, wind and overall damage policies with I reached out to the lady who was my property manager during those times of year I wasn’t on Sanibel I even took my brother’s advice and engaged the services of a public adjuster to deal with the insurance companies

M y p r o p e r t y m a n a g e r , w h o s e o w n h o m e o n Captiva was badly damaged, was able to reach out to one of her contractors and have him assess the dam age to my house When I got the first set of photo graphs from him my heart sank The entire lower level of my house was destroyed Some seven feet of water invaded the area and destroyed all that came within its reach

There was about a foot of mud on the floor All the walls were torn and tattered Furniture was swimming around in the mud. It was painful. I realized how much had to be done

And so began a journey with contractors, electri cians, insurance companies, roofers, and builders I could focus on nothing else but the steps that needed to be taken to make my house whole again In the process I learned that pretty much every structure on Sanibel was damaged and that every one of my friends was dealing with the same situation as me There’s still no power, water, phone service or Internet in my house I’m usually on Sanibel the entire winter season and that happy part of my life is totally up in the air at the present time.

How long will it take to allow me to travel back to Sanibel and enjoy the comfort of my home there and the joys of our beloved island? I have no idea at the present time All I know is that I have daily commu nications with the house’s care givers to help bring it back to life

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

Al-Anon, Al-Ateen meetings

Are you concerned with a friend or family mem ber's drinking? Let us help

Call our 24 hour helpline at 941 564 5098 or visit www SouthFloridaAl Anon org Meetings are held every day in Lee County

Al Ateen meetings are also offered for ages 10 18

SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE Bank of the Islands presented the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce with a $15,000 check as part of its SanCapStrong shirt campaign From left, chamber Board Member Mark Blust and President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai, bank President Robbie Roepstorff, chamber Board President Calli Johnson, bank Chief Executive Officer Geoff Roepstorff, and chamber Board Members Ron Clayton and JR Ramirez

Chamber prepares to launch SanCapStrong shirt campaign

The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce reported that the wounded post storm Sanibel Lighthouse potently symbolizes the #SanCapStrong movement, and now it is the centerpiece of a performance shirt created to help navigate the islands' road to recovery following Hurricane Ian's fury

Bank of the Islands contributed to the campaign by covering the cost of printing the shirts and then placing the first order for 15 Instead of the set price per long sleeved shirt, the bank pitched in $1,000 for each of the shirts that it ordered for staff members, for a total of $15,000

“ W e c a n ' t t h a n k t h e R o e p s t o r f f s a n d t h e i r t e a m e n o u g h f o r t h i s t o u c h i n g a n d m e a n i n g f u l s h o w o f c o n f i d e n c e a n d s u p p o r t f o r t h e w o r k t h e c h a m b e r h a s b e e n d o i n g t o h e l p g e t t h e i s l a n d s b a c k o n t h e i r f e e t t h e s e p a s t s e v e n w e e k s a n d i n t o t h e f u t u r e , ” 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 J o h n L a i s a i d “ T h e i r g e n e r o s i t y p r o v e s t h a t i s l a n d b u s i n e s s e s n e e d t o w o r k t o g e t h e r f o r t h e b e t t e r m e n t o f t h e i s l a n d s d u r i n g t h i s d i f f i c u l t t i m e ”

the Sanibel Lighthouse, the chamber is a source of light for our islands And now, with so many chamber members stricken by Ian, the chamber revenues have seen a serious decline,” bank Chief Executive Officer Geoff Roepstorff said “For those who can, it is time to support our chamber by giving what you can as soon as you can Together, we can help the chamber sustain and lead us once again by shining a light on our beautiful islands

“Like

The limited edition shirts will sell for $50 for the long sleeved and $30 for the short sleeved

All the profits will support the recovery efforts of island businesses and organizations

“Thanks to Hillgate Marketing Services for donating its creative talent and coordinating this effort to bolster island businesses,” Lai said. “The iconic lighthouse truly anchors the shirt's graphics, forming the A's for San and Cap, and standing firm and strong as our island commu nity follows suit ”

The shirts will go on sale through the chamber's e commerce site, which will launch this month

On Nov. 11, Iris Print & Designs and SanCap Apparel presented the Sanibel Captiva Rotary Club with a check for $7,573 for the first three weeks of its Hurricane Ian Relief Fundraiser, with a total of over $10,000 raised in the first month A collaborative campaign with the club and Sanibel Captiva Business Women's Association, one hundred percent of the proceeds will be donated to directly assist in relief efforts. The club and SCBWA will distribute the funds to those in need To support the fundraiser, visit https://sanibel app/ Also, Iris Print & Designs is offering local busi nesses and nonprofits 100 percent proceeds back through the end of January

Shell Shocked

”

PHOTO PROVIDED

Maureen McGauran, John Henshaw, Bill Harkey, Iris Print & Designs and SanCap Apparel owners Taylor Osborne-Clarey and Aaron Clarey, and Annie Campbell.

Hurricane relief check presented to Rotar y

Sanibel

City Mattress donated new mattresses, box springs and bed frames for the Sanibel Fire and Rescue District's first responders on

SANIBEL FIRE AND RESCUE DISTRICT

On Nov. 10, the Bruning Foundation presented the Sanibel Fire and Rescue District with a $5,000 donation.

Isl and HOMe islander

City issues updated power restoration guidance

On Nov 12, the city of Sanibel reported that it has updated the required affidavits that an electrical contrac tor or an electrical engineer must submit before LCEC may restore power to a structure

Electrical contractors

A Florida licensed electrical contractor may inspect and submit an affidavit for residential structures with a service less than 600 amps (240 volts) and commercial structures with a service less than 800 amps (240 volts)

∫ If undamaged, the electrical contractor must submit the completed “City of Sanibel Post Hurricane Ian Electrical Safety Inspection Contractors” to the city at IanPowerAffidavit@mysanibel com The city will notify LCEC that power may be restored within 24 hours of receipt

∫ If damaged, the electrical contractor must make the required repairs If the structure is safe for power restora tion, the contractor must submit the completed “City of Sanibel Post Hurricane Ian Electrical Safety Inspection C o n t r a c t o r s ” t o t h e c i t y a t I a n P o w e r

Affidavit@mysanibel com Once the approved for power report is received, the city will notify LCEC that power may be restored to the structure within 24 hours of receipt

Salt-tolerant sea lavender helps reduce dune erosion

The sea lavender (Tournefortia gnaphalodes) is a beautiful South Florida native found along beaches and sand dunes The species is on Florida’s endan gered species list due to development of coastal areas

The unique plant can g r o w s e v e r a l f e e t i n height, though in most cases it would be kept at a couple of feet in height d u e t o i t s m o u n d i n g / s p r a w l i n g growth habit Sea laven der is ideal for stabiliz i n g c o a s t a l d u n e s b y trapping sand in its roots

Sea lavender is characterized by its silver foliage that is covered in small grey hairs, with its overall appearance similar to that of lavender or rosemary The plant flowers throughout the year producing small clusters of white flowers Sea lavender is able to be propagated by cutting or ground layering or by seed

The species is highly tolerant of salty beach soil and salt spray as it is primarily used to reduce erosion on dune beaches Companion plants such as dune sun flower and railroad vine are used in similar applica tions along the coast

Once established, the species is highly drought tol erant and does not need fertilization Root rot is the biggest concern with the species, so making sure to reduce irrigation during the wetter months is key

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

To access the “Post Hurricane Ian Electrical Safety Inspection Contractors” form, visit https://www mysani bel com/content/download/30870/file/Hurricane%20Ian% 20Release%20of%20Power%20Contractor%20Affidavit %20Contractors%2011%2012%202022 pdf

See POWER, page 23

Sanibel customers verify if LCEC has received the affidavit/inspection from the city by visiting https://customer.lcec.net/LCEC public/pages/rest orationapp/restorationapp.xhtml. CITY OF SANIBEL

Garden Center staff urges patience with plants, trees

By SANIBEL CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

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 Native Landscapes & Garden Center staff are hearing from many of you with questions about what to do with your yards post Hurricane Ian They are working on a guide with best practices that we will send out in December

In the meantime, please be patient with your plants and trees and give them time to regrow. While some native species such as sea g r a p e a n d g r e e n b u t t o n w o o d a r e a l r e a d y sprouting green leaves, other species may take months if not longer to revive If a large tree has broken branches, it is best to hire a tree service to remove them. Staff also warned to stay out from under trees with broken branches until they are cleared These branch es, which can be hanging by a thread, are called widowmakers because they can snap and fall on top of you So, there is a safety incentive to trim the dead branches, as well

It has been amazing to see the resilience of many of our native plant species that withstood storm surge, salt water inundation and wind damage, but have managed

to survive We look forward to seeing all of you who have also been resilient through the storm when we reopen

Sanibel Captiva

PHOTO PROVIDED

Sea lavender

SANIBEL CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

Recipe of the Week: Osso Buco with Gremolata Sauce

By CHEF LORETTA PAGANINI

A delicious braised dish from northern Italy Cross cut veal shanks are braised with vegetables for three to four hours in a flavorful white wine, tomatoes and stock liquid, and then are finished with herbs, lemon and orange zest, and garlic. They are traditionally served with risotto or polenta Serves eight (Chef tip: Choose veal shanks that are from the hind legs, at least 1 1/2 inches thick and with a full marrow center

8 veal shanks, 1 1/2 inch thick

1/4 cup all purpose flour

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 onion, minced

1 stalk celery, minced

1 carrot, peeled and minced

2 cups defatted all purpose stock

1/2 cup dry white wine

2 cups diced tomatoes with juice

1 cup tomato sauce

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 teaspoons orange zest

2 teaspoons lemon zest

1/4 cup fresh Italian parsley, chopped

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Property Appraiser adds postIan aerial photos to website

Lee County Property Appraiser Matt Caldwell announced the addition of aerial photography to the Property Appraiser’s website for access by taxpayers, apprais ers, contractors and others

The aerial photography was taken in the days after Hurricane Ian’s landfall on S e p t 2 8 a n d w i l l h e l p t h e P r o p e r t y A p p r a i s e r ’ s O f f i c e i d e n t i f y p r o p e r t i e s impacted by the storm.

Caldwell encourages all taxpayers who were impacted by Ian to visit the website

From page 22

Electrical engineers

A F l o r i d a l i c e n s e d e l e c t r i c a l e n g i n e e r m a y i n s p e c t a n d s u b m i t a n a f f i d a v i t f o r r e s i d e n t i a l a n d c o m m e r c i a l e l e c t r i c a l s e r v i c e s , r e g a r d l e s s o f s e r v i c e s i z e O n l y a F l o r i d a l i c e n s e d e l e c t r i c a l e n g i n e e r m a y i n s p e c t a n d s u b m i t a n a f f i d a v i t a t t e s t i n g t h a t a s t r u c t u r e i s s a f e f o r L C E C t o r e s t o r e p o w e r a t r e s i d e n t i a l s t r u c t u r e s w i t h a s e r v i c e g r e a t e r t h a n 6 0 0 a m p s ( 2 4 0 v o l t s ) a n d c o m m e r c i a l s t r u c t u r e s w i t h a s e r v i c e g r e a t e r t h a n 8 0 0 a m p s ( 2 4 0 v o l t s )

∫ If undamaged, the engineer must submit the completed “City of Sanibel P o s t H u r r i c a n e I a n E l e c t r i c a l S a f e t y Inspection Engineers” to the city at the IanPowerAffidavit@mysanibel com The city will notify LCEC that power may be restored within 24 hours of receipt

∫ If damaged, a Florida licensed elec trical contractor must make the required repairs and then be reinspected by the electrical engineer If the structure is safe for power restoration, the engineer must submit the completed “City of Sanibel P o s t H u r r i c a n e I a n E l e c t r i c a l S a f e t y Inspection Engineers” to the city at I a n P o w e r A f f i d a v i t @ m y s a n i b e l c o m

Once the approved for power report is received, the city will notify LCEC that power may be restored to the structure within 24 hours of receipt

To access the “Post Hurricane Ian E l e c t r i c a l S a f e t y I n s p e c t i o n Engineers” form, visit https://www my sanibel com/content/download/30871/fil

to provide staff with their contact infor mation and describe their damage The Property Appraiser’s Office will use resi dents’ contact information to keep them informed about any changes that could provide tax relief

The Lee County Property Appraiser’s website is at www leepa org

For questions or more information, contact 239 533 6100 or hurricaneup date@leepa org

Marinate veal shanks in white wine in the refrigerator for several hours Remove veal shanks from the wine and reserve the wine Season veal shanks as needed with salt and pepper Dredge in flour Heat oil in heavy large 14 inch pan over high heat Add veal in batches and brown on all sides, about 10 minutes on each side. Transfer veal shanks to a plate and reduce heat to medium

Add onions, celery and carrots to the hot pan and cook until vegetables are soft, about five minutes Add reserved wine, chopped tomatoes, tomato sauce and all pur pose stock and bring liquid to a boil Season with salt and pepper

Return veal shanks to the pan Cover and simmer until veal is tender and falls off the bone, about two to three hours depending on the size of the shanks Turn veal occa sionally and stir

Once the veal is done, remove from the heat and allow to rest In a small bowl, mix together the lemon and orange zest, garlic and parsley Add prepared gremolata sauce to the cooked veal shanks Season to taste with salt and pepper Divide shanks among serving plates, spoon sauce over them, and garnish with chopped parsley

Creamy polenta:

2 cups fine corn meal

4 tablespoons unsalted butter

5 cups water and milk

1 teaspoons sea salt

Heat water and milk in a deep pot Add salt and butter Slowly, in a steady stream, add corn meal while constantly whisking Lower the heat to low being very careful not to let mixture burn Switch to a wooden spoon and continue to stir until polenta mix ture comes away from the sides of the pot Usually it takes 40 minutes to cook

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 Stephen Fuchs and Cantor 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 Larry Marshall

Sunday service available online; in person services have been postponed until further notice. Services from the past season have been videotaped and posted on the chapel's website and Facebook page

∫ Chavurat Shalom of Southwest Florida www chavuratshalomofsouthwestflorida org

e/Hurricane%20Ian%20Release%20of% 20Power%20Engineer%20Affidavit%20 Engineers%2011%2012%202022 pdf

After the city receives the for m

∫ The city will submit the contractor’s or engineer’s affidavit to LCEC within 24 hours of receiving the required form.

∫ LCEC will process the received form and assign a work order to a line crew within 24 hours of receiving the affi davit from the city

∫ LCEC will make every effort to restore power to a structure within 72 hours of receiving the affidavit from the city

T h e r e m a y b e i n s t a n c e s w h e n a n L C E C l i n e c r e w f i n d s t h e s t r u c t u r e i s u n s a f e t o r e s t o r e p o w e r I f L C E C m u s t p e r f o r m r e p a i r s t o i t s i n f r a s t r u c t u r e , t h e r e p a i r s w i l l b e m a d e , a n d t h e s t r u c t u r e ’ s p o w e r r e s t o r e d I f L C E C d e t e r m i n e s r e p a i r s a r e r e q u i r e d b y t h e p r o p e r t y o w n e r , t h e e l e c t r i c a l c o n t r a c t o r o r e l e c t r i c a l e n g i n e e r w h o s u b m i t t e d t h e a f f i d a v i t w i l l b e n o t i f i e d s o r e p a i r s m a y b e c o m p l e t e d O n c e r e p a i r s a r e c o m p l e t e , a n e w a f f i d a v i t m u s t b e s u b m i t t e d t o t h e c i t y

LCEC has provided information to help customers understand what it is responsible for and what the customer is responsible for at https://www lcec net/ a s s e s s i n g d a m a g e t o y o u r h o m e a n d business following hurricane ian

O n l y L C E C p e r s o n n e l m a y r e s t o r e p o w e r t o a s t r u c t u r e E l e c t r i c i a n s a r e

Lecture 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 For Zoom links, email ChavuratShalom@gmail com

∫ Sanibel Christian Science Church 2950 West Gulf Drive, Sanibel, 239 810 1077

Due to the hurricane, it is not currently holding services

∫ 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 Historic Chapel Sunday service at 5 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 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 saintis abel org/, https://www facebook com/stisabelcatholicchurch/ Father Ed Martin

Due to the hurricane, it is not currently holding services

∫ 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

n o t a u t h o r i z e d t o r e s t o r e p o w e r , r e m o v e o r i n s t a l l a n L C E C m e t e r t o a s t r u c t u r e

Sanibel customers can verify if LCEC has received the affidavit from the city by

visiting https://customer lcec net/LCEC p u b l i c / p a g e s / r e s t o r a t i o n a p p / r e s t o r a tionapp.xhtml.

Chef Loretta Paganini

c a p t i v a s a n W e e k o f W e d n e s d a y , N o v e m b e r 2 3 , 2 0 2 2 ■ P a g e 2 4

Salvation Army taking applications for donated furniture

The Salvation Army is taking applications for Hurricane Ian donated furniture distribution

Baer Furniture and Hooker Furnishings partnered with The Salvation Army to provide a donation of over 200 new beds and accessories for those who lost their belongings due to the storm

“This is a tremendous donation, we are extremely hum bled by the generosity of these businesses,” Area Commander Maj Carlyle Gargis said “There are families who are rebuilding their lives, who lost everything in their homes due to water damage and to be able to provide them with new beds and accessories is such a blessing ”

Households that were affected by Ian can call 239 278 1551 from 8:30 a m to 4 p m Monday though Friday to request an appointment. Each household will be assigned a case worker, who will be in contact as soon as possible to go over the application and eligibility requirements Once approved, a time will be set up for the applicant to pick up their allotted furniture At the time of pick up, clients will also be able to choose any extra used furniture that has been donated by Boca Bargoons

SalusCare offering walk-in psychiatric appointments

i b e l . c o

Refuge, DDWS take over chamber's Instagram

C a p t i v a I s l a n d s C h a m b e r o f Commerce turned over the feed on its Instagram page for a J N

SalusCare’s Outpatient Psychiatry team has opened walk in times for children and adults interested in psychiatric serv ices at its Evans Avenue Campus in Fort Myers Individuals coming during walk in times can expect to receive a no cost screening by a qualified staff member If services are need ed, an appointment will be made with a provider

Child, adolescent and adult patients who are new to SalusCare or have not received SalusCare services in the last calendar year can come between 8 a m and 3 p m Mondays through Thursdays New patients unable to come during walk in hours may call 239 275 3222 for an appointment for telehealth

“It has been challenging for our community and even for SalusCare after the hurricane,” Chief Executive Officer Stacey Cook said “We have been repairing damage at our facilities as quickly as possible and look forward to offering services to our community again, as we know the need is great and people are overwhelmed ”

National Wildlife Refuge T a k e o

Darling

San Cap Pink Project to continue the good fight

“ A s s o o n a s w e a r e a b l e t o r e g r o u p , w e w i l l r e s u m e s u p p o r t o f i n d i v i d u a l s s t r u g g l i n g w i t h c a n c e r r e l a t e d i s s u e s , ” P r e s i d e n t A n n N e u b a u e r s a i d “ W e a r e a a g r o u p o f s u r v i v o r s , a n d t h i s h u r r i c a n e w i l l n o t s t o p u s ”

A l l t i c k e t p u r c h a s e s a n d d o n a t i o n s f o r t h e O c t o b e r P i n k P r o j e c t a c t i v i t i e s w i l l a u t o m a t i c a l l y b e t r a n s f e r r e d t o f u t u r e e v e n t s T h e S a n C a p P i n k P r o j e c t r e p o r t e d t h a t t i c k e t h o l d e r s w i l l b e g i v e n t h e c h a n c e t o r e q u e s t r e f u n d s w h e n t h e n e w p l a n s a r e l a i d i n c a s e t h e i r c i r c u m s t a n c e s h a v e c h a n g e d “ W e a p p r e c i a t e y o u r s u p p o r t a n d a l l y o u ' v e d o n e a n d c o n t i n u e t o d o f o r o u r c o m m u n i t y , ” i t a d d e d

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n a b o u t t h e S a n C a p P i n k P r o j e c t , v i s i t w w w P i n k O u t S a n i b e l c o m

T h e A l l i a n c e f o r t h e A r t s i s a c c e p t i n g a r t w o r k f o r i t s W h i t e

Walk ins are seen on a first come, first served basis On days with high demand, walk in capacity may be reached early in the day If this happens, SalusCare will assist in scheduling an appointment

For information, visit saluscareflorida.org or call 239 275 3222

style

exhibition of unwant ed

Jewel” award, along with a free mem bership to the alliance Light refresh ments will be provided Tickets for the reception are $10

picked up on Jan 2 before 5 p m

All of the sales will be “cash and carry,” meaning that purchasers can take their piece home with them when they buy it. All the proceeds generat

ALLIANCE FOR THE ARTS

ed from the sales of the artwork will benefit the alliance

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t https://www artinlee org/event/noton mywalls/.

Refuge’s WoW keeps on keeping on

“Hurricane Ian is not stop ping this free outreach tool, providing field trips to our area schools,” J N “Ding”

Darling National Wildlife Refuge Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland recently reported about the refuge's Wildlife on Wheels mobile classroom

“Refuge staff, 'Ding' vol u n t e e r s a n d t h e F r i e n d s group are teaching about the importance of the USFWS ( U S F i s h a n d W i l d l i f e Service) system, four Florida ecosystems, native wildlife and more,” she added “Tice Elementary has been first with over 400 students By winter break, we will reach four schools and over 1,200 students ”

L a s t w e e k , U r b a n E d u c a t i o n L e a d e r M e l i s s a Maher shared a story about a group of students she taught at the Caloosa Elementary in Cape Coral Two students in the group she was leading did not speak E n g l i s h , b u t u n d e r s t o o d S p a n i s h Unfortunately, Maher does not speak Spanish However, when she explained to the students she spoke French, one of the students excitedly responded in French Maher was then able to teach the lesson, despite a language barrier.

The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society Friends of the Refuge reported that the conservation education work being done by the WoW is the perfect example of meeting communities and people where they are currently at and working together to fill in essential gaps The team wrapped up its visit at Caloosa Elementary last week and looks forward to the school vis

its that are fully booked through March

In addition, team members helped Tice Elementary with its Pocket Refuge project on Nov. 14.

Next up, the WoW will educate classes at Villas Elementary in Fort Myers on Nov 28 to Dec 9, and then on to James Stephens Elementary in the Tice commu nity on Dec 14 to help with its Fall Fest

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

Ar tist applications being accepted

Hosted by the Alliance for the Arts and Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre, Fringe Fort Myers will take place on June 1 4 With 30 performances on four stages, there will be one person shows, to dance and music, magic, stand up comedy and more Artist applications are currently being accepted, with the early bird pricing of $25; prices will increase after Nov 28 All applications must be submitted by Dec 12 at 5 p m A lottery drawing will be held on Dec 19 both in person and online Fringe Fort Myers is spon sored by Bruce and Janet Bunch. For more informa tion or to apply, visit https://www artinlee org/fringe artist application/

Edison, Ford estates to host Wreath Auction

T h e E d i s o n a n d F o r d W i n t e r Estates is partnering with the Fort Myers Woman's Community Club for its annual wreath auction on Dec 2 from 6 9 p m at 2350 McGregor Blvd , Fort Myers

Dozens of handmade, unique holi day wreaths will be auctioned, with the proceeds benefitting restoration and preservation efforts at the estates The event is sponsored by Riverview Wealth Partners of Raymond James,

The auction will take place in the river pavilion, along the Caloosahatchee River Attendees will be able to stroll the decorated grounds during Holiday Nights, and appetizers and a cash bar will be available

“The auction is a way for anyone t o h e l p p r e s e r v e t h e l e g a c y o f

beauty ”

Tickets are $20 per person and include Holiday Nights admission Advance registration is required by Nov 28 Space is limited

For more information or tickets, visit EdisonFord org

Title I Caloosa Elementary students experience the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge's Wildlife on Wheels.

REFUGE/DDWS

“Ding” Darling Wildlife Society Friends of the Refuge Urban Education Leader Melissa Maher and students learning with the J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge's Wildlife on Wheels team at Calossa Elementary

Wealth Management Senior Vice President Francine A Payson and Investments Senior Vice President Tarek Z Salhab

Thomas Edison,” estates President and Chief Executive Officer Mike Flanders said “This year more than ever, we need the community's sup port to help us restore the gardens back to their magnificent

Holiday wreaths will be available for auction at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers.

EDISON AND FORD WIN TER ESTATES

e d n e s d a y , N o v e m b e r 2 3

W

Rotary Happenings

e e k o f

…

Rotarians hear about relief efforts in Ukraine

p s i d e

gotten about the hurricane and life changing effects it has had on our lives, the news has moved on to the next head line and we all have forgotten about the suffering in Ukraine While we may have suffered destruction to our islands, our homes or second homes, and have a long road ahead of us for repairs, many Ukrainians and their families have lost their homes, entire cities and loved ones, just in time for winter.

We, as Rotarians, can use this hurricane as a reminder of the troubles and suffering that others are going through and be mindful that just as people out of state forgot about our troubles, let us not forget about Ukraine's trou bles and suffering that will be longer lasting than ours

In 2000, Oxenhorn was the executive director of the Jazz Foundation of America, which provides assistance

to elderly professional jazz, blues and R&B musicians in need She has generated over $70 million, and the organ ization now conducts 7,000 emergency assists a year and continues to save the homes and lives of thousands of musicians in crisis Oxenhorn is now vice chair of the board Her work at the foundation has also included post Hurricane Katrina relief efforts for displaced musicians, re housing and creating instant employment to hundreds of New Orleans musicians and their children In a recent life shift, Oxenhorn felt compelled to go to Ukraine to offer assistance any way she could

The Sanibel Captiva Rotary Club holds a Zoom m e e t i n g o n F r i d a y s a t 8 a m T h e Z o o m l i n k i s h t t p s : / / u s 0 2 w e b z o o m u s / j / 8 1 5 4 5 2 6 0 7 2 6 ; M e e t i n g ID: 815 4526 0726 and Passcode: 955563 To con nect via phone, call 646 931 3860 For more informa tion, visit sanibelrotary org or www facebook com/san caprotary

Holiday Nights to open at Edison, Ford estates

c a p t i v a s a n i b e l . c o m

T h e E d i s o n a n d F o r d W i n t e r E s t a t e s w i l l k i c k o f f t h e 4 7 t h a n n u a l H o l i d a y N i g h t s c e l e b r a t i o n w i t h a t r e e l i g h t i n g c e r e m o n y o n N o v 2 5 a t 6 p m o n i t s g r o u n d s , a t 2 3 5 0 M c G r e g o r B l v d . , F o r t M y e r s A t t e n d e e s w i l l h a v e a n o p p o r t u n i t y t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e c o u n t d o w n w i t h D a v e E l i a s f r o m N B C 2 w h e n t h e C h r i s t m a s t r e e i s l i t w i t h t h o u s a n d s o f a n i m a t e d l i g h t s c h o r e o g r a p h e d t o h o l i d a y m u s i c T h e A m e r i c a n S i r e n s w i l l p e r f o r m a f t e r t h e t r e e l i g h t i n g T h e e v e n t i s s p o n s o r e d b y F l o r i d a P o w e r & L i g h t , B o b D e a n S u p p l y , S u n b e l t R e n t a l s , a n d T r i C i r c l e P a v e r s T h i s y e a r ' s t h e m e i s “ H o l i d a y s o n t h e R i v e r f r o n t ” a n d w i l l i n c o r p o r a t e w a t e r a n d n a u t i c a l e l e m e n t s H o l i d a y N i g h t s w i l l r u n t h r o u g h J a n 1 , e x c e p t o n C h r i s t m a s E v e a n d C h r i s t m a s n i g h t G u i d e d H o l i d a y T r a d i t i o n T o u r s w i l l b e o f f e r e d a t 6 a n d 7 p m d a i l y , e x c e p t o p e n i n g n i g h t , o r a t t e n d e e s c a n c h o o s e a s e l f g u i d e d t o u r I n s i d e t h e H o m e s t o u r s w i l l b e o f f e r e d o n N o v 3 0 a n d

Wonder Gardens offering photos with Santa

T h e W o n d e r G a r d e n s i n B o n i t a Springs will offer photos with Santa on Nov 26 in the decorated French styled solarium. Twelve time slots are avail able for the day from 11 a m to 2 p m

For $65, each family gets 15 min utes to take as many pictures as they want with Santa

The Wonder Gardens will have a photographer who will email edited images

“It’s our pleasure to again offer area families an opportunity to experience the wonder of the holidays while creat i n g m e m o r i e s , ” R e t a i l a n d C o m m u n i c a t i o n s M a n a g e r S a r a h W i l l i a m s o n s a i d “ F u n d r a i s e r s l i k e t h e s e a l s o h e l p u s t o c o n t i n u e t o improve the 86 year old attraction that receives no government support to care for the plants, reptiles and birds that make Wonder Gardens special ”

The price of the photo session does

not include admission to the park

The Wonder Shoppe, the attraction’s gift shop, is available without admis s i o n c h a r g e a n d i n c l u d e s a n i m a l themed, locally produced and holiday gifts, including products that support wildlife.

To schedule a photo session, contact W i l l i a m s o n a t s a r a h w @ w o n d e r g a r dens org

For more information, visit wonder gardens org or call 239 992 2591

The Wonder Gardens is at 27180 Old 41 Road, Bonita Springs

EDISON AND FORD WINTER ESTATES

The homes and gardens at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers are decorated with thousands of lights

D e c . 7 , 1 4 a n d 2 1 a t 6 : 3 0 p . m .

N e w l i g h t d i s p l a y s h a v e b e e n i n s t a l l e d t h i s y e a r W h e n a t t e n d e e s e n t e r t h e r i v e r s i d e o f t h e p r o p e r t y , t h e y w i l l w a l k t h r o u g h a n e w l i g h t e d t u n n e l I t w i l l s e t t h e s t a g e a n d l e a d t h e m t o t h e n e w f o u n t a i n t r e e w i t h a n i m a t e d l i g h t s T h e t r e e t o b e u s e d i n t h e t r e e l i g h t i n g c e r e m o n y i s a l s o n e w a n d i n c o r p o r a t e s a n i m a t e d l i g h t s c h o r e o g r a p h e d w i t h m u s i c

T h e f a m i l y o r i e n t e d e v e n t i n c l u d e s t h e C h i l d r e n ' s T r e e T r a i l , w h i c h f e a t u r e s d o z e n s o f t r e e s d e c o r a t e d w i t h h a n d m a d e o r n a m e n t s f r o m L e e C o u n t y s c h o o l c h i l d r e n S a n t a a n d M r s C l a u s w i l l v i s i t o n S u n d a y s f r o m 6 t o 8 p m t h r o u g h D e c 1 8 T h e “ W i l d W i z a r d ”

E d i s o n ' s n i c k n a m e w i l l c o n d u c t s c i e n c e e x p e r i m e n t s o n T u e s d a y s a t 6 p m t h r o u g h D e c 2 0

T h e r e w i l l a l s o b e m u s i c S t r o l l i n g c a r o l e r s w i l l s i n g o n D e c 7 a n d 1 6 , t h e F o r t M y e r s S y m p h o n i c M a s t e r s i n g e r s w i l l p e r f o r m o n D e c . 1 4 a n d a t e n o r s a x o p h o n e p l a y e r w i l l p e r f o r m o n D e c 1 6 2 3 A n a n t i q u e c i r c u s c a r ( a C a l l i o p e ) w i t h a b u i l t i n p i p e o r g a n w i l l

b e p l a y e d o n D e c . 5 f r o m 6 t o 8 p . m . C u r a t o r s w i l l b e o n h a n d t o a n s w e r q u e s t i o n s a b o u t t h e c a r , w h i c h i s a m o d i f i e d 1 9 1 4 M o d e l T F o r d

A t t e n d e e s c a n s h o p v e n d o r b o o t h s d u r i n g t h e n e w H o l i d a y M a r k e t o n D e c 1 1 f r o m 4 t o 9 p m T h e M u s e u m S t o r e a n d G a r d e n S h o p p e w i l l b e o p e n d a i l y u n t i l 9 p m f o r H o l i d a y N i g h t s a n d w i l l b e s t o c k e d w i t h u n i q u e g i f t i t e m s f o r t h a t h a r d t o b u y f o r l o v e d o n e R e f r e s h m e n t s w i l l b e a v a i l a b l e f o r p u r c h a s e o n F r i d a y , S a t u r d a y a n d S u n d a y e v e n i n g s a n d D e c 1 9 2 3 a n d D e c 2 6 2 7

H o l i d a y N i g h t s t i c k e t s a r e $ 2 0 f o r a d u l t s , $ 1 0 f o r a g e s 1 3 1 9 a n d $ 2 f o r a g e s 6 1 2 ; m e m b e r s a r e f r e e G u i d e d H o l i d a y T r a d i t i o n T o u r s a r e $ 3 0 f o r a d u l t s , $ 2 5 f o r a g e s 1 3 1 9 , $ 1 8 f o r a g e s 6 1 2 a n d $ 1 0 f o r m e m b e r s I n s i d e t h e H o m e s H o l i d a y T o u r s a r e $ 5 0 L e e C o u n t y r e s i d e n t s w i t h i d e n t i f i c a t i o n w i l l r e c e i v e $ 5 o f f a d m i s s i o n o n S u n d a y n i g h t s .