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REFUGE/DDWS

Mark Heiman joins the board of directors for the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge. DDWS board elects new board and emeritus members and officers

At its recent remote annual meeting, the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge's board of directors welcomed Sanibel resident Mark Heiman for a three-year term and past President Mike Baldwin as a member of the emeritus board. The DDWS also re-elected Board Members Phyllis Gresham, Bill Harkey, Robin Kirk and Bill Valerian. The board later elected the following officers for 2023: Wendy Kindig as president, Harkey as vice president, Heiman as secretary and Valerian as treasurer. Heiman moved to Sanibel three years ago from Ohio with his wife. He retired from a career in textiles and clothing that has taken him around the world. In Ohio, Heiman served on a number of boards representing the Jewish community and education. He began volunteering in the Refuge Nature Store this past year. “I was raised with the philosophy of leaving the world a better place and to do my part in repairing the world, ” Heiman, who studied forest management at Oregon State University and once worked for the Oregon State Department of Forestry, said. “The refuge and sanctuary status of Sanibel is a big part of what attracted us to live here, and I frequently walk and bike the ‘Ding’ Darling properties. Since moving here, I have become an avid photographer of the refuge and all of the flora and fauna of the island. My background in forestry has given me a heightened interest and curiosity of everything here. ” Baldwin has served on the DDWS board for over nine years, heavily involved with land acquisition, the National Wildlife Refuge Federation, and advocacy. He served as president from 2018-20. “We welcome Mark into the fold, confident he will bring his passion for nature and energy for volunteering to help move the board into a new year of challenges and support for the refuge, ” Kindig said. “We are so pleased to keep Mike with us in the capacity of emeritus to take advantage of his gentle but firm wisdom. ”

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce representatives were recently on hand on Captiva to celebrate back-to-back reopenings of Kingfisher Vacation Rentals and Real Estate and the 'Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa with ribbon cuttings.

SANIBEL & CAPTIVA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Chamber celebrates two Captiva ribbon-cuttings

The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce was busy on Dec. 9 celebrating the reopening of two Captiva businesses following post-hurricane recovery efforts. Representatives held an 11 a.m. ribbon-cutting for Kingfisher Vacation Rentals and Real Estate, followed by one for the 'Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa at noon. “What a banner day it was for business on the islands to welcome these two iconic members back to livelihood, ” chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said. “With the Sanibel mayor’s recent announcement that the causeway will open to non-passholders Jan. 2, it was a week to celebrate the islands’ comeback in real time. ” Kingfisher's second location on Captiva opened in the summer of 2021. Its original Sanibel location on Palm Ridge Road has been operating since 2017; the team hopes to reopen it by the end of January. The majority of the Captiva office space is located on the second floor and was spared during the storm. Kingfisher Gallery and Gifts and the office’s garage sustained damage on the building’s first floor, which saw several feet of surge water. About 20 percent of the gift shop’s inventory plus golf carts and rental supplies were lost. The gift shop remains closed for now. “We have a dedicated staff that hit the islands by boat just days after the storm, ” Phaidra McDermott, co-owner with husband Jeff, said. “Our staff was able to clean out the affected areas of our office. We are happy to now serve Captiva owners and workers with free WiFi, printing and cold water at our Captiva office. ” She added that the reopening marks an important moment for recovery and redevelopment.

Bailey's General Store recently reported that Hurricane Ian is not the first, second or third hurricane that the store on Sanibel has weathered, and it has and will rebuild again after this recent storm. Fourth-generation owner-operator Calli Johnson shared that the store cherished by the community was inundated with storm surge and wind-driven rain that damaged a majority of the products and equipment. The surge washed almost all of the products off the shelves. Roof damage contributed to further destruction by the rain. With the current state of the buildings, the family owner-operators have been forced to restart at their flagship business. They asked the public to remember Bailey's how it was the last time they shopped at it, instead of the state of the business and the shopping center after Ian. Johnson reported that the Bailey family and store have been a cornerstone of the community since Frank P. Bailey founded the Sanibel Packing Company — now known as Bailey’s General Store — as a packing and shipping facility for the agricultural products on the islands. Founded in 1899, the store was originally located on Matthews' wharf, where the ferry arrived and departed with islanders, vehicles and shipping products that were sent and received. The location was at the end of what is now Bailey Road. When a hurricane in the 1920s destroyed that store, Bailey's rebuilt next to San Carlos Bay, instead of over it. She shared that the family has learned about resilience after 123 years of continuous operation. When the store outgrew itself, Bailey's moved to its current location as the shopping center at the end of Periwinkle Way, at the corner of Tarpon Bay, at the helm of second-generation owner-operators Francis and Sam Bailey. The business continued to grow into the general store known and loved for years. Bailey's is currently stewarded by its third- and fourth-generation of owner operators, Mead, Richard, herself, Bailie and Dane Johnson. The family is proud to continue the legacy of serving the islands. Johnson reported that the community traditionally seeks hope at Bailey's during times of uncertainty, most recently after Hurricanes Charley and Irma, and the family finds purpose and takes pride in providing that sense of security. Ian dealt a blow that does not allow for a physical gathering space at Bailey's, but visitors and residents can take solace that the family is present and working to serve the community as it always has in the past and will in the future. Currently, they are offering a small sense of normalcy at The Island Store on Captiva, where shoppers can find groceries, lunch and snacks. The family is working to pivot its offerings to best suit the community's post-Ian needs at the store. They recently hosted a gathering at the Captiva store to reconnect with neighbors and thank first responders. She shared that Bailey's is also offering a little slice of paradise with its new online store. The available stock of coveted Bailey's Christmas Ornaments are ready to ship across the country. New items that were salvageable from the Sanibel store after the storm will be added as soon as possible, including hats, shirts, mugs and bags. The stored items survived the storm above the high water line, so shoppers will have their own Ian authentic souvenir. It is one way that visitors who are unable to return to the islands can feel close to their favorite vacation locale and support a small family business. Johnson reported that in the near future, the family will focus on continuing operation of The Island Store and online shop to support business while plans at the Bailey's Shopping Center take shape. Once the insurance evaluation is completed, intensive renovations will take place to rebuild the center. To ensure resiliency for the next generation of visitors and residents, it will entail demolishing the current retail properties and rebuilding an elevated shopping center. It is immensely emotional for the family and community to say goodbye to the buildings, but the heart of Bailey's lies with the family and community that know and love it. They look forward to welcoming families when the doors reopen. To shop the Bailey's online store, visit https://baileysofsanibel.myshopify.com/.

BAILEY'S GENERAL STORE

The 2022 Bailey's Christmas Ornament features a vintage business card from Frank P. Bailey, who founded the Sanibel Packing Company — now known as Bailey’s General Store — in 1899.

Chamber celebrates Royal Shell office reopening

The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce originally scheduled two office openings for Royal Shell on Dec. 13. The celebration for the Captiva location took place, but the second one planned for the Sanibel location was postponed until power is restored, which staff expected to happen soon. “Fortunately, our Captiva and Sanibel offices sustained comparatively minimal damage and could be opened almost immediately, ” Director of Operations Siggi Ahrens said. “It was our base of operations during the first few days of surveying the damage to our owners’ properties. ” Royal Shell, which has been selling and renting real estate on the islands for 26 years, felt its presence was essential to the repairs and recovery support that its rental owners required. The staff assisted islanders with water, coffee and WiFi following the opening of the Sanibel Causeway. Royal Shell also owns Jensen’s Marina and Cottages, which survived the storm and will be built back for reopening. “Recovery starts with each person and each business — first accepting where we are, and second, working toward tomorrow, ” Ahrens said. “Things will be different, and we have to be part of that difference. We have to be a difference maker. ” “We congratulate Royal Shell for its quick recovery and thank the staff for its all-around support in helping the islands return to a state of commercial vitality, ” chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said. “Every day, businesses like Royal Shell give us hope for the future of Sanibel and Captiva.

” Royal Shell is at 15050 Captiva Drive, Captiva, and 1547 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.

SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce representatives marked another post-hurricane reopening with a ribbon cutting on Dec. 13 at Royal Shell's office on Captiva.

Ribbon-cuttings From page 8

“Real estate agents on Sanibel and Captiva have always played and will continue to play a much larger role than just facilitating the transactions of real property, ” McDermott said. “We are community leaders and will stand as pillars of support for our clients, colleagues, friends and families alike. Every day we experience the growing pains that recovering from such destruction will undoubtedly bring, but we also experience incredible progress. ” “Kudos to Kingfisher for its quick recovery time due to teamwork, long hours and determined effort, ” Lai said. On Dec. 17, reopened with full-service, including dining at the Old Captiva House, pools, groomed beach and marina. It hosted its disaster recovery company on property for two months prior to opening to the public. “Almost all of our property base here is concrete, and the storm surge seemed to more roll over the property into the bay and channel, being on a narrow strip of land, ” Sanibel Captiva Beach Resorts Chief Executive Officer Doug Babcock, which operates the resort, said. “Opening as quickly as we did was obviously a massive effort between power, water and other utilities, as well as our amazing Sanibel Captiva Beach Resort team. The disaster recovery company was contracted for two months. ” The Old Captiva House opened on Nov. 28 and serves a limited menu breakfast, lunch and dinner from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. The kitchen served a Thanksgiving Day buffet for first responders and restoration workers as its way of saying thanks. The following day, its traditional Tree Lighting Celebration went on as usual. The resort even was able to replace the palm tree at the entrance that is decorated each year with a life-sized Santa climbing a ladder to its top. “These free events and occasions are the ways we can say thanks and hopefully move forward, united as a community with purpose, ” Babcock said. “They were ways to bring our islands together and help in the healing process. ” “'Tween Waters' progress and momentum have been inspiration to us all on both islands, ” Lai said. “Seeing that Santa on his ladder brought more than smiles to people around the country, it renewed the islands' comeback commitment. ” Kingfisher Vacation Rentals and Real Estate is at 11528 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva. The 'Tween Waters Island Resort & Spa is at 15951 Captiva Drive, Captiva.

SANIBEL PUBLIC LIBRARY

Sanibel library continues to provide some services

The Sanibel Public Library Foundation is offering limited services following the recent storm. Patrons can browse the bookshelves, check out materials and use the public computers. The drive-up book drop located in the parking garage on the west side of the library is also accepting returns. Currently, overdue fines are not being assessed for materials returned late. In addition, it is offering curbside assistance on weekdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. from now through December. To use the service, place items on hold online or make requests by calling the library at 239-472-2483. Patrons will then be notified when their items are ready for pick up. The library’s eShelf and all online services are available 24/7. Library cardholders can stream or download eBooks, movies, music, newspapers, magazines and more. For assistance with the services or a library card, contact notices@sanlib.org. If you have photos taken during Ian or of post-storm damage or recovery in Southwest Florida, consider allowing the library to archive the images. It is also looking for photos of the islands before the causeway, during the land boom of the early 1920s, and of notable locals. Images, videos and stories can be emailed to sanibelpubliclibrary@gmail.com. The Sanibel Public Library is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will be closed on Dec. 26 for Christmas and on Jan. 2 for New Year’s. For more information, call 239-472-2483 or visit www.sanlib.org. The Sanibel Public Library is at 770 Dunlop Road, Sanibel.

Scholastic’s ClassroomCounts From page 3

they went through hurricanes, COVID, and are living through tough times as kids. It’s just stressful all the way around for them. ” Lock said she tries to send each student home with a brand-new book several times during the year, as her goal is to ensure every student adds many books to their home library. “I plan on using my ClassroomCounts donations to purchase nonfiction books and chapter books for my students to read this winter, ” she said. them choose the books they want from our classroom library and take them home where hopefully a parent, or older sibling can sit down and read with them over the holidays. ” Lock’s campaign can be found at https://shop.scholastic.com/viewCampaig n?campaignId=edf73656-fae4-4fc791ff-87fe0bed3cf2. “I love seeing the excitement in student’s reactions when they know they can take a book home to keep. I also love when they fall in love with the book selection, ” she said.

and restoration work. The Rutland House was the first building moved to the current village site in 1984. Built in 1913 in a typical “cracker” — derived from the sound Florida cattlemen made when cracking their whips — style, it is made of hard Florida pine. The house originally stood on Periwinkle Way above ground on pilings made of concrete and beach sand, which protected it from floods and allowed air to circulate. “Uncle” Clarence Rutland and his wife, Ruth, are remembered by islanders, and the house played a significant historical role on the island. Miss Charlotta’s Tea Room is the little building with four lives. It was built by the Bailey family to be a gas station for their patrons, but never used as one. After the severe 1926 hurricane, it served as a temporary store when Bailey's General Store was demolished. When the new store was completed in 1927, the building was turned over to Charlotta Matthews — the Bailey brothers' maiden aunt — who turned it into a tea room across from the ferry landing. Open from 1928-35, it served sandwiches and treats that weremadeattheMatthews,latertheIslandInn.Asmallgolf course was built in the back to occupy the mens while the women were in the tea room. The building later became a private home. To donate to the recovery efforts, visit https://donate.sanibelmuseum.org/.

Imperium helps the district through project development, documentation and proper procurement. “We want to keep pace with you guys while identifying and maximizing funding available, ” Joseph Mascali said. Emergent Risk Solutions Managing Director Kipp Nelson said any large public entity, in the aftermath of a disaster, typically has a layered approach to funding, such as the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), property insurance, other funding sources and FEMA. “The largest portion is FEMA, ” he said, adding that FEMA is the payor of last resort. “Everybody else goes first before them. ” The presentation broke down the FEMA Project Formulation Phases into four, with the district currently sitting at the second phase — damage intake and eligibility analysis. The third is scoping and costing and the final phase is obligation. FEMA remains at the first phase, operational planning. “We really want to shape the claim and presentation to insurance carriers and FEMA. FEMA is always lagging a little bit with most catastrophic disasters, ” Nelson said. Some of the eligible cost examples include salaries, wages and fringe benefits, materials and supplies, and equipment, as well as contract costs incurred for construction, rental equipment, engineering and design services, and project and program management. Nelson shared the FEMA Project Worksheet, which currently has a project minimum of $3,300 and a small project threshold of $1,000,000. “In the past 12 months the small threshold has been raised to a million dollars. The prior value was around $150,000, ” he said, adding that it is primarily associated with cash flow. According to Imperium’s presentation, thesmallprojectsarepaidatthetimeofobligation, as well as a reduced administrative burden. He said the pace of reimbursement is highly unpredictable. All they can do is shape the claim and maximize interface with FEMA. “We can go no faster than the actual pace of construction. The cash flow will be dependent on construction activity, ” he said. The district engaged with Imperium just before the hurricane hit and mobilized on Oct. 2. The group developed a document management and retention system, where the district can track all storm-related expenses that will be submitted to FEMA and insurance. “We were able to secure an advanced commitment of $25 million, ” Joseph Mascali said, adding that it should be in the district’s bank account as of that week. The $25 million advanced commitment came within three weeks of the hurricane from the property insurance companies. There were also 98 joint inspections performed for the schools to reopen within 21 days following Ian. Imperium also assisted in coordinating the opening of all 88 campuses within three weeks. The campuses were divided into high, medium and low in terms of damage. The high and medium categories captured the most information, as that is where the bulk in reimbursement requests will lie. Joseph Mascali said there were 34 reports for heavy and medium campuses, resulting in 45,000 photos of the interior and exterior, 110,000 drone captures and 225 3-D scans for 18 campuses. “We have a lot of information to restore propertytopre-disaster, ”hesaid,addingthat part of the 3-D scans had thermal scans of the roof to identify areas where there is moisture. Within the many policies the district has, $13 million is in the layer of the NFIP and $75 million in property insurance. Joseph Mascali said that leaves FEMA with $166.9 million based on high magnitude. He said 90 percent will be paid by FEMA with a 10 percent cost share of $18.5 million. “It could be paid by the state, as well as other funding sources and opportunities, ” Joseph Mascali said, adding that they will figure out ways to recoup 100 percent of the funds. As of Dec. 9, the dashboard showed the work-issued purchase orders for and received invoices. The largest purchase order was for Hector A. Cafferata in the amount of $13,835,822 due to the portable campus. The largest purchase order amount by category lies within property damage at $22,312,885. “The district is beginning efforts on the permanent work front, ” he said. Joseph Mascali said there had been $44.5 million in purchase orders as of Dec. 9. The invoices paid equaled $5.6 million and the invoices received $9.4 million. As of that date, the district had an insurance commitment of $25 million and had received $816,000 from NFIP. He said the funding they are anticipating to receive is $43.3 million. “We also started looking at other funding sources, ” Joseph Mascali said, citing the Community Disaster Loan of upwards of $5 million, which more often than not can be forgiven. “Those conversations are ongoing. We are looking to increase that other funding source bucket as quickly as possible. ”

Assessments From page 1

Miss Charlotta's Tea Room will require selective demolition and restoration work post-storm.

SANIBEL HISTORICAL MUSEUM AND VILLAGE

Updates From page 1 the public not to cover fire hydrants, water meters and such with debris. ∫ Comcast Senior Manager of External Affairs Jen Boyett reported that Sanibel is serviceable. “The entire island is serviceable, ” she said.

Long-term causeway plans

At the recent meeting of the Sanibel City Council, Florida Department of Transportation resident construction engineer Kati Sherrard gave a presentation on designs for the Sanibel Causeway. She shared that the pre-Hurricane Ian design included existing bulkhead or seawall elevations of 3-5 feet and a causeway elevation of approximately 7 feet. The FDOT knows from the recent storm: ∫ Surge was approximately 12 feet ∫ Wave action was approximately 8 feet ∫ Hurricane exceeded the design storm event Sherrard also presented resiliency design considerations for the following:

Causeway

∫ Buried sheet pile walls at shoulders ∫ Protect sides with “mattresses” — buried baskets filled with rock ∫ Protect ocean side with rip rap ∫ Raise roadway approximately 2 feet

Bridge approaches

∫ Install larger and heavier protection at exposed areas between seawall and bridge abutments ∫ Buried toe protection for upland walls ∫ Replace MSE — retaining — wall with deep foundation wall

Seawalls

∫ Raise seawall elevation to 8 feet ∫ Provide deep steel sheet pile walls ∫ Reinforce toe of seawall ∫ Heavy rip rap protection along seawalls ∫ Oversized rip rap protection along channel walls

Infrastructure

∫ Grey versus green infrastructure ∫ Install native/resilient planting for natural hardening, like mangroves She explained that the FDOT's alternatives analysis included: ∫ No build ∫ Reconstruct per original design: Previous design no longer meeting 100 year storm event ∫ Construct bridge over remains of vulnerable causeway sections: Not cost effective,wouldgreatlyexceedscheduleexpectations, and excessive design ∫ Improve armoring along causeway and bridge approaches: May be insufficient as long-term solution ∫ Reconstruction with steel sheet pile walls placed outside of existing walls: Provides greater coastal protection from future storms and sea level rise, eliminates conflicts with failed structures and existing tie backs, and requires building outside of existing footprint As for next steps, Sherrard reported that the FDOT will complete the alternatives analysis, meet with local agencies and then finalize the design. The goal to complete the permanent repairs is October.