Cape Coral Wednesday Breeze

Young golfers honored

FWC offers safety tips after gator incident on Sanibel

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recommended precautionary measures for people when near alligators, including in or near water, after a man was recently bitten by one

“Serious injuries caused by alligators are rare in Florida ” Senior Officer Adam Brown said He offered the following suggestions to reduce the chances of conflicts with alligators:

■ Keep a safe distance if you see an alligator If someone is concerned about an alligator, they should call FWC s toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWCGATOR (866-392-4286), and it will dis-

patch a contracted nuisance alligator trapper to resolve the situation

■ Keep pets on a leash and away from the water s edge Pets often resemble alligators' natural prey

■ Swim only in designated swimming areas during daylight hours and without your pet Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn

■ Never feed an alligator It is illegal and dangerous When fed alligators can lose their natural wariness and instead learn to associate people with the availability of food This can lead to dangerous circumstances for yourself and other people

who could encounter the alligator in the future “The FWC places the highest priority on public safety and a d m i n i s t e r s a S t a t e w i d e N u i s a n c e A l l i g a t o r P r o g r a m T h e g o a l i s t o p r o a c t i v e l y a d d r e s s a l l i g a t o r t h r e a t s i n developed areas while conserving alligators in areas where they naturally occur, Brown said SNAP uses contracted nuisance alligator trappers throughout the state to remove alligators believed to pose a threat to people pets or property ”

On Dec 15 at 11:06 a m the Sanibel Police Department received a 911 call about a man who was bitten by an alligator

in a pond that is adjacent to the location of 2477 Periwinkle Way Sanibel

The FWC reported that the victim was a 25-year-old man When officers arrived on scene, it was determined that the man was using the pond to wash his hands when he was bit, police reported The man was able to free himself from the alligator and call 911 Individuals on scene were able to apply a t o u r n i q u e t u n t i l m e d i c a l a s s i s t a n c e arrived Police reported that it was determined that the man had sustained a serious injury to his right forearm from the alligator He was subsequently transported to a hospital

Sanibel City Council proceeds with scheduled causeway opening

Update provided on island's recovery from Hurricane Ian

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers com

During a special meeting on Dec 20 the majority of the Sanibel City Council supported staff's recommendation to end the requirement for city-issued hurricane re-entry passes at the Sanibel Causeway starting Jan 2 The council voted 4-0 to remove the pass requirement for entry onto the islands

Shell Factory Nature Park reopens

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers com

Thursday at the Shell Factory Nature Park, director Karen Schneider walked up to a bobcat in its cage and began petting it as you would a house cat sitting on your couch

The park got the bobcat after someone got the idea of trying to domesticate it and having it as a pet in his house Needless to say, it didn’t work When an animal is willing to bite the hand that feeds it it’s a sign that maybe that’s not going to pan out

The bobcat, along with more than 500 other animals, were on display after the Shell Factory just two days after holding a successful fundraiser surprisingly decided to reopen its Nature Park which had been closed since Sept 28 the day Hurricane Ian hit

Remarkably, none of the animals were killed However, much of the park, aviaries and habitats were destroyed Thanks to some hard work the park was able to reopen albeit quietly and with scant f e w v i s i t o r s , w h i c h m a d e S c h n e i d e r

It was a matter of what we got accomplished to get the minimal requirements safety wise for the guests to be open, Schneider said We met that goal, now we can go to our original plan to start rebuilding the habitat we were already planning on before the hurricane

Among the things they did was remove the debris, and replace the fencing around the perimeter and walkways Some areas in the park are still not accessible Schneider said

Also some of the keepers at the park were displaced by the storm with several not having come back, which has made it difficult to

While Mayor Holly Smith Vice Mayor Richard Johnson and Councilmembers Mike Miller and John Henshaw were physically present and voted in favor of the recommendation, Councilmember Dr Scott expressed concerns and voted no; he was attending via phone, though, so his was not an official vote

P r i o r t o t h e v o t e , S c o t t pointed out that the maj i t y o f p u b l i c l e t t e r r e c e i v e d o n t h e t o p i c o p p o s e d t h e s l a t e d reopening He noted a recent rise in burglaries and that people have no place to go on-island S c o t t a d d e d t h a t would be more comfortable with a 12-month security plan and beach parks opened

In press releases issued after the meeting the city reported that the police checkpoint at the causeway will be deactivated in the early morning on Monday, Jan 2 However, the city's curfew will remain in effect between 9 p m and 6 a m daily and the police checkpoint will be in place during those curfew hours

“The city of Sanibel asks that non-residents respect and understand the fact that Sanibel is still actively working to recover from Hurricane Ian, it reported While the requirement for reentry passes will no longer be necessary on Jan 2 we are discouraging visitors at this time and look forward to welcoming back visitors later in our recovery

The city also noted the following:

■ Beaches and beach parks, including the Sanibel Lighthouse, remain closed Sanibel is not open to beach visitors The mayoral proclamation extending the city's State of Emergency p r o h i b i t s n o n - r e s i d e n t s f r o m b e i n g o n t h e beach

■ The fishing pier and boat ramp are closed

■ The Shared Use Path still has stacked debris waiting for pick up in many places Nails from debris that could cause flat tires may exist on the bike path The city is discouraging people from using it

■ Debris collection from individual lots and the city’s rights of way is still ongoing Trucks

By CHUCK BALLARO news@breezenewspapers

Longtime competitor Margo Crowther made qualifying for the National Finals Rodeo in barrel racing one of the items on her bucket list She not only made that dream come true this month but also made the most of it winning nearly $90,000 for 10 days of work in Las Vegas

Crowther made a more than respectable showing at the NFR, finishing ninth in the average just out of the money coming in strong the final two days finishing fourth and second

Crowther was in contention for the average midway moving up to third place However she knocked down a barrel in Round 6 and another in Round 8, which resulted in five second penal-

According to the National Cowgirl Museum Hall of Fame the award is named after the "daring trick rider who brought a style glamour and spirit to the rodeo arena

Crowther, 37, made the NFR on the strength of a great summer where she won six rodeos, including the tour finale in Puyallup, Wash

The $96 871 she earned this season put her eighth in the world standings resulting in her NFR qualification She added nearly $90 000 to that at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas bringing her total to $184 751

Crowther won $22,851 in the final round with a 13 43 second run, only 08 seconds behind Hailey Kinsel, who won the world championship, winning more than $302,172 despite finishing eighth in the average while Shelley

Three receive academic scholarships from Cape Coral Junior Golf Association

The Atlantic City Blues Brothers Tribute Band coming to Cape

com

Ann Taylor Best

Award winner for attire worn throughout the competition, including a heavily fringed pink shirt with blue fringes She also had a similar short with purple and pink giving her a “Macho Man” Randy Savage look with the huge belt buckle to match

bobcat at the Shell Factory

the Party House at the

demolished after Hurricane Ian

CHUCK BALLARO

Margo Crowther

Olde Fish House owner turns a new page by opening Salty Girls Island Café at Lilly’s Deli on Pine Island

By PAULETTE LeBLANC pleblanc@breezenewspapers com

“In the midst of all the clean-up from a storm there’s still light said Olde Fish House owner Lisa Dence

After sustaining extensive damage during Hurricane Ian, the Olde Fish House in Matlacha needs an enormous amount of work Dence said

“We lost all the docks all the gas lines all the electrical out back we lost all of our plumbing underneath the building so when it s high tide it goes in the kitchen right now We have holes all through the roofs My brand new gallery and seafood market need all new trusses, Dence said approximating the damage at $500 000 to $700 000

Central World Kitchen was kind enough to gift them a food truck Dence said but in light of all that’s been lost a food truck alone will hardly sustain the financial needs of her family With ownership of a food truck comes the need, by law, for a commissary from which to work Leasing Lilly’s Island Deli seemed like the perfect solution to Dence who now plans to make a fresh start by turning it into Salty Girls Island Café with the goal of opening in February

In addition to this new venture, Dence said there will be a new mini market at the St James Civic Center in St James City every Monday from 11:30 a m to 4:30 p m beginning Jan 16 and continuing until the last Monday in March This will be called the Matlacha Market with Washboard Scotty and Friends, housing many island businesses, in an effort to keep island revenue local

The free-will donation to act as a vendor for this market is $20 per Monday and will go to the St James City Civic Association The Olde Fish House food truck will also be at the St James City Civic Center on the first Friday of every month during the open jam session

We re inviting only Pine Island businesses to be there and Washboard Scotty and Friends are gonna play I’ll be there every Monday with my Olde Fish House food truck we’ve got some good things happening for the island and for people that lost their businesses, Dence said, also naming Traders Hitching Post, Matlacha Menagerie and

CW Fudge as other vendors

Owner Lisa Dence

The Salty Girls Island Café will not be a deli, but they will serve breakfast and lunch with a couple of dinners a month in an intimate dinner setting Dence said

She wants to make it clear that the menu will be completely different than the Olde Fish House food truck menu, as there will be things like soups and sandwiches and biscuits and gravy They will however serve the grouper reuben for which the Olde Fish House was well known she added

“This is the beginning of a new chapter but it’s not the end of the Olde Fish House This is allowing some of my staff members to still be with me and it is a healing in moving forward As much as we don t want to put Ian in the past or put the Fish House in the past we’ve got to move forward This is a new chapter for my family and I’m honored to be in the place that was Robin’s I’m just excited to be able to be the next person to go in there and hopefully create new life and new light there, Dence said

For updates regarding the Olde Fish House food truck, follow the Olde Fish House on Facebook Any island business that would like to act as a vendor for the Matlacha Market in St James City call 239-321-3281

The Salty Girls Island Café is located at 10700 Stringfellow Road, #20, Bokeelia

Bailey’s General Store owners plan to rebuild, offer new online store

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/

Florida DOH in Lee County announces holiday hours

Sanibel landmark business, founded in 1899, severely damaged by Ian

Three scholarships awarded by Cape Coral Junior Golf Association

Three

QB Tagovailoa out again with Dolphins’ playoff hopes teetering

MIAMI

GARDENS Fla (AP)

Tua Tagovailoa is in the concussion protocol again, and the Miami Dolphins may not be able to weather his absence this time

Tagovailoa missed two games earlier this season after he was knocked out on a scary hit in Week 4 at Cincinnati Miami lost that game and two that Tagovailoa missed Then he came back and Miami won five straight improving to 8-3 and moving into first place in the AFC East

T h e D o l p h i n s ( 8 - 7 ) h a v e n t w o n since, and it s not clear when they ll see Tagovailoa on the field again

Tagovailoa's head hit the turf when he was tackled in the second quarter of Miami's 26-20 loss to visiting Green Bay on Sunday, but was not taken out of the game or evaluated for a concussion Miami coach Mike McDaniel said he doesn't know for sure if Tagovailoa was concussed on the play

“As far as the game was concerned no one recognized anything with regard to any sort of hit, McDaniel said Teddy Bridgewater will practice as the starter this week in case Tagovailoa isn’t cleared in time for Sunday's division g a m e a t N e w E n g l a n d M c D a n i e l declined to name a starter

It's too soon to really tell, McDaniel said You just know that someone goes into the protocol and you have to be ready to really do whatever with that ”

Last season with a miraculous turnaround and a little good fortune, the Dolphins entered their Week 17 game against Tennessee on a seven-game winning streak holding the last AFC playoff spot despite a disastrous 1-7 start to the season Then the Titans beat them 34-3 dismantling their playoff hopes

T h i s y e a r , t h e D o l p h i n s s t a r t e d impressively but find themselves in a similarly precarious situation Miami was undefeated in November but winl e s s i n D e c e m b e r , i n c l u d i n g i t s Christmas Day collapse against Green Bay The Dolphins again have a precarious hold on the final AFC wild-card spot

“We've been learning hard lessons for the last month of games, McDaniel said, and at some point, if we want to make the next step, we're going to have to put up or shut up ”

The Dolphins are assured of making the playoffs if they win their final two games against the Patriots and Jets, but they have other paths

They can make the postseason with a win at New England and a Jets loss against Seattle in Week 17 If Miami beats New England and the Jets beat the Seahawks, the division rivals will face each other with a playoff spot on the line

If the Dolphins lose to the Patriots but beat the Jets they would need New England to lose its regular-season finale against Buffalo What’s working

Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill continue to make game-changing plays Both had more than 100 yards receiving Sunday Waddle had a career-long 84yard touchdown in the first half and an athletic catch in the fourth quarter where he high-pointed the ball for a 16-yard gain Hill's four receptions gave him 113 on the season breaking Miami's single-season record

What needs help

The Dolphins did not have an answer f o r G r e e n B a y ’ s s e c o n d - h a l f a d j u s tments on defense After going 9-for-12 with 229 yards and a TD in the first half Tagovailoa was held to seven comple-

Friday Boys Basketball

Mariner 57, Sarasota Riverview 29: Mariner (9-6) has won eight of its last nine games, rolling past Riverview in Lemon Bay's Ryan Provencher Shootout Ida Baker 57, DeSoto County 54: The Bulldogs ended the 2022 portion of their schedule on a high note, earning their first win (1-8) by downing DeSoto County (35) in the Ryan Provencher Shootout at

From

tic criteria required The Cape Coral Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth sports organization that has been sponsoring the Junior Golf Program at Coral Oaks Golf Course for 30 years The Association’s goal is to spark an interest in golf for children by offering instruction and providing

PREP REPORT

Lemon Bay

Thursday Boys Basketball

Mariner 61, North Port 53: With a victory in the Ryon Provencher Shootout the Tritons (8-6) have won seven of their last eight games Sarasota Booker 68, Ida Baker 43: Baker dropped its first game in the Ryon Provencher Shootout at Lemon Bay

healthy competition and fellowship

The Junior Golf Association program at Coral Oaks Golf Course is held for six weeks every summer with registration taking place in March

Additional details can be found on the C C J G A w e b s i t e a t w w w c a p e c o r a l j r golf org

7 7 , N o

F o r t Myers 48: The Griffins improved to 9-1 by downing the Red Knights (2-7)

Girls Basketball

Orlando Boone 54, Bishop Verot 33: Carlyn Kelly scored 11 points and Josee Fry 10 for Bishop Verot which fell to 8-6 with a loss in the Rumble on the Ridge tournament in Davenport

Lee Health Foundation raises philanthropic dollars on behalf of Lee Health including Cape Coral Hospital, Gulf Coast Medical Center, HealthPark Medical Center, Lee Memorial Hospital and Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida

The Foundation provides financial support for many service areas including the Lee Health Regional Cancer Center, Lee Health Coconut Point, The Rehabilitation Hospital, Shipley Cardiothoracic Center, Community Health Clinics and Golisano Children’s Hospital Specialty Clinics in both Charlotte and Naples

For additional information about the foundation please visit LeeHealthFoundation org

Carver Aiden Denlinger and M

PHOTOS PROVIDED

left, scholarship recipient Austin Carver, CCJGA volunteer Carole Egan, CCJGA President Ed Crann, CCJGA volunteer Marianne Drahos and scholarship recipient Mackenzie Paolino

CCJGA President Ed Crann, left,

Arts

phone line to collect

t

Five Adopt-A-Club sponsors partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County to host festive holiday parties and surprise local youth with toys and gifts

o r a b l

experience of a festive holiday party that included gifts, hot cocoa, sweets, music and photos with Santa Claus Hertz which sponsored Boys & Girls C

a c k 2 S c h o o l B a s h a n

d donated a

o

Artistic leeway will then be given to local artists to better share these stories with the community This project will culminate in a multi-media artistic expression exhibition September 2023

opens dedicated

While this project already covers all of Lee County, the Alliance for the Arts plans on expanding this project to the entire state of Florida If you are interested in becoming a partner on this project please contact Deckart

The Alliance for the Arts is a nonprofit community arts and cultural center located in the heart of Fort Myers Florida For o v e r 4 0 y e a r s t h e A l l i a n c e h a s b e e n charged with the mission to facilitate and nurture the creation, development, promotion and education of arts and culture in southwest Florida

For additional information please call 239-939-2787 or visit the Alliance website at www ArtInLee org

ing Christmas crafts tasty treats and had their photos taken with Santa in front of a custom Christmas-themed vehicle Hertz employees donated and wrapped toys, games and gifts off the club’s wish list so each child could bring home a present GL Homes a custom Florida homebuilder, hosted a holiday party in addition to serving as presenting sponsor for Boys & Girls Clubs’ annual Holiday Gift Drive Over a five-week period this fall GL Homes along with support from local businesses and Southwest Florida residents, donated more than 1,200 toys, board games, dolls, stuffed animals, electronics sporting goods and gift cards On Dec 9 parents of club members visited the Park Meadows Community Club for

Two GL Homes employees even made special appearances as Santa and Mrs Claus

Members at all our locations received equally festive parties and gifts to take home thanks to FineMark which hosted the Pueblo Bonita Neighborhood Club; Ocean Church, which hosted a joint party

for Lehigh Acres Community Club and Varsity Lakes Middle School Club; and Suncoast Credit Union, which provided a party for members of the Park Meadows Community Club

Established in 1974 Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County serve children and teens through school-based, neighborhood and community club locations The nonprofit’s mission is to enable all young people especially those who need us most to reach their full potential as productive caring and responsible citizens Afterschool and summer programs focus on five core areas: education and career, service and leadership health and wellness the arts and sports and recreation

Crowther: Top barrel racer

From page 1

Morgan won the average one of only two racers to not tip over a barrel It was a good year for the North Fort Myers professional barrel racer who has a long ride to Vegas She made a run at the NFR in 2008, but her mare, Lexus, died of salmonella

Local barrel racer Margo Crowther and her horse Sissy in a recent competition

married started a family and took a break She then came back eight years later winning the 2016 WPRA World Finals riding Sissy, her current horse Crowther would dabble with going on the road for the next few years before winning her next huge event the National Barrel Horse Association w o r l d c h a m p i o n s h i p i n O c

That win gave her a window of o p p o r t u n i t y , a n d t h e p r o f e s s i o n a l

rodeo

Causeway opening: City of Sanibel provides Ian recovery updates

From page 1

debris

collecting

are closed

license, and the name on the license must match the name of the person who the pass is issued to; and guests of Sanibel and Captiva resorts with a printed reservation confirmation where the name on the reservation matches the name on the person s driver s license

■ People driving on Sanibel between the hours of 9 p m and 6 a m should expect to be stopped by police patrols to verify residency or resort guest status All persons leaving the island after 9 p m should expect to be stopped by police at the causeway checkpoint

■ Residents and business owners who

observe any suspicious activity at any time should report the activity to the Sanibel Police Department immediately by calling 911

The city reported that the decision to eliminate the pass requirement was made to assist residents, business owners and the community recover from Ian, as the following benchmarks were met:

■ Eighty percent of the debris placed in the city's rights of way was collected

■ East Periwinkle Way bridge is open to traffic

■ LCEC completed pole replacements on the main roadways

■ Any increase in traffic will not interf e r e w i t h t h e F l o r i d a D e p a r t m e n t o f T r a n s p o r t a t i o n ' s c a u s e w a y c o n s t r u c t i o n project

■ Police security is sufficient on the island as other communities continue to send officers from their jurisdictions to assist the Sanibel police The Lee County Sheriff’s Office also continues to assist by assigning deputies to patrol the island

The city also reported that it stopped distributing hurricane passes on Dec 23

For additional information about the c i t y o f S a n i b e l , p l e a s e v i s i t https://www mysanibel com/

Nature Park: Animal facility at Shell Factory reopens to public

The habitats will have to be tarped for some animals while others will have to be brought indoors again

Hopefully we can accomplish what we need to do by the end of the coming year, but we have two aviaries that need a total rebuild We’ve gotten some nice donations including one of $10 000 to get one of them fixed, Schneider said Anne Sheridan, general manager of the

Shell Factory was also thrilled to have the Nature Park open the animals even more

The animals are so happy to be back in their homes and having people around them They love the keepers but they love the activity of the kids ” Sheridan said “We still have a lot of work to do but we can do it

Fundraising efforts for the Nature Park are ongoing You can donate by going to

www shellfactory com

o n T

A l s o o p e n i n

s d a y

zipline However, not everything survived The Party House, which was located next to the Chamber of Commerce office, was demolished

It is unknown what if anything will replace it

Gator incident: Fish & Wildlife offers safety tips following attack

From page 1

PHOTO PROVIDED

Dolphins:

She

t o b e r 2021

mom," went all in, bringing her three children with her over the summer, starting a little slow before peaking down the stretch with several victories and high finishes culminating with the win at Puyallup

W h e n o u r s t a f f r e t u r n e d t o t h e

" "

Alliance, we all shared our experiences with each other and I have seen that need echoed in our community, said Executive Director Molly Deckart “It is cathartic to s