040225 Sanibel Island Reporter/Islander

Shell museum to present final lecture in series

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium on Sanibel will conclude with its seasonal Lecture Series at the museum, at 3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel. The last lecture will be:

∫ April 3 at 5:30 p.m.: “The Rise, Fall, and Renewal of New York Harbor’s Oysters” with New York Times best-selling author Mark Kurlansky

Kurlansky will explore the history of the New York Harbor and the ecological story of its renowned oysters, which were at first native and abundant, became global delicacies and were eventually destroyed by water pollution in the 19th and 20th centuries. For 50 years there have been efforts, now beginning to achieve success, to restore the harbor and its oysters. His talk will reveal the story of marine biology, urban growth and conservation.

Kurlansky has written 39 books, several exploring the intersection of nature and history, including the celebrated best-seller “The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell.” His other prominent titles include “Cod: A Biography of the Fish That Changed the World” and “Salt: A World History.” Kurlansky has also worked as a journalist for

BAILEY-MATTHEWS NATIONAL SHELL MUSEUM & AQUARIUM

“The Big Oyster: History on the Half Shell” by Mark Kurlansky

School district awaits direction on DOE elimination

By MEGHAN BRADBURY

news@breezenewspapers.com

Local officials are await ing more information as they ready to come into compli ance with President Donald Trump’s March 20 executive order to eliminate the Department of Education (DOE) and return authority to the states.

The order does not immedi ately close the department but sets that action, which would require con

gressional approval, in motion.

“The School District of Lee County is currently reviewing the executive orders issued by the president and awaiting further guidelines from the respective federal agencies to ensure our continued compliance. Our school board policies adhere to federal and state laws and regulations. As federal agen-

cies release specific guidelines related to these executive orders, we will assess and adjust our policies accordingly,” the School District of Lee County said in a prepared statement.

The order is part of the president’s plan to downsize the federal government while making its agencies, processes and programs more efficient.

The executive order states that “the Secretary of Education shall, to the maximum extent appropriate and permitted by law, take all the necessary steps to facili-

Agencies share prescribed burn plan, offer tips

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers.com

The Sanibel Island Prescribed Fire Task Force recently outlined its plan for this year’s prescribed burn operations on the island, which will consist of two areas in total if the conditions are right.

At a Community Meeting on March 27 at the Sanibel Recreation Center on Sanibel, representatives from the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF), city of Sanibel, Sanibel Fire and Rescue District and Lee County Mosquito Control District gave a presentation on why prescribed burns are conducted and the summer-fall plan. The Florida Forest Service is also a task force partner but was not present.

This year’s targeted properties are the Legion Curve Unit and Botanical Site Unit.

“Ding” Darling Complex Project Leader Kevin Godsea kicked off the pre-

Mark Kurlansky

Previous Question

Did you cast a ballot in the city of Sanibel’s election on March 4?

∫ Yes, by mail, 75% (3)

∫ Yes, day of, 25% (1)

∫ No, I did not, 0% (0)

Current Question Do you approve of the Trump administration’s cost saving/ downsizing moves?

∫ Yes.

∫ Yes and no.

∫ No.

SCCF provides legislative update for Week 4

The fourth week of Florida’s legislative session included the presentation of House budget proposals and the advancement of positive bills on protecting aquatic resources from the impacts of oil and gas exploration.

House budget proposals

Chair of the House Agriculture and Natural Resource Budget Sub-Committee, Rep. Tiffany Esposito, presented her recommendations for the Agriculture and Natural Resources budget for fiscal year 2025-26. To align with the House Speaker’s priorities for efficiency and a fiscally responsible budget, the base budget was reduced by 8.6%, in part, by eliminating 324 vacant positions in the agriculture and environmental agencies.

HB 1143

Permits for Drilling, Exploration and Extraction of Oil and Gas Resources — HB 1143 by Rep. Jason Shoaf — passed unanimously on March 25 in the House Natural Resources and Disasters SubCommittee.

week in the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee, where it will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment and General Government next.

CS/SB 1580

The budget proposes $822 million for Water Resource Projects, some of which include:

∫ $357 for Everglades Restoration (smaller allocation than last year, but accounts for unspent funds from previous years)

∫ $50 million for Total Maximum Daily Load projects

∫ $220 million for the Resilient Florida Program to address flooding and sea level rise

∫ $284 for land acquisition and land management across agencies

The Senate will pass its own budget proposals soon, and then the House and Senate will form budget conference committees to reconcile the differences before voting on a final budget by May 2 — the scheduled end of the 2025 legislative session.

Uncharacteristic of most resource extraction bills tracked by the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF), the bill provides for added natural resource protections to be considered by the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) when reviewing permits for oil and gas exploration wells within 10 miles of the state’s three Natural Estuarine Research Reserves — located in Apalachicola Bay, Rookery Bay in Naples, and the Guana Tolomato Matanzas in St. Augustine.

While the SCCF would prefer that no drilling off the Florida coast be approved, we support this bill for the added natural resource balancing test to be applied before any permit for exploratory drilling is approved.

The bill has one last committee, House State Affairs, before it will be voted on by the full House. The sponsor, Shoaf, is in the natural gas profession but is a strong proponent for the protection of our natural resources. Other comments from traditionally business-backed interests were that there needs to be a balance between energy security and food security, related to abundance of seafood produced in Florida’s waters.

The comparable Senate version of the bill — SB 1300 — also passed unanimously last

Letters to the Editor

Infrastructure and Resiliency Planning — CS/SB 1580 by Sen. Ana Maria Rodriquez — passed by a vote of 8-0 in the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee last week. The bill grants the DEP the exclusive authority to execute coastal resiliency projects through public-private partnerships and authorizes the department to take certain action to encourage investment from the private sector in coastal resiliency projects.

To encourage private sector investment in coastal resiliency projects, the bill allows for the DEP to enter into long-term revenue sharing agreements and provides for expedited permitting for construction. The bill now moves to its second stop, Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment and General Government.

The comparable House Bill — HB 1345 — had not yet been scheduled in its first of four assigned committees.

The SCCF supports the bill but is watching carefully for amendments that may change its positive intent.

Visit the 2025 SCCF Legislative Tracker at https://sccf.org/what-we-do/2025-legislative-session/.

Holly Schwartz is policy associate for the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF). Founded in 1967, the SCCF’s mission is to protect and care for Southwest Florida’s coastal ecosystems. For more information, visit www.sccf.org.

The illusion of victory To the editor:

Over a five-week period, Lee County held no less than seven public hearing sessions on South Seas’s redevelopment application, with more yet to come. It’s taking that long because so many individuals stepped up to deliver over 30 hours of compelling public testimony, detailing the myriad reasons the application should be denied.

Don’t expect that to happen. During the proceedings, the hearing examiner tipped her hand more than once, telling speakers she’s most interested in conditions that might be imposed on the application. It would be surprising if an at-will examiner were to recommend denial, contradicting both the county’s planners — who recommend approval — and the commissioners, whose 2023 ordinance specifically enabled the application’s

proposed drastic increases in resort density and building heights.

The fly in the ointment is the circuit court’s recent order limiting the resort to its historic density of 912 total units, based on a longstanding settlement agreement between the Captiva Civic Association (CCA) and the county. Unless the order is overturned on appeal, South Seas will need to carve 356 units out of its proposed redevelopment. The resort will also need to rethink some of the redevelopment that has already begun, such as the new water park going in next to a site slated for a second hotel that might not get built.

Good news, right? Not even close. Assuming the 912-unit-limit survives judicial appeal, the resort will still be allowed to build 272 new units, which is 165 more guest units than pre-existed Hurricane Ian. What they would build (given “only” 272 units, not 628, as they hope) remains to be

seen. But we’ll chart out the most profitable path they could follow, and assume we’re not far off.

Before Ian, the resort had 107 hotel rooms. Now, the resort will have those hotel rooms, plus in all likelihood 165 new three-bedroom condos (the most profitable property type and size). That’s 495 new bedrooms (165 multiplied by three); along with the 107 hotel rooms, the resort will have a total of 602 bedrooms. Under this scenario, it will enjoy a 563% increase in guestroom accommodations over pre-Ian capacity.

It’s very important for everyone who opposes the hyperdevelopment of South Seas to recognize that an increase of 165 new condos, with 495 total new bedrooms (the “best” outcome given the circumstances), would be a huge, crushing defeat for Captiva. For comparison, ‘Tween Waters Island Resort See LETTERS, page 25

Holly Schwartz Guest Commentary

CEPD sets apportionment hearing for project

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers.com

A hearing is scheduled for the tentative apportionment for the beach renourishment on Captiva.

The Captiva Erosion Prevention District (CEPD) will hold a public hearing on the tentative apportionment at the board’s meeting on April 7 at 3 p.m. at the Captiva Civic Center on Captiva.

“(The) CEPD is organizing and pre-

paring this tentative apportionment for a beach renourishment project scheduled to begin in the summer,” it reported in a Beach Brief released on March 27.

The project will consist of placing about 800,000 cubic yards of fill along 4.85 miles of shoreline and the rehabilitation of the existing dunes along the island’s Gulf shoreline between Redfish Pass and Blind Pass. Designed to last beyond eight to 10 years, it will provide

CCA to host opening and reception for final exhibit

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers.com

The Captiva Civic Association (CCA) will kick off its last art exhibition of the season this week.

“Captivating Colors,” by Sanibel artist Susan Sadler, will be on display from April 3-30 at the Captiva Civic Center on Captiva. It features approximately 30 acrylics, with a range of abstracts, landscapes, florals and whimsical designs.

“The CCA hosts a variety of art exhibits throughout each season to highlight the local artists on Sanibel and Captiva islands and to bring their artwork to our beautiful hall space,” acting Director Kathryn Sisson said, adding that the CCA provides the space to support them and to support the art community.

An Art Opening and Reception for the exhibition will take place on April 3 from 5 to 7 p.m. The event will feature a meet-and-greet with Sadler, along with live entertainment, light fare and refreshments.

“The live music will be Danny Morgan,” she said, noting that his art exhibit was the first show this year for the CCA and that he wanted to perform at Sadler’s opening reception to round out the season.

Catering by Leslie Adams will serve up the hors d’oeuvres.

the necessary renourishment to counteract critical erosion of beaches, properties and shorelines from the impacts of Hurricane Ian.

The CEPD continued that the cost of the project will be paid, in part, through special assessments imposed against properties benefited by the project. The tentative assessment is based on an estimated project cost of $26.67 million. The tentative assessment assumes an estimated

“There will be a bar, and all donations go back to the CCA programs,” Sisson said.

Sadler provided the following artist statement:

“My love of art and design began in my native Michigan and grew as I became a wife and mother living in many mid-western communities. I came to Sanibel first as an artist of hand-painted clothing, showing and selling my goods at an art fair. It was love from the moment I crossed that bridge and knew I had to live here. As I transitioned to canvas, I found myself with a much larger space to work with, offering endless possibilities. The larger surface allowed me to experiment more freely, enabling me to explore new techniques and ideas that I couldn’t fully realize on smaller clothing pieces. While maintaining my commitment to my whimsical spirit and bright colors, I continue to create happiness on canvas. Being a 19year member of the Tower Gallery, an artists’ cooperative, allows me to share my passion with fellow artists and connect with visitors and locals drawn to our islands.”

Bank of the Islands is the 2024-25 Art Show Series sponsor.

“We are so grateful to the Bank of the Islands for continuing to support not only the CCA, but also local art,” Sisson said.

Florida Department of Environmental Protection cost share of 21.07% and an estimated Lee County cost share of 29.45%.

“The CEPD board will hear comments from interested persons regarding the project plans and specifications, cost estimates and/or the tentative cost apportionment and assessment,” it reported.

County

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

Adult programs

∫ Today, April 2: Online Author Event with Jodi Picoult from 7 to 8 p.m. Step into spring and chat with the highly acclaimed New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult about her new novel, “By Any Other Name.” The event is part of the Online Author Events Series. Registration is required.

∫ April 8: Online Author Event with Matthew Fleming from 2 to 3 p.m. Smithsonian horticulturalist Matthew Fleming will guides attendees through the secret world of trees as is revealed in the beautiful and absorbing guide to the giants of the plant world, “The Tree Book: The Stories, Science, and History of Trees.” Combining natural history and a scientific overview with a wider look at the history, uses, symbolism and mythology of trees, it is a new kind of guide to these fascinating organisms. The event is part of the Online Author Events Series. Registration is required.

∫ April 9: Online Caring for Loved

The following public meetings/ hearings are scheduled:

∫ April 7: Captiva Erosion Prevention District meeting at 1 p.m. via Zoom. For more information or the agenda, visit mycepd.com.

∫ April 8: Captiva Community Panel meeting at 9 a.m. via Zoom. For more information or the agenda, visit captivacommunitypanel.com.

∫ April 8: Captiva Island Fire Control District meeting at 11 a.m. at the fire station, at 14981 Captiva Drive, Captiva. For more information or the agenda, visit captivafire.com.

SUSAN SADLER

Business Notes

Trust Company to continue WOW series

The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company will continue its Wisdom of Women (WOW) series with two seminars that will cover investment, financial and estate planning.

The first will be held on April 9 at 1 p.m. at its island office, at 2450 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. The second will be held on April 10 at 4 p.m. its Bell Tower office, at 13525 Bell Tower Drive, Fort Myers. Beverages and light appetizers will be served.

Each presentation will touch on the basics of investing and financial planning, including retirement, long-term care, caregiving, creditor protection, titling of trusts, inheritance, estate tax and more.

Case studies will be shared on the following scenarios that commonly impact women of any age:

∫ Suddenly single: Whether through divorce, incapacity or death of a spouse

∫ Cash windfall: Whether from the sale of a business or other significant asset or an inheritance

∫ Midlife planning: How to make sure you have enough money to live on, what are your goals and how best to establish a legacy for family

The seminars will be led by female members of the team, including Bell Tower Office President Megan Marquardt.

Reservations are required.

The presentations are designed for those with $2 million and higher in investable assets.

To register, contact Frances Steger at fsteger@sancaptrustco.com or 239-472-8300.

Edison/BOTI welcomes vice president

Edison National Bank/ Bank of the Islands welcomed Beth Countryman as vice president and senior cash management officer.

An established professional with more than three decades of banking experience in Lee County, she will effectively streamline cash management services for business customers, such as ACH origination, wire transfers and Positive Pay, a fraud prevention toeol.

Countryman will serve customers at all bank locations in Fort Myers and on Sanibel and Captiva.

Born and raised in Lee, she is known and respected for her knowledge of the local banking market and her industry expertise. Prior to the role, Countryman held senior-level positions for several regional banking institutions, which included serving as vice president and deposit operations specialist, vice president of treasury management and vice president-project manager.

Trailways names executive director

Trailways Camp announced the appointment of Jamie Senkeleski as executive director.

She will lead the way forward as the organization seeks to bridge the gap for adults with special needs as they exit special education services and seek participa-

See BUSINESS NOTES, page 10

Chamber, resort celebrate the all-new Market Place

Newly renovated and opened on Feb. 27, the Market Place at the Sundial Beach Resort & Spa on Sanibel officially celebrated with a SanCap Chamber ribbon-cutting on March 11.

“With the opening of this latest amenity, Sundial Beach Resort & Spa bolsters its reputation as a full-service destination resort,” chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said. “It fills the gap in its lineup of casual and fine dining experiences with a cheerful market selling easy pick-up snacks and beyond.”

The Market Place is open daily from 7 a.m.to 6 p.m.

and touts its “We Proudly Serve Starbucks” franchise. Chamber staff and board members joined the resort employees to cut the symbolic ribbon.

“We serve hot and cold beverages, breakfast sandwiches, pastries, deli sandwiches, beer, wine, ice, snacks, logo wear, candy, groceries, and beach and gift items,” Sundial General Manager Becky Miller said. “We will continue to add inventory as we determine what our customers’ needs are.”

The Sundial Beach Resort & Spa is at 1451 Middle Gulf Drive, Sanibel.

Pfeifer Realty presents top producers for month

The Pfeifer Realty Group named its top producers for the month of February.

Tanner Miller was the top volume sales consultant and top selling agent. Having sold over 200 homes, he possesses an understanding of diverse buyer needs and the ability to uncover their dissatisfaction and future aspirations. Tanner’s background spans various facets of the real estate business, from construction best practices to negotiating both sides of a deal, mortgage knowledge, and title expertise.

Jennifer McSorley was the top listing agent. A full-time Realtor and Sanibel resident, she has been with Pfeifer Realty since 2008.

McSorley specializes in Sanibel, Captiva and Fort Myers and she holds the Sanibel Captiva Island Specialist designation. McSorley is a member of multiple Realtor associations, including the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors. For more information, call 239472-0004 or visit www.mysanibelrealestate.com.

The Pfeifer Realty Group is at 1630

Progressive Club to hold pot luck

The Progressive Club of the Islands will hold a Pot Luck on April 9 at 5 p.m. in Fellowship Hall at the Sanibel Congregational

United Church of Christ, at 2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Attendees are asked to bring a dish, such as an appetizer, a salad, main dish or

dessert. Drinks will be provided. Members and friends are welcome. RSVPs are requested by contacting pcisancap@gmail.com.

Beth Countryman

SANCAP CHAMBER

The crowd hurrahed for the SanCap Chamber’s ribbon-cutting on March 11 at the Market Place at the Sundial Beach Resort & Spa on Sanibel.

Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.

Jennifer McSorley

Tanner Miller

From page 8

tion in community life.

After three years of leading camp operations as the camp director, including the 40th camp session, Senkeleski is ready to move into an executive leadership role.

She is a member of the Charitable Foundation of the Islands, Collaboratory’s Health and Wellness Coalition task force and Lee County Schools Transition Council, and she is a participant in the United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades’ provider network collaborations.

DDWS hires two new staffers

The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) announced two new employees.

Angeli Chin steps into the position of events, marketing and grants manager, while Joann Hinman returns to the team, this time as the Refuge Nature Store manager at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

An award-winning public relations, marketing and communications professional, Chin has extensive experience in fundraising, grant writing, content marketing, event management and project management.

degrees: a Think Tank Master of Business Administration from the Atlas Institute in Alexandra, Virginia, and a Master of Science in education media design and technology from Full Sail University in Orlando.

Chin has served on the advisory board for The Salvation Army, is a founding board member of the Southwest Florida Chapter of the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, and has mentored at Dress for Success Southwest Florida and Goodwill’s Microenterprise Institute.

A Fort Myers resident, she worked previously as the public relations and media director at Pushing DaiZies Inc. As the chief executive officer at Masterful Communications, Chin managed the company’s public relations and marketing strategies and mentored the marketing staff.

She has also held various roles in charitable organizations, including founding the Zumbathon for Relay for Life Fort Myers and working with the PACE Center for Girls. Chin is a member of the Florida Public Relations Association and Public Relations Society of America, holding leadership positions in both organizations.

Hinman thought she was ready to retire when she left the Zion Natural History Association (ZNHA) in Utah’s Zion National Park in 2013. But she missed working with a nonprofit that supports public lands, and that is how she ended up at Sanibel refuge in 2016.

A native of Los Angeles, California, Hinman graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a degree in biology. At ZNHA, she started as the nature center store manager and moved up the ladder to become director of finance and administration.

At the DDWS, Hinman started as assistant store manager and advanced to business office manager. Hinman first toured the refuge 19 years ago while visiting a friend in Cape Coral, where she now lives.

San Cap Bank hires Entwistle

Nate Entwistle has joined Sanibel Captiva Community Bank as a teller at the Periwinkle Office on Sanibel.

In his role, he is responsible for assisting customers with personal and business banking transactions.

Sanibel Sea School welcomes staffers

The Sanibel Sea School announced the addition of Cassie Difloure and Logan Troxell as seasonal marine science educators.

They will assist with day courses, field trips, after school and summer camp.

Difloure is from North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Growing up so close to the beach, she developed a love for the ocean and spent much of her time there. Difloure attended Coastal Carolina University for marine science, during

See BUSINESS NOTES, page 11

A native of New York State, she holds two master’s

Jamie Senkeleski

Angeli Chin

Joann Hinman

Nate Entwistle

Cassie Difloure

Business Notes

From page 10 which she became scuba certified.

Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Troxell holds a degree in marine science from Coastal Carolina University. Most recently, she taught outdoor education in California and Georgia and has spent several summers working in Yellowstone National Park.

SCIAR holds monthly meeting

The Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors (SCIAR) held its monthly Membership & Caravan Meeting on March 20 at its office, at 2353 Periwinkle Way, Suite 201, Sanibel.

Guest speaker and The Everglades Foundation Chief Science Officer Dr. Steve Davis shared insights from over 25 years of Everglades research and advocacy. He discussed ecosystem restoration, sea level rise and the overall health of Florida’s wetlands.

SCIAR members also took part in a West End Caravan Tour, exploring real estate listings across the west end of the islands.

The meeting was sponsored by Decorating Den Interiors.

SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS

The Everglades Foundation Chief Science Officer Dr. Steve Davis presents at the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors’ Membership & Caravan Meeting on March 20 on Sanibel.

SCBWA holds monthly luncheon

In recognition of National Heart Month, the Sanibel Captiva Business Women’s Association (SCBWA) honored the heroic efforts of the Sanibel Fire and Rescue District at its luncheon on Feb. 25 at The Community House on Sanibel. Attendees heard about the crew’s life-saving actions and celebrated the story of resident Kay Casperson. She shared her experience publicly for the first time of experiencing a heart attack at her home in June. Thanks to the actions of her husband, Trevor Nette, and their daughter and the response from Lt. Brian Howell, firefighter-paramedic Mike Tejeda and firefighter-EMT Ed Zarick, Casperson was given a second chance at life. Assistant Fire Chief Chris Jackson recounted the day that the medical emergency call came in. He talked about the crew’s immediate plan of action and critical coordination that went into its rapid response. Also at the luncheon, it was announced that the district will offer a CPR training course to SCBWA members and friends in the spring. To register for the course or for more information about the SCBWA, visit on Facebook @SCBWA.

Logan Troxell

SANIBEL CAPTIVA BUSINESS WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION

From left, Sanibel Fire and Rescue District firefighter-paramedic Mike Tejeda, resident Kay Casperson and Lt. Brian Howell at the Sanibel Captiva Business Women’s Association’s luncheon on Feb. 25.

Herring gull from Maine spotted on island

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) reported that its shorebird team recently encountered a young banded herring gull from Great Duck Island in Maine — over 1,400 miles away.

The gull, which bore an orange leg band with the code “U4N,” was sighted in a large mixed flock containing other migratory species, including several previously documented royal terns.

After reporting the juevenile herring gull’s band to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Bird Banding Laboratory, SCCF shorebird biologist Audrey Albrecht received a certificate stating the bird had been banded in June on Great Duck Island, Maine, by a researcher from the College of the Atlantic.

The College of the Atlantic has been performing research at Great Duck Island since 1999. Gulls nest on the island during the summer, which is when scientists place metal bands on chicks. Once birds are large enough, they receive a color band with a three digit letter-number-letter combination.

“This enables them to keep track of birds as they grow and document when they return to the island,” Albrecht said. “While the project has received many reports of their banded birds from the northeast, very few Gulf Coast observations have been recorded.”

Several other species of gulls that nest and live up north can be found wintering on Sanibel and Captiva during their nonbreeding seasons, including Bonaparte’s gulls, ring-billed gulls and lesser blackbacked gulls. The birds can often be found resting in large mixed flocks along the beaches.

“We mostly see juvenile herring gulls, as they are generally more migratory than adults. Gulls take three to four years to reach maturity,” she said. “Juvenile herring gulls can be identified by their mottled brown backs, dark eyes, dark bill, and large size. As they get older, their bill becomes lighter, eventually turning yellow.”

Bird band codes can be reported at reportband. gov.

DDWS reports on refuge programming and more

The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge provided the following updates for the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, at 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel:

∫ The refuge’s free Winter Programs will run from now through April 5. They range from birding walks, a nature photography workshop and shelling walks, to lessons about manatees, gators and crocs, and Microscopic Marvels in the auditorium. No registration is required, but space is limited.

∫ The “Ding” Darling Day Conservation Carnival is scheduled for April 26 at Lakes Park in Fort Myers.

∫ The 13th annual “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament will take place on May 9.

Shell museum to offer beach walks

Volunteers paint stakes for sea turtle season

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) reported that sea turtle monitoring will begin on April 15 on the islands. On March 12, volunteers helped the sea turtle team paint hundreds of wooden stakes, which will be used throughout the nesting season to mark off active sea turtle nests. From April through October, the barrier islands provide nesting habitat for loggerheads and green sea turtles, and in rare instances, leatherbacks and Kemp’s ridleys.

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium will offer guided beach walks today, April 2, and on April 9 at 9 a.m. at the Sundial Beach Resort & Spa, at 1451 Middle Gulf Drive, Sanibel. Led by museum educators, they will include an introduction to local shells, exploration and shelling, along with a discussion of what is found. Cost is $10 for adults or $5 for museum members and ages 17 and under. Registration is required. To register, visit https://www.shellmuseum.org/beach-walks. For more information, contact Jorden Falker at jfalker@shellmuseum.org.

Students continue habitat studies at preserve

Led by Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) educator Richard Finkel, fourth graders from The Sanibel School recently continued their habitat studies at the SCCF’s Pick Preserve on Sanibel. They explored interior marsh habitat, investigated the life cycles of plants and animals, and discussed how nature can be impacted by major storm events.

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

The “Ding” Darling & Doc Ford’s Tarpon Tournament will take place on May 9.

BAILEY-MATTHEWS NATIONAL SHELL MUSEUM & AQUARIUM

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FROM POOL

SPD releases weekly blotter

The Sanibel Police Department issued the following weekly police blotter, which includes recent information about law enforcement response to criminal activity.

Arrests

∫ Stacy Gail Harrison, 43, of 2414 Palm Ridge Road, Apt. A, Sanibel, was charged on March 22 with one count of battery touch or strike.

∫ Maximilian Christian Nikolaus Haub, 33, of 100 Commons Park, Apt. 205, Stamford, Connecticut, was charged on March 19 with one count of battery touch or strike.

∫ Jeffrey Arthur Saunders, 42, of 2414 Palm Ridge Road, Apt. A, Sanibel, was charged on March 22 with one count of battery touch or strike.

∫ Austin Steven Sharrits, 34, of 539 S.W. 8th St., Cape Coral, was charged on March 23 with one count of DUI unlawful blood alcohol DUI influence of alcohol or drugs.

Other enforcement actions

∫ On March 18, a traffic stop was initiated on a vehicle for excessive speed. The driver was subsequently issued a notice to appear for unlawful speed (65 mph in a 35 mph zone).

∫ On March 21, a traffic stop was initiated on a vehicle for excessive speed. The driver was subsequently issued a notice to appear for unlawful speed (66 mph in a 35 mph zone) and a citation for passing in a no passing zone.

Enforcement operations statistics

From March 18-24:

∫ Alarm calls (business and residential): 4

∫ Total 911 calls: 34

∫ Traffic crashes: 6

∫ Radar details: 94

∫ Traffic stops: 47

— Citations issued: 19

— Written warnings issued: 1

— Verbal warnings issued: 32

∫ Residential area checks: 152

∫ Business area checks: 96

∫ Total area checks: 610

∫ Reported burglaries: 0

∫ Reported thefts: 0

∫ Total CAD calls: 1,090

March to date:

∫ Alarm calls (business and residential): 19

∫ Total 911 calls: 125

∫ Traffic crashes: 16

∫ Radar details: 370

∫ Traffic stops: 203

— Citations issued: 70

— Written warnings issued: 3

— Verbal warnings issued: 145

∫ Residential area checks: 814

∫ Business area checks: 443

∫ Total area checks: 2,566

∫ Reported burglaries: 3

∫ Reported thefts: 1

∫ Total CAD calls: 4,346

Important reminders

For information on the school zone speed enforcement program at The Sanibel School, visit https:// mysanibel.com/schoolzone.

The 2025 Annual Beach Parking Permits are available at the Sanibel Recreation Center and are valid

See BLOTTER, page 15

Sanibel library offers range of programs and topics

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

With support from the Sanibel Public Library Foundation, the library has launched a series of virtual author talks to include bestselling authors and thought leaders. The next one will take place today, April 2, at 7 p.m. with New York Times bestselling author Jodi Picoult. She will chat about her new novel, “By Any Other Name.”

Picoult is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of 29 novels, including “Mad Honey” (co-authored with Jennifer Finney Boylan), “Wish You Were Here,” “The Book of Two Ways,” “A Spark of Light,” “Small Great Things,” “Leaving Time” and “My Sister’s

See LIBRARY, page 15

Partnership brings produce garden to island school

The Sanibel School became the latest public school in Southwest Florida to feature a produce garden on campus through a partnership between the School District of Lee County, The Sanctuary Golf Club Foundation and Harry Chapin Food Bank.

On Feb. 21, more than a dozen community volunteers joined students and staff to build hydroponic towers and raised garden beds with trellises to grow fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers. Students then mixed soil and compost before planting seeds that will soon sprout into lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, carrots, onions and other vegetables. After it is harvested, produce will be inspected, cleaned and served in the school cafeteria.

In addition, the produce garden will serve as a minifarm that will be integrated into the school’s environmental education curriculum.

“We have a lot that we’re doing this year with sustainability,” Principal Jennifer Lusk said. “We want students to know that they can make an impact, no matter how small the space is.”

The foundation, which supports nonprofits that positively impact the lives of people living or working on Sanibel and Captiva, supported the project with a $50,000 grant in partnership with the food bank. It funded the garden build after identifying the project as an area of need for residents in the community.

“Our hope is that the children who are here today

See GARDEN, page 15

The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village will present “Getting to Know Our Captiva Neighbors from Laughter to Legacy — Captiva’s Jensen Family” on April 7 from noon to 1:30 p.m. in the Shore Haven Welcome Center, at 950 Dunlop Road, Sanibel. Guest speakers Captiva Island Historical Society Board President Tom Libonate and Member Capt. Brian Holaway will introduce the story of the Jensen family and how they shaped the island community with their love of life and infectious laughter. The program will include a screening of “From Laughter to Legacy

will learn how to plant a garden, care for a garden and sustain themselves throughout their lifetime,” foundation

tion between local growers and local consumers, and having a garden right on campus certainly drives home a concept for students who typically don’t see the process of how food makes its way to the lunchroom,” food bank President and Chief Executive Officer Richard LeBer

The project was another initiative through the school

dents while addressing food insecurity for families in Southwest Florida. It promotes healthy minds and bodies PHOTOS PROVIDED The Sanibel School Principal Jennifer Lusk distributes bags of gardening items and snacks to students.

Historical village to host program

Captiva’s Jensen Family.” In the film, award-winning documentarian Ken Sneeden tells how Red Jensen, an aluminum siding salesman and entrepreneur, along with his wife, Betty, and their four children moved from Michigan to Captiva. In 1977, they bought Twin Palms, a marina, and a collection of 1940s cottages. Toiling seven days a week, the family worked together to develop the Twin Palms Resort,

From left, eighth graders Ava Andrews and Lucy Demaras install landscape fabric for The Sanibel School’s new produce garden.

Sanibel Public Meetings

The following public meetings/ hearings are scheduled: ∫ April 8: Sanibel Planning Commission meeting at 9 a.m. at BIG ARTS, at 900 Dunlop Road,

and via Facebook Live. For more information or the agenda, visit www.mysanibel.com.

April 9:

CAPTIVA ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY

SANIBEL PUBLIC LIBRARY

The Sanibel Public Library will host a virtual author talk today, April 2, with Jodi Picoult.

From page 14

Keeper.” She also authored two young adult novels, “Between the Lines” and “Off the Page,” with daughter Samantha van Leer.

To register for the author talks, visit https://libraryc.org/ sanlib/upcoming.

Additionally, the library has the following programs scheduled:

Crafternoon will take place today, April 2, from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Open to ages 3 and older, make a work of art. A variety of craft supplies will be available, along with examples and guidance.

On April 4, America at War: The Battle of Wake Island will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Duane E. Shaffer will discuss the strategy and tactics of the battle. On the same day that the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, they also launched air attacks on Wake Island, an important American naval base still under construction. Three days later, a Japanese invasion force was repelled by a scratch force of marines, sailors and construction workers. Despite American attempts to relieve the island, the Japanese launched a much greater invasion a few weeks later. Despite a gallant defense, the Americans were forced to surrender.

Family Storytime for ages 5 and under will take place on April 4 from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Sing, read, question and move around during the stories, followed by early literacy

Blotter

From page 14

through Nov. 30.

Roadside parking is not allowed on Sanibel and is enforceable with a $150 fine.

When leaving Sanibel, motorists are encouraged to travel east on Periwinkle Way as that is the priority direction given to officers directing traffic.

Parking and boat launching fee is $40 per day.

Parking and boat launching on weekends and holidays is with AC/BC permit only.

Parking fines for violations at the boat ramp are $500.

Solicitation is not allowed on Sanibel. Please share

centers of play to flex minds, motor skills and creativity. The program will include an art/craft center.

On April 4, Pages from the Past: Crafting with Vintage Books will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. In the hands-on crafting session, participants will unleash their creativity and give new life to old books. They will transform pages from discarded or vintage books into personalized bookmarks. All materials will be provided.

Strengthen & Stretch with Ms. Robin will take place on April 5 from 10 to 10:30 a.m. for ages 4-10. The class will combine energetic movements, playful stretches and calming breathwork. Participants should wear comfortable clothing and bring a water bottle and towel.

On April 5, Tales and Treats — Young Adults will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. Participants can share their favorite books, discover new ones and talk about all things reading. Snacks and drinks will be provided.

Why Poetry Matters will take place on April 8 from 10 a.m. to noon with Vicky Lettmann. In celebration of National Poetry Month, join an informal discussion of why poetry matters. Participants will talk about the relevance and enjoyment of poetry, and they are welcome to bring a favorite poem to share or recite. Participants will also receive a poem-in-a-pocket to take home.

On April 8, Baby & Toddler Storytime and Playdate will be held from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Open to ages 4 and under, babies and their caregivers will take part in a short story time, sensory play, literacy activities and more.

Learn How to Download Audiobooks will take place on

any photos of solicitation hang tags to police@mysanibel.com or use Tip411.

Beach parking contact information

∫ Assistance with paying for parking: 239-4723111, option 3

∫ Police non-emergency questions: 239-472-3111

∫ Parking citation questions: parking@mysanibel. com

April 9 from 10 to 11 a.m. In the hands-on workshop, participants will be shown how to access thousands of audiobooks through the library’s digital platforms: Hoopla and Libby. They can bring their smartphone, tablet or laptop.

On April 9, Crafternoon will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Open to ages 3 and older, make a work of art. A variety of craft supplies will be available, along with examples and guidance.

For the most up-to-date information, visit the calendar at https://sanlib.org/.

Library cards are available to residents of Sanibel and Lee County at no charge. Visitor library cards are available for a $10 annual fee.

The library is open on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, call 239-472-2483 or visit https://sanlib.org/.

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

Garden

From page 14

by linking multisensory, cross-curricular academics with school gardens, cafeteria menus, nutrition classes, mental health education, industry certifications, college and career readiness programs, and community outreach.

Reporting

suspicious activity

Anonymous tips regarding crimes or suspicious activity can be submitted via Tip411:

∫ Text the keyword SANIBEL then your tip to 847411.

∫ Web tips can be submitted at https://www.tip411. com/tips/new?alert_group_id=22450.

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

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

Recreation center provides update on activities, events

The Sanibel Recreation Center reported on upcoming programs and activities.

An Indoor Spring Fling Pickleball Tournament will be held on April 5 from noon to 4 p.m. Open to all skill levels, it will feature two divisions: +3.0 and -2.9. Prizes will be awarded to the first place winners in each division. Light refreshments will be provided. Cost is $12 for members and $15 for non-members. Registration is required.

The center will sponsor the Lee Health Blood Center’s Bloodmobile on April 8 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the front parking lot. Donors will receive a mini-physical that will include check of temperature, blood pressure, heart rate and hemoglobin. Donors must be 17 years or older and weigh at least 115 pounds. To reduce wait time, donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment by emailing their name, contact information and preferred appointment times to denise.dillon@ mysanibel.com. Appointments will start at 9 a.m. and run in half-hour increments with the last one at 1:30 p.m. Walk-ins will be accepted and worked in between appointments.

The center is open on Mondays through Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

New and current members can call 239-472-0345 or stop by the front desk for help with setting up their CivicRec account. A variety of memberships, passes and punch cards are available.

For more information about fitness classes and activities or to register, visit https://secure.rec1.com/FL/ sanibel-fl/catalog.

For questions, call 239-472-0345.

The Sanibel Recreation Center is at 3880 SanibelCaptiva Road, Sanibel.

Rotary to host Wheels for Wheels Cycling Challenge

The Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club will host the annual Howard S. Danner, Jr. Wheels for Wheels Cycling Challenge for the sixth year on April 5 to benefit the Wheelchair Foundation.

The foundation is a nonprofit organization leading an international effort to create awareness of the needs and abilities of people with physical disabilities, promote the joy of giving, create global friendship and deliver a wheelchair to every child, teen and adult in the world who needs one, but cannot afford one.

Over $132,000 was raised from the past five events, which enabled the foundation to purchase more than 1,400 wheelchairs for distribution. The club hopes to raise $35,000 at this year’s fundraiser.

Rotarian John Danner created the fundraiser in honor of his father, the Rev. Howard S. Danner Jr., a pastor and college professor who was struck by a drunk driver while biking and was paralyzed from the waist down, leaving him in a wheelchair for his remaining 17 years.

On Danner’s 60th birthday in 2013, he rode his bike from just north of Fort Lauderdale to Key West — a total of 190 miles — as a fundraiser for wheelchairs. He called it the Wheels for Wheels/60 for 60. His goal was to raise enough money for 60 wheelchairs. Danner raised $22,000 and helped to distribute over 200 wheelchairs in Trinidad. The fundraiser was later renamed and expanded to include the club.

“Our last Wheels for Wheels event resulted in 280 wheelchairs being delivered to Belize. Those of us who were part of the trip and the distribution saw life after life being transformed almost instantly by the mobility made possible by their new wheelchair,” he said. “I am so

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA ROTARY CLUB

The Howard S. Danner, Jr. Wheels for Wheels Cycling Challenge was created by SanibelCaptiva Rotary Club member John Danner in memory of his father, the Rev. Howard S. Danner Jr., who spent 17 years in a wheelchair after being struck by a vehicle.

grateful for this chance to honor my dad’s memory. His life was made so much better by his wheelchair, and it is wonderful seeing so many others experience the same.” For more information, visit https://sanibelrotary.org/.

Sanibel Island Fishing Club to meet

The Sanibel Island Fishing Club will hold its monthly meeting on April 8 at 7 p.m. at The Community House, at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, with a half-hour social gathering to begin at 6:30 p.m.

The guest speaker will be Christine Heffern, an avid angler who works at Whitney’s Bait & Tackle. She will be advise attendees on how and where to fish, primarily from shore, in the waters surrounding Sanibel and Captiva.

Heffern started fishing on Sanibel in 2016. Over the years, she has learned as much as she could from Jim Bryan, who has been a good friend of Whitney for over 30 years. She mostly fishes along the beach or the weirs of the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. Hefferngrew up shore fishing the lakes and rivers in Pennsylvania and perch and walleye fishing on a friend’s boat on Lake Erie.

The meeting is free and open to the public.

Pizza and refreshments will be available for a nominal charge.

Adult Co-Ed Softball League Motor club to hold monthly event

The Spring Adult Co-Ed Softball League has the following games scheduled for today, April 2, at the Sanibel Ball Fields at the Sanibel Recreation Center, at 3880 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel:

∫ Traders vs. Team Whitney’s at 6:20 p.m.

∫ Bubble Room vs. Traders at 7:25 p.m.

∫ Doc Ford’s vs. Bubble Room at 8:30 p.m.

The scores from the March 26 games

are as follows:

∫ Team Whitney’s vs. Bubble Room (4-24)

∫ SCCF Sluggers vs. Team Whitney’s (5-23)

∫ SCCF Sluggers vs. Traders (10-22)

The current league standings are:

∫ Doc Ford’s and Traders (2-0)

∫ Team Whitney’s (1-1)

∫ Bubble Room (1-2)

∫ SCCF Sluggers (0-3)

The season-ending tournament is tentatively set for May 14.

The San Cap Motor Club will hold its next Cruise-in on April 6 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Periwinkle Place Shops, at 2075 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Coffee and donuts will be provided. The event is open to the public; no registration is required. In addition, club merchandise will be available for purchase for 50% off, with the sales to benefit The Heights Foundation’s CareerTech Project for certified trade skills. For more information, visit https:// www.sancapmotorclub.com/.

CITY OF SANIBEL

SANIBEL ISLAND FISHING CLUB

Christine Heffern with a beach-running snook.

Lecture series

From page 1

decades, with articles appearing in Audubon Magazine, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Miami Herald, New York Times Magazine and more. Bank of the Islands is the presenting sponsor for the series.

CEPD

From page 6

The public may also file written comments with the CEPD in advance of the hearing.

“Objections to such resolution on the ground that it contains items which cannot be properly assessed against property, or that it is, for any default or defect in the passage or character of the resolution or the plans or specifications or estimate, void or voidable in whole or in part, shall be made in writing, in person or by attorney and filed with the district board

County library

Ones with Dementia from 3 to 4 p.m.

Morgan VanDyke, registered nurse and community liaison with Assisting Hands Home Care, will share information and tips on caring for a loved one suffering

CCA

From page 6

“It’s so important for the community to have these funds for exhibits.”

While the event is free, RSVPs are requested.

The community is invited to reserve a spot for the reception.

“Our art exhibition opening nights are a great way to come support the local art community on the island and get together

at or before the time of such hearing,” it reported.

“If you decide to appeal any decision made by the CEPD board with respect to any matter considered at the hearing, you will need a record of the proceedings and may need to ensure that a verbatim record is made, including the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be made,” the CEPD added.

After the completion of the project, a preliminary assessment roll will be pre-

From page 6

from dementia, including dealing with some of the more difficult challenges that come along with the disease. She will speak from her experiences as a nurse and from personal experience caring for

with the community and celebrate all we’ve done this season at the CCA,” she said. “Have a bite to eat and a drink and celebrate art.”

For tickets or more information, visit https://ccacaptiva.org/ or the Captiva Civic Association on Eventbrite or call the CCA at 239-472-2111.

In addition, the CCA will hold its

Cost is $10 or free for museum members. Registration includes choice of wine, beer or non-alcoholic beverage and a light snack.

pared. A second hearing will be scheduled for the public to appear or file written objections to the confirmation of the roll. After that hearing, the CEPD board will consider for approval the finalized apportionment and assessments.

To view the 2025 Tentative Apportionment and 2025 Benefit Analysis, visit this article for free at http:// www.captivasanibel.com/.

Project plans, design specifications, cost estimates and tentative cost appor-

family members at home. Registration is required before April 9 at 9 a.m.

For more information or to register, visit https://www.shellmuseum.org/in-person-lectures.

tionments for the project are on file with the CEPD and are available for review in the office, at 11528 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva.

For more information, visit https:// www.mycepd.com/ or contact the CEPD at 239-472-2472 or mycepd@mycepd. com.

The Captiva Civic Center is at 11550 Chapin Lane, Captiva.

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

The Captiva Memorial Library remains closed post-storms.

The library is at 11560 Chapin Lane, Captiva.

final Perfectly Paired Educational Wine & Food Tasting Series, “Tête de Cuvée Tasting,” on April 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the center. The wine selections will be curated by Bailey’s General Store and The Island Store wine steward Calli Johnson duPont, with paired hors d’oeuvres by Chef Karl Hamme. For more information or tickets, visit online or contact the CCA.

Free and open to the public for viewing, the CCA gallery hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from noon to 2 p.m., unless otherwise posted. All of the artwork on exhibit is for sale. The Captiva Civic Center is at 11550 Chapin Lane, Captiva.

Corps adjusts releases from Lake Okeechobee

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Jacksonville District reported that it began reducing releases under the Lake Okeechobee Recovery Operations on March 20 and it made further reductions beginning on March 29.

“Current projections show conditions are favorable for successfully reaching recovery metrics if dry conditions continue,” it said in a prepared statement on March 27.

Consistent with the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM), the maximum allowable releases under Recovery Operations are:

∫ Up to 2,100 cubic feet per second (cfs) at S-79 to the Caloosahatchee River Estuary (CRE)

∫ Up to 1,400 cfs total St. Lucie Estuary (SLE) inflows (to include S-80, S-97, S-49 and Gordy Road)

∫ Up to 300 cfs to the Lake Worth Lagoon (LWL) at S-271 and S-352

∫ Up to maximum practicable south at S-351 and S-354

On March 20, the district reduced releases through S-80 into the St. Lucie Estuary from a pulse release of 1200 cfs to a target pulse of 500 cfs and through the S-79 into the Caloosahatchee River Estuary from pulse release of 2100 cfs to a target pulse of 1400 cfs. Releases to Lake Worth Lagoon were also reduced from 300 cfs to releases up to 120 cfs. Maximum practicable releases south continue.

On March 29, it further reduced the Lake Okeechobee releases through S-80 into the St. Lucie Estuary and releases to Lake Worth Lagoon to 0 cfs and maintain releases through the S-79 into the Caloosahatchee River Estuary at a target pulse of 1400 cfs. Maximum practicable releases south will continue.

The district reported that it began releases under Recovery Operations on Dec. 7. The goal of recovery is to lower the lake’s water levels before the onset of the wet season to allow for recovery of the lake ecology, specifically submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). The op-

erational strategy for the operations slowly brings water levels down by making moderate, non-harmful releases to the estuaries, while also sending maximum beneficial flow south to the Everglades.

Lowering water levels allows light to penetrate to the bottom and allow SAV to regerminate and regrow during the spring and summer. Regrowth of SAV in Lake Okeechobee will reduce water turbidity and nutrient concentrations. A healthy amount of SAV in the lake is key to the health of the lake fisheries, and improved water quality within the lake benefits the estuaries if significant releases are necessary in the coming seasons/years.

“We continue to monitor the environmental conditions in both estuaries and will adjust Lake Recovery Operations as needed,” it said. “Even if flows are reduced or halted, this does not end Recovery Operations. Recovery Operations conclude with the start of the wet season.”

Islands’ fire districts, Sanibel police called to car fire

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers.com

The Sanibel Fire and Rescue District responded to a vehicle on fire last week on the west end.

At about 10 a.m. March 27, crews were dispatched to the intersection of Sanibel-Captiva Road and Bowman’s Beach Road for a report about a vehicle fire. It involved a two-door passenger car.

Deputy Fire Chief John DiMaria reported that upon arrival, they saw that there was one vehicle involved and it had no one inside of it. The driver — the sole occupant — had already exited.

“They had gotten out,” he said. See FIRE, page 22

The Sanibel Fire and Rescue District, assisted by the Sanibel Police Department and

District, responded to a vehicle on fire on March 27 at Sanibel-Captiva Road and

Sanibel.

Island Fire

SANIBEL FIRE AND RESCUE DISTRICT

Captiva

Control

Bowman’s Beach Road on

Leadership Sanibel-Captiva continues with sessions

The Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) reported on the highlights of its annual Leadership SanibelCaptiva Program’s recent sessions that its Class of 2025 participants are taking part in.

On Feb. 25, they gathered at the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) for Environment Day, focusing on water quality and conservation efforts. Chief Executive Officer James Evans opened the session with an overview of the SCCF’s initiatives, followed by presentations from Marine Lab Director Dr. Eric Milbrandt and Environmental Policy Director. Participants toured the Island Water Association to gain an understanding of Sanibel’s water infrastructure before returning to the SCCF for a discussion on Coastal Watch, led by Director Kealy McNeal. The afternoon was spent engaging in a hands-on coastal cleanup initiative with program alumni and SCCF staff. The day concluded with a networking happy hour. Kyle DeCicco and Bailie Johnson served as the session liaisons.

“The opportunity to see these conservation efforts in action reinforced the importance of sustainable practices,” participant Laura Gales said. “It was inspiring to witness how dedicated our local organizations are to protecting our natural resources.”

On March 11, they convened at The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company for Community Resources Day. The

Fire

From page 20

It took 10 or 15 minutes at most for crews to extinguish the flames.

“They quickly put the fire out,” DiMaria said. “It was a pretty easy call, very basic.”

No injuries were reported.

“Which is always good,” he said.

The car is a complete loss.

“The cause of the fire is unknown — it’s usually something mechanical, but we can never tell,” DiMaria said, adding that the driver was traveling on the road, saw

session began with a welcome from Sanibel President Jeff Muddell, followed by a discussion with Community Housing & Resources Executive Director Nicole DeckerMcHale and her team, where participants learned about affordable housing initiatives and met residents. The day continued with a visit to FISH of Sanibel-Captiva, where Executive Director Maria Espinoza provided an overview of the nonprofit’s services, including food programs, senior assistance and emergency financial aid. A mid-day break at the Sanibel Recreation Center included a presentation by the Children’s Education Center of the Islands and a tour of the facility, led by Recreation Director Andrea Miller.

CHARITABLE FOUNDATION OF THE ISLANDS

From left, front row, Class of 2025 participants Miles Sweiss, Dane Johnson, Arielle Cohen, Brad Andres, Pam Norton, Janice Block Chaddock, Matthew Pierce and Laura Gales, The Sanibel School Principal Jennifer Lusk, session liaisons Rachel Tritaik and Marvel Bradley, and Charitable Foundation of the Islands Executive Director Dolly Farrell; back row, Sanibel-Captiva Leadership Program Chair Ken Washuta and participants Jason Chiklakis, Ilie Ruby, Evan duPont, Sue Van Oss and David Haas.

The afternoon featured a video about Sanibel’s community clubs, followed by a meet-and-greet with representatives from key service organizations, including the Committee of the Islands, Island Seniors, Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, SanibelCaptiva Kiwanis Club, Sanibel Captiva Lions Club, Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club, Sanibel Captiva Young Professionals, Sanibel School Fund, The Community House, Trailways Camps and Zonta Club of SanibelCaptiva. The day concluded with a tour of The Sanibel School, where Principal Lusk shared insights into the school’s programs and its commitment to excellence. Marvel Bradley and Rachel Tritaik served as the session liaisons.

“These sessions highlight the interconnectedness of our island community,” CFI Executive Director Dolly Farrell said. “By equipping future leaders with this knowledge, we ensure the continued strength and resilience of Sanibel and Captiva.”

smoke and pulled over.

The surrounding vegetation did not catch on fire, and there were no other damages.

“There was no brush fire or anything,” he said. “Which I was completely surprised about.”

The Sanibel Police Department and Captiva Island Fire Control District also responded and assisted.

& Spa — the only resort on Captiva with more capacity than South Seas — has 137 rental units. Some have more than one bedroom, so its total bedroom count is about 150. Adding almost 500 new bedrooms at South Seas would be the equivalent of adding three new resorts on Captiva, each one of them larger than ‘Tween Waters. Think about it: the least increase in capacity we can look forward to adds more than triple that of the largest resort on Captiva, all stuffed into South Seas. Under our best-case scenario, the only party that should take a victory lap is the resort.

Wait: why does South Seas get to build 165 new condos? Because they demolished 140 employee housing units, which the county doesn’t care about rebuilding; plus, the county is giving the resort 25 unused density credits to complete the 912-unit cap. Despite the county’s governing document for the resort categorically requiring employee housing units, there was no indication in the public hearings that anyone intends to fight for them. So compact employee dorm rooms will get replaced by expansive multi-bedroom condo villas, one for one.

Whether the resort gets the full monty (628 new units) or “only” 272 units, the legendary charm of South Seas our family enjoyed for hundreds of days and nights over the decades is clearly a thing of the past. The barbarians are within the gates. The question now is how much havoc and thoughtless development the county will permit the resort to create.

South Seas’ application conspicuously lacks mitigation for increased parking demand and traffic congestion — perennial problems all across the resort, Captiva and Sanibel — that will exponentially worsen with significant new development. In the absence of a plan, the resort is peddling the fantasy that their guests will not comeand-go during their stays, a preposterous assertion county planners seem to have swallowed.

The resort’s classic golf course was destroyed so that condos could occupy its gGulf-front acreage. It was replaced by a pitiful pitch-and-putt, with a large, ugly maintenance building and materials yard plopped into one of the most visible locations in the entire resort. Evaluating sites for their appropriate uses, considering impacts on adjacent properties, design review of proposed structures –— are these practices unfamiliar to county planners?

They approved a beachfront restaurant — speedily built — with zero setbacks from the only roadway access easement owners and residents have to the beach and Gulf. County code requires the restaurant to have a landscape privacy buffer separating it from the roadway. The planners knew this, but decided not to require the setback and privacy landscaping.

Having approved a wrongly sited restaurant, planners now propose to compound their wrongs by having the applicant plant trees within someone else’s roadway easement. To cover their tracks, they’ve clumsily rechristened the roadway a “landscape easement.” It is in fact the only roadway the elderly, or the infirm, or the very young — anyone who needs a ride — can use to access the beach and Gulf. The county would have the resort arrogate the easement to itself as a surrogate landscape buffer, and use the remaining area for restaurant parking and vehicular/ pedestrian access to its entrance, which directly abuts the roadway easement. The

easement holders’ property rights are apparently not even an afterthought.

The only way the newly-built, wrongly-sited restaurant can conform to code and property law is through relocation. But does anyone seriously believe the county would ever require that of the resort? The restaurant will only be properly sited if the easement holders and/or the adjacent homeowner go to court to defend their property rights.

A new strategy

How could these land use travesties — which are in their early stages and can be expected to multiply over time — have been entirely averted? How could the resort have been rebuilt after Ian in a resilient, tasteful way that conformed to its traditional development configuration? It’s been painfully obvious from the outset that the county and resort’s endgame is and always will be hyperdevelopment.

For that reason, in the course of conversations and correspondence with CCA leaders (who created the Protect Captiva coalition to spearhead opposition to the county/South Seas onslaught) I proposed the following in September of 2023, more than 18 months ago:

“I wonder how the locals would feel about cutting the Gordian knot by annexing to Sanibel … I see that Florida statutes require, if at least 70% of the acreage proposed to be annexed is owned by persons or entities not registered locally to vote, that owners of at least 50% of the total acreage must first consent to an annexation vote. The actual annexation vote canvasses local registered voters only, and requires simple majority approval. Sanibel would have to first hold two meetings to authorize the special election, then wait 30 days before holding it. All in all, a pretty compressed timeline that could throw the county and Timbers quite the curve ball. Who knows, maybe there are technical reasons this wouldn’t work. But if it did, a very tidy solution.”

I received no response to my recommendation.

In February, I proposed annexation in a letter to the editor to this newspaper. Prior to submission, I sent a draft to the same CCA leaders, one of whom responded by quoting the 70%/50% rule, to pour cold water on the idea. The respondent apparently didn’t remember that I had cited the same rule in our prior correspondence. I replied in the following way:

“I’m aware of this provision. If it applies, I don’t see why it would be an insurmountable obstacle. Take South Seas, for example. The resort owns 120 out of 304 acres, less than 40% of the resort. The resort associations would vote in favor, cancelling out Timbers’ vote against. The big landowners, like Royal Shell, ‘Tween Waters, Jensen’s, McCarthy’s, etc. (even CCA!), if they’re on board, gets you over 50% easily enough. I have no indication that Captivans, whether property owners or voters, are happy under the county’s thumb.”

Again, I received no response to my recommendation.

City of Sanibel/Captiva

Let’s imagine, as a hypothetical, that it’s the city of Sanibel/Captiva — not Lee County — that governs South Seas and considers its post-Ian redevelopment application. What would predictably occur?

∫ Sanibel/Captiva would not approve any application that asked for more than 912 total resort units.

∫ Sanibel/Captiva would not approve any application that asked for rebuilt structures to add additional habitable floors, either within or outside the resort.

∫ Sanibel/Captiva would require that South Seas rebuild the 140 employee units, to make a dent in the housing shortage for island workers, and lessen daily commuter traffic to and from the islands.

∫ Sanibel/Captiva would not have allowed the demolition of a superficially damaged Harbourside Hotel, or any other resort structures not substantially damaged.

∫ Sanibel/Captiva would not allow new construction seaward of the 1991 Coastal Construction Control Line on undeveloped properties, unless no development footprint landward of the line was feasible.

∫ While the resort’s master redevelopment plan was being considered, Sanibel/ Captiva would not issue building permits for elements of the master plan unless and until the entire plan is approved. The county, on the other hand, hastily issued piecemeal development orders for the pitch-and-putt and its buildings, the beachfront restaurant, and the water park, in order to present the master plan as a foregone conclusion. Sanibel/Captiva would observe the land use dictum that with a master plan, nothing is approved until everything is approved, so that all the pieces of the development puzzle fit together as one unitary whole.

Divorcing county, remarrying: How Captiva wins

The CCA’s reluctance to consider annexation to Sanibel is understandable. It has held the fort for almost a century, ably protecting Captiva from overdevelopment. I have the utmost respect for the organization’s many dedicated supporters and the excellent work they’ve accomplished.

Nevertheless, we need to acknowledge that the county/South Seas juggernaut presents an unprecedented threat to the future of Captiva. The sustained severity of the attack — with consequences to the community so extreme and permanent — is such that it can’t be fully countered by the type of resistance the CCA is waging, no matter how capable. Earlier in this letter I explained how the best result we can currently hope for is actually quite terrible. Let’s now zoom out, for some big-picture context.

When governmental and corporate forces combine their powers, as they have here, to overwhelm a small community and impose their will, the struggle quickly becomes very asymmetric. One side has much more objective strength and wherewithal than the other. In a David-andGoliath contest, the objectively weaker party must think and act outside the box in order to have any chance of prevailing.

The CCA (through its Protect Captiva coalition) has instead followed a conventional approach, signing petitions, attending meetings, gathering money, hiring lawyers and experts, filing lawsuits. All very noble, but as outlined above, the best outcome a conventional approach can achieve in this situation is the illusion of victory, where after Protect Captiva spends a million dollars, and even wins in court, South Seas still gets to dramatically expand its resort.

In my opinion it has been an error in judgment not to realize early on that the stakes in this conflict are so high, the only way Captiva is guaranteed to escape the

county/South Seas maw is to join Sanibel. Without a paradigm shift, the only question is how badly Captiva loses in dealing with the county and resort, now and in the future.

The contest between Captiva and the combined forces of the county/South Seas is ongoing, with no end yet in sight. There is still time for the CCA and its allies to cut the Gordian knot, and swiftly kickstart the annexation process. Of course this would not be to the exclusion or de-emphasis of any of the current resistance efforts afoot, or new avenues of opposition the future may offer; on the contrary, an all-sided campaign to protect Captiva should proceed at full-bore.

There is however a crucial distinction between the two strategies. So far the remedies sought have been primarily legal, yet one of the most critical planning issues is not clearly justiciable. Does anyone think a legal case can be made that the county must require the rebuilding of all — or any — of the employee housing? Courts are inclined to grant local government wide discretion to decide the details of development as it sees fit. When the county allows demolition of 140 employee dorm rooms, to be replaced by 140 oversized luxury condos, with triple the number of bedrooms, so shall it be. That one decision creates the equivalent of more than three new ‘Tween Waters, packed like sardines into South Seas, and it’s all perfectly legal.

Annexation, in contrast, is a political remedy that doesn’t require the permission of the courts or the county. With the consent of the Sanibel City Council (a virtual certainty), if property owners of more than 50% of Captiva’s acreage authorize the election, and a simple majority of Captiva voters approve the annexation, it’s done. Captivans — without the extraordinary expense, time and uncertainty of court cases — will have taken their island’s future out of the county’s hands. And it’s all perfectly legal.

There are other arguments in favor of annexation, some of which I touched upon in my February letter to the CCA leader:

“Timbers is estimating their new valuation will be several hundred million dollars. Taxes from them alone would be a staggering sum for Sanibel (and Captiva, if annexed) to receive every year. And consider the rest of the island’s (Captiva’s) assessed values. Do you believe that the money taken off your island into county coffers is returned to you in services? Quite the opposite. The money being taken from you is the money they are spending to hyperdevelop your island.

“I’ll ask and answer the basic question for yourself and fellow Captivans: Are you happy with the way you are governed? Of course you aren’t. And yet you’re very lucky, because your adjacency to Sanibel gives you a ready and willing alternative. Captiva couldn’t survive as a standalone municipality, but attached to Sanibel, no problem.

“Through CCA and allied SanCap groups, you’ve already built the organizational apparatus to accomplish annexation, at a time when a development battle royale has primed the population for change. I know how badly you want to win this battle; the cement of victory will be to turn the tables on the county, and be done with them forever. It would be a handsome legacy for you to give to your community and island.”

Don Bacon Montara, California

Agencies

sentation by talking about habitat management, explaining that they developed a plan in 2010 for the freshwater spartina marsh or central marsh areas on the island. It aimed to increase the cordgrass vegetation acreage by about 20% and reduce the woody vegetation encroachment by at least 10% through herbiciding and other methods.

“This helps with wildfire mitigation, but we also do this in concert with prescribed burns,” he said.

On prescribed fire versus risk of wildfire, Godsea reported that there have been 15 wildfire events on Sanibel since 1984, ranging from 0.01 acre to about 14 acres. Fire intensity and fire behavior are determined by fuel type, in combination with weather and topography, but moisture level is the most important consideration. Live, green trees and grasses contain moisture, which slows the burning process. He pointed to the wet soil from the wet winter and previous storm surges, noting that although there is dead vegetation across the island, the fire potential is low.

“All of that is very different from our friends out west,” Godsea said. “There is a risk of wildfire out here, but we also have to put it into perspective of we’re not necessarily California either.”

The prescription for prescribed burning entails:

∫ Predefined management objectives

∫ Required environmental conditions, including soil moisture, fuel conditions and recent rainfall

∫ Required weather conditions — both forecasted and actual — including wind speed, wind direction, temperature and relative humidity

He reported that prescribed burns restore hurricane-impacted lands, maintain fire-dependent habitats, improve mosquito control and reduce the threat of wildfire.

On restoring hurricane-impacted lands, Godsea explained that there is mechanical preparation, which includes removing dead trees and opening fire lines, and the prescribed burning removes dead vegetation, renourishes the soil and promotes the growth of new vegetation and germination of seeds.

On maintaining fire-dependent habitats, he reported that spartina marshes are fire adapted and need it to create a mosaic of different vegetation types. Burns produce lush grass with open areas between the grass clumps. In addition, there is wildlife that is dependent on fire. Gopher tortoises rely on open areas for movement, and the Sanibel Island rice rat relies on healthy grasses for food and nesting cover.

Prescription burns reduce the threat of wildfire and increase public safety, reduce hazardous fuels, reduce the frequency and intensity of wildfires, and cause less damage to habitat and wildlife than wildfire suppression activities. In addition, they are more cost effective than wildfire suppression.

Lee County Mosquito Control District representative Robert Scarpantonio explained that prescribed burns are beneficial to mosquito control. They decrease canopy and ground vegetative cover, allowing for increased penetration of spray product and increased visibility for surveying standing water, and result in a reduction in viable eggs with a more efficient use of the insecticides and better applications of the product to larval habitat, meaning decreased larval populations and increased efficacy.

“On behalf of mosquito control, burning is great for us,” he said. “There’s a lot of positive benefits.”

SCCF Wildlife & Habitat Management Director Chris Lechowicz explained that they manage about 1,800 acres on Sanibel, but they have no prescribed burns planned for this year. Dead vegetation removal projects continue to mitigate fire danger, and the replanting of cleared prop-

School

district From page 1

tate the closure of the Department of education and return authority over education to the states and local communities while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits which Americans rely.”

It further states that “consistent with the Department of Education’s authorities, the Secretary of Education shall ensure that the allocation of any Federal Department of Education funds is subject to rigorous compliance with federal law and administration policy, including the

For the 2025 summer-fall season, the Sanibel Island Prescribed Fire Task Force is planning prescribed burns for the Legion Curve Unit and Botanical Site Unit on Sanibel, if the conditions are right.

erties is planned.

He reported that current projects include debris removal on Sanibel-Captiva Road on SCCF properties and the replanting of the McGregor properties, West Sanibel River Preserve and Bailey Homestead Preserve. Future projects will include debris removal on the Dayton Preserve at Tarpon Bay Road and West Gulf Drive and restoration of the Valade Preserve on Middle Gulf Drive.

USFWS Assistant Fire Management Officer Brian Pippin unveiled the target map for the year.

“What we have planned to do this year, if conditions are right, would be the Legion Curve Unit. It’s across from the American Legion. Everything north of San-Cap Road,” he said. “And then the Botanical Site (Unit).”

As for when the prescribed burns will take place, Pippin explained that the actual day of a burn cannot be predicted, but they monitor conditions weeks in advance. Another factor is the potential for a burn ban if the fuels are too dry. He noted that they are planning for the prescribed burns in the summer and fall, and that public notification will be sent out several days in advance.

Sanibel Fire and Rescue District Deputy Fire Chief John DiMaria offered the following tips for what the island community can do around their own home in advance of a prescribed burn:

∫ Bring personal property inside, like lawn furniture, and put vehicles in garages

∫ Close windows and turn on air conditioner

∫ Cover pool

∫ Keep pets indoors

∫ Stay indoors to minimize impacts or leave the island for the day

“There are very simple things that homeowners or residents can do before and during wildfire events to protect themselves, their property and their neighbors,” he said.

requirement that any program or activity receiving federal assistance terminate illegal discrimination o obscured under the label ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ or similar terms and programs promoting gender ideology.”

The executive order also expounds on the reasoning behind it, stating that “while the Department of Education does not educate anyone, it maintains a public relations office that includes over 80 staffers at a cost of more than $10 million per year.”

DiMaria also talking about being “firewise” by having:

∫ Defensible space

∫ Lean, clean and green landscaping

∫ Fire-resistant exterior construction

∫ Fire-resistant roof construction

∫ Fire-resistant attachments

∫ Disaster plan

He noted that people should be prepared to evacuate, especially if an uncontrolled wildfire sparks.

“Just like you would prepare for hurricane season, wildfire season is the same,” DiMaria said.

Sanibel Natural Resources Department environmental biologist Joel Caouette explained about firewise landscaping, including keeping vegetation trimmed or pruned back from structures and choosing fire-resistant plants, such as red maple, Spanish bayonet, firebush, beautyberry, sea oxeye daisy or tickseed.

“The city’s role with these prescribed burns lies in the communication aspect,” he said.

Caouette explained that the city will put our press releases and neighborhood flyers when a potential prescribed burn is scheduled, in addition to sharing information on social media. The city also maintains a smoke sensitive list and will contact those on the list about 48 to 24 hours prior to a burn.

The meeting is available to watch on the city’s Facebook page.

To sign up for the city’s announcements, visit https:// www.mysanibel.com/.

To register for the smoke sensitive list, contact Caouette at joel.caouette@mysanibel.com.

For more information about firewise landscaping or to schedule a site visit, contact the Natural Resource Department at 239-472-3700.

It further states that “today, American reading and math scores are near historical lows. This year’s National Assessment of Educational Progress showed that 70% of 8th graders were below proficient in reading and 72% were below proficient in math. The federal education bureaucracy is not working.”

It adds that “The Department of Education currently manages a student loan debt portfolio of more than $1.6 trillion. This means the federal student aid program is roughly the size of one of the

nation’s largest banks, Wells Fargo.” School District of Lee County spokesperson Rob Spicker said the district’s federal funding makes up 47% of its general budget, which supports its daily operating costs. He said feds do provide more funding in Special Revenue Fund — Federal and Special Revenue Fund — Food Services.

Read the full article for free by visiting www.captivasanibel.com.

SANIBEL ISLAND PRESCRIBED FIRE TASK FORCE

BIG ARTS band and chorus to present Spring Performance

By TIFFANY REPECKI trepecki@breezenewspapers.com

The islands community is invited to enjoy an evening of music at an upcoming seasonal concert.

The BIG ARTS Community Chorus and BIG ARTS Concert Band will present their Spring Performance on April 4 starting at 7 p.m. in Christensen Performance Hall at the Sanibel campus. The chorus will combine its creative vocal arrangements with stirring compositions by the band.

“It’s such a great community event,” BIG ARTS Marketing Director Meghan Govoni said of the seasonal concert, noting that all of the band and chorus members are volunteers from the community.

Led by Chorus Director Ellen Whitten and Band Director Melissa Calkin, the title for this year’s program will be “Your Favorites … from Gershwin to The Beatles.”

“It’s kind of a look back to the 1950s and ‘60s,” she said. “They’re also going to do some Neil Diamond, John Denver, Carole King, Duke Ellington, and then some songs from ‘West Side Story.’”

The band will kick off the performance with “Entry of the Gladiators,” followed by the chorus with “It’s A Grand Night for Singing.” The band will play “Someone to Watch Over Me” and “Duke Ellington in Concert,” featuring “Take the ‘A’ Train,” “Mood Indigo,” “It Don’t Mean A Thing” and others. The chorus will sing “I Feel the Earth Move” and “Do Wah Diddy Diddy,” along with “We Love the ‘50s” featuring “16 Candles,” “Shake, Rattle and Roll,” “Lipstick on Your Collar” and more.

“The concert band is going to do ‘Georgia On My Mind,’” Govoni said.

The chorus will perform “John Denver in Concert,” featuring “Rocky Mountain High,” “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” and others. The band will follow will selections from “West

Side Story,” such as “Maria,” “Tonight,” “Somewhere” and more, as well as “Mancini Magic,” with “Moon River,” “Baby Elephant Walk,” “The Pink Panther” and others.

“The chorus is going to do ‘The Best of Neil Diamond,” she said.

For the grand finale, the band and chorus will come together and perform a medley of hits by The Beatles, including songs like “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Here Comes the Sun” and “In My Life.”

There will be an intermission, and the bar will be open.

“Both galleries will be open,” Govoni said. “We have a fairly new show in the Dunham gallery.”

Tickets are $20 for adults and free for students. The community is encouraged to reserve their seat for the concert.

“It’s a great chance for people to come out and experience BIG ARTS and experience the wonderful volunteers in our community. They’re all part of the community and they’re performing for the community,” she said, adding that the seasonal performance is one of their last events during season.

For tickets or more information, visit https://bigarts. org/ or call the box office at 239-395-0900.

BIG ARTS is at 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel.

Ribbon, award recipients for shell show announced

(Editor’s note: The winners list will continue in next week’s issue of the Sanibel-Captiva Islander.)

The Sanibel-Captiva Shell Club recently presented the list of ribbon and special award winners from the 2025 Sanibel Shell Show, held on March 6-8 at the Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa in Fort Myers. It featured a juried show in two divisions: scientific and artistic. The winners are as follows:

Ribbons — Scientific Division

∫ Student Grades K - 6 - WorldwideShells and/or sea life - Any source

1st Nicholas Baker - Cape Coral, FL

2nd Henry Lyles - Bonita Springs, FL

3rd Ethan Deppe - Jupiter, FL

∫ Student Grades 7 - 12 - WorldwideShells and/or sea life - Any source

1st Noah Roos - Naples, FL

2nd Olivia Baker - Cape Coral, FL

3rd Evan Schmidt - Pickerington, OH

Honorable Mention RyLee CollettSebastian, FL

Honorable Mention Caroline DolezalTequesta, FL

∫ Single Shell - Sanibel-CaptivaSelf-collected

1st Crystal Brasel - Tarpon Springs, FL

2nd Debi McBroom - Sebring, FL

3rd Angela Marsland - Fort Myers, FL

∫ Single Shell - Florida-CaribbeanSelf-collected

1st Amanda Collett - Sebastian, FL

2nd Jennifer Geary - Martinsburg, WV

3rd Barry McBroom - Sebring, FL

∫ Single Shell - Florida-CaribbeanAny source

1st Dr. Rick Batt - Cape Coral, FL

2nd Gi Gi Johnson - Bonita Springs, FL

3rd Irene Longley-Clark - Cape Coral, FL

∫ Single Shell - Worldwide - Selfcollected

1st Anne Joffe - Sanibel, FL

2nd Vicky Wall - Mayodan, NC

3rd Constance Marshall MillerLewes, DE

∫ Single Shell - Worldwide - Any source

1st Anne Joffe - Sanibel, FL

2nd Karlynn Morgan - Winston Salem, NC

3rd Dr. Rick Batt - Cape Coral, FL

∫ Single Shell - Unusual VariantsAlbinos, Freaks, etc. - Any source

1st Abby Klaus - Fort Myers, FL

2nd Jennifer Geary - Martinsburg, WV

3rd John Jacobs - Seffner, FL

∫ Single Shell - Fossil - Shells and/or other sea life - Any source

1st Dr. Rick Batt - Cape Coral, FL

2nd Ann Buddenhagen - Raleigh, NC

3rd Vicky Wall - Mayodan, NC

∫ Single Specimen - Sea Life (Other than shells) - Coral, echinoderm, etc.Any Source

1st Dr. Rick Batt - Cape Coral, FL

2nd Kathy Hofstad - Riverview, FL

3rd Pauline Prideaux - North Fort Myers, FL

∫ Multiple Shells - Sanibel-CaptivaSelf-collected

1st Debi and Barry McBroomSebring, FL

∫ Multiple Shells - Florida-Caribbean

- Self-collected

1st Vicky Wall - Mayodan, NC

2nd Dominic Baker, Olivia Baker and Nicholas Baker - Cape Coral, FL

3rd Debi and Barry McBroomSebring, FL

∫ Multiple Shells - Florida-Caribbean - Any source

1st Bev Dolezal - Palm Beach Gardens, FL

∫ Multiple Shells - One Major Superfamily/Family - Any source

1st Michael Tove - Cary, NC

∫ Multiple Shells - One Minor /Family - Any source

1st Ron Bopp - Palmetto, FL

1st Dr. Rick Batt - Cape Coral, FL

∫ Multiple Shells - One Genus - Any source

1st Dr. Rick Batt - Cape Coral, FL

∫ Multiple Shells - One Species - To show color, form and/or growth - Selfcollected

1st Amanda Baker - Cape Coral, FL

2nd Kathy Hofstad - Riverview, FL

3rd Constance Marshall MillerLewes, DE

∫ Multiple Shells - One Species - To show color, form and/or growth - Any source

1st Dr. Rick Batt - Cape Coral, FL

∫ Multiple Shells - EducationalShells intended primarily to teach - Any source

1st Karlynn Morgan - Winston Salem, NC

1st Anne Joffe - Sanibel, FL

2nd Gi Gi Johnson - Bonita Springs, FL

3rd Noah Roos - Naples, FL

∫ Multiple Shells - Land or Fresh Water Shells - Any source

1st Amanda Collett - Sebastian, FL

∫ Multiple Shells - Unusual VariantsAlbinos, Freaks, etc. - Any source

1st Sarah Rosenbaum - Naples, FL

2nd Amanda Baker - Cape Coral, FL

∫ Multiple Specimens - Fossils - Shells and/or other sea life - Any source

1st Ron Bopp - Palmetto, FL

1st Dr. Rick Batt - Cape Coral, FL

2nd Les Heinzl - Fort Myers, FL

3rd Patty Wettstein - Millville, NJ

∫ Multiple Specimens - Sea Life Other Than Shells - Coral, echinoderm, etc.Any source

1st Kathy Hofstad - Riverview, FL

Single or Multiple Shells - SpecialDoes not fit into any other class

1st Sylvia Griner - Riverview, FL

n Single or Multiple Shells - Beginning Scientific Exhibitor - Over 18 years of age

1st Abby and Gavin Klaus - Fort Myers, FL

2nd Hannah Richardson - Marco Island, FL

3rd Pauline Prideaux - North Fort Myers, FL

∫ Best of the Blues - Previous winner of a Blue Ribbon - at any past Sanibel Shell Show

1st Debi and Barry McBroomSebring, FL

∫ Sanibel Platinum Award - Previous winner of a major award - such as du Pont, C.O.A., Masters

1st Vicky Wall - Mayodan, NC

BIG ARTS

The BIG ARTS Community Chorus and BIG ARTS Concert Band will present their Spring Performance on April 4 at 7 p.m. in Christensen Performance Hall on Sanibel.

FISH to host monthly luncheon with speaker

FISH of Sanibel-Captiva will hold its next Friendly Faces Luncheon on April 8 at 11 a.m. at The Community House, at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.

It will feature Irene Skolnick, who will talk about how her family survived World War II in Poland by pretending to be Catholic, while at the same time hiding several members of her father’s family in a one-bedroom house.

“Our monthly luncheons are more than just a social gathering — they’re a chance to enjoy lively conversations and interesting talks,” Senior Services Director Erika Arnowitz said. “We hope everyone will

join us for this inspiring presentation and a wonderful time of connection.”

Born in Poland, Skolnick was 2 years old when WWII broke out. She and her family survived the Holocaust by changing their identity and passing themselves off as Catholics. After the war, the family immigrated to France and then to the United States in 1952, when Skolnick was 14. She graduated from Brooklyn College with a major in chemistry and Columbia University with a master’s degree in library service. Skolnick moved to Pittsburgh in 1974 when her husband accepted a position at Presbyterian Hospital

Shell Find

to develop its ultrasound laboratory. Taking advantage of the scholarship offered to spouses of University of Pittsburgh faculty, she attended and obtained her Master of Business Administration. Upon graduation, Skolnick joined Terry Matzuk and co-founded Dymax Corporation, a medical manufacturing company. In 1990, it pioneered the concept of ultrasound guidance for vascular access, a procedure that became standard of care. She sold the company in 1998.

Prepared by the Sanibel Deli & Coffee Factory, the lunch will be complimentary.

Reservations and meal choices are required by April 4.

For more information or to make a reservation, contact Arnowitz at 239-472-4775 or erika@fishofsancap.org.

Tulips, whelk and more found on Sanibel

Linda Wilford, of Woodbury, Minnesota, reported that her grandchildren visited on March 8-15 at the Sundial East on Sanibel. From Minnesota and Illinois, they found their favorite shells mostly on the nearby beach. Among their finds: Jack Blackford, 10, a banded tulip and an alphabet cone; Elin Blackford, 5, an alphabet cone; John Wilford, 7, a lightning whelk; Axel Blackford, 13, a banded tulip; Levi Blackford, 7, an alphabet cone and a fig whelk; and Lily Wilford, 9, a banded tulip. “The kids love shelling,” Wilford said. “All of them are excited to return next year with hopes of finding the elusive junonia!” She added that it was so nice to back on the island, which has been a family tradition for 10 years. To report a shell find, contact 239-472-1587 or trepecki@ breezenewspapers.com.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Irene Skolnick

IN THE GARDEN

Hong Kong orchid

Hong

Kong

orchid is showy centerpiece

Hong Kong orchid, besides being fun to say, brings to mind an exotic location and beautiful flowers. That is exactly what you get with Bauhinia blakeana (also an exotic sounding name).

A large flowering tree with a rounded spreading canopy, growing 20-40 feet in height, the Hong Kong orchid tree is composed of large, 6-8 inch in diameter gray-green leaves. But it is the beautiful display of orchid-like blooms that make the tree so desirable for the landscape. The blooms are large and showy, about 6 inches in diameter, in beautiful shades of purple, rose and pink during the summer, fall and early winter. There is also a variety where the blooms start as white and turn to pink in few days.

Since young trees can be irregularly shaped, pruning during the first several years after propagation is often needed to develop a more uniform shape. The tree is great as a specimen flowering tree in the landscape. Because it is fairly drought tolerant, it is often a flowering tree of choice for urban landscapes and roadways. The flowers are sterile and will not set seed, so the plant will not drop long pods as other orchid trees tend to do.

With the right placement, selective pruning in the early years and proper care, the Hong Kong orchid will be a showy centerpiece in your yard.

In The Garden is provided by In The Garden, at 3889 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel. For more information, contact 239-395-5859 or visit www. facebook.com/rswalshinthegarden.

Invasive Species Awareness Week: Non-native inkberry

By CITY OF SANIBEL

(Editor’s note: As part of the recent National Invasive Species Awareness Week, the city of Sanibel’s Natural Resources Department shared information from the Sanibel Vegetation Committee about a few pesky plants that have made themselves comfortable on the island.)

The non-native inkberry could cause an invasion in your yard. It is a weedy, fleshy variety, forming dense mounds of shiny green leaves. The white half-flower is followed by a white berry. If planted along the beach, the fruits and seeds may float, which can cause the coastal spread of the salt tolerant species.

The non-native inkberry can spread extensively, displacing native plants. They are required to be removed from properties to be developed and may not be grown or propagated on Sanibel. When removing non-native inkberry, small plants may be hand pulled, while plants that are cut should be treated with the appropriate herbicide to prevent regrowth.

Planting the low maintenance native inkberry is definitely preferred to using the exotic inkberry. The native inkberry, Scaevola plumieri, is an erect to trailing herbaceous evergreen shrub, which can grow to 4 feet in height. The plants often form dense clumps, and the alternate, glossy green, thick leaves cluster near the branch tips.

Native inkberry prefers a dry, sandy habitat and is an ideal plant for the beach zone as it is salt and drought tolerant. The trailing succulent stems help to trap sand and act as a beach stabilizer. Although, the plant is most often found near the beach, it will grow in a variety of soils. Inkberry tolerates full sun, flowers most of the year, and its dense growth provides excellent shelter for birds and mammals.

The small, fan-like, whitish-colored flowers with a yellow throat grow in clusters among the terminal leaves, followed by glossy black fruits eaten by birds.

To view the “Worst of the Worst” invasives and the city’s “The Alien Invasion” brochure, visit https://www. mysanibel.com/content/download/10568/file/The%20 Alien%20Invasion%202011.pdf.

For more information, contact the city’s Natural Resources Department at 239-472-3700.

County’s food-rescue campaign to kick off

Lee County Solid Waste’s eighth annual “Donated not Wasted” food rescue campaign encourages seasonal residents and visitors to donate unopened pantry items before returning north.

Solid Waste’s Topaz Court Facility, at 6441 Topaz Court, Fort Myers

The drop-off locations include:

Library locations

∫ Bonita Springs Public Library, at 10560 Reynolds St., Bonita Springs

Drop off unopened canned and dry goods from April 7-21 at participating libraries or county parks facilities and recreation centers. Additional collection containers are available at

The community can join Solid Waste, the Harry Chapin Food Bank, Waste Pro, Lee County Library System, Sanibel Public Library and Lee County Parks & Recreation to help route food that might otherwise end up in the waste stream to the county’s population of people in need.

∫ Cape Coral-Lee County Public Library, at 921 S.W. 39th Terrace, Cape Coral

See FOOD-RESCUE, page 35

City committee to offer guided plant walk

The city of Sanibel’s Vegetation Committee will offer a free, guided native vegetation and landscaping tour on April 9 at 9 a.m. around the grounds at City Hall, at 800 Dunlop Road, Sanibel.

Even though the grounds sustained damage from Hurricane Ian and other recent storms, the ongoing recovery of the demonstration garden provides an opportunity to witness groundcovers, shrubs and trees that require very little maintenance and are well-adapted to Sanibel’s environmental conditions.

In addition to providing infor-

mation on proper planting and care of native vegetation, committee members will highlight the two rain gardens that were recently restored by the city, in partnership with the

University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Master Gardeners Program.

The plantings, sponsored by a grant through the Florida Wildflower Foundation, were selected due to their ability to improve water quality, reduce stormwater runoff and replace wildlife habitat resources.

Registration is not required; meet in front of the main staircase at City Hall.

For more information, contact the Natural Resources Department at sandnr@mysanibel.com or 239472-4135.

CITY OF SANIBEL Non-native inkberry

Native inkberry

CITY OF SANIBEL

Recipe of the Week: Chicken Scarpariello with Roasted Peppers

By CHEF LORETTA PAGANINI

A Neapolitan chicken dish that means shoemaker style. Because of the little free time that this particular trade was known to have, this dish can be prepared quickly and easily. I like to make it ahead, refrigerate overnight and then reheat the next day and serve it for dinner with fresh pasta. Serves eight. (Chef tip: Look for plump chickens that are hormone and antibiotic free.)

2 small fryer chickens, about 2 1/2 pounds each

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1/4 cup olive oil, or as needed

1 pound sweet Italian sausage, cut into one-inch pieces

4 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped fine

2 pints cherry tomatoes, cut in half

4 red and yellow bell peppers, roasted, sliced

8 ounces pitted kalamata olives, drained and cut in half

1/4 cup white wine vinegar

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 cup defatted chicken stock

1/4 cup Italian parsley, freshly chopped

CROW Calendar

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife’s Visitor Education Center, at 3883 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel, will present the following:

∫ Today, April 2

Program of the Week at 11 a.m.

The presentation will be “Climate Change.”

Program of the Week at 2 p.m.

The presentation will be “One World, One Health.”

∫ Thursday, April 3

Program of the Week at 11 a.m.

The presentation will be on “CROW.”

∫ Friday, April 4

Program of the Week at 11 a.m.

The presentation will be “If You Care, Leave it There.”

∫ Monday, April 7

Program of the Week at 11 a.m.

The presentation will be “Baby Season at CROW.”

∫ Tuesday, April 8

Program of the Week at 11 a.m.

The presentation will be “Climate Change.”

In his book, “America’s Prophet,” best-selling author Bruce Feiler examines the enormous influence that Moses has had on our nation’s history, not just religiously, but politically and culturally as well.

As a frame of reference for his entire thesis, Feiler suggests that Moses’ life was defined by “four choices” which not only shaped his own course and character, but also that of the Hebrew people God has called him to lead. Feiler then associates each of those four choices with a signature incident in Moses’ life.

Speaker Series at 4 p.m.

ZooTampa at Lowry Park will present “Manatee Critical Care Rehabilitation Program” in-person and via Zoom. Cost is $10. To register, visit https://crowclinic. org/education/special-programs/.

∫ Wednesday, April 9

Program of the Week at 11 a.m.

The presentation will be on “CROW.”

Program of the Week at 2 p.m.

The presentation will be on “CROW.”

Admission is $12 for ages 13 and older, $7 for ages 4-12 and free for ages 3 and under.

In addition, CROW offers a Wildlife Walk Hospital Tour on Mondays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Limited to 12 people; participants must be age 10 or older. The cost is $25 per person; advanced registration and payment is required. To register, contact 239-4723644 ext. 229 or reservations@crowclinic.org.

For more information, visit http://www. crowclinic.org/ or call 239-472-3644.

Moses is out working in the field one day, the Lord comes to him in the form of a “burning bush” and calls on Moses to return to Egypt and help God free his people from their captivity. Moses is now faced, as Feiler describes it, with the second of those four defining “life choices”: stay where he is and continue to enjoy his comfortable existence, or follow God’s call into the unknown.

Cut each chicken into eight pieces. Wash and pat the chicken pieces dry, then season them generously with salt and pepper. Preheat oven to 450°F. Heat two tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet. Add as many pieces of chicken, skin side down and starting with the leg, thigh and wing pieces, to the skillet as fit without touching. Cook the chicken, turning as necessary, until golden brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. Remove the chicken pieces as they brown and drain them briefly on paper towels. Place the drained chicken pieces in a roasting pan large enough to hold all of them in a single layer. Repeat with the remaining chicken, adding more oil to the pan as necessary and adjusting the heat to prevent the bits that stick to the pan from overbrowning. As room becomes available in the skillet after all the chicken has been added, tuck in pieces of sausage and cook, turning until browned on all sides.

Remove chicken and sausage from the pan, add the garlic and tomatoes, cook until golden, being careful not to burn it. Scatter the peppers and olives into the skillet, season with salt and pepper and stir for a minute. Pour in the vinegar and bring to boil, scraping the browned bits on the bottom of the skillet into the liquid and cook until the vinegar is reduced by half. Add wine, bring to a boil and boil until reduced by half, about five minutes. Pour in the stock and bring to a boil. Add the chicken and sausage back to the skillet and stir to coat. Cook for about 30-35 minutes. Once the sauce has thickened, top with parsley and serve.

Island Worship

∫ Bat Yam Temple of the Islands 2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel (Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ), https://www.batyam.org/, https://www.facebook.com/batyamsanibel/ Rabbi Sunny Schnitzer Sabbath service on Friday at 7 p.m. and via Zoom. Torah (Bible) Study on Saturday at 10 a.m. and via Zoom. For Zoom links, email batyamsanibel@gmail. com.

∫ Captiva Chapel by the Sea 11580 Chapin Lane, Captiva, 239-472-1646, https://www.captivachapel. com/, www.facebook.com/Captiva-Chapel-By-The-Sea Rev. Dr. Doug Dortch

In-person service on Sunday at 11 a.m. through April. Services will be videotaped and posted on the chapel’s website and Facebook page. Services from the past season can also be found online.

∫ Chavurat Shalom of Southwest Florida P.O. Box 722, Sanibel, www.chavuratshalomofsouthwestflorida.org Shabbat service on Friday at 7:30 p.m. Torah Talk on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. There are also speakers, discussions and informal “schmoozes.” For Zoom links, email ChavuratShalom@gmail.com.

∫ Sanibel Community Church 1740 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 239-472-2684, https://sanibelchurch.com/, https://www.facebook.com/sanibelchurch/ Pastor Jeramie Rinne

Sunday services at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. in the Sanctuary. Services will be recorded and posted on the SCC’s YouTube channel.

∫ Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ 2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 239-472-0497, https://www.sanibelucc.org/, https://www.facebook.com/sanibelucc/ Senior Minister Rev. Dr. Mark Boyea Sunday service at 10 a.m. in the Sanctuary.

∫ Saint Isabel Catholic Church 3559 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel, 239-472-2763, https://www.saintisabel. org/, https://www.facebook.com/stisabelcatholicchurch/ Father Edward Martin

Friday Mass at 9 a.m. Saturday Vigil Mass at 5 p.m. Sunday Mass at 10 a.m.

∫ Saint 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

Saturday service at 5 p.m. in the Sanctuary, with a social to follow. Sunday services at 8 and 10:30 a.m., with socials to follow; services are available via livestream and the link on the website.

The second of these incidents which Feiler points to occurs while Moses is still a young man, very likely in the “early adulthood” stage of life. Following an incident in which he kills an Egyptian after witnessing that person abusing one of his fellow Hebrews, Moses flees Egypt and winds up in a land called Midian. While there, he finds a wife and settles down, working for his father-in-law, Jethro, a prosperous landowner. Moses is living, as Feiler refers to it, the American Dream. However, God has other plans. While

As we know, of course, Moses chooses to answer God’s call. He returns to Egypt and leads his people out of captivity and on their way to a new homeland. And because of that, both his own and an entire people’s destiny are changed forever.

As Christians and our Jewish sisters and brothers enter the most sacred seasons of Lent and Passover in the month of April, we are reminded that God continually presents us with the same choice Moses was given long ago — remain in the comfortable place or places we are now, whether that comfort is material, social or professional — or follow God’s call into the unknown in order to help

those in captivity in our time. Today, there are still millions throughout the world, as well as thousands in our own country, who are believed to be victims of human trafficking. Today, there are still millions who are captive to physical, emotional, sexual and substance abuse. Today, there are still millions held captive by political and religious systems which deny them their rights and full humanity. Will we choose to stay in our comfortable “personal Midians,” or make the same choice that Moses made, and perhaps help change another’s — and maybe even our own — destiny?

The Rev. Dr. Mark Boyea is senior minister at the Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ.

Chef Loretta Paganini

Rev. Dr. Mark Boyea Faces on Faith

MudBugs Cajun Kitchen, 1473 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

RC Otter’s Island Eats, 11506 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva

Rosalita’s Cantina, 975 Rabbit Road, Sanibel

Pazzi Italian Kitchen, 1200 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel

ALLGOOD noon to 4:30 p.m. FRANK THOMSON 5:30 to 10 p.m. SAMUEL FELKER noon to 4:30 p.m. PAT MCCUNE 5:30 to 10 p.m.

SEYFFERTH noon to 4:30 p.m. FRANK THOMSON 5:30 to 10 p.m.

p.m. GEO RODERICK 5:30 to 10 p.m.

Santiva Islanders Calendar

The Santiva Islanders will present the following:

Walking Group

The Santiva Islanders Walking Group will gather today, April 2, from 9 to 10 a.m. to explore Bowman’s Beach Park, at 1700 Bowman’s Beach Road, Sanibel. Parking is free with an A or B sticker or $5 per hour. Afterward, participants can meet for breakfast or coffee at the Over Easy Cafe, at 630 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel.

Cardio & Strength

Mahnaz Bassir will host Cardio & Strength today, April 2, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ, at 2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Bring water and a towel; no mat is required. Light weights may be brought. Cost is $5 per class and $60 per month for members or $10 per class and $120 per month for non-members.

Cardio & Strength

Mahnaz Bassir will host Cardio & Strength today, April 2, from 11 a.m. to noon at Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ, at 2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Bring water and a towel; no mat is required. Light weights may be brought. Cost is $5 per class and $60 per month for members or $10 per class and $120 per month for non-members.

Breakfast Club

Breakfast Club will be held on April 3 from 9 to 10 a.m. at Jerry’s Cafe, at 1700 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Attendees will order and pay individually. For more information, contact Dan Hopta at 978-239-4612.

Social Bridge

Social Bridge will be held on April 3 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, at 2304 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Cost is $5. For more information, contact Bryant Korn at bryantekorn@gmail. com.

Social Mahjong

Social Mahjong will be held on April 3 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the Santiva Islanders Place (SIP), at 2330 Palm Ridge Road, Suite 17, Sanibel. Cost is $5. For more information, contact Beth Funderburg at bfundy4648@ gmail.com.

Cardio & Strength

Mahnaz Bassir will host Cardio & Strength on April 4 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ, at 2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Bring water and a towel; no mat is required. Light weights may be brought. Cost is $5 per class and $60 per month for members or $10 per class and $120 per month for non-members.

Cardio & Strength

Mahnaz Bassir will host Cardio & Strength on April 4 from 11 a.m. to noon at Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ, at 2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Bring water and a towel; no mat is required. Light weights may be brought. Cost is $5 per class and $60 per month for members or $10 per class and $120 per month for non-members.

Cardio & Strength

Mahnaz Bassir will host Cardio & Strength on April 7 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ, at 2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Bring water and a towel; no mat is required. Light weights may be brought. Cost is $5 per class and $60 per month for members or $10 per class and $120 per month for non-members.

Cardio & Strength

Mahnaz Bassir will host Cardio & Strength on April 7 from 11 a.m. to noon at Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ, at 2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Bring water and a towel; no mat is required. Light weights may be brought. Cost is $5 per class and $60 per month for members or $10 per class and $120 per month for non-members.

Social Hour

Social Hour will be held on April 7 from 4 to 6 p.m. at Tutti Pazzi Italian Kitchen, at 1200 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Enjoy happy hour drink and appetizer specials. Attendees will order and pay individually.

Euchre

Euchre will be held on April 8 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Santiva Islanders Place (SIP), at 2330 Palm Ridge Road, Suite 17, Sanibel. Cost is $5. For more information, contact Les Carlson at 860-983-0155 or lescarlson@comcast.net.

Page Turners Book Club

Page Turners Book Club will meet on April 8 from 1 to 2 p.m. via Zoom. The book for discussion will be “The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane” by Lisa See. For questions or to receive the Zoom login, contact santivaislanders@gmail.com.

Walking Group

The Santiva Islanders Walking Group will gather on April 9 from 9 to 10 a.m. to explore Bowman’s Beach Park, at 1700 Bowman’s Beach Road, Sanibel. Parking is free with an A or B sticker or $5 per hour. Afterward, participants can meet for breakfast or coffee at the Over Easy Cafe, at 630 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel.

Cardio & Strength

Mahnaz Bassir will host Cardio & Strength on April 9 from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ, at 2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Bring water and a towel; no mat is required. Light weights may be brought. Cost is $5 per class and $60 per month for members or $10 per class and $120 per month for non-members.

Cardio & Strength

Mahnaz Bassir will host Cardio & Strength on April 9 from 11 a.m. to noon at Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ, at 2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. Bring water and a towel; no mat is required. Light weights may be brought. Cost is $5 per class and $60 per month for members or $10 per class and $120 per month for non-members.

Quarterly Book Review

Quarterly Book Review will be held on April 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Santiva Islanders Place (SIP), at 2330 Palm Ridge Road, Suite 17, Sanibel. The book will be “Memorial Days” by Geraldine Brooks. Margie Peters will moderate the discussion. Attendees are invited to bring a sack lunch.

The Santiva Islanders serve all adult islanders and visitors, regardless of age. The cost is $25 for an annual membership. The Island Seniors raise funding to help defray the cost of the program activities. For more information, visit https://santivaislanders. org/ or contact santivaislanders@gmail.com.

BIG ARTS Calendar

BIG ARTS, at 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel, will present the following:

Lecture Series

Talking Points will be held today, April 2, at 4 p.m., with a livestream option available. Michela Mallozzi will speak on “Inspirational Travel in Bare Feet.” Tickets are $35 for adults and students are free.

Arts Workshop

Tape It Up: Mixed Media Sculpting with Jeff Ocasio will be held on April 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost is $52 for donors and $65 for non-donors. The deadline to register is today, April 2.

Film Series

“A Different Man” (2024) will be shown on April 7 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12.

The Dunes Golf and Tennis Club, 949 Sand Castle Road, Sanibel

The Community House Calendar

The Community House, at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, will present the following:

Sanibel Hearts Club

The Sanibel Hearts Club will meet on April 4 from 1 to 3 p.m. New players, from beginners to experts, are welcome. Suggested donation of $5. The winners on March 14 were: Sue Carlson, first place; and Jim Marianksi and Tommy Williams, tied for second place. The winners on March 21 were: Carlson, first place; and Les Carlson, second place.

Shellcrafters

The Shellcrafters will meet on April 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A shell crafting class will take place at 10 a.m.; it is free and supplies range from $3-4. Items will also be available for sale; all sales benefit the operations of TCH.

Seminar Series

Naturopathic Lectures:

Strengthening Your Bones And Avoid Osteoporosis will be held on April 7 from noon to 1 p.m. with Paula Johnson. Cost is $10 for non-members and free for members. Registration is required.

Painting

With Friends

Painting With Friends will be held on April 9 from 9 a.m. to noon. New painters welcome. Bring your own supplies. Cost is $10 donation at the door.

Shell Critter Kits are available for purchase in a variety of different options. Cost is $5 per kit with all of the supplies included, except for glue. Order them in-person at TCH or call 239-472-2155.

TCH office hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information, visit www. sanibelcommunityhouse.net or contact 239-472-2155 or info@sanibelcommunityhouse.net.

BIG ARTS Calendar

From page 34

Lecture Series

Talking Points will be held on April 9 at 4 p.m., with a livestream option available. Jane Woolridge will speak on “Art Basel & the Art Scene.” Tickets are $35 for adults and students are free.

Registration is required for workshops by calling 239-395-0900. For more information or tickets, visit www.bigarts.org or call 239-395-0900.

‘An April Fool for Poetry’

An April Fool was I for poetry, For jests and tricks and play with irony, Fooling the Muse with rhyme tomfoolery — Every verse footloose and fancy free.

Until a world too wise and wide for me Turned my fool’s errand into odyssey To roam as far as my mind’s eye could see Horizons glowing with discovery.

No fool am I now for poetry, For mindless myth and made-up history, The “cruelest month” now kind as kind can be, And poetry’s no longer a fool for me.

Food-rescue

From page 32

∫ Dunbar-Jupiter Hammon Public Library, at 3095 Blount St., Fort Myers

∫ East County Regional Library, at 881 Gunnery Road, Lehigh Acres

∫ Fort Myers Regional Library (South Building), at 1651 Lee St., Fort Myers

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

∫ North Fort Myers Public Library, at 2001 N. Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers

∫ Northwest Regional Library, at 519 N. Chiquita Blvd. N., Cape Coral

∫ Pine Island Public Library, at 10701 Russell Road, Bokeelia

∫ Riverdale Public Library, at 2421 Buckingham Road, Fort Myers

∫ Sanibel Public Library, at 770 Dunlop Road, Sanibel

Joe Pacheco Poetic License

Parks facilities/ recreation centers

∫ Estero Recreation Center, at 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero

∫ North Fort Myers Recreation Center, at 2000 North Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers

∫ Six Mile Cypress Slough Interpretive Center, at 7791 Penzance Blvd., Fort Myers

∫ Veterans Park Recreation Center, at 55 Homestead Road S., Lehigh Acres

∫ Wa-Ke-Hatchee Recreation Center, at 16760 Bass Road, Fort Myers

Since the program’s inception, more than 38,700 pounds of food has been diverted from potential disposal and sent to Harry Chapin — enough food to provide over 32,200 meals to residents.

For more information, visit www. leegov.com/solidwaste/donated-not-wasted or call 239-533-8000.

Eva Smith, of Olathe, Kansas, found a junonia on March 16 at the Gulfside City Park Beach on Sanibel. She discovered it in a pile of shells that had washed up the night before. Smith vis-

its Florida often, but it was her first time on Sanibel. To report a shell

Kathy Illes, of South Bend, Indiana, found a scotch bonnet on March 13 on North Captiva. She and her husband, Jim, were on a fishing and shelling charter trip.

The couple have been coming to Sanibel every year for over 30 years. To report a shell find, contact 239-472-1587 or trepecki@breezenewspapers.com.

Music festival season kicks off

The 38th annual Sanibel Music Festival kicked off with its Gala Benefit, “Celebrating Sanibel Music Festival’s Return to the Island,” on March 1 featuring cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han at the Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ on Sanibel. On March 4, the festival welcomed back pianist Jon Nakamatsu. Among his repertoire was Beethoven Sonata in D major Op 28, “Pastorale” and Liszt: Three Sonnets of Petrarch. Nakamatsu closed with an encore performance of an arrangement of Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring. The March 8 concert showcased the Horszowski Trio, featuring pianist Reiko Aizawaa, violinist Jesse Mills and cellist Ole Akahoshi. It demonstrated a creative contemporary piece, which also involved international percussion instruments. The trio closed with Tschaikovsky

Junonia found on Sanibel

Riley Kaspar, of Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin, found a junonia on March 21 at about 9 p.m. just off the Fulgur Street beach entrance on Sanibel. He was doing some night time shelling when he discovered it. It is the first one

ever found in three generations of families that has been coming to the island for 30 years. To report a shell find, contact 239-472-1587 or trepecki@ breezenewspapers.com.

Piano Trio in A minor, Op 50.

PHOTO PROVIDED

DEBORAH LARSON

Cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han at a private donor cocktail party at the home of Shirley and George Witte.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9

1:00 - 2:30 p.m.

Sanibel Office, 2450 Periwinkle Way Sanibel, FL 33957

THURSDAY, APRIL 10

4:00 - 5:30 p.m.

Bell Tower Office, 13525 Bell Tower Drive Fort Myers, FL 33907

Joe Havens, of Granville, Ohio, found an alphabet cone on March 18 at Beach Access 1 on West Gulf Drive on Sanibel. He was shelling with his sons, Sayer and Raleigh, and wife, Eva. Havens reported that his family has been coming to the island to stay with his

parents for 15 years. Raleigh recently had a heart transplant and it was his first trip to Sanibel. “He’s doing great!” Havens added. “Donate life!” To report a shell find, contact 239-472-1587 or trepecki@breezenewspapers.com.

PHOTO PROVIDED Alphabet cone found on Sanibel

From left, Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church Director of Community Engagement Sue Van Oss, The Sanibel School Principal Jennifer Lusk, middle school science teacher and National Junior Honor Society school advisor Michele Mitnitsky and church Pancake Supper Chair Bill Larson.

Supper raises funds for island school

Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church presented The Sanibel School with $1,533 raised at the Mardi Gras Pancake Supper on March 4 at the church on Sanibel. The funds will support the Middle School Science Program and National Junior Honor Society (NJHS). Saint Michael’s covered all of the expenses and its Men’s Fellowship Ministry hosted the event, making over 400 pancakes and sausages, along with ice cream and king cakes. Festive music and beads also greeted attendees, who heard from seventh-grader Mason Fase about the NJHS and service projects that they engage in during the year.

Tom Braciszewski, of Shelby Township, Michigan, found a junonia on the afternoon of March 18 at the Nerita Street beach access on Sanibel. He reported that it was fairly low tide and a little windy, with some waves and lots of shells rolling up on the beach. They were finding tulips and other nice shells, then Braciszewski turned around and the junonia was 5 feet in front on him. “I was really excited to find my

very first! Up to that day, we had never even found a broken piece of a junonia shell!” he said. “It was truly amazing!” Braciszewski added that they have been coming to the island for about 32 years and have owned property since 2003. The past couple years, he and his wife have been able to spend more and more time on Sanibel. To report a shell find, contact 239-472-1587 or trepecki@ breezenewspapers.com.

PHOTO PROVIDED

Junonia cone found on Sanibel

SAINT MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Features power recline with a power headrest and power lumbar adjustment with USBC charging ports. The console loveseat features a cooler with wireless charging and hidden cup holders. There are also hidden Blue Tooth speaker for the ultimate in surround sound technology.

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