Report your news to CAPTIVASANIBEL.COM
SWFL Solar Co-op selects company for installation ship will close on April 30. The co-op is free to join and joining is not a commitment to purchase solar equipment. SUN will host a free information session about solar energy and the co-op, “Florida Solar 101,” virtually on April 6 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. To register, visit solarunitedneighbors.org/swfl. SUN has hosted 78 co-ops in Florida since 2015. According to its estimates, the 2,373 homes and businesses that now have solar panels because of co-ops represent: 23.5 thousand kW of solar power, $56 million in local solar spending, and more than 709.8 million pounds of lifetime carbon offsets.
Deadline approaching for DDWS scholarship applications kiwanis Club still taking scholarship applications
Report your news to THE REPORTER:
captivasanibel.com
The Sanibel-Captiva Kiwanis Club is accepting scholarship applications for the 2023-24 school year. Scholarships in varying amounts are available. Eligible applicants — of any age — must be a Sanibel-Captiva resident, employed full-time on the islands, or a family member of such and attending a college for an undergraduate degree or attending a vocational school. Considerations will be given to the unique circumstances due to Hurricane Ian.
The club collects the applications and an independent committee makes the selection. Applications must be submitted by March 31. They can be obtained at SanibelKiwanis.org or by contacting M J Hays at 239-579-0660 or mj@sanibelinsurance.com, Bill Traum at 239-671-0155 or billtraum@me.com, Chris Heidrick at 239-579-0660 or chris@sanibelinsurance.com or Emily Ankerson at 802598-5194 or emily.ankerson@ccaptiva.org.
Business Notes Coastline Cottage Home Watch earns accreditation
SANIBEL-CAPTIVA KIWANIS CLUB
Kiwanis welcome Ankerson The Sanibel-Captiva Kiwanis Club recently announced its newest member. Emily Ankerson has been sponsored by Angi SemlerWelch. For more information, visit www.sanibelkiwanis.org.
Rec center adds to Hall of Sponsors McCallion & McCallion has joined the Sanibel Recreation Center's Hall of Sponsors as sponsors. Proceeds from sponsor signs financially assist parents, grandparents and legal custodians who qualify for their children to attend the: after-school program; summer day, winter and spring break camps; fun days; babysitter training camp; basketball league; volleyball camp; and Counselor In Training (C.I.T.) programs at the center. A printout of all the sponsors can also be obtained at the center's reception counter or by visiting https://files.constantcontact.com/97af97e6001/51af58d 4-47d6-4372-932a-fc131961dce7.pdf. For more information, call volunteer sponsor Chairperson Barry Alan Roth at 239-313-9591.
Coastline Cottage Home Watch recently earned accreditation from the National Home Watch Association for the sixth year. The association was formed in 2009 in order to establish and maintain the highest industry standards for Home Watch and absenkaren Curtin tee homeowner services throughout the United States and Canada. Coastline Cottage Home Watch owner Karen Curtin has earned the designation of Certified Home Watch Professional, and she is a graduate of the association's Home Watch Boot Camp. Coastline Cottage Home Watch serves Sanibel and Fort Myers. For more information, visit www.facebook .com/cchomewatcher or contact Curtin at 239-771-3125 or at cchomewatcher@gmail.com.
Trust Company to present final speaker The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company will host the final event of its 2023 Fort Myers Speaker Series on April 4 at 10 a.m. at the Event Center, at 1901 Brantley Road, Suite 7, Fort Myers. Led by Aysegul Timur, vice president and vice provost for strategy and program innovation at Florida Gulf Coast University, the program is “The Past, Present and Future of Southwest Florida.” Also a member of See BUSINESS NOTES, page 10
Island Reporter
The application deadline for scholarships from the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge — ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 each and totaling over $20,000 — is set for March 31. High school seniors, college students and graduate students in or from Lee, Collier, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties who are pursuing degrees in environmental-related studies can apply. This year's named scholarships include the following: ∫ Richard Bailey Scholarship ∫ Mike and Terry Baldwin Scholarship ∫ Dr. Andrew and Laura Dahlem Scholarship ∫ Dr. H. Randall Deming Scholarship for Conservation and Environmental Studies ∫ “Ding” Darling Conservation Scholarship ∫ Hans and Leslie Fleischner Scholarships (two scholarships) ∫ The Mary Elaine Jacobson Memorial Scholarship ∫ Win & Marilyn Kloosterman Scholarship ∫ Barry & Francine Litofsky Scholarship ∫ Tarpon Bay Explorers Scholarship ∫ Jane Werner Environmental Scholarships (two scholarships) The DDWS will award the scholarships at a special ceremony at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel in June, if hurricane recovery efforts allow for it. In its 17th year, the scholarship program presented its first awards in 2006, donated from Tarpon Bay Explorers — the refuge's official recreation concession. To date, it has awarded over $233,000. For more information and to apply, visit dingdarlingsociety.org/articles/student-scholarships. To learn more about the scholarship program and establishing a permanently endowed scholarship, contact DDWS Executive Director Birgie Miller at 239-292-0566 or director@dingdarlingsociety.org.
breezenewspapers.com
REFUGE/DDWS
Conservation scholarships help replenish our world with young wildlife ambassadors.
Organized through nonprofit group Solar United Neighbors, the Southwest Florida 2023 Solar Co-op recently selected the Florida Solar Design Group to install solar panels for the 63-member group. SUN reported that the co-op members selected the company through a competitive bidding process over seven other firms. The ability of Florida Solar Design Group's equipment to withstand hurricane-force winds was top of mind for the committee members following the devastation of Hurricane Ian. In addition, the co-op members selected the Fort Myers-based installer because of the quality of equipment offerings — wind ratings and efficiency — along with local experience and price. SUN expands access to solar by educating Lee and Collier county residents and businesses about the benefits of distributed solar energy, helping them organize group solar installations, and strengthening local solar policies and its community of solar supporters. Co-op member-
Page 9 ■ Week of Wednesday, March 22, 2023
BUsIness