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Cover photo: The Blue Giraffe Island Bar & Grill caters to
By TIFFANY REPECKI • For Distinctly Sanibel
Lee County’s Causeway Islands Park has been closed to the public since Hurricane Ian in 2022.
Before the storm, the county was proceeding with a project to redesign and improve the recreational amenities at the two islands, located on the Sanibel Causeway between Fort Myers and Sanibel.
“Following Hurricane Ian, the original project was canceled due to the damage sustained to the islands, as well as the need to use them for the rebuilding of the causeway and the Punta Rassa Boat Ramp,” Lee County Parks & Recreation Deputy Director Kathy Loomis said.
As the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) nears the finish line for its Sanibel Causeway rebuild, the county has resumed its redesign and is preparing for a phased reopening of the park.
The first phase has an anticipated target date of May 1, but that is dependent on weather and other factors common in construction projects.
“Lee County expects to begin a phased opening later this year as FDOT completes the causeway reconstruction project,” she said, noting that the state agency has worked diligently to create a more resilient causeway.
Upon reopening, on-site parking, portable toilets, and trash and recycling bins will be available.
“In fall of 2024, Lee County executed a contract for another consultant — selected via competitive solicitation — to begin the design phase for permanent, post-Ian improvements,” Loomis said.
In October, the Lee County Commission awarded the $1.31 million contract for the public amenities on the Causeway Islands to Johnson Engineering, of Fort Myers. The county reported that Ian reshaped the Causeway Islands, which are spoil islands, and efforts to restore the facilities will focus on creating more resilient spoil islands.
The county has resumed its redesign and is preparing for a phased reopening of the park.
FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Lee County is working on a project to redesign and improve the recreational facilities and amenities at the Causeway Islands Park, with the focus on creating more resilient spoil islands.
“As a second phase, Lee County plans to rebuild/ redevelop this park, with the typical steps this entails — for example design, permitting, procurement and construction,” she said, noting that the design phase is currently underway.
The design phase for the additional work is planned to be complete in about a year, weather permitting. It will then be presented to the Lee County Commission for approval to proceed on to construction.
Improvements to the recreational site will include parking areas and site access, landscape and irrigation improvements, site drainage and water management areas, restrooms and shade structures, beach access and ADA accommodations.
“Once phase two is complete, the facilities/amenities will include structured parking areas, restrooms on Island A (closest to toll bridge), pavilions on both islands and outdoor showers,” Loomis said.
She confirmed that the public will have the opportunity to provide input on the design.
“When completed, the islands will look much as they did before Hurricane Ian, with a sandy shoreline, parking, permanent restrooms, landscaping and site
amenities,” Loomis said.
Park closures are anticipated during the construction phase.
“The degree and timing of these temporary closures will be established when the contractor provides a work schedule,” she said.
The improvements to the Causeway Islands Park are being funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Public Assistance Program and a state appropriation, as well as Tourist Development Taxes from short-term lodging.
“We are also continually working on new methods to provide updates to the community,” Loomis said.
FOR UPDATES
• Updates on the project can be found online through the county’s Parks Progress Information Tool at experience.arcgis.com/experience
• People can also follow Lee County’s Parks & Recreation on Facebook at www.facebook.com/leeparksandrecreation.
“When completed, the islands will look much as they did before Hurricane Ian.”
By MEGHAN BRADBURY
For Distinctly Sanibel
Ashopping center that opened its first phase in 1973 is becoming the shopping destination once again on the island after months of hard work following the devastation of Hurricane Ian in 2022.
Dahlmann Properties Vice President of Retail
Sara Holderfield said the first phase for the Periwinkle Place Shops took place in 1973 on the west side of the center that now holds the Blue Giraffe Island Bar & Grill. Eleven years later in 1984, the second phase took shape on the east side, where Congress Jewelers and Trader Rick’s occupy.
“The first phase was 13 stores, and the second phase included seven more stores,” she said. “Over time the stores have shifted. Some have separated and become smaller spaces, while some combined and became larger spaces.”
Periwinkle Place is the largest shopping center on Sanibel with Holderfield comparing it to “like shopping at a park.”
“The grounds are beautiful. There is a vast array of stores to choose from and for most people, especially our return visitors, it is a destination for them because they have been shopping at
Periwinkle Place – even though stores have changed over the years – for decades,” she said.
Most of the tenants have been part of Periwinkle Place for a long time, with some changing locations throughout the center while maintaining their occupancy.
The shopping center holds some titles: Sanibel’s shopping destination and Lee County’s Top Visitor Destination by the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau.
Beach Daisy Boutique and Coast Clothing co-owner Keelie Bloom took over the store, Beach Daisy Boutique, in 2019 with her husband, Brian Bloom, before they opened Coast Clothing last year as a partner store. The stores are connected with an opening between the two.
Periwinkle Place is the largest shopping center on Sanibel.
PERIWINKLE PLACE SHOPS
The stores in the Periwinkle Place Shops on Sanibel are bouncing back after Hurricane Ian.
CONGRESS JEWELERS
Congress Jewelers has established its reputation by providing individuality through its SeaLife By Congress Collection, exclusive designer pieces and custom designs.
“You can shop at both stores at the same time,” Bloom said. “We serve wine and Prosecco all day, so we kind of make it a little party here.”
She said they purchased Beach Daisy Boutique from a previous owner.
“We purchased the business because Periwinkle Shops was the center to be in if you wanted to open a business,” Bloom said. “The one unique thing about it is it is a collection of true small businesses – you don’t have the national chains here. Everybody carries something unique. All the customers get to shop somewhere and see something different. That is what we like about it – it has a very different collective of stores – retail, toy stores, ice cream, and Blue Giraffe is a wonderful restaurant. It’s a wonderful shopping center to be a part of. We knew this is where we wanted to be.”
The Beach Daisy Boutique is an all-women’s store, while Coast Clothing is a hybrid of men’s and women’s clothing.
Coast Clothing specializes in such brands as Johnnie-O, Tommy Bahama, Tori Richard and 7 Downie St., while the female brands include Escape by Habitat and Sophia.
Beach Daisy Boutique, on the other hand, carries all of their main lines, such as Johnny Was, XCVI, Michael Stars, Tribal and Charlie B. The boutique also carries Michael Vincent Michaud jewelry, a glasswork designer from New York, and home store goods, such as pillows, vases and dried flowers.
Since Ian, 15 stores have reopened with three more to come onboard soon.
“We had the honor of having the very first Chico’s store in our shopping center. That is where the
Chico’s name brand started,” Holderfield said.
She said in the near future they are looking forward to welcoming back Toys Ahoy – a Sanibel staple for more than 50 years – Butterfly Beach and the Naples Soap Company.
“We do have four vacancies that we are adamantly looking to lease at this point,” Holderfield said.
As with many businesses on Sanibel, Ian left a devastating blow to Periwinkle Place, leaving behind a complete remodel for 90% of the center in regard to the interior of the stores from sheetrock to the roofs.
“We have brand-new roofs – all the interiors have been completely remodeled in all of the stores and all new landscaping and grounds,” she said.
The first full year that stores were opened at Periwinkle Place was last year.
“Obviously, with the lack of accommodations and the magnitude of everything that was being redone on Sanibel, traffic was what we expected, but nowhere close to what we have seen in past years,” Holderfield said. “So far, this season has been good. We’ve been very pleasantly surprised.”
Since Hurricane Ian, 15 stores have reopened with three more to come onboard soon.
Jeffrey A. Muddell MBA, CFP® Sanibel President | S. Albert D. Hanser Founder and Chairman Megan Marquardt CFP®, CTFA, Fort Myers President
As with many businesses, Periwinkle Place shop owners rely on the local island community, as well as surrounding areas, to support the stores during the off season.
“During our seasonal months – from December through April –we are very dependent on tourist traffic. With the accommodations not being back to what they were prior to Ian, that does hinder traffic a bit. We are very blessed with the day-trippers and community support from our local area,” Bloom said. “We are seeing a lot more tourists driving back on the island.”
She said when they got hit by Ian it closed the Beach Daisy Boutique for 860 days. They reopened in early February of this year.
“We are thrilled to be back open. It’s been a very busy month, we are very happy with that,” Bloom said. “Every day more people are coming back to the island. The houses are opening up and people are able to rent, and the hotels are increasing in capacity. We talked to the president of the chamber, John Lai, and he stated that the hotels should be at 62% capacity by July. Every month is getting better. An extraordinary thing is happening and it’s very exciting.”
The couple also began “Gathered Thoughts” program, which presents customers with messages of kindness and encouragement.
“You don’t have to buy anything. Just come in and pick up the cards. We did this from day one of opening. People have really enjoyed it – it’s part of the perseverance of Sanibel, Sanibel Strong,” she said.
In addition, the Blooms also hold events to give back and help the community.
She said they are holding an event for the Gulf Coast Humane Society in April, “Strut Your Style, Shake Your Tail for the Shelter.”
“People come in, do a dance and get a discount with a big percentage of the proceeds to go to the shelter,” Bloom said.
IF YOU GO
What: Periwinkle Place Shops
Where: 2075 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. When: Contact individual stores for hours. More info: Visit www.periwinkleplace.com
The stores that are open include:
• Beach Daisy Boutique
• Blue Giraffe Island Bar & Grill
• Coast Clothing • Congress Jewelers
• Everything But Water • Her Sports Closet
• One Island Sanibel
• Pinocchio’s Original Italian Ice Cream
• Sanibel Day Spa • Sanibel Flip Flops
• Sea Glass Lane • The Original Chico’s
• Tiki Jim’s • Trader Rick’s
• Yara’s Shoe Boutique
BEACH DAISY BOUTIQUE
The Beach Daisy Boutique carries women’s clothing and accessories for an effortless lifestyle, along with home goods and more.
ONE ISLAND SANIBEL
One Island Sanibel offers retail boutique clothing for men and women from sunrise to sunset.
RESILIENCY HUB services FOR DISASTER RESPONSE
Living in an island community provides unique blessings, as well as unique challenges. While we enjoy blue skies most of the time, gray skies—including natural or human-caused disasters—are a very real threat and can have a devastating and isolating impact on our islands. FISH has long been a leader in providing help and resources, including our Hurricane Preparedness program. But in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, FISH has raised the bar on what “neighbors helping neighbors” looks like, while navigating and leading the ongoing and complex process of long term recovery. As the clouds continue to part, FISH has proudly emerged a recognized disaster recovery agent—a Resiliency Hub.
disaster recovery agent— an extension of our helping hands pillar
As a lead agency, proud partner, and one of 17 Resiliency Hubs located across Lee, Hendry and Glades counties, FISH works with United Way and a network of agencies to offer crucial day-to-day services, including our 4 pillar programs. When disasters strike, Hubs can quickly pivot to provide emergency items including food, water, tarps and other vital resources. Island neighbors can call FISH and access assistance directly and through the larger network.
disaster
recovery is about rebuilding, restoring, and returning to everyday life through:
• Response/relief for immediate needs
• Collaborating with city/county
• Assisting with Government programs
• Volunteer coordination
• Donation management & distribution of emergency supplies
• Tool Shed Partnership
• Furniture distribution
• Emotional Support services
• Register for resources; food stamps, unemployment, short term disability
• Long Term Recovery Application/Grant Process
Trust Company
Founder Builds Legacy of Philanthropy
By MEGHAN BRADBURY
For Distinctly Sanibel
An individual with more than 50 years of experience in the investment and banking industry decided to become the fabric of the Sanibel and Captiva community in the late 1990s.
When S. Albert D. Hanser’s wife experienced an autoimmune circumstance, and the couple already owned a house on Sanibel, Hanser made the decision to sell his business to U.S. Trust and move to the island full time, as his wife is “more important than the business.”
“It worked out just fine. Twenty-six years later and we are the fabric of the community,” the now founder and chairman of The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company said.
Hanser retired in 1997-98 from Minneapolis, Minn., where he was in the same business. His retirement quickly changed when his wife told him he needed something to do other than continuously cleaning the garage.
His thought process turned to conversations he had with others about having to call 1-800 customer service numbers in Atlanta to find out about their investment account, rather than talking to someone on Sanibel.
and opened the doors to The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company in 2001. It went from about $4 million in its first year to $5 billion today.
“We are a trust company without banking powers,” Hanser said.
In the third or second year, he hired his chief executive officer, Terence M. Igo.
“He’s done a wonderful job over the years to help grow the company,” Hanser said, adding that what started off with a few employees now sits at 63.
He said the nice thing about the company is that every employee is a stakeholder. Hanser said he gives bonuses twice a year, pays the employees full healthcare and gives them money for their birthday that they give to a charity of their choice.
Hanser traveled to Tallahassee to seek information about what it takes to run a trust company. The answers all led to: “I can do that.”
“A trust company made a lot more sense than an investment advisor. I came back and didn’t really know anyone on Sanibel,” he said.
Hanser sought the best investment banker in Florida and hired him, then put together a board of directors. He received his approval in September of 2000
“We have wonderful employees who know the company is not going to be sold,” he said. “Our assets walk out the door every night. It’s simple – the way you treat your employees is the way they treat their clients. We have a lot of happy clients.”
The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company now has seven offices –Sanibel and Captiva, Tampa, Belleair Bluffs, Tarpon Springs, Fort Myers, Naples, and Marco Island.
“We stick to the
west coast. We are now the largest privately held trust company in Florida,” Hanser said. “We manage money for our clients, and we do it differently.”
He said they found a bank on the corner of Daniels and U.S. 41 and put their Fort Myers office there, which is in a spectacular place.
“Our Fort Myers office is where we should have been a long time ago. It’s a visible place and everybody drives by it. It’s a palace – it’s really nice,” Hanser said.
THE SANIBEL CAPTIVA TRUST COMPANY • S. Albert D. Hanser
In 2001, Hanser took over the Good Neighbor Fund from Francis Bailey, which then turned into the Charitable Foundation of the Islands.
The client has a team of four people that work with them, which includes a portfolio manager, all of whom are credentialed, and a client service person who keeps records for their account.
“Our client has four people that they can visit with. They talk to our clients in person or on the phone or Zoom, if they would like, four times a year,” he said, adding that the goal is to “touch our clients 10 times a year one way or another through some kind of communication.”
The company also hosts events, one of which has been extremely successful – classes for those moving to Florida who are not residents. Hanser said they teach individuals how to become a resident, as every 10 days there are six to eight new people that have moved to the area.
“The interesting thing about Sanibel and Captiva is you can’t really get flood insurance – you can’t find a mortgage,” he said. “You have to be a cash buyer. The makeup of the community is now wealthier younger people, which is going to be good for Sanibel and Captiva and certainly for us.”
The commitment: do the right thing, clients come first, and become part of the fabric of the community.
“There isn’t anything we wouldn’t do for a client,”
Hanser said.
The list is endless – a ride to the grocery store, putting jewelry in a safe when a hurricane hits so someone does not steal it, or helping when someone is in the hospital.
If that was not enough, Hanser is a huge advocate of supporting every nonprofit they can, which continues to be the trend to this day.
“I like to have our people on the board of those organizations to help us know what they need,” he said.
In 2001, Hanser took over the Good Neighbor Fund from Francis Bailey, which then turned into the Charitable Foundation of the Islands.
“The foundation is lending money, giving money to local businesses to keep them alive and doing strategic things for 501(c)(3)s recovering from COVID and hurricanes,” he said.
In his spare time, Hanser loves reading a lot, working with nonprofits, as he is very active on a number of the boards, and playing golf on Saturdays with his buddies. He said he has a sign on his door that says “Stop me from volunteering.”
“They need help because they are all having tough times. We are going to make it, better than ever,” Hanser said.
LEE HEALTH FOUNDATION
Sally Hanser and S. Albert D. Hanser
Bank Where Every Dollar Stays Local
There are 188 million reasons to bank with Sanibel Captiva Community Bank.
With SanCap Bank, every dollar you deposit stays right here, working to rebuild our island community.
We don’t send your money elsewhere – we lend it out locally to help families repair their homes, small businesses reopen their doors, and our island recover from the storms that changed everything.
The rebuilding isn’t over. Your deposits can help us fund the loans that make our island stronger.
We have processed $188 million in loans—and counting—to residents and businesses on the islands for storm recovery and we’re committed to continue helping.
When you bank with us, you’re not just banking – you’re rebuilding, one deposit at a time. Open an account today and join us in restoring our island.
The
jambalaya dish features sausage and chicken.
It has survived a pandemic and one of the worst storms in the history of the island for a reason.
MudBugs Cajun Kitchen on Periwinkle Way offers excellent cuisine that compares to anything on the bayou. From oysters to jambalaya and even non-Cajun fare, this place has it all.
General Manager Ronald Rich and his partners opened the restaurant in December of 2018. They had been in New Orleans and wanted to do something like that on Sanibel.
Ron Rice and Larry Thompson opened it up. Rich came along, having worked with Thompson at the Lazy Flamingo. Rice bought out his partner.
“We try to make it a party every day. You see all the Christmas lighting and ornaments and decorations. We try to celebrate like it’s Mardi Gras,” Rich said.
The pandemic did not hurt too much since Florida opened fairly quickly and the people up north came down because the kids were doing virtual school, he said.
Hurricane Ian? Not so much.
“We were closed for 100 days. I came every day with two other guys and we cleaned and worked every day to get it reopened,” Rich said.
MudBugs specializes in Cajun food – though it also has a menu of American staples. It can make some food spicier or not spicy at all, so it accommodates the entire palate.
Voted Best of Sanibel & Captiva since 1992
The menu is served as fresh as possible.
Some of the signature dishes include jambalaya with sausage and chicken, gumbo, chowders, étouffée, red beans and rice, and po’ boy sandwiches with catfish, shrimp, oysters and other items.
The menu is served as fresh as possible. They have fresh catch Creole, blackened grouper and will even cook your fresh-caught cleaned catch either grilled, blackened or fried. They also have bayou shrimp boil, crab cakes and much more.
It has a full-service bar, with happy hour daily from 3 to 6 p.m. with half price on all domestic beers, well drinks and wines. It also has happy hour food, such as crunchy pork rinds, fried grouper tacos, fried crawfish tails – during season – and more.
Chef Ethan Bores, who came
aboard when they opened, left for a while and came back two years ago, said everything they use is local such as the pink shrimp, which is the best money can buy. He also understands that not everyone likes hot spicy food.
“On Sanibel you have to have a balance of spicy and not spicy. When you come here, we can make it spicy, but when the regulars come you make it as they want,” Bores said. “I grew up on Sanibel and I love it here.”
Among the drinks it serves is the Hurricane, made famous in New Orleans, the MudBug Mojito with dragonberry rum, Sanibel Sweet Tea and other potent potables.
Rich said the traffic getting off the island is horrible during season, so you might as well come in for a drink while things thin out.
A bird’s eye view from the second floor at MudBugs Cajun Kitchen on Sanibel.
A colorful and funky new decoration at MudBugs Cajun Kitchen on Sanibel.
A fresh plate of oysters served with the trimmings.
Earlier this year, four island nonprofit organizations partnered to launch an outreach campaign with the goal of broadening public awareness and appreciation of Sanibel’s natural resources and wildlife.
In February, the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium, Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW), “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) and Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) announced the “Sanibel Wild Mile.”
Located within about a mile of each other along a and substantially undeveloped stretch of Sanibel-Captiva Road and the city’s islandwide Shared Use Path, the nonprofits share the values of education and conservation.
“With the Sanibel Wild Mile, we hope to encourage more people to take a closer look at our islands’ natural environment, to actively participate in ways to access it and, most importantly, to enjoy it and come away with a deeper sense of its uniqueness and the importance of conserving and protecting it,” they said.
Through pooled efforts in marketing and communications, the objective of the campaign is to increase awareness for locals and visitors of opportunities to access, learn about and enjoy the ecology and biodiversity that makes Sanibel so unique through trail systems, exhibits and education centers featured at the nonprofits and elsewhere on the island.
Wild Mile visitors can experience Sanibel’s
legendary conservation history by kayaking meandering mangrove trails, taking a deep dive into the island’s reputation as a seashell capital of the world, hiking miles of Sanibel forest and wetlands, visiting an animal hospital to learn about the region’s diverse wildlife and exploring one of the nation’s most breathtaking national wildlife refuges to view countless birds and vistas of Southwest Florida’s wild landscape.
“Wild Mile is going great!”
More recently, the four nonprofits expanded upon the campaign through a partnership with the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau (VCB). Visitors can download a free Wild Mile passport to their phone, which enables them to check in at 16 sites to earn prizes. No app is required for the passport.
“Wild Mile is going great!” CROW Executive Director Alison Charney Hussey said, adding that the collaboration with the other nonprofits was a natural fit for their organization. “We are so excited about this initiative as we see real interest in the island environment and wildlife by those engaging in the program.”
DDWS Executive Director Ann-Marie Wildman echoed that
“The Sanibel Wild Mile campaign has been well received and is going well. We are all very excited about this and are confident that it will drive traffic to this part of the island,” she said. “All four of the members have seen an uptick in people asking about the promotion and downloading the app.”
Hussey agreed.
“We’ve had a number of visitors participating in the Wild Mile virtual passport by touring CROW’s Visitor Education Center and redeeming their points for CROW merchandise,” she said.
Wildman shared that they recently received their rack cards, which will be distributed islandwide.
“The Wild Mile will continue to promote all four nonprofits and should have a greater impact in 2026 when our promotional materials and advertising starts to be seen around the island,” she said.
Hussey extended a thank you to the Lee County VCB for its support, for hosting the free Wild Mile passport and for promoting the campaign.
Wildman added that the SanCap Chamber of Commerce is also promoting it.
The participating nonprofits provided the following:
• Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium: With a mission to celebrate shells, mollusks and their ecosystems, the museum includes exhibits of shells from all over the world and aquariums with hundreds of marine animals, including octopuses, giant clams, conchs and more. Opportunities also include hands-on touch pools and daily gallery and aquarium talks at the only accredited museum in the United States devoted primarily to shells and mollusks.
• CROW: Established in 1968, CROW is a teaching hospital saving the sick, injured and orphaned native and migratory wildlife of Southwest Florida and beyond. Through state-of-the-art veterinary care, public education programs and an engaging visitor center, it works to improve the health of the environment, humans and animals through wildlife medicine.
• J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge: The refuge is part of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystem in the United States. It is world famous for spectacular migratory bird populations; miles of trails to walk, bike and drive; and a free Visitor and Education Center.
• SCCF: Created by islanders to protect and care for the island’s unique ecosystems in 1967, the SCCF is headquartered on the Wild Mile. It invites visitors to experience more than eight miles of trails across the island, deepen their ocean love at the Sanibel Sea School and engage in voluntourism opportunities to restore and protect native habitats through plantings and cleanups.
AT A GLANCE
• For more information or to plan a visit, visit www. SanibelWildMile.com
• To access the passport, visit www.visitfortmyers. com/digital-passes/sanibel-wild-mile
• The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium is at 3075 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel.
• The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife is at 3883 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel.
• The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is at 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel.
• The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation’s headquarters is at 3333 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel. In addition, the SCCF’s Sanibel Sea School is at 455 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.
