A Swim to Freedom by Jill Goodman the Tremendous Effort That Went Into Staff Writer Capturing the Injured Creature
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JUNE 20, 1997 VOLUME 24 NUMBER 32 0l3A6fe .WM.00 3 SECTIONS, 48 PAGES •-••?.., islan REP ^ Seaside scoop City targets two sites for senior housing By Mark S. Krzos the vicinity of the Community News Editor Association and other recent city land Sanibel City Council members will purchases as well as the preservation of spend the next few weeks trying to 45 acres of environmentally sensitive decide which of two sites is the better deal for the proposed affordable senior •please see page 2A housing project. ( Tuesday, council members narrowed down their list of possible sites to Lemon ice gives two—the Paulsen site and the Bailey/Kontinos site. The key question city sour taste councilmen are left asking themselves is what is more important—preserva- News Bditor tion of environmentally sensitive lands Dftvid Arnmerman and his two or the elimination of commercial area. food carts will be allowed to cure While councilmen ponder that, city the thirst and hunger of beachgoers officials will begin bargaining with the at the Lighthouse Beach acce&s at landowners for the best deal. least foi a little while longer. The Paulsen property is located in Tuesday, tfre Sanibel City the interior wetlands. The wetlands Council agreed to let Ammerman's restricts coverage and clearance and the business, Funtime Lemon Ice, Inc., location and type of dwelling units per- continue until the city and mitted. The 50 acre property is large Ammerman can device a plan on enough to allow 12 units nf Below how to dihsolve one of the two carts Market Rate Housing (BMRH) to be clustered on the northern portion of the S parcel. from the -city Jnn^ These little girls from Canterbury School spent the day at the In addition, the Paulsen site offers Sanibel Beach learning a bit about sea shells and friendship. the city 50 feet of road right-of-way, additional usable uplands property in A swim to freedom By Jill Goodman the tremendous effort that went into Staff Writer capturing the injured creature. It's 3:00 p.m. on a broiling hot "The field station staff were first Tuesday afternoon A gentle breeze rif- notified on 16 Jan. 97 that the animal fles, the surface of the water on Tarpon was injured and located in Matlacha Bay. A sedate crowd of 75 or so adults Isles. Plans were made to capture the and youngsters sit, stand and lounge at animal the following day however the the water's edge; the air heavy with manatee was not seen again until 18 anticipation. Jan. 97 in the Orange River. The ani- As a small paneled truck rolls into mal had traveled over 35 miles in less view, the crowd stirs, cameras, cam- than 48 hours." corders, and high tech photography Pitchford continued to describe a equipment is at the ready. rescue attempt on Jan. 19; Inside the truck in cool comfort, "Several attempts were made to sprinkled down with sea water are lasso her tail and again the next day." Ziggy and Mattie, rescued manatees Another attempt was made on Feb. ready for release into the wild. 12, and on Feb. 25 they were success- They have been in the truck for ful: some three hours enroute from the "Field station staff, Sea World of Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa where they Florida staff and MMPL (Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory) Volunteers take a break, letting Ziggy rest on the ground, as they had been sent for rehabilitation. work to carry the full-grown manatee to Tarpon Bay. Mattie was captured last October in staff successfully captured the animal nose inches from freedom, while at homely creatures could ever be mistak- a canal in Matlacha. She was with her in the Caloosahatchee River in open least ten strong men and women en for beautiful mermaids. But for the mother who later died of injuries prob- water by deploying a net off the Sea unloaded the nearly one ton cow, plac- ancient mariners, clearly at sea for far ably caused by a boat. World boat." ing her next to the calf. too long, even the manatees looked Ziggy, was captured in February of She was then brought into the boat, An unexpected bonus to their vaca- appealing, this year, but only after several loaded into a transport truck and taken tion on Sanibel, Michael and Brian The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's attempts. According to Anthony to the Lowry Park Zoo. Darmit, 10-year old twins from Glen Public Use Officer at the J. N "Ding" Musante of the Department of "She had a fresh marks on her back, Ellyn, 111., gazed in awe as the behe- Darling Refuge, Steve Alverez, says Environmental Protection in Port broken ribs and a torn lung," Southwest moths rested on the ramp. that manatees are one of the most Charlotte, Ziggy evaded the net several Florida Department of Marine Onlookers were invited to photo- endangered species in the state of times between Jan. 17 and Feb. 25 in Research Institute spokesperson Jackie graph and touch the giant sea cows, but Florida and only between two and three spite of her injuries. Hoffman said. in unison, they urged officials to set thousand are left in these waters. In a report written by Florida Marine Pressing forward the crowd watched them on their way to freedom. Research Institute's Research as the calf was lowered from the truck "Refuges like the "Ding" Darling It is hard to imagine that these Associate, Tom Pitchford, he describes first. She lay docilely on the boat ramp, •please see page 10A 2A Q JUNE 2b, 1997 • ISLAND REPORTER Notes from the City Desk: Anderson named "Building Official of the Year" and Council refutes claims that business community and residential community is hostile By Mark S. Krzos "Our first contact with the City of Kain said a point was raised that ed that the business community and its News Editor SanibeL.was with the smiling face of there are concerns about the relation- relationship with Sanibel residents is The face of a city—Max Anderson, Max Anderson," said City Council ship between the city, its residents and poor. Sanibet's Building Official, was named member George Madison explaining the business community. According to Both council members Bob Janes Building Official of the Year from Gulf that when he and his wife Nancy were Kain he believes that the relationship and Kain agreed the comment was Coast Chapter of Building Officials in the process of moving to Sanibel, between the business community and unfounded and believed the relation- Association of Florida, Anderson sat down with them and the residents has no animosity and is at ship between the business community The Gulf Coast Chapter recognizes eased their fears of moving. "That has its best standing ever. Kain said a com- and residents is at an all-time high. one building official from Gulf Coast always stayed with me." ment made during the meeting suggest- counties each year. The War of the Sanibel Worlds— Anderson said although the award Sanibel City Council member Wally Take a bow was in his possession, it belongs to Kain said a comment made about the Island Reporter Photographer Saul Taffet won first place in the feature pho- everyone in the city's building depart- souring relationship between the busi- tography division of the 1996 Florida Press Association Better Weekly ment'. In addition, Anderson thanked ness community and the residential Newspaper Contest for a photograph published in the Fort Myers Beach his wife, city staff, and City Manager community during the joint meeting Observer, which is also a part of the Gulf Coast Weeklies chain. Gary Price for all their work and sup- between the City Council and the In addition, the Captiva Current received an honorable mention for its over- Sanibel Planning Commission last port that made this achievement possi- all graphic design. ble. week was totally untrue. Birth ^rfciimties ^f^aiif travis tta&jgh'tlie bordf at: $50 feet per 't j: /., ; Vt\§M waftts, to' give children "a 4< (i •• " - ' share their lives Police rookie \^ith te,0Oramtjnity.,11^011 have a desire to write, Sanibel Police Officer Dustin Worth and his drawer take photographs, 'please call Editor wife, Sandra Ryan-Worth are the proud parents of ' MictiMe MorM at'47^1587,1%b is a new project Alec David Worth. op#n to Sanifeei residents and visitors ages Clarification: Alec David Worth was born June 1 at Lee trimuffi Hiftt ScHooL Please get Memorial Hospital weighing in at 8 pounds, 2-1/2 Chef Joe Valini of the Terrace Tropical Grill on ounces. Captiva left the Sanctuary in January. He is not ' '?"'\ ' currently the chef at the private Sanibel club. Cri TWO CHOICE SITES •from page 1A staff and a final decision will be made by council July "Why are Bailey and Kontinos willing to sell at land. The Paulsen site is appraised at $905,000. They 15 if negotiations are completed. $200,000 less than the appraised value? Because Mr. are asking $1.2 million." Community Housing and Resources (CHR) esti- Bailey and Mr. Kontino's believe this will be a bene- The Bailey/Kontinos property, which is appraised mates the 12-unit senior housing project will cost fit to the Sanibel community," Corace said. at $1.15 million would cost the city $950,000. Its 2.4 $566,300 to build, but may vary slightly depending According to Corace, although the property in acres are zoned for 14 dwelling units or 11,412 feet on the site selected by council.