ARTS, DINING & ENTERTAINMENT — Section B I OUTSIDE, ENVIRONMENT, SPORTS — Pages 19-21A I BULK RATE U.S. POSTAGE PAID SANIBEL,FL. PERMIT #33 POSTAL PATRON Vol. 37, No.?"""" *""" Friday, February 13,1998 Three Sections, 66 Pages 75 Cents This DRAGON ON THE LOOSE? Week Counting Manatees The state does its first manatee count of the year — numbers appear to have declined. 3A Special Report The first of a two-part story on the upcoming referen- dum on funding the sewer expansion. 8A Caption Contest John Carney took an unusual photograph, and we thought it would be fun to seek captions for it from our readers. .16A What's Playing Here's what's happening in the arts and entertainment world this week. :.....; 4-5B Tide chart ssi 21B PI'IJ^IK Weather8 ss 4A Index Cityside ......;. 10A Classifieds 18A Commentary ............ 16-18A Crossword 23B Fishing/Shelling .21B Nightlife 2B Outdoor Guide 22B Police Beat .6A Service Directory ......... 26-27'A Street Interviews 11A L ^' , |M|_. -°" ^r^ Week! Is there a Komodo Dragon on Sanibel? See story page 3A. 2A - Friday, February 13, ! 998 - ISLANDER Dave /dharli& - ,_ ,-.- George" "" Ken Frey Jack *^ George Wendy Angie \ .._. Sobzak Hobideau , Samler Margie Eaton Dorothy ay Kohforenner Humphrey Lapi Veiliette Claudia Smith Davison . Sprouse 'Lori lLoretta Tony Janie Frey Jim Karen Linda McLaughlin John Mary Lou Marsha McGowen Qeiger Lapi Pritchard Branyon Bell ^ David McLaughlin Smith Bailey Clifford THE FINEST REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS ON THE ISLANDS MONTHLY PERFORMANCE LEADER TOP LISTER TOP SELLER GREAT LOCATION! GREAT PRIC E! THIS IS THE ONE ON SAN CARLOS BAY!!! This 3 BR/ 2 BA home is situated on a 75 x 200' picturesque lot Superior in every way! This breathtaking home is situated on overlooking the Sanibel River. Featuring tile and hardwood San Carlos Bay and is considered one of the most outstanding MARY LOU BAILEY floors, vaulted ceilings, screened porch & sundeck. There is a homes on Sanibel. Complete with 4+ bedrooms, Covered storage room below. $189,000 Call Karen Bell 472-5154. Boathouse, heated pool & spa, private guest quarters and much more, $2,590,000 Call Mary Lou Bailey, 472-1511. MORE NEW LISTINGS DROP ANCHOR! O N I i N E Desired east-end island setting, canal front, close to Gulf beaches. Large 3BR/ 2BA, family room, fireplace, swimming pool, boat dock...all the necessities of wonderful Island O p E R T I E living! $419,500. Call Mary Lou Bailey 472-1511. PRIDE OF OWNERSHIP Perfectly designed home with many unique and thoughtful PMR Features the Finest Selection of Island FABULOUS LAKE VIEWS features. 4BRs, 4.5 BAs, caged pool w/spa & waterfall, Real Estate Available on the Internet. from this 2 bedroom -2 bath duplex overlooking boat dock w/lift, fireplace, gourmet kitchen, oak flooring, Horseshoe lake in The Dunes. Enjoy the wildlife. Enjoy the much morel Call Mary Lou Bailey 472-1511. Relax and Shop in the Comfort of Cyberspace. lifestyle; and best yet, enjoy the price...only $179,900. http ://pmrrealty.com Call David and Linda McLaughlin at 472-1511. FABULOUS CANAL VIEW WALK TO THE BEACH SPECTACULAR GUMBO LIMBO immaculate Shell Harbor home offers a beautiful solar heated Stunning two-story designer home located within walking Beautiful custom built, decorator-designed home in Gumbo distance to Gulf beaches and golf course. Well thought-out poof & spa area overlooking lull length, wide canal, luxurious Limbo w/3BRs-2.5 BAs, gourmet kitchen with custom floor plan, fireplace,screened pool, 3+ BRs, 2 BAs, more! master suite w/private sun deck, 3 BRs + den, boat dock and cabinetry, 2-zone ac, gold-plated fixtures, hot tub, beautiful $345,000 Call Mary Lou Bailey at 472-1511. so much more. $639,900. Caff 472-1511 for details. landscaping. $395,000 Call Karen Bell at 472-5154. CONDOMINIUMS^ CONDOMINIUMS:™: LOTS &HOMESTIES "GULF AND BAY" CAPTIVA CONDO CONDO CLASS LIVING SEA OATS This 2 BR / 2 BA condo is a sunny and open corner unit with Catch the spirit at Lighthouse Point Exciting 2 bedroom, 2 Beautiful cul-de-sac lot on Sea Walk Court High and dry expansive views of Pine Island Sound. Pool, docks, elevator, bath with den. To hear about the exciting features of this and a short walk to the beach! Build your dream homel tennis courts, deeded beach access, plus excellent rental apartment as well as details about Lighthouse Point, call $149,500 Please call OO Robideau or Lori McOowen potential I $349,000 Call Karen Bell at 472-5154. Margie Day/son's 24-hr hotline 1-800-527-8314, Ext. 2064. at 472-1511, GUARANTEED INCOME Sundial Beach and Tennis Resort. 1BR-1BA, "Garden Suite", BAYSIDE VILLAS UNIT 5226 GOPHER WALK top floor very well furnished and in good condition. "Guaran- Outstanding Bay views from this 1 bedroom - 2 bath unit in Near beach subdivision homesite, nearly 1/2 acre in size, teed Income*. All resort amenities & Golf privileges w/rental South Seas Resort Great rental investment $279,900 offering approximately 7,000 sq., ft of impermeable program. $215,000 Call Claudia Frey at 472-1511. coverage! Deeded beach access plus amenities. $225,000 Call Marsha Clifford at 472-1511. Call Marsha Clifford at 472-1511. Priscilla Murphy PMR Realty, Inc COUAL HOUtlNO OMOHTUNITV Toll Free (800) 233-8829 • Main Office (941) 472-1511 • Causeway Office (941) 472-4121 • Capfiva Off ice#41) 472-5154 ISLANDER • Friday, February 13, 1998 • 3A S:£:£:;;£:::;:£-£:£;;;: ;;;£:£:;•;;-•£;*:£:£ ll^A!:S:lll|l!lll:|ll:li|l|iliillilllliililll :;::V:S;:;;;::j:;::;;:::;:K:^ The Front Page mmmmmm Counting manatees How things ByANNEBELLEW Islander staff writer work The first of at least two projected manatee surveys in 1998 was conducted by Want to know how a submarine the Department of Environmental Protection's Florida Marine Research Institute works? A sanitary landfill? A ham radio? on Jan. 29-30. Researchers tabulated 2,019 of the endangered mammals throughout Or, how ladybugs protect them- the state, a drop of 210 from last year's initial count. DEP has been surveying the selves? animals since 1991. "They fly away, play dead or send out Staff from 13 agencies, research labs and universities — 31 counters in 19 an oozy liquid," said Sanibel Elementary aircraft — searched both sides of the state, counting 907 manatees on the west coast School fifth grader Victoria Wolanin. from Apalachicola to the Everglades and Ijll2 from Brunswick, just north of the For these and other nuggets of knowl- state line, to the Keys on the east coast. And six ground teams counted the animals edge, the place to be this past Tuesday not visible from the air at power plants and secluded waterways. evening was the Sanibel Recreation Center Results of the survey are carefully tabulated to avoid recounting the same gym. The gym was packed with scientific animal. "There's no way we can be on-the-money 100 percent," said FMRI's Leigh exhibits created by Sanibel Elementary Demateis. "But, luckily, when it's cold — which is when we need to do the counts School students. Jimmy Anderson tries the "Steady - the manatees don't move around much. We do our best" she said, "one coast one For the first time, the effort was on Hand Game " put together by Max day, the other the next." The surveys are done on the first warm day after a stretch of teamwork to create the science projects, Krauze (pictured), David James, Drew cold weather. instead of individual efforts. Osier and Steve Hyatt. The exhibit She could not say when the next survey would take place. "Everybody's ready "We had a ball!" said Shawn Kilgore, showed the effect of "current to go, but it just hasn't been cold enough, long enough. For a good count we need an who put together an exhibit called "How electricity" —if the metal were extended cold period—which, unfortunately, if below 40°, tends to stress the mana- can I be a falconer?" with teammates An- touched, the cat's eyes would light up. (Continued, page 4A) drew Richter and Jessica Schlegel. (More photos, back page) Could there be a Komodo dragon in our midst? escape from somebody's happens all the time, she the creature. ByJILL.TYRER house." said. Although it's illegal That's exactly why Islander staff writer "That's not an to release non-native ani- Warkus's reports threw a The Dusenberys iguana," Warkus said. "I mals, "Florida is infamous scare into Maria Walker. heard it from the Walkers know an iguana. They're for that kind of reptilian The eight-foot alligator in who heard it from the War- very placid, very slow." import." her back yard that wrestled kuses and Helen Warkus This one is very quick and "I'm betting it's an her father for a rubber fish- swears it's a Komodo she's seen it go for the wa- iguana," she said, "I have ing worm was bad enough, dragon that hangs out by ter. And it's not an alliga- never gotten a call about a she said, but then she saw a the house at Beachview. tor, either, she said. Komodo.... I don't think a show in the Discovery Well, said Dan Too- She and her husband, Komodo is a pet you Channel about Komodo lan, superintendent of Stan, lived on Par View for would want to have. ... dragons. They're voracious Beachview Golf Club, about five years — Stan Iguanas at least have good hunters, the show said, there are a couple iguanas was there longer — and temperaments.... Komodos known to wander into that hang out around the they never saw the creature are nasty — mean and homes in their native land course.