Page 1C I BEST REGIONAL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT GUIDE „ . Page 8BJ Since 1961 and finest Vol. 35, No. 47 Friday, November 29, 1996 Four Sections, 44 Pages 50 Cents This A NOBLE SYMBOL Week '-• ••••"£ ,-* -V ,•»-„ Inserts Galore Inside this week's Islander are three special inserts— a Christmas Gift Guide, a B.I.G. Arts Guide Book, and a program for this weekend's B.I.G. Arts Fair. Inside $6 Toll? A point/counterpoint look at raising the Sanibel Cause- way toll from $3 to $6. Good "Tri!" A 70-year-old Sanibel resident finishes a season of triathlons. .5C Hung Up Bird C.R.O.W. comes to the rescue of a treed pelican. .3A New Business A year 'round Christmas shop opens on Sanibel... just in time for the holiday season. 14A . -•.*•• • ;-VVSM-' • :«•**••• Tide chart index Business !5A Service Directory .... HD Classifieds 7D Commentary I2-13A On The Town 6-7B Crossword 12D Police Beat HA &')&*'.•/•'*•' ' -'-^ Permits/Deeds ID Fishing/Shelling 6C Show Biz ..... 3B Street Interviews . 5A Sports 5C i HI. AuningLi it y/uti uj uic lugt/ji/t trie Liing bulling rrnuitje: jw-itziy. LAM tvren., iiuted lunuiLUj.jc fjnuivgiciyiict wjuc uu:utn toured the refuge with Society and refuge officials. See story, page 2A. Photo/Carlene Brennen. 2A • November 29, 1996 • ISLANDER ISLANDER -Friday, November 29, 1996 • 3A World-famous photographer Hie Plage Sanibel hopes to bring law back to Causeway ByJILLTYRERw III I TVDCRD on Dec^ . 18.„ . I^T.f the Budge_ . t and. _Managemen . t commit- illegal rentals of personal watercraf* t off the causeway, Islander staff writer tee approves it, Price likely will take it to the City Davison said, and some of the "environmentally con- City councilmen have occasionally grumbled Council on Dec. 17. cerned" Sanibe! residents would like to see the waters about having so little control over what goes on along Under the agreement, Sanibel's city limits off the causeway better patrolled and protected. the causeway, so the city manager took the lead and would grow to include the causeway islands, bridge Because the annexation would not involve any drafted a plan that could reinstate Sanibel's power and toll booth so that the city could get a handle on private property, a referendum would not be required, on the county-owned islands. speeders, illegal vendors and other law-breakers. The Price said, but the Florida Legislature must OK the "I haven't gotten the official okey-dokey from county, however, would continue maintaining the move. Council," said City Manager Gary Price, nor has the area, including the bridge, roads, beaches and facili- The traditional problems on the causeway, said County Commission approved the proposed ties, and it would retain control of the toll charges Sanibel Police Chief Lew Phillips, are traffic con- interlocal agreement. But Price, who drafted it, and revenues. gestion, cars passing on the right, speeding and ille- seemed optimistic that both governing bodies would "It has certain advantages to Lee County," said gal vendors. give it the go-ahead. Mayor Bob Davison. "We'll be doing a job that the "We had one motorcycle guy who would come The county's Management and Budget Com- Lee County Sheriff has been trying to do, apparently across every morning at probably 100 mph," even mittee is expected to discuss the proposal Dec. 2 and with little success" in patrolling the area. when Sanibel Police were patrolling the area, he said. the item is expected to make the commission's agenda Some islanders have brought attention to the (Continued, page 4A) Pelican caught by pouch, rescued from pine tree ByJILLTYRER * Islander staff writer Left to right: Dick Hulit, Gene It was about 8:30 in the morning when a police dispatcher called C.R.O.W. Steele, Clyde Butcher, Refuge about an injured pelican in a tree. An officer patrolling the beach along West Gulf Drive Nov. 22 had spotted Manager Lou Hinds and reported it, but when rescuers arrived, it took them a while to find the bird. About 60 pelicans were roosting and fishing from the same clump of trees, said almost on cue, close to the side of the road along the path. C.R.O.W. veterinarian Chris Kreuder, and the small group of rescuers were stumped until Lee County Electric Cooperative's Dennis Ryan spotted the bird Butcher said he was quite impressed with the refuge and what has been ac- dangling.amid the flock. It was hanging motionless about 40 feet up an Austra- Clyde Butcher with Refuge Manager Lou Hinds/Photos Carlene Brennen complished during the past few years. Steele said it was lucky Butcher was here in lian pine tree. Its head was stretched back and its wings slightly spread as the bird dangled from a branch. November, "because once the season kicks in, it is almost impossible to tour the "He was trapped by his pouch to the tree," Kreuder said. It apparently had by CARLENE BRENNEN small, cramped visitor's center when tourists pack into the building like sardines." had a hole in the pouch under its bill, possibly punctured by a fishing hook or a Islander General Manager A lovely lunch was enjoyed by the group, including Society Treasurer Jeanne fish's dorsal fin. But somehow he snagged his pouch against a branch, which poked another hole, effectively hanging himself. Famed photographer Clyde Butcher crossed the causeway Rankin, poolside at the home of Milena Eskew on Sanibel. "He was motionless. We knew he was alive because his feet would would and visited Sanibel Tuesday, Nov. 19. This well-known Florida Last winter Gov. Lawton Chiles presented Butcher with the "Heartland Award" go like this," Kreuder said, lightly paddling her hands, "or his wing would move." landscape photographer, considered one of the world's greatest for the difference Butcher has made in the quality of life in his community. When C.R.O.W. volunteer and board president Ann Arnoff arrived on the scene, she spotted two cherry pickers and the C.R.O.W. van, and when she caught land-cape photographers of his time, compared only to Ansel Butcher works only in black and white, using view cameras with film sizes up C.R. O. W. veterinary intern P.J. Dietschel examines a pelican that was hung up in an up with the group on the beach, the bird looked dead, she said, except that its Adams, toured J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge and to 12 by 20 inches. This large format allows him to capture the elaborate detail and Australian pine tree. Photo/Ann Arnoff wings were spread. ' (Continued, page 4A) its Visitor Center with Refuge Manager Lou Hinds. Also along for subtle textures that distinguish the native landscape of Florida. When asked why he the tour were Gene Steele, Fundraising Chairman for the New prefers to photograph the swamps and grasslands of Florida, Butcher responded, Visitor Center, and "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Vice Presi- "Art follows your heart and my heart is in Florida." His hope is that through the Sea Kayak Classic will draw world-class paddlers dent Dick Hulit. ByJILLTYRER Kayaking has been booming in popularity as photographic recognition of the natural beauty of Florida, undeveloped areas of Islander staff writer A wide variety of birds were on hand to a hobby and as a "lifetime sport," Houston said. Be- the state will be preserved. Captiva will turn into a kayaking mecca this cause it doesn't have to take a tremendous amount greet the distinguished visitor, including white A quote by Clyde Butcher weekend as paddling pilgrims head from all over to of strength or skill just to get out on the water and pelicans, wood storks and roseate spoonbills. the fourth annual Captiva Sea Kayak Classic at paddle around to have fun and explore nature, it is seemed to sum up the day's adven- 'Tween Waters, The alligators cooperated, and even the croco- an attractive option for people of all ages. ture: The weekend will be like a festival with races, "It's a family thing, too, because kayaking is die showed off in all her glory, sunning herself, "Maybe if it's expressed in demonstrations, lessons in kayak rolling, and pre- healthy. And it has zero impact on the environment," sentations by internationally renowned kayaking he said. terms of how beautiful it is ... we'll • gurus, said founder and coordinator Brian Houston. But watching serious paddlers is pretty excit- learn to manage our environment The event has grown significantly since the first ing, Houston said, "especially with the athleticism, Captiva Classic, Houston said. "It was a one-day so that everyone can use and enjoy skill and power" it takes to paddle and maneuver 12 event and we thought it was extremely successful For Brian Houston, founder and coordinator of the miles in an hour and a half. it without destroying it." because we had 37 participants," he said. "Almost Captiva Classic, kayaking is a 'lifetime sport.' This year, the race course will be in a triangle all that same first 37 will be back for the fourth." in the gulf, so it'll be easy for spectators to see that Last year, about 100 kayakers took part in the sion for ages 40-49, and the "seniors" division for skill and power at work. In past years, the course races and this year he's expecting about 150. "The ages 50 and older are getting larger each year. "It's has gone through Blind Pass and around Captiva. women's divisions are growing phenomenally," he growing in men and women in the mature divisions." But the sands have shifted dramatically so Blind Pass said, and the trend that really has caught his atten- About a dozen competitors, are 68 to 75, and is shallow and could damage racing kayaks, which tion is the burgeoning number of older participants.