*.i^***** CAR-RT SORT **P.OO3 u-r. ,0001006409 THU O00OO0 WIFCL LIBRARY OUNLOP RD ' BEL. FL 33937 L Firekittens page 13 Week of May 22-28,2003 SANIBEL & CAPTIVA, FLORIDA VOLUME 30, NUMBER 21, 24 PAGES 75 CENTS Ii Til MEM Mayor proposes suing county Pro football in Southwest Fla. for ownership of Causeway Firecats play at Teco By Kate Thompson Staff writer —See page 13 Mayor Steve Brown will ask the City Council June 3 to put a referen- dum before voters on whether to bring a law- suit against Lee County for ownership of the causeway. Commissioner "Unless we have reacts ownership, we can hope to have input... but with Janes responds to mayor's 6,000 votes versus proposal 440,000, it's pretty straightforward," said Brown —See page 2 Brown. "I feel very, very strongly that we have to support that (the cause- way) stays the way it is and that our island stays the way it is." His remarks drew applause from a number of the people attending Tuesday's City Council Plover and meeting, but Brown himself stopped them, noting the council's strict civility rules that prohibit any mosquitos Kate Thompson photo Motorists cross the Causeway. At Tuesday's City Council meeting, Mayor Steve Brown pro- See CAUSEWAY Profiles of two flying posed a referendum on whether or not the city should sue over control of the Causeway. page 2 critters ;—See page 23 12 Baskets takes leftover food for charities By Amy Fleming There are people who shake Some years ago, Wood was about the "12 Baskets" program. Staff writer their heads over unfortunate situa- standing in a buffet line with a "12 Baskets" is simply a group tions, and there are people who friend of hers up in Saint Paul, of volunteers who collect food "When they all had enough to roll up their sleeves and do some- Minn. There were still a few from local grocery stores and eat, he said to his disciples, thing about it. pieces of meat left on the platter restaurants, and bring it to the Column "Gather the pieces that are left Jean Wood falls into the second when a server replaced it with Harry Chapin Food Bank, where it discussion over, let nothing be wasted." So category, and the situation that another fully loaded tray. Wood is then distributed to local food they gathered them and filled caught her attention was the remarked to her friend that it was a twelve baskets." John 6:12-13 amount of good food that goes to shame that so much food goes to See BASKETS Executive editor, SGGC waste in this country. waste, and her friend told her page 2 chairman on Mike Hannan's commentary. Plus Causeway letters Our Town: —See page 7 Last season gets mixed reviews from businesses By the numbers By Kate Thompson such as those from France, may have been Disabled population Staff writer making a protest on the American war poli- cy. AN your Getting a handle on the season's eco- "A silent boycott," she said. "Just as we • 0 scheduling nomic results might be like trying to catch a aren't choosing to go to France." grouper with your bare hands. The chamber also took a booth at the 8000% needs For some island businesses, the season Florida State Fair this year. Over 16 days, 7000% was the best ever; there also are rumors that they talked with a large number of —See page 14 some businesses are facing the end. Most Floridians and got a database of people 60 007: Sanibel and Captiva stores, hotels and interested in visiting Sanibel. restaurants fell in between. 'The chamber followed up by sending a 50 00% " Sanibs. "I don't think there is an overall answer letter," she said. "We've already had book- jg Florda to the question of how the season was," said ings from that." A0OO", US Anne Joffe, president of the Sanibel-Captiva The chamber also used radio ads this Chamber of Commerce. "Some businesses year to encourage people to come to Sanibel 3000% did terribly; badly enough that they are and stay for the evening. • ENVIRONMENT page 23 questioning whether they will stay open. Joffe said she's encouraged by recent 20.00% Others did better." traffic on Sanibel roads and in stores and • LOOKING BACK page 18 Joffe, who owns She Sells Sea Shells, 10.00% • restaurants. t < said her business see-sawed this year. <4The Causeway situation is taking care • OPINION page 7 "But overall, we were okay," she said. of itself" she said. "I think that has all been Joffe said the overall economy, Sept. 11, solved." • BUSINESS page 8 c bi-l the war and the Causeway were all factors "We had a great season," said Cindy -rrc,i I that hurt the season. Somerville, design consultant with Gary. •54 • DATELINE page 14 "Hotels didn't have as large a European David Design. Still the firm is closing its contingent this year," she said. "They really • TV LISTINGS piige 15 felt the brunt of it." Swne ITS Oenws Bureau Joffe said some international travelers, See SEASON • CLASSIFIEDS... page 20 page 3 ISLAND REPORTER • Week of May 22-29, 2003 • 3 2 • Week of May 22-29, 2003 Q ISLAND REPORTER unless you have defective plumbing or remembered. City testing sewer dried up drain traps. Pool Closings A few years later a woman named It is advisable for home owner to pour Memorial Day, Monday, May 26 — Anna E. Guerin conceived the idea of Sanibel is conducting a smoke test of a gallon of water into each floor drain Pool open from 1- 5 p.m. selling artificial poppies to help orphans its sanitary sewer system. Work crews will prior to the test. If smoke enters the home, Tuesday May 27 — Pool open from and others left destitute in war-ravaged be in the area June 4 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. there is good reason to assume that dan- 1- 8 p.m. France. In 1922, the Veterans of Foreign on Periwinkle, between Periwinkle Park gerous sewer gases may also be entering The Sanibel School will be using the Wars adopted the poppy as the official and Jerry's Restaurant. the home or business. You should evacu- Pool for their annual end-of-year Pool VFW flower and, in 1923, formally CAUSEWAY Janes: City, county A smoke test survey will assist inspec- ate immediately and notify work crews. party from 9 a.m. till 1 p.m. adopted a plan to have disabled veterans tion crews in locating breaks and defects If you are not home and discover Tuesday's Water Aerobics class is make the poppies (they had previously From page 1 in the sewer system. The smoke coming smoke when you return, please call 472- canceled due to the event. been commercially made). The organi- from vent stacks on houses or holes in the 1008 or 472-3179. zation's leaders envisioned the men ground is non-toxic, non-staining, has no audience displays. Larry Bator, formerly a Sanibel resident but need to cooperate If there is anyone in your home or busi- Bridge reports at being paid for their work, thus provid- odor, is white to gray in color and creates ness with respiratory problems who is ing a practical means of assistance Brown said without controlling the who still owns property on the island, said he no fire hazard. favors a high-span bridge. He also said a draw- By Kate Thompson immobile, please call 472-1088 prior to City Hall while ensuring a steady reliable source Causeway, the city doesn't have adequate con- The smoke should not enter your home trol on what happens. bridge could get stuck open during an evacua- Staff writer testing. At the City of Sanibel's request, Lee of poppies. The first veteran-made pop- "I don't know where this defeatist attitude tion. County has provided copies of the pies were made in Pittsburgh in 1924 comes from," he said. "The tide isn't turning ... Wingard said under the PD&E study that The mayor's proposal to sue the county is not a good idea, said Lee County bridge inspection reports covering Feb. and the name "Buddy Poppy" registered I have not seen anything that can't be rehabili- was previously done the rehabilitation of the Commissioner Bob Janes. 11 through April 25. The reports, which with the U.S. Patent Office. "Buddy" tated." bridge was the first choice, a high span bridge Janes pointed out that it will cost the city a considerable amount of money to include photographs, are available for was coined by the poppy makers them- The Causeway condition reports are avail- was the second and a low span replacement was file a lawsuit and, when it loses — which he expects —- the county will force the review at City Hall between 8 a.m. and selves as a tribute to the veterans who able for review at city hall. The city obtained third choice in economic terms. city to pay its costs as well. SEASON 5 p.m. didn't come home and those crippled or scarred for life. copies of the inspection reports for Feb. 11- "Economically, the next in line is the fixed • "They ought to work with us instead of being confrontational," Janes said. From page 1 April 25, including photographs. They are span bridge," he said, but he repeated that no "They won't be listened to." Since that time, millions of the available for public review in the city manag- decision has yet been made.