Sanibel-Captiva Tides NOT for NAVIGATION
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i CAR-RT 1 'KQCiCii'iC-.'i 00412Cid&-\ "?=.5 THU E^NiBEL 'LIBRARY The island's 770 01 ML OP RD newspaper SANI EEL PL 33957 of record Ei Rec Center plan page 5 Week of October 9-15,2003 SANIBEL & CAPTIVA, FLORIDA VOLUME 30, NUMBER 41, 24 PAGES 75 CENTS Clam Bayou flows free to the sea By Erik Burriss could close it again. Managing editor "This year it's milder weather and we have sufficient depth to keep it open," The western end of Sanibel now fea- Natural Resources Director Rob Loflin tures a healthier Clam Bayou. said. "It's a good thing it's maintaining \ City contractors reconnected the itself." bayou to the Gulf of Mexico last week, Since the bayou was more or less allowing high water threatening man- permanently closed for the last few groves and houses to escape and for the years, with the exception of last year's bayou to be flushed twice a day by the cut and a six-month period after rising and falling tides. Tropical Storm Gabrielle blew by, rain- "It all seems to be chugging along water had no way to escape. Rising nicely," said Tim Gardner, a member of water levels resulted in massive man- the Clam Bayou Preservation grove die off and threatened to flood Association. The association first houses. Homeowners on the bayou also brought the issue of the bayou's high expressed concern about being stranded water to the city's attention in early if flood waters covered the road. 2002. The bayou's fauna also suffered as msm The Sept. 29 work was essentially dissolved oxygen was used up oyster digging out the cut made 13 months bars and fish died and algae bloomed. ago. However, unlike in 2002 — where After a few early scares when 3.5 foul weather closed the pass in a matter Erik Burri:is photo of days — this year's cut remains open See BAYOU Wading birds take advantage-of the newly opened Clam Bayou Pass which allows for now, although natural - processes page 2 fish to go from Gulf to Bayou Friday morning. City pondering investigation VIP Realty causeway maintenance merges Donna T. Schuman records be reviewed, said he has no Sanibel and the County. Karen Be mm- J Staff writer problem reading medical records, but "In regards to maintenance on the could not make sense of the mainte- drawbridge, there is probably docu- On Wednesday, Jim Hall of VIP Realty Plans to hire an outside firm to nance records on the bridge. Brown mentation that is arguable that they Group, Inc. and Karen Bell Realty, Inc. investigate Lee County's maintenance estimates that pursuing the investiga- did it and from our standpoint they announced the merger of their two firms. records on the Sanibel Causeway will tion could cost the city an estimated didn't do it well enough," Harrity VIP has been considering opening an office soon be in the works. $100,000. said. on Captiva and, at the same time, Karen Bell City Council decided unanimously Councilwoman Judy Workman Councilman Jim Jennings raised has been considering expansion from Captiva Tuesday to make sure the county agreed with the Mayor's recommen- the question of malpractice on the onto Sanibel. The merger accomplishes both lived up to its end of the interlocal dation. county's part in maintaining the and combines the fourth largest real estate agreement. The decision was made to "I don't think we can just let this bridge. broker in the area with the second largest, cre- set a course of action regarding the go," Workman said. "I think we have City Attorney Ken Cuyler said he ating a new first place firm. Karen Bell reports County Commissioners' decision to a responsibility to the citizens and the addressed that point in a letter to that their combined sales will exceed $215 replace the drawbridge with a 70- taxpayers of the city to investigate." County Attorney Jim Yaeger last million. foot-fixed span bridge. Marty Harrity, the only coun- month. Cuyler pointed out that failure Bell will become the sales director for the Sitting behind a large stack of cilmember to favor the fixed-span- See CAUSEWAY combined Captiva operations. maintenance records, Mayor Steve bridge said investigating the records page 2 Brown, who recommended the would generate dialogue between Hitstifi : "ciif • • tlliiliiiti! : liflliilii!'; • • ENVIRONMENT... page 23 Cancer The return of Shell lectures awareness Otto Bailey-Mathews program • REAL ESTATE.......= page 12 Hannan talks car design. aimed at school kids : reception needs fundine • LOOKING BACK page 22 ••Nurse speaks to Council for Breast Cancer —See page 7 —See page 23 • OPINION.. page'6 Awareness Month. • DATELINE page 9 ; —See page 3 • TV LISTINGS.... page 15 • CLASSIFIEDS ......page 19 l .,,..,,.,. „„.,.,.-..,,...,•.. -.-,..... •. .:.-•.•• .•;.; ::..... .-,.,.-.•..,.• .•.•;-.••-•:..•••-,•,.••.• •::••.• ••"•-;-••'••.•••."!••• -:••-"•- -• ''••<•:• •:«gM-i!;a:g.svi..-..--^»t:;J-i "t- •~::£isisfcits>,,'<3y»ims<ili: 388&SM!belCai>tiy3 Rd. Phone: 2 Q Week of October 9-15, 2003 • ISLAND REPORTER ISLAND REPORTER Q Week of October 9-15, 2003 • 3 Council A bridge just far enough CVB slogan gets Noah's Ark reopening big hit hosts mixed reception By Donna T. Schuman Staff writer cancer By Donna T. Schuman tually reinvent the island they are trying After its summer hiatus, Noah's Ark Staff writer to preserve. Thrift Shop re-opened its packed doorway Monday morning to a crowd of customers awareness "We're a sanctuary island and agree Local officials are having mixed to live in harmony with each other, but anxious to find the bargains that await reactions to the Lee County Convention there seems to be a push for tourism on them. and Visitors Bureau's new catchphrase. the island, and we need to analyze that The shop, which has been an island reception "The Beaches of Fort Myers and even closer," said Mayor Steve Brown. favorite for the past 30 years, is run by Sanibel" will replace "Lee Island Sanibel provides the county with volunteers from St. Michael's and All By Donna T. Schuman Coast" as the Bureau's brand name to more than $2.5 million dollars in bed Angles Episcopal Church. Staff writer market Lee County as a vacation desti- taxes. However, the city only sees a por- Anne Hall, co-chairwoman of the vol- nation. The new campaign has residents tion of that to maintain roads and other unteer group running the shop said, dur- "Early detection saves lives" was the concerned with their homes being over- wear and tear that occurs during season, ing the break, volunteers spent countless point Dara Leichter, a nurse and breast run with tourists. City Manager Judie Zimorara said. hours accepting donations and restocking health educator at S.W. Florida Regional Medical Center, stressed the The campaign slogan "What's Right shelves and racks. Marie Gargano, chairwoman of the most at the city's breast cancer aware- with the World" is a reflection of what "We certainly appreciate all the sup- Planning Commission said: "Fort Myers ness reception Tuesday morning at city many visitors think of this area, said beach and Sanibel beaches are opposite port, and the public has been wonderful to D.T. Minich. the bureau's executive us over the years," Hall said. "We try to hall. ends of the spectrum," Gargano said. "I The city held the reception in obser- director. The focus of the campaign will am concerned as a planning commis- keep the shop neat and nice and inviting, vance of breast cancer awareness be Sanibel and Fort Myers beach in an sioner that this would be a move in the so everyone always feels welcome." effort to define this area by those spe- wrong direction and could have a nega- Sanibel resident Harriet Taylor, one of month. cific destinations. tive impact on the beaches." many customers at Noah's Ark's opening, "The sooner we detect it the sooner "The new brand position will give us said she comes back for the bargains. we stop it," Leichter said. The negative impact would be com- Breast cancer is the leading cause of Donna T. Schuman photo a competitive advantage and allow us to mercialization of the Sanibel's beaches. "It's wonderful for the church, and it build on the strong name recognition" of benefits us," Taylor-said as she holds up cancer death among women ages 29 to "Everyone would lose because we 50. This year 267,000 women will be Sanibel gained another new bridge, however this one did not generate as Fort Myers and Sanibel Island," Minich would no longer be unique," Gargano her find, a light blue shirt with sandals and diagnosed with breast cancer. Of those much controversy as the others. said. said. sunglasses on it. "This is perfect for here." The new shared-use-path bridge located on Tarpon Bay Road was com- That has left Bonita Springs Hall' said she and co-chairwoman almost 40,000 will die. Gargano added she is curious to see "Early detection is wonderful," said pleted last week and the Sanibel Bicycle Club, seen above, and other path Assistant City Manager Barbara how the Visitors' Bureau intends to cre- Gillian Bagh are blessed to have such a users on the island could not be happier. Barnes-Buchanan feeling left out in the nice group of volunteers. The Ark has Mayor Steve Brown. "What we really ate a marketing strategy that is consis- Donna TSchumn photo have to do is eradicate this disease so In a prepared statement, the club said: "We want to thank the City of cold. tent with the Sanibel plan and does not more than 50 volunteers offering their Some of the items availible at Noah's Ark Thrift shop.