NOVEMBER 7, 1997 VOLUME 24 NUMBER 52 3 SECTIONS, 44 PAGES fjliiKi^ Transponders^ deadlines*, applications Islanders returning for the season puzzled by toll procedure changes By Gwenda Hiett-CIements Staff Writer When Raymond Cummings returned to his Sanibel home from his summer residence, he was greeted by a sign at the toll booth that said his sticker would expire Oct. 31. Then he learned that stickers were being replaced by transponders. Transponders? To receive uninterrupted service he needed to have his application mailed by Oct. 31. Application? What application? That was the problem for many Sanibel and Captiva winter residents who recently returned to the islands. And those arriving now are just finding out about the change from a sticker to transponder toll system and wondering what to do. Saul Taffet Applications for the new transpon- Christina Rinaldi, Kelsey Gales and Kacie Phillips share some secret giggles during a Girl der system were mailed bulk mail using Scout outing at the Sanibel Elementary School. The Girl Scouts had quite a celebration as the Lee County Tax Collector's data Troop 218 sang songs and played games at the school on Oct. 29. The three Daisies joined base which would have listed residents' scouts from other troops on the island for the celebration of Juliette Low's birthday. Low Sanibel or Captiva address. Bulk mail was the founder of Girl Scouts. For more photos see page 2A. is not forwarded. If island residents were at their second address, the appli- cation never reached them. •please see page 3A Red tide sneaks back on Sanibel's shores Remembering By Mark S. Krzos News Editor those who served... It's back. Tuesday, Nov. 11, is Veterans' Day. The Island Red tide comes with little or no warning. First it's Reporter would like to take this time to remember a shortness of breath, then it's a tingling in the back and honor all those who have sacrificed to serve of the throat followed by sometimes severe coughing. our country. It attacks and kills fish slowly and methodically, leav- All Federal, State and Local government ing their dead carcasses in its wake. Then, the once offices will be closed Tuesday in observance of pristine beaches become a massive burial ground for Veterans' Day, Banks are also closed. Most com- the decaying fish. Red tide is not a pretty sight and mercial businesses remain open. Here are some earlier this week it made a most unwelcome return to other service related announcements: Sanibel. "We've got some indication that it's back. We're waiting for results right now," Sanibel Natural Marine family reunion Resources Director Rob Loflin said Wednesday. The Florida Chapter of the Third Marine "We've had several people complain of a shortness of Saul Taffol Division Association will assist in hosting the breath and a small fish kill has been reported in San Gymnodinium breve, also known as red ride, division's family reunion July 29-Aug. 2 in Carlos Bay." is a dinoflagellate organism that occurs natu- Orlando. Already Lemon Bay, Gasparilla Pass and Pine rally in the Gulf of Mexico. This microscopic Eligible persons are encouraged to contact Island Sound have been closed to shell fishing and a alga, consisting of only one cell per organism Colonel Nick Dennis, USMC (RET), 2363 major fish kill was reported along Mannasota Key. produces several neurotoxic chemicals. When Whisper Walk Drive, Spring Hill, Fla 34606-7246 "Right now the counts (amount of organisms per the number of cells increases from only a few or call (352) 666-9548. liter of water) are low," Caesar Rodriguez of the cells per liter of seawater to thousands and millions of cells per liter, a red tide bloom Florida Department of Environmental Protection said. occurs. The toxins cause massive fish kills, Veteran's Day at City Hall "It's been pretty steady for the last two weeks." contamination of shellfish, severe respiratory The American Legion will celebrate Veteran's Currently red tide stretches from Midnight Pass in irritation to people and was blamed in the Day, Tuesday, Nov. II at a ceremony outside City Sarasota all the way down to Blind Pass. massive mortality of manatees last year. Hall beginning at 11 a.m. "Some people reported dead grouper on Fort Myers Beach," Rodriguez said explaining that Although red tides have been reported for cen- doesn't necessarily mean red tide has struck that far turies throughout the world and since the mid 1800s south. "The fish could have been drifting in the cur- along the Florida Gulf coast, recent red tide outbreaks rent for some time." •please see page 2A 2A • NOVEMBER 7, 1997 Q ISLAND REPORTER Sanibel faces Scouts from Troops 218 and 751 joined in the celebration with Daisies and Girl Scouts playing games such as "hot potato" and cotton ball racing. Three girls on holiday from England — Joanna, Sarah and Nicola Mailer—joined in on the fun. The girls are Guide Girls back home and exchanged patches with the Sanibel troops promising to be pen pals. In addition to cake, ice cream and games, scouts participated in a community service project. Each Daisy, Brownie and Junior Girl Scout brought an item to be donated to the Ronald McDonald House located near the HealthPark. Brittany Gann, Caroline Shannon, Katie McCurry and Jana Barone, members of Troop 218, sang songs in celebration of Low's birthday. Photos by Saul Taffet RED TIDE CONTINUES TO PLAGUE SHORES ALONG GULF OF MEXICO •from page 1A have left residents, resorts and local businesses University of South Florida and the Department of searching for ways to combat the outbreaks that have Environmental Protection to study the causes of red caused local economies up and down the coast to lose tide. millions in tourist dollars. According to Mote Marine Laboratory representa- Sanibel City Council members Bob Janes and tives, the study will be the most in-depth research Andrew Reding said they felt the effects of red tide ever conducted on red tide. Tuesday. "The primary focus is for us to understand what Weather "My early warning system told me something was causes it, what makes it develop off shore and move High Low Rain wrong," Janes said. "Red tide is back." in toward the coast line," Mote Marine Laboratory Oct. 30 88 59 The last bout Southwest Florida had with red tide Dr. Richard Pierce said. "The only way we can get a Oct. 31 87 70 ended in May 1996 after an almost two year presence handle on it is by being out in the Gulf—studying the Nov. 1 84 72 .01 in the area that killed millions of fish, almost 200 chemistry and circulation of water at the surface and Nov. 2 84 69 .01 manatees and an abundance of other sea life. down below." Nov. 3 78 62 "It's occurring more frequently now," Reding said. Although this particular study will not explore Nov. 4 77 68 "We really need to know what causes it — whether ways to control red tide, as some had hoped, it will Nov. 5 80 60 its changes in the atmosphere, changes in the salinity, give scientists the opportunity to study the blooms in Total rainfall for October was 0.21 inches com- run-off or pollutants." a fashion never before undertaken. pared with 5.9 inches for the entire month last After years of studying red tide, the answers scien- "In order to see if we can control it, we have to year. tists have been seeking appear to be on the horizon. Note. Rainfall levels are recorded from the understand the natural causes of red tide," Pierce said A $1 million grant was received by Mote Marine explaining that Mote has been studying red tide for morning of the day given to the following mom- Laboratory in Sarasota for a partnership with the ing. over 20 years. Source: Sanibel/Captiva Islands Chamber of Commerce. Obituaries Editorial office. (941) 472-1587 He was a member of the Display advertising- (941) 472-1587 Graham Methodist Faith and was a Veteran Classified advertising (941) 472-1S87 Helen Stevenson Subscriptions £941)472-1587 of the U.S. Navy serving during Business office (941) 472-1587 Alexander Lyerly World WarE. Fax. (941)472-8398 Graham Alexander Lyerly of Meyner Street address The Village Shopping Center He is survived by his wife Former New Jersey Rep. Helen 2340 Periwinkle Way Salisbury, N.C. died Saturday, Sanibel, Florida 33957 Nov. 1 at his residence after being Martha Spatafore Lyerly and his Stevenson Meyner died Sunday, daughter Mrs. Jerry (Sally) The Island Reporter (USPS 813-580) Is published weekly each in declining health for 21 months. Nov. 2 at age 69. Friday by Gulf Coast Weeklies, Inc , P O. Box 809, Sanibel, Florida Hodgkins of Sanibel, Fla. and two Meyner, a Democrat who 33957-0809 He was born July 25, 1926 in Subscriptions- Sanibel, Captiva and Lee County, $22 per year Rowan County, N.C. He received grandchildren, Jerry Lee and Justin served in the U.S. House of including state sales tax, continental United States, or split subscnp- John Hodgkins. He is also sur- Representatives form 1974-1978 tion, $28 per year including state sales tax, foreign, $42 par year his education in the Rowan and Periodicals postage paid at Sanibel, Florida POSTMASTER Send Davidson County Schools. He was vived by four sisters: Mrs. Sarah died at Heartland Health Care address changes to the Island Reporter, P.O Box 809, Sanibel, Higgins of Lexington, N.C, Mrs Florida 33957-0809 a country music entertainer and Center in Fort Myers.