Island Sun News Sanibel Captiva

Read Us Online at IslandSunNews.com NEWSPAPER VOL. 20, NO. 31 SANIBELSanibel & CAPTIVA & Captiva ISLANDS, Islands FLORIDA JANUARY 25, 2013 JANUARY SUNRISE/SUNSET: 25 7:16 • 6:05 26 7:16 • 6:06 27 7:15 • 6:07 28 7:15 • 6:08 29 7:15 • 6:08 30 7:14 • 6:09 31 7:14 • 6:10 Quiz show competitors, from left, Caitlin Ross, Tyler Ulrich and Ashley Thibaut Center 4 Life, Sanibel School Gather For Potluck And Quiz Show by Jeff Lysiak Guests at the Historical Village’s fundraiser will have a chance to bid on lunch and a tour of Sanibel Fire Station #1. Pictured from left are Gerri Perkins of the auction committee, fire- hat was the smallest of Christopher Columbus’ three ships? fighter Shane Grant, Anita Smith of the auction committee and firefighter Brian Howell. How many teaspoons are in two tablespoons? W In which direction does the Earth spin – clockwise or counter-clockwise? If you’re like most folks, the answers to these questions may come to you after a Historical Village Live Auction Items little bit of thought or even some calculated guessing. However, for the three students – Caitlin Ross, Tyler Ulrich and Ashley Thibaut – participating in last Thursday’s Are You ive auction items at the Sanibel Historical Museum and Village’s February 5 Smarter Than A Fifth Grader? quiz show, the answers appeared to be rather easy. fundraiser, It’s Paradise ... Because, are varied enough to be on everyone’s wish But don’t blame John Brown, host of the Center 4 Life’s potluck/game night, who Llist, and exciting enough to entertain everyone. came up with the questions. Give credit to Amy Holik and Mary Clauss – Caitlin, Tyler “Fire Chief Danny Duncan is offering lunch for four to six people with Sanibel’s fire- and Ashley’s teachers. fighters right at the firehouse,” said Anita Smith, who is on the auction committee. “The continued on page 42 continued on page 8 Unveiling the new Living With Dinosaurs exhibit at the Refuge Education Center are, from left, Paul Tritaik, Cindy Reinhart, Doris Hardy and John McCabe American crocodile which called Sanibel Island her home from 1986 through 2010. Refuge Unveils Living With “With this display, this gives us a better opportunity to educate the public about crocodiles and alligators, and their importance to our ecology,” said Paul Tritaik, refuge Dinosaurs Exhibit, Crocodile Skeleton manager. During the opening ceremony, Tritaik thanked the volunteers who “croc sat” by Jeff Lysiak over the years, he explained, not so much for the fact that she might bother any people, but that people might bother her. small crowd gathered at the Refuge Education Center last Wednesday morning The display also includes an interactive touch screen (with home movies taken by for the official unveiling of the Living With Dinosaurs exhibit. But more than islander Janie Howland, whose home the crocodile frequented), signage, fun facts and A that, the group was there to say “Welcome home” to a legendary local reptile several “touch” elements, including a sample of the reptile’s protective scutes. that made the refuge her home for nearly a quarter of a century. According to refuge records, the rare American crocodile was relocated 70 miles On January 16, the staff and volunteers at the refuge welcomed visitors to explore continued on page 8 their newest exhibit, which features the articulated skeleton of the 11-foot-plus female 2 ISLAND SUN - JANUARY 25, 2013 Island Treasure Ralph Woodring submitted by Emilie Alfino, manager Sanibel Historical Museum and Village n Tuesday, February 5, the Sanibel Historical Museum and OVillage will hold its annual fundraiser. This year’s theme is “It’s Paradise … Because It’s Sanibel.” The production will focus on two tourists visiting the island for the first time, encountering four of the island’s “VIPs” who helped Sanibel become the paradise it is today. In keeping with the theme of “Island VIPs,” the Historical Museum and Village is submitting a series of articles focusing on some of the other people and families that have been fundamental to Sanibel’s growth and unique character. One of those people is Ralph Woodring. Woodring’s grandmother’s parents, Esperanza Woodring casts a fishing net Ralph Woodring and Francis Bailey at last year’s Cracker Festival Samuel and Anna Woodring, were Sanibel’s first homesteaders in the late the island’s fire house located at today’s ness serving more than 100 accounts – Esperanza Woodring’s home, which son 1880s. Eleven years later, Anna was Roadside City Park. The Bait Box has mostly small businesses including Bailey’s, Ralph refurbished and still calls home. widowed with five children to raise, and been serving anglers since 1971. South Seas and Jensen’s. They still burn pine straw and to smoke started what would become the first lodg- “Mom bought the property when I Ralph still fishes and still owns a com- away mosquitoes and sand flies – which ing establishment on the island – a board- was in the service,” Woodring said. “After mercial license, but he doesn’t get out on Woodring claims are much worse than ing house catering to “drummers,” as the service, I worked for South Seas for the water very often these days. “I have mosquitoes. In fact, it almost sounds as salesmen were called. Her son Sam mar- four years, where I learned something two businesses to run. My boat’s in the though he misses the days when the mos- ried a Cayo Costa woman who became about business. Then, I moved to guiding hospital. I get out once or twice a week quitoes ruled the island: “That’s one of a legendary figure on Sanibel, Esperanza, and commercial fishing. But our way of depending on the season, what’s biting, the problems. If we had mosquitoes, we and had a son, Ralph, another genuine life was changing, and it was hard.” and what’s running.” wouldn’t have so many damn people.” island treasure. Woodring decided to do something He also keeps a tank of shrimp at his Esperanza was born and raised on Woodring, a long-time commercial different and opened The Bait Box “with dock on Woodring Point where fishermen Cayo Costa. Her grandfather was a fish- fisherman descended from a family two fish hooks and a tank of shrimp,” as can help themselves and pay by putting erman and had a fish ranch. of fishermen, owns The Bait Box on Woodring describes it. “It turned into a their money in the “honor system box” “They hired guys to catch fish and Periwinkle Way. The building was once pretty good business.” there. then salt-cured them for shipping to Key Woodring also has a wholesale busi- That dock sits in front of Sam and West and Cuba,” Woodring explained. January 11 – February 16 8 PM Jan. 23 & Feb. 6 2 PM Matinée $42 Child 17 & Under $20 “It’s a WOW!” 11L1LFLFFNN$N$$GDGDPGDPDPVV3V3KRWRJURJJUDSDSKDSKSK\ The Island Sun Spamalot Book & Lyrics by ERIC IDLE Music by JOHN DU PREZ & ERIC IDLE Show Sponsors From the original screenplay by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin Original Broadway Production produced by Boyett Ostar Productions, The Shubert Organization, Arielle Tepper Madover, Stephanie McClelland/Lawrence Horowitz, Elan V McAllister/Allan S. Gordon, Independent Producers Network, Roy Furman, GRS Associates, Jam Theatricals, TGA Entertainment, Live Nation Presented through special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide Season Spponsor ISLAND SUN - JANUARY 25, 2013 3 Woodring remembered. “We’d have fires ‘bored’ – one of the words kids use today on the beach, have some hot dogs; there that makes me want to slap ’em. We just was no dope and no drinking.” enjoyed the hell out of being home.” Mabel Critchley (who owned Burnap One of the biggest worries was Cottage on Woodring Point from 1935 what the family was going to eat. to 1948; the cottage is now part of the “You couldn’t plan ahead too much,” Sanibel Historical Museum and Village), Woodring explained. “You couldn’t go had an automobile and drove down from to the grocery store and buy a piece of New York every year and sometimes meat. But Esperanza could make a meal would keep it at Bailey’s. “Occasionally out of whatever we had. She canned Mabel, mom and I would ride to Captiva shrimp once, and it was the first time in for a sandwich. That was a fun outing,” our lives we had shrimp to eat. Not too Woodring remembered. many years after that, we started to catch “We had a full life,” he said. “What did shrimp for bait.” we do? I don’t know, but we were never continued on page 4 Ralph Woodring at his bait tank in front of his parents’ home, where he still lives today “They’d bring back supplies on the hired people to run the boats. “If the return trip: rum, whiskey, whatever they revenuers were after you and you didn’t could get. When she was 16 years old, stop, they’d shoot at you,” Woodring my mother came to Woodring Point. She explained. “One time one of the guys had lived out the rest of her life here.” a jug of whiskey and wanted to quickly Both of Woodring’s parents were fish- drink the last drop. He tipped it up to his ing guides and cast netters, and they did lips and a bullet cracked it.” gill net fishing together. “Whatever dad When Woodring was a boy, the only did, mom learned to do and do well.

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