Dog Park Location to Be Decided Through a Referendum F.I.S.H. Creates New Service to Support Sanibel Community
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islaridreporter.com VOLUME 34, NUMBER 15 WEEK OF JUNE 5, 2008 Look inside to see what's new Dog park location to be decided through a referendum By IDA VAYNBERG location for the park that does not ivaynberg @ breezenewspapers.com encompass- the protected environ- City Council once again tack- "As a voter going to vote on a referendum, mentally-sensitive lands. led the issues of putting the pro- Denham also said that it was posed public dog park on Sanibel, I'm going to want to know what impact this "challenging" for him to talk this time spending more time dis- has on my taxes." about this issue, because he has cussing the possible costs of its — Carla Johnston, Sanibel City Council been accused of not liking dogs construction and the allocation of for voicing any negative con- those responsibilities. cerns. Those who support a park "It's not that I hate dogs. I'm being built on the island may to return with an established time that the club will appear trying to evaluate what's best for have to wait as late as next spring 50l(c)(4) status, a definite legal before them. the citizens of Sanibel and not for a proposed referendum to be structure along with a budget out- Mayor Mick Denham spoke on fight my appreciation or not of held to determine how the major- lining operating costs, insurance many of the financial issues and dogs," he said, adding that the ity of the island residents feel and related expenses. brought up several points that he cost issues involved in this pro- about its currently proposed loca- As Council enters the summer believed remained unclear. He posal at this time are particularly tion. season with fewer meetings and insisted that Council addresses sensitive. "I've had a number of Council members requested budget planning ahead, it is still this proposal step by step begin- discussions, at least one discus- that the Sanibel Dog Club needs unclear when will be the next ning with determining a proposed See DOG PARK, page 5 The Helping with the harvest Friday afternoon brush fire Reporter quickly contained on Sanibel wants your By IDA VAYNBERG news ivaynberg @breezenewspapers.com Post to the Sanibel's Fire and Rescue District, along with the virtual Sanibel Police Department, responded to a brush fire last newsroom: Friday afternoon on the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation trail, . breezenewspapers.com adjacent to the Bailey , Tract right off of Island The contents Inn Road. of the new "The fire The fire burned started near Answer me food pantry at through approximately 25 this... the F.I.S.H. acres of land, but did notthe trait, but office on we're not Take part in our Sanibel shortly damage any homes. online poll. before they "The fire started near sure why or This week's were distrib- the trail, but we're not how at this question: uted to their sure why or how at this point. The clients. point, the Fire Should Hillary Department will be inves- Fire Department will be Clinton consider tigating that," said Sanibel investigating that." becoming Barack Chief of Police Bill —-BillTomlinson, Obama's run- Tomlinson. "We evacuat- Sanibel Chief of Police ning mate? ed maybe up to 30 houses ^^—^_^_^___^_ Answer online at IDA VAYNBERG and we had them go up to island-reporter.com and see Mackenzie Hall just so they can be comfortable." what others have said. Sanibel Fire Chief Danny Duncan said that it could have been started by anything, See last week's results inside "Somebody had to start it whether intentionally or acci- on Page 5. dentally, because there was no lightning, there were no BIG ARTS offers See BRUSH FIRE, page 10 kids an array of cre- ative opportunities Sanibel property values drop, during its annual summer camp. F.I.S.H. creates new service Captiva sees increase in 2007 Get the full story in this ByJEFFLYSIAK week's ISLANDER [email protected] to support Sanibel community Property values for the City of Sanibel dropped for the first time since 2005, while Captiva properties saw a slight increase By IDA VAYNBERG Ever since they opened a new food in value, according to a report released Monday by the Lee ivaynberg @ breezenewspapers.com pantry in their office at the end of March, County Property Appraiser's office. they gained five new clients and distrib- There is a very good reason why the Overall, Lee County lost more than 12 percent of its prop- Friends In Service Here (F.I.S.H.) office uted some 150 pounds of non-perishable food in 11 days. erty value, with many municipalities seeing losses much high- on the island has been thriving — they er than that. Cape Coral (26.5 percent), Lehigh Acres (23 per- have very good people volunteering their She said that the idea of the pantry is cent) and Matlacha/Pine Island (19 percent) represent the time to help those in need and a respon- just something they "stumbled" into largest decreases countywide. when a resident who was leaving for the sive community that continues to support In a phone interview, Lee County Property Appraiser Ken Every Issue them. summer came in to drop off some health equipment to donate to the center, along Wilkinson said the Former president and current walk-in year over year drop in Letters 4 center coordinator Maggi Feiner said that with some canned goods they did not want to throw away. values countywide is a Word on the Island -4 the current state of the economy, with its rare event. About a week later, someone else had "Realtors are going to be Business News : 12 skyrocketing gas prices and slumping "It's the first time markets, is the main factor why so many come in with more food to donate. It did- happier this year because Police Beat .'.16 n't take long before they decided to ask in my history, which is more people have been coming to over 28 years," he said, there are going to be more Community Calender .. 4B F.I.S.H. seeking help. residents who are leaving the island for sales." the summer to drop off their unopened, adding that he is not Feiner also coordinates "Helping sure when the last time — Ken Wilkinson, Sports 9B Hands," another sector of F.I.S.H. that non-perishable food at the center where it Lee County Property Appraiser could be distributed to those in need. was that there was a Leisure ? 12B helps those in financial despair and decline in Lee County. unable to pay even their basic bills. However, they weren't prepared for the Classified Ads 13B response they received. "But I would guess ' ' '•"'' "We get some clients that live on only that it hasn't happened Tides 15B $700 a month — that's it," said Feiner, By April, they had eight clients and distributed an estimated 650 pounds of since the Depression." adding that so many are so overwhelmed In Sanibel, the total taxable real and personal property val- by their bills that they arc at a "breaking food. And by May, the initial number of printed on-recycled AV.\\W.W~\VSee FJ.S.H., page 2 See PROPERTY, page. 10 paper Ready or not, islanders, hurricane season is back Island residents reminded to Part of the committee's new response 00 plan is a reservation to purchase four satel- o prepare o lite phones which, unlike regular cellular phones, will work in any weather situation. By JEFF LYSIAK Each phone costs $150, and would be pur- [email protected] chased with funds donated from their fellow Whenever June 1 rolls around, residents islanders and volunteers once Captiva is I of Southwest Florida are reminded to make projected to fall within the five-day "cone sure they have an emergency plan in place- of probability." They are also authorized to just in case a hurricane strikes the region. have access to a dedicated emergency line in order to communicate with other emer- IH And while it's been almost four years since Hurricane Charley devastated the area gency responders via GLTS (Government B Emergency Telecommunications Service). H back in 2004, perhaps ihe biggest obstacle — to overcome might be complacency. Other details included in the committee's c Dr. William Gray, Professor of preparation and response plan: Atmospheric Science and one of the nation's top hurricane forecasters, warns Once a Tropical Storm is named that Floridians should prepare for a "well • Start communicating with volunteer above-average" 2008 hurricane season. team According to Dr. Gray and his Colorado • Post storm warnings on State University research team, this year's www.MyCaptiva.info Atlantic hurricane season could yield 15 named storms, including eight hurricanes. Once a Tropical Storm is upgraded to Of those, four are predicted to be intense hurricane status hurricanes. • Verify locations of team Last year's Atlantic hurricane season • Post warnings and send to e-lists produced 15 named storms and six hurri- canes, two of which were major weather Hurricane 5-day cone includes events. Sanibel/Captiva The fact that none of 2007's storms • Order satellite phones s passed through Lee or any adjacent counties • Verify communications location in Fort c was a relief, indeed. But it shouldn't prevent Myers anyone from making thorough hurricane • Update evacuation plans O preparations for this season. • Post potential evacuation plans online a "We have learned that everyone has a role to play and a responsibility to prepare Hurricane 3-day cone includes to the best of their ability," Florida Sanibel/Captiva E Governor Charlie Crist said during the 22nd • Receive satellite phones Annual Governor's Hurricane Conference, .