WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 15,2011 BOTI island Best of the Islands Luncheon r REPORTER - Page 12 SANJBEL AND CAPTIVA, FLORIDA VOLUME 49, NUMBER 36 VISIT US ONLINE AT CAPTIVASANIBEL.COM 750 Tentative budget approved at $47.8 million By JEFF LYSIAK .0992 percent decline in taxable property service; establish sinking fund account for [email protected] values. early retirement of bonds used to con- As anticipated, council members unan- "Since submitting the draft budget to struct the Sanibel Recreation Center. Togo imously approved a budget package total- City Council, additional .factors have • Acid Dinkins Bayou dredging proj- ing $47,784,320 for Fiscal Year 2011- occurred," Edwards said. "These changes ect ($200,000) and Clam Bayou box cul- 12, established a millage rate of 2.1561 ' are reflected in today's tentative budget vert repair ($30,000). What: Final budget public hearing and decrease the draft budget's surplus * Roll forward $100,000 for Sanibel and introduced a set of goals for the next When: Tuesday, Sept. 20 12 months. from $622,898 to the tentative budget's Lighthouse rehabilitation in beach park- 5:01 p.m. During the presentation conducted by surplus of $220,569." ing. Finance Director Sylvia Edwards and City Highlights of the FY2011-12 budget • Received WCIND grant award Where: MacKenzle Hall Manager Judie Zimomra, the City of changes include: ($48,822) and Edward Byrne grant award 800 Dunlop Road Sanibel's budgeted operating ad valorem • Increase pension liability paydown ($2,266). revenue dropped slightly over the past by $447,984 (from $2,552,016 to • One administrative clerk position For more information: year, from $9,074,577 in FY2010-11 to $3,000,000). changed from full-time to part-time www.mysanibel.com $9,070,587 in FY2011-12, due to a • Budget $600,000 transfes- to debt See BUDGET, page 8 Council to look closer at revised sewer rates By JEFF LYSIAK jlysiak@bi'eezenewspapers.com "We should evaluate this as close- On Saturday, the City Council con- ly as we have to... maybe put this sidered a pair of resolutions to adopt in front of another set of eyes." and establish a revised schedule of rates for the Sanibel Sewer System, to — Kevin Ruane, Mayor of Sanibel include a three percent increase in resi- dential and commercial customers as well as a three-tier rate structure for unit for homeowners, up from the cur- general reclaimed water customers, the rent monthly rate of $51.94. meeting ended with both items tabled Commercial customer rates were pro- for further discussion. posed at $8.04 per 1,000 gallons, with Resolution 11-076 had proposed a a variety of monthly rates — from monthly sewer system rate of $53.50 $31.08 up to $778.31 - based upon (or $160.50 quarterly) per dwelling See COUNCIL, page 8 JEFF LYSIAK Singing "God Bless America" at the conclusion of Sunday's "Remember 9/11 Tenth Year" program are, from left, Amy Bennett Williams, Leoma Lovegrove, Mandy Connell, Sandra Stilweil and Planners approve permit Joseph A. Andujar, Jr. Lovegrove, Southwest Floridians for Sanibel Olive Oil Co. reflect on 10th anniversary of 9/11 By JEFF LYSIAK other stores (in Sarasota and Naples) [email protected] which offer similar products for sale. By JEFF LYSIAK formances by Nena and Rissa Arias as Following a brief discussion, the Patel was notified by Pople the appli- [email protected] well as-the Lee County Pipes & Drums Planning Commission unanimously cable definitions of a formula retail store, More than 450 people filled the Band. approved a conditional use permit for the and that he would be required to apply for Broadway Palm Dinner Theater on Lovegrove, who operates an art Sanibel Olive Oil Company, 10 months a conditional use permit. Patel filed his Sunday morning, witnessing a special gallery in the Tree Tops Center on after discovering the business should have application on Feb. 25. program of personal remembrances, - Sanibel; completed work on her patriot- been required to file as a formula retail Commissioner Tom Krekel questioned artistic interpretations and -somber cere- ic rendition of an American bald eagle store. monies on the tenth anniversary of the on flight, adding gloriously glowing According to Benjamin Pople of the See PERMIT, page 8 Sept. 11, 2011 terrorist attacks which colors of yellow, orange and blue to a city's Planning Department, the retailer forever changed the United States. gigantic 10-foot by 18-foot canvas on — located in the Periwinkle Place "Remember 9/11 Tenth Year," a the Broadway Palm's stage. Shopping Center — opened in October program conceived and hosted by local Originally, Lovegrove had planned 2010. Within two weeks of granting artist Leoma Lovegrove, included poet- to paint the eagle on top of an identicai- Arnish Patel, owner of the Sanibel Olive ry readings, video presentations, a flag Oil Company,.a business tax license, staff folding ceremony and a musical per- ' See ANNIVERSARY, page 3 members discovered that he operated two ».«»,«»,»* coon Editorial .4 Letters to the Editor .......5 Business News 11 INSIDETODAY Word on the Island .4 Obituaries .6 Preserving Paradise 13 September marks the historical peak of hurricane season Submitted by MELANIE MOT1SKA developments are still possible. To date, the Management. "It is vital that every individual "It is extremely important for Florida's September 10th marked the annual his- National Hurricane Center has identified 12 is prepared for any tropical storms that may residents to heed the call for disaster pre- torical peak of the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane named tropical storms, two of which have threaten our state and I strongly urge paredness," said David Halstead, the Season' and Florida Division of Emergency reached hurricane status. Floridians to visit www.FloridaDisaster.org Division's Deputy Director. "Every effort Management officials urge residents and vis- "'While we are fortunate that Florida has to create or update their family and business will be made to assist Florida's residents after itors to stay prepared. not suffered any major damage due to storms disaster plans." a disaster, however, depending on the level As this year's season has already been so far this season, we still have twelve more With a higher record of hurricane land- of disaster, first responders and other state very active. Division officials caution resi- weeks before hurricane season officially falls than any other state, Florida is the hurri- and local response teams may not be able lo dents that the 201L season runs through ends," said Bryan W. Koon, Director of the cane capital of the United'States. This means aid everyone affected by the storm immedi- November 30th and several more tropical Florida Division of Emergency proper planning is crucial for the protection ately. Having at least three days worth of I of individuals, families and their homes, as necessary provisions will help ensure you well as Florida businesses. Special prepara- and your family are able to take care of your- Patriotic Preschoolers tions should be made for family members selves until help does arrive." who are elderly, disabled or have special The Atlantic Hurricane Season runs from I needs, as well as for family pets. By under- June 1 through Nov. 30. For more informa- in 3 standing how to be prepared and what tion on the Florida Division of Emergency -G actions you should take in the event of a dis- Management, visit F aster, you can reduce the effects to your fam- www.FloridaDisaster.org. ily or business. Coastal Cleanup returns this weekend Submitted by DEE SERAGE-CENTURY SCCF Living Wirfi Wildlife Educator - Please join the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) for the 26th Annual International Coastal Cleanup, scheduled to take place this Saturday, Sept. 17. SCCF invites you to participate in an • I international volunteer effort to rid our coast- "3 lines and waterways of marine litter, pollu- tion and debris. Last year, approximately 1 400,000 volunteers worldwide removed an estimated 6.8 million pounds of coastal trash •43 that can hurt local economies, injure and kill marine wildlife, and choke the ocean envi- a ronment. SCCF'S partner in the Ocean Conservancy's 26th Annual Coastal Cleanup is Keep Lee County Beautiful and Bailey's General Store. Participation is easy, so bring your friends and family to SCCF's Nature Center at 3333 Sanibel-Captiva Road between 9 a.m. and noon to check in and pick up your Coastal I Cleanup data cards and trash bags. Please SCCF bring your own water to reduce the use of A great blue heron, pictured with a plastic water bottles. set of plastic rings wrapped around its neck. Lunch and snacks on the Nature Center porch will be available thanks to Bailey's ed. Trash in the ocean is one of the most General Store from 10 a.m. until noon as widespread problems threatening our water- well as a dumpster to deposit your trash. ways and wildlife... and it is all preventable. CONTRIBUTED Last year, volunteers picked up If you have any questions, want to pick Last week, youngsters enrolled at Summit Christian Preschool at 3,216,991 cigarettes and plastic filters top- your "clean up" spot or get your data cards Sanibel Community Church learned about the meaning of "One ping the worldwide marine litter list. Plastic ahead of time, please call Dee at 472-2329. - Nation Under God" and celebrated the spirit of America. bags came in second with 1,377,141 collect- See you at the Coastal Cleanup! Seaside Dining Taste of the Islands "People's Choice Award" Winner Seven Continuous Years Lunch & Dinner 472-8138 ?39,472.2328 "• www.sanibelthris SANIBEL MARINA ^servations are required 'Also Available for Private Charters ^^_' Departing from Sanibel Marina 634 N Yachtsman Drive |4 N.