Island Sun News Sanibel Captiva
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PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID FT MYERS, FL PERMIT #5718 Read Us Online at Postal Customer IslandSunNews.com ECRWSS NEWSPAPER VOL. 21, NO. 5 SANIBELSanibel & CAPTIVA& Captiva ISLANDS, Islands FLORIDA JuLy 26, 2013 JULY/AUGUST SUNRISE/SUNSET: 26 6:50 • 8:19 27 6:51 • 8:19 28 6:52 • 8:18 29 6:52 • 8:18 30 6:53 • 8:17 31 6:53 • 8:17 1 6:54 • 8:16 Cartoonist Shares Drawing Skills With Campers by Jeff Lysiak ampers at the Sanibel Recreation Center received a special visit last CFriday afternoon from local car- toonist and illustrator Dave Horton, who shared with them a few “tricks of the trade” during his presentation of how to draw action heroes. During two individual sessions – one for teens and ‘tweens and another for young- er kids – Horton described his process of drawing action heroes like their favorite comic book legends in several easy-to- remember steps. Using a giant easel and pad of paper, Horton told the crowd that they should start their drawings using a pencil with a light touch, then go over the Cartoonist and illustrator Dave Horton and the second and third grade Summer Day Camp kids from the Sanibel Recreation Center – lines later in ink. dressed in their own hand-made superhero costumes – during last Friday’s special drawing demonstration and presentation continued on page 5 photos by Jeff Lysiak Cane toad, left, and southern toad, right, with the parotoid gland, the source of the cane toad’s toxin, indicated on both. The gland is larger on the cane toad they were accidentally brought here in Invasive Toads mulch, pine straw, sod, plants or even tadpoles hiding in a small pool of water on Discovered any object transported to the island. This species poses a serious threat to wildlife Breeding Near on Sanibel, as well as domestic pets. The large glands behind the eyes and above Middle Gulf Drive the shoulders (parotoid glands) produce a Above left, John McCabe and Jim Sprankle at the start of the refuge campaign mark toxin (bufotoxin) that is both irritating and early donations on the tracking thermometer. Now, the thermometer’s top mark has been n July 17, during monthly frog exceeded call surveys, conducted by the deadly to smaller wildlife. When a preda- OJN “Ding” Darling National tor grabs a giant toad in their mouth, the began in January 2013. The campaign Wildlife Refuge and the Sanibel-Captiva toad inflates its body and the toxin oozes DDWS Meets raised funds to purchase acreage at Conservation Foundation (SCCF) on out of the parotoid glands into the mouth Woodring Point at the entrance to the Sanibel, a population of giant toads of the predator. It is well documented that Preservation refuge’s Tarpon Bay sea-life nursery and (Rhinella marinus), also known as cane the poison has killed pet dogs in south to add an elevator and other upgrades toads or marine toads, were discovered Florida. The literature and conversations Campaign Goal to the “Ding” Darling Education Center breeding in a temporary wetland near with veterinarians and pet owners indicate ing” Darling Wildlife Society- at J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Middle Gulf Drive and Fulgar Street. it is a horrific death for the animal. There Friends of the Refuge (DDWS) Refuge on Sanibel Island. Like most other invasive amphibians have even been human fatalities from this “Dhas announced that it has “The support has been just incredible,” and reptiles on the island, they did not species from toad-licking. The tadpoles are meet its $1.8 million goal for its Refuge said Jim Sprankle, who chaired the migrate here by themselves. More likely, continued on page 3 Preservation Campaign goal, which it continued on page 19 2 ISLAND SUN - JULY 26, 2013 Visitor Stories From The Sanibel Historical Museum And Village hroughout the Sanibel Historical TMuseum and Village’s buildings are binders invit- ing visitors to share their memories of Sanibel – whether as long-time resi- dents, as visitors of many years, as students at the Old Schoolhouse, or what- ever moves them to record their Sanibel experiences. Loose-leaf pages (them- selves a reminder of times past, having come into use around 1900) and pens are provided, and that’s all one needs to bring the past Old Island Inn alive. From Grace Benham Herst “I spent two wonderful years here from 1939 to 1941. I loved the school, the Picnic on the beach beach, the remoteness of everything. We used to go to Fort Myers when we wanted From Ruby Singleton Sanders ice cream – there was none on the island because there was no electricity.” “My father ran the mail boat Santiva from 1936 to 1952. I would ride with him in From a Waterville, Ohio visitor the summer on occasion and walk from Bailey’s store across to the beach using a pal- “From 1948 to 1952, we came to Fort Myers each year to visit my grandparents. metto ‘swisher’ to keep off the mosquitoes.” (Ruby’s father was Cleon Singleton.) We took the ferry out to Sanibel and a wagon pulled by a tractor or pickup truck took Read more about people’s experiences living on and visiting Sanibel at the Sanibel us to our accommodation. The cottage we stayed in was a clapboard bedroom with Historical Museum and Village. In addition, the Old Bailey Store contains copies of old two double beds and a dresser – that’s it. Then there was a screened porch with a newspapers, and just about all the houses have plenty of reading material explaining kerosene stove, table and chairs and sink (with pitcher and bowl, I think). We stayed their history. two or three nights and hunted shells and swam and hunted shells some more. Then, The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the little cart took us back to the ferry, sunburned and carting our shells.” Wednesday through Saturday through August 3, and reopens November 6 on a full From an unidentified visitor schedule, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is located at 950 Dunlop Road (next to BIG “I can remember my husband’s grandmother, Jesse Shipley, drove us to the beach ARTS). There is handicap access to all buildings. For more information, call 472-4648 down Donax Road, which was only dirt. We drove up on the beach and parked. You during business hours or visit www.sanibelmuseum.org. could look both ways on the beach and not see one building.” Tropical Fabrics Let’s SHOP Till We Drop Novelty Yarn WE WILL Quilting PAY Specializing in all Natural Notions YOUR Pet Food and Treats Beads TOLL!!! Scrapbook Spend $55 • Collars, Harnesses & Leads Papers and bring • Great Pet Toys Children’s Crafts us your toll receipt for a • Pet Beds & Carriers Art Supplies Shell Crafts full refund! • Breed Specifi c Items Gifts Find us on • Cat Stuff Too! Open Monday - Saturday www.threecraftyladies.com Olde Sanibel Shoppes • 630 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel, FL 33957 239.395.1464 • fax 239.395.1458 • IslandPaws.com 1628 Periwinkle Way • 472-2893 • Heart of the Islands, Sanibel Enjoy a meal with us in our French Cafe atmosphere. Dine inside or out. You’ll love our pet-friendly outdoor patio! Island Winds Coiffures HAIR SALON FOR WOMEN & MEN LINDA • MARISA • JEANNE • JOSEPHINE FEATURING FACIAL THREADING BY JOSEPHINE ( ) Featuring Manicures • Pedicures • Cuts • Color • Perms "Let us NEW CUSTOMERS ALWAYS WELCOME! Olde Sanibel Shoppes • 630 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel, FL 33957 Pamper You!" 239.472.2625 • fax 239.395-1458 • OverEasyCafeSanibel.com 695 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel • Promenade • 472-2591 ISLAND SUN - JULY 26, 2013 3 As of July 22, cane toads have been found at four more locations on Sanibel, with pos- sible sightings at a two more From page 1 Invasive Cane Toad also toxic, which can lead to fatalities in many animals that consume them. Special care should be taken to prevent dogs, cats, etc. from biting or grasp- ing these toads in their mouths. These are very large toads, reaching up to 5.5 inches in length One of the cane toads found on July 17 near Middle Gulf and possibly near five Drive and Fulgar Street pounds. They are vora- cious eaters. They will eat insects, snakes, baby turtles (including small sea turtles, gopher tor- toises, box turtles, etc.), lizards, small mammals and birds. They will even eat pet food or any other kind of food left outside. It is highly unique for a frog to eat non-living food. These toads are attracted to bright lights at night because they attract Cassie Cook, intern from JN “Ding” Darling National Wildlife insects. Refuge and Stephanie Cappiello, intern for SCCF, in the tem- Giant toads are South porary wetland where the toads were found American in origin. They spread throughout northeastern Australia were brought to Australia in the 1930s and are still a serious threat. They were to control cane grubs in sugar cane fields. released in sugar cane fields in Florida to They did not control cane grubs and start- control a larval form of a beetle as well, ed eating smaller vertebrates. They have hence the name “cane toad.” Just like in Australia, they escaped from the area and became established. Also, there is a You can see a live cane toad record of approximately 100 being acci- and southern toad – and hear dentally released in the 1950s in Miami by a pet dealer. the cane toad’s call – at SCCF’s The best case scenario is that this Nature Center.