Cancer claims Candidate's Around the two women forum islands pages page 30 MARCH 11,1999 VOLUME 26 NUMBER 10 S0RT R003 36 PAGES 770 CUNLOP RD 33957 SANIBEL PORTER SANIBEL. &CAPTIVA, FLORIDA Chamber A REAL SHELLABRATION signs on Trowbridge for top job Sanibel/Captiva Shell Club member Huek Liebermann talks to Collin New director to start Monday Flanagan, 7, of ffl Board election deadline/page 2 Philadelphia while his brother Dylan By Gwenda Hiett-Clements and mom Joan look News Editor on during the 02nd *i annual Sanibel A long-time Sanibel businessman Shell Fair & Show has been named the new executive at the Sanibel director oi" the Sanibel/Captiva Islands Community House Chamber of Commerce. Keith last week. Trowbridge, who founded the time- Liebermann, with share concept — now widely used in his suit of shells, resort aicas woildwide — on Sanibel in was the hit of the the 1970s, accepted the position offered show, wearing what by the chamber board of directors he estimates to be Trowbridge over 1,000 shells he attached with hot ? to a hat, shirt, , /^o^peWi ag"o Shell Point and said it took him about three months. The shells were collected by him and his wife looks to future Katy. For the story, more photos and a By Gwenda Hiett-Clements list of winners in News Editor both the scientific A ground-breaking ceremony last Thursday marked the and artistic divi- beginning of a 10-year expansion project at Shell Point that sions, please see will create one of the largest retirement communities in the pages 16-17 world. When the $750 million Woodlands project is finished in 2009, Shell Point's population will be 4,000 compared to the 1,350 now at the 75-acre location on the Caloosahatchee River just before the Sanibel Causeway. The project is being built on 300 of the almost 700 acres between the present village and Summerlin Road purchased in 1996. Peter Dys, Shell Point executive vice president, explained development will take place east of Shell Point [> See Shell Point, page 3 Michael Pistella CASTING Ecotourism dissected without conclusion CALL By Pattie Pace year resident Hazel Schuller posed two questions to Staff Writer commissioners Tuesday: How does Sanibel mini- mize impact caused by increasing numbers of eco- The J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife tourists who threaten to "love" the island's natural Refuge attracts 850,000 visitors each year, accord- resources "to death?" Is it really necessary to adver- Brian Summers, ing to Sanibel Planning Commissioner Steve tise, even in publications such as Audubon maga- grandson of Sanibel Greenstein. zine, to attract more people to the island? residents Maggie But before she was even aware of that figure, 17- and Jim Graham, E> See Ecotourism, page 4 gives it his best effort during the Bait Box Cast Net Major General Dozier to speak on NATO Rodeo Saturday. See story on page By Jill Goodman the newspapers in December his wife's head. 25 for big winners Staff Writer 1981 after he was kidnapped Dozier was packed into a during the day's from his apartment in Verone, refrigerator-sized crate and competition. The third Great Decisions lec- Italy. whisked away to an apartment in ture scheduled at the Barrier While at home with his wife, another town. Island Group for the Arts, "After Judy, readying for an evening out, He spent 42 days chained to a NATO Expansion, What?" will two "plumbers" gained entry to cot in a tent within the apartment be conducted by Major General their home. Catching the general and forced to listen to heavy (Ret.) James Dozier. off guard, they forced him into metal music blasted through ear- Gwenda Hiett-Clements Dozier hit the front pages of submission by holding a gun to t> See Dozier, page 4 IP.! 2 • MARCH 11, 1999 • ISLAND REPORTER C o r r e c t i o n Chamber board candidate 111 e a t h e i filing deadline is today The captions High Low Rain The Sdmbd/Capirvd Mauds Chamber oi Commcice is under the pho- piep.inng foi the upcoming board of ducctors election m March 3 76 59 tos with the March 4 76 60 .31 story, "SCA April and hu<. mailed notices lo members oi" the March 5 66 55 looks back to Nominating Committee'* iccomnu'iidations along \ulh March 6 74 56 the future," in petitions for inembci:> mtcicsted in tunning lor the board March 7 78 61 the March 4 March 8 76 62 The names of members recommended by the edition of the Nominating Committee and approved by the board arc- March 8 78 62 Island Reporter were reversed. GIXJVSF Atp-of Visitors Television; .left Molnar ot Molnar Here are the Ele6trfc;""©a\id Schuldfinfrei of Gopher Enterprises; Rainfall for March is .31 inches so far. 'Revonda"p»ss of Properties in Paradise; Tony Lapi of correct names G. Schopfer A. Schroder Note: Rainfall levels are recorded from the with the correct 'Tweca-Walers Ino; Anne Jbffe of She Sells Sea Shells morning of the day given to the following morn- faces. and Jerty Stem of the Blue Dolphin Motel. ing. The Island Reporter regrets the error. Source: island Water Association to i the^gnAw«sof5perc^tftftj!iechanjWtnmbe tl members in gdod-$toata& on their petitions. We want to correct our mistakes as soon as possible. If you see an error, please call 472-1587. For more infcwroa'tjoH, call 4724080. GROUNDBREAKING RETIREMENT NEWS FROM SHELL POINT HaS BegUII Construction of Oakmont at The Woodlands is now underway and our new championship golf course will be ready to play when Oakmont is complet- ed. Very soon The Woodlands at Shell Point will become the most desirable retirement address in Southwest Florida. The Woodlands Highlights Golf, Islands, nature pre- money back guarantee. Skilled nursing Nature and Personal Growth serves, die Caloosa- care is immediately available — even Tor morej than 30 years, Shell Point has hatchee River and the before moving in — and we guarantee a led theB,;wajgirl ^gracious retirerrjent; feing golf .course and nearby 100% refund of the entrance fee for one and continuing lifecare, yet rarely in will be new state-of- full year of residency. those 30 years have we introduced the-art health care and residences that have been received with recreational facilities as A Few Premium Residences Remain as much enthusiasm as those at The well as tKfc, Village Several of our most attractive residences Woodlands. , Church. Secure and private, The Woodlands are still available but in the next few weeks The Woodlands provides a wide choice also features nature preserves, greenways and these remaining residences will be sold. So, of luxurious independent- lakes and is' ideal for those who enjoy an if you would like to live the unequalcd living residences with dra- active outdoor lifestyle,that includes boating, Shell Point lifestyle, you must act quickly. matic views of the Barrier .fishing," sailing, golf, tennis, a complete 1 Please call soon to health club; heated swimming pools and arrange to be our miles of walking trails. guest at a compli- mentary continental We Guarantee You'll Love breakfast and tour The Woodlands of Shell Point. We're so sure you're going to love liv- Welcome Center ing at the Woodlands we'll guarantee it. hours are 8 a.m. to Just select your residence arid get guaran- 4 p.m., Monday teed access -to care now, plus our 100%' through Friday. SHELLIPPOINT Secure Tour Tomorrows Today A Continuing Care Community • 15000 Sliell Point Boulevard, Fort Myers Florich 33' EQUAL HOUSING 941-466-1131 or 1-800-780-1131 . www.shellpoint.org ' OPPORTUNITY ^ Shell Point is a nonprofit ministry of The Christian & Missionary Alliance Foundation b,c ISLAND REPORTER • MARCH 11, 1999 • 3 /•• I Shell Point From page 1 Road, from Summerlin up to the current Janet Watermeier, executive director of island community. the Lee County Office of Economic As part of the land purchase arrange- Development, said this will make Shell ment, the 400 acres to the west, toward Point one of the top five employers in the Sanibel, will be a permanent natural pre- county. serve. Dys noted that already non-native According to Realtor estimates, the plants such as Brazilian pepper are being Woodlands will generate over 2,400 local removed and plans call for repairing damage real estate transactions with homes being done by manmade mosquito ditches to take sold and units being purchased. The units the land back to its natural state. The land are being pre-sold, which provides most of will be deeded back to the state. the financing for the project. "There is an Indian mound and a bald According to David Moreland, vice pres- eagle nest on the property, and we plan to ident of sales and marketing for Shell Point, make that a high point for the people living more than 80 percent of the Oakmont units here," he said. have been sold. The land had been under consideration Purchasing at Shell Point is likened to for commercial development by StarDial. purchasing life insurance. Shell Point's Sanibel Mayor Bob Janes, who was at the "lifecare" system is a combination of retire- ceremony, said, "Of all the developers who ment housing with extended health care ser- could have gotten hold of the land, I'm vices. The owner buys guaranteed care for pleased that Shell Point will be there. Those life with a lump-sum, down payment plus a people are attempting to do it right. They are monthly fee.