• See the winners and hon- orable mentions on page 10. Week of October 14 - 20, 2004 SANIBEL & CAPTIVA, FLORIDA VOLUME 31, NUMBER 42 20 PAGES 75 CENTS Ding Darling Refuge reopens following Hurricane Charley By JENNY BURNHAM National Forest Service, cleared trees horn Staff Writer roads and from around downed power lines to allow- island residents access to their "Welcome to 'Sunny' Sanibel," said homes after the storm. Sanibel Mayor Marty Harrity to the federal '"It's not what Fish and Wildlife would and local dignitaries who gathered for the typically do," said Hamilton, but it was part official re-opening of the J.N. "Ding" of what the Service did "to show Florida and Darling National Wildlife Refuge on the U.S. ihai we can turn this place around Wednesday, October 13. ••TV*" " ".* '*' •-" ** and do it quickly." The re-opening comes as •'Ding" Darling Before Hurricane Chancy, said Mark Days get into full swing this week. Crab, Deputy Director of the Lee Visitor and Speakers at the ceremony praised the Convention Bureau, Sanibcl's "Ding" relationship between the refuge and the -V. '*' * ''I Darling was one of the most visited eco- community of Sanibel, and expressed grati- lourism destinations in all of Florida. tude to the members of ihc U.S. Fish and '"We've got a whole different look now," he Wildlife Service for their efforts on behalf of quipped. After the storm, said Crab. She two islanders after Hurricane Charley. questions he heard most often were, '"first, "Ding" Darling is the "gold standard of" 'how's everybody doing?' and second, what we strive for in terms of a relationship 'how's 'Ding' Darling?"" between a refuge and a community."' said Lee County Commissioner for Sanibel Sam Hamilton, Southeast Regional Director Bob Janes called the staff at the refuge a of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "great great team," and presented a procla- "In tough times," said Hamilton, "tough mation declaring November 16 "Wildlife people step up," and that what happened Refuge Day." Janes praised the refuge staff when more than 100 federal employees Photo by Jenny Burnham from nine states, representing Fish and Refuge Manager Rob jess speaks at the re-opening of the Ding Darlisig Refuge See Wildlife, the National Parks Service, and the page 2 SBA and Chamber hold hurricane recovery seminar Planning Commission hears By KEVIN DUFFY such affects to be felt. Hackler said, and only unin- Staff Writer sured lcs.->es arc eligible. proposed traffic changes Businesses are alvo eligible foi rcJocation reim- The U.S. Small Business Administration moniker is bursement, Hackler said, with consideration on a case- By KEVIN DUFFY a bit misleading, as property owners are finding out in by-case basis. Staff Writer their attempts to settle their financial affairs following "We'd like for you to relocate within ihe business this season's rash of hurricanes . Proposed site improvements to a parcel containing area," he said. three Sanibel businesses will impact one of the more high- Homeowners can utilize the SBA to secure emer- Hackler, who represented SBA along with llena gency funding to cover home repairs and property traffic intersections in the city. Rubio, a marketing manager, gave presentations along Paul Douglas, property owner of the land where losses just as business owners can, SBA Loan Officer with Art Corace, immediate past president of the Dennis Hackler told a small gathering at Schein Hall Schnapper's Hots, Coral Veterinary Clinic and Kenbre Sanibel/Captiva Islands Association of Realtors; Mark Dog Grooming of Sanibel are located, went before the Thursday during a Hurricane Charley recovery semi- Crabb, deputy director of the Lee County Visitor and nar sponsored by the Sanibel Captiva Islands Chamber Planning Commission Tuesday seeking variances from Convention Bureau; Warren Baucom, business assis- city codes in order to add an entry-and-exit-only drive of Commerce. tance specialist with the Lee County Economic Hackler, who works out of the SBA office in Fort Development Office: and Sanibel City Manager Judie Worth, Texas, said that homeowners can apply for a Zimomra. maximum loan of $284,000 in order to repair damage Corace said that interest in real estate on Sanibel and replace contents, with a $40,000 threshold for per- remains, despite recent events such as four hurricanes sonal property. hitting the state in a month and an imminent increase "It's even available for tenants," he said. in tolls on the Sanibei Causeway Bridge. And prices, Cindy Hoggatt, an administrative assistant for despite the presence of "bottom-feeders"' looking for Community Housing and Resources, said she was in bargains, have heid firm. attendance to take notes and report back to her "Today, three transactions went through." he said. employers. She said that folks who contacted CHR "People are still buying real estate on Sanibel, and not were encouraged to register with the Federal for bargain-basement prices." Emergency Management Agency first in order to pur- While Corace said that the local market will remain sue opportunities with organizations like the SBA. "flat" until Sanibel is restored to its former luster, the "Most were fortunate to get a timely response from steady line will represent the number of transactions them," she said. made and not values, he said. Homeowners had unti! Tuesday to apply for SBA Chamber Executive Director Steve Greenstein, who loans to cover physical losses, Hackler said. moderated the event, said there is a danger of people Applications need only have been postmarked that day just starting out in real estate pulling the plug because in order to meet the deadline, he said. escalating real estate taxes may prove to be too much Photo by Kevin Duffy Businesses, Hackler continued, can apply for phys- of a burden for them. Traffic proceeds along Periwinkle Way Wednesday past Schnapper's Hots, The city will consider a proposal by ical loss as well as economic injury. The deadline for Sec SEMINAR the latter is further out because it can take longer for the property owner to reconfigure the parcel to allow page 3 for enhanced parking and an exit-only egress from Fitzhugh Street. into the property, located at Periwinkle Way and Fitzhugh INDEX Bmmn mm LiSSOiS Bse Ins Street. Douglas also asked for the go-ahead to reconfigure the parking facility in order to add extra spaces; relaxation • POLICE BEAT PAGE 5 Causeway Charley teaches One-woman from certain city vegetative buffering requirements; and • LETTERS & COMMENTARY..PAGE 6 islands yield odd a few lessons show portrays to add a loading area for delivery vehicles. harvest heroine "We want to alleviate having parking up-front," Robert • DATELINE..., PAGE 7 Pritt, an attorney who spoke on behalf of Douglas and • SPORTS PAGE 12 Sprint looks at lessons Schnapper's owner Vince Chiaramonte, told the commis- Lee County authorities Marjorie Stoncman sion. "The owner and tenant want the parking situation examine drums carefulI\ learned from the hurri- Douglas was an impor- • TV LISTINGS .PAGE 13 canes. tant:inll pioneenioneer for the alleviated." cnv ironment Pritt, who added that the city historically has done lit- • OBITUARIES.... PAGE 14 tle in terms of redevelopment short of (earing down siruc- • CLASSIFIEDS PAGE 17 See page 3 Soc Tim-Tic. B See page 2 See page 1 j • PERMITS AGE 19 2 U Week of October 14-20, 2004 'J ISLAND REPORTER Mystery drums come ashore on causeway island By JENNY BURNHAM Staff Writer Sanibel Fire & Rescue cordoned off portions of the shoreline on the bay and Gulf sides of the spoil island between the causeway bridge spans B and C in response to sightings of barrels that appeared to be hazardous waste floating in the surf and washing ashore. The fifteen 15-gallon barrels that emer- gency crews retrieved from the beach and surf on the Gulf side of the spoil island on Tuesday, October 11, contained pure gasoline, said Lisa Douglass, spokesper- son for the state Department of Environmental Protection. None of the barrels were open or leaking. "We assumed the worst, and set up upwind," «said Tim Barrett, Training Officer with the Sanibel Fire and Rescue District, in order to avoid exposing fire- fighters and other rescue workers to any Photo by Jenny Burnham possible contamination. Sanibel Fire & Rescue is joined by Lee County Sheriff's deputies on the causeway. In addition to members of Sanibel Fire Smugglers using boats, said Officer containers that are old and have been and Rescue, officials and workers from Photo by Tim McMullen Barrett, acquire the containers and fill recycled from the the country in which the the United States Coast Guard, the Lee of'Fla. Dept. of Environmental Protection them with fuel to carry on board while aliens originate. In this case, she said, the County Sheriff's Office, Lee County Fifteen barrels in all came ashore on the making deliveries. unlabeled barrels were brand new, which Emergency Management, the Department spoil island. of Transportation and the lona-McGregor The extra fuel is "in case they have to would indicate a different kind of illegal Fire Department responded to the scene, previous two times, the containers were wait or circle around" while waiting-to cargo. Officer Barrett told The Island Reporter. discovered in the Santiva area, near Blind make a delivery, Ms Douglas said. "Once Although these fuel drums washed up An additional EMS ambulance stood by Pass. they deliver, they dump everything, on Sanibel, the DEP speculates that the while the barrels were brought ashore. "It's not uncommon," said Ms. including fuel and oil, so they can lighten containers were dumped south of Sanibel Douglas. "We see this in the Keys.