Island Tourism Industry Remains Hopeful About Season
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*•!*##**##•*#** CAR-RT SORT **P,OQ~* 15900001004.125 THU OOOOOO " " SANIBEL LIBRARY 770 DUNLOP RD s and SAM 1 BEL. FL 33957 Week of Sept. 27-Oct. 3,2001 SANIBEL & CAPTIVA, FLORIDA VOLUME 28, NUMBER 39, 24 PAGES 75 CENTS WEIR SCIENCE Weirs under review Zimomro fits info her new role . By Anna Liakas the city guarantee the weirs be New City Manager Judith Staff writer monitored regularly during peri- Zimomra has already ods of heavy rainfall and that the immersed herself in her Concern from a handful of city work to eliminate some of the new job and her new island residents, primarily from "present sign-off to help ensure a community. the Sea Oats and Gulf Pines com- rapid opening of the weirs when munities, that no one was watch- they reach the maximum specified —See page 3 ing ..the water gauges of the water level of 3.2 feet. island's three weirs Sept. 10 has But, according to Gates Castle, city officials looking carefully at the weir was opened long before the city's weir control policies. conditions became serious, even Subdivision When the weir gauge lines, dri- though a strict interpretation of the ven upwards by the heavy policy would not have allowed the on hold September rains, slipped above gates to be parted at that particular the maximum level of 3.2 feet and time. Discussion of an applica- water began reaching towards the "The policy allows for emer- tion for a major subdivi- level of four feet last week, city sion of property lining gency openings, which can be Periwinkle Way has been officials last Tuesday garnered authorized by the city manager placed on hold until Oct. immediate input on the status of with input from the natural 23. , ' • the vital wetland water control resources director and the city —See page 3 structures from the city's Natural engineer," said Castle, "And in my Resource Director, Rob Loflin, as opinion the policy worked well in well as Public Works Director and this circumstance, as it has Charity Scam City Engineer Gates Castle. Southwest Florida has Dick Beston, president ol' the See Weia* been hit with a scheme in Sea Oats Improvement which scam artists pose as As-.oci.ition, expressed hK imcasi- firemen asking for chari- iis. -, ibout iiu' v.vir- htith in p-ir table contributions. >ou IxToie i.nmdl inemheis ;r> -See page 4 well it's in ;i k-itcr to (iak' . < 'astlc dated St'.pt. ! 7. "We in Sea Oats," Beston wrote, "are concerned that the pre- sent process for managing the Big fines levied Michael Pi Stella weir is not working and needs to The city's new code A gauge at the city's Beach Road weir read 2.9 feet Friday, be addressed as soon as possible." enforcement hearing one week after Tropical Storm Gabrielle visited the island. The letter goes on to request that examiner has handed down another large fine. —See page 6 West Nile virus arrives in Lee "If we found five or six birds again with a positive result," said By Anna Liakas that were infected, then we might South, "it could take several weeks Staff writer begin to worry, but one in an area as for us to ascertain which .strain of Memorials controlled as this is not a great con-; the virus is present. By then the A wise man once said, "Don't cern," said Dr. Bob South, epidemi-* threat of infection could bo lone A memorial service for victims of the terrorist count your flaviviruses before they ologist for the Lee County Health past." attacks was held last hatch," According to local health Department. The bird had its blood Residents and health officials in Michavl Vintc.Ua Sunday on the Sanibel officials, a North Fort Myers sen- drawn for a second time on Leo County have been concerned Billy Kirkland, owner of Causeway. A benefit will tinel chicken that had its blood Monday and definitive results will about the potential arrival of Uic Billy's Rentals, helped soon be hold at Sanibel drawn Sept. 17 and came back with not be known until Friday around West Nile virus since it's discovery clean the heaehes of smelly Harbor Resort and Health a pivMiinpiiw positive blood test lunchtime, South said. Until then, in the Florida Panhandle in •.•tuly pen shells laat week. The Spa: - for tiie iiauvirus Sept. 21 (fla- the health department cannot be July. The virus, which is irtiirniiii- city authorised Lho clean- -See. page -K »ivinis is tho mosquito-home \irus sure whether the test is conclusive led in a cycle- from infected bird to up after businesses com- linked to cases of the West Nile for the flavivims. plained the* smell was dri- Virus and St Louis encephalitis) is "Even if Friday's test returns !> Set; Virus ving customers away. | nnoo rreason for a crow of alarm. page 5 Sonibel School Beacon: Special Report: Terrorism's effect on Southwest Florida tourism The Sanibel School paper is back — better than ever! —See page 10 Island tourism industry remains hopeful about season By Ron Sympson term impact of the American H The area's unique attributes M Accommodations owners are Staff writer tragedy is impossible to predict — should be a major drawing card for reporting that many tourists who they also see encouraging signs tourists who might otherwise have cancelled reservations for rooms * ENVIRONMENT.... page 5 Despite significant losses in that the tourism industry in ventured to other destinations. early in the season have asked that revenue during the first two weeks Southwest Florida may be in a bet- 'This is the kind of destination that their deposits be retained so they •BUSINESS™ -page 7 following terrorist attacks on ter position to rebound than in people are going to be looking for, can rebook for a later date. America, leaders of the Sanibel- other areas of the country: because of the tranquility, the quiet, B Americans' fear, of flying, •• OPINION -page 9 Captiva tourism industry say they H Southwest Florida's popula- the environment and for reconnect- particularly over open waters, remain confident about the future tion of winter residents with sec- ing with loved ones, rather than the should help divert tourists from 4 DATELINE.. page 14 of the islands' economy. ond homes is perhaps the largest big cities or theme parks," said D.T. destinations such as Hawaii, And while most agree that the in the state and it is unlikely that Minich, executive director of the Europe — and particularly the • TV LISTINGS™. .page 16 upcoming season may be softer recent events will deter their Lee Island Coast Visitor & than usual — and that the long- return to the area. Convention Bureau. I> See Tourism •CLASSIHIDS... .....page 21 page 7 2 • Week of Sept. 27-Oct. 3, 2001 • ISLAND REPORTER Australian pines a hazard in the storm By Pete Bishop Sanibel Conservation News editor Officer James Evans, who inspected the Baths' "City officials have long known that the fallen trees last week, Australian pines providing canopies for agrees the pine trees aie a Periwinkle Way and other aieas all over the hazard, but disagrees that island will be a major problem in the event the river or weir caused of a hurricane. The shallow roots, com- the Baths' trees to fail bined with the tree's height, make the pines during the storm. vulnerable to high winds and could possi- "The determining fac- bly result in a dangerous tie-up on the tor is definitely the island's primary evacuation route if a cata- winds," Evans said strophic storm hits the area. Tuesday. "These trees When Tropical Storm Gabrielle hitjhe- have no tap root system islands suddenly last week, the species' and they're prone to vulnerability to storms also became clear come over in even small to Sanibel residents David and Jillian Bath. wind events . those The Baths, who moved to the island recent- other trees he has are ly, once had a secluded spot in their back- growing on an island and yard wheie they liked to watch the yellow it won't take winds crown night herons in a nearby Sanibel stronger than 30 or 40 River rookery, just off Beach Road. miles per hour to bring The Baths' backyard area was complete them down." Evans also with a boardwalk and a canopy provided noted that only by several Australian pine trees. When the Australian pmes fell storm's strong winds blew in from the roots and all during last south last Friday morning, however, four week's storm, while few ot the trees toppled to the ground, smash- native trees were dam- ing the Baths' boardwalk and creating an aged beyond a few bro- expensive mess of their backyard. ken limbs. The Baths' were lucky the wind came "They're exotic tiees from the south, because the trees fell away Michael Pistella jn a piace they don't belong from their home. The absence of structmal Four Australian pines fell during last week's tropical storm, smashing David and and it was inevitable," said damage to their home, however, made the Jillian Bath's boardwalk. Evans. "They aie dangeious Baths' insurance policy moot and they are The lemaining Australian pines in the ness of the trees' roots. trees. That's the take home now faced with a major cleanup project at Baths' yard stand on islands in a swale next "That's the conclusion I've come to, and message." their own expense. to the river, about 100 yards from Sanibel's I told council what had happened," Bath "As far as I'm concerned," said Bath, "The big picture to me is the incredible Beach Road weir.