island ""!-••-• L'.:;;L, -I l'-f r ;:• . :> •;-,',\..... pU__ j-;:,r LU Week of Nov. 22-28, 2001 SANIBEL &CAPTIVA, FLORIDA VOLUME 28, NUMBER 47, 24 PAGES 75 CENTS Shared Vision Nuisance Paths of pedaling pleasure The volunteer committees of the Shared Vision Initiative are ready to present their accomplish- alligators ments and plans at a town meeting Dec. 12. —See page 4 present Eagle reward A reward has been offered dilemma for information regarding the destruction of a bald By Anna Liakas eagle nest in Collier Staff writer County. Conflicting reports sur- —See page 5 rounding the capture and sub- sequent killing of a 13-foot alligator on Oct. 22 at the Dungs Resort and Country C.R.O.W. ball Club have raised questions It's the season for the among some islanders over the Holly Ball, C.R.O.W.Y, methods and procedures of annual toast of the holi- Sanibel's nuisance alligator days and fundraiser. control program. "On Monday we got a call —See page 5 from residents saying that someone was attempting to capture some alligators that were on our property," said Kevin McCune, manager of Michael Pixtella the island resort. "So we went Sanibel's bike paths have many iidiies, as vv4;II as ». long, rich history. Boutiques give running .out there to see what Two Sanibel Island bou- was going" on." tiques, Eileen Fisher and McCune said that when they Funds approved for upkeep .of island's bike paths Plus Perfect in the arrived a trapper near the 14th By Mason Laderer vey and compiled a list of the and were able to do a good amount Forever Green Shops, are tee was trying to cast a rope, Staff writer • areas in the most need of repair," of work. Hopefully this year will acting as drop-off points tied with a large hook and bait- said Castle. "Repairs will be made be the same story," said Castle. for those wishing to give ed with a hunk of meat, out The Sanibel Department of in the order of most need around The bike paths have been a to clients of ACT. into their pond from an adja- Public Works has been approved the island." major artery of island transporta- cent privately-owned property. for $210,000 in funds for the The construction is scheduled tion since the mid-1970s when the —See page 7 "I was concerned that no repair and upkeep of the Sanibel for May and June of 2002 and will first two sections of path were put authority had notified us as to bike paths throughout 2002. be up for public bid to find the in on the island. The Captran what was going on, and that The repairs are part of a 5-year best value of private contractor Corporation, a time-share corpora- the alligator was on our prop- program to improve the conditions work. tion run by then President Keith erty, and has been living here of the bike paths throughout the "The amount of work that will Trowbridge put in a bike path Variances island, according to Public Works be done depends on what sort of O ISee Alligators Director Gates Castle. Sanibel City Attorney page 3 prices we get this year - last year H> See Paths Doug Wyckoff explains "Last year we completed a sur- we got some really good prices page 2 land-use variances and why it might be harder to get them in Sanibel from A 'TASTE' OF RETAIL HITS SANIBEL now on. Local charities (eel the pinch —See page 9 By Anna Liakas people who show up at our Staff writer doorstep, and we have to start cooking them now, so they'll all While money has continued to be ready in time." Captiva Classic- pour steadily into Washington and Escalle reports that the organi- Hollie Smith, New York to assist in the relief zation will serve between 700-800 Get your paddles ready owner of effort for the Sept. 11 terrorist meals this year, up from between and your kayaks on the Sanibel Island attacks, donations to many local 600 and 700 meals served last water for the annual Book Shop, and national charitable organiza- year. Captiva Classic next talks to Emily tions have simultaneously dwin- "What we're experiencing is a weekend. Pastor during dled to a trickle, as the groups that lacking of physical items," said Sunday's help support a wide variety of com- Escalla. "And along with the Taste of Retail munity needs are welcoming the shortages, with the local and event at the holiday season with a different sort national economy suffering, we Sanibel of fear and trepidation, with the are also experiencing more people Community grim realization that their coffers House. For in need." and cupboards are practically bare. Escalla said that while she ^ENVIRONMENT........™.....page 5 more photos, see page 6. Tricia Escalle, community rela- understands there are needs for tions manager, for the Salvation ^BUSINESS ..pages 6-7 assistance elsewhere in the coun- Photo I Michael Army in Fort Myers, tells the story try, she also knows there are thou- ^OPINION ........page 9 Pistella in terms of turkeys. sands who are in desperate situa- "Last year at this time we'd tions right here in Lee County. ^LOOKING BACK..—.page 10 received 75 turkeys as compared. "I don't think that it's because to the same time this year when STV LISTINGS—......page 15 people don't want to give," said we've received only 15," said the community relations manager. ^DATELINE. .. ......page 18 Escalle late Friday afternoon. "We are in need of at least 150 to 200 $> See Charities ^CLASSIFIEDS.. ......page 20 turkeys iivorder for,us to feed the page 13 2 • Week of Nov. 22-28, 2001 • ISLAND REPORTER PATHS From page 1 from the Causeway to the lighthouse. Bob Currently, there are 23 miles Taylor put in a section of bike path servic- of hike path around the ing the Periwinkle Place Shops. island with at least one The original two sections of bike path other path in the works — a were privately run and maintained, but the span beginning near the city was soon adding sections of bike path rear of the Sanibel throughout the island. Funding for the Steakhouse to Casa Ybel bike paths was earned through donation Road. jars placed around the island. Muriel Goss and former Sanibel Mayor Porter Goss headed up the fundraising. Photos by Currently, there are 23 miles of bike Michael Pistella path around the island with at least one other path in the works — a span begin- ning near the rear of the Sanibel Steakhouse to Casa Ybel Road. The fund- ing for the new portion of path is in place, but Public Works still needs to obtain some property easements before construc- tion can begin. Since their inception, the bike paths have seen heavy use from islanders and \ •«= ' I tourists alike, but several sections have begun to break apart due to tree roots, weather and heavy use. Public Works is in f & charge of finding these problem areas and The original two sections correcting any problems. The Sanibel of bike path were private- Bike Club, founded by previous bike path ly run and maintained, Y builder Trowbridge, works hand-in-hand but the city was soon % with Public Works to identify problem adding sections of bike 1 areas and help categorize the problems path throughout the i - according to immediacy. island. Funding for the Castle said the work needed along the bike paths was earned path should be covered by the five-year through donation jars program, should the funding and low placed around the island. prices continue. Muriel Goss and former "The five-year program is in the pro- Sanibel Mayor Porter jected budget, but each year is subject to Goss headed up the the council's approval," he said. fundraising. The work has been long requested from the bike club and other users of the road- riding alternative for reasons of riding safety. 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