J ' l" . L . VAO '• • - i * .-,; ^ .-• meet Tallahassee By GARY PHILLIPS By GARY PHILLIPS [email protected] [email protected] Moic than 40 Lee County residents, What do you think? That's the question Community including three tiom Sanibel. attended last being asked by the City of Sanibel as they week's 2005 Lee County Days in seek public input on the restoration of Input Tallahassee. The annual event was held Periwinkle Way. The beauty of the island's March 21 through 23 and gyve citizens of main thoroughfare was devastated by Planning Lee County an opportunity to meet with Hurricane Charley, but the Periwinkle Way state lawmakers and other go\ernment offi- Restoration Project is striving to restore the cials to discu.ss issues relevant to Southwest street and right-of-way to pre-hurricane Workshop Florida. Giida and Joe Suarez and City elegance. • Thursday, March 31 Councilman Jim Jennings represented The project will hold a Community Sanibel. Input Planning Workshop from 3 to 9 p.m., 3 - 9 p.m. Gilda Suarez said she was impressed Thursday. March 31 at Sanibel Recreation with how the group was received by stale Center at 3840 Sanibel-Captiva Road. The • Samhef Rec. Center officials. workshop provides citizens the opportuni- '1 can't tell you warm (hey made us feel. ty to ieara about the project and to give • 3840 San-Cap Road They were rcallv, glad we were there," she ideas on what vegetation should be includ- said. ed in the restoration, pedestrian and cyclist Suarez said the group learned of a boat- comfort and safety, streetscape amenities, also includes Palm Ridge Road and the ing safety program which will be tested in funding, maintenance and other topics. The half-mile stretch of Tarpon Bay Road between Periwinkle Way and Palm Ridge Lee County before possibly expanding to Photo provided by Gilda Suarez workshop is a "come and go" affair where other areas oi" Florida. The Capitol Building in Tallahassee. everyone is encouraged to stop in with Road. "It's going to be a concerted effort their ideas but need not stay the entire time. While no definite schedule has been between all Ihe marinas and law enforce- interested in Sanibel and Captiva. The professional landscape architect determined for completion of the undertak- ment to get safety information to the "1 get the feeling from all the people we firm of Vanasse-Daylor has been hired to ing, city officials say it could take five boaters." she said. '"They "re using our water- met with, whether they were senators or rep- develop a Master Plan for the project. The years or longer, depending on the nature ways as a pilot program and if it works out resentatives or in the cabinet, that they feel project area is approximately three miles of and costs of the job and the availability of they will use it throughout the >tale." very proud of Sanibel and Captiva like it's Periwinkle Way from the four-way inter- lunding. The 'JalLiussee trip incmdeJ a ^sit to their lilile pride and joy in Flontki." she said. -iec*i''!i ,'H i.indgren Boiilc\ardto the in's-r- the senate chamber- Suarez said. She said ; ., •- :•• ""•.;- °J ~" ' ' Tie pro: '.•* tfe<- WOKKSIJOP pag«> 2 Second Place Tony and Janet Cumpagua Lions Club Arts & Crafts Fair designer dolK Third Place Arlene Julao By LAURA NICKERSON Two-Dimensional fabric books and toys [email protected] First Place Christina Fernandez-Lyon There was a wealth of media, talent and visitors to The 22nd annual Lions Club Arts acrylic paintings show which kept the Lions Club members hopping. The & Crafts Fair had many artists and a Second Place huge number of viewers and buyers chairperson for the event was recently-elected city coun- Jackie and A.J. Farrell braving the near 90 degree tempera- cil member, Tom Rothman. but the lion's share of the glass stoneware painting tures this past weekend on grounds of public relations work fell to islander Jim Graham. the Sanibel Community House. Third Place Funds raised by the event contribute to several island Artists sat patiently in their booths David Leach causes, including purchasing speciali/ed acoustical fanning themselves as Friday's record underwater photography. equipment for Sanibel School teachers, and making it opening day crowd thronged path- possible for some Sanibel children to attend the college Three-Dimensional of their choice. The Lions Club also donates to Lee ways between tents lo get glimpses of First Place the judge's winning choices, and the ("ounly organizations, including VIP which aids the visu- Gisela Damandl. .illy impaired, and to scholarships for handicapped chil- quality work on exhibit. pine needle baskets Awards were given in three sepa- dren through the Edison Community Foundation. rate categories: Two-dimensional, Second Place three-dimensionai. and craft-centered, Terry Bodeker as well as a Best in Show award. original casted .silver The winning artists were : Third Place Andrea Perisho **. Best in Show Craft-Centered Jim Hurt First Place Photo by Jim Graham innovative weavings Kandi Kerekes Gisela Damandl displays her blue ••*$«. and watercolors funky painted furniture ribbon for her pine needle baskets. She is the first place 3-D winner. BESF OFMS» MEW COUNCIL RED TIDE I- • LETTERS PAGE 2 Last chance to Who are the A scientist looks at • POK-BE-T °«3E 6 cast your vote new faces? the problem • DEEZS P/.GE 12 The island Reporter pro- • VOXPCPUU PA3E 14 The polls arc closing but There is considerable Sanibel artist Denny Sauers it's not too laic 10 vote files some of the new has been working closely PhGE 15 members of the Sanibel history behind this for your favorite island aquatic piague. with biologist Kendra Willet • TV..S"!NGS °->GE 17 businesses. City Council. at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge to study . OBTJ* FAGE 18 Sanibel bird life since D • S ORTS ^CE 20 — - SeL page 7 Hurricane Charley. — Sec page 3 — See page 5 • C^5S,FEDS F^E 21 Right: Sauers' egret photo I'* rv\ ^-' ; •-;-£ 2 • Week of March 31 - April 6, 2005 • ISLAND REPORTER DAYS ..JfJtLf .1 J To the Editor: From page 1 Julie Swartz, head of the vegetation committee suggests we obliterate Australian Pines from Sanibel. This is an old "They went out of their way to talk to us and find out how issue with a new excuse, Charley. The city took advantage we're doing." of the Islanders by using the heavy duty equipment on island Jennings said the lawmakers were very accessible. "I was for clean up to cut the standing pines on three public beach- able to meet with Representative Jeff Kottkamp, which is es and elsewhere without any output from the residents. The not easy these days," Jennings said. "I also met Burt city's excuse was the trees could fall and kill someone. Is Saunders on the floor of the senate. We talked about the hur- there any tree in the world the same can't be said about? ricane relief bills that will be before the senate." In 1992 I attended a vegetation committee meeting at A picture to show how full and attractive the Australian Jennings said the office holders realize the value of our City Hall. A Ranger from the Florida Department of Pines can look if treated properly. area. "For Sanibel to remain a tourist destination, it would Forestry gave a report. He said that if the pines were topped be helpful to restore Periwinkle Way and our Beaches," he by 20 to 30 percent every two to three years, they would The Australian Pines even helped protect my generator said. 'They know that. It was a very productive trip." withstand a storm by 100 percent. I'm not a gambling which kept my air conditioner and all appliances on and did One issue discussed at the conference was transportation, woman but I liked the odds and had mine topped before I not stop until the buried 250 gallon propane tank ran out just specifically Interstate 75. In their 2004 session, the Florida built my house 1993 and have had them topped regularly before reentry. When I returned I still had ice in my freezer Senate approved legislation which supports the creation of a since. It so happens this year I had them topped on June 30. and got the generator started up again which kept me in Southwest Florida Expressway Authority in Lee and Collier I have 50 pines on my corner lot surrounding my house. The power until the electric was restored. Counties. The authority would explore the addition of tolled Ranger was right on. One hundred percent of my Australian If anyone had'paid attention to the Rangers, and a pro- express lanes on 1-75. Both Lee and Collier County Pines stayed standing and the lower growth from the con- gram had been started of rotating pruning, we would still Commissions passed resolutions supporting the bill. The tinual pruning protected my house from flying debris. Not have a beautiful canopy and lots of shade. Not only did we state legislature is expected to consider a similar measure one limb came down during the storm. The only two trees I loose the beauty and shade, but also nesting for countless during the 2005 session. lost were native and fell on my neighbors drive and I paid to birds. "Right now the biggest thing is to allocate the money to have them cut and put to the curb. I had no damage to my Elizabeth Eagleton begin expansion on 1-75. There's a lot of momentum for house.