Peppers act out Refuge party Ragtime beat page 3A page 1B page 2C r. r, 1 3 OCTOBER 10, 1997 VOLUME 24 D'J'iLl"" NUMBER 48 ?<i»i 3 SECTIONS, 36 PAGES REPORTER lisaiiil Sanibel Brew Pub brings home gold at the 16th Annual Great American Beer Festival By Mark S. Krzos News Editor Sanibel Brew Pub Brewmaster Jonathan Reeves struck gold at the 16th Annual Great American Beer Festival in Denver, Colo., last week by taking home top prize in the Sweet Stout cate- gory. Reeves, riding high from that vic- tory, also snagged a bronze medal in the Specialty Ale or Lagers category. Monday afternoon the 32-year-old Jonathan Reeves of the Sanibel Brew Reeves was sitting at the end of the bar, Pub displays his drinking a Tarpon Ale and smiling as medals and his person after person congratulated him award-winning with high-fives, handshakes, hugs and brews, the Palmetto pats on the back. Pale Ale and "I'm pretty happy that I've been rec- Hammerhead Stout. ognized," Reeves said of winning his profession's Pulitzer Prize. "I'm not used to getting this much attention." Showcasing the best in American brewing, the festival's panel of judges — in a blind taste test of approximately 1,700 beers from over 400 different breweries — awarded Reeves and the Sanibel Brew Pub a gold medal for its Hammerhead Stout — Florida's only gold medal winner. The pub's Palmetto Pale Ale took home a bronze medal. Reeves is getting used to the acco- lades among fellow beer enthusiasts. Last year Reeves, while employed at a beyond my wildest expectations. I'm and needles all night. So when he tivals of the year with more than 900-seat brewery in Arlington, Va., was just so proud of Jonathan." called and said we won gold, we were 30,000 people attending the two day awarded a gold medal in the category shocked. It was not what we expected. affair. of Herb/Spice Beer at the Great Barbara and co-owner husband Bob I guess the beer stood up for itself." Reeves began brewing professional- American Beer Festival for his were waiting for Reeves to call last ly just four years ago and refuses to call Bundeburg Ginger Beer. Thursday night. They were expecting, The Great American Beer Festival maybe, a bronze or honorable mention. was established in 1982 and drew just himself a Brewmaster. "We've only been open for about six Not once were they thinking gold. 40 breweries and about 700 beer afi- "I used to be a photo technician, but months," Sanibel Brew Pub co-owner "We knew Jonathan was going to cionados. Now, 16 years later, the event I became allergic to the chemicals," Barbara Priborsky said. "We're ecstat- call," Barbara said. "We were on pins ranks as one of Colorado's biggest fes- •please see page 9A ic. Winning this award was way City prepares five-year budget plan By Mark S. Krzos Once these plans are laid out, the city would then News Editor list specific proposals that can achieve the desired Island The City of Sanibel began planning for the future objective, along with hard costs. Then the city would Tuesday when it took initial steps in the development develop detailed action programs, set target goals a five-year budget plan. including timing, scheduling and costs. Reporter During the Aug. 5 meeting of the Sanibel City Price and Ball said a five-year plan fashioned in Council, council members directed city staff to exam- this particular way would be derived from attitudes takes ine both the entire budget process and the develop- and opinions that reflect an accurate community con- ment of a five-year plan. sensus. home "I'm not proposing either a zero base budget or "The community will have a sense of purpose," total quality management process," City Manager Price said. Gwenda awards Gary Price said. "I feel these are too process-oriented. Sanibel Mayor Bob Davison agreed with Price and Hiett-CIements This is more like strategic planning, which has never the plan. been done by Sanibel to any great extent." "We need a better public understanding of our pro- Two staff writers for In getting the five-year plan off the ground Price grams and how they work," Davison said. "I think the Island Reporter took said he will work with Committee of the Islands this would be a good way at achieving that." home first place in the (COTI) President Armand Ball to ensure the needs of The public seemed to agree as well. Florida Press Club the community are met. "I think this is probably one of the best ideas Contest. According to Price and Ball the plan would entail Gary's had in the past ten years," resident Henry Gwenda Hiett- listing explicit objectives in accordance with the Glissman said. Clements took first Sanibel Plan and Vision Statement and deal primarily Sanibel resident Harley Kleinberg said the five- place in religion writ- with both environmental and human considerations. year plan is a step in the right direction. "For the past ing. Charles Sobczak Price said these objectives should be revisited annual- two years we spent all this time trying to get the mil- was awarded first place ly and may be used as a means for anticipating and iage rate down," Kleinberg said. "We never went in commentary writing. adapting to environmental, social and economic •please see page 11A changes. Charlie Sobczak 2A • OCTOBER 10, 1997 • ISLAND REPORTER Notes from the City Desk: Old School/First Independence back under way, bucks roll in, & island gets wired By Mark S. Krzos city?" Madison asked. "I don't agree with that." "This is the direction we need to be going in to News Editor Madison said the thought that paying someone keep the island up-to-date," Mayor Bob Davison said. Back on track—The Old Schoolhouse Gallery would equal better government is absurd. "Just look Toll woes—If you have received notification of and future home of First Independence Bank, now at the Federal government," Madison said. "I don't the new transponder system to be implemented at the Colonial Bank as of last week Wednesday, is back on think anything is wrong. If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Sanibel Causeway and you're confused about how to track after a stop work order was issued Sept. 10 and Communication installation—Users of the inter- apply for the devices — you are not alone. was removed Sept. 22. net will be happy to learn that the City of Sanibel is "It's unbelievably poorly prepared," Sanibel City The stop work order was issued after an inspection petitioning the Lee County Board of Commissioners Council member Bob Janes said. revealed that some siding was cut away in order to to support Media One's request for a fiber optic link Like the instructions accompanying a VCR, the install flashing. According to Sanibel Building needed to upgrade Sanibel's information, communi- directions for applying for the transponder and pay- Official Max Anderson, it was not the method called cation and entertainment choices. ment method are extremely tedious. There are options for in their plan. "The line going from Sanibel to the mainland is for the unlimited pass, 50 cent coin drop, credit card "They resolved the problem and they're doing a currently copper," Sanibel City Manager Gary Price payment and check payment. Whatever method you real good job on it," Anderson said Tuesday. "I took a said. "Media One wants to replace it with fiber decide is right for you, just read the instructions care- look at it. Their intent wasn't to do anything wrong. optics." fully. They just did something they shouldn't have. But its By replacing the old wire with fiber optics, Sanibel Birthday Bash —The Sanibel-Captiva all better now. The whole purpose was to keep it as users of the internet and other communication Conservation Foundation will be celebrating its 30th authentic as possible." devices should see a marked improvement as well as birthday by hosting a volunteer party at BIG Arts Sanibel Planning Commissioner and member of offer more choices. Oct. 31 from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. the Sanibel Historical Preservation Committee John Price added that the lines will be buried and not be Representative for the SCCF Marti Bryant said Veenschoten, who is the city liaison to the project, visible. •please see page 3A said the city decided that they would let the builders and bank proceed provided that they restore the area to what it was at the turn of the century. Kiwanis announces goals "It looks good. I've been down there every single The Kiwanis Club or Sanibel-Captiva Islands is day," Veenschoten said. "They've been very coopera- pleased to announce its major goals and budget for tive in every way. It now looks like it did in the early the upcoming year. 1900s." A The club will render over 1,000 hours of service Library budget—Sanibel Public Library board in the community including help at the Sanibel member Steve Mullins briefed the Sanibel City Community Association, work at the Ronald Council Tuesday on expenses and income at the McDonald House, Sanibel Elementary School, the library. Total income amounted to $860,300 while BIG Arts Fair, the Shell Fair, and the lighting of expenses amounted to $831,780 for a total net the Luminary Trail. In addition, Kiwanis will once income of $28,520. again help build a Habitat for Humanity house, Sanibel City Council members gave a collective deliver Christmas presents at the Santa Run and thumbs up to Librarian Pat Allen and Mullins for support and encourage donations at the Blood being so "cutting-edge" in such a small community.