f <f- IMH. hi.-* ****+.•¥ CAR--RT SORT *^ •J 590iXnVi 003486 THU OOOuOU ""RASvjf hf\ LIBRARY 770 »UNL.OP RD nd^v SAW I. BEL' F'L 33 VST TE Week of Oct. 11-17, 2001 SANIBEL & CAPTIVA, FLORIDA VOLUME 28, NUMBER 41, 24 PAGES 75 CENTS M1WS • CATCH AS CATCH CAN Jumpers rescued A game of truth or dare turned serious as two men jump off the Sanibel Sanibel ready to handle Monday at the Island Water Causeway Drawbridge Association's water treatment Saturday evening. facility. hazardous material accidents Initial concern over the routine By Anna Liakas —See page 3 transportation of liquid chlorine Staff writer onto the island for Sanibel's water treatment plant has developed into More help on way Suddenly, hazardous materials a new eye on security and facility seem to be the subject of casual operators, now on alert for suspi- The Red Cross of Lee after-dinner conversation. cious behavior. County has sent eight The gravity of the discourse, "Given our location and the more volunteers to New however, has changed dramatical- York to assist in the way that the chlorine is transport- ly over the past few weeks, from a ed," said Deputy Chief David search and recovery matter-of-fact citizen inquiry into operation. LaCorabe recently, "there is little the dangers of transporting chlo- risk of a serious accident involving rine to and from the island, to a chlorine." —See page 3 "Haz-Mat" presentation by Sanibel Fire Chief Rich Dickerson before City Council last week, to t> See Alert Shorebird group the clamping down of security this page. 5 SCCF is starting a shore- bird monitoring group to help count the nesting numbers. City takes first steps to —See page 5 By Mon Sympson 5k'.nihd I iiy Council Staff writer returned Pritt, who conducted an earlier,-study .of'-the issue during Btink of the Islands Michael Pistella showed its appreciation The first step in a study to Iiis tenure with (he city, for a fee The Lee County Mosquito Control District's Mosquito for its employees last assess the viability of Sanibel of up to $75,000: Pritt.said Magnet Truck collects the little pests every night on week with some creative purchasing or leasing the Tuesday that the next day's meet- Sanibel and Captiva. See page 5 for related story. surprises. Sanibel Causeway was set to ing with Zimomra would formal- have been taken Wednesday in a ize an outline of what the City —See page 6 meeting between City Manager Judith Zimorara and former City E> See Causeway Attorney Robert Pritt. page 2 Board may define big First-hand account FIRE PREVENTION LESSON Erin Holzman shares with house problem soon renders excerpts from her e-journals, sent to friends By Pete Bishop houses for its Oct. 23 meeting. In and relatives after the News editor the meantime, board members Sept. 11 tragedy in New have been asked by Planning York where she lives. Two lengthy hearings pushed a Director Bruce Rogers to consider formal discussion of large houses a list of statements he compiled —See page 9 off the Sanibel Planning that describe problems new large Commission agenda Tuesday, but homes might create for neighbor- one Of those hearings gave com- hoods and cities; Commissioners missioners a chance to indicate, are also working individually on > that property owners planning to statements describing what city build homes disproportionate to neighborhoods should look like in Island Gardening other neighborhood structures are the year 2020, at Rogers' request. Ron Sympson gives read- going to have a tough sell when The afternoon hearing concern- ers more reading material 3ieir applications come before the ing AJ. and Lynda Scribante's with a column about board in the future. request for a development permit books to garden by. ,•,•.'• •. : Michael Pistella The commission rescheduled caused the board to consider the Sanibel Firefighter Ron Ritchie and Sanibel School its formal1 discussion of existing —See page 11 teacher Jan Manzella hold a "blanket of smoke" under codes regulating the size of new E> See Big houses which first-graders learn to move through a fire. page 3 Florida Cares benefit to raise funds, spirits •ENVIRONMENT.. .......page 5 ByDawndeBoer New York businessman John from this tragedy. I want to assure "Florida's economy will likely Staff writer McCarthy forwarded the thought, all Floridians that we're commit- be impacted by this tragedy, but •BUSINESS .....™.u...™.,page 6 and support, for the sunrise-to- ted to take the necessary steps to together we can do much to sup- "All labor that uplifts humanity sunset fund-raiser near Sanibel- protect our citizens. port our local businesses. Now is • OPINION - page 9 has dignity and importance and Captiva islands this Sunday at "State and local governments the time to explore a part of the state should be undertaken with pain- Sanibel Harbour Resort.'-, are working together on Florida's you may never have seen, or revis- staking excellence" — words of In a state greeting from the emergency preparedness and it a place you have treasured and, in the late Dr. Martin Luther King jr. Capitol, Gov. Jeb Bush messaged response capabilities and encOur- the process, support Florida." •TV USTlNGS. -.page 16 passed along from New York "for Floridians: "After the attacks on age all Floridians to see how they the team" of Southwest Florida Sept. il, we in' Florida join the can help the victims from New > See Florida Cares • CLASSIFIEDS. page 20 Cares. rest of the nation in recovering York and Washington, D.C. page 4 2 • Week of Oct. 11-17, 2001 • ISLAND REPORTER involved, such as the Coast Guard, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish Steele memorial Saturday From page 1 and Wildlife Commission," who could step CAUSEWAY in and mandate changes contrary to the A memorial service for Bob Steele will wishes of Sanibel and Captiva residents, be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday at the Sanibel Council expected from the special study. about having control Brown said. "Once the cat's out of the bag Congregational Church. Steele died on Pritt's selection was adopted unani- of the Causeway it may be we lose control of it anyway." Sept. 11 after an alligator attack. mously earlier in September at the request retained by Lee He said Pritt, with his background on He is survived by his wife of close to of Councilmember Steve Brown, who said County. the Causeway issue, was an ideal candi- 50 years, Ellen; a sister, Alice Viverette, of at the time, "Since I've been on council, Although the date for conducting the feasibility of a Richmond; a daughter, Dr. Janet Ellen the two most important things we've dealt county has agreed to lease or purchase by the city. Steele, a member of the faculty at George with are looking for a city manager and amend an earlier "I would think [Pritt would be good Washington University; a son, Charles the Cause%ay. This is, in my mind, our (and now inopera- because) he knows the different [county] Bayard Steele, an editor with the Tampa last opportunity. We tive) interlocal commissioners," Brown said. "He also Tribune; and three grandchildren. have to control our agreement with the knows the history of the Causeway in the The family is requesting any memorial own destiny. If not, city of Sanibel that past and is very familiar with condition of gifts be made to the Sanibel-Captiva we'll have a fixed would guarantee that the Causeway, and would be helpful in Conservation Foundation, 3333 Sanibel- span. We need to stop any newly built Zimomra negotiating a price." Captiva Road, Sanibel, FL 33957; or the everything right now bridges on the cause- The purpose of the study is to deter- Sanibel Congregational Church, 2050 and have control of way would remain two-lane thorough- mine "what they want to sell it for, and Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957. the bridge. fares, he said, actions by other govern- what the citizens want to pay for it," A dahoon holly tree will be dedicated Rehabilitate, but not ment agencies could change all that. Brown said. to Steele's memory at Sanibel City Hall at rebuild." Brown's fear is that one of the three "No one has more at stake in the9 a.m. on Tuesday. Steele served on the In an interview bridges, mostly likely the middle span, Causeway than the citizens of Sanibel and city of Sanibel Vegetation Committee for Monday, Brown reit- /_ could be rebuilt as a four-laned, high-rise Captiva," he said. "I think we would be many years and was chairman at the time erated his reasons for Pritt structure, better, custodians of the Causeway." of his death. being concerned "There are so many other agencies •klHfsliiiflV.tLtil'lfl't Pointe Santo Beauty Awesama top floor 2 Direct Qulf Front Condo fine standing 3 Beautiful Qulf Front Views From this older New Listing Rarely offered i/i end unit withP ri- bedroorrt, 3 cam luxury home - contemporary de- ground level home. On oe redone, or have the per- ^^ stairway to the beach. 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