Week of January 23-29,2003 SANIBEL& CAPTIVA, FLORIDA VOLUME 30, NUMBER 4, 24 PAGES 75 CENTS Island life goes on without Causeway Traffic Committee gets By Amy Fleming one customer. "It's a report in Staff writer holiday, so they don't have to get up." Makes recommendations Martin Luther King Jr. day Down the road at to City Council on vehicle proved a refreshingly quiet one for 'Tween Waters, Joan flow most islanders. Many stores were and Harry closed, and with the Sanibel Sanderson, on holi- — See page 2 Causeway shut down for repairs, day from Toronto, the streets were nearly empty of were enjoying the traffic. almost deserted Some joked about asking the Captiva Drive. Sanibel City Council to close the "We've been bridge for a day every week. walking for an hour, Up on Captiva, most people evi- and there's a lot less dently slept in. At 10 a.m., the traffic," Harry Historic District on Andy Rosse Sanderson said. Lane had only a few people out and "(The causeway about, with even fewer concerns closing) doesn't real- about the bridge closing. Harold ly affect us. We're and Kathy Dertinger, visiting from here for three weeks, Pennsylvania, hoped the repairs so its really not a City surveys its would be done in time for them to problem. It makes workers, finds make their 11 a.m. flight on things a little quieter, Tuesday. the way it used to be Amy Fleming photo most live off- "As long as the traffic isn't when we first started Monday was "just another day," according to ice cream sellers Vickie and Lee Hanley isiand backed up, we're fine," they said. coming down here "We didn't have anything planned 25 years ago." decided to stay open. rentals at that end typically run Cost of housing cited for the morning anyway. With the Back on Sanibel, there were Customer traffic seemed fairly from Saturday to Saturday. island deserted, it's kind of nice to causeway-closing parties on normal to Vickie and Lee Hanley at Out on the bench in front of — See page 2 have it to ourselves — you can't Sunday night, and kids bicycling Pinocchio's Homemade Ice Rosie's Island Market and Deli, complain about that." through empty parking lots on Cream. Tom and Kathy Mustachio, Next door at Latte Da, the cof- Monday morning. Some stores "I can't really tell the difference dents of Periwinkle Park, were Silflliillll fee was brewing but there were few closed for .the holidays, others, at all. Its been a good day for us," ing it easy. takers. such as Periwinkle Place and the they said. The Hanley's added their "We didn't make any special One fish, two "Everybody's still in bed," said Lighthouse Shopping Center customer base usually shifts on plans," they said. "Its just another fish ... Saturdays, since the weekly condo day." 1,100-gallon comes to Tarpon Bay lab Sanibel, Captiva back to normal as — See page 22 Causeway reopens six hours early King Jr. holiday. Starting care of transportation and By Kate Thompson at 10 p.m. Sunday, work- garbage issues," said City Staff Writer ers ripped out 48 feet of Manager Judie Zimomra. annum concrete beams and sur- "That allowed us to take The Sanibel face, replacing them with care of what we needed to Elections on the Causeway is still causing steel in just over 24 hours, focus on which was public way concern. allowing the Causeway to safety." Lee County open early. The Sanibel City Candidates start piling up Department of During the clos- Council was unanimous in support Transportation workers ing, city staff manned tele- its praise of both city offi- — See page 5 discovered cracks in sup- phone lines and the cials and the Chamber, port beams Jan. 6, while Sanibel-Captiva Chamber particularly Steve making routine repairs. of Commerce focused on Greenstein, executive Permanent repairs providing transportation director, who coordinated PIIELIM required closing the for essential personnel and Causeway for what was island visitors. See FIXED Calendar of days expected to be 32 hours "The private sec- page 4 over the Martin Luther tor stepped up and took Around the area — See page 10 Two seats, 3 candidates By Kate Thompson ing Tuesday because of a doctor's appoint- Staff Writer ment and did not cast a ballot. The council determined the order based on the order in With just under six weeks to go which candidates filed for the election but until Sanibel votes on who will fill two knew that order before making the deci- • ENVIRONMENT page 7 city council seats, the election slots closed sion. last Friday at noon. The election is set for March 4 • OPINION page 5 Current Mayor Steve Brown, and will cost the city $5,500, Deputy City incumbent council member and former Clerk Pamela Smith told council mem- Mayor Nola Theiss and newcomer James bers. • BUSINESS page 6 Jennings have all qualified for the ballot. Brown is completing his first That's also the order in which the three four-year term as a council member. He • DATELINE pageio will be on the ballot, a decision made was elected mayor in November. He and Tuesday morning by the Sanibel City Michael Pistella phto • TV LISTINGS page 16 Council. See ELECTIONS Michael risteUaphto Brown missed the council meet- page 4 A section of support frame for the steel matting is low- ered onto the Causeway Monday • CLASSIFIEDS page 20 ISLANETREPORTER '•' Week1 of JanUary-23-29, 2003 • 3 2 •" WeeK'of January 23-29, 2003 •' ISLAND'REPORTER Municipal workers mostly X •l\ ,hi i M, live off-island Oh Record • Sanibel By Kate Thompson Traffic Committee finishes work Staff Writer As of Jan. 12,2002, new home room addition by Sun Control $2,000: Hardy, 5703 San- Cap—pool fountain by Coastal About 29 percent of Sanibel city employees commute more than and/or property -owners on Aluminum. By Kate Thompson time to consider the full recommen- Island. Sanibel residents living within a mile of a $5,000: Stafford, 6071 San- Custom Pool & Spa. dations and the committee's reason- • Discourage special events 60 minutes each way to reach their jobs— a long daily ride that the islands include: Staff Writer sexual offender or sexual predator will be notified, (Addresses are Sanibel unless Cap—replace screen enclo- $9,000: Davies, 480 ing before taking any action. during peak season including the Police Chief Bill Tomlinson told the City Council shortens the time they have to spend with family, pointed out Judie Peachtree—pool by owner. Zimomra, city manager. otherwise indicated.) sure; and $2,450: Saghir, 1024 After two and a half years During his 20-minute "Antique Show" running regularly at Tuesday. Turtle Gait—screen enclosure $8,100: Manderscheid, 2401 of study, the Sanibel Traffic report, Emilius told the council that the Community Center by an out-of- "Living off the island (also) may mean there is less commitment In detailing the police department's policy Non-Condos: by Custom Built Screen Shop—remodel/alterations by Committee presented its final report from mid-December through April, town company. on dealing with convicted sexual offenders, the chief to the community," she said. Enclosures. Huff Construction Services. to the City Council Tuesday. Some traffic overwhelms Sanibel's streets • Improve traffic flow exit- explained that all Sanibel day care centers and the The city recently surveyed its 143 employees to learn more $700,000: Michael & Paula Pawelek — 11515 Laika, $225,000: Kirkland, 2090 $1,155: Degand, 2405 Los of its proposals are likely to be con- and negatively affects the island's ing the Island in the afternoons. Sanibel School are notified when such a person lives about their commute and job satisfaction. It was the first time such Sunset—single family resi- Colony—replace garage doors troversial. environment, businesses, residents • Work with Lee County on the island. a survey had been done; 40 percent of the city's employees Captiva. $680,000: Pamela L. dence w/impact fees by John by Garage Doors by Roy Paul Emilius, who chaired and visitors. On a typical weekday in and Southwest Florida tourism agen- The City's Website also will include a link to responded. Hiehsmith. North. the committee, had barely finished peak season, nearly 70 percent of the cies to develop alternative tourist the Florida Department of Law Enforcement's sexual "I hope that the city will consider the fact that on-island hous- Grossjung—933 Whelk. $620,000: Ronald & Cynthia $37,000: Breakers West, 3041 $15,000: Stokes, 1008 his report when Vice Mayor Dick cars are driven by people who are attractions on the mainland and help offender and predator Website. ing is completely beyond the reach for most employees," wrote one Demere—after-the-fact permit The Florida Department of Law Fluder—563 Hideaway Court. West Gulf; and $7,500: Strong, Walsh proposed rejecting one of the only on the island for a day. Half of limit unrestrained growth in Lee employee in the comments section of the survey. "Housing in 1811 Ibis—roof by Colonial to replace siding by committee's recommendations — a these "day-trippers" are employees County. Enforcement maintains a database of all persons con- $550,000: Donna C. Roberts— South Fort Myers is increasing at a pace faster than ordinary salary 1782 Serenity. Roofing. Benchmark. speed limit increase on Sanibel- and the rest are here for social or • Actively explore alternate victed of such crimes. State law requires all law raises." enforcement agencies notify the public when a sexu- $440,000: Paul D.