PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID FT MYERS, FL PERMIT #5718 Read Us Online at Postal Customer IslandSunNews.com ECRWSS NEWSPAPER VOL. 20, NO. 50 SANIBELSanibel & CAPTIVA & Captiva ISLANDS, Islands FLORIDA JUNE 7, 2013 JUNE SUNRISE/SUNSET: 7 6:35 • 8:19 8 6:35 • 8:20 9 6:35 • 8:20 10 6:35 • 8:21 11 6:35 • 8:21 12 6:35 • 8:21 13 6:35 • 8:22 Art Gallery Launch Of Francis Bailey Memoir Opens 60 Feet At The Old Bailey Homestead y 92 Years On Below Sea Level Sanibel, Francis n May 31, the unveiling of the MBailey’s long-await- Mohawk Project was held at ed memoir and homage to ONervous Nellie’s Waterfront the island he loves, will be Eatery on Fort Myers Beach. The follow- officially launched at a cel- ing morning, the first step of the The ebration on Tuesday, June Sinking World art project began. At 18 from 4 to 6 p.m. at 9:30 a.m., a flotilla of boats carrying 65 the old Bailey Homestead divers and 12 unique photographs cre- on Periwinkle Way at the ated by Andreas Franke were deployed intersection of Donax on the USS Mohawk Veterans Memorial Street. Reef. “Francis worked very The artificial reef program was made hard on this book, and he possible by Lee County Natural Resources did it primarily for his chil- Senior Environmental Specialist Mike dren,” said Emilie Alfino. Campbell, Joe Weatherby of Ship “He wanted them to know Wrecker for Reef Makers and artist his story, and Sanibel’s Andreas Franke. Local divers assisted artist Andreas Franke, story.” One year after its sinking, the 165- above, with the installation The book is written foot World War II warship USS Mohawk, Based on his research, Franke envi- “as told to” Emilie Alfino, now a living reef, is thriving with exotic sioned the life of sailors past aboard the formerly a reporter for the marine life. On June 1, it was transformed Mohawk – their daily lives and dreams various Sanibel newspa- into an underwater art gallery. Celebrated of home – and superimposed images of pers and now the manager Austrian photographer Franke led a team models in period clothing onto original of the Sanibel Historical 28 nautical miles off the coast of Sanibel photography. Each image measures Museum and Village. Island to install 12 images that will remain approximately 2.5 by 3.5 feet and is “Francis and I spent a lot on display through September 14. continued on page 24 of time together over the past two and a half years,” Francis Bailey at his desk Alfino said. “Honestly, every minute of it was a Drummer Follows pleasure. I say now what brother Sam often said of Beat To Gig At their father Frank: Francis is one of the finest men I have Kennedy Center ever known.” by Anne Mitchell The format for the June 18 event will be an his summer promises to be one to open house, so people remember for music student Paul may arrive at any time. TGavin. Hors d’oeuvres, wine and He has been selected as one of refreshments will be served. four winners of the 29th annual VSA Parking will be available at International Young Soloists Competition the homestead, along with and will play at The Kennedy Center June golf carts to assist anyone 16. And on July 4, he flies to Italy for a who needs it. 10-day concert tour with other students. Books will be for sale at Gavin, 21, is the son of Oscar and the event for $17.95 plus Jean Gavin of Sanibel. He begins his tax, and credit cards will senior year at the University of South be accepted. Only books Florida, Tampa, in August, where he purchased that day will be majors in music education and jazz studies. marked “Launch Edition.” The Young Soloists Competition comes Paul Gavin Bailey will not be signing with a $2,500 cash award and a weekend and Jazz a’ Vienne in France. books. Books will be avail- of activities in Washington, DC, includ- In addition to his studies, Gavin per- able beginning the follow- ing rehearsals, a photo shoot, a mentor forms, teaches private and group lessons ing day, June 19, at the session and a 10- to 12-minute perfor- and writes marching and percussion Sanibel Historical Museum mance at the John F. Kennedy Center for arrangements and cadences. and Village Gift Shop, The Performing Arts. He has played regularly with the Sanibel Bookshop, The The tour of Italy and France includes Southwest Florida Symphony in Fort Book Nook, MacIntosh performances at La Spezia Festival in Pisa Francis Bailey, looking out the homestead porch just before continued on page 3 continued on page 2 SCCF purchased the property 2 ISLAND SUN - JUNE 7, 2013 Francis on his 80th birthday; he loves ice cream Francis’ first professional haircut From page 1 Francis Bailey’s Book Launch Books and Gene’s Books. Everyone is invited to come speak with Francis, mingle with members of the Bailey family, and celebrate Francis’ 92 years on Sanibel on Tuesday, June 18 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Old Bailey Homestead. The book will also be available at Bailey’s General Store. Frank Bailey, Francis (wearing hat) and John (on lap) Francis Bailey always loved cats The /,//,$1 An Evening With -2+19(66(/6 Show John Vessels has been performing all around the country in musicals, %$;7(5 comedies, dramas, school plays and home movies (he ain’t proud)— and now he’s back in Southwest Florida! An alumnus of Sanibel’s Old 30-81( Schoolhouse Theater hits such as Forever Plaid, Run for Your Wife, The &+,/' 81'(5 Big Bang, Swing Sisters, Lend Me a Tenor, and a whole bunch of Ho! Ho! Ho! The Christmas Shows, Vessels has written this cabaret—featuring WFPL-Louisville raves, “It’s a wry, campy wink at life just south of the spotlight. accompanist and arranger, Jay Schwandt—just for you. Come spend Anchored by Vessel’s powerful voice, the show features Baxter’s autobiographical musings An Evening with John Vessels! woven between crowd-pleasing show numbers like A Little Girl from Little Rock, Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered and Cole Porter’s Find Me a Primitive Man. Vessels channels the 30-81( classic cabaret style masterfully, hitting that sweet spot between Judy Garland and Bea PM0$7,1((-81( Arthur with aplomb.” Come share An Evening with Lillian Baxter! &+,/' 81'(5 SeasonSe Sponsor 2200 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel For tickets call (239) 472-6862 or go online at www.BIGARTS.org ISLAND SUN - JUNE 7, 2013 3 Community Players Shimmy Into Summer Fun IG ARTS Community Players will be presenting a full-stage produc- Btion of Jersey Girls at the Herb Strauss Theater, 2200 Periwinkle Way on Sanibel. Performances are on select dates at 8 p.m. July 11 through 20. Written by June Koc of Sanibel, Jersey Girls takes place in the 1960s continued on page 5 Paul Gavin in action on the drums From page 1 He is a graduate of Cypress Lake High School Center for the Arts in Fort Paul Gavin Myers, where he played in the school’s Myers and has been a substitute percus- Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Combo. He is sionist for musical theater companies in also an Eagle Scout, having achieved the Fort Myers and Naples. He is the percus- distinction in June 2010 with Troop 316 sion technician for Sickles High School in Fort Myers. Marching Band in Tampa. TiGzTuGyTsTmTt G TzGoTyTjTnG TuTo Ti Tj˅GyGOG PGG hukGt|joGtvylHG 1571 Periwinkle Way. Sanibel, FL 33957. 239-472-5223 www.sanibelbookshop.com 4 ISLAND SUN - JUNE 7, 2013 Refuge Unveils Welcome Archway olorful and wildlife-themed, the new three-dimensional welcome archway C– unveiled at National Trails Day cel- ebrations on June 1 – entices visitors to walk up the entrance ramp to explore the free “Ding” Darling Education Center. More than one year in the making, the finished product was the result of brain- storming and a partnership between North Carolina wildlife artist David Williams of Wingin’ It Works, the JN “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge and the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge (DDWS), which procured a grant for $10,000 from the AWC Family Foundation to help fund the sculpture. “We’ve been working on this project for a long time,” said Refuge Manager Paul Tritaik. “We felt we needed something eye- catching to grab the attention for new visi- tors who were missing the delightful experi- ence our education center affords.” Artist Williams explained to the admiring crowd gathered for the 10 a.m. unveiling that he sculpted the archway by hand out of clay to create a form as a mold for the resin A realistic detail of the hand-painted From left, DDWS vice president Doris Hardy, Refuge Manager Paul Tritaik, Supervisory archway. He then hand-painted every alliga- archway Refuge Ranger Toni Westland and artist David William unveil the new archway tor, roseate spoonbill, osprey, mangrove cuckoo, crab and mangrove root and leaf in realistic detail. “The AWC Family Foundation has a real legacy of supporting a number of non-profit organizations here on the islands and around the country, with a strong emphasis in conservation, environmental preservation, and education,” said DDWS Executive Director Birgie Vertesch. “We are honored the foundation chose to sup- port this important project.” To support DDWS and the refuge with a tax-deductible gift, visit www.dingdar- lingsociety.org or contact Birgie Vertesch at 292-0566 or director@dingdarlingsoci- ety.org.