Every week we mail to every home and business on Sanibel and Captiva, subscribers throughout the United States and this week... Bob Uecker Milwaukee, WI EXCLUSIVE Ding' Darling Cartoon page 3 Courtesy of J N Ding Darling Foundation VOL a NO,-12 SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS, FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 22, 2000 SEPTEMBER SUNRISE/SUNSET: 22 07:17 19:24 23 07:17 19:23 24 07:17 19:22 25 07:18 19:21 26 07:18 19:19 27 07:19 19:18 28 07:19 19:17 J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge Long Sought Buok Key To Be Added To Refuge he Trust for Public Land (TPL) "Adding Buck Key to the "Ding" announced the impending acqui- Darling refuge would be a bargain at Tsition of the largest remaining any price," said Senator Graham. privately owned undeveloped parcel on "Florida and the nation as a whole will Buck Key for inclusion into the J.N. be richer for this purchase." "Ding" Darling National Wildlife "Buck Key is a Florida treasure and Refuge Complex and the State's Cayo home to valuable sub-tropical plants, Costa Island project. trees and animals. I'm very pleased that The lush 70-acre tract, which had it will be protected for the enjoyment of Punta Rassa boat dock been slated for development is located future generations," stated just east of Captiva Island in Pine Island Representative Goss. "We had an absolutely fabulous Sound. It has been the target of protec- Senator Mack agreed, "I am pleased Disabled time," said adjutant Rocky Stone. tion efforts by conservationists and that the environmentally sensitive prop- "There was not a single note of dis- public agency officials for almost a erty Buck Key is going to be preserved Veterans Take A cord, just ooohs and aaahs...all of them quarter-century. Because of its unique as part of the "Ding" Darling National couldn't get over how great it was." biological, archaeological and historic Wildlife Refuge," he said. "This wildlife Day To Fish The fishing expedition, held for the value, Buck Key is one of the U.S. Fish refuge is clearly better off for having veterans for the second time, is expect- by Brian Johnson and Wildlife Service's highest priority this property and will be ecologically ed to become an annual event. When acquisitions in the country It is also a preserved for the future generations of eptember 14 turned out to be a asked if he was looking forward to next priority Conservation and Recreation Floridians." day to remember for a group of year's day on the water, Cullings said: Lands (CARL) state acquisition as an Located in one of the fastest grow- Sdisabled American Veterans. "Ohboyl" addition to the Cayo Costa Island pro- ing areas of Florida, the "Ding" Darling They spent the morning fishing in the The Lee County Professional Guides ject. National Wildlife Refuge is one of the Gulf of Mexico and then ate a big Association led the fishing out in the Federal funding for the purchase of most heavily visited wildlife refuges in seafood lunch at the Sanibel-Captiva Gulf. They gave the veterans the royal the Buck Key tract was secured last the country, offering visitors tremen- American Legion Post 123. treatment. The fishing captains picked year with the strong support of the dous bird watching and environmental "We had a marvellous time," said up the veterans at a site at Punta Florida Congressional delegation, espe- education opportunities against a gor- Philip Cullings, who served in the Rassa, where they helped them get cially Representative Porter Goss, and geous barrier island backdrop. Efforts Vietnam War. "I've been disabled for into the boats. For the rest of the Senators Bob Graham and Connie have been underway in recent years to 34 years and I've never had this much morning they gave them fishing tips, Mack, who have been strong propo- buffer the refuge's fragile lands from fun in one day. And, I mean, I've been handled the tackle and the bait and nents of the Refuge. increasing development pressures. active the whole time!" made sure they were comfortable. continued on page 2 continued on page 9 Damage Confined To East End Of Island Hurricane Gordon Spawns Sanibel Tornado By Jim George tornado touched down on hour but that benign description belied Sanibel during the early morning the potential destruction from its Ahours of Sunday, September 17 swirling outer bands of wind and rain. cutting a diagonal swath from East Gulf Wind gusts up to forty-five miles per Drive to Periwinkle Way. According to hour buffeted the island during the the Sanibel Police, the first report of morning hours and the island was the tornado was received at approxi- under tornado warnings for most of the mately 6 a.m. The tornado was day even though the storm passed spawned from Hurricane Gordon as it almost two hundred miles offshore. spun its way north in the Gulf of The tornado was selective in its Mexico toward its landfall in northern dance across the island as it moved Florida. The storm was classified as a swiftly knocking down power poles, minimal hurricane by weather forecast- uprooting trees and leaving screen ers with winds of only 75 miles per enclosures strewn in its wake. Pool enclosure destroyed by tornado continued on page 38 Page 2 Island Sun - September 22, 2000 Island Sun - September 22, 2000 Page 3 From page 1 and visitors to southwest Florida." The USFWS and the State will each Buck Key contribute $2.61 million toward the Seven Day "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society Connection "This is a great day in the history of acquisition from TPL. The Captiva the Refuge," said Lou Hinds, "Ding" Civic Association, residents of Captiva Weather Forecast How Far The Little Inflation Darling Refuge Manager. "We have who have been involved in the protec- by Jim Clarke, Chief Meteorologist, NBC 2 New Trail To Open sought the protection of the Buck Key u tion effort, and The Sanibel-Captiva Date Temperature Rain Wind Gulf Candle Throws Its Beaml site for many years, and to see the light Conservation Foundation will be team- At Ding" Darling at the end of the tunnel is absolutely ing up to raise the remaining $1.63 Sept. Low High (Chances) (Knots) Temp exhilarating. Had Buck Key been devel- million needed to complete the transac- 22 73 83 80% S/SE 30 85 THERE ISMT ANYTHING we MATTER, WITH IT BUT oped, not only would we have lost an BEFORE TiJTART ON MY VACATION TOMOREOW tion. "jfOU Mf&MT OUST GIVE IT THE ONCE OVER. irreplaceable natural and archeological Greg Chelius, TPL's director of 23 73 86 60% S 20-25 85 resource, but also a critical buffer to Florida projects said, "We are proud to this most threatened of federal wildlife 24 74 88 50% SE 10-15 85 have played a key role in providing this fSXSRsf VtZWE.1T Refuges." opportunity to protect Buck Key. We 25 73 90 60% E10 85 RIGHT IN. THE The parcel was acquired by Mariner WlLt, will soon have another special place to TEWDTOJT Properties Development, Inc. in 1995 enjoy for generations to come." 26 74 88 70% SE15 85 for condominium development, and In 1999, TPL acquired Chino Island 27 72 88 20% N 10 85 was recently appraised by Mariner at for inclusion in the "Ding" Darling $6.9 million. Ray Pavelka, president of National Wildlife Refuge, and has 28 70 87 10% N10 85 Mariner Properties, has worked coop- worked on numerous other land con- eratively with TPL over the past year to servation projects in Florida out of its BCrfS .SAY THEY structure an agreement that enables the offices in Tallahassee, Miami and Pristine Island Will Be Preserved the purchase of 70 acres on Buck Key FOR -rt3U THE MINUTE1 Trust to purchase the property by Jacksonville. have been successfully concluded. NBWPAETS September 29, 2000 for $6.85 mil- The Trust for Public Land is a Buck Key According to a press release from the lion. TPL will then transfer the proper- national nonprofit land conservation Trust for Public Lands (TPL), the price ty by year's end to the U.S. Fish and organization that acquires parks and Property for the property was $6.85 million. Wildlife Service and the State. other places for people to use and The federal and state government will "Buck Key is a very special place, enjoy, particularly in and around rapid- Acquisition furnish $5.22 million and the balance especially to those of us that have ly growing metropolitan areas. of $1.63 million will come from private taken time to get to know the island," Founded in 1972, TPL has protected Draws Raves sources. With the sale of the property, said Ray Pavelka, president of Mariner more than one and a half million acres owned by Mariner Properties Properties. I hope that in conjunction of community parks, wilderness lands, by Jim George Development, this pristine island will with preserving this very special prop- historic structures, and greenways in eaction to the announcement of come under the protection of the U.S. A view of mangrove scenery at "Ding" Darling erty a program can be developed to Fish and Wildlife Service. Ten acres MOPS, YOU HAVE .A. 45 states and Canada, with a land the acquisition of a large parcel NICE VACATION AMD expose the rich heritage and many nat- value of more than $1.5 billion.^ of land on Buck Key has been owned by Ted Watrous still remains in HURRY BACK/ ural wonders of Buck Key to residents R private hands.