PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID FT MYERS, FL PERMIT #5718 Postal Customer Read Us Online at ECRWSS IslandSunNews.com NEWSPAPER VOL. 22, NO. 13 SANIBELSanibel & CAPTIVA & Captiva ISLANDS, Islands FLORIDA SEPTEMBER 19, 2014 SEPTEMBER SUNRISE/SUNSET: 19 7:15 • 7:29 20 7:16 • 7:28 21 7:16 • 7:27 22 7:17 • 7:26 23 7:17 • 7:25 24 7:18 • 7:24 25 7:18 • 7:23 ‘Ding’ Darling To Celebrate National Public Lands Day Pictured from left, volunteer firefighter Mark Wells, firefighter/EMT Zack Van Dyck, firefight- er/paramedic Nick Miller and volunteer firefighter Ron Gibson Fire Department Distributes Phoenix Awards by Jeff Lysiak Learn about what tracks and scat refuge animals leave on a guided walk to the Wildlife Education Boardwalk at the JN “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel ix Captiva Island Fire Control District personnel and volunteers were recently given the prestigious Phoenix Award for a cardiac arrest save they were N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge will celebrate National Public Lands Sinvolved with earlier this summer. Day on Saturday, September 27 on Sanibel Island with free admission to Wildlife According to Captiva Fire Chief Rich Dickerson, the awards were presented to fire- JDrive, a re-think/recycle craft, hiking, a film and other free activities. fighter/EMT Zack Van Dyck, firefighter/paramedic Nick Miller, firefighter/paramedic The day’s activities begin at 10 a.m. with a one-hour guided hike along Indigo Trail Kelli Wilson, Deputy Chief Jeff Pawul and volunteer firefighters Mark Wells and Ron to the Wildlife Education Boardwalk, where hikers can view the boardwalk’s replicated Gibson. wildlife tracks and scat. Meet at the flagpole outside the “Ding” Darling Visitor & continued on page 35 Education Center to participate. continued on page 11 parking fees from $2 to $3 per hour.” FY 2015 Budget According to Edwards, the membership the No. 1 spot. and user fee increases approved during Songwriter Fest Thompson Square will close the festi- Approved the morning’s council session were not val on October 5 with a free performance by Jeff Lysiak reflected in the proposed final budget. Next Weekend at Parrot Key Caribbean Grill on Fort After hearing Edwards’ presentation, he first Island Hopper Songwriter Myers Beach. They swept the 2012 vocal aving accomplished their goal of Mayor Kevin Ruane made a push for low- Fest announces a strong line-up of duo awards with such hit singles as Are continued fiscal responsibility, and ering the city’s millage rate even further, Ttalent on Captiva Island and Fort You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not as well as I Hwith a promise to further scru- down to 1.9902, noting the additional Myers Beach. The festival will take place Got You. tinize expenses, city council approved revenue generated through the rec center over two consecutive weekends and offers “Our sunshine, beaches and unspoiled Sanibel’s operating millage rate for fis- fee increases and some flexibility with a range of star-studded performers. beauty have inspired artists for quite some cal year 2015 at 1.9995 mills during reserve funds. “We need to take a look The kick-off is on Captiva September time, so it is only fitting that we should Tuesday evening’s final budget hearing. at what do we need, and what don’t we 26 to 28 and the festival wraps up showcase both nature and music in one At the approved millage rate, the need,” he noted. October 3 to 5 on Fort Myers Beach. exciting event,” said Tamara Pigott, average residential taxpayer will pay Councilman Mick Denham suggested It will feature free performances from executive director of the Lee County $1,255.23 for all city services. The aver- that they look deeper into individual such hit-makers as Kristian Bush, who Visitor & Convention Bureau. age residential taxable property value on department expenses, expressing concern built his reputation as one half of the Festival-goers can celebrate American Sanibel for fiscal year 2015 is $519,871. for a few line items that seemed “exces- multi-platinum, Grammy-winning coun- roots music while getting a taste of the “At the first public hearing, city council sive.” try duo Sugarland, and wrote dozens of destination at local favorites including amended the tentative budget increas- “The budget process is a lot like trim- hits including Stuck Like Glue. Scotty ‘Tween Waters Inn’s Crow’s Nest, Key ing the tentative budget’s surplus from ming your nails,” added councilman Marty Emerick has had more than 50 songs Lime Bistro and Doc Ford’s at South $259,277 to $278,515,” said Sylvia Harrity. “If you don’t cut them enough, recorded by Toby Keith, including six No. Seas Island Resort on Captiva; as well as Edwards, finance director, during her final they’ll scratch you, but if you cut them 1’s and four top 5’s. Three songs, I Love Nervous Nellie’s, The Cottage, Smokin’ budget presentation. “Subsequent to the too short, it’ll hurt. You really want to cut This Bar, Beer For My Horses and As Oyster Brewery and The Beached Whale first public hearing, council approved them just right.” Good As I Once Was, spent six weeks in on Fort Myers Beach. three percent increases for sewer fees and Breaking down the city’s revenues and continued on page 27 reclaimed water rates and increased beach continued on page 14 2 ISLAND SUN - SEPTEMBER 19, 2014 ISLAND SUN - SEPTEMBER 19, 2014 3 Siller, a New York City firefighter who lost his life on September 11, 2001. On that fateful morning, Siller had just gotten off the late shift at Squad 1 in Park Slope, Brooklyn. He was on his way to play golf with his brothers when his TRUST scanner told of the first plane hitting the World Trade Center. When he heard the news, he called his wife Sally and asked her to tell his brothers he would catch up with them later, and then returned to Squad 1 to get his gear. Siller drove his truck to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, but it was already closed. Undaunted, he strapped 60 pounds of firefighting gear to his back, rushed on foot through gridlocked traffic and ran from the tunnel to the Twin Towers, where he died while saving others. Popkin will wear approximately 40 pounds of firefighting gear – including his SFRD jacket, pants and helmet – while participating in the race, which covers a 3.5-mile (5K) course. Rob Popkin All proceeds from the race will benefit the Stephen Siller Tunnel To Towers Foundation, including their Building For Sanibel Firefighter America’s Bravest program, which con- structs specially-adapted, custom-designed Running In Tunnel “smart homes” to help restore indepen- dence and improve the quality of life for To Towers Race the nation’s most catastrophically injured ob Popkin, a 15-year member of service members. the Sanibel Fire & Rescue District, Popkin is seeking donations for Rwill participate in the Tunnel the Stephen Siller Tunnel To Towers To Towers race in New York City on Foundation. He has established a fund- Sunday, September 28. The event, raising goal of $2,500. Those wishing which will begin at 9:30 a.m. in Red to make a donation may visit www. 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This is the first time that Rotarians Our Rotary District #6960 hosted a Rotary from our club have participated in such Group Study Exchange from Trinidad, Rec Center To an event but we definitely have a person- Tobago, Martinique and Barbados in May Happenings al interest in the Trinidad distribution day.