PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID FT MYERS, FL PERMIT #5718 Postal Customer Read Us Online at ECRWSS IslandSunNews.com NEWSPAPER VOL. 20, NO. 7 SANIBELSanibel & CAPTIVA & Captiva ISLANDS, Islands FLORIDA AUGUST 10, 2012 AUGUST SUNRISE/SUNSET: 10 6:58 • 8:09 11 6:59 • 8:09 12 6:59 • 8:08 13 7:00 • 8:07 14 7:00 • 8:06 15 7:01 • 8:05 16 7:01 • 8:04 Mongol Rally Recap truck tires and massive headlamps. Not in the true spirit of the rally, but he paid the What A Journey! price for it. by James Sprankle When we left later that afternoon to begin the journey, we took a lap around guess I’ll start from the beginning. the race track. One car and a Dneiper Sean and I landed at Heathrow at motorcycle broke down on the track… I approximately 11:30 on July 13 and yikes! Then it was off to the Dover ferry hit the ground running. As soon as we port and then to Dunkerque, France. It got through customs, we headed prompt- is important to note that I really had not ly to the car dealership in Norwood driven a stick that much before this (and Green, northwest of London. We picked it didn’t help that I was on the right-hand up the Peugeot 206 s 1.1 litre from the side of the car). By the end of the journey, dealership, bought a set of steel wheels I was a Jedi Master. and headed to London. After a nauseating voyage on the ferry, Thanks to the GPS provided through we arrived on the “continent.” donations from the people of Sanibel, When the road switches from left to we hit our destination of downtown right and your car is English, it can make London in about an hour. After our brief for trying driving conditions, especially stay in London and a nice little party in when attempting to pass a massive truck. Notting Hill, we pointed our compass This would really haunt us in Russia. The southbound to the Goodwood Motor first real night of the rally was spent in Speedway in Chichester, UK. At the Brugge, Brussels, complete with a torren- speedway, there were about 200 other tial rain that would follow us all the way to 1 litre-ish little beasts getting the finish- Russia. ing touches – decals, engines checks, oil Brugge is where I would first try my changes, etc. There was even a guy who hand at driving the beast. After a few laps had a Toyota Tacoma truck he’d imported around the cobblestone, I was set to go to Sean Miller and James Sprankle finished the 2012 Mongol Rally, a 7,000-mile England to from Baltimore that had a lift kit, monster continued on page 28 Mongolia automotive adventure No Child Left On Shore Group Visits Cayo Costa by Jeff Lysiak hanks to the launch of a new educational program, a Haitian TAmerican youth group from Ebenezer Christian Academy in Fort Myers took a cruise from Captiva to Cayo Costa last Friday afternoon. During the three-hour excursion, the group learned about the importance of the nat- ural resources within the Caloosahatchee watershed and the back bay estuary while enjoying the unspoiled beauty of a pristine beach filled with wondrous marine wildlife, great and small. Hosted by environmental educator Richard Finkel, the No Child Left On Shore program is an outreach project of both the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation and Captiva Cruises. On A Haitian American youth group from Ebenezer Christian Academy in Fort Myers took part in last week’s No Child Left On Shore program August 3, a group of 31 youngsters, with Richard Finkel and Captiva Cruises. Here, the group poses for a photo on the beach at Cayo Costa. parents and siblings climbed aboard The ways and shared stories about the marine to survive.” He explained how, within group on a short hike around to the west- Santiva and set course for Cayo Costa. life found beneath the waves. the countless acres of sea grasses, oyster ern shoreline, where they searched the During the trip, which sailed through “How many of you have ever played beds and mangrove forests contained in shallow waters for evidence of life under Pine Island Sound, Captiva Pass and the hide-and-seek?” asked Finkel, which result- the waters surrounding Southwest Florida, the sea. Grabbing a handful of sand and Gulf of Mexico en route to the southern ed in nearly everyone raising the hands. marine life is abundant. shells, he pointed out what small organ- coast of Cayo Costa, Finkel engaged them “Well, that’s just what the plankton and After arriving along a remote stretch isms can be found within them. in historic facts about the regional water- smaller fish in these waters do in order of Cayo Costa beachfront, Finkel led the continued on page 3 2 ISLAND SUN - AUGUST 10, 2012 Twilight Talks, which were so popular this season, are being planned. The Sanibel Historical Museum & Village will reopen on November 7, Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is handicap access to all buildings. Admission is $5 for adults 18 and over, members and children under 18 are free. For more information, visit www.sanibelmuseum.com. Community Panel To Meet August 14 he Captiva Community Panel will The Sanibel Historical Museum & Village hopes you enjoy your summer, as they did in the “old days” hold its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, August 14, begin- bers,” said board president Alex Werner. working, and always perform with utter T ning at 9 a.m. in the Cone Room in Record-Breaking “Of course, we ask them to continue to professionalism and courtesy to our Chadwick’s Square at South Seas Island support us, as our members are a vital guests – and with a smile, even when the Resort. This meeting is open to all inter- Season For part of the museum. We couldn’t operate work is difficult. I salute them and look ested islanders and the public. without them.” forward to seeing our winter residents Among the meeting’s agenda items: Historical Village Approximately 9,000 guests visited come season. I also thank our year-round • Status report on the Captiva Land the museum, a new high. This number volunteers, the docents who work in the he Sanibel Historical Museum & Development Code approval. represents more than 8,100 adults, summer heat and help us keep the muse- Village has closed its doors for • The panel’s agenda for the 2012-13 almost 800 children, 72 members, and um open as long as we can.” Tthe off-season and will re-open season. 14 people using passes from the Sanibel Two new buildings are heading for on November 7, Wednesdays through • A Captiva Erosion Prevention Public Library. the village this summer: Shore Haven, a Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The District update. “We had hopes to reach these kinds of Sears kit home currently on Bird Lane, last day saw quite a few visitors willing • A Hurricane Preparedness & numbers,” Werner said. “We’re pleased and its caretaker’s cottage. Watch for to bear the heat for their last chance to Response Committee update. and know we’ll do even better next sea- news of this historic move. experience Sanibel history close-up until • Other matters as necessary. son.” In addition, next season’s visitors to November. The next Captiva Community Panel “I thank our many docents and vol- the village can look forward to a continu- Museum memberships reached a new meetings will be held on September 11 unteers, who are the real stars of the ing array of exhibits in each of the seven high this year. and October 9. Information and back- museum,” said museum manager Emilie historic buildings and a special docent- “We are very grateful for our loyal ground documents are available online at Alfino. “They are knowledgeable, hard led tour of the village at 11 a.m. Eight members and welcome our new mem- www.captivacommunitypanel.com. Sanibel Beauty Supplying the islands with ART Salon and Fine Framing for over 10 years. Thank You to our loyal customers. Three generations that WE built! 630 Tarpon Bay Rd (near the Over Easy Cafe) 15% off the purchase of any 3 items Summer Hours Mon.-Sat. 10-4 • Closed Sunday (239) 472-1111 Books, Jewelry and Boutique 2330 Palm Ridge Rd. Across from CVS www.sanibelartandframe.com [email protected] 239-395-1350 www.SanibelBeautySalon.net 1571 Perwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL. 33957 239-472-5223 Tahitian Gardens, Sanibel • 239-395-5353 www.sanibelbookshop.com www.SynergySportswear.com ISLAND SUN - AUGUST 10, 2012 3 Amos Francis, 11, holds one of the shells he collected during the trip The group followed Richard Finkel around to the west side of the island From page 1 No Child Left On Shore The Santiva anchored in the shallows off Cayo Costa’s southern tip program.” Gabriel said that he first learned of the No Child Left On Shore program through one Michael Cenatus, 10, had fun swimming in the water of the academy’s board members, Jeff Goode, Naima Martial, 4, built her first sandcastle who also took part in At the same time, other members of during the trip the group spent their time playing and the trip to Cayo Costa. frolicking in the water, building sandcas- On the way back to tles and sharing an afternoon of fun and Captiva, Finkel cast a discovery.