••""1 McDonald's update PSVfR turns 40 fF=^ Day at Ascot page 14A pageiB page1C APRIL 14, 1995 VOLUME 24 NUMBER 15 and 3 SECTIONS, 48 PAGES .25 1 9U PR 1 0*1796 Easter on the ws SAMBtL LIBRARY 77C DlNLOP RD z files $2.5 Jt ....33.9.57 _.; million libel suit against CROW By Matthew Miller the non-profit organiza- Kubisz said. StaffWriter tion's board of directors CROW board mem- The fire was rekindled falsely accused him of bers addressed the suit in last week between Dr. dishonesty and falsifying a prepared statement. John Kubisz and the records prior to his "CROW has been board members of Care release in September served with a complaint and Rehabilitation of 1994. which our attorney, Steve Wildlife (CROW) after The suit follows the Carta, is currently Kubisz filed a $2.5 mil- Feb. 8 special meeting reviewing. CROW lion lawsuit. called by Kubisz and his believes the allegations Kubisz and his attor- lawyer Peter Kelly who to be unfounded and will ney filed the suit in the rallied for the removal of vigorously defend this Lee County court system the present CROW suit," the statement read. against the CROW orga- board. CROW attorney Steve nization for libel and "We can only take so Carta substantiated the <>r slander. many of their lies, they statement. Kubisz, the former don't have a leg to stand "Based upon discus- CROW executive direc- on as far as these allega- •please see page 7A "\ tor, claimed Wednesday tions are concerned," 'A IWA elects board, opens new building By Max Friedersdorf ity users toured the old water pipeline StaffWriter reverse osmosis water between Pine Island and The Island Water processing plant as well Sanibel to assure a readi- Association combined its as the new administrative ly-available back-up annual meeting with a offices, which opened water supply. Rachel Deming, a student at the Montessori School of Sanibel, last month. prepares her bonnet for the school's third annual Easter egg hunt. 30th anniversary celebra- Deuber also listed tion . Tuesday at the IWA President Warren three major challenges newly-opened facilities E. Deuber gave those for the IWA for the com- on Sanibel-Captiva attending the annual ing year as: (1) Renewing Road. meeting a president's the utility's 30-year fran- Shell museum move going A capacity crowd report highlighting chises with the city filled the new auditorium accomplishments in the and/or the county when and joined about 800 past year. it expires next July 14; smoothly^ delicately proxy voters in unani- Deuber cited the 7.5 (2) Dealing with the By Matthew Miller million specimens from conchs to mously electing Timothy percent rate reduction; threat of a county right- StaffWriter coquinas were transported from Fort A. Gardner, Paul Garvey achievement of a safer, of-way fee proposal for Perhaps the most delicate move in Myers to the new museum last week. and Paul Storves to two- more reliable water sup- the island's water history drew innumerable shell enthusi- Museum organizers and curator Dr. year terms on the board ply with adequate emer- pipeline; and (3) Control asts closer to a dream seven years in R. Tucker Abbott began to move their of directors. gency pressure available of irrigation wells on the making. That dream has nearly exhibits and specimens from their Fort Following the busi- at every fire hydrant on Sanibel that have been reached its fruition on Sanibel-Captiva Myers storage area. Charles Wolfe and ness of the annual meet- Sanibel and Captiva, and drilled into the Suwanee Road in the form of the Bailey- •please see page 2A reactivation of a 24-year- •please see page 13A Matthews Shell Museum. Over two ing, about 100 island util- Panel updates progress on Everglades restoration By Marianne Dila Strickland Everglades Restoration Report 1995 Brashler, and Erard Matthiessen began the process of promoting in locales StaffWriter . was sponsored by the National a campaign to persuade the National around South Florida. He is anxious to Though it was Palm Sunday, and the Audubon Society and the Sanibel- Audubon Society to become involved get the word out to Floridians that it is Master's Golf Tournament was being Captiva Conservation Foundation. in a grassroots drive to restore the absolutely essential to address the televised, the Pirate Playhouse was The forum was spearheaded by Everglades. Audubon did become Everglades problem. filled to capacity with concerned citi- Captivan Bill Riley, former national involved and produced a plan which Simply put, the problem is that in zens attending a forum of knowledge- director of the Audubon Society. Four has now been adopted. the past a decision was made to help able speakers on the controversial topic years ago Riley, his wife Laura and fel- Sanibel was honored to be the site of of restoration of the Everglades. low Captivans Milena Eskew, Shirley the first in a series of forums Riley is in •please see page 2A 2A • APRIL 14,1995 • ISLAND REPORTER —MUSEUM for grounds and building expenses Since its inception, the museum has and longtime friend of Abbott. A which includes a loan the museum •from page 1A graciously received $700,000 worth of memorial garden is being designed Sons loaded their tractor and trailer sea shells as gifts. near the front entrance to the museum must now pay off. moving truck at a reduced cost to help "Some pieces are worth up to so patrons wishing to remember this In August, the museum received a the cause with pieces that have been $3,000 and $4,000," Abbott said. accomplished actor may contribute a $240,000 grant by the state of Florida waiting for a home for four years. With "People collect them like cars stamps brick engraved with their names. and $10,000 was donated by the the help of the four movers and five or coins." Now that the move is complete, Sumitomo corporation of Tokyo. volunteers, Abbott and staff completed The move also carried pieces donat- Abbott said they have literally hun- These moneys collected, at least for the move by Friday. ed by Raymond Burr from his personal dreds of boxes to open, and many inte- the time being, enough funds were in "We are very, very pleased with the collection. Burr, the museum's hon- gral pieces to put in place for the 36 place to begin construction. move," Abbott said. "Everything came orary chairman, was an avid collector exhibits. George Tuttle, an architect of 30 through with no breakage." "We will at times be changing out years who moved to Sanibel in 1976 exhibits or displaying an exhibit that is and who recently lost a battle against made available to us," Abbott said. cancer, designed the museum. Abbott Hanley named Citizen of the Year Abbott said they plan to have mini- describes the structure as a pair of The Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club Though he never understood why the openings until the grand opening in intersecting chambered nautiluses. announced it's "Citizen of the Year" at Lord chose him for this path, he November. "George did a beautiful job at no its annual installation banquet held fought every step of the way with a The idea for such a world-wide orig- charge," Abbott said. "There will be a April 8. Breaking from tradition, the strength found rarely even in adults, inal museum spawned from the dreams plaque signifying him as the architect island club presented this year's award and his courage inspired all who had and ideas for a shell exhibit hall by somewhere near the door." posthumously. the honor of knowing him. Abbott who is a world renowned con- The 50 vehicle parking lot is The award is given each year to an At his mother's request, the $500 chologist. The first piece of the dream accessed by a 70 foot timber bridge individual who has given of self for grant which accompanies the award was complete once eight acres were known as the "J. Howard Wood Bridge the betterment of the islands, the will be donated to the local Ronald donated by the Bailey family, longtime to Learning," donated by Barbara region or the world. This year the club McDonald House in Patrick's name. residents of Sanibel, approximately Wood of Sanibel. recognized the positive impact made This contribution will help the con- seven years ago and the museum was Abbott said everyone at the museum by 8-year-old Patrick Hanley. struction of the Fort Myers Ronald named accordingly. Matthews is Mrs. is ready for the opening but much work Patrick lived all of his eight years McDonald House at HealthPark to Bailey's maiden name. Seven acres are lies ahead. on Sanibel. After being diagnosed serve the families of patients at the wetlands, and one is occupied by the Stayed tuned for more museum with cancer, he went through a series Children's Hospital of Southwest new double-hexagonal building. news as the countdown to the May of arduous surgeries and treatments, Florida. Thus far, $1.3 million has been spent opening approaches. -EVERGLADES" morning mists to rise and Interior and presently on •from page 1A later fall as rain. South the governing board of the agricultural industry Florida used to have two the South Florida Water City Council member reacts maintain water levels rainfalls per day during Management District After listening intently to speakers entire ecosystem that was autonomous conducive to the growing the rainy season, a gentle (SFWMD) said, "We do at the Everglades Restoration Report but as I see the bird populations of crops.