Sewing the seeds Children's Center's curriculum upgraded Since 1961 Still first on Sanibef and Captlva Islands VOL. 33, NO. 22 TUESDAY, MAY 31, 1994 3 SECTIONS, 32 PAGES 50 CENTS Goss about environment damaged issues, plans by blaze By Anne Bellew By Steve Ruediger Islander Staff Writer Islander staff writer U.S. Rep. Porter Goss (R-Sanibel) held an infor- The Papa Joe's II pizzeria in the Ritz mal question-and-answer session before the \ Islander Shopping Center on Periwinkle Environmental Affairs Committee of the Sanibel- Way was damaged by a fire Thursday, Captiva Conservation Foundation and other invited May 26, which sent smoke billowing up guests Friday, May 27. into the island sky. Of particular concern to the committee is the The Sanibel Fire Department plight of the Endangered Species Act which is responded promptly to put out the presently before the House for debate. The present blaze, which started shortly after 10 bill, HR2043, is a companion bill to Senate bill S921 a.m. which would strengthen the act. Fire officials said it appeared to be In a competing action Rep. Billy Tauzin (D-La.) an accidental electrical fire. has introduced HR1490, a series of amendments that On Friday, Papa Joe's was closed drastically weaken the present act. Tauzin's bill while electrical work was being done, would require review of a proposed species listing water was being mopped up and the even when there is general agreement among scien- extent of the damage was being deter- tists. It would exempt large portions of the country mined. Next door, the Sanibel Island from virtually every requirement of the act. It would Pelican Company T-shirt shop was obviate the government's duty to avoid degrading closed, at least temporarily, because of critical habitat and substitute captive breeding pro- the smoke smell. The Fractured Frog, grams for habitat protection programs. It would also the shop on the other side of Papa Joe's strip conservation groups of the right to sue anyone II, was closed because it had no elec- other than the federal government to prevent viola- tricity. However, it was hoped the elec- tions of the act. trical work would correct that and the Goss made the point several times that the greatest Fractured Frog could reopen this week. problem in Washington right now is the polarization Shortly after the fire engines arrived, between what amount to extreme positions on the Chris Juliano, who was opening the environment. He has proven to be a mediator, "a bro- Photo by Kathleen Blase pizzeria that morning, was asked what had happened. ker", he calls it, by consistently taking a middle-of- A sunset cruise the-road position on some of these issues, putting "I turned the (overhead exhaust) fans Windsurfers will take to the water whenever the opportunity arises, on, then the circuit breaker went off," himself in the position of a moderate Republican who even late in the afternoon, just before sunset. A popular spot is off is thus able to work things out with moderate Demo- the causeway islands where there's usually smooth sailing for the Please see GOSS, page 3A wind-swept boards. Please see FIRE, page 7A Sanibel students govern city for one day By Steve Ruediger It was the annual Student Government Day in adult one. Islander staff writer which fifth graders from the Sanibel Elementary Prior to the council meeting, the students took a A 10-story parking garage, a water park and free School take over the jobs of adult Sanibel officials. tour of City Hall. An alligator in the lake behind European vacations for students were just a few of The adults could take a lessen in promptness from City Hall was not at all intimidated by the large the items passed in a brief Sanibel City Council the youngsters. The council meeting went extremely meeting held Thursday, May 26, shortly after noon. smoothly, much more smoothly than any recent Please see STUDENTS, page 8A Sandbag project approved by planners Arts & Leisure 5B By Steve Ruediger Those previously issued permits will Specifics were not set on the financial Islander staff writer be modified to start on the same date as assurance. It could be a bond, a letter of CitysicJe 8A A project to place a temporary sand- the Chernin permit and to include three credit or some other variety of accept- Classifieds 5C bag barrier on the beach at Gulf Pines to requirements asked for by the Planning "able assurance. protect homes in that area received Commission. The return walls are at each end and Commentary 1C development permit approval from the Crossword 6C These requirements relate to all three are installed to prevent water from get- Sanibel Planning Commission Tuesday, home project and are: a $10,000 finan- ting behind the sandbags and washing Environment 8B May 24. cial assurance that the bags will be them out. Police Beat 2A The permit application was directly removed, a $12,000 financial assurance The concern about the return walls is for the home of Irwin and Helen that any damage or erosion caused to that as they are placed back further, the Sports Shorts 10B Chernin. However, it also involved the Weather Watch 4A neighboring property by the project will beach ridge dune is dug into to accom- modification of the permits of Edward be repaired and the reduction of the modate them. Some assert that this What's Playing 6B Gale and Elizabeth K. Funston, which length of the return walls from 60 feet to had previously been issued. 45 feet. Please see SANDBAGS, page 3A 2A THE ISLANDER Tuesday.' May. 31,1994 M99mc All of the following information was taken directly from plants were too large to have been taken in a car. Sanibel Police Department reports. POLICE A number of items were taken from a car May 25 Beach commercialization After a noise complaint had been called in to the at the Trost parking lot, which is the lot used by peo- Sanibel police for the second time Friday morning, BEAT ple going to the Tarpon Bay Road beach. Missing Planning Commission discusses five related issues May 27, a man on Ibis Lane who was working on his from the car was over $700 in American currency plus United Kingdom currency. Also missing were a By Steve Ruediger during the hearings Tuesday that she read rather than the way it does read." before getting to the council. spa at about 2 a.m. was told to stop work until day- Islander staff writer time. Anthony D. Palhete of Brandon was charged May suitcase, a camera, credit cards, passport and other thought the commission should be Asked where the staff study of the In studying the problem, Rogers 26 with going 68 mph on the Sanibel Causeway. Use of beach chairs, umbrellas and items. looking beyond the specific regulations beach commercialization now stood, said, he and Code Enforcement Officer non-motorized boats at three Sanibel and should be considering the general Planning Director Bruce Rogers said it Ray Hendzel had walked the entire Salvatore Gagliano of Sanibel was charged with resorts were discussed briefly by the Chad Cramer of Findlay, Ohio, was charged May The owner of a Sanibel store complained to police policy of the commercialization of the was almost completed. He told the beach from one end of the island to the going 50 mph on the Sanibel Causeway May 27. 26 with improper passing on Sanibel-Captiva Road. Planning Commission Tuesday, May Tuesday, May 24, that the landscape personnel for the beaches. commission that he was preparing a other. 24, before the hearings were continued Commission Attorney Beverly Dennis Paul Jones of Detroit was charged with shopping center in which the store is located had to future dates. paper defining the problems and sug- They had taken their time, making Robert Hodosky of Sanibel was charged May 26 Grady pointed out that current regula- gesting alternative solutions that could notes and taking pictures, the planning going 57 mph on the Sanibel Causeway Thursday, with going 56 mph on Sanibel-Captiva Road. blown leaves in front of her store. She thought it was Also, the commission was told that May 26. done on purpose. The landscapers later cleaned up the city staff is currently working in two tions needed to be followed in making be addressed. director said. The only time they had decisions. It was also pointed out that Rogers said he expected to complete hurried, he added, was when they came John Montemuro of Cape Coral was charged May leaves. different ways on the general subject of A man fishing behind City Hall May 26 acciden- beach commercialization. all three requested permit extensions that paper next week (which is this across 12 naked men in the woods 26 with going 55 mph on Sanibel-Captiva Road. were for either two years or until the week) and would then present it to City tally caught a turtle and asked police assistance in Gary Michael Stolt of Lehigh Acres was charged The hearings were in regard to con- behind Bowman's Beach. Sanibel City Council enacts new beach Manager Gary Price. They would then In addition to the Planning getting the turtle off his line. Michelle Cherie Gavin of Virginia Beach, Va., was Wednesday, May 25, with running a stop sign at ditional use approval for the continued rental of beach furniture at the West furniture regulations, whichever came decide where to go from there and a Department work on the issue, beach charged Wednesday, May 25, with going 63 mph on Tarpon Bay Road and Periwinkle Way and with dri- A man got his car hung up on a stump in a Sanibel Wind Inn, the Sanibel Inn and the first.