JVVOL 11, NO, 31 SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS, FLORIDA FEBRUARY 6, 2004 |;fEBRUARY SUNRISE/SUNSET: #07:10 18:15 % 07:09 18:15 #07:0918:16 #07:08 18:17 #07:07 18:17 1107:07 18:18 ^ 7:06 18:19 controversy stayed for debate on the ref- Referendum erendum resolution, but tabling the item For Kids Sake! Hits $700,000 Mark precluded discussion; the topic will be Date On back on the agenda February 17. A citizen initiative petition recently filed Causeway Issue by Former Councilmember Andrew Reding requires the city to hold a referen- Postponed dum on an amendment to the Sanibel by Camille Kucaba Charter. This amendment proposes that citizens have a straight yes-or-no vote y a 3-2 vote, Sanibel City Council whenever changes are contemplated in postponed a decision on setting a the causeway - changes including but not Bcauseway referendum date, effec- limited to the current dispute over the tively eliminating public comment on the drawbridge. issue Tuesday. The amendment would be to the Mayor Steve Brown's motion to table fourth section of Article 1 of the Charter took precedence over Vice Mayor Marty which addresses the powers of the city. If Harrity's motion to put the Charter adopted, it would force the city to present amendment question on the ballot for the the county's causeway plan to Sanibel vot- March 2005 general election. ers. If voters reject the plan, the county A substantial portion of the crowd would be asked to modify it, and another gathered for the Planning Commission continued on page 50 Rob Lisenbee, Sandy Zahorchak, Karen Aulino, Wesley Fay, Betsy Ventura and Terry Igo Reach For The Stars - by Brian Johnson A Night In Vegas n February 3, committee members of the For Kids' Sake! campaign met at the Sanibel-Captiva Trust Company for their weekly meeting. After tallying Oup the proceeds from the weekend's golf tournament at The Sanctuary, they were pleased to announce they had raised $700,000 in pledges and donations for The Sanibel School. "I'm just amazed at the generosity of the community!'" said Sandy Zahorchak. the chair of the campaign's finance committee. "We're very happy and appreciative to be at $700,000 and we really hope to reach the $1 million mark by this spring to provide the kids with all the equipment they'll need in the new building," said capital campaign co-chair Terry Igo. All systems are go as the campaign heads into the homestretch. Captiva is the next stop. "The next big event is the ABC Sale on Captiva," said campaign co-chair Betsy •Ventura. "'The Sanibel School will be the beneficiary of 10 percent of the proceeds." continued on page 54 media and talk radio have been deluged Causeway with letters and phone calls on the topic, which has gone far beyond the shores of War Of Words Sanibel. In addition to countless interviews and Escalates saturation news coverage, Sanibel City by Jim George Council sent a letter to all island residents outlining its position and explaining why n the continuing battle to sway public the city decided to sue the county, The Susan Peck, director of the Children's Education Center of the Islands with Melanje opinion in their favor, both the Lee BOCC responded by sending a letter to Congress and daughter, Georgia. Congress Jewelers is a platinum sponsor of the IBoard of County Commissioners residents, explaining why the drawbridge fundraising event (BOCC) and the Sanibel City Council, must be replaced, and pointed out the alpng with their respective legal depart- inaccuracies in the city's letter. The letters ou'll be amazed as The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club is transformed into the Las ments, are lobbing verbal missiles back indicate the width of the chasm that must Vegas strip and thousands of dollars are raised for the Children's Education ailid forth across Pine Island Sound. be bridged to resolve the issue. YiCenter of the Islands. Ticket* are still available for the 2004 Reach For The Public opinion is not lacking. Judging At stake, however, is more than just .Stars - A Night in Vegas this weekend. The evening, featuring casino-style gambling' from newspaper reports, television cov- • public opinion. The city has been clear' for charity, and a chance to win of $5,000 in cash is scheduled for Saturday,}tJ>\f .e^age and what the principal players are about its intention to save the drawbridge, February 7 from 6 to 10 p.m. at The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club. "' ' Saying, public opinion is clearly divided and it has made no secret about the continued on page 15 over who did what to whom. Local print continued on page 53 2' 3' Renowned 8 •© KRIEGER Photoghrapher's CHRONOMETRES SUISSE Pictures To Benefit V CO LU Museum byJeriMagg ommercial and wildlife photogra- Q Krieger Tidal pher Rhonda Mandel will be using Z Chronometer Cher expert eye to portray the fash- H ions modeled on February 16 at the Sanctuary Clubhouse. The pictures Tells Time and Tides taken at this Vintage Fashion Show and Luncheon, benefiting the Sanibel Historical Village and Museum, will add to her growing list of well-known digital photographs. She hopes to capture the quintessence of the 19th and 20th cen- tury by snapping the models in their beautiful period clothing. Rhonda Mandel Rhonda is already known for her stun- raphy and worked for several years in ning photo images enhancing tiie pages Chicago at a professional lab. To view of Times of the Islands magazine, and Rhonda's work or learn more about her, the cover of the local Sprint phone book. visit www.rmdigitalimages.com Her commercial work includes brochures To meet Rhonda, and.enjoy the vin- for a number of the members of Lee tags fashions, be. sure to attend tills one- of-a-kind event. Tickets for The Vintage Machined from block of County and Bonita Chambers of r Stainless Steel. 20 micron Commerce. Currently she is producing Fashion Showaad L^db^j.at fie r . 18kt Gold Accents. artfully designed real estate brochures Sapphirte Crystal. Water Resistant to 666 Feet. depicting multi-million doBar homes. Screw Dowa Crown and Back. Her love of photography flourished Officially Certified after receiving her first camera at an early Swiss Qaaita: Chronometer., JEWELRY age. 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It's "critical" to have at least reminded the group: "If it ain't broke, Just prior to the final vote, Brown Planners Prevail seven members to represent the diverse don't fix it." attempted to withdraw his second to views of the people and keep Sanibel the Wayne Ponader, speaking on behalf of Harrity's motion and avoid a showdown In Well-Attended way it is. the Committee of the Islands (COTI), cited among council members.