Category: Island Update

Recreational and commercial blue crab traps in state waters from the Palm Beach-Broward county line to the Pasco-Hernando county line have to be removed from the water before July 10, the first day of a 10-day trap closure. The closure gives groups authorized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission the opportunity to identify and retrieve lost and abandoned blue crab traps from the water.

Traps may be placed back in the water starting on July 20. Until then, blue crabs may be harvested with other gear, such as dip nets and fold-up traps. Blue crab harvesters may also use standard blue crab traps during the closure if the traps are attached to a dock or other private property.

Closures may be reduced in duration if it is determined the number of lost and abandoned traps in the region will take less time to remove.

Lost and abandoned blue crab traps are a problem in the blue crab fishery because they can continue to trap crabs and fish when left in the water. They can also be unsightly in the marine environment, damage sensitive habitats and pose navigational hazards to boaters.

The closure is one of three regional, 10-day blue crab trap closures for 2021. There are six regional closures total: three in even-numbered years on the east coast and three in odd-numbered years on the Gulf coast and in south Florida.

While state waters extend to nine nautical miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico, the blue crab trap closures include only state waters extending to three nautical miles offshore on both coasts.

More information regarding the FWC’s trap-retrieval program, blue crab trap closure dates, regulations and cleanup events is available online at MyFWC.com/Marine by clicking on “Trap and Debris.” For additional information, contact the FWC’s trap retrieval coordinator, Pamela Gruver, at 850-487-0554.

On a trip to the Islands off the coast of Florida, Sandra Bornstein and her husband, Ira (aka the Traveling Bornstein’s), asked each other, “What delicious seafood should we order today?” That was the dilemma they faced while visiting tropical islands. But, isn’t it an excellent problem?

Whenever The Traveling Bornstein’s explore a coastal destination, they take this an opportunity to taste and rate the local seafood. During their visit to South Seas Island Resort, they explored the seafood options at the Resort and the local Island restaurants. They selected some of the most delicious appetizers and entrees on both Sanibel and Captiva Islands.

Click here to read their full review

Do you want to turn your yard into a Florida-Friendly landscape? The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) may guide you to do so.

The City of Sanibel has recently received a notice from these two environmental protection departments that they seek Florida homeowners who would like to turn their yard into a Florida-Friendly landscape a part of the “Flip My Florida Yard (FMFY) television series.

The Flip My Florida Yard team will work with the chosen homeowners to develop a plan to flip the current yard and bring it to life. According to the size and needs of the yard, you can either convert your entire yard or just a part of it. 

The FMFY team will visit the selected homes around the state for the ultimate Florida-Friendly makeover and convert the selected yards to help protect and conserve Florida’s natural resources through science-backed landscape practices. The landscape designs are based upon the nine principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL): right plant, right place; water efficiently; fertilize appropriately; mulch; attract wildlife; manage yard pests responsibly; recycle yard waste; reduce storm-water runoff, and protect the waterfront.

To learn more or sign up to be considered for season two, visit Want Your Yard Flipped? – Flip My Florida Yard.

The American Legion Post 123, at 4929 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel, presents the following:

• July 1: Open mic from 6 to 9 p.m.
• July 4: 4th of July Celebration from 3 to 6 p.m. with the Marty Stokes Band; free hotdogs all day, along with specials for Sloppy Joes, sloppy dogs and sloppy nachos

Food is served from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., with steak sandwiches on Fridays and tacos on Tuesdays. There are also daily specials and half-pound burgers. In addition, two pool tables are available for use.

The new American Legion eligibility date is Nov. 11, 1918, through today’s current date. All veterans are welcome to become a member. For more information, contact Tim or Randy at 239-472-9979.

American flags that need to be retired can be dropped off.

Open to the public, hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday. The Legion includes a “no smoking” facility.

For more information, call 239-472-9979 or visit “American Legion Post 123 Sanibel Florida” on Facebook.

The Bailey’s General Store has been a staple on Sanibel and has provided groceries, hardware, and general needs to tourists and residents, long before any bridges were built.

Recently, Bailey’s owner Richard Johnson said significant changes would occur to this much-loved store to enhance the shopping experience and match the needs of modern-day grocers. Exterior changes will include replacing the yellow and brown look with the flat roof that has remained for decades with more prominent, blue facades on top of the building, including the most significant one right at the grocery store entrance.

That’s not all, Johnson also said that the grocery store will be expanding further towards the south side of the shopping center, adding an additional 6,000 square feet in retail space.
To do so, the Island Cinema, a building located next to the grocery store in which the shopping center owns, will be demolished to create additional floor space for the store. Johnson said this decision came about during the COVID-19 pending when he and his staff decided to not to re-open the theatre.
With these expansion plans to add new spaces to the Bailey’s store, many of the much loved, old features will remain, including the liquor store, which will be relocated, and the coffee bar.

Additional changes include increasing the parking space for both cars and bikes, adding more vegetation around the parking area, adding charging point for electric vehicles to some parking spots, decrease the amount of developed property on the parcel, as well as bring the center into accordance with Sanibel’s Architectural Design Standards.
These renovations will ensure that the store represents the community aesthetics, not appear monolithic. The re-designed architecture will be more visually attractive for the shoppers, pedestrian, bicyclist and motorist, as wouldn’t permit noise, light and other impacts on the quiet and private enjoyment of adjacent residential uses.

This means that the shopping center’s renovations will be “constructed, maintained and improved in a manner that enhances the environment, visual and physical character of Sanibel consistent with the Sanibel Plan and its vision statement,” the ordinance reads.

These proposed changes are coming after the grocery store added more renewable energy to not only save money, but to improve the environment on the island as well.

Map of the Apportionment Model

CEPD Technical Policy Director, Daniel Munt, crafted an interactive map utilizing the ARCGIS system that displays the tentative apportionment model, under consideration by the CEPD Board, as would be assessed across Captiva properties. The application has been embedded on the CEPD website so that all property owners may conveniently search for their estimated assessment.

The map of the apportionment model is searchable by address or STRAP number. Please follow the below steps to take the best advantage of the map

• To view individual property data, click on the desired property and all values will be displayed in a pop-up.4
• In an instance where multiple parcels are selected, click the arrow on the pop-up to navigate to the intended selection.
• The legend can be viewed by clicking the “>>” button in the top left corner of the map.
• Zoom in and out by clicking the “+” and “-” buttons under the legend view.
• Click “View Larger Map” at the bottom of the page to open the application in a new tab

Click HERE to view the map

NEW TENTATIVE APPORTIONMENT PUBLIC HEARING

Due to a defect with the newspaper notice for the June 28 meeting, the CEPD board will be unable to vote on an apportionment model at that time. The district will take this opportunity to present the apportionment methodology that is up for a vote at the next Regular Board Meeting on August 9 and will take questions from the public.

A new notice will be published and mailed to all property owners. The public is invited to be heard, but only objections raised in the August 9 Regular Board Meeting will have legal significance.

On August 9, 2021 at 1 p.m., the CEPD Board will hear comments from interested persons regarding the project plans and specifications, cost estimates and/or the tentative cost apportionment and assessment. CEPD will be sending out additional letters to the public at that time.

For all updates to our schedule, meeting agendas, and materials, please visit us at: https://www.mycepd.com/board-meetings

SEA TURTLE NEST RELOCATION ON CAPTIVA

With the projects potential start in the next couple months, Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation has begun relocating nests that are laid in the project area. According to the SCCF June 16 newsletter update, 85 nests have been laid on Captiva and 14 have been moved out of the project areas.

SCCF has also begun a new research project to characterize the physical properties of sand along Sanibel and Captiva and evaluate how these variables affect the groundwater flow, moisture content, and temperature inside the nest cavity.

For more information on SCCF’s work, sign up for their Wednesday Updates at this link: http://www.sccf.org/our-work/wednesday-update

SEA TURTLE NEST RELOCATION ON CAPTIVA

With the projects potential start in the next couple months, Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation has begun relocating nests that are laid in the project area. According to the SCCF June 16 newsletter update, 85 nests have been laid on Captiva and 14 have been moved out of the project areas.

SCCF has also begun a new research project to characterize the physical properties of sand along Sanibel and Captiva and evaluate how these variables affect the groundwater flow, moisture content, and temperature inside the nest cavity.

For more information on SCCF’s work, sign up for their Wednesday Updates at this link: http://www.sccf.org/our-work/wednesday-update

This week, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation will begin the preliminary steps of a multi-phase restoration project on the newly acquired Periwinkle Wetlands Preserve, officials reported.

LAND CLEARING PHASE

Over the next several months, contractors will conduct the land clearing phase, which will include the removal and eradication of dense stands of large, invasive exotic trees. The work will be overseen by SCCF Habitat Management staff and vegetation debris will be mulched onsite. In addition to the tree removal, staff will conduct selective herbicide treatments to manage invasive exotic vines, groundcovers and grasses. Habitat Management also will begin to revegetate many areas throughout the property and construct hiking trails.

Removing exotic plants — which lack any native predators or pests to keep them in check — is key to successful restoration. The timing of the restoration was planned around nature, and a firm completion date has not been established.

RESTORATION/IMPROVEMENT PHASE

Following the initial restoration, improvements will be added to the approximately two acres fronting Periwinkle Way between Purdy and Martha’s lanes. The improvements will be open to the public, while the majority of the preserve acreage will be dedicated for exclusive use as wildlife habitat.

The community space will be replanted with native landscaping. It will feature a 1,100-foot loop walking-biking trail connected to the shared use path. The trail will take bikers and walkers through a welcome plaza with a water bottle-filling station and interpretive panels. A demonstration marsh with wetlands features will include water-quality education panels, and there will be interpretative gardens with seasonal blooms and a sculpture garden.

Throughout the restoration process, SCCF Habitat Management staff will routinely conduct inspections for the reintroduction of invasive, exotic species to ensure it is a diverse healthy ecosystem.

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