When did the Islands (Sanibel & Captiva) Officially become Special???

by Barbara Joy Cooley,
President, Committee of the Islands
Just about everyone seems to acknowledge that Sanibel is special and unique. Have you ever wondered when this notion of Sanibel’s special nature began?
Teddy Roosevelt seemed to be aware of it, because he first came to Sanibel and Captiva to join a fishing party in 1914. In the 1930s, the secluded, natural setting of Sanibel and Captiva attracted famous people such as Edna St. Vincent Millay, Anne and Charles Lindbergh, and violinist Albert Spalding, among others.
In 1937, the cartoonist J. N. “Ding” Darling gave a speech to a large audience at a place called Fisherman’s Lodge. Historian Elinore Dormer describes this as the “turn of the road” for Sanibel and Captiva. In her book The Sea Shell Islands, Dormer wrote that, “With a sense of history, The Islander of the following week bore a cover sketch by Matt Clapp of two faces, the Spirit of Captiva and the Spirit of Sanibel, between them the lighted candle, ‘Conservation’.”
Official recognition of Sanibel and Captiva’s uniqueness came in 1939, when, largely through the efforts of “Ding” Darling helping islanders, the
Florida Legislature passed a Special Act (Chapter 19936) to establish a “game and fish refuge” encompassing the islands of Sanibel and Captiva. The act made it illegal for anyone to “catch, hunt, trap or take any wild game, game animals, game birds, or game fish” except those that needed to be removed “in order to maintain a normal biological balance.”
Original Refuge Included Entire
Island
Following the state designation, the Sanibel National Wildlife Refuge was designated in 1945. Its boundaries then included the southwestern part of Captiva and all of Sanibel Island. Nevertheless, Florida continued to sell off pieces of the nearly 2,000 acres of state-owned land on Sanibel for development. “Ding” Darling protested strongly against these sales, and tried to have a more permanent refuge established on the island. Eventually he gave up and sold his Sanibel property. That left the Sanibel-Captiva Audubon Society to take up the cause in the late 1950s. Progress was made, bit by bit. After Darling died in 1962, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Darling Memorial Committee worked along with the Audubon group to establish a National Preserve in 1967. Finally the J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge was dedicated on February 4, 1978. It is this legacy as a special, sanctuary island that eventually propelled Sanibel residents into incorporating as a city – to protect the island from overdevelopment. And it is why codes on Sanibel are particularly restrictive when it comes to development, to protect the natural environment and wildlife.
This is what the Committee of the Islands is all about; its mission is “To
develop and promote policies and positions designed to maintain and enhance the quality of life on the islands and to preserve their unique and natural characteristics.”
If you have stories to share about the legacy of Sanibel and Captiva as special and unique places, we encourage you to send them to the Committee of the Islands at PO Box 88 on Sanibel, 33957, or to coti@coti.org. For more information about the Committee of the Islands, visit www.coti.org.

Oil Spill Update: Island Beaches Remain Clear

Last Thursday, Governor Charlie Crist extended the state of emergency regarding the Deepwater Horizon oil spill to include Charlotte, Lee, Collier, Monroe, Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties. The beaches and shorelines of Sanibel remain in pristine condition with no impact or imminent threat from the oil spill, say city officials. At this time, there is no smell or presence of oil on our local beaches. City staff continues to closely monitor the situation and coordinate planning efforts with local, state and federal partners. The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) has been working on several fronts in preparation for the possibility of oil from the Deepwater Horizon rig landing on the islands.
• SCCF is registered with the St. Petersburg Unified Command Center as an affiliated volunteer organization.
• In terms of wildlife impacts, since oil or tarballs are considered a hazardous material, SCCF is keeping tabs on when and where training certification opportunities, accepted by the coast guard and BP, will be offered.
• SCCF is working closely with the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission on sea turtle and shorebird protocols involving nesting females, nest protection and hatchling survival. They have tasked the foundation with protocols or the potential of oil or tarballs on our beaches.
• SCCF has worked with the City of Sanibel, the J.N.”Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Captiva Erosion Prevention District and the Captiva Community Panel to supply data and revise geographic response maps and area contingency plans in order to provide
the St. Petersburg Unified Command Center with up to date resource information for protection efforts.
“The level of involvement by local volunteers should the oil reach us is still being clarified but we are keeping a list of people who have called in to volunteer,”
said Erick Lindblad, executive director. To be added to that list, e-mail sccf@sccf.org.
“Realistically, the threat from this incident will probably remain a concern through the summer and into the fall. One major unknown is the possible role of hurricanes,” said Lindblad. “All forecasters acknowledge that a major storm in the gulf could greatly impact how and where the oil or tarballs spread. As we learn more, we will keep you posted.”

City of Sanibel Plans to use Booms to Protect Shores from Oil

The continuing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and its potential to wash up on local beaches weighed heavily Tuesday on the Sanibel City Council and staff. However, city officials are already making plans to place booms along the beaches and mangroves to keep the crude oil from damaging Sanibel’s environment and its tourism industry. Mayor Kevin Ruane said, “We are continuing to work with our partners, both federal and state, as well as local... (in) planning and preparing for this event.” After the Florida governor’s office on Monday extended the state of emergency from the Panhandle to Sarasota, Ruane and City Manager Judie Zimomra participated in a conference call with the governor. So far the city manager has ordered the finance director to prepare cost tracking forms and has met with representatives of the JN “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge and Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation to coordinate efforts and documentation of pre-disaster conditions. Additionally, the city is coordinating with local partners to document pre-disaster conditions and coordinating identification of environmentally sensitive areas. At the council meeting, Ruane held up various maps as Zimomra described the potential movements of the oil slick and how to combat it. Natural Resources Director Rob Loflin said the gulf loop current is 20 to 80 miles offshore. If oil were to get into the current it would move quickly down the coast, Loflin said. He recommended that Sanibel place booms along 30 miles of beaches and about eight miles of mangroves and openings to the refuge. “If you get this (oil) in the mangroves, there is nothing you can do,” he added. “We have snowy plovers nesting on the beaches and it’s the start of turtle nesting season.” Ric Base, executive director of the Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce, is stressing to the public that “there is little chance of the spill coming this far east and south. Our beaches are open and clean.” Meanwhile council members were wondering why oil companies drilling in the U.S. are not required to use cut-off valves to stop the oil from spewing out of the sea bed.Vice Mayor Mick Denham said such valves have been mandatory in Norway since 1993 and are required in most other countries. He said Sanibel should lobby elected officials and send a letter to Senator Bill Nelson, who is encouraging communication. “We as a council should begin to lobby for the ultimate in safeguards,” Denham added.

Homebuyers' Top Questions about the Tax Credit

WASHINGTON – March 30, 2010 – The Florida Open House Weekend, April 10-11, is the last, best opportunity to secure up to $8,000 in tax credits for first-time homebuyers (up to $6,500 for move-up buyers).
According to the National Association of Home Builders, the following are top questions asked by prospective homebuyers. In all cases, buyers should check with the IRS or a qualified financial advisor for specific personal advice.
How does a homebuyer claim the tax credit?
The credit is claimed when the homebuyer files or amends his or her federal income taxes. For qualifying homes purchased in 2009 or 2010, the taxpayer must complete IRS Form 5405 and attach a copy of the settlement statement. In most cases, the settlement statement is a properly executed Form HUD-1.
In circumstances where a HUD-1 is not provided, such as purchasing a mobile home or a newly constructed home, the IRS will accept an executed retail sales contract (mobile homes) or a copy of the certificate of occupancy (new homes).
Does the homebuyer have to sell their current home in order to qualify for the $6,500 repeat homebuyer tax credit?
No – a homebuyer does not need to sell their current home in order to be eligible for the repeat buyer credit. They can continue to own both homes and rent or use the former home for something else providing it no longer serves as their principal residence. The taxpayer is required to use the new home as their principal residence and live in it for at least 36 months; otherwise, they must repay the credit.
Do married couples both have to meet the eligibility requirements in order to claim the credit – even if they file taxes separately?
Both spouses must fully meet all the eligibility requirements for either the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit or the $6,500 repeat buyer tax credit, regardless of whether they file joint or separate tax returns. However, if an unmarried couple purchases a home and only one person qualifies, the eligible person may claim the full credit.
Do all home purchases need to be completed by April 30, 2010, in order to be eligible for the credit?
There are two exceptions to the April 30 deadline. If the buyer enters into a binding contract by the deadline, they have until June 30, 2010, to complete the purchase. The deadline has been extended a year, to April 30, 2011, for members of the uniformed services, Foreign Service or employees of the intelligence community who have been on qualified extended duty outside the United States for at least 90 days between Jan. 1, 2009, and April 30, 2010.
For more information on the tax credit and the Florida Open House Weekend, visit Florida Realtors website at: http://www.floridarealtors.org/AboutFar/OpenHouse/index.cfm/index.cfm
© 2010 Florida Realtors®

1st Annual Edible Molusk Oyster Eating Contest to be held on Sanibel!

When: Saturday, April 17th 2010, 11am - 1pm.

Where: The Timbers Restaurant & Fish Market

Why: To celebrate "Oyster Love" and to raise money for the Bailey- Matthews Shell Museum Mollusk Exhibit.

Rules: Individuals have 90 seconnds to eat as many oysters as possible. Each contestant will receive a tray filled with 30 pre-shucked oysters on the half shell. Supplemental oysters will be given if needed. Each individual may have someone behind them cheering them on and each contestant will be assigned an individual judge to ensure all the oysters are swallowed. The judges will be the ones responsible for counting oyster shells to determine the number eaten. Contestants will be allowed to "flavor or dress" each oyster before the competition begins, but are not allowed to remove the oyster out of their shell prior to the start of the competition. For an oyster to be counted in the final total, it must be in the contestant's mouth at the end of the time limit.

All's Fair: Oysters can be slurped from the shell, hands-on grabbing and throwing them in the mouth or even dumping them in a pint glass and guzzling them. We don't care as song as they end up in the mouth and swallowed within the time limit!