CROW Picture Show held every Friday

"Ding" Darling’s Wildlife Drive is closed on Fridays, so the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) has devised a special weekly presentation to help fill the gap. 

The CROW Picture Show offers an insider’s look at why critters come to CROW, and features photos of the wild animals who wind up there.

Last year, southwest Florida’s only wildlife hospital cared for 4,111 sick, injured, or orphaned animals. Of the more than 200 different species, 54 percent were birds, 38 percent were mammals, and 8 percent were reptiles, amphibians or invertebrates. 

Due to restrictions imposed by governmental agencies, CROW cannot allow visitors to view patients in person. But now the clinic offers the next best thing – a 30-minute presentation showing photos of current and past patients, with commentary by Claudia Burns, a veteran clinic volunteer.

The CROW Picture Show is presented each Friday at 11 a.m. in the CROW Healing Winds Visitor Education Center at 3883 Sanibel-Captiva Road, across from The Sanibel School. 

Members are admitted free. Non-member adults pay $5, teens are $3, and children 12 and under are free. Admission includes the presentation, plus the opportunity to explore CROW’s hands-on educational facility and become familiar with their efforts to save wildlife through compassion, care and education.

For more information, call 472-3644 ext. 231. To learn more about CROW, visit www.crowclinic.org'>www.crowclinic.org.  Claudia Burns

Center 4 Life Programs

All ages are welcome at the Center
4 Life. Island Seniors, Inc. members can buy coupon booklets
from the City of Sanibel at the Center
4 Life, 2401 Library Way, or at the
Sanibel Recreation Center. Booklets of
12 coupons are $42 or three coupons
for $10.50. Members of the Sanibel
Recreation Center need only to show
their photo membership card.
Watercolor with Bea Pappas Friday, 1
to 3:30 p.m., June 3, 10, 17, and 24.
If you have some painting experience,
join in. Work from still life and/or your
photos.
Computer Class – What’s a
Spreadsheet? Two two-hour sessions
per class, 1 to 3 p.m., Wednesday, June
8 and Thursday, June 9.
Happy Hour Fitness – Monday,
Wednesday and Friday at 8 a.m. (Class
time changes to 9 a.m. June 1).
The format is 45 minutes of cardio, five minutes of balance exercise,
15 minutes of core strength with the
dynamics of Pilates and 10 minutes of
flexibility with simple yoga poses. Sandi
McDougall is the instructor.
Essential Total Fitness – Monday,
Wednesday and Friday at 9:30 a.m.
(through May 27).
Cardio, muscle strengthening and
flexibility training with hand weights,
stretch cords, chairs and stability balls.
No floor mat work. Mahnaz Basseri is
the instructor.
Power Hour Fitness – Tuesday and
Thursday at 8 a.m. (through May 26).
Hand weights, stretch cords, stability
balls and mats are used to strengthen
and lengthen your muscles. Mahnaz
Basseri is the instructor.
Gentle Yoga with Kris Brown –
Tuesday and Thursday at 9:30 a.m.
Stretch, tone and strengthen while
improving flexibility, proper alignment
and circulation. Chairs and mats are
used to meet the needs of varying experience levels. Bring a towel.
Kayaking on Tuesdays, May 24, June
7 and 21.
Non-competitive outing for 16
people on eight two-person kayaks and
unlimited space for those who own their
own kayaks.
The center supplies the kayaks, paddles and life jackets. Bring water, a small
snack, change of clothing, sun lotion,
bug spray, sunglasses and a hat.
Cost is $5 for members and $10 for
non-members. Members have first priority. Come by the center to sign up.
Leisure Lunchers and Thrift and
Consignment Store Shoppers –
Tuesday, May 24 at 11:30 a.m.,
Paesono’s La Trattoria Al Fresco
Outdoor Café, 862 Lafayette Street,
Cape Coral, Salvation Army Thrift Store
and Diva 2 Diva.
Discovering Florida Day Trips –
Tuesday, June 14 (Flag Day) with CI
Travel on the Starlite Luncheon Cruise
patriotic Flag Day theme in Clearwater.
Members are $64 and non-members
are $79. Includes transportation,
guided yacht cruise onboard the Starlite
Majesty, lunch and live entertainment.
Games played at the center:
Bridge – 1 p.m. Monday and
Wednesday
Hand & Foot – 1 p.m. Tuesday
Mahjongg –1 p.m. Thursday
Mexican Train – 1 p.m. Thursday
Cost is $2.50 for members and $5
for non-members. Prizes are awarded.
Buy a brick for the pathway at the
Center 4 Life and make a lasting tribute
to yourself or a family member. Groups
can participate. Luc Century’s etched
bricks are a $100 contribution.
Holiday Bazaar – Saturday,
November 12. Bring your no longer
used nice treasures to the center. No
clothes or shoes, please.
Call the center for further details on
all programs, 472-5743

Fire reported at Periwinkle Way business

Members of the Sanibel Fire & Rescue District have responded to a structural fire at a local business, Captivating Kitchens & Baths, located at 1554 Periwinkle Way. The fire started shortly after 5:30 p.m.

Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum offers free admission to military families

The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum will once again participate in the Blue Star Museums partnership this summer joining more than 1,300 museums around the country to offer free admission to active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Blue Star Museums is a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), Blue Star Families and the participating museums. Leadership support has been provided by MetLife Foundation through Blue Star Families. The complete list of participating museums is available at www.arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.

“We are so thankful for the members of the military who protect us, our country and our freedoms, and this is just a small way we can show our appreciation,” said Dr. José H. Leal, director/curator of the Shell Museum. “We invite local military families and those visiting our area to enjoy a complimentary day of learning about mollusks and the shells they make at our Museum.”

This marks the second summer the Shell Museum has participated in the Blue Star Museums program. Last summer, military families from Lee County as well as those vacationing in the area took advantage of the opportunity to visit the Shell Museum. Free admission for active military personnel and their families begins May 30 and continues through Sept. 5.

“Blue Star Museums may be the program at the NEA of which I am proudest,” said NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman. “Blue Star Museums recognizes and thanks our military families for all they are doing for our country, and simultaneously begins young people on a path to becoming life-long museum-goers.”

Rockin' In The Tropics draws big crowd to South Seas

Club Trini and the Danny Morgan Band captivated an audience of more than 250 people during Rockin' In The Tropics, an outdoor concert that took place at Captiva’s South Seas Island Resort.

“It was a big deal,” said Danny Morgan about having Club Trini on stage.

Club Trini is a side project by Michael Utley and Robert Greenidge, the keyboardist and steel drummer, respectively, with Jimmy Buffet’s Coral Reefer Band. The pair is currently on tour with Jimmy Buffet, but made the trip to Captiva during their 10-day break. It was their first time on the island and came at the suggestion of their old friend, Danny Morgan.

The concert, which showcased a number of talents like Derek Trenholm and the Darrell Nutt Duo and J. Robert from Marco Island, benefited the Fort Myers-based HOPE Clubhouse. As a non-profit organization started in 2007, HOPE Clubhouse is dedicated to helping people with mental illness lead lives of dignity, respect and acceptance.

It gives residents of Southwest Florida dealing with a mental illness the opportunity to find meaningful work, education, friendships and offers access to housing in supportive environments.

Last year, the organization received its first grant to help purchase computers and other necessary equipment; hired executive director Debra Webb; had a total of 13 active participants; and partnered with the Harry Chapin Food Bank.

Although this was the first Rockin' In The Tropics outdoor concert, Morgan said he hopes there will be more annually.

“It’s tremendous that it happened,” Morgan added.

South Seas Island Resort, Captiva resident Harry Silverglide as well as John and Mary Jo Boler of Sanibel sponsored the inaugural event.  SHANNEN HAYES

 

Grimaldi brings passion, generations of cooking experience to Corner Grill

From a very early age, Paul Grimaldi knew that his future would be focused in the kitchen.

"I was rolling meatballs when I was 8 years old... the mixing bowl was bigger than me!" laughed Grimaldi, who took over as head chef at George & Wendy's Corner Grill in mid-April. "Even back then, I was into experimenting. The ability to be creative is the most exciting thing about cooking."

The Utica, N.Y. native grew up in a family steeped in cooking traditions, started by his grandfather's restaurant business. Like Paul, his brother and cousin grew up to become chefs. 

After studying both food service and hotel management at Onondaga Community College, Grimaldi spent his internship working at the Hollywood Brown Derby restaurant at Walt Disney World in Orlando. He then progressed in his career as a chef, working at Hanover Square Cafe in Syracuse, N.Y., helped open five restaurants in the Virginia Beach and Norfolk, Va. region before working for the Henry Lee Food Company in Miami Beach, Fla.

Grimaldi moved to Southwest Florida a few years ago, working at Cirella's Italian Market in Bonita Springs, Potts Sports Bar in Fort Myers and the Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa before a friend of his clued him in on an opening at a new Sanibel eatery earlier this year.

"We've changed the menu a little bit since I came here," said Grimaldi. "We're making the kitchen more efficient and bringing some fresh, new ideas to the table."

Among the new offerings at the Corner Grill created by Grimaldi are a grouper francaise, tuna balsamico as well as a checken and shrimp mari-monte dish with a toasted garlic and roasted tomato sauce. He has also added a key lime cheesecake with a Nilla wafer crumb crust.

Grimadi also promises to feature some of his signature homemade ravioli dishes to the menu, which he previously sold exclusively on his website (www.grimaldigourmet.com). They include multiple choices of fillings — bolognese, cacciatore, florentine, lobster thermador, spiced pumpkin with mascapone cheese, pulled pork with pepperjack cheese, among others — and doughs, which include onion oregano, wasabi mustard, beet and carrot.

"Some artist's paint, some can play the piano like Beethoven," Grimaldi states. "I can make a ravioli that will change your religion."

But adding Grimaldi to their staff isn't the only change happening at George & Wendy's Corner Grill. Their new business hours are 11 a.m. to midnight daily, with lunch served from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., supper served from 5 to 9 p.m. and a late night menu offered from 9 p.m. until midnight. 

For additional information, visit www.georgeandwendyscornergrill.com or stop by at 2499 Periwinkle Way, located at the corner of Periwinkle and Tarpon Bay Road. Their phone number is 395-1263
.JEFF LYSIAK

Sanibel Tides for May 2011

Point Ybel, San Carlos Bay entrance, Florida
26.4500° N, 82.0167° W

May 2011

Day	High	Low	High	Low	High	Phase	Sunrise	Sunset	Moonrise	Moonset
Tue 17		8:26 PM EDT −0.68 ft						8:08 PM EDT	8:43 PM EDT
Wed 18	3:08 AM EDT 1.68 ft	6:26 AM EDT 1.54 ft	12:26 PM EDT 3.43 ft	9:14 PM EDT −0.65 ft			6:39 AM EDT	8:09 PM EDT	9:46 PM EDT	7:31 AM EDT
Thu 19	4:09 AM EDT 1.61 ft	6:51 AM EDT 1.55 ft	1:08 PM EDT 3.38 ft	10:01 PM EDT −0.53 ft			6:39 AM EDT	8:09 PM EDT	10:42 PM EDT	8:31 AM EDT
Fri 20	5:12 AM EDT 1.58 ft	7:22 AM EDT 1.56 ft	1:51 PM EDT 3.23 ft	10:49 PM EDT −0.37 ft			6:38 AM EDT	8:10 PM EDT	11:31 PM EDT	9:32 AM EDT
Sat 21	6:09 AM EDT 1.60 ft	8:11 AM EDT 1.59 ft					6:38 AM EDT			10:32 AM EDT

CROW offers education on wildlife rescue, new picture show

t began with one lady and one injured bird. 

In 1968, Sanibel resident Shirley Walter found an injured royal tern. After being unable to find it help, she carried the bird that had been struck by a car to her home. She shared the story with her friends and before long a group of volunteers rallied together for a common cause -- helping injured wildlife. 

In the first year the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) was formed, more than 500 distress calls were taken with many of them received by the late Dr. Phyllis Douglass. By the 1970s, Walter, Douglass and many of the volunteers began to shape the emerging field of wildlife medicine. The clinic quickly outgrew Walter’s home and moved to the Captiva home of Adelaide Cherbonnier before relocating to 10 acres of the Sawbridge family property on Sanibel-Captiva Road.

By the early 1980s, CROW moved to a new building with staff apartments and the success continued throughout the decade. By the 1990s, CROW had built its Robert E. Schneider Education Pavilion and had educational programs in place. After being devastated by Hurricane Charlie in 2004, CROW quickly bounced back and celebrated its 40th anniversary five years later with the opening of a 4,800-square-foot veterinary hospital and Healing Winds Visitors Education Center. The 5,100-square-foot education center serves as a venue for innovative visitor displays, interactive exhibits and live patient videos, as well as other special events. The nearby hospital is complete with diet preparation areas, a laundry room, reptile room, pediatric ward and surgery room with a viewing area. 

"CROW is about release," stated executive director Steve Greenstein. 

Today it operates one of the country’s leading rehabilitation facilities on the 12.5-acre campus. CROW treats more than 4,000 sick, injured and orphaned wildlife patients each year with the help of staff veterinarians, clinicians and volunteers, as well as students enrolled in CROW's wildlife medicine programs. Treatments and rehabilitation services employ both eastern and western approaches to care.

"Saving lives is a team effort," said Greenstein. 

CROW currently has 459 animals with 265 of them being babies. To help raise awareness of CROW’s mission, it has instituted a picture show. Since "Ding" Darling Wildlife Drive is closed on Fridays the clinic has a devised a special weekly presentation to help bridge the gap. The CROW picture show offers an insiders look at why critters come to CROW and features photos of the wild animals who wind up there. 

"Twenty-nine percent of animals come to us because they are orphaned," stated Claudia Burns, who volunteers with CROW in many capacities. "The largest category, aside from babies, is made up of birds with 54 percent." 

Last year, Southwest Florida’s only wildlife hospital cared for 4,111 sick, injured or orphaned animals. Of the more than 200 different species, 34 percent were mammals and 8 percent were reptiles, amphibians or invertebrates. Due to restrictions imposed by governmental agencies, CROW cannot allow visitors to view patients in its hospital. But now the clinic offers the next best thing – a 30-minute presentation showing photos of current and past patients with a commentary by Burns. 

"The goal is to create a tool to take to schools and other venues as an outreach tool," stated Greenstein about the picture show. 

The CROW picture show is presented each Friday at 11 a.m. in the CROW Healing Winds Visitor Education Center, 3883 Sanibel-Captiva Road, across from Sanibel School. Members are admitted free. The cost for non-members is $5; teens pay $3 and children 12 years of age or younger are admitted free of charge. Admission includes the presentation, plus the opportunity to explore CROW’s hands-on educational facility and become familiar with its efforts in saving wildlife through compassion, care and education. SHANNEN HAYES
For more information on CROW, call 472-3644 ext. 231 or visitwww.crowclinic.org.

One-of-a-kind Matsumoto shirt being raffled off

John Carney, a member of the Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club, announced on Monday that a one-of-a-kind T-shift, autographed by legendary local artist Ikki Matsumoto, is being raffled off, with proceeds going to the Kanzius Cancer Research Foundation.

Matsumoto has signed the long-sleeved garment, which features his iconic anhinga artwork on the back, adding the inscription "Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club" on one sleeve and "Arts & Crafts Fair Feb. 23 & 24, 2011" on the other. The shirt has been professionally framed and measures 38 inches by 40 inches.

Raffle tickets are priced at $10 each and will be sold starting on Wednesday, May 18 at Sam Bailey's Islands Night at Hammond Stadium. The T-shirt display will be available for viewing at various island businesses for the next two months, with the winning ticket to be announced following the City of Sanibel's annual Independence Day Parade, on July 4.Special to the REPORTER
For additional information about the raffle, call 395-1767.

A growing trend: Standing up for alligators

In the summer of 2010, island golf course managers and staff came together for an “Alligator Behavior” class at SCCF. The thought being that golf course employees have daily contact with alligators and could be the eyes for the neighborhoods, spotting a “bad” gator before someone is hurt. There has never been a human attack by alligator on any of the island golf courses.

The Dunes golf course manager, Sean Balliet, attended with his staff looking for ways to help him deal with complaints he was receiving about the alligator population in the golf course lakes. SCCF and The Dunes hatched the plan for “Wildlife Tours” and “Alligator Awareness” classes for the golf membership and residents as a solution.

The day of the SCCF class, the crocodile — which had been released in "Ding" Darling by the State of Florida — was sighted at The Dunes, where she has been ever since. This community was going to need some help adjusting to the new arrival. Education was hopefully the answer.

At one “Alligator Behavior” class at The Dunes this winter, 35 to 1 residents supported leaving the gators and the croc in the golf course lakes. Many Dunes residents signed a petition in support of not taking gators unless they were aggressive.

Before the SCCF Wildlife Tours started this fall, twenty golf club members met with Dunes management and asked for the removal of gators from the lakes. But since education began complaints have stopped. Hearing from Dunes residents who want the gators left alone has supported the management in their recommendation: “... any member who feels fearful of alligators should attend a SCCF Wildlife Tour or education class.” The “SCCF Wildlife Tours” were a great educational success; there were waiting lists for most trips. The tours will begin again in the fall.

SCCF thanks The Dunes management for their commitment to education. Thanks to all who stand up in favor of the gators. It has been a mutually beneficial endeavor with the gators as the real winners. There would be no alligators trapped and killed on Sanibel if individuals stopped asking to have them killed. Gators are not laying in wait for us… just trying to survive in all those lakes we dug during development. Last year, there were 16 alligators trapped and killed on Sanibel, the lowest yearly take ever. by DEE SERAGE-CENTURY, SCCF Living With Wildlife Educato