SANIBEL ISLAND AVAILABILITY - WEEKLY OR LONG TERM

#SANIBEL ISLAND AVAILABILITY - LOGGERHEAD CAY 153 

CALL 877 643 3387 OR VISIT US AT WWW.VIPRENTAL.COM 

 Location, Location, Location, Loggerhead Cay 153 has it all. Fantastic Gulf view is featured in this updated two bedroom two bath third floor condo. This is a top floor condo with high vaulted ceilings. The furnishings are very Florida oriented and gives this condo a great beachy feel. All the creature comforts of home are here all you need is your suitcase. Come on down and enjoy all that Sanibel has to offer. Call now for a vacation of a life time. Weekly rental 7 night Minimum

Halloween on Sanibel

Fall Family Carnival Returns!

If you are looking for a great place to spend Halloween, The Community House is the place to be. The fall Family Carnival will take place on Sunday Oct.31 from 5 - 7 pm. Admission is one bag of wrapped candy per family.
There will be trick or treating at carnival booths, crafts, games and food. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes and there will be a hayride. visit www.sanibelcommunityhouse.net or check out The Community House on facebook!

"Sea plane makes crash landing off Bowman's Beach"

A small sea plane made an emergency landing in the waters off Bowman Beach on Wednesday afternoon, with the pilot and his passenger escaping serious injury.

According to eyewitnesses to the incident, the aircraft appeared to be in distress as it approached the Sanibel shoreline, which was filled with hundreds of beachgoers enjoying a warm summer day in Southwest Florida.

"We were in the water, and we saw the plane coming up the beach," said Gloria McCauley, who was visiting from Columbus, Ohio. "It was flying very low and it was flying very close to the shore. We knew something wasn't right because we could see the pilot waving his hands, like he was signaling to people to move away."

Around 2:30 p.m., the pilot — identified as John Parks — landed the plane in the Gulf of Mexico, approximately 100 yards off the coast and one-half mile north of the public beach access of Bowman's Beach.

"He did a pretty good job landing it," added McCauley. "The belly of the plane hit first, and then the right wing hit the water. It made a huge splash."

The passenger of the plane was identified as Desi Dreffin, who is the registered owner of the aircraft.

Robert Szanto of Naples, another eyewitness to the crash, called 9-1-1 when he saw the plane heading towad the shoreline.

"I had never seen anything like that before," he said. "When it landed, it looked like it took a really big hit."

Within minutes, the Sanibel Fire & Rescue District, Sanibel Police Department, Lee County Fire Department, Lee County EMS and the United States Coast Guard arrived on the scene to assist in the rescue effort. No injuries were reported.

"I was really impressed with the emergency response," added Szanto. "There were planes and helicopters here about five minutes after the crash."

Chris Danzi also watched the incident from the beach. He walked out in the waist-high water and helped Parks pull the sea plane into the shallows.

"I talked to (Parks) and he said that he had a problem with the tail, so he had to put it down," said Danzi, a resident of Long Island, N.Y. "When we saw the crash, we thought there were going to be some major injuries, but there he was, about 20 yards out, pulling his plane it. He even swam back out to get some of the pieces that broke off."

The aircraft, a Sea Wind 3000, is based out of Osprey, Fla. The two-seat plane has not been certified by the Federal Aviation Administration and given an airworthiness certificate at the time of the incident.

Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille featured in New York Times Magazine

Chef Greg Nelson, right, visits with diners at the Doc Ford's restaurant in Fort Myers Beach.

Sanibel’s famous Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille has reached another level of renown in a New York Times Magazine food feature. The dish that gets the attention is Yucatan Shrimp; fresh, boiled shrimp tossed in garlic butter with Indonesian sambal and jalapeno added. It is cut by lime and made fragrant with cilantro.

The article, written by Sam Sifton, quotes chef Greg Nelson’s recipe and taps into Doc Ford’s owner and author, Randy Wayne White as saying, “The communal act of peeling and eating the cooked shrimp leads to a sharing of the spirit of Sanibel itself, and casual, family-style dining that brings people closer to one another than they might get primly eating with a knife and fork”.

The article goes on to describe White’s activities as the author of the 17-book series of Doc Ford’s mysteries. Doc Ford is portrayed as a former government agent who has “retired” to Sanibel Island as a marine biologist. As he yearns for the contemplative life of science, he finds himself regularly involved in intrigue with crimes and miscreants.

Sifton points out that food plays a role in White’s mystery novels. Doc Ford and his off-sider, Tomlinson, frequently are found in Doc Ford’s Sanibel stilt-house cooking and talking.

“Cooking not only whets the appetite, it sharpens all our senses, which makes it the best possible time for honest talk, factual and fanciful,” according to an e-mail from White that Sifton quotes.

Not surprising then, that diners in Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille are often seen, whether on Sanibel or the establishment on nearby Fort Myers Beach, sharing stories and laughs over tropical cuisine served at White’s island eateries. Add a Doc Ford’s specialty mojito or a glass of cold draft beer, and a meal can stretch out for an afternoon or evening.

"As Sam Sifton has identified and aptly shared with thousands of readers on Sunday, the food at Doc Ford's is where it starts," said restaurant co-owner Marty Harrity. "You've got to have great food, ambiance and service to deliver a memorable dining experience. At Doc Ford's and the Beached Whale, that's what we're all about."

Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille on Sanibel is located at the corner of Sanibel-Captiva Road and Rabbit Road near the J.N Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge entrance. Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grille on Fisherman's Wharf in Fort Myers Beach is on the Fort Myers side of the Matanzas Pass Bridge, directly under the bridge.
by KIM BROCK

Lucky 7 Offer

WOW! Lucky 7 Offer - Stay 7 nights in a 2 bedroom, 2 bath Gulf Front Complex for $777. Mention the Lucky 7 offer and receive a beach cooler bag. Certain restrictions and limitations apply.

About Vip Vacation Rentals

Since 1978 VIP Vacation Rentals, LLC has been servicing the unique needs of Southwest Florida's vacation properties owners who have entrusted us to offer their homes and condos to travelers from around the world. Many of our guests visit our area for a vacation and end up staying a life time. With over 100 years of employee experience - VIP Vacation Rentals is here to help that dream come true. Our reputation for thorough, efficient, and discreet handling of our guests has been hard earned and well known in the vacation rental business. We offer only the best in accommodations that can be found in Southwest Florida. So for that family beach vacation, escaping the cold of the north for the winter, or just relocation to enjoy the lifestyle of Florida, just ask your friends - When they like what they see They call VIP!
Why Rent From VIP Vacation Rentals?

VIP Vacation Rentals - a trustworthy, professional company that has been dedicated to providing excellence in hospitality for over thirty years.
-We have quality accommodations that undergo a large list of quality assurance measures
- We have been in business and located on Sanibel & Captiva Islands for over 30 years.
- We have over 100 years of experience with our on Island friendly & knowledgeable staff.
- We have only the highest standards when accepting properties into our rental program.
- We meet or exceed all State and local regulations regarding cleanliness and safety.
- We are properly licensed by The City of Sanibel, Lee County and The State of Florida.
- We respond to problems, questions, lockouts and emergencies 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
- We have no hidden fees passed along after you book your reservation.
-We offer an unforgettable vacation that is full of relaxation and enjoyment

Making your dream vacation plans should not be a difficult or uneasy proposition. Your vacation is our only business. Our On Island professional staff is here to help you find the perfect property and everything that goes with it.

No surprises. No misrepresentation. We hear all the unfortunate stories from visitors who did not use a professional company.

Our properties meet the highest standards for cleanliness and quality, our linens are sanitized and each property inspected before your arrival. We only use trained and licensed professionals to service our properties in case of an appliance failure or if you simply lock yourself out. To complete your vacation, we also offer travel insurance, beach, bike and baby equipment rentals, and information on our beautiful islands.

Check out our availability on this secure website and reserve your vacation online, or call us now. We look forward to your visit.

Sanibel pair publishes new book detailing everything Disney World has to offer

Sanibel residents and co-authors Mike and Julie Neal.

WDW insider tips from Mike and Julie Neal

Get to a park before it opens. The first two hours are precious, with short lines nearly everywhere.

Make your dining reservations early, a few days or more if possible. You can make reservations online at disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining or by calling 407-WDW-DINE.

Use the free Fastpass automated reservation system. It can save literally hours of time waiting in line. And Disney doesn't advertise it, but the end time for using your Fastpass is the end of the day, not the time of the hour window printed on your Fastpass.

Don't try to do everything. It's impossible. Relax and have fun!

After literally hundreds of trips and thousands of photographs, island residents Mike and Julie Neal know Walt Disney World inside and out.

In fact, they probably have more experience from their frequent visits to the Orlando theme park complex in researching the latest edition of their book, entitled "The Complete Walt Disney World 2010," than most of the cast members and Imagineers that work there!

Released earlier this year to book stores worldwide, the Neal's newest edition follows a successful run of guidebooks detailing the nearly 700 rides, attractions, restaurants, shops and hotels in an around the most visited park on the planet.

But what's the biggest difference between publishing a new book and publishing a new edition?

"The obvious answer is the amount of time it takes," Julie Neal said. "The first edition of the Disney book, which came out in 2007, took us a full five years to finish. Each new edition takes between four and six months to publish, although we do research and photography year-round. One of the best things about producing a yearly guidebook is that we can listen to feedback and make the book better each year."

However, coming up with a few new ideas for every book and keeping track with all of the changes that happen at Walt Disney World is not without its challenges.

"With Walt Disney World as our subject, keeping up with the myriad changes is a constant issue," she added. "We also have a hard time hitting our publishing deadline; we always want more time to tweak our writing or add another photo."

For the most part, Julie writes the text of the books while Mike is responsible for the photography. And with more than 550 full-color images included within the latest version of their guidebook, that keeps the Neals in the Orlando area almost as long as the time they spend on Sanibel.

As they have done in past editions, "The Complete Walt Disney World 2010" provides up-to-date information on new and refurbished attractions at the parks, Downtown Disney shopping area and partner hotels, which seem to change with every visit they make.

"One big change is the new emphasis on interactive experiences for guests," said Julie. "Disney is focusing more and more on having guests be a part of the show, such as in the street party attractions like Block Party Bash at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Move It! Shake It! Celebrate It! in Magic Kingdom. In both cases, guests are encouraged to join the characters and cast members in the street to dance."

Another example Neal noted is the Kim Possible World Showcase Adventure at Epcot, where guests use a cell-phone-like "Kimmunicator" to trigger hidden effects in a secret-agent scavenger hunt.

"Another change is the spotlight on Disney characters, with more and more opportunities for guests to meet their favorites and get autographs and photos," she added. "One of the newest characters, Tinker Bell, has her own meet-and-greet spot called Pixie Hollow, with wait times usually exceeding an hour."

So, what makes Walt Disney World such a great destination for residents of Sanibel and Captiva?

"Walt Disney World is perfect for island residents because it is so different from here," said Neal. "It's like a combination of the two places adds up to the ultimate experience. Islanders can go to Disney for a dose of the world's biggest and best choreographed fun, and then come back home to our peace and quiet. It's really the best of both worlds."

But having visited Walt Disney World several hundred times per year (including more than 1,400 visits total), Julie explained that the theme parks offer her something new nearly each time she has passed through the opening gates.

"I wondered if I would grow tired or bored with going to Walt Disney World after so many trips, but instead familiarity has made me appreciate the place more," she said. "It's like an old friend. And I keep discovering new little gems I hadn't noticed before."

For example, Neal explained, on Soarin' in Epcot, guests can faintly hear a voice that sounds like it's coming from another guest yelling out "Catch anything?" to a fisherman onscreen. Another example: On Pirates of the Caribbean in the Magic Kingdom, painted on the exit ramp's moving walkway, "shoeprints" that indicate where to step consist of a normal right shoe and a peg-leg left mark.

As for her favorite attractions at "The House of Mouse," Neal offered some definitive picks.

"At Magic Kingdom, I love PhilharMagic, which is Disney's best 3-D movie celebrating the best Disney songs. At Epcot is Soarin,' which replicates the sensation of flying. Disney's Hollywood Studios has the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, which always succeeds at being Disney's creepiest and most thrilling ride. And at Animal Kingdom - my favorite park - I love the animal trails and the Festival of the Lion King, Disney's best live show."

And if Walt Disney World weren't the happiest place on Earth, the Neals wouldn't keep on going and going and going.

"The Complete Walt Disney World 2010" ($24.95 MSRP) is available for purchase online at Amazon.com as well as at island and area book stores.
By JEFF LYSIAK

Mariner Pointe 1032 - 2 bed 2 bath condo on San Carlos Bay-Sanibel Island - Available now!

Mariner Pointe is a beautiful bayfront property offering spectacular views of San Carlos Bay.

A prime location for those who like to watch the dolphins play. With its own private pier this complex is perfect for those who like to fish.
This very nice 2 bedroom 2 bathroom condo was recently remodeled and is located on the 2nd floor.
Call us now and ask for Mariner Pointe 1032!

Council approves purchase of lighthouse - City to buy landmark, property for $447.70

Council approves purchase of lighthouse

City to buy landmark, property for $447.70

After waiting more than five and a half years, the City of Sanibel has finally been given the opportunity to purchase the most recognizable landmark on the island.

And without hesitation, local leaders immediately opened up their wallets and bought the Sanibel Lighthouse - and the surrounding 44.7 acres of property - from the United States Department of the Interior for $10 per acre, or a total cost of $447.70.

"I'm hoping to see some good things from the lighthouse," councilman Jim Jennings said after the resolution to purchase the landmark was unanimously approved. "I think there are some good ideas in use around the country with other lighthouses."

On Feb. 5, the city received a letter from the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management, which stated that the land on which the lighthouse sits has been classified suitable for use under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act of 1926.

"The Sanibel Lighthouse & Keeper's Quarters site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places," the letter states. "All future rehabilitation of buildings and/or structures on the site must be carried out in a manner that is compatible with their historic and architectural qualities and consistent with the recommended approaches for rehabilitation set forth in the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines."

Among the conditions of approval for the sale, which must be completed within 30 days of the official notice, is requiring a licensed archaeologist to be present during any an all ground-disturbing activities and requiring revenue generated through usage fees or lease of the facility to be utilized in the management and maintenance of the properties.

According to City Manager Judie Zimomra, the city will now be able to apply for historical preservation grants to assist in the funding of repainting the Sanibel Lighthouse. The city is also working on developing a long-term master plan for the property and cottages at the site.

In other business, councilors continued their discussions of issued related to land development regulations which may affect redevelopment in the resort housing sector, which is expected to be handed over to the city's Planning Commission in the coming weeks.

"We're not going to go into grand detail about this," said Mayor Mick Denham. "I think we'd prefer to leave that to the Planning Commission to handle. I think what we are doing is painting a broad brushstroke of the issues."

The six primary issues brought up for debate included density, short-term occupancy, lot coverage of impermeable areas, setbacks, height limits and coastal construction.

Denham suggested that the city maintain the existing density for all hotels, motels, condominiums and resort properties, as long as the structures remained within their current 3-D footprint. Fellow councilor Peter Pappas offered that extending "grandfathered" policies to the owners of those properties might encourage investors to keep their short-term stay units the same.

"I think we're all in agreement that we don't want to see any density increases," added Marty Harrity.

One topic that will likely become an issue is maintaining the city's height restrictions for commercial properties. Since the release of the new Flood Insurance Maps in 2008, some properties - especially three- and four-floor structures - may require a variance to exceed the current 45-foot restriction.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, several members of the audience offered their suggestions on resort housing redevelopment. Resident Herb Rubin noted that the presence of swimming pools on a property may affect density but added, "I think this is a wonderful way to start."

Planning Commissioner Holly Smith also reiterated her request for a map indicating all properties affected by the upcoming discussions, and submitted an additional request for clarification on "redevelopment vs. modernization."

Lee Olsen, a Pointe Santo resident for the past 35 years, offered that the council should "think as broadly as you can."

"I appreciate your point of view," he added. "And I think you're right on the money."

Planning Department Director Jimmy Jordan told the council that his staff will consider the suggestions posed by the council and prepare a report in time for their next session, on Tuesday, March 2.

The council also unanimously approved the re-allocation of $65,000 from the city's Shared Use Path maintenance budget in order to extend Sanibel's bike path to Captiva, the final step in connecting the pathway between the adjoining islands.

An estimated $80,000 is required to complete the work, which will extend the path along Sanibel Captiva Road between Pine Avenue and the bridge at Blind Pass. The Sanibel Bicycle Club has agreed to pay the remaining $15,000 portion through its Trails In Motion fund.

On Jan. 28, Sanibel's Parks and Recreation Committee approved staff recommendations to move forward with the path extension due to safety concerns for people who use the roadway to travel from one island to the other.

By JEFF LYSIAK

2010 ABC Sale t-shirts have arrived at the CCA

The 2010 ABC Sale is only months away and, just in time for Christmas, Captivans can begin picking up their own commemorative ABC Sale t-shirt at the Captiva Civic Association.


"The artwork was done by Lauri Kaihlanen. He's a very popular artist here on Captiva. Lauri did a really nice job of incorporating Captiva landmarks - the Island store, the fishhouse, the Chapel-by-the-Sea, the CCA office and Lauri's painted mailbox at the post office," said Sharon Brace of the CCA.
Captivans interested in purchasing a t-shirt will have their choice of white and yellow haze, a kind of pale yellow.

Sizes range from youth small to adult double extra large. Each shirt costs $20.

"If people want to get one before Christmas they can get them at the office here weekday mornings between 10 a.m. and noon. It's helpful if they call first, 472-2111," Brace said.

After Jan. 1, the ABC Sale t-shirts will be available in front of the Captiva post office, though a sale schedule is yet to be determined.

The 2010 ABC Sale will take place on Saturday, March 6.

The Captiva Civic Association is located at 11550 Chapin Lane.
By JANE BRICKLEY, jbrickley@breezenewspapers.com

Bailey Boys talk about island's past... just for the 'shell' of it

Bailey Boys talk about island's past... just for the 'shell' of it


At last week's special dinner at Twilight Cafe are, standing from left, Michael and Maureen Valiquette and Dan and Sharon Schuyler. Seated from left are Sam Bailey, Karen Bell and Francis Bailey.

In today's world, children groan with displeasure if forced to take the bus to school instead of carpooling with friends. Hard to say how they'd react to Sam Bailey's transportation challenges.

"Every Sunday evening, I took the ferry from Sanibel Island to Fort Myers so to attend Fort Myers High School. I stayed at a boarding house all week and took the ferry home on Friday evening so I could work in the store over the weekend," Sam reported as one of the guests of honor at a special dinner hosted by Robert Parks, owner and chef for the Twilight Caf.

The live auction at The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum's Annual Fundraiser, "Under The Sea," provided a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the highest bidder: dinner with the Bailey Brothers at the Twilight Caf.

The bidding war that ensued prompted the auctioneer to ask for permission to offer two such experiences. Last Tuesday evening, museum board member Dan Schuyler and his wife Sharon, Mike and Maureen Valiquette and Karen Bell lived out the dream evening and took a walk back in time with Sam and Francis Bailey.

Something was different about the ambiance of this charming, dimly lit table for eight. There was a palpable sense of awe, respect, reverence and genuine interest. Sam and Francis didn't seem to mind the questions fired from every side of the table.

"As a child, I dreamed of leaving the island and was sure I'd never come back... but things change," explained Sam.

"While we were growing up, there were many Cuban fishermen hanging around the island, looking for a good catch. Our Dad would invite them over to spend time with our family," Francis reported.

When asked what one thing had the most significant impact on the island, in unison both Baileys answered with conviction: "The bridge."

"I voted against it" said Francis, who quickly added, "I still would today. But if there has to be a bridge, I'm glad we have the beautiful one we have now."

In 1926, a quarter century years before hurricanes were named, what became known as THE Hurricane - or "The Big Blow" - hit South Florida.

"During the summer, we rented a house in North Carolina," said Sam. "We hadn't returned to Sanibel yet in September when the storm hit."

The banter and laugher accelerated when Karen asked Sam if he knew... but before she could utter the name, Sam said, "If she was good-looking and lived on the island I knew her."

Bell let it slip that she always thought Sam was the oldest, but to recover quickly added, "and the best looking!" Then, in a true conciliatory spirit, hoping that the aging process resulted in hearing loss, told Francis she thought he was the best looking.

Although there may have been differences of opinion on certain subjects discussed as the group lingered over a delicious meal, they were all there for the "shell" of it - to share their time and treasure with The Bailey-Matthews Shell Museum.

BLIND PASS OPEN - FISH POUR IN

With Lee County's Blind Pass open, fish pour in
Anglers deem dredging project a huge success
Having fished Blind Pass about 20 times since it was reopened July 31, Bob Murk has learned one thing:
The system works (in other words: The fish are back).
"I've caught just about everything here - ladyfish, jacks, mackerel, snook," the Fort Myers retiree said. "I mostly fish for snook. You want to know the biggest one I've caught? Forty-one inches. That was a nice fish."
Passes between barrier islands are dynamic systems, opening and closing as tides, currents and storms dictate.
Blind Pass has closed and opened many times over the years; when it's closed, water from Pine Island Sound can't flush into the Gulf of Mexico, so it becomes murky, stagnant and excessively salty, and seagrass, fish and invertebrate populations collapse.
After the pass closed in the summer of 1999, a $246,307 project in March 2001 opened it by dredging 17,500 cubic yards of sand. But the pass closed a month later.To keep it open, a larger, more elaborate and more expensive plan was devised.
On Dec. 3, 2008, Energy Resources Inc. of Chesterfield, Mo., started a $3.2-million project to dredge 148,038 cubic yards of sand - the project was financed by the state, Lee County and the Captiva Erosion Prevention District.
Rather than simply digging a ditch to connect the bay to the Gulf, Energy Resources dredged 800 feet into the Gulf, 4,000 feet on the inside of the bridge and 500 feet into Roosevelt Channel.
Dredging was complete on the afternoon of July 31, and Energy Resources was scheduled to officially open the pass Aug. 5 by removing a sheet-pile wall that separated the bay from the Gulf.
But during the night of July 31, high waves tore a 30-foot-wide hole in the berm on the south end of the wall, and the Gulf and bay have been connected ever since.
"It's looking very good," Lee County coastal engineer Robert Neal said. "After two weeks being open, it was getting wider both on the north and south sides. We were afraid it would fill in, but with the current at 3.5 feet per second on an outgoing tide, that's not happening."

One thing that is happening is improved water quality.
"We went up in a helicopter, and it looks much better," said Loren Coen, director of the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Marine Laboratory. "We're actually seeing a change in color in Roosevelt Channel and Dinkins Bayou. It's certainly improving the color and probably the salinity of those areas."
With the pass open, the fish poured in.
But how do fish find a newly opened pass?
"In general, the rate at which fish find new things depends on how much they move around," said Aaron Adams, head of Mote Marine Laboratory's Charlotte Harbor Field Station. "Mackerel, which move around a lot, will find things quickly. Grouper, which don't move as much, will take longer."
During the summer, snook spawn near shore, in or near passes.
Mote tagging studies show that an individual snook tends to stay along a single stretch of beach during spawning season.
"My guess is that opening the pass attracted snook already associated with Sanibel and Captiva," Adams said. "So the pass is bringing in and concentrating fish that would have been scattered along the coastline."
Opening the pass is also attracting fishermen.
"I'd been watching news about it on the Internet with great interest," said Kevin Griffin of Hampshire, England. "I was here three years ago when the pass was closed and wanted to fish here when it was open. The fishing is pretty good, I have to say. I've caught snook, a blue runner, pompano and, always, catfish."

Need a Fall Getaway? Relax ...on Sanibel's beautiful beaches and claim your shells ...

Loggerhead Cay 134                                                             
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 remodeled 2 bedroom 2 bath
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 on the 4th floor this unit offers
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Loggerhead Cay is a 168 unit
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of Sanibel.
Reserve this one now before it gets
 away. One of our best!