With just two more weeks until Easter weekend, the islands remain busy, though traffic has already lightened up. A few more sales were announced at our Realtor Caravan meeting on Thursday, but it is obvious that season is winding down. There still are plenty of island happenings and we have had beautiful weather all week. It is always great during spring break time to see families of all ages on the bike paths. Here are a couple of news items from SanibelSusan, followed by the island MLS activity this week.

Top Beaches In the U.S.

Trip Advisor has just posted their annual rankings, including the 2011 List of the Top Beaches in the World. On their list of the Top 25 Beaches in the United States, Sanibel Island garnered #5 spot. Captiva came in #8. Here’s a link to their recent announcement: www.tripadvisor.com/TCBeaches-g191-cTop25-United_States.html

Woodring Homestead May Be Preserved

This week, Sanibel City Council unanimously approved Ralph and Jean Woodring’s plans to sell their historic bay-front property for inclusion in the J. N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge. The 6.5-acre tract at Woodring Point which is partially mangrove swamp holds two homes, one the small early-1900’s cracker house that was home to Sam and Esperanza Woodring. Ralph (who owns The Bait Box) wants to memorialize Sanibel’s pioneer fishing folk through preservation of the nearly century-old home and outbuildings by establishing the southern-most portion of the property as a historic site. This land is the remainder of an original late 1800’s 160-acre homestead tract. (Sanibel’s Tower Gallery has more of historic photos like this one by Charles McCullough.)

Zone 6 Brazilian Pepper Pick-Up

In coordination with the City of Sanibel’s island-wide Brazilian Pepper Eradication Program, a free curbside pick-up is scheduled for April 14 and 15 for all properties in Zone 6 or between Rabbit Road and Jamaica Drive (from gulf to bay). The City anticipates another free pepper curbside pickup this fall. Shortly thereafter, removal will become mandatory. Nasty stuff, we will be glad to be done with it.

New Lunch & History Cruise

Captiva Cruises newest trip in its Discover Southwest Florida History tour series makes us want to take a day off. Focusing on the fishing cultures of Pine Island Sound, they have teamed up with The Tarpon Lodge and the Randall Research Center to offer a lunch and eco-heritage cruise on Fridays from McCarthy’s Marina on Captiva and traveling to Pineland on Pine Island. During the trip, passengers view historic fish houses and hear about the history of commercial and sport fishing, as well as the cultures of Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor, from the indigenous Calusa to Spanish Cubana Ranchos, to the Punta Gorda Fishing Company. Lunch is at the 1926-built Lodge, followed by a trip to the internationally-renowned Calusa Heritage Trail to learn about the archeology, history, and ecology of Southwest Florida.  Here’s a link to their web site  http://www.captivacruises.com/

Free Programs at “Ding” Darling

Since so many islanders and visitors enjoy the local Wildlife Refuge, we have our fingers crossed that the government shutdown does not occur tonight. If it does, unfortunately the J.N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Refuge will be closed; otherwise, it will be open as usual. Here’s a link to their web site for more information on days and times open: http://www.fws.gov/dingdarling/

Of particular note is that the following popular presentations have been extended through the end of April, provided the Refuge remains open:

Saturdays & Mondays: “Family Craft & Story Time” at 11 a.m. in the Education Center

Sundays: “Nature’s Pollinators” at 11 a.m. & “Endangered Species” at 1 p.m., both at Crossdike Pavilion on Wildlife Dr

Monday: “Crocodiles & Alligators” at 11 a.m. Crossdike Pavilion on Wildlife Dr & “Venomous Creatures” at 1 p.m. in the Education Center

Tuesdays: “Birds of the Refuge” at 11 a.m. & “Manatees” at 1 p.m., both at Crossdike Pavilion on Wildlife Dr

(Note: Programs are free, but Wildlife Dr entrance fee is $5 per vehicle or $1 per hiker/biker.

Trader’s Cafe

Those who favor this island restaurant were happy to have it reopen this week.  http://www.traderssanibel.com/

Sanibel & Captiva Islands MLS Activity Apr 1 to 8

 
Sanibel
CONDOS
2 new listing:  Nutmeg Village #206 2/2 $599.9K, Clam Shell #C 2/2 $949K.
10 price changes:  Sanibel Arms #D8 2/2 now $412K, Sanibel Arms West #2 2/2 now $415K, Sunset South #9A 2/2 now $549K, Sundial #B206 2/2 now $575K, Sundial #Q402 2/2 now $599K, Kings Crown #212 2/2 now $649K (our listing), Surfside 12 #C4 3/2 now $895K, Plantation Village #A112 3/2 now $949K, Gulfside Place #106 2/2 now $950K, Sundial #L405 3/2 now $1.25M.
7 new sales:  Donax Village #3 3/2 listed for $349K, Shell Island Beach Club #7C 2/2 listed for $589K, Tanglewood #4A 3/2 listed for $1.1M, Villas of Sanibel #A301 3/3 listed for $1.15M, Gulfside Place #314 2/2 listed for $1.179M, Janthina #2A 3/2 listed for $1.295M, Janthina #2B 3/2 listed for $1.35M.
5 closed sales:  Tennisplace #A31 2/1 $230K, Coquina Beach #2H 2/2 $391K, Island Beach Club #350B 2/2 $480K, Atrium #204 2/2 $939K, Sunward of Sanibel #301 3/2 $1.15M.
 
HOMES
6 new listings:  2555 Coconut Dr 3/2 $698K, 1528 Angel Dr 3/2 $749K, 6192 Henderson Rd 3/3 $949K, 1111 Schooner Pl 3/3 $998K, 919 Almas Ct 3/2.5 $1.275M, 780 Birdie View Pt 4/4.5 $2.25M.
15 price changes:  1403 Sandpiper Cir 3/2.5 half-duplex now $349K (our listing), 617 East Rocks Dr 3/2 now $545K, 5297 Umbrella Pool Rd 3/3 now $578K, 486 Surf Sound Ct 3/3.5 now $669K, 317 Lake Palm 3/3 now $672.9K, 1290 Par View Dr 4/2 now $689K, 1234 Seagrape Ln 2/2 now $749K, 1106 Buttonwood Ln 3/2 now $869.9K, 720 Birdie View Pt 3/3 now $949.9K, 190 Violet Dr 3/2.5 now $958K, 882 Beach Rd 4/3 now $1.349M, 1765 Venus Dr 3/3 now $1.499M, 4809 Tradewinds Dr 3/3.5 now $1.895M, 4405 West Gulf Dr 2/2.5 now $2.3M, 3911 West Gulf Dr 5/5.5 now $5.495M.
6 new sales:  1663 Bunting Ln 3/2 listed for $359K (short sale), 230 Palm Lake Rd 2/2 listed for $495K, 6101 Castaways Ln 4/2 listed for $695K (short sale), 700 Heather Ln 3/2.5 listed for $795K, 5709 Baltusrol Ct 3/3.5 listed for $1.295M, 544 Lighthouse Way 5/5.5 listed for $2.5M (our buyer).
2 closed sales:  951 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $390K, 271 Robinwood Cir 4/2.5 $600K (short sale).
 
LOTS
1 new listing:  133 Butterknife Pl $374.9K.
2 price changes:  9239 Dimmick Dr now $165K, 2285 Wulfert Rd now $179K (short sale).
No new sales or closed sales.
 
Captiva
CONDOS
1 new listing:  Lands End Village #1607 2/2 $1.299M.
No price changes.
No new sales.
3 closed sales:  Bayside Villas #4302 3/3 $525K, Captiva Hide-A-Way #2A 2/2 $620K, Beach Cottages #1421 3/2 $875K.
 
HOMES
No new listings.
2 price changes:  11515 Chapin Ln 3/2 now $975K, 16185 Captiva Dr 4/4 now $1.449M.
No new or closed sales.
 
LOTS
No new listings.
1 price change:  11525 Murmond Ln now $670K (foreclosure).
No new or closed sales.