This week, while northern states dealt with snowy Storm Stella, Sanibel and Captiva had a little brush of winter weather too – island style. After a couple of short, though much-needed, showers, yesterday and Wednesday were chilly, with daytime temperatures not getting out of the 60’s. Today, temperatures are inching toward the low to mid-70’s, with more of the same nice weather expected over the weekend and into next week.

Below is a photo taken this afternoon from the beach in front of Sanbel’s West Wind Inn where it is just another beautiful though breezy beach day. Below it are a few news items, followed by the action posted this week in the Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service.

March Membership Meeting – Sanibel/Captiva Islands Association of Realtors®

Yesterday, the March membership meeting of the local Association of Realtors® was well attended. In addition to general announcements, including 20-some price changes, several island Realtors® were recognized at the state level for achieving Florida Realtors® Honor Society status. It was nice to have some new recipients this year. Year #18 for me, dating back to 1998 when I was appointed to my first state committee. Lots of great networking and business opportunities have come from that involvement. VIP’s Jim Hall, who was my broker then, encouraged that work and has made Florida Realtors® Honor Society for more than 20 years. Congratulations to all recipients.

Community Outreach

Also, a big thank you to my local Association Communication & Public Relations Committee members who met early Tuesday morning for our 3^rd meeting of the year. Volunteering time “in season” always is appreciated. It is easy to be a committee chair when you have willing cooperative colleagues. Between now and April 28, the committee is spearheading a gently-used clothing drive. Items collected will be donated to charities that provide the clothing FREE to those in need of a hand-up. All types of clean Florida-type clothing are needed – womens, mens, and childrens.

If you have items to donate, they are being accepted at the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® office at 2353 Periwinkle Way, Suite 201 from Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (That is the shopping center behind Wings, 2^nd floor over Finnimore’s Cycle Shop.) My team will pick up donations or you can drop them off at SanibelSusan Realty too – but no later than April 28 – in time for spring cleaning.

St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Happenings

If you are here this weekend and looking for something to do, here are a few suggestions:

Sanibel-Captiva Lions Club Arts & Crafts Fair – today and tomorrow (Sat 3/18) from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at The Community House, right across the street from our office.

Doc Ford’s St. Paddy’s Day Bash – tonight from 5 to 10 p.m. at their new location on Island Inn Rd.

Sanibel Island Farmers’ Market – Sundays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on City Hall Grounds.

Outdoor Island Jazz Concert – from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in Boler Garden at BIG ARTS, free but BYOC (Bring Your Own Chair)

Check the “events” link above for more events.

Dredging Blind Pass While Renourishing Sanibel’s Beaches

The below article posted on-line Wednesday by the “Santiva-Chronicle” provides an update of the ongoing dredging of Blind Pass. On my way to show property on Tuesday, I took photos of the wave action at nearby Turner Beach which illustrate their remarks.  Here’s one:

Here’s the “Santiva-Chronicle” report:

“Recent heavy winds delayed the current phase of dredging Blind Pass by about a week and will likely delay completion of the project until mid-May, according to Kathy Rooker, administrator of the Captiva Erosion Prevention District. But, as anyone who has driven over the Blind Pass Bridge separating Captiva and Sanibel can’t help but notice, the project to clear the pass and use its sand to renourish Sanibel beaches is well under way.

“Nearly 3,500 feet of massive black piping stretches from a pump on a barge at the Roosevelt Channel entrance to a Blind Pass east of the bridge to a second huge pump located past the Gulf entrance to the Pass near Pine Avenue. That second giant pump pushes the sand about 500 feet south to Sanibel beaches in need of renourishment.

“Decades ago, when the current bridge was built connecting the two islands, the natural path of Blind Pass was considerably altered. Consequently, the pass periodically fills up with sand. Keeping the pass open and flushed is vital to water quality around both islands.

“In 2009, about 148,000 cubic yards of sand was dredged to reopen the pass, which had completely closed.

That dredging was followed by maintenance projects at the pass removing 63,300 cubic yards of sand in 2012 and 37,600 cubic yards of sand in 2013. Blind Pass almost completely closed in the spring of 2015, but storms cleared much of that sand.

“Prior to this current dredging project, designed to remove 120,000 cubic yards of sand, bathers and anglers could virtually walk across Blind Pass in spots. It also was largely blocked to boaters.

“Although portions of the beach will be closed for up to 500 feet near where active dredging equipment is being used and four parking places at Blind Pass Beach Park have been closed, the piping and heavy equipment have not greatly curbed use of the beach by bathers, shellers or anglers. Fishing from the bridge may intermittently be restricted during the project, and traffic is briefly halted when heavy equipment is being moved to and from a Santiva area beach near Pine Avenue. Beachgoers are urged to respect project signs and boundaries for their own safety and the safety of the crews.

“A major beneficiary of the dredging process is Sanibel, whose eroded Gulf beaches from Blind Pass to the northern edge of Bowman’s Beach are receiving sand removed from the pass.

“Half of the $1 million project is being funded by a grant obtained by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, with the remainder coming from Lee County tourist-tax revenues.

“Lee County, Sanibel and Captiva officials are looking for a more lasting solution to keep the pass open and have commissioned a Blind Pass Inlet Management Study – a science-based study of the mechanics of the Pass.

“At a recent Captiva Community Panel, Rooker urged residents to attend a public meeting at 10 a.m. March 24 in the Pelican Room of the Sanibel Recreation Center, 3880 Sanibel-Captiva Road, for an update of the Inlet Management Study by engineers who have completed their data collection of model calibration phases of the Pass. “You will hear about different alternatives for keeping the Pass open,” she said, “and the public’s input will be important.” More information about the study can be found at: http://www.leegov.com/naturalresources/blind-pass-2016-inlet-management-plan-study”

Irrigation Regulations

A good reminder in the Spring 2017 “IWA Pipeline” about the irrigation regulations that have been in effect since March 2010. Are you watering only on your days to water?

“The South Florida Water Management District manages water resources and sets the irrigation regulations for the 16-county region that stretches from Orlando to the Florida Keys. Homeowners on Sanibel are limited to watering three times per week and Captiva residents are limited to watering two times per week.

“Residents and businesses on Sanibel with an odd number address may water lawns and landscaping on Mondays, Wednesdays, and/or Saturdays between midnight and 10 a.m. and/or between 4 p.m. and midnight. Residents and businesses with an even address, no address, or those who water both even and odd addresses within the same zones may water Tuesdays, Thursdays, and/or Sundays between midnight and 10 a.m. and/or between 4 p.m. and midnight.

“Captiva residents and businesses are bound by the regulations for unincorporated Lee County and are restricted to watering two days per week. Residents and businesses with an odd address may water lawns and landscaping on Wednesdays and/or Saturdays between midnight and 9 a.m. and/or between 5 p.m. and midnight. Residents and businesses with an even address, no address, or those who water both even and odd addresses within the same zones may water on Thursdays and/or Sundays between midnight and 9 a.m. and/or between 5 p.m. and midnight.

‘There are some exceptions to the above regulations. Watering may be done at any time of using reclaimed water and hand watering is permitted any time if using a hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle. Additional watering up to 60 days is permitted for watering new landscaping.

“For additional information on irrigation times and water conservation you can visit the South Florida Water Management District website at https://www.sfwmd.gov. These irrigation times are also posted on our website at http://www.islandwater.com.

“One more note regarding irrigation. All new irrigation systems are required to have a rain sensor installed, which shuts off the sprinklers if rain is detected. If you have an older system that does not have a rain sensor, it would be wise to have one installed. Not only would you be conserving a precious resource by not sprinkling an already wet yard, you will also save money on your monthly water bill. Remember, in our tiered rate schedule, the more water you use per month, the higher the charge per thousand gallons of water.”

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity March 10-17, 2017

Sanibel

CONDOS

1 new listing: Mariner Pointe #122 1/1 $410K.

6 price changes: Sundial West #C406 1/1 now $424.9K, Mariner Pointe #712 2/2.5 now $469K, Donax Village #1 2/2 now $515K, Snug Harbor #312 3/2 now $699.9K, Pointe Santo #B6 2/2 now $720K, Sanibel Surfside #225 2/2 now $774.9K.

4 new sales: Lake Palms #8 2/2.5 listed at $345.5K, Coquina Beach #5A 2/2 listed at $380K, Loggerhead Cay #592 2/2 listed at $635K, Wedgewood #202 3/3.5 listed at $2.475M.

1 closed sale: Sanibel Arms #B1 1/1 $345K.

HOMES

6 new listings: 1918 Ibis Ln 3/3 $642K, 1315 Par View Dr 3/2 $789.5K, 1425 Causey Ct 3/3 $799K, 1028 Demere Ln $899K, 2379 Wulfert Rd 4/4.5 $1.695M, 1757 Venus Dr 4/2.5 $1.899M.

14 price changes: 1429 Jamaica Dr 3/3 now $694.9K, 1807 Buckthorn Ln 3/2.5 now $699K, 1295 Par View Dr 3/2 now $699K, 3364 Twin Lakes Ln 3/2 now $724K, 6081 Henderson Rd 3/2 now $799.9K, 698 Spartina Ct 3/2 now $865K,  1114 Captains Walk St 3/3 now $975K, 1525 San Carlos Bay Dr 3/2 now $1.895M, 267 Ferry Landing Dr 3/2 now $1.995M, 1237 Isabel Dr 5/6.5 now $2.18M, 1552 San Carlos Bay Dr 4/5.5 now $2.5M, 4995 Joewood Dr 4/3 now $2.795M, 1206 Bay Dr 4/4.5 now $3.845M, 3547 West Gulf Dr 4/4 now $4.75M.

6 new sales: 4694 Rue Bayou 3/3 listed at $629K, 5305 Ladyfinger Lake Rd 3/2 listed at $695K, 1182 Kittiwake Cir 3/3 listed at $729K, 3918 Coquina Dr 3/2.5 listed at $899K, 2459 Harbour Ln 3/3.5 listed at $899K, 1326 Seaspray Ln 4/4.5 listed at $1.995M.

7 closed sales: 174 Southwinds Dr 2/2 half-duplex $639,025; 2010 Sunrise Cir 5/3 $775K (our listing); 5757 Pine Tree Dr 3/2.5 $799K; 660 Durion Ct 3/2 $862.5K; 2118 Starfish Ln 4/5 $1.675M; 4449 Waters Edge Ln 3/3 $4M; 3557 West Gulf Dr 3/3.5 $4.1M.

LOTS

2 new listings: 1912 Ibis Ln $225K, 3013 Poinciana Cir $269.9K.

1 price change: 1299 Par View Dr now $249K.

2 new sales: 0 Island Inn Rd listed at $189,555; 6411 Pine Ave listed at $363.5K.

3 closed sales: 2502/2504 Wulfert Rd $207.5K, 5830 Sanibel-Captiva Rd $350K, 602 Boulder Dr $425K.

Captiva

CONDOS

1 new listing: Tennis Villas #3127 1/1 $260K.

1 price change: Beach Homes #29 4/4 now $2.3M.

1 new sale: Bayside Villas #5204 1/2 listed at $315K.

1 closed sale: Tennis Villas #3237 2/2 $415K.

HOMES

No new listings.

2 price changes: 11521 Andy Rosse Ln 7/7/5 now $2.899M, 16464 Captiva Dr 8/8.5 now $6.245M.

No new sales.

1 closed sale: 16455 Captiva Dr 4/4.5 $2.25M.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

(This representation is based, in whole, or in part, on data supplied by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® or its Multiple Listing Service. Neither the association nor its MLS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy. Data maintained by the association or its MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market. The information provided represents general real estate activity in the community and does not imply that SanibelSusan Realty Associates is participating or participated in these transactions.)

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan