SanibelSusan Team members were all back at their posts Monday morning and island life is returning to normal. Thanks to quick service by Dan from Tru-Clean, Inc. Carpet & Tile Care, our office carpet now looks better than it did pre-storm.

Local schools still don’t go back until Monday, with county education leaders now altering the school calendar to make up the 2+weeks lost. Both the Sanibel Recreation Center and the Sanibel Sea School provided free childcare programs this week for families working and assisting in recovery efforts.

As of the City’s Hurricane Irma report last night, just one reported property remains without power, while debris pickup continues. Roadside collections by claw trucks will be seven days a week beginning at 7 a.m. until all is removed. Some of the piles are huge, many reappearing as soon as debris is removed. Care, caution, and patience are needed traveling roadways and bike paths (most paths are not passable).

The Thurs City report also indicates that inspections of the public canals have been completed. The private canals are next, as the City finalizes plans for removing canal storm debris. They are thinking of everything.

If any good comes from an event like this, it’s the amazing comradery – neighbors helping neighbors & helping strangers too. We all owe a debt of gratitude to City workers, utility crews, and the many contractors that have come from near and far to assist in making homes and businesses livable again. The lessons learned from Hurricane Charley probably assisted in making this recovery smooth.

Thank you, Mayor Ruane, City Council, City Manager Zimomra and staff. With power back on and us again able to watch the news, many areas in Florida are not as fortunate as Sanibel. I sure am glad I live here.

SanibelSusan Realty Associates

Here at the office, we still are working on getting a sale closed that was scheduled on the Friday before the storm. Fingers crossed that it happens on Monday. The two offers that were in negotiations pre-storm didn’t make it, but I’m hoping to fan some life into them as recovery here continues.

 

Our new listing at Sunset South was open yesterday morning for Realtor® Caravan and we have had a few inquiries and showings this week too. The action posted in the Sanibel and Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service since Sept 1 are posted after a couple of news items below.

(Note this activity covers a 3-week period, since we were without internet service the last two Fridays. Pretty slow real estate market during those weeks, just one new sale, a Sanibel condo. No sales on Captiva.)

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors®

Monthly Membership Meeting

Yesterday morning was the September Membership Meeting for the islands Association of Realtors®. Plenty of affiliates, sales associates, and brokers were in attendance to share post-Irma experiences and to hear guest speaker, Maggi Feiner, President and CEO of F.I.S.H. of SanCap.

F.I.S.H. is a unique comprehensive human-services organization focused for over 30 years on “neighbors helping neighbors” on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Their mission is to lend a helping hand to those who live, work, and visit here. Their vision is to enrich the lives of those on the islands through an array of food programs, island-based workshops, and social services. Their many different programs, services, and workshops, are supported by full-time social workers, administrative professionals, and a team of volunteers.

 

Maggi shared some F.I.S.H. statistics from 2016 when they had 14,399 requests for help and provided assistance to 2,272 individuals. Most island needs or the individuals most at-risk and needing help are youth and seniors. The F.I.S.H. backpack program operates not just when schools are in session, but 52 weeks a year. They also offer after-school education, and one-on-one tutoring. They help with those needing eyeglasses too and their partnership with Sanibel Rec offers summer assistance.

Maggi advised that 53% of F.I.S.H. funding comes from individual donations, 27% comes from grants. She thanked Association members for their continued contributions, food donations, our recent Meals-of-Hope food-packaging event, their support for the annual “10K Race 4 F.I.S.H.” (coming up Oct 18) and F.I.S.H. Celebration, and for volunteering.

Toiletries for Hurricane Irma Victims

 Yesterday afternoon Sanibel/Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® staff and members of my Communications/Public Relations Committee bagged up donations that the Assoc had collected pre-Irma. We prepared 130+individual gallon zip-lock bags each with an assortment of toiletries, hair and shaving products, flashlights/batteries, socks, first aid and sewing kits, & more. In combination with food, water, and paper goods, also collected by off-island Realtors® and their friends, it all will be delivered to Hurricane Irma victims.

Big thank you to all who contributed and Realtor® helpers Deb Gleason, Kelly Huguenin, and Cathy Lewis, our Assoc Executive/CEO Bill Robinson and MLS Director Matt Alston. Realtor® Jay LaGace with LaGace Partners, ReMax Realty Team, Cape Coral coordinated efforts and provided a drop-off point with multiple vehicles and trailers to deliver the goods.

Hurricane Irma Strikes Refuge

The following two articles are from the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society Newsletter dated Sep 14, 2017:

“Hurricane Irma struck a lighter blow (reported winds of up to 80 mph) than expected to Sanibel Island on September 10. Extensive vegetation damage on Wildlife Drive and Calusa Shell Mound Trail will keep the

Refuge closed for an undetermined length of time, reports Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland. “It will take days with our limited staff, but it will make us stronger,” she said.

“Toni added that the storm seems to have had little impact on Refuge wildlife. “Hurricanes are a natural phenomenon, and wildlife has adapted,” she said. “Habitat and animals typically rebound quickly, and nature reconstructs in a hurricane’s aftermath. However, research is showing that as storms continue to increase in intensity, it will affect wildlife’s ability to bounce back.”

“She noted that the damage was much lighter and the recovery quicker at the Refuge and island than with Hurricane Charley in 2004. “That’s thanks to the removal of Australian pines and other exotics after Charley,” Toni said. “That’s why it’s so important to preserve mangroves and plant other native vegetation built to weather hurricanes.”

“For updates on the Refuge’s recovery progress, please monitor the official Refuge Facebook page.”

“Ding” Darling Days STILL On – October 15-21, 2017

The Refuge plans to keep its annual “Ding” Darling Days eco-festival on track for October 15-21. CLICK HERE for a calendar and other details.

“Did you know? Mangroves have the potential to reduce wave and wind energy by 50%-75%. The J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuges is home to one of the largest undeveloped mangrove ecosystems. Mangroves not only ‘anchor’ an island down (and prevent erosion) during storms and high waves, but they also provide a safe place to shelter for many different species of wildlife. Natural and wild places are critical for communities to recover after a hurricane so that flooding can be absorbed by nature.”

Re-openings, Temporary Closings & More

Funny how fast September flew by this year. Already some of the places that closed for summer breaks, employee vacations, deep cleans, remodeling, etc. are reopening. Here’s a partial list…

Island Cow – had kitchen roof damage. Working on repairs now.

Island Pizza – continuing with their planned remodeling, so temporarily closed.

Over Easy Café – reopened today. Open 7 days a week from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. for breakfast and lunch.

The Pecking Order – stayed open through the storm & will continue their lunch special from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. all of Sept.

Sanibel Farmers Market – still scheduled to reopen on Oct 1 on the grounds of City Hall from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. For info on the other eight markets reopening in the Lee County, go to www.BuyLocalLee.com.

Sanibel Fresh – serving breakfast 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Lunch from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Traditions on the Beach – is open this month, Mon through Sat from 4 p.m. until late.

Sanibel & Captiva Multiple Listing Service Activity September 1-22, 2017

Sanibel

CONDOS

1 new listing: Sundial West #K105 2/2 $897.5K.

No price changes.

1 new sale: Sanctuary Golf Villages I #5 2/2.5 listed at $699K.

No closed sales.

HOMES

5 new listings: 887 Casa Ybel Rd 5/3 duplex $575K, 1312 Par View Dr 3/2 $695K, 419 Lighthouse Way 4/3 $797.5K, 6412 Pine Ave 3/3 $1.295M, 1152 Buttonwood Ln 3/3.5 $1.499M.

4 price changes: 673 East Rocks 3/2 now $698K, 698 Spartina Ct 3/2 now $770K, 1043 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 now $850K, 789 Pyrula Ave 3/3 now $1.095M.

No new sales.

3 closed sales: 982 Main St 3/2.4 $465K, 519 Lagoon Dr 4/2 $800K, 1137 Golden Olive Ct 5/3.5 $1.5925M.

LOTS

1 new listing: 761 Donax St $279.9K

No price changes, new, or closed sales. 

Captiva

CONDOS

No new listings, price changes, or new sales.

1 closed sale: Bayside Villas #5136 1/2 $310K.

HOMES & 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.)

 

Until next Friday, let’s not hear about any more hurricanes!

Susan Andrews, aka SanibelSusan