Sanibel Journal

This is a conversation I recorded today with State Rep. Adam Botana, R-District 80, about the bill he has drafted to create a Captiva Island Conservation Area. His comments are timely, because the Lee County Commissioners will discuss proposed land use changes for Captiva at their meeting tomorrow (Dec. 6) at 9:30 a.m. For video of this interview, click here for the YouTube version.

Environmental Policy Director, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Commission (SCCF), left, with host Len Edgerly on Zoom Links SCCF web site Click here to donate to SCCF "Commissioners Grant 90-day Continuance on Proposed Land Use Changes" at SCCF.org - June 20, 2023 "South Seas Island Resort controversy prompts Lee County Commissioners to postpone public hearing" by David Dorsey at WINK News - June 20, 2023 About Matt DePaolis To download this episode right-click here.    

Vice President, Captiva Community Panel, addressing special meeting of the Sanibel City Council on June 14, 2023 Recorded video of Sanibel City Council's special meeting on June 14, 2023, highlighting the threats of a proposed Lee County ordinance on Sanibel and Captiva's sanctuary status. Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) request to contact Lee County Commissioners in advance of June 20, 2023, meeting to consider the ordinance. South Seas Island Resort Lee County Commissioners contact information: District 1: Kevin Ruane 239-533-2224, [email protected] District 2: Cecil Pendergrass 239-533-2227, [email protected] District 3: Ray Sandelli 239-533-2223, [email protected] District 4: Brian Hamman, Chairman 239-533-2226, [email protected] District 5: Mike Greenwell, Vice Chairman 239-533-2225, [email protected] Click here to download audio

Len Edgerly recording this episode  Recorded video of Sanibel City Council's special meeting on June 14, 2023, highlighting the threats of a proposed Lee County ordinance on Sanibel and Captiva's sanctuary status. Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) request to contact Lee County Commissioners in advance of June 20, 2023, meeting to consider the ordinance. Lee County Commissioners contact information: District 1: Kevin Ruane 239-533-2224, [email protected] District 2: Cecil Pendergrass 239-533-2227, [email protected] District 3: Ray Sandelli 239-533-2223, [email protected] District 4: Brian Hamman, Chairman 239-533-2226, [email protected] District 5: Mike Greenwell, Vice Chairman 239-533-2225, [email protected] Click here to download this episode.

Project Manager, Sanibel Causeway Reconstruction Kati at Linkedin FDOT Sanibel and Pine Island Hurricane Ian Relief at YouTube - November, 2022 Linkedin video of Kati on site at the causeway WINK TV coverage of hurricane recovery - January 6, 2023    

Regional Manager, CrowderGulf CrowderGulf 2023 National Hurricane Conference MySanibel website SanCap Citizens for a Resilient Future Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF)    

Me, Darlene and Deb wearing Shine on Sanibel t-shirts at today's ceremony to re-light the Sanibel Lighthouse City officials, residents, and Sanibel lovers from all over gathered at the foot of the iconic Sanibel Lighthouse before dawn this morning for the re-lighting of the lighthouse, which was battered by Hurricane Ian but was still standing after the storm. It's taken five months for the official return of the rhythmic light atop the lighthouse, built in 1884.  Local coverage by WINK TV news, ABC-7, and yahoo! Facebook video by Audrey Stewart    

Environmental Policy Director, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) Links Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) "DePaolis Joins SCCF as Environmental Policy Director" - SCCF website April 6, 2022 Florida Right to Clean Water drive to amend Florida's Constitution The Everglades: River of Grass by Marjory Stoneman Douglas The Gulf: The Making of An American Sea by Jack E. Davis The Swamp: The Everglades, Florida, and the Politics of Paradise by Michael Grunwald            

Joe Craig of Finnimore's Cycle Shop, Sanibel Links Finnimore's Cycle Shop Sanibel Farmers Market Billy's Bike Shop

Michael of Sage and Indigo Juice Company Today is a big day in the recovery of Sanibel from Hurricane Ian. The Sanibel Island Farmers Market has returned! I interviewed vendors, shoppers, and Sanibel Mayor Holly Smith this morning at the Jerry's Supermarket parking lot. If you hear this before the market closes today, come on down!

Sharing Stories of Trauma and Recovery Links St. Michael & All Angels Church, Sanibel FL Chico's women's clothing, Sanibel Recovering from Losses in Life by H. Norman Wright My Kindle Chronicles podcast ### If you'd like brief updates on technology, books, marriage, and puppies, you can follow along with my Morning Journal flash briefing. From your Echo device, just say, "Alexa, enable Morning Journal." Then each morning say, "Alexa, what's my flash briefing?" I post a five-minute audio journal each weekday except usually by 8 a.m. Eastern Time.

Golf Superintendent at The Dunes Roy Jones is golf course superintendent at the Dunes Golf & Tennis Club on Sanibel island. He spoke with me today about progress the club is making toward re-opening the 18-hole course for play.  Note: you can hear each episode of the Sanibel Journal on any Alexa device. Just say, "Alexa, enable Sanibel Journal" to add it to your flash briefings. Then say, "Alexa, flash" to hear the latest episode.

Mark Boluis Cleans a Court for Pickelball Mark is a nearby neighbor of ours who introduced Darlene and me to the game of pickleball more than a year ago. We took our pickleball passion north in May, to Massachusetts and Maine, and were looking forward to reconnecting with Mark and others in Sanibel. Hurricane Ian left piles of debris and a stubborn film of fine silt on the court. This morning we helped Mark begin the cleanup, which is going to take a lot of hours. His enthusiasm and belief in Sanibel's recovery are infectious! Note: you can hear each episode of the Sanibel Journal on any Alexa device. Just say, "Alexa, enable Sanibel Journal" to add it to your flash briefings. Then say, "Alexa, flash" to hear the latest episode.

At work early on Sunday morning On the third morning of our current stay on Sanibel in a rental house, we heard the loud sound of a truck approaching. When we saw it was one of the double-bin debris-hauling vehicles, I took some photos and asked the guy standing behind the truck if he could tell us a little about the process.  He turned out to be a Monitor, whose duties do not involve traffic control of any kind. He is responsible for assuring that the right stuff is picked up, and he takes photos of everything. There is still a lot of debris on Sanibel 67 days after Hurricane Ian hit the island hard.  BTW, you can hear each episode of the Sanibel Journal on any Alexa device. Just say, "Alexa, enable Sanibel Journal" to add it to your flash briefings. Then say, "Alexa, flash" to hear the latest episode.

As we prepare to travel to our home on Sanibel tomorrow I am in the midst of pointed conversations with insurance reps over the Loss of Use portion of our homeowners' policy with Lloyds. 

Bikes awaiting us in Sanibel... This morning we confirmed the rental of a neighbor's home for December and January, which means we are headed to Sanibel in a week to oversee repairs to our home and do what we can to help out on the island. I can't wait to be back on Sanibel!  

General Manager of Jerry's Foods  Sanibel Island, FL Rick Cunningham has been a very busy guy since Hurricane Ian hit Sanibel on September 28, 2022. He and his team got Jerry's up and running two weeks ago. In this episode of the Sanibel Journal, Rick explains the obstacles that had to be overcome to re-open the store and what he sees ahead for the island. Note: You can hear each week's episode of the Sanibel Journal on your Alexa devices. Just say, "Alexa, enable Sanibel Journal" to add it to your flash briefings. Then say, "Alexa, flash" to hear the latest episode. I usually release new episodes at noon on Wednesday, but I didn't want to wait until next week to bring you this conversation. Thanks for listening!

Darlene and I got our first look at our home on Sanibel this morning. The ride from our Airbnb in Cape Coral via the miraculously repaird Sanibel causeway was smooth, without delays. Our purple hurricane pass hanging from the rental-car mirror led a sheriff at the checkpoint to wave us on by without slowing down.  The scenes of devastation on our beloved island are sobering and put us in a kind of shock at first. But as we began connecting with the repairs contractor, our neighbors, and adjusters the work of rebuilding took hold. It will be a long road. I believe it will lead to a stronger community and houses better able to withstand the next storm.  Stay safe!

I spoke with Kara Souza, wife of Sanibel City Manager Dana Souza, this morning about what she has learned about the island since Hurricane Ian hit, her husband's leadership skills, and how anyone who loves Sanibel can help with the island's recovery. Click here to donate to the Charitable Foundation of the Islands. You can also hear each week's episode of the Sanibel Journal on your Alexa devices. Just say, "Alexa, enable Sanibel Journal" to add it to your flash briefings. Then say, "Alexa, flash" to hear the latest episode. I have been podcasting for 14 years with The Kindle Chronicles and am glad to create this platform for sharing news and voices of Sanibel. My wife and I purchased a home on the island last year. We are headed there from Boston next week to see first-hand the condition of the house. If you would like to suggest someone for me to interview for a future episode--including yourself!--please email me at podchronicles AT gmail DOT com. 

Excerpt from an interview on September 12, 2010, with Diane Williamson, wife of handcrafted fine art photographer Joel Anderson, on her support of his artwork through Twitter.  I discovered Joel's booth at the St. Louis Art Fair because a tweet Diane posted.

Comments from Ray and Mark, two of those who attended President Obama's town hall meeting on health care today, August 11, 2009.  Although they disagreed with the health care reform proposal, they said they thought Obama was honest and did a good job at the session.

Phillip Zannini, aka @phillymac, an good Internet friend of mine, tells how this morning on the way to Podcamp Boston 4 he received what may well have been a divine inspiration to launch a new podcast.  It sounds very promising to me, and I was glad to be one of his first guests on The Three Quick Tips Podcast. Stay tuned!

This is a presentation on how to pay for health care reform, given July 18, 2009 by Rahul Rajkumar, senior advisor to Doctors for America, at an Organizing for America forum in Dorchester, Mass.

My longtime Casper, Wyoming, friend Neil J. Short is almost 62 and does not put in an inordinate amount of time on exercise. But he's passionate about the benefits of daily exercise, as he shows clearly in this conversation we had today in my living room in Denver.  Neil couldn't possibly have been talking to someone less involved in outdoor exercise, but even I am convinced that there is no denying the truth of what he says so well.  You can contact him at NeilWyo AT (NO SPAM PLEASE) gmail DOT com.  

Mark J. Penn, Hillary Clinton's chief strategist in the 2008 campaign and the author of Microtrends, spoke on April 25, 2009 at the Sheraton Commander Hotel in Cambridge before a lunch organized by The Harvard Crimson, the university's daily newspaper, of which Penn is an alumnus. This is a recording of his talk and the wide-ranging Q&A afterward.  

Kevin Rafferty talks about his documentary, "Harvard Beats Yale, 29-29" before a screening of the film at the Denver Film Society's Starz Theatre in Denver on April 14, 2009.  With audience Q&A after the screening. I was a freshman at Harvard on November 23, 1968, the day of a legendary football game between Harvard and Yale.  Rafferty's loving attention to the details of that game and the characters of the players makes this a most satisfying film and a highly original portrait of the Sixties. UPDATE: Harvard buffs may also be interested in this interview I did with my Harvard friend Ben Beach when he and I first saw the movie in Cambridge the weekend of the 40th anniversary of the 29-29 tie. Ben is a former sports editor of The Harvard Crimson and has more details on the mystery surrounding who actually wrote the iconic headline that became the title of the movie.  

Ron Lyle of Denver, a retired heavyweight boxer who fought Muhammad Ali in 1975, visited  his alma mater, Manual High School, on February 10, 2009, to talk with students working on the school magazine, Boom.  This is the unedited recording of the conversation, featuring Lyle's heartfelt encouragement of the kids to experience the rewards of focus and commitment in any endeavor.

This is an interview I did today (January 19, 2009) with Jason L. Owens, volunteer manager for Volunteers of America - Colorado.  I was inspired to check out VOA as part of President-Elect Obama's call to service on Martin Luther King Day.  VOA is one of 5,000 organizations where volunteers signed up to help today.   Obama himself did some painting today at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Jason gave me two volunteer applications, for my wife and I to fill out.  We will do so and plan to spend some time learning what volunteer opportunities are nearby our home in Downtown Denver.

My wife and I attended a "house party" organized by the Obama campaign, one of 4,000 such events held across the country this past weekend.  Ours was held at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard and featured an introductory talk by Marshall Ganz.    

My college friend Ben Beach, editor of The Wilderness Society's Wilderness Magazine, never misses a Harvard-Yale football game and always holds a tailgate barbecue before the game.  In this podcast Ben talks about the hard-to-define pleasure he gets from this regularity, and he and I remember the most famous Harvard-Yale game in the 125-year history of the classic, 1968's version which ended in a 29-29 tie.  The podcast contains audio clips from Ben and his wife Carol's 36th consecutive barbecue this year, and also some audio from a showing at a local movie theatre of "Harvard Beats Yale, 29-29," a new documentary out about the game.  I highly recommend the movie, which The New Yorker calls "a fascinating feat of cultural archeology."

My wife Darlene, a quilter, today helped me think through the talk I'll give this weekend in Billings, Montana, about Internet technology and the arts.  She looks for tools that help her do things, not a lot of personality and ego.  Good advice for this podcaster! (She's also looking for a good video podcast about quilting, so please leave her any tips in the comments.) The workshops are being presented by the Montana Arts Council. Previous sessions were held in Great Falls and Missoula. Music for my podcast is "Going to the Sun" composed and performed by Montana musicians Christine Dickinson, Janet Haarvig and Matthew Lyon. It's from their Glacier Journey CD. Phone comments: 206-666-2713 Email: [email protected]

We've seen a lot of Barack Obama here in Colorado in recent weeks. But Sunday's event was the biggest anywhere in the country so far -- well over 100,000 people at Civic Center Park. This episode is a soundscape of the rally and ends with Darlene making yet another phone call in search of volunteers to help get out the vote in this crucial battleground state.  Click here for a video of the last few minutes of Obama's speech. And here's a touching video of an elderly volunteer who had a chance to meet the candidate in Boulder.

Interviews at the Cambridge Boat Club on October 14, 2008, with four leaders of the Head of the Charles Regatta, a massive rowing event on the Charles River in Cambridge this coming weekend.  You'll hear from Pete Peterson, the chief referree/umpire; John Romain, cochair manager of the Starting Line; Tom Martin, treasurer, and Mark Bober, cochair of emergency services. The regatta takes place this coming weekend - don't miss it if you're anywhere close to Cambridge!

Barack Obama this week returned to Colorado for a speech at Mountain Range High School in Westminster.  My wife and I arrived at the school at about 5 a.m., which put us in line for a seat upgrade at the last minute and a terrific view of the candidate.  His arrival in the arena was delayed by late-breaking events in Washington, D.C., where the House of Representatives shocked everyone by defeating the financial bailout package.  Click here for video of the speech.  Click here for text.

This episode of m podcast comprises excerpts from Barack Obama's speech September 16, 2008 at the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado.  I was there with a friend of ours, Tish, from Wyoming, who had an exciting moment at the end of the event.  Also included are reactions to the talk by some of those in attendance, including myself. The New York Times coverage of the Golden speech is here.  Full video of the speech is here. Daily Kos has text of advance copy of speech, which Obama followed very closely. For an intelligent analysis of Obama's economic philosophy, I recommend this piece published August 20, 2008 in the New York Times Magazine by David Leonhardt.  Click here for an audio podcast interview with the author. Music for my podcast is "Going to the Sun" composed and performed by Montana musicians Christine Dickinson, Janet Haarvig and Matthew Lyon, from their Glacier Journey CD. I welcome your comments at 206-666-274 or [email protected].

Albert Maruggi, my well-connected Republican Twitter friend who lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, has great insights into the convention going on in his hometown this week.  Albert was a key GOP staffer when Dan Quayle was chosen as Bush I's VP, so his memories are good preparation for tonight's big speech by Gov. Sarah Palin.  In this telephone interview today, he also tells why watching Palin is a NASCAR experience. You can listen to our other "Utterzly Political" conversations here or here. The music for my podcast is "Going to the Sun," composed and performed by Montana musicians Christine Dickinson, Janet Haarvig and Matthew Lyon.  It's from their excellent Glacier Journey CD.

Chris Lopez, communications director for the 2008 Denver Host Committee, took time out of a VERY busy day today to preview what's ahead in Denver once the Democratic National Convention gets under way this weekend.  He seemed remarkably serene, and he was optimistic that the convention's protests will be peaceful and full of the good energy of democracy.  Me too! UPDATE: I forgot to include the following links mentioned by Chris in the podcast: The Presidential Experience Click here for information on Convention events at the Denver Convention Center in the mornings. Dialog:City Cinemocracy 2008 Rocky Mountain Roundtables

Interview on August 19, 2008 with Chris Lopez - .mp3 version.

This is the mp3 version of this week's Audio Pod Chronicles interview with Jeff Cutler.

Writer and podcaster Jeff Cutler was one of the only Boston Media Makers without a device feeding him information from the Internet at our meeting on Sunday, August 3, 2008, at Doyle's Cafe in Jamaica Plain.  It turns out his laptop was in the shop.   This prompted him to lead a lively discussion among the 22 of us at the meeting about how much we depend on being connected at all times to the Internet.   Jeff is a thoughtful guy who is on what he calls a one-year "Writing Sabbatical" during which he is aiming at a new phase of his career that will involve more commentary and opinion writing.   He uses his podcast, "Bowl of Cheese" in an effective and unusual way as a supplement to his blog of the same name.  All in all, Jeff Cutler is doing creative, original work in the new media space, and it's always good to connect with him, even when he's unplugged!  I think you'll enjoy this profile of a writer from Hingham, Mass.,  who is using new media to full advantage.   Music for my podcast is "Going to the Sun" composed and performed by Montana musicians Christine Dickinson, Janet Haarvig and Matthew Lyon.  It's from their excellent Glacier Journey CD . Photo of Jeff and me is by Steve Garfield of SteveGarfield.com . I'd love to hear your feedback on this topic or any other. You can leave a voice comment at 206-666-2713 or you can send me an email to [email protected] or leave a comment here. NOTE: If you are a Kindle owner or merely intrigued,  I hope you will check out my new weekly podcast, The Kindle Chronicles, uploaded each Friday.  It's also available for free subscription at the iTunes Store.

mp3 version of today's Audio Pod Chronicles, "PodCampers Pick Podcasts."

At PodCamp Boston 3 this past weekend, I asked 12 happy campers to identify their favorite podcasts.  Here is what they came up with: Sarah Vela - Push My Follow, You Look Nice Today. Chris Cavallari - Nature Stories, Little Bit of Nonsense. Robert Blatt - Let's Go Out Tonight, twentyhood Doug Haslam - For Immediate Release, Inside PR, 10th Wonder Amrita Chandra - Ricky Gervais David Fisher - Diggnation, The Totally Rad Show Bill Wilder - Hanselminutes, What What Don't Tell Me, Grammar Girl David Beaudoin - Push My Follow, Get It Done Guy C.C. Chapman - Six Pixels of Separation, Scott Sigler's Nocturnal, Steve Garfield Steve Garfield - Epic Fu, Moblogic.tv, C.C. Chapman Joyce Bettencourt - Managing the Gray, Accident Hash, Running Man Radio, AC Radio Dan Patterson (Creepy Sleepy podcast) - The Brookhaven Chronicles, On the Media, Slate Political Gabfest, Buzz Out Loud, This Week in Tech,  In Over Your Head  

mp3 version of Episode 62, A dilly of a Denver Police Commander.

Denver Police Commander Debra Dillly heads District 6, the core downtown area.  On July 8, 2008 she addressed a meeting of homeowners from three downtown condominium buildings, including the one I live in. She gave the best overview I've heard so far of what it's really going to be like in my neighborhood August 25-28 when the Democratic National Convention comes to town.  Now I will how to tell Obama's motorcade from President Carter's, how regular police work will be handled, the effect of the convention on Denver's homeless population, and what NOT to do if I get tear-gassed. Note: The audio calls this episode 61, but in fact it's number 62.  Credit the error to sleep deprivation.

mp3 version of Episode 61, Breakfast of Videos.

Social Media Breakfast 8, hosted by Bryan Person and Bob Collins June 24, 2008 at Ryles Jazz Club in Cambridge, Mass., was all about video.  An audience of nearly 100 heard excellent presentations from Larry Lawfer of YourStorys.com and Jeff Glasson of PerkettPR.com and two other presentations excerpted in this episode of the Audio Pod Chronicles.  Those two were by recent Emerson College students Ben Grossman and Emily Belyea, who created a winning video-based proposal to resuscitate AOL's AIM social media programs, and Rob Lane, founder and CEO of Overlay.tv , who is making videos interactive.  It was impossible to listen to all four presentations and not sense the energy in Internet video, and the creativity.  I came right home and started playing with Overlay.tv and can't wait to do more.

MP3 version of this week's podcast.