CHARITABLE FOUNDATION OF THE ISLANDS Melissa Halliburton

CFI WELCOMES HALLIBURTON TO BOARD

The Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) recently announced its newest board member.

A Sanibel resident since 2021, Melissa Halliburton is an alum of the CFI’s 2024 Leadership Sanibel-Captiva Program. She previously participated in leadership programs as an MIT student and at one for women run by Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina.

Halliburton joins the board brimming with ideas aimed at raising funds, filling service gaps and meeting the needs of the islands themselves, as well as those who inhabit them. She said she looks forward to her work on the board.

Halliburton is the founder and chief executive officer of her own company, BringFido, an online pet travel and lifestyle platform.

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

COMMUNITY GREETS INCOMING USACE OFFICIAL

The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that community members, business leaders, NGOs and other water quality stakeholders gathered on July 11 at the Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa to hear from incoming U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District Commander Col. Brandon Bowman.

Leaders from the SCCF, Captains For Clean Water and SanCap Chamber spoke at the informal meet-and-greet to thank outgoing Commander Col. James Booth for all the progress he made during his tenure to improve regional water quality and strengthen partnerships across the state.

Among other programs, the Jacksonville District is responsible for overseeing key Everglades restoration projects, as well as managing flows from Lake Okeechobee to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Estuaries. The SCCF noted that it and its partners are continually engaged with the district to provide scientific data and feedback to inform management decisions.

Bowman addressed the crowd to say he looked forward to building on the relationships that Booth has maintained and urged the community to keep the line of communication open.

DOC FORD'S RUM BAR & GRILLE

DOC FORD’S TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL RUM DAY

Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille will honor National Rum Day on Aug. 16 with 50% off of a signature rum cocktail at its four locations, including the Sanibel restaurant.

The drink of the day will be determined by a weeklong in-store and online poll. It will feature three cocktails to vote on: the Doc’s Rum Runner, Toasted Coconut Colada and Sanibel Sunset.

Polling will run from Aug. 10-15 via QR codes in-store and online.

The restaurant will also share a video recipe of the winning drink on social media.

DOC FORD'S RUM BAR & GRILLE

The Sanibel location is at 2500 Island Inn Road.

LIBRARY STAFFER HONORED FOR YEARS OF SERVICE

The Sanibel Public Library District’s Board of Commissioners and interim Sanibel Public Library Director Duane Shaffer recognized staffer Betty Anholt at the board’s meeting on July 25.

She was congratulated for her 25 years of dedication to maintaining and enhancing the library’s cataloging, archives and more, plus her contributions and accomplishments over the years.

Anholt was presented with a custom glass vase, made by local artist Luc Century.

DOC FORD'S RUM BAR & GRILLE

Known as the unofficial island historian, she joined library in July of 1999.

Anholt has combined her love for Sanibel and Captiva with archaeology, conservation and preservation. She has written seven books on the islands’ history.

In 2020, Anholt was honored with the creation of the Betty Anholt Guardian of History Award by the Captiva Island Historical Society. Earlier this year, she was awarded the Florida Anthropological Society’s Certificate of Achievement.

SAN CAP COMMUNITY BANK REWARDS STAFF

For the seventh consecutive year, Sanibel Captiva Community Bank’s board of directors and executive management rewarded bank employees with a mid-year bonus from the bank’s savings under the federal tax law.

SANIBEL PUBLIC LIBRARY From left, Sanibel Public Library District Board Chair Nicole McHale, Commissioner Melanie Congress, Vice Chair Linda Uhler, Sanibel Public Library staffer Betty Anholt, board Treasurer Sandra Zahorchak and interim library Director Duane Shaffer.

The bonus is an acknowledgment of team members’ commitment and dedication to the bank. All employees, except for the executive management team, were eligible and included.

Among all employees, the average tenure is seven years. Nearly 60% of employees have been with the bank for five or more years; 22% have been employed at the bank for 10 or more years; and seven employees have been with the bank since it opened in 2003.

F.I.S.H. DIRECTOR RECEIVES CERTIFICATION

F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva announced that Senior Services Director Erika Arnowitz completed training with the National Council of Certified Dementia Practitioners (NCCDP) and is now a Certified Dementia Practitioner.

The certification is available to U.S. residents who meet the required qualifications, including at least one year of paid experience in the field and compliance with state regulations for their position. Ongoing professional development and recertification are mandatory.

By achieving the certification, professionals demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of dementia care, including Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. The certification will enable Arnowitz to offer improved care tailored to each individual’s needs.

ROTARY WELCOMES NEW MEMBERS

The Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club recently announced its new members.

Sanibel residents Melanie Holliday and Paul Tritaik were recently inducted.

For more information, visit sanibelrotary.org or www.facebook.com/sancaprotary.

CHR TAKES PART IN STRATEGIES MEETING

Community Housing & Resources representatives recently attended a Year-End Giving Strategies Meeting, hosted by the Charitable Foundation of the Islands and The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company.

The attendees included CHR Executive Director Nicole Decker-McHale and Deputy Executive Director Savannah Miller-Berg, along with representatives from other island nonprofits.

Decker-McHale and Miller-Berg reported that they gained insights and knowledge to benefit CHR. They also had the opportunity to learn from experts in the field and to network with other nonprofits.

REC CENTER ADDS TO HALL OF SPONSORS

Chris and Laura Denick and Steven Grilz have joined the Sanibel Recreation Center’s Hall of Sponsors.

All proceeds from the sponsor signs are applied to the city’s Recreation Center Financial Assistance Program. It assists eligible island parents and workers’ children with financial assistance so youths can attend the after-school program, Fun Days, holiday camp, summer day camp and other city-operated programs at the center.

For more information, call volunteer sponsor Chairperson Barry Alan Roth at 239-313-9591.

ISLANDS AMONG ‘BEST IN THE CONTINENTAL U.S.’

Both Sanibel and Captiva made Travel+Leisure’s list of “15 Best Islands in the Continental U.S. — Beautiful Views, Serene Nature, and Laid-back Vibes Included,” which published this month.

Sanibel Island came in at No. 10, while Captiva Island earned the No. 14 spot.

Each year for its World’s Best Awards survey, the magazine asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences. Islands were specifically rated on the following criteria: natural attractions/beaches, activities/sights, restaurants/food, people/friendliness and value.

Other Florida spots to make the list were Amelia Island at No. 2 and Florida Keys at No. 5.

To view the full list, visit travelandleisure.com/wba-2024-islands-continental-united-states-8661950.

F.I.S.H. OF SANIBEL-CAPTIVA Erika Arnowitz

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA ROTARY CLUB Melanie Holliday

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA ROTARY CLUB Paul Tritaik

COMMUNITY HOUSING & RESOURCES From left, Community Housing & Resources Deputy Executive Director Savannah Miller-Berg and Executive Director Nicole Decker-McHale.