October 27, 2022

4 Weeks After Hurricane Ian

On September 28, 2022, the beloved islands of Sanibel and Captiva changed forever. For four long, grueling weeks we've all grieved, planned next steps, and began the journey forward for our homes, businesses, and communities. The staff of J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge has been there each step of the way, starting from day one with first responders and transitioning to cleaning up the destruction on-site at the Refuge. We're all doing our best to overcome this monumental and historical moment. Thank you to everyone who has assisted in efforts along the way. We will rebuild, and we can't wait to welcome our visitors once again, human and wildlife alike.

Where are you? If you have moved, are in temporary housing, or at an address we don't have, please let us know by emailing Carrie Harmon.

Refuge Post-Hurricane Updates

As the Refuge team continues to work steadily to clean up, restore, and rebuild habitat and facilities at “Ding” Darling, we still keep its conservation education mission front-of-mind.

Some recent good-news highlights at the Refuge:

On Tuesday, Interior Department Assistant Secretary for Fish & Wildlife and Parks Shannon Estenoz visited “Ding” Darling and heard post-hurricane requests from Refuge and DDWS staff for on-site housing needs; maintenance staff to replace Donnie Swingle, who recently took a position with the Army Corps of Engineers; and a lift on the department’s building moratorium amongst other requests.
Although the Art in the Wild event has been canceled, the Refuge’s art legacy saw tiny miracles during hurricane and recovery efforts:
Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland recovered original “Ding” Darling art from the destroyed DDWS office.
She also saved three original Jim Sprankle duck decoy carvings, which are being restored.
Before the hurricane, Toni secured all the works by Artist in Residence Jacqui Roch, which were on exhibit in the Visitor & Education Center Auditorium.
"Ding” Darling again offers its Pocket Refuges Grant program to local schools to teach students on-campus about pollinators and the environment. DDWS continues to monitor and educationally support the eight schools it awarded grants last school year, and will award five more schools the monies for supplies to plant Pocket Refuge gardens this school year.
“Ding” on the Wing is back! We hope to touch base with our friends and donors on a weekly basis going forward. Thanks for your support!

Photo caption: Assistance Secretary Shannon Estenoz with some of the “Ding” team

Ranger Toni Westland salvaged original artwork by J.N. "Ding" Darling which was donated by the Bruning family. Their grandparents, Jean and Max Hanford lived on Captiva and were personal friends of Ding Darling and his wife.

Once exquisite Jim Sprankle carvings were salvaged from the rubble to become cleaned up and exquisite once again! Jim has agreed to restore these ducks back to their original beauty.

Hurricane Update

Our Resource page will be consistently updated and we will include a hurricane update each week in our "Ding" on the Wing. Please access those sites doing a better job with on the ground updates, such as the City of Sanibel. Please call us with any questions at 239.292.0566.

For residents and businesses affected by Hurricane Ian, here is a printable pdf of resources. We are trying to keep it updated and hoping it helps.

Here are a few new links:

New way to vote electronically in Lee County using Expressvote machines. Read More.
Hurricane Debris and Vessel Removal Read More
Debris Removal; Temp Housing & titled property Read More
Carbon monoxide poisoning due to Hurricane Ian. Read More.
LeeTran provides temporary ground transportation on Sanibel and Captiva. Read More.
Prearing your land for a temporary housing unit More
City of Sanibel Oct. 24 update More
The missing leg of the Sanibel Lighthouse has been found! Read more.

Refuge Programming

Hurricane damage has meant the closing of the Visitor & Education Center and Wildlife Drive until further notice. Consequently, many programs and events -- including art exhibitions and Art in the Wild Day, originally scheduled for October 31 -- have been canceled. Watch DOTW for news of these and other programs still being planned.

While staff is focused on recovery efforts, they make time to offer occasions for locals to engage and heal through Nature during this trying time. Watch for news next week of free 30- and 60-minute Mindfulness Walks at Bailey Tract for groups and individuals who are working on the island. “Start your day or take a break, by yourself or with a work group, from that stress component of cleaning up,” said Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland. “We hope our free mental health breaks will be an asset to the community, to help people go through what they’re going through. Take 30 minutes for yourself to ground yourself, decompress.” Contact Toni or Ranger Jess Barry for times and dates and to reserve a group Mindfulness Walk.
The Refuge will go forward with its annual Cartoon Contest in local schools. Staff hopes to recover the submissions already completed by The Sanibel School students, which are locked away in the school during its closure, and engage other local schools.
The annual “Ding” Darling & Theodore Cross High School Photography Contest will go on! Deadline for entries is January 15, 2023. Contact Sierra Hoisington for information.

#DingStrong Shirts

Feel-Good Finds

If you have a photo, poem, video, or other feel-good find and you'd like the chance to be highlighted in our "Ding" on the Wing, please email it to April Boehnen .

Bald Eagle Nest behind Dairy Queen

DDWS supporter and friend Frank Brinker sent a photo of the Bald Eagle pair behind the Sanibel Dairy Queen. The tree and nest were destroyed, but the eagle pair was sitting on one of its favorite trees as if nothing had ever happened -- one of the many signs of hope on the island.

A Poem by Meghan Prindle

During the height of Covid, the Daily Dose of Ding gave Meghan a sense of calm and peace she needed. During the chaos of Hurricane Ian, she has been sending her original poems as her way to pay back what she received from Ding during a rough time.

Florida

As complicated as any place can be,

where the storms march hard (and harder) to the drumbeat

where it all stands together on shifted sands

palm in hand

in hand

in hand.

As beautiful as any place can be,

where there's a pronunciation more flowery:

Fl/aw/rida,

that blooms in the rain and in the sunshine

and speaks --

and loves and lives and works,

repairs, rebuilds, reconciles,

winks,

in that color of shrimps and shells and spoonbills, stucco

-- pink.

WoW Update: On the Road Again

Hurricane Ian may have wreaked havoc on Refuge facilities and habitat, but our mission to protect wildlife and spread the conservation message remains firmly entrenched. Our outreach efforts return this week as WoW (Wildlife on Wheels) hits the road-to-education once more. Tomorrow, October 28, WoW heads to Tice Elementary in Fort Myers for a Title 1 after-school event and the kick-off of a two-week stint.

On Friday, November 4, WoW participates in the Environmental Education Alliance of Southwest Florida conference at the Florida Gulf Coast University’s Water School.

“We are so excited to keep alive the Refuge education and conservation mission with this return of the WoW mobile outreach classroom to the Southwest Florida community,” said Melissa Maher, DDWS Urban Education Leader.

Melissa currently works with a reduced team due to the hurricane’s impact on staffing. Now, more than ever, WoW needs your help. Donate to support the upkeep and programming for WoW efforts to reach Title 1 schools and underserved communities with conservation messaging and education.

#MindfulMonday

To continue "Ding" Darling's mindfulness program beyond Hurricane Ian, we will start of each week on Facebook and Instagram with #MindfulMonday. We hope these reels will help you in your mindfulness journey by learning to stay present, grounded, self-aware, thankful, and more. Special thanks to Ranger Jess and DDWS friend and volunteer Cristina Shaul for assisting in this new social media initiative.

Cartoon of the Month

The message: “Remember, all the unfortunate are not 3,000 miles away--we have carried food and comfort to the opposite ends of the earth--and disaster in any quarter of the globe opens our purses and our hearts--our solicitude and generosity has even contributed red flannels and overcoats for the tropical heathen--let's not forget to take care of our own neighbors.”

Pulitzer Prize-winning Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling published this cartoon in 1923. It simultaneously pokes fun at misguided global charitable contributions, while imploring readers to help neighbors in need. Like so many of his editorial cartoons, it carries relevance today, particularly with the disruption and suffering following Hurricane Ian one month ago. Those who are able, please consider assisting the homeless, food insecure, and impoverished in areas most impacted by the storm. “Ding” would have been the first, we believe, to also urge coming to the aid of the local wildlife populations that are suffering due to loss of habitat and likely water quality events. Named for “Ding,” the Refuge adheres to its mission to conserve and protect your wildlife “neighbors.”

The following are a few organizations directly helping local individuals and families impacted by the storm: Fish of Sanibel; Gladiolus Food Pantry; Harry Chapin Food Bank; Quality Life Center

ALL island non-profits were hit hard by the hurricane and we encourage those who are able to make gifts to those organizations important to them.

Click cartoon to see it enlarged

Woodring Homestead Update

The Woodring name is famously known around the islands as one of the first homesteading families on Sanibel. In 2013, the "Ding" Darling Wildlife Society acquired Woodring Point in partnership with the Lee County Coservation 20/20 and the Refuge, with the DDWS acquirig the original homestead with the agreement of a lifetime lease for Ralph and Jean Woodring. This historical and vital piece of Sanibel's history was heavily damaged due to Hurricane Ian. The Woodring family is hard at work to recover and rebuild and we will be doing our part to help make that happen. See photos below.

Operation BBQ Relief

Operation BBQ Relief will serve free hot meals on a first- come basis starting at 11:30 a.m. to communities impacted by Hurricane Ian. A huge shoutout to Operation BBQ Relief for offering such a wonderful program! Photograph is DDWS Executive Director with two of the volunteers from Operation BBQ Relief.

Special Thanks to others

The Shack has also been providing food for anyone on the islands free of charge. The loyalty and sense of community we've witnessed after the storm has been amazing. We're so proud to be a part of #SanCapStrong.

Fish of Sanibel is providing free water, canned goods and other items located at their Periwinkle location.

Suncoast Beverage and Two Lane Brewing bringing Taco Works to American Legion

Two Lane Lager saw a need for food and beverages on the west end of the island and is attempting to fill that gap. Suncoast Beverage, along with Two Lane Brewing will have Taco Works food truck on Tuesday, November 1 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.with free food and water. Location: American Legion 4249 Sanibel Captiva Rd

Art, Music, & Entertainment

To help with post-hurricane blues and weariness, Artis-Naples is offering free admission to The Baker Museum through December 31, 2022, and free tickets to select performances through mid-December. Read More.

The Bonita Springs Concert Band has their first free concert coming up on Sunday, November 6 from 2-4pm at Riverside Park. You can find more details and dates here.

Making a difference.

We acknowledge the stress and suffering everyone is going through. Finances have changed for many, however, those with private foundations, retirement distributions, charitable funds, etc., please consider supporting DDWS to help the Refuge recover. You can donate through our website here and find instructions for stock/wiring transfer here.. Please note our NEW Temporary address is: Ding Darling Wildlife Society, PO Box 61249, Fort Myers, FL 33906.