July/August 1999 Issue

Think Global, Act Local

At times, I think a magazine’s age should be measured in dog years. Times of the Islands turns 3 years old this fall and has felt the predictable pains that accompany growth. When we appraise the end result, however, we sense the overall nod of approval.
   First, it was the fresh-faced young magazine still finding its way but eager to face the world; then, in typical adolescent fashion, it was somewhat naughty and controversial, but nevertheless engaging. And now, it has emerged as a mature, beautifully integrated publication, like a stunning young woman who walks into a room and makes heads turn.
   Like a parent who witnesses a child’s development and commiserates with the growing pains, I know that those pains can only translate into gains. That’s our magazine’s story.
Starting with this issue, Times of the Islands changes its subtitle from “Shore and Island Living” to “The Lee Island Coast Magazine.” Under the seal of approval of the Visitor’s & Convention Bureau, our publication remains emblematic of what our islands are all about, only now it will help us live our dreams by keeping abreast of the events, the people, and the unique character of the entire Lee Island Coast.
   Sanibel and Captiva will always remain the crown jewels of the Lee Island Coast. However, we shouldn’t ignore the allure of our fascinating coastline, the Caloosahatchee River, and their many attractions. We must foster a dynamic interaction with all parts of the Lee Island Coast. Today’s world calls for integration and globalization—it has become a world without frontiers. Our causeway is not a frontier line that separates us from the rest of the Lee Island Coast. It is a bridge between the two.
   In the spirit of globalization, Times of the Islands maintains its tradition of publishing one international issue per year, where, in their own language, foreign visitors get an overview of what the islands offer. Often, we hear how much they appreciate these pages.
   Before our foreign visitors board a Balair or LTU flight to Ft. Myers, they have already paid us a visit by logging on to www.timesoftheislands.com. We are proud to be a catalyst in the Lee Island Coast’s booming tourist industry. That’s a growing gain.
   Since November, we expanded our presence in the Midwest and the Northeast by joining a national distribution company, thus helping readers from Kalamazoo to New York’s 42nd Street plan their next trip to paradise. That’s positively a growing gain.
   As conscientious islanders, we also ought to lend a sensible voice to all countywide issues that affect our barrier island community—whether it’s rebuilding the causeway or transferring development rights from Buck Key to a mangrove forest at South Seas Plantation on Captiva. If issues such as these are not approached in a sound manner, our sensitive environment could be in jeopardy.
   Here on the islands, we have always prided ourselves on our zealous stewardship of the environment. In this issue, we showcase the loggerhead turtle conservation program. The loggerhead’s story is riddled with struggle for survival, but I like to think that the work of dedicated, meticulous Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation volunteers is paying tenfold. It’s an island-concerted effort; we all love to heed to the “Lights-out” and “Do-Not-Disturb: Turtle Nest” admonitions.
   We will soon be ushering in a new millennium. All of us should search for formulas that reconcile progress with the preservation of our barrier islands and the Lee Island Coast. That’s no easy task. At Times of the Islands, we are aware of the impact that a medium such as ours can exert on the community. Responsibility and accountability come with age…an enormously rewarding growing gain. –Friedrich N. Jaeger