Sanibel Island Wildlife Series
HOME PAGE
Charles LeBuff — photo courtesy of Lynda Richardson
Welcome to my site and its associated links — please, take time to explore. I hope you find them all useful, perhaps as an introduction to Florida's Sanibel and Captiva Islands . . . the unique barrier islands where I lived for 47 years . . . or as a source for special, quality products and services, or factual information. For example, reviewers of my regional best-selling book, Sanybel Light, say it's the best book available about the human and natural history of Sanibel Island. It's packed full of information about Sanibel and Captiva Islands, the "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge, seashell collecting, major hurricanes, "red tide," alligators, sea turtle conservation, the Sanibel Lighthouse, the coming of the first Sanibel Causeway, and how Sanibel was "saved" after we the citizens took Sanibel's future into our own hands, in 1974.
I've just completed a new electronic book on CD-ROM. The Sanibel Island Lighthouse is a complete book that uses old photographs to unwind the wonderful history of Sanibel Island and her lighthouse. The CD's content is detailed on the linked Amber Publishing Website
My latest printed book, a 352-page historical novel, took me 51 years to complete. The Calusan presents a more primitive Florida than what we recognize today. Two cultures come together over a four-century period after an intriguing gold medallion is discovered on Sanibel Island. The famous "Key Marco Cat" (a real Calusa Indian artifact), the Sanibel Island Lighthouse, and the cattle port of Punta Rassa are just three of the themes in my book as the story unfolds through time with historical accuracy.
A good selection of used biological, historical, and wildlife books primarily pertaining to Southwest Florida are now offered for sale via our Amber Publishing link, as titles become available.
Two interesting videos are also part of our product line. These are available through the Amber Publishing link. One features a Beach Walk — an ecological and historical event — a live lecture filmed at the Sanibel Lighthouse Point and its beach before the 2004 hurricane, Charley. The other is a presentation about what life was like, and how we lived it, on Sanibel Island before the opening of the original Causeway (1963). This illustrated program is appropriately entitled Sanibel, BC. The inside and outside of the Sanibel Island Lighthouse, the quaint Sanibel ferries, and the unique mailboat are featured during this slide lecture which was filmed before a live audience at "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island in January, 2004. Both of these videos offer information-packed presentations on the ecology and history of Sanibel Island. They are available in DVD format. And, during this introductory period we include shipping costs with the prices for our books and videos.
One link on this page leads to our Signs for Sale site where we offer a variety of wildlife-related and novelty signs. Prices include Priority Mail shipping costs.
Be sure and check out the interesting link — Calusa Indian Art, Artifacts, and Anecdotes. This page features a concise history of the Calusa people and pictures and discusses the replications of the various Calusa weapons and artifacts I created during the time I was haunted to tell Panti's story in The Calusan. This page also includes an interpretation of the place names I used in The Calusan. Another interesting aspect of The Calusan's story has recently been added to tell how ancient Calusa Indian mounds were ravaged last century by land developers.
A popular addition to this website is the link leading to my Everglades Wonder Gardens site. A fascinating history of this Florida wildlife attraction is presented, through first-person interviews and the eyes and memories of seven men who worked there during the 1950s. Four videos are featured to enhance the presentation, as are many old photographs.
Thanks for stopping by . . . take a good look around . . . come back often.
Cordially,
— Charles LeBuff
NEED A SPEAKER?
I am available for personal presentations on a variety of subjects relative to the human and natural history of Southwest Florida, and one of my programs can be easily added to your organization's program schedule. An honoraria may be required to help defray my travel expenses. Program topics can include but are not restricted to the following subjects:
Sanibel Island Before the Causeway
The Sanibel Island Lighthouse
Early "Red Tide" Research in Southwest Florida
History of the J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge
The Weaponry of the Calusa Indians
The History of Sea Turtle Conservation in Southwest Florida
Pioneering Alligator Research in Southwest Florida
MY SPEAKING SCHEDULE
January 8, 2008 — Presentation for the Cape Coral Historical Society Museum,
Sanibel Island Before the Causeway. 2:30 pm at the Cultural
Park Theater, 528 Cultural Park Blvd., Cape Coral.
February 9 — Participating in multi-author discussion and book signing at
The Variety Store, St. James City, Pine Island. Noon until 3 pm.
March 8 — Lecture on Sanibel, the Calusa Indians and their weaponry,
and book signing at the Sanibel Island Bookshop, 1571 Periwinkle
Way. 11 a.m. to noon.
OUR OPERATIONS
Amber Publishing is a small publishing house specializing in the production and distribution of a series of regional books, in both fiction and nonfiction genres. Two unique videos have recently been added to our inventory. Our titles pertain to the wildlife and historical values of Southwest Florida. We sponsor the Southwest Florida Natural History Newsletter.
Sanibel Sign Services was a manufacturer of signs of all kinds until it ceased operations in 2004. It was the original island sign company and for 46 years it was the only commercial sign shop physically located on Sanibel Island. The company specialized in custom, quality sign craft. The linked page and its images are being retained for historic and nostalgic reasons. A variety of small novelty signs are still offered for sale through our link, Signs for Sale.
Charles LeBuff and Associates is a technical group offering consulting services to coastal engineers, developers, and municipalities for permitting and permit conformity issues regarding sea turtle biology and conservation in Florida.
Sanibel, BC (December 1952) — The ferry, Islander, leaving the Sanibel Island Ferry Landing, bound for Punta Rassa. After May 26, 1963, ferries no longer connected Sanibel Island to the outside world. That day, the opening of the first Sanibel Causeway changed Sanibel and Captiva Islands forever. Read about it in Sanybel Light, and see and hear about it in our Sanibel, BC DVD.
CONTACT INFORMATION
- TELEPHONE
- 239.561.9161
- POSTAL ADDRESS
- 14040 Eagle Ridge Lakes Drive — Apartment 101 — Fort Myers, FL 33912
- ELECTRONIC MAIL
- General Information: AmberPublishing@aol.com