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SANIBEL ISLAND, Fla-- Vice President Mike Pence and his wife are enjoying a week-long vacation on Sanibel Island. Pence first arrived over the weekend but he briefly left for DC on Monday to watch Neil Gorsuch be sworn into the Supreme Court.

On Sunday night, the couple was seen eating at The Timber. The owner, Matt Asen said Pence has been stopping in his restaurant for years.

Bob Averill and Georgina Emery were dining at the restaurant when the Pence's showed up. I got frisked a couple of times. They took my Swiss Army knife, which I always carry with me. It was no big deal. I had to run back down to the car a couple times, said Averill.

That's when Averill decided to use the experience as an opportunity. I ran down to my car and got our little flier for the secret service gentlemen to give him, said Averill.

Averill and Emery own Islander Trading Post, an antique shop just a few blocks from where the Pence's are staying. The couple said giving him a private tour would be a dream come true.

They aren't the only ones hoping to meet the Vice President. Id shake his hand and tell him keep up the good work, said a visitor.

Vacationers said word has spread that Pence is in town. Secret Service has blocked off the street where the family is staying. Coast Guard is keeping watch from the water. Other than a church service and a dinner on Sunday night, visitors and residents said they haven't seen much of him or his wife.

Air restrictions are in place until the 16th. However, several reports have him leaving Saturday to head overseas for work.

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Sanibel residents meet Vice President Mike Pence - Fox 4 Now ... - Fox 4

Pecking Order Fried Chickens Bridgit Stone-Budd welcomes Vice President Mike Pence to Sanibel Island, Fla., on Saturday with an invite for fried chicken, waffles and fried pickles on the house. Patricia Borns/news-press.com

The plane (Air Force Two) of U.S. Vice President Mike Pence lands Saturday at Southwest Florida International Airport in Fort Myers, Florida. Pence is believed to be visiting Sanibel Island over the weekend.(Photo: Kinfay Moroti/news-press.com)Buy Photo

It hasnt been officially confirmed.

However, circumstances point to Vice President Mike Pence returning to Southwest Florida and his presumed vacation shortly after 6 p.m., following a day trip to Washington, D.C.

This was more than an hour past the window of time listed in an FAA "Notice to Airmen" for a temporary restriction on air space use near Southwest Florida International Airport.

And, the plane that a handful of people saw land from a nearby observation lot wasnt the huge 747 jet Pence arrived in on Saturday.

Instead, it was a much-smaller Air Force Gulfstream jet, said Daniel Felton. Hes a commercial pilot who lives nearby, and thought he might catch a glimpse of the arrival from the observation lot on the airfields north side.

Vice President Mike Pence, wife start Sunday at Sanibel church

Why is Felton convinced that indeed was the jet carrying Pence? Besides the plane'smarkings, Felton sawthe cars lined up on Chamberlin Parkway and Air Cargo Lane, stopped by law enforcement officers shortly after the Gulfstream landed and a small motorcade sped from Private Sky Aviation Services toward Daniels Parkway.

Also, there was the ear-piercing siren blast that sounded before and after its landing.

That, Felton said, signaled a ground stop of all aircraft operations, which is probably very usual when youre dealing with VIPs such as the president or the vice president.

Felton also noted that aircraft size does not make a particular plane Air Force Two. A vice president of the United States traveling aboard makes it Air Force Two.

If Monday's motorcade indeed carried Pence, he would have returned to Sanibel in time for one of its belovedwaterfront sunsets.

Pence arrived in Southwest Florida on Saturday, and rode in a motorcade to Sanibel Island.

On Sunday morning, he attended the 8 a.m. service at Sanibel Community Church.

Based on aNotice to Airmen posted concerning a temporary restriction on air space use, it appeared that Air Force Twowould return to RSW sometime between 3:30 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.

That time window passed before the Air Force Gulfstream was sighted. And as of 5:30 p.m. Monday, no new notice had been posted on the FAA website.

Connect with this reporter @Alvascribe (Twitter) and LauraPatrickRuane (Facebook).

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VP Mike Pence commuting from Sanibel for Gorsuch ceremony? - The News-Press

A professor who specializes in religious studies at University of California, Los Angeles says President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence represent troubling trends in American Christianity.

Professor Carla Pestana of UCLA published Arrogant Christians In The White House over the weekend for The Huffington Post, which warns of a future America shaped by the fundamentalist Christian views of Mr. Pence and Mr. Trumps self-indulgence.

Pence adheres to biblical literalism. Put simply, this view asserts that the Bible is a transparent document, one that prescribes specific behavioral guidelines, Ms. Pestana wrote Saturday. Its arrogance lies in the hubris of those who believe that only their chosen answers are correct. Its potential to harm others comes when adherents gain political power and force their mandates on nonbelievers. One of the many dangers emanating out of the Trump White House is the power of Pence to impose not his religion but the behaviors his religion dictates onto the rest of us.

The professor, who currently teaches History of Religion in U.S., then analyzed Mr. Trumps faith as something akin to the prosperity theology adopted by some Christians.

Trumps religion, although very different, is similarly alarming, she wrote. Unsurprisingly Trump accepts a religious viewpoint that tells him he is uniquely awesome. Whatever he has however he acquired it God wants him to enjoy to the fullest. Although traditional Christian social practice mandates that believers exercise humility, charity and other virtues that put others before self, Trumps faith rejects all curbs on self-indulgence and self-aggrandizement.

Quotes by the president and vice president to buttress the professors claims were not provided.

Mr. Pence, a lawyer and Indianas former governor, has a long track record of stating his respect for the U.S. Constitution and the rule of law.

The presidency must adhere to its definition as expressed in the Constitution, and to conduct defined over time and by tradition, Mr. Pencesaid while addressing Hillsdale College students on Sept. 20, 2010. While the powers of the office have enlarged, along with those of the legislature and the judiciary, the framework of the government was intended to restrict abuses common to classical empires and to the regal states of the 18th century.

Presidents change and lawmakers come and go, but The Washington Times is always here, and FREE online. Please support our efforts.

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Carla Pestana, UCLA religion professor, attacks Donald Trump and ... - Washington Times

Residents on Sanibel Island in Southwest Florida noticed a familiar face this weekend

Vice President Mike Pence is vacationing on the island with his wife until April 15.

Many residents said they have spotted his motorcade around the island since Saturday. They are staying in a home on the water, in an undisclosed location, with several secret service agents in tow.

Dave and Lynn Padgett, who live close by, hope to see him while cruising on their boat. Other neighbors could also be seen on their boats hoping to wave hello.

However, boaters did keep their distance, as secret service is also monitoring the home from the sea.

"Normally on a beautiful day like today, you would have different people out on the canal and then turn around. Today, none!" said Lynn.

People at local shops took notice of Pence in town, too.

Laurie Glanzat a Sanibel surf shop tweeted to Pence Saturday, hoping he would stop by during her shift. She even wants to buy him one of their t-shirts.

"Every now and then, I'm looking at the door waiting," she said laughing. "I would just like to tell him thank you," said Glanz.

Pence and his wife were also seen attending a Palm Sunday service at the Sanibel Community Church in the morning.

Some flight regulations are in place over the island for the duration of Pence's stay, before he leaves to Asia. The Padgetts are wishing him a wonderful vacation.

"This is a great place to relax, and we're glad he picked Sanibel to enjoy some time off with his family," said Dave Padgett.

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Vice President Mike Pence, family enjoy vacation on Sanibel Island - WPTV.com

USA Today Network Michael Braun, The (Fort Myers, Fla.) News-Press 3:38 p.m. ET April 9, 2017

Since the first part of 2017, Vice President Mike Pence hasn't appeared before photographers in anything but a business suit. On Feb. 22, 2017, he took off his coat to help volunteers clean up Chesed Shel Emeth Cemetery in University City, Mo., after vandalism at the Jewish cemetery.(Photo: Michael Thomas, Getty Images)

SANIBEL ISLAND, Fla. Red Anderson may not have seen Vice President Mike Pence when he stopped Sunday for early morning services at Sanibel Community Church but the 93-year-old former Purdue University basketball player surely noticed his security detail.

"All the guys over there I thought were a singing group," said Anderson, a spry and witty Indiana native and Sanibelsnowbird. "I asked them if they were going to perform. I wasn't awarethat they were Secret Service."

Anderson said the agents weren't too thrilled at his question, he said. "They kinda looked awry at me," said Anderson, who was manning the church coffee table outside the services.

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Anderson said he played basketball at Purdue about 70 years ago. "I knew (former UCLA coach and Purdue player) John Wooden. But he was a bit older."

The vice president and his wife attended the olive-drab-colored church's 8 a.m. traditional service, said member Steve Solakar, and even took communion.

"Pastor (Daryl)Donovan acknowledgedthe vice president and prayed for him and the president," Solakar said.

The full-time Sanibel resident said that Pence is probably the highest level dignitary to have taken in the island church's services.

"Ben Carson was here once, but that was before he ran," Solakar said. "Nobody as high as the vice president has been here."

Red Anderson, 93, didn't get a look at Vice President Mike Pence when he attended services at Sanibel Community Church on Sunday morning but did see his Secret Service entourage but thought they were a singing group. Anderson, a church member, manned the coffee table for the church on Sunday.(Photo: Michael Braun/The News-Press)

Donovan said that Pence has been to the church beforewhen he would vacation here during his tenure as Indiana governor and other dignitaries who attend from time to time included former CIA director Porter Goss and the former United States Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence retired Gen. Jerry Boykin.

Donovan, who said a couple members also attend church with Pence in Indiana, said he had no idea that the vice president was inclined to come to services.

"I heard he was going to be on the island," he said. "About 7:30 a line of black SUVs started pulling in the parking lot."

Donovan said he felt honored, especially since Pence and his wife got in just last night and then attended the congregation's 8 a.m. service.

"He was so genuine and precious," Donovan said. "He was real sweet. I shook his hand and he said he's been coming here for several years and told me that we had a special ministry."

Vice President Mike Pence and his wife attended the 8 a.m. traditional service at Sanibel Community Church on Sunday morning. Church members said the couple took communion and the church's pastor offered a prayer for him and President Trump.(Photo: Michael Braun/The News-Press)

Jack David, a 25-year member of the church, sat in the back for the services but didn't catch a glimpse of Pence.

"I had to go and drive the church bus to pick up some members," he said. "I did hear he took communion."

David also said he had to show his ID to the vice president's security detail when he went to the men's room.

Other than that bit of divine excitement, it was a normal day on the popular tourist island. Early on traffic was rather light as cooler temperatures prevailed.

Follow Michael Braun on Twitter:@MichaelBraunNP

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Vice President Mike Pence, wife start Sunday at Sanibel Island church - USA TODAY