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Featured News

Teejay Alderdice, new at Coral Creek Club; former PGA Canada president

Teejay Alderdice of Bracebridge, Ontario is the new general manager of Coral Creek Club, and will begin work on May 1. In 2020, Alderdice was named the 48th president of the Professional Golfe…

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Community

Churches send unified message on need for parking

Churches along Gilchrist Avenue this week sent a letter to Lee County officials reiterating their support for continuing to allow daytime parking in the median of Gilchrist Avenue. The formal lett…

Strawberry Festival women distribute $125,000

Seven area charities will share $125,000 in proceeds raised by the United Women in Faith (UWF) organization at the annual Strawberry Festival. UWF, formerly known as the United Methodist Women, is…

Youth leader celebrated at Lighthouse United

Kathy Peters led the Lighthouse United Methodist congregation in honoring and encouraging this year’s high school and fifth grade graduates, as well as providing personal Bibles for the third grad…

Education

Preschool gets a new playground

The Boca Grande Preschool has completed construction on a new playground that includes a play structure, play yard, storage room expansion, easels and a tall security wall fencing the entire area….

Gasparilla Island Conservation promotes bike safety during spring break

Spring has sprung and Boca Grande is abuzz. With the gorgeous weather, there has also been an increase in people enjoying the GICIA Bike Path. In a cooperative effort to provide a safe and fun exp…

Lemon Bay heads to Florida State Thespian Festival

February 29, 2024

The student theater troupe at Lemon Bay High School is heading to Tampa on March 13 for the Florida State Thespian Festival. There were 21 one-act plays in the district, and Lemon Bay was…

Entertainment

Boca Bargains closes April 27 for the season

Bring home your Derby Hat from Boca Bargains! The store will be closing for the season on Saturday, April 27. Almost everything in the store will be half-price, including clothing, shoes, jewelry,…

Music fest has new headliner

The Boca Grande H2O Music Festival has a new headliner after country star Colt Ford suffered a heart attack after a concert in Arizona on Thursday, April 4. Ford is recovering but has canceled all…

Superstars: Locals remember O.J. and Hulk’s Lou Ferrigno

There was a week in February of 1975 that the late Orenthal James Simpson was king of Rotonda and Cape Haze. The event was O.J.’s victory the ABC Superstars competition, which aired Sunday, Feb. 2…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Attorney, author and Southern storyteller

Jo Hackl, building grit Jo and Bob Hackl love Boca Grande and appreciate the sense of “intellectual curiosity” and “generosity” they feel when on the island. They enjoy the movies at the Community Center, the interesting speakers and the overall depth of community involvement they experience when in Boca Grande. The Hackls are on Harbor […]

Sports & Outdoors

Health & Wellness

Celebrating the people making the Clinic grand

BY MARK DRISCOLL, CEO BOCA GRANDE HEALTH CLINIC Every year we celebrate Doctor’s Day and Nurses Week, but there’s one more recognition event that’s just as important. Administrative Professiona…

Ask a Doc: Parkinson’s disease can now be detected through the skin

BY BRET KUEBER, M.D., ASSISTANT MEDICAL DIRECTOR, BOCA GRANDE HEALTH CLINIC April, the birth month of James Parkinson, is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month. Parkinson’s is a degenerative synd…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Chemist and founder of orphan drugs

There’s a fellow at Sea Oats who has the mind of a scientist and the heart of an artist. Dr. John McCall is an interesting mix, with a humble sense of humor that belies his multiple degrees and ac…

Doctor’s Day at the Clinic, honors for Drs. James, Kueber and Haly

Honoring the physicians of the Health Clinic BY MARK DRISCOLL, CEO BOCA GRANDE HEALTH CLINIC March 30 marks a special day on our calendar – Doctor’s Day. It’s a time to honor those who dedic…

Police & Fire

Charlotte emergency alert program touted

The Wednesday, April 17 town hall meeting between officials of Lee and Charlotte addressed many issues, including emergency procedures. One topic mentioned was Charlotte County’s Alert Charlotte p…

Doubly shocking defibrillation technique saves life at Outfitters

‘Dual sync’ defib takes charge from both sides The Boca Grande Fire Department responded to a call at Gasparilla Outfitters on February 29, 2024, using new technology. The procedure saved custo…

Town hall addresses Lee/Charlotte cooperation

Charlotte County elected officials and representatives gathered at the community center on Wednesday, April 17 for a townhall meeting to discuss topics of concern submitted by Gasparilla Island ci…

Fire District seeks certificate renewal

The Boca Grande Fire Control District submitted an application for renewal of their Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (COPCN), which Lee County staff have recommended for approval at…

News Archives

Obituaries

Remembering Rob Wells of Cabbage Key

Robert Wells Jr., the founder of the modern Cabbage Key and the Tarpon Lodge, died Tuesday. Wells, and his wife Phyllis, purchased Cabbage Key …

Gaza aid worker caught his first fish here

Jacob Alexander Flickinger, a 33-year-old humanitarian food aid worker for the charity World Central Kitchen, was killed April 1, 2024 while deliv…

World Central aid worker called trustworthy mentor, guide

Quebec Parliament recognized his work BY LYNN SEIBERT The world lost a beautiful soul on April 1, 2024 when my beloved nephew Jacob Alexande…

Shelley Lewis 1943-2024

Shelley Lewis of Boca Grande, Florida, and Greenwich, Connecticut, a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sibling, all of whose lives were enriche…

Dean M. Laux 1932-2024

Dean M. Laux, 91, accomplished Army intelligence officer, publisher, editor, and community volunteer, died Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Born Oct. 26, …