After four years of running Boca Grande’s Royal Palm Players and leading its return to an unprecedented financial success, Michele Strauss, the Managing Director/Artistic Director, has decided to leave at the end of this season.

Strauss said, “It has been a wonderful four years but I am ready for a bigger challenge.”

Fewer shows, more fun. That’s the new direction Royal Palm Players announced for its 2012-2013 season.

After successfully producing six plays and seven special events this year, RPP has decided to streamline next year’s offerings. Three plays will be produced, with two in a different venue than the usual Boca Grande Community Center.

The Boca Grande Woman’s Club, one of the island’s hardest-working non-profit organizations, has had a great season of receiving ... and giving ... donations. This year, more than $380,000 has been generously given to the Boca Grande Woman’s Club Scholarship Fund, and to numerous island organizations.

Among those donations are $10,000 marked for the Friends of Boca Grande Munchkin and After School Programs and $16,000 for youth summer camps.

BY MARCY SHORTUSE - Plans for the renovation and rehabilitation of the Johann Fust Library will be discussed at the next Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board meeting on Wednesday, April 11.

The current proposal calls for moving the library resources at the Lee County Reference Room of the Boca Grande Community Center to the Fust Library. Lee County will fund the library resources. The Johann Community Library of Boca Grande Inc. will maintain the ownership of the building, grounds and endowment and will be responsible for operating and maintenance expenses of the buildings and grounds.

Want to connect with Sheriff Mike Scott? He will be available for a “meet and greet” at The Gasparilla Inn & Club in the Sharp Room on Wednesday, April 11 from 4:30 to 6 p.m.

The event is hosted by the local Lee County Sheriff’s Office substation. Light refreshments will be served.

The Boca Grande Fire Department is issuing new hurricane hang tags for 2012 to officials, residents, property owners and business owners for their essential personnel.

To renew a tag that you already have, bring the old tag and your driver's license or other identification to the fire station and you will be issued a replacement. The current green residential and pink commercial tags are no longer valid and will not get you back onto the island if there is a storm.

Hangtag renewal is determined on a yearly basis. Do not throw out your old tags.