Author: Staff Report

Water service returns to most of Gasparilla Island

Gasparilla Island Water Association has about 95 percent of the island’s water connections back in service. “We are getting to the nitty gritty,” said Ron Bolton, GIWA’s executive...

Water service update for Boca Grande

At the end of the day on Friday, Oct. 18, GIWA Executive Director Ron Bolton reported that approximately 60 percent of members are back in service. Sewer lift stations are also back on FPL power. The...

Recovery scenes

October 18, 2024
Staff Report
News

Above, the exterior of the railroad station shows progress in cleanup. Below, a water truck waits by the Louise duPont Crowninshield House, where water flood marks can still be seen. Photos...

Photos: Milton Recovery

October 18, 2024
Staff Report
News

Top row has Century Link and preparation before the storm. Other familiar views of recovery, including Glenn Scarpa in muck. The wet stack at right is a bundle of our Boca Beacon Visitor Guides. Left,...

Photos: Going forward

October 18, 2024
Staff Report
News

Clockwise from top, remediation trucks at The Gasparilla Inn. Right, street sweepers from Lee County are busy. Ziad & Kaz Kazbour, BubbaQue’s of Brandon, came thanks to the Faustini Family of Pavement...

It came by for a visit …

October 18, 2024
Staff Report
News, Sports & Outdoors

The night of Monday, Oct. 14, a comet known as C/2023 A3, or Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, was photographed 45 minutes after sunset at the Boca Grande Lighthouse. See you again in 80,000 years. Photo by ...

Friends of Boca Grande Postpones Programs Amid Storm Recovery

October 18, 2024
Staff Report
News

Friends of Boca Grande Community Center will postpone all scheduled programs for November and December as the island continues its recovery from storms Helene and Milton, both of which flooded the...

Business and Real Estate: About the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program

October 18, 2024
Staff Report
News, Real Estate

The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan program provides short-term, zero-interest working capital loans that are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a disaster impacts a business...

Unemployment assistance

October 18, 2024
Staff Report
News

Florida Commerce is accepting applications from eligible residents whose employment or self-employment was lost or interrupted due to Hurricane Milton. Residents are encouraged to submit a claim at...

Sand and sandbag post-hurricane instructions

October 18, 2024
Staff Report
News

Residents can use over-washed sand to fill in holes and may return sand to the beach as long as the below requirements are met, including the return of sand to the beach dune system which has been...