Author: Garland Pollard

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 delivering food aid in Gaza. He is the nephew of island...

Preservation study slated for historic Placida rail bunkhouse

Last remnant of historic Placida village The Placida Bunkhouse, a 1907 cottage used to house the railroad workers of the Charlotte Harbor & Northern Railroad, will get an architectural survey,...

Eldred’s Marina listed with national brokerage

$40 plus million price hoped The Placida marina Eldred’s is listed for sale with the national brokerage firm Avison Young as of March 15. “We are excited by the listing of this iconic property,”...

Why Placida matters to Gasparilla Island

This week, we have a story on the sale of Eldred’s (pictured here). Of course, we all know it needs a new custodian. Its current, old Florida, charming and useful state, cannot survive when the property...

Lee residents lose flood insurance discount

Savings remain in Charlotte Lee County homeowners could face a 25 percent increase in their already increased flood insurance premiums next year if a Federal Emergency Management Agency discount...

We value those 4-Digit Phone Book ‘social calls’

We appreciate the many personal visits from residents coming by to pick up their 4-Digit Phone Book. We have a standard ritual for it, namely we check to see if the listing is correct, we give each...

Youngquist pulls out of Useppa Island Club purchase deal

A fall deal to purchase the Useppa Island Club by investor and entrepreneur Sandy Stillwell Youngquist, owner of the Key Lime Bistro in Boca Grande, has fallen through. Stillwell, CEO of the Stilwell...

Pascua Florida, or Feast of Flowers

Of the two big religious holidays, it is Easter that is the one that makes the most sense, culturally to Florida. In the imagination, Christmas is a cold weather holiday, and a “too hot” Christmas...

Penny the shark pings Southwest Florida for Spring Break

Great white Penny first found in Carolina blue waters Penny the Shark seems to be making an early Easter visit off of Gasparilla Island. Tagged at 522 pounds as a juvenile, the Carcharodon carcharias...

Carillon bells ring again, parsonage restored at First Baptist

Those on the island at noon and 5 p.m. will know what time it is without a watch or iPhone, as the carillon is now ringing at First Baptist Church of Boca Grande. “The Baptist Church carillon is...