Author: Garland Pollard

Placida Road apartment project appears stalled

A proposed apartment building set to be located behind Cape Haze Plaza, appears to be stalled as a development. In 2022 before Hurricane Ian, a 108-unit multi-family housing project was in the...

Island deputies now wearing bodycams

Sheriff’s office had held off on adopting Motorola recorders As a result of a county-wide purchase of bodycams from Motorola, Lee County deputies on Gasparilla Island are now wearing body cams. That...

Redundant systems and Boca Grande’s Auxcomm

February 29, 2024
Garland Pollard
Editorial

In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, communications for Cape Haze and Boca Grande went back to the pre-Flintstones era. That might sound extreme. It is not, as Barney and Fred had dial phones with...

Island emergency leads meet for Auxcomm introduction

The steering committee for Gasparilla Island’s new Auxiliary Emergency Communications system met Monday morning at the Boca Grande Fire Department to hear a presentation about the new system’s capabilities,...

Three missing boaters were fixtures at Boca Grande houses

February 29, 2024
Garland Pollard
Breaking News, News

Longtime employees, friends, rally to cause of lost fathers Three of the four men lost off the coast near Venice in an apparent fishing boat accident on Feb. 17 were employees of Safety Harbor Builders...

Cape Haze at nexus of American sawfish revival

February 23, 2024
Garland Pollard
Editorial

We reside in a sawfish aquarium, Charlotte Harbor. It’s Jurassic Park, and you don’t have to visit Universal Orlando. Last Thursday, sawfish expert Tonya Wiley delivered a talk in Cape Haze as part...

Like looking into the sun with the Geographic

February 22, 2024
Garland Pollard
Editorial

Sixty years ago, the National Geographic came to Florida. The magazine devoted over 50 pages to this state, in a major feature called “Florida Rides a Space Age Boom.” Some of us might admit to...

Pelican Cove plan adds 256 condos to Placida Road

February 22, 2024
Garland Pollard
Breaking News, News

A new, 256-unit condo complex called Pelican Cove is proposed along Placida Road, near Hacienda Condos and across from the Coral Caye development. The 25-acre project with address 8019 Placida Road...

‘Sunflower Effect’ makes bendy tower

February 22, 2024
Garland Pollard
Featured News, News

A small and occasional bend in the new Boca Grande cell tower is a common issue with steel pole construction. It is not an optical illusion. The cellular industry calls the issue the “Sunflower...

Resort and marina at Placida fishery nets updated site plan

February 22, 2024
Garland Pollard
News

Work to bring the grounds of the old Placida Fishery project back to life are proceeding, albeit slowly. “We are working with Charlotte County to finalize the utilities and easements,” said Jay Feinberg,...