Author: Garland Pollard

Charlotte County Ponders Fate of Historic Placida Bunkhouse

October 12, 2023
Garland Pollard
News

A Charlotte County historic plaque makes a very clear promise about the Placida Bunkhouse, an old railroad dormitory that is currently resting and rotting behind the South Gulf Cove Publix off of Gasparilla...

Tourist Development Tax Assists Barrier Island Parks

October 12, 2023
Garland Pollard
News

Two budget items benefitting the Barrier Island Parks Society, including paths for Gasparilla Island State Park and a boat for Cayo Costa, will be presented at the Oct. 17, 2023 meeting of the Board...

Five more years: Lee County renews lease for Fust Library

October 5, 2023
Garland Pollard
Community, News

At their Oct. 3, 2023 Board of County Commissioners meeting, Lee County approved and extended their lease with the Johann Fust Library Foundation, Inc. for the Boca Grande branch library. The lease...

As of October tax deadline, Ian still highly ‘unqualified’

October 5, 2023
Garland Pollard
News

A tax deduction wrinkle related to the deductibility of Hurricane Ian is still not resolved, a year out from the disaster, and just a few weeks before the final 2022 Internal Revenue Service tax filing...

Real estate sales down but average prices rise

October 5, 2023
Garland Pollard
News

High real estate prices in Boca Grande are giving the rest of the Cape Haze peninsula and the neighboring islands a price boost. “Palm Island has really gone through the roof in the last three years,”...

County considers sewer system for original Cape Haze neighborhood

As Charlotte County is preparing an engineering report for a new sewer system for the original Cape Haze development, current residents there are asking questions about its need. “It’s a long process,”...

Boca Grande Lighthouse work yet to commence … but will soon

Work has still not yet begun on repairs to the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse. “A start date is anticipated within the next 30 days,” said Brooke Keck, of the Florida Department of Environmental...

Dog park, pickleball, beach renourishment items in 2023-24 Lee County budget

The most recently approved budget for Lee County, passed Sept. 19 and unanimously by the Board of County Commissioners, will total approximately $2.5 billion. The county has earmarked two specific...

A seahorse, a used COVID test and 1,000 pacifiers (and much more) found at Coastal Cleanup

September 21, 2023
Garland Pollard
Featured News

Volunteers gathered on Gasparilla’s beaches for the annual International Coastal Beach Clean Up, held across the world, and on island, on Saturday, Sept. 16. “We even had a couple of walk-ons,”...

Temptation sign returns, new special label Maker’s Mark bourbon to be on hand in honor of the occasion

September 21, 2023
Garland Pollard
Community, News

The Temptation is planning a street party on Saturday, Oct. 7 to celebrate the reinstallation and restoration of their historic sign and the restaurant’s 75th anniversary. This is actually the 12th...