Author: Garland Pollard

Local officials lead Florida seacoast recovery conference

September 21, 2023
Garland Pollard
Community, News

Local experts on seacoast ecology are leading state efforts to reconcile scheduled beach replenishment and the environment at the second Florida Resilience Conference, set for Sept. 27-29 in Fort Lauderdale....

Vanderbilt-vintage modernist Cape Haze Community Center upgraded

One of the original elements of the Cape Haze development of Alfred and William Vanderbilt began restoration this week. The Cape Haze Community Center, which sits just off the fountain entrance...

A future for branch banking? While so many have closed, our local banks vow to remain viable

September 14, 2023
Garland Pollard
Uncategorized

Despite at least a dozen local bank branch closures in as many years, local “brick-and-mortar” banks are still a part of local banking habits. And they may well be around for the foreseeable future. “My...

Lee County vote increases Captiva building height in the name of ‘resilience’

September 14, 2023
Garland Pollard
Featured News

The issue of how tall buildings could be on Captiva was unclear. Ruane asked the County Attorney’s staff whether any building could be higher than 45 feet “base flood,” and possibly reach 75 feet,...

An old treasure in the trees on Placida Road

A parcel on Placida Road, with an empty 1920s cottage just south of the Hacienda condominiums and across from Cape Haze Resort, may have a new owner. The property was originally listed on the commercial...

Flamingos! Flamingos everywhere! Even in Boca Grande and … Ohio?

September 7, 2023
Garland Pollard
Community, News

Hurricanes don’t always bring good things, but the latest hurricane, Idalia, has not only brought the American flamingo back to Florida, but highlighted the potential for the eventual restoration and...

GIWA increase to take effect on October 1

September 7, 2023
Garland Pollard
Community, News

Gasparilla Island Water Authority (GIWA) members will have a rate increase of five percent beginning Oct. 1, 2023, and future rate increases would be able to be approved administratively by the county...

Toll revenue and bridge openings down at GIBA; 2024 budget at $3.8 million

August 31, 2023
Garland Pollard
News

The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority (GIBA) adopted a 2024 budget of $3,827,064 at their Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023 quarterly meeting, which also included drainage issues, salary and investments. Board...

Travel + Leisure magazine’s ‘Best Small Town Beach’ spawns accolades in People, Time Out

August 31, 2023
Garland Pollard
News

Mostly forgotten 1970s teen idol Leif Garrett is reputed to have told Justin Beiber not to believe his own publicity, as every “chicken hawk wants a piece of you.” That might be an apt warning for...

Boca Grande zip beats Nantucket for priciest real estate … but not Fisher Island

August 31, 2023
Garland Pollard
Community, News

The Boca Grande zip code 33921 is one of the top 50 highest-valued real estate zip codes in the U.S., according to new data from Zillow that measured typical home value, akin to a median value. At...