Author: Marcy Shortuse

‘Where is Sophie?’ Island couple’s dog goes overboard in a storm, swims to shore

October 28, 2021
Marcy Shortuse
News

Where is Sophie? That was the question Michelle Wolfe asked right before she had one of the worst moments of her life … when she realized her standard poodle, Sophie, was no longer on their boat. Michelle...

USACE holds more ‘listening sessions’ on Lake O releases

October 28, 2021
Marcy Shortuse
News

Moving the water south seemed to be the theme of the Tuesday, Oct. 26 meeting held by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the project delivery team in charge of the Lake Okeechobee System Operating...

Florida DEP says they will begin investigation into Hill Tide fence

October 28, 2021
Marcy Shortuse
Community, News

Little has changed since last week when we reported on the fence erected on the beach and into the water at Hill Tide Estates on the southern tip of the island. Several agencies have been sent inquiries...

… and now there’s a fence …

October 22, 2021
Marcy Shortuse
Community, News

BY MARCY SHORTUSE – The question of who owns the beach – and the water, for that matter – along Charlotte Harbor at Hill Tide Estates has been raised again, as there is now a semi-permanent fence...

New testing methods for schools proposed by governor, appeals court rules in favor of mask mandate ban

September 17, 2021
Marcy Shortuse
Education

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is making waves at the state’s schools once again with an announcement in the last few days, but this time it isn’t just about mask mandates. Just this week DeSantis proposed...

The ‘do’s’ and ‘don’t’ of spearfishing around Gasparilla Island

September 10, 2021
Marcy Shortuse
Sports & Outdoors

Just before our most recent bout of red tide the Boca Beacon received reports of several individuals spearfishing at the end of Belcher Road and in other locations around the south end, and two of...

As faculty, directors decide to allow ‘opt-out’ masking to continue, first case of COVID reported at TIS

September 3, 2021
Marcy Shortuse
News

Two new updates developed over the Labor Day weekend for Island School students, parents and faculty, after a somewhat controversial week preceding. Not only did the faculty and board of directors...

COVID positive patients welcome at new Regeneron clinic in East Englewood

August 27, 2021
Marcy Shortuse
News

Gov. Ron DeSantis was in Englewood on Monday, Aug. 23 to announce the opening of a new monoclonal antibody treatment at the Tringali Community Center, 3460 N. Access Road off McCall Road (State Road...

Fred was a dud, Grace got lost … what’s next?

While Fred came and went with a whimper, and Tropical Storm Grace turned into Hurricane Grace but decided to visit Mexico, Gasparilla Island has received more rain from afternoon thunderstorms than...

As virus numbers rise, officials warn ‘stay healthy, avoid the ER’

August 20, 2021
Marcy Shortuse
News

According to local health officials, after fighting COVID-19 for more than 500 days now, the curve of the virus is continuing an upward trend in our area, in part because of the Delta variant … and...