Author: Sheila Evans

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Curator of the native Boca Grande landscape, Rick Joyce

F or years, the ecological wellbeing of Boca Grande’s plant life has been one of Rick Joyce’s favorite endeavors. Boca Grande, and all of Gasparilla Island, owes much of its beauty and charm to...

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Michigan to Boca Grande Preschool, Jackie Eby

August 29, 2024
Sheila Evans
Education, Profiles

Being known as a jack of all trades is a good thing. It means you are versatile, resourceful, multi-talented and able to move smoothly from one helpful thing to another. The Boca Grande Preschool has...

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: From Kentucky, Paris to Griffith Salon, Candace Beye

August 22, 2024
Sheila Evans
Profiles

Getting a ride to school on your father’s fishing boat sounds like part of a story from Boca Grande’s History Center. Indeed, those stories are favorites around the island. One of the fun and charming...

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: From biology teacher to Boca Grande clinic, Dyan Wilson

It’s not magic, but it is a good omen: when people come to the Boca Grande Health Clinic and encounter nurse Dyan Wilson, they often feel better immediately. Dyan is serious about medicine, but usually...

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Newest teacher at The Island School, Kristen Shank

August 8, 2024
Sheila Evans
Education, Profiles

With a passion for teaching, a deep love of children, a creative spark and 14 years of experience, Kristen Maitland-Shank is “super excited” to be the newest teacher at The Island School for third...

Calusa Waterkeeper holds Taps Flow for H2O brewery event

August 2, 2024
Sheila Evans
Events

Throughout August, all join Calusa Waterkeeper at local top breweries and bars that will let the Taps Flow for H2O. The event starts on Aug. 3-4 at Millennial Brewing in downtown Fort Myers, and concludes...

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Front line voice for island first responders, Julie Brooks

Julie Brooks is the voice you hear on the phone when you call the Boca Grande Fire Department’s non-emergency number. She is the administrative assistant to the chief, as well as to anyone in the department...

Olympic gelding jumper Baloutinue has local owner

Among the competitors at the equestrian grounds in Versailles, France for the jumping competition for the Paris Olympics is Baloutinue, a 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding. Baloutinue, with rider Laura...

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Love for island, calling at the Health Clinic, Angela Begley

Working in the healthcare field can be one of the most rewarding careers going. That is something Angela Begley has discovered, and it gets even better when you can do it at the Boca Grande Health...

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Took Baghdad, now construction and hunting, Rodney Yount

July 18, 2024
Sheila Evans
Profiles

Like many young people, Rodney Yount joined the military as a “young buck,” looking for adventure while showing his patriotism. He ended up having adventures, but he paid a bigger price for them than...