Breaking News
Lee County passes island beach parking restrictions
August 5, 2025
Above, Chamber director Gary Cross addresses the board. Photo by Matt
The Gasparilla Island parking ordinance passed unanimously at Tuesday’s Lee County Commissioners meeting with sever…
Address for Aug. 5 Lee County parking meeting; link to watch on YouTube
August 4, 2025
The Public Hearing on Gasparilla Island parking is Tuesday, August 5 at 9:30 a.m. at the Old Lee County Courthouse, where all Lee County Commission meetings are held. The address is:
Old Lee Cou…
Renourishment shortfall with parking rule
July 31, 2025
$4.2 million example
BY MARCY SHORTUSE
A proposed parking plan for Gasparilla Island will affect the island’s future beach renourishment funding and could include a tax for renourishment, acco…
Mote Marine tests shark-repellent devices
July 31, 2025
Electromagnetic technology could reduce fishing depredation
Scientists at Mote Marine Laboratory’s research facility in Sarasota are testing devices that send electric pulses intended to repel sh…
One injured in boat fire at Turtle Bay Saturday
July 31, 2025
Saturday, July 26 around 9:30 a.m., a coordinated Marine Emergency Response Team (MERT) activation was launched for a vessel fire in Turtle Bay, an estuary at the south end of Cape Haze near the Isl…
Lee County releases parking ordinance draft in advance of Aug. 5 meeting
July 29, 2025
Today, Lee County formally put the new parking ordinance for Boca Grande on the agenda for their August 5, 2025 meeting. It appears in the agenda as “Conduct Public Hearing to Adopt Gasparilla Islan…
Island emergency group meets to prepare for storms
July 24, 2025
The island Emergency Operations group met at the Boca Grande Fire Department on Thursday morning, July 24 to go through updates and procedures for peak hurricane season.
Since Hurricane Ian, and…
Second major fishing theft off of a boat
July 24, 2025
On Sunday, July 20, Deputy Angelo Lanni responded to Miller’s Marina in reference to a burglary and grand theft off of a boat.
The owner of the boat had docked his vessel at 7 p.m. the previous…
Renourishment staging begins, seawall help too
July 24, 2025
Pipes, heavy equipment and two boats from Gator Dredging are now at Gasparilla Island State Park for a long-delayed renourishment project at the south end of the island.
While big bulldozers and…
Methodist Church explains position after online comments
July 17, 2025
Lighthouse United Methodist Church has responded to criticism in social media that it is behind or supporting all the elements in a proposed parking plan for Boca Grande.
Peter Soderberg, Chair o…