Community
Englewood Leadership visits the island
May 15, 2025
        
    
        
        
                
Leadership Englewood Class of 2025 celebrated their Tourism and Hospitality Day on Gasparilla Island. Shown here are many who orchestrated the day. The class got to drive around in golf carts, learn…
        
        
        
                
                
                        Commissioners at May 13 parking meeting
May 8, 2025
        
    
        
        
                
Two Lee County Commissioners, Cecil Pendergrass and David Mulicka, are scheduled to be in Boca Grade for a community forum on the issue of parking on Gasparilla Island. The meeting is at 2 p.m. on T…
        
        
        
                
                
                        Bissell Pet Foundation shelter program assists Suncoast Humane
May 8, 2025
        
    
        
        
                
Bissell Pet Foundation’s program Empty the Shelters returns this spring from May 1-15, 2025. This lifesaving initiative helps make adoption more affordable by sponsoring reduced fees of $70 or less…
        
        
        
                
                
                        2025 Graduate
May 8, 2025
        
    
        
        
                
Logan McGinty is graduating from Lemon Bay High School in a couple of weeks. He will be attending the University of Florida in the fall, majoring in either mechanical or aerospace engineering. Logan…
        
        
        
                
                
                        Graduate!
May 8, 2025
        
    
        
        
                
Sophia Dickerson has worked at the Innlet at the Outlet for three years. She loves going to the beach and spends a lot of time on the island. Sophia is graduating from Lemon Bay High School and plan…
        
        
        
                
                
                        Englewood Art Center closes its doors
May 8, 2025
        
    
        
        
                
After 17 years of operation, the Englewood Art Center closed May 3.
The art center, which is owned by the Ringling College of Art and Design, has been operating in the red for a while now and it…
        
        
        
                
                
                        Patchwork of Policies: How Florida beach towns manage public access
May 2, 2025
        
    
        
        
                
BY MARCY SHORTUSE
With a considerable population increase in Florida in the last five years, more and more Florida beach towns are being forced to consider what their options are as far as parkin…
        
        
        
                
                
                        O’Bannon on famed fishing podcast
May 1, 2025
        
    
        
        
                
Capt. Phil O’Bannon appeared this week on the Mill House podcast. The sporting show podcast is led by Andy Mill, an athlete, broadcaster and author. Mill, an Olympic skier, is the author of “A Passi…
        
        
        
                
                
                        Fund for replacement deputy house now at about $190,000
May 1, 2025
        
    
        
        
                
Fundraising continues for a new house for a sheriff’s deputy house on Gasparilla Island. This week, over $55,000 came in, with a total of approximately $190,000 raised so far. Last week, $76,000 was…
        
        
        
                
                
                        New banyan arrives for Town Park landscaping
May 1, 2025
        
    
        
        
                
BY THE GICIA
The Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association Town Park, located between 3rd and 5th Streets, is buzzing with activity. Restoration began on Monday, April 21.  
D…