Featured News
Register now for the Annual Bike Path ‘Grande’ Parade
March 7, 2021
STAFF REPORT – The 35th Annual Bike Path “Grande” Parade will be held next Saturday, March 13, with heat times running between 10:30 to 11 a.m. (no regular line-up due to social distancing). Regist…
OBITUARY: Garfield Beckstead
February 27, 2021
Garfield Ray Beckstead, founder and owner of Useppa Island Club, passed away peacefully on the evening of February 16, 2021 at the age of 82 after a long and bravely fought battle with cancer. …
EDITORIAL: Something to be remembered by; would you be willing to leave a legacy to the people of Placida and Boca Grande?
February 27, 2021
BY MARCY SHORTUSE – Just across the little bridge by the Fishery is a 91-acre piece of land that for many of us is a piece of old Florida eye candy. You’ll recognize the parcel I mean by mention…
What women need to know about heart disease
February 20, 2021
BY LAUREN HANA MD – In honor of American Heart Month, in our continuing series on heart health, today I want to focus on women and heart disease. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the …
No festival, but plenty of strawberries ‘ to go’
February 20, 2021
BY SUSAN HANAFEE – The annual Strawberry Festival on Boca Grande, sponsored by the United Methodist Women (UMW), will not be held this year. But there will be strawberries and Jan Myer’s famous sho…
Fred Rich presents his latest novel at Fust for Booknotes 2021
February 20, 2021
T MICHELE WALKER – The Johann Fust Library Foundation kicked off it’s Island Booknotes 2021 with a successful virtual livestream event on Thursday, February 11. Featuring author Fred Rich, who spo…
Hindsight is 2020 …
February 20, 2021
BY KATHY JAMES – No one will dispute that the year 2020 had its challenges, the biggest being COVID-19, the global pandemic. It was and is devastating to so many people for so many reasons in terms…
Ready to catch the big one? Mark your calendar for the youth fishing tournament on February 27
February 20, 2021
STAFF REPORT – Grab your fishing pole and tackle box and come join the family fun at our youth fishing tournament on Saturday, Feb. 27 at 9 a.m. at the Boca Grande fishing pier (Behind Kappy’s Mark…
GICIA Mercabo Cove seagrass planting effort brought to light
February 20, 2021
SUBMITTED BY THE GICIA – In January 2016, the Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association successfully acquired the Mercabo property located at the entrance to Gasparilla Island. It …
A quick salmon recipe from Chef Perkins: Fast and delicious
February 20, 2021
Braden Perkins was born in New Orleans and grew up in Boston. Braden worked for four years with celebrity chef Tom Douglas in Seattle.
In 2011 Braden and his partner, Laura Adrian, opened their fi…