News
The Promenade: A piece of island history with a ‘Grande’ past
June 12, 2020
BY MARCY SHORTUSE- Without our history, it’s difficult to remember where we came from. These words of wisdom have been repeated quite often as of late, but they take on a new meaning when pertaining…
The story of fostering hope in the midst of a pandemic
June 12, 2020
SUBMITTED BY THE SUNCOAST HUMANE SOCIETY- During worrisome and unknown times, Suncoast Humane Society had to make many quick decisions. On April 1st, an urgent plea was made to our community to help…
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Many thanks for a wonderful ending to the 2020 school year
June 12, 2020
To the Editor, and to the community of Boca Grande: When we were faced with the reality of distance learning with nine weeks left in the school year, The Island School’s teachers, staff, students, an…
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Sheriff thanks all who keep the peace, sends zero tolerance message to those who do not
June 12, 2020
To the Editor, to the citizens of Lee County and my family members at the Lee County Sheriff’s Office: I want to personally thank the residents of our great county who play a huge role helping keep t…
OBITUARY: George ‘Ashley’ Gray
June 12, 2020
George “Ashley” Gray, 48, of Venice, Florida, passed on May 27, 2020, as a result of a motorcycle accident near Woodsboro, Maryland. Born on June 7, 1971 in Washington, DC, he was the son to Mason W…
PROFILE: Tim Banfell
June 12, 2020
Life imitates art, but cartoonists draw what they see… BY OLIVIA CAMERON-Page five always comes with a splash of color, talking sharks, a peg-leg captain, tourist shenanigans or all of the above. L…
Three boys learned the danger of a spring tide the hard way after jumping off Causeway bridge
June 5, 2020
BY MARCY SHORTUSE- Capt. Chuck Jenks had just dropped his tarpon fishing clients off at Pine Island on the afternoon of May 19 and was looking forward to dipping some crabs at the Boca Grande swing b…
GIWA 2019 water quality report available
June 5, 2020
BY BONNIE PRINGLE, GIWA- Gasparilla Island Water Association, Inc.’s 2019 Water Quality Report is now available online at mygiwa.com/2019CCR.pdf. This report is designed to inform our membership abou…
Three months, 200 parking citations: Most issued post-COVID beach sundown
June 5, 2020
BY OLIVIA CAMERON- After a nice day in the sun, no one wants to get back to their car to see a little paper slip flapping under the wipers. It’s that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach that c…
Governor announces ‘Phase 2’ of plan to be implemented
June 5, 2020
BY MARCY SHORTUSE- Governor Ron DeSantis announced today that Phase 2 of the “Safe. Smart. Step-by-Step” plan would begin to be implemented today, Friday, June 5. DeSantis said this means that all ba…