News
Profile: Mike Bower
August 16, 2019
■ BY SUE ERWIN If you’ve visited Hudson’s Grocery recently, you might have noticed a new face helping to run the store. Sporting a bright pink T-shirt, Mike Bower has been working hard at the store…
Pet owners: Use caution when coming in contact with lakes, ponds inland
August 16, 2019
■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE Several readers have contacted me regarding the news reports nationwide of pets dying after swimming in water affected by Harmful Algae Blooms, or HABs. Blue-green algae, otherw…
It’s high tide at midnight: Do you know where your tarpon is?
August 16, 2019
■ BY JOELLEN WILSON, BONEFISH & TARPON TRUST Ten years ago Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) started a tarpon-tagging project in Charlotte Harbor. Back then we used heavy and expensive satellit…
Lightning the cause of two island fires just hours apart
August 9, 2019
■ STAFF REPORT Sporadic and intense lightning storms were named as the culprit in two fire incidents that occurred this week. The first call came in on Wednesday, Aug. 7 at 8:26 p.m. as an outside …
UPDATE: Lee County Code Enforcement sweeps island on Friday, closes some complaints
August 9, 2019
■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE UPDATED STORY AS OF THE AFTERNOON OF FRIDAY, AUG. 9 … A Code Enforcement officer was on the island Friday morning, and he has already closed out several of the complaints agains…
Don’t forget the paving at the bridge
August 9, 2019
■ STAFF REPORT The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority will be having the road paved from Placida Road to the toll booth, beginning sometime around August 12. Be prepared for one-lane traffic and so…
BIPS announces new lighthouse plates available
August 9, 2019
■ STAFF REPORT Images of Jupiter’s beloved, iconic Light are everywhere, and now a very special one is coming to a Florida Tax Collector’s office near you. On Aug. 9, the Department of Motor Vehicl…
Stay tuned for Baldyfest news next week
August 9, 2019
■ STAFF REPORT Boca Grande came out in full force to Litchfield, Maine to honor one of our own, Chief Joe “Baldy” Rinaldi, this past weekend. It was a little bit hectic to try to get all the photos…
ISLAND SHERIFF, FIRE AND EMS NEWS: LCSO investigates stolen golf cart charger
August 9, 2019
■ STAFF REPORT Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a call from an island resident on Thursday, Aug. 1 regarding a stolen golf cart charger from her fenced yard. According to reports, …
Search for scallops in Lemon Bay to take place this weekend
August 9, 2019
■ BY SUE ERWIN Grab your snorkel and mask and scan the sea floor for scallops on Saturday, August 10, along with a group of volunteers as they search the seagrass in Lemon Bay. The annual one-day …