News
‘To Go’ only: Florida Governor issues executive order closing all dining rooms in establishments on March 20
March 20, 2020
STAFF REPORT – Here is your to-go dining list for the island. An executive order by our governor has closed all dining rooms in restaurants.
Starting Monday, March 23, shopping will be limited to 10…
Editor’s Note: What a difference a week can make
March 20, 2020
BY MARCY SHORTUSE – Last week in this same spot on the front page we had two cancellations in our social calendar, with a mention of a third, due to COVID-19 concerns. This week the spot is taken up…
A message from the Clinic: ‘It is time to put community above self’
March 20, 2020
BY DALY WALKER, MD – The Coronavirus is now moving explosively through the world’s human population. The latest scientific reports warn that without action by the government and individuals to slow t…
COVID-19 and your tap water: It IS safe to drink
March 20, 2020
BY BONNIE PRINGLE – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that Americans continue to use, and drink tap water as usual. COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking-water supplies…
Beaches closed, Inn closed: Clinic warns, don’t ‘stick your head in the sand,’ COVID-19 could be here
March 20, 2020
BY MARCY SHORTUSE – Effective Thursday, March 19 all Lee County and Gasparilla Island beaches are closed due to concerns regarding COVID-19. This went into stringent effect at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Mar…
EDITORIAL: A time to think, a time to plan
March 20, 2020
BY MARCY SHORTUSE – Did you ever think things would get this crazy? Just a couple of weeks ago we were worried about things that seem so inconsequential now. Whether you believe this virus threat is…
PROFILE: Phil Hubbard
March 20, 2020
BY OLIVIA CAMERON – family, business, sports and nonprofit work in a partnership capacity was a way of life for Phil Hubbard long before he and his wife Patsy began to winter in Boca Grande.Growing u…
Gasparilla Island county beaches are closed
March 19, 2020
Effective Thursday, March 19 all Lee County and Gasparilla Island beaches are closed due to concerns regarding COVID-19.
This goes into stringent effect at 6 p.m. today, March 19. An emergency meetin…
Primary election results in for Gasparilla Island
March 18, 2020
The presidential primary results are in for both Lee and Charlotte County portions of Gasparilla Island. In Lee County the voter turnout was 24.39 percent county-wide; in the Republican primary 92.94…
Health Clinic says, ‘Don’t bury your head in the sand’: Inn has an interesting week in light of COVID-19 concern
March 17, 2020
BY MARCY SHORTUSE – If you don’t believe that COVID-19 is on the island, you should think again. That is the message the Boca Grande Health Clinic is putting out to everyone on Gasparilla Island righ…