News
South sidewalk, decreased revenue topic at GIBA quarterly meeting
August 21, 2020
STAFF REPORT – The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority Quarterly Board meeting was held on Tuesday, August 18, virtually and in the offices of the Authority.
The Members of the Authority were updated…
New beginnings for Water Association as concrete pad is poured for wastewater reclamation facility
August 21, 2020
BY BONNIE PRINGLE – This spring, the Gasparilla Island Water Association contracted with Cardinal Contractors, Inc. for Phase 2 of the rehabilitation of our wastewater treatment facility. The project…
Stories of early island fishing guides (Part I of II)
August 21, 2020
SUBMITTED BY THE BOCA GRANDE HISTORICAL SOCIETY – Local guides have been taking guests fishing since the late 19th century. Among the early guides was Phalo Padilla, born in 1888, who was a guide at…
PROFILE: Hermila Perreault
August 21, 2020
BY OLIVIA CAMERON – From a Catholic upbringing to administrative assistant at a Methodist church, Hermila Perreault has found a job in Boca Grande that, in her own words, is “very rewarding, beca…
Three lucky finds …
August 21, 2020
STAFF REPORT – Bryan Steinman is a very lucky kid. The 11-year-old was visiting his grandparents, Bill and Jean Steinman, of Boca Grande when he found three rare junonia shells on the beach on Ju…
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Has an adopted pet changed your life?
August 20, 2020
To the Editor: The Petco Foundation, together with BOBS from Skechers, want to know all the ways, big and small, that your adopted pet has changed your life for the better. Winning stories will re…
Feisty blacktip takes a chunk out of Iowa man’s arm in local waters
August 14, 2020
BY MARCY SHORTUSE- An Iowa man will have an interesting story to tell after his trip to Boca Grande left him minus a bit of flesh, but alive and well.
Mote Marine documents another first for corals in Florida
August 14, 2020
Colonies of coral have spawned in breakthrough restoration STAFF REPORT- For the first time in Florida or Caribbean waters, restored massive corals were observed spawning – part of sexual reproductio…
Bzzz… zzz… Mosquito Control is hard at work to reduce that annoying buzz
August 14, 2020
BY OLIVIA CAMERON- Lee County Mosquito Control District has worked around the clock to collect accurate data on the local mosquito population. Mosquito spraying, however, is not on a fixed schedule…
A Tribute to Dee: Family suggests to name room at Community Center after beloved lady
August 14, 2020
BY MARCY SHORTUSE- Legends never die, and our island has had our share of great ones. There are some names that stick out more than others, though, and Dee Wheeler’s is one of them. While she was bor…