News
Is ozone the answer? Some say it may help with red tide
August 17, 2018
■ BY SUE ERWIN Mote Marine Laboratory scientists were on Damficare Street on the morning of Tuesday, Aug. 14 to field-test a newly developed method for mitigating Florida red tide (elevated concentra…
Harmful algal blooms in Southwest Florida: Let’s tone down the rhetoric and work together for solutions
August 17, 2018
■ SUBMITTED BY DR. MICHAEL CROSBY MOTE MARINE LABORATORY The fact that Southwest Florida is currently experiencing devastating impacts from harmful algal blooms (HABs) is well understood by all of us…
Two iconic island figures gone, but not forgotten: Jeff Gaines Jr. and Steve Seidensticker
August 17, 2018
■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE Boca Grande native Jefferson Gaines Jr., born May 17, 1935, passed away on Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018. He attended Boca Grande School and graduated from Arcadia High School, then atten…
Charlotte County declares local state of emergency: ‘This is an economic tragedy’
August 17, 2018
■ BY SUE ERWIN Charlotte County Commission staff announced on Tuesday, Aug. 14 that they would be holding an emergency meeting to discuss a resolution declaring a local state of emergency relating to…
What’s this, another lizard on the island? One who walks on water? Well, why not
August 17, 2018
■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE On Sunday, Aug. 12 some local kids were treated to a rare sight as they golf-carted along looking for Pokemon. A small lizard was directly in their path, but it was unlike the ano…
1,000 books before kindergarten: Encourage reading while children are young
August 17, 2018
■ BY SUE ERWIN Kelly Borza started reading to her sons Granger and Grayson before they were born. She had heard that babies could hear words spoken by their moms as they developed, so she started rea…
Lee County continues beach clean-ups in red tide areas
August 17, 2018
■ STAFF REPORT Contractors working for Lee County have removed more than 1,400 tons of fish from Lee County beaches and waterways since beginning work on Aug. 2. That total doesn’t include fish colle…
Red tide public meeting scheduled for August 24
August 17, 2018
■ STAFF REPORT On Friday, Aug. 24 the public is invited to a red tide forum from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Englewood Event Center, 3069 S. McCall Rd. in Englewood. Featured speakers include algae scienti…
Turtle numbers still up despite red tide
August 17, 2018
■ BY SUE ERWIN Despite the effects of red tide, sea turtle nest numbers are continuing to grow, hatchlings are making their way to the water, and excavations are being done by patrol members on a con…
Obituary: Frances Dale Elwood Melvold
August 17, 2018
Frances Dale Melvold of Maquoketa, Iowa, who spent winters with her husband and family members at Boca Grande for more than 40 years, died November 27, 2017 at Clover Ridge Place Assisted Living in M…