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Waterside dump project site at Charlotte Commission on July 28

The approval for a site restoration plan for a 300-acre former orange grove in the eastern part of Charlotte County on Bermont Road will have a public hearing at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28 at the Ch…

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Report on growth in Charlotte County

A July 2026 economic development report scheduled to be presented to the Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners at their meeting on Tuesday, July 28, will detail growth in the county. The…

Shop local at The Tide

Emma and Charlie are having fun and supporting local businesses. Shown here at The Tide, 321 Park Ave. this week. Stop in at the Old Theatre Building on Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11…

Last week of the season to visit The Temp

Joe (left), Andrea, Britt and Tom, along with Jessie, enjoying their afternoon at The Temp. The Temptation Restaurant won Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence for the 24th year in a row! Time is qui…

Tech market to support local Charlotte Technical students

Charlotte Technical College is starting a new vendor market on its campus. This event hopes to bring in 100 vendors, food trucks, hands-on activities and more. The idea came from numerous student an…

Island School hosts open house for back-to-school as August looms

The Island School will host its Back-to-School Open House and Meet the Teacher Night from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6. The event gives families an opportunity to meet their child’s teacher, v…

Island School rates ‘A’ in yearly state report

The Island School has once again earned an “A” rating from the Florida Department of Education for 2026. In a release, Head of School Christine Oliver said that the achievement “reflects the dedi…

New Gasparilla Island Magazine out for July/August

Above, the July/August Gasparilla Magazine cover image captured by H Wetzel in Key West in 2023. The new Gasparilla Magazine is out for July/August 2026. Inside are a bevy of stories in one o…

4th Golf Cart Parade

The Boca Grande Fourth of July Golf Cart Parade is set for Saturday morning. The event is an annual July 4th tradition on the island. There are no entry fees, and you just need to line up around 8:3…

Summer Live Music Series at Scarpa’s

Kenny Rose performed at Scarpa’s Coastal last week for Scarpa’s “Island Summer Live Music Series.” Amy Cyr will be performing on Friday, June 26 from 5 to 8 p.m., 321 Park Ave., Boca Grande …

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Jason Wickman

A family legacy of music After a career with Microsoft and now with a technology startup, Jason Wickman has gone back to a longtime hobby: not only singing, but songwriting. This year, he put out his first album, “Beaches of Boca,” which is now on Spotify and all the other platforms. “I started writing and […]

Sports & Outdoors

Health & Wellness

Boil-water notice for Cole Island rescinded

The boil-water notice issued for the Cole Island portion of Gasparilla Island and Boca Grande North Association was rescinded Monday, July 6. “All of the bac-t samples have been cleared by Sander…

Boil Water Notice for Cole Island and Boca Grande North

Editor’s Note: The notice has been rescinded as of July 6. A Precautionary Boil Water Notice has been issued for the Cole Island portion of Gasparilla Island and Boca Grande North…

First patients at new Health Clinic

Kim Newlin (above) was the first patient appointment at the new clinic. Photographed with Dana Pellant, L.P.N. Kimberly Whipple (right) was the first same-day patient at the new clinic. Photogra…

New Boca Grande Health Clinic dedicated

The Boca Grande Health Clinic opened the doors of their new Clinic of the Future on Tuesday, with over 300 gathered. The $30 million project not only includes new clinic offices and facilities, but…

Sunday morning fire at Boca Grande North likely from lighting storm

A lightning strike was the apparent cause of a roof fire at a condo on the east side of Boca Grande North that began sometime before 7 a.m. this morning. “We believe that lightning struck the buildi…

Reminder list on hurricane preparations, calm season so far

Above, storm preparation in years past. File photo Nearly two months into hurricane season, the island has finally begun to see some precipitation; as the season progresses, now is the time to pr…

Some kind of ‘strike’ on 4th

On Sunday, July 12, around 5:20 p.m., Deputy David Scozzafava with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, responded in reference to a third-party complaint about a man and woman in a physical altercation…

Fire Department plans millage, preps for union; gate access talk

The Boca Grande Fire Department is planning a 7.8 million budget for the next fiscal year, and plans to advertise a millage rate of 1.7605, up from 1.706 last year. “We’ve bumped up the reserves…

News Archives

John Larsen 1939-2026

John Allen Larsen was born on August 10, 1939, and died at home surrounded by family and friends in St. Paul, Minnesota on July 16, 2026. Born in Ve…

Patricia Schuler 1930-2026

Patricia “Pat” Schuler, a longtime resident of Boca Grande, Florida, passed peacefully with her family by her side on June 28, 2026, at the Tidewell…

Dr. Thomas James 1934-2026

Dr. Thomas P. James, radiologist and passionate sailor, passed away in Tidewell Hospice House in Venice on June 13. He was 92. Tom and his wife…

Bob Leland, 1934-2026

Bob Leland, devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, entrepreneur, and lifelong supporter of the University of Michigan, pas…

Jeffrey Edward Larson 1987-2026

Jeffrey Edward Larson was born February 12, 1987 and was taken to heaven May 28, 2026. He was 39 years old. He resided with his mother and father, J…