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Red tide still rolls along Boca Grande beaches

■ STAFF REPORT A bloom of the Florida red tide organism, Karenia brevis, persists in Southwest Florida and extends from northern Pinellas to Lee counties along 125 miles of coastline. Aerial surveys conducted on Sept. 6 and Sept. 11 as well as recent water sampling indicate that the bloom of K. brevis still extends offshore […]

Turtle nest numbers up compared to 2017

■ BY SUE ERWIN Green sea turtle nesting is happening later into the season than usual, but Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association volunteers are hopeful there are still a few more new nests before the season officially closes on October 31. As of August 31, the Association reported 709 Caretta caretta (loggerhead) turtle nests on […]

BIPS looks for beach ambassadors for new season

■ STAFF REPORT The Barrier Island Parks Society is looking for beach ambassadors to help inspire stewardship and preserve our local beaches. This exciting volunteer program provides informational training, with only two mandatory training dates available on October 27 and November 10. Becoming a beach ambassador means you’ll learn all kinds of fascinating things, and you […]

Obituary Nancy Gaffney

Nancy (Buddy) Gaffney, 76, beloved wife of David M. Gaffney, died on Sunday, September 2, 2018 surrounded by her family and some dear friends. Born in Los Angeles, Calif., she was the daughter of the late Edward C. and Juliette (Adams) Buddy of Westport, Conn. She graduated from Staples High School in Westport before attending […]

Obituary Joan Carol Van Zoeren

Joan Carol Van Zoeren (Hurley), age 86, of Kalamazoo died September 6, 2018. Joan was born December 15, 1931 in Huron, South Dakota to Harland and Edith (Schumann) Hurley and was raised in Chicago. She met Charles Van Zoeren at Ripon College in Ripon WI. She graduated in 1953 and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. […]

Obituary Kevin Hughes

Kevin Hughes of Yarmouth, Maine and Boca Grande Florida passed away peacefully on August 25, 2018 at his home in Boca Grande. He was 84. Kevin attended Cheverus High School and Bowdoin College, with a hiatus to serve in the Korean War, returning to graduate in 1956. He was employed by Proctor and Gamble, and […]

CCA Florida and FWC partners to support Southwest Coast snook population following red tide event

The Coastal Conservation Association Florida (CCA Florida) is partnering with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Mote Marine Laboratory to address the loss to the snook population on the Southwest Coast as a result of the red tide event. The two-year initiative includes raising and releasing 10,000 hatchery-reared juvenile snook along Florida’s […]

Island business to open second location

BY SUE ERWIN – Steve and Jill Kaplan, owners of Kappy’s Market at the north end of the island, are opening a new store in town called “Kappy’s Downtown,” and some of its offerings may seem very familiar. “We saw a void when PJ’s closed, and we thought this would be a good opportunity have a […]

Shell artist aspires to publish children’s book

BY SUE ERWIN – Paulee Bowin met Boca Grande shell enthusiast George Melissas five years ago, while the two were in an art studio in Clearwater Beach. Bowin has been creating shell art for years, and when she shared her passion about shells with him, the master shell collector gave her a variety of shells […]