Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Profiles.
■ BY SUE ERWIN If you haven’t met the newest staff member at the Friends of Boca Grande Community Center, you’ll want to read more about this week’s profile candidate, Jessica Smith. Jessica, 23, started her position as program assistant at the Community Center in May. She was born in California, but […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Letters to the Editor, News.
Jason Maughan is vying for the District 27 Florida Senate seat currently held by Lizbeth Benacquisto. He has issued a challenge to his District 27 Florida Senate opponent to sign the Now or Neverglades Declaration. In her official statements and campaign literature, Senator Benacquisto claims she supports stopping Lake Okeechobee releases and is in favor […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Letters to the Editor, News.
To the Editor: I was disappointed to read the editorial, “The parking-challenged ghosts of Boca Grande” on July 22nd. I found it mean-spirited and inaccurate, seemingly intended to foster an antagonistic relationship between so-called selfish beach street property owners and everyone who parks on these streets. As a homeowner and president of our neighborhood association, […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
The traffic shift that was scheduled to shift traffic to the new northbound lanes on CR 771 (Gasparilla Road) from Rotonda Boulevard to SR 776 on July 20 has been moved to the week of July 25 due to weather delays. Two-way traffic will shift from existing lanes to the […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE – Island residents David and Patty Hayes walked down the street the 1.5 miles from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland Ohio on Tuesday, July 19 with an easy heart. They were leaving a party hosted by Ohio Governor John Kasich and were en route […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE – It was a hot morning out on Boca Grande Pass on July 16 at 10 a.m., but there were plenty of ladies ready to fish and seek the ever-elusive July silver king. Angler Candy Brooks got lucky. She’s always got a hot hand with the tarpon, and she didn’t let her […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY SUE ERWIN The Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association reported record-breaking numbers for sea turtle nests on July 15, 2016. A turtle patrol volunteer said one zone alone had 84 nests on Monday, July 18. “We are (along with the rest of Southwest Florida) having a record year for nests and crawls,” […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Letters to the Editor, News.
To the Editor: Ladies Draw: Mix and Match Tarpon Tournament was so much fun! Congrats to our winners! First-place winners on the Tracy Lynn with Capt. Willie Mills were Kalee Joiner, Candy Brooks, Leslie Edwards and Jodi Alice. Second-place winners on the Casuarina with Capt. Charlie Coleman were Nicole Coleman, Alex Young, Cannon Jones Wenzel […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial, News, Opinion.
To be exact, taxpayers spent $11.8 million in 2007 and $7.3 million in 2013. Florida taxpayer dollars spent on Boca Grande beaches mean that Florida taxpayers get to use the beach, and use of the beach includes a reasonable number of places to park to access the beach. Insidious, isn’t it? It’s crazy talk. I don’t mean to belittle the plight of the beach access street homeowners.
I understand that they want privacy, they want clean streets, and they want to be able to leave their house by using their driveway any time they want. The flip side of that coin is something I have preached time and time again: When you buy beachfront property in paradise, understand exactly what you’re getting into prior to your purchase.
Don’t expect the world to change just because it inconveniences you. That’s not how it works.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ After many, many years on the island, Thor and Blanche Johnson have moved on to a new phase in their lives. On Thursday, Blanche stopped by to hug some necks and give one last ‘farewell’ as the papers were signed on their island home. You will be forever missed, my friends.