Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
Note: CenturyLink services were restored to some islanders on Tuesday afternoon, after this article was written. BY OLIVIA CAMERON- Last week, local complaints concerning the lack of internet service in Boca Grande stretched on for over seven days. Those who were hooked up to CenturyLink noticed the shortage but were unsure why the problem remained […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Entertainment.
STAFF REPORT- On Sunday, June 21 at 5 p.m., Grande Glee is going to premiere their Cocktail Concert on the Spark Boca Grande TV channel on YouTube. No, it’s not the concert they originally planned to sing last April. Instead, this group decided to spend the pandemic working on new solos. Together. Every Wednesday […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Sports & Outdoors.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON- Just 50 miles from the east coast of Florida rest the western islands of The Bahamas, an archipelagic state that has consistently thrived off of tourism and fishing until the pandemic created a domino effect on the economy and public safety. According to USA Today, over 590,000 boaters frequented The Bahamas during […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE- The weather was suited more for the fish than the anglers, but even with torrential rain and storms the 2020 Quarantine Classic yielded 70 tarpon released over two days, and Capt. Charlie Coleman and his team aboard Casuarina taking top honors. The team that included Emily and Howard Wise, Nick Wenzel and […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE- An old Boca Grande business is getting a new leg up with customer service: Grande Aire Services, Inc. recently announced they will open a new location, in Englewood. Don’t fret though, Boca Grande customers. They will be continuing to serve our island community at their current location; they’ll just have less traffic […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
STAFF REPORT- Gasparilla Island Water Association, Inc. (GIWA) will be temporarily changing the disinfection process for its Placida and Boca Grande potable (drinking water) water supply. From June 15 at 8 a.m. through July 27, GIWA will disinfect the water with free chlorine rather than combined chlorine/ammonia (chloramines). This conversion to chlorine (which is a […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
Without our history, it’s difficult to remember where we came from. These words of wisdom have been repeated quite often as of late, but they take on a new meaning when pertaining to the island. Gasparilla Island has changed so much, it’s difficult to picture what it used to be like. A particularly good example […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
SUBMITTED BY THE SUNCOAST HUMANE SOCIETY– During worrisome and unknown times, Suncoast Humane Society had to make many quick decisions. On April 1st, an urgent plea was made to our community to help foster dogs, cats and rabbits by providing safe, loving homes before the statewide Stay-at-Home order went into effect. Our wonderful community showed […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Obituaries.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE- There are few woman in any first-world country who could sit at the finest table in the finest home, and casually discuss how she skinned a goat on board a cruise ship to the Galapagos Islands, or how she drank heated mare’s milk with urine to get her day started in middle […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Community History.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE- The Boca Grande Historical Society has done some timelines in the past, but primarily ones put together for specific times or events in history. Now, though, historians can browse what the BGHS has called “the mother of all timelines.” This timeline begins, quite literally, at the beginning of time for the state […]