Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY T MICHELE WALKER – When Dos Equis beer created their “Most Interesting Man in the World” advertising campaign, the ads featured a bearded, debonair gentleman with voiceovers that were both humorous and outrageous. Boca Grande has its own version of that icon in Tom Cross, who gives him a run for his money. Born […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial, Featured News, News.
SUBMITTED BY THE GICIA – As the Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association celebrates its 50th Anniversary working to preserve island life, it is the perfect time to reflect on its beginning. In the late 60s there were fewer than 500 homes on Gasparilla Island. The zoning regulations, at that time, allowed for high rise […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, Letters to the Editor, News.
To the Editor, “… some rich men came and raped the land, nobody caught’em. Put up a bunch of ugly boxes, and Jesus, people bought’em. They called it paradise the place to be. They watched the hazy sun sinking in the sea…” – The Eagles When I drove past the property at 13000 Gasparilla Road […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY TONYA BRAMLAGE – One of the most amazing aspects of living on the beach on Gasparilla Island is to see sea turtles coming up to nest on our beaches. While only a few people have been lucky enough to witness that, or a clutch of sea turtles emerging from their sandy nests, many more […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY SUSAN HANAFEE – More than 50 items, many of them original art pieces by local artists, will be for sale in the Methodist Church Fellowship Hall from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 14. Proceeds will benefit women and children in need who are served by charities in Lee, Charlotte and Sarasota counties. […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY T MICHELE WALKER – Residents living in the 760 Gulf Blvd. block received a courtesy notice regarding receipt of a zoning application dated February 10, 2021. “This application is for a parking variance for the South Beach Grille restaurant,” said Timothy Engstrom. “The applicant is seeking approval to allow an expansion of the existing […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
STAFF REPORT – The Barrier Island Parks Society is thrilled to welcome back renowned authors and professional naturalists, Dr. Blair and Dawn Witherington, as part of BIPS 4 BIPS Forums & Lecture Series. The annual BIPS 4 BIPS Forums & Lecture Series is one more way BIPS shares our mission of over 30 years to […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Obituaries.
Deirdre O’Neil, 83, of Beverly Farms, Mass. and Boca Grande, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 15, 2021. Deirdre was the only child of John and Helen (Ford) Fahey, born on September 16, 1937 in Cambridge, Mass. Her dear cousin Anne (Duggan) Quicke was “adopted” when Deirdre was 3. Her own mother’s passing when […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Profiles.
BY T MICHELE WALKER – When you think of famous detective duos, thoughts wander to Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Mulder and Scully from the X Files, or perhaps Nick and Nora Charles from the Thin Man series. Boca Grande has its own history detective duo in Jim and Rose Marie Blaha. Behind every lead […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY SUSAN HANAFEE – Emails opposing the inclusion of a major portion of historic downtown Boca Grande into the National Register of Historic Places are pouring into the Historic Preservation Board’s mailbox ahead of a public meeting on the issue next month. “At this point, based on the emails we are receiving, many more people […]