Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Profiles.
■ BY SUE ERWIN Kelly Emery is a great person to know when you need to cool down, especially during the steamy days of September in Southwest Florida. Kelly is the change-out coordinator at Grande Aire in Boca Grande. If your air conditioning unit breaks and you call for help, your name and paperwork will most likely […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial, Featured News, Letters to the Editor, News, Opinion.
■ SUBMITTED BY CHARLOTTE COUNTY EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER Residents with pets face additional tasks when preparing for a disaster. All Charlotte County shelters accept pets except the special needs shelters. Pet owners are encouraged to prepare ahead of time, should there be a need to evacuate for a possible disaster. Pet-friendly shelters provide a safer […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ STAFF REPORT Grab your fishing pole and tackle box and come join the family fun at our youth fishing tournament on Saturday, Sept. 9 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Boca Grande Fishing Pier North. The event is sponsored by the Boca Beacon, Boca Grande Marina and Lee County Parks & Recreation. The […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE Chase Taylor is a very lucky little boy. After being hit with a foul ball at a Stone Crabs game on August 8, he is not only well on his way to recovery but also got to meet Tim Tebow in person. Stephanie Wheeler Taylor, the daughter of local fishing captain […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Profiles.
■ BY SUE ERWIN Mitch Smith recalls spending the summer months of his youth at day camp at the Boca Grande Community Center. His father, Myron, worked for a cleaning business on the island for many years. His mother, Janice, worked as a teacher in Charlotte County for many years and now works for the Department of […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial, Featured News, News, Opinion.
■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE This week many of us watched in horror as Hurricane Harvey turned into a nasty houseguest who wouldn’t leave and left thousands of people in Texas and Louisiana homeless, displaced and, in some circumstances, dead. It was an unprecedented storm in the fact it stalled out over land and dropped enough […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ SUBMITTED BY THE GICIA – It has been more than 30 years since the Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association (GICIA) bike path was constructed and opened to the public. In that time, with the community’s generous support, GICIA has continued to beautify the 35 acres of property that creates the gateway to Boca Grande. […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ STAFF REPORT – The installation of the Boca Grande swing bridge’s new scale lane is almost complete, and it is scheduled to reopen on Monday, Aug. 28 at 5:45 a.m. The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority originally installed the truck scale in 2000. Removal of the old scale began on Monday, July 31. GIBA Executive Director […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Profiles.
■ BY SUE ERWIN – Known for her smiling face and pleasant manner, Karen Kelley wears many hats at The Island School, where she has been employed since the school started back in 1999. Karen worked in the office that first school year, eventually leading her to other positions as a paraprofessional, creative arts and drama teacher, as […]