Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
Gasparilla Island has been quite the hot topic within Lee County administration circles lately, including some cryptic conversation at a meeting held on November 1 regarding, among other things, debris removal. After Hurricane Ian, Lee County signed a contract with Charlotte County and their subcontractor, Ashford, to clean up Gasparilla Island. Charlotte County already handles […]
Written by Boca Grande Health Clinic on . Posted in Health & Wellness, News.
By Dr. Raymond James, DO, Boca Grande Health Clinic That is a good question after the storm of the century. And when might it be safe? City Water Everyone who was in Boca after the storm remembers how we all incorporated the new routine of the five-gallon bucket shuffle. We brought water from a brown […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
It is possible there will soon be another layer of protection for local manatees, as the Lee Board of County Commissioners voted this week to adopt a year-round manatee protection zone ordinance for Gasparilla Island – specifically the Boca Grande Bayou – as well as a quarter-mile area off Captiva Island and Safety Harbor, North […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Education.
By Donna Catanzarite Fifth-grade students at The Island School have been busy investigating physical science. Through a variety of hands-on activities, fifth grade has been learning about the “super powers” of matter. On Friday, Oct. 21 we scheduled every class to visit fifth grade to learn about solutions. Each fifth-grade student was paired up with […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
Bart DeStefano and Marco Meola, owners of South Beach Bar & Grille, have announced they will be coming back bigger and better than ever, maybe even in the next couple of months. Of course, they won’t be at their original location on Gulf Boulevard, which quite literally exploded and burned to the ground during Hurricane […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
There are so many questions that deserve solid answers when it comes to insurance claims regarding Hurricane Ian. If you have never had to file a claim before it can be a daunting process, and while some are paid out smooth as butter, most are not. There are many glitches that can occur, so remembering […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Health & Wellness, News.
As many of you know, Cayo Costa State Park is where Hurricane Ian made its initial landfall. The damage to the park was catastrophic. Along with so many in our local community, several of the park staff lost their homes, vehicles, and personal belongings. At this time the park is still assessing the full extent […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in News, Profiles.
Being the president of your homeowners’ association can be a rewarding position, but it can also be a demanding one. Following Hurricane Ian, Ken Burnette, president of the Boca Grande North Condo Association, has found the job not only to be demanding, but heartbreaking, too. “We are still in the assessment phase,” he said, still […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Community History, News.
Thank you all for your patience as we deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. I am happy to report that the History Center and all of our historic treasures are safe and did not acquire any storm damage! Like so many of you, the personal homes of our board and staff have suffered damages […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: Island recovery is happening! Businesses are repairing, reopening, and the community is beginning to put itself back together. The Friends office re-opened this week and our team has been hard at work assessing the program schedule for the coming season. It’s true that for many, attending programs may not be at the […]