Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY SUE ERWIN It’s officially stone crab season, and Dr. Phil Gravinese, a scientist at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, said early testing has revealed catches close to shore have not been great. “Decomposing fish pull oxygen from the water, and that increases stress levels in the crabs,” Gravinese said. Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Public Information […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial, Featured News, Letters to the Editor, News, Opinion.
To the Editor: To call this season challenging would be an understatement. Of the six seasons the Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association has been active on the island, 2018 will stand out with all the storms, predators, heat and hard work. Turtle predators thrived, and the red tide was relentless. One blessing this season: We […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
At about 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 2 there were no boats to be found on Whidden’s Creek except one, holding three anglers out looking for clean water and a good bite: And we found it. Capt. Sandy Melvin was our guide, in a quick little Maverick with a shallow draft. He had made us […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
Wednesday, October 5, 2018 PHOTOS BY DUSTY, JULIANNE AND SKIP PERRY
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ STAFF REPORT Walk in the very steps of lightkeepers from the past. Reserve your space now for a 20-minute climb tour to the top of the historic Gasparilla Island Lighthouse, as volunteer docents share the fascinating story of this U.S. legacy. All proceeds support the continuing restoration and preservation of this local historical treasure. […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY SUE ERWIN At a public hearing on Tuesday, September 25, Charlotte County Commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance to adopt a small-scale plan amendment to the development of the Fishery property, located at 13000 Fishery Rd. The “Village & Marina at Boca Grande” project, spearheaded by real estate developer Jay Feinberg, went before commissioners […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE On Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018 island residents were shocked to hear of the passing of Capt. Mark Futch, a man taken far too early who will be missed very much by many. While his brother David will be writing a full obituary that will run next week, we want to acknowledge […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Profiles.
■ BY SUE ERWIN If you’ve had a drink at the Boca Bay Pass Club bar over the past several years, you would most likely recognize the friendly face of bartender Jeff Ash. Jeff has worked at the Pass Club for the past ten years, alongside his wife, Janette, also a bartender at the club. […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ STAFF REPORT The Barrier Island Parks Society is looking for beach ambassadors to help inspire stewardship and preserve our local beaches. This exciting volunteer program provides informational training, with only two mandatory training dates available on October 27 and November 10. Becoming a beach ambassador means you’ll learn all kinds of fascinating things, and you […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial, Letters to the Editor, News, Opinion.
The Coastal Conservation Association Florida (CCA Florida) is partnering with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Mote Marine Laboratory to address the loss to the snook population on the Southwest Coast as a result of the red tide event. The two-year initiative includes raising and releasing 10,000 hatchery-reared juvenile snook along Florida’s […]