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PROFILE: Gretchen Holla

BY OLIVIA CAMERON – Boca Grande’s Englewood Bank has just hired a new manager to keep their tellers in good hands. Gretchen Holla has been in the banking business since her career history began and she is now part of the island crew. However, her managerial title didn’t fall out of the sky. Gretchen joined […]

‘To Go’ only: Florida Governor issues executive order closing all dining rooms in establishments on March 20

STAFF REPORT – Here is your to-go dining list for the island. An executive order by our governor has closed all dining rooms in restaurants. Starting Monday, March 23, shopping will be limited to 10 people in the store at one time at Hudson’s Grocery. To keep the line moving, shoppers will have 15 minutes […]

Editor’s Note: What a difference a week can make

BY MARCY SHORTUSE – Last week in this same spot on the front page we had two cancellations in our social calendar, with a mention of a third, due to COVID-19 concerns. This week the spot is taken up by us telling you that, essentially, the entire season is canceled. What a difference a week […]

COVID-19 and your tap water: It IS safe to drink

BY BONNIE PRINGLE – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that Americans continue to use, and drink tap water as usual. COVID-19 virus has not been detected in drinking-water supplies. EPA’s drinking water regulations require treatment at public water systems to remove or kill pathogens, including viruses. COVID-19 is a type of virus that is […]

Beaches closed, Inn closed: Clinic warns, don’t ‘stick your head in the sand,’ COVID-19 could be here

BY MARCY SHORTUSE – Effective Thursday, March 19 all Lee County and Gasparilla Island beaches are closed due to concerns regarding COVID-19. This went into stringent effect at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 19. An emergency meeting of all mayors of Lee County municipalities and cities, Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman, Lee County Manager Roger […]

EDITORIAL: A time to think, a time to plan

BY MARCY SHORTUSE – Did you ever think things would get this crazy? Just a couple of weeks ago we were worried about things that seem so inconsequential now. Whether you believe this virus threat is real or not (and many people don’t), it is affecting your daily life in a very big way. My […]

PROFILE: Phil Hubbard

BY OLIVIA CAMERON – family, business, sports and nonprofit work in a partnership capacity was a way of life for Phil Hubbard long before he and his wife Patsy began to winter in Boca Grande.Growing up in a middle-class family in Fairfi eld, Connecticut, sports were a huge part of his life. His interest in […]

OBITUARY: Jean Wurtz

Jean Wurtz, 86, of Boca Grande, formerly of Greenwich, Conn., passed away peacefully in the company of family on March 7, 2020. She was born on July 29, 1933 and is survived by her sisters, Sandra and Gloria; her three children, Richard, Randy, and Penny; and four grandchildren, Scott, Gregory, Heather, and Jennifer. She is […]

PROFILE: Deputy April Tomyn

BY OLIVIA CAMERON If you thought the flare of the island would stop with the cops, think again. When a certain squad car rolls by the Loose Caboose, you can see the glitter of a pink steering wheel cover.  Deputy April Tomyn is Boca Grande’s very first female sheriff of the Lee County Sheriffs. With […]