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EDITORIAL: The GICIA turns 50 years old

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 […]

GICIA approves landscape beautification plan

SUBMITTED BY THE GICIA – The Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association continues its 50th Anniversary Celebration by announcing plans for a landscape enhancement project for the Charlotte County portion of GICIA Bike Path. The GICIA Board approved project will commence with the beginning of the rainy season in late May or early June. The […]

National Historic Register responses to BGHPB inquiry show less enchantment, more disfavor for proposal

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 […]

Time to saddle up and join the Dog-gone Wild West!

STAFF REPORT – The Boca Grande Woman’s Club Dog Show and Spring Fair are going virtual this year, keeping Boca Grande humans and canines safe, with a combined socially distanced event Dog Gone Wild West – Dog Show & Spirit Day Saturday, March 13 when the cowboy spirit will turn the town around! Don’t forget […]

Shorebird nesting season has begun; please do your part to help keep them safe

BY T MICHELE WALKER – The beaches of Boca Grande are home to many species of shorebirds and seabirds. Charlotte County hosts three species of shorebirds, the Wilson’s plover, Snowy plover and American oystercatcher, and two species of seabirds, Least tern and Black skimmer. Boca Grande’s pristine and undeveloped stretches of beach provide a place […]

LBHS prom will carry on, thanks to parents and sponsors

BY MARCY SHORTUSE – A few weeks ago, when the Rowe family heard that prom for Lemon Bay High School seniors might be canceled, Kim Rowe’s daughter had something to say about it.  “You’ll do something, right Mom?” Rowe’s daughter implored. “You can do it, right?” “Of course,” Rowe said. In the course of just […]

GICIA Mercabo Cove seagrass planting effort brought to light

SUBMITTED BY THE GICIA – In January 2016, the Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association successfully acquired the Mercabo property located at the entrance to Gasparilla Island. It was in late 2015 that a rumor began to circulate that an offer had been made by a resort developer to purchase the 30 acres, armored by […]

PROFILE: George Benisek

BY TONYA BRAMLAGE – This is no fish tale of that you can be sure, although George Benisek has no shortage of fisherman tales to tell. An avid, lifelong fisherman,  he began fishing when he was just a young boy. George and his late wife Barbara of 63 years were living on Captiva when they […]