Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE- On Monday, July 20, Lee County Code Enforcement was busy on the island again, this time because of an anonymous complaint about signs. According to Lee County Communications Director Betsy Clayton, the call came in several days ago that there was an abundance of illegal signage around the island. It is not […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON- Home décor in Southwest Florida often follows a seaside theme, from seashell upholstery to bleached sand dollars. These creatures, however, are not a shade of pure white in the wild, nor should they be removed and made into a knickknack. Local residents and tourists alike may be unaware that the law […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE- As work continues on the Gasparilla Inn Beach Club and surrounding property, it’s starting to become easier to see what the lay of the land will be. The beautiful new club and Gulf-side cottages are starting to come to life. Island residents and visitors have been curious as to what is going […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON- Glass bottles are the least biodegradable item, taking what is predicted to be one million years to decompose. According to Tisha Bayne, the office coordinator for Keep Lee County Beautiful, “Research does say it takes glass a very, very long time to break down. It can take a glass bottle one million […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: At a press conference earlier this week, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium leadership provided exciting updates regarding the planned Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) at Nathan Benderson Park. Updates included sharing remastered renderings of the iconic facility, announcing a major milestone in the Oceans for All campaign in support of Mote […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Obituaries.
Former Boca Grande resident Bobby Sullivan, 83, died July 13, 2020 after fighting a courageous battle with cancer. At his request a service in his honor was held at the Tallahassee National Cemetery, 5015 Apalachee Pkwy, Tallahassee, Florida 32311 on Tuesday, July 21 at 11 a.m.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON AND MARCY SHORTUSE- Local real estate and rentals have flourished after getting back on the market in the past few months, despite previous travel restrictions and social distancing recommendations. Don Lutz of Boca Grande Real Estate compared their rental bookings this summer to those of mid-May to July in 2019, reporting a […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Education, News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE- The long-awaited announcement that begins to outline how the 2020-21 Island School academic year will play out was made on Wednesday, July 15 by Head-of-School Jean Thompson, and it appears there will be more options than most parents thought. The long-awaited announcement that begins to outline how the 2020-21 Island School academic […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON- For months, the sight of a barge has interrupted the endless ocean view from the south end of Boca Grande. Since February, a pile of equipment has been an unexplained puzzle to locals. Many island organizations were unsure of its sudden placement, but local fishermen have spent enough time on the water […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Profiles.
For Donna, the destination is determined by the journey… BY OLIVIA CAMERON- Combing the shoreline of Gasparilla Island, local Turtle Patroller Donna Larson dedicates six months each year to protecting our hatchlings. Born into a southern lifestyle, Donna hardly considers Troy, Michigan her hometown. During her early childhood, she learned to get her hands dirty […]