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After Ian’s cleanup on land, what do we do about our water? Around here, Mother Nature has most of it handled

It’s obvious that cleanup and rebuilding on the island are moving forward at a good pace, but what about the effects of the storm in local waters, and on fishing? According to local fishermen, the fish are biting … it’s the anglers that are the problem.  There simply aren’t enough places for fishermen to stay. […]

OBITUARY: LIZORA YONCE

Lizora Miller Yonce, 85, of Boca Grande, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on January 14, 2023.  Lizora was born in Danville, VA to the late Lizora Schoolfield Miller and J. Clifford Miller, Jr. of Richmond, VA. She was predeceased by her husband, Samuel McClay Yonce, after 50 wonderful years of marriage.  […]

A colossal mission accomplished

When J&S Towers out of Rock Island, IL got a call from a company called Vertical Bridge, asking if they could remove a telecomm tower from a bakery in a tiny town in Florida, their response was automatic. “What does it pay?” Not to mention, the tower company is owned and managed by gentlemen who […]

Cutoff for disaster relief donations January 31 but more donations will be made in weeks to come

The Boca Grande Disaster Relief Fund, administered by the Lighthouse United Methodist Church of Boca Grande, has announced that the last day to donate to the fund will be January 31. While the exact numbers of donors and recipients have not been released yet, it is probable that information will come in the next week […]

Don’t forget about the chowder next Friday!

A more complete list of chefs and restaurants contributing to The Island School’s annual chowder dinner has been released, as well as information about entertainment and an auction. As of press time, the following eateries and chefs will be serving their deliciousness at the dinner: Eagle Grille, Ephesus Mediterranean, Farlow’s on the Water, The Gasparilla […]

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Where are the gopher tortoises? What about the roaches?

Other wildlife up here have been luckier. The eagle’s nest behind Boca Dunes is intact although I haven’t seen the occupants yet. And the osprey have rebuilt on every platform in the area. A dead raccoon was fished out of our pool, one of a family of six, I  suspect, seen marching in single file behind Mom a few years ago. It would have been a prize-winning photo if I only had an iphone at the time. On a crazier note, I haven’t seen a cock roach this year as I go for a snack in the middle of the night. Could they also have drowned? It won’t be a Boca Grande winter without them.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Storm debris still be collected in some communities … but not in Boca Grande

To the Editor: Lee County thanks residents who were given set-out deadlines in some unincorporated areas and have placed their remaining Hurricane Ian debris at the curb. The county reminds those residents that collection of storm debris in these areas will conclude once material that met the deadline has been picked up:  Lehigh Acres Gateway […]

It took a lot of talking, but Boca Grande North is getting cleaned up

This week trucks contracted by the state of Florida came to start taking away the large pile of construction, demolition and household debris at the north end of the island. With the announcement of the trucks’ arrival, it was also determined that the property, long thought to be owned by the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority, is actually owned by Boca Grande North.

It’s been awhile since the kayak launch was usable, soooo … what’s up with that?

But the question still remains – whose job is it to put the kayak launch back to rights? After all, it is an official stop on the Blueways Trail, which is a interconnected statewide map and information system that gives kayakers access to where some of the best waterways are located along 220 miles of coastline. It includes tidal creeks, estuary bays and, in this area, Charlotte Harbor.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Amy McCandless, the lady behind the Facebook persona of Fugate’s during the storm

Island living is her thing. She and her husband Don sold everything they had a number of years ago, bought a boat and planned to see the world from the deck of that boat. They ended up in the Keys when a big hurricane hit (her name starts with “I,” but we will not name her, either). It sunk the boat. The two adventurers returned to Little Gasparilla and have found generous friends whose homes have become their own.