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We’re a pretty preppy place, I guess … does that mean we have to wear shoes?

BY MARCY SHORTUSE – According to Town&Country Magazine, Boca Grande is quite the “tony” location for getting hitched nowadays. In a May article, the periodical gives the top 12 preppiest wedding locations around the world, and we are listed as number six. “Why?” the magazine asks. “Because your grandmothers both have beach cottages on Gasparilla […]

OBITUARY: Lowell Emerson Bell

Lowell Emerson Bell, 82, of Wade, N.C., a Boca Grande native, passed away on Sunday, May 14, 2017. Lowell was born to Angelo and Myrtle Padilla Bell on January 10, 1935 at the south end of the island. His father was the chief engineer at the Power House for 20 years, and the house Lowell’s […]

New book announced by BGHS

To the Editor: Announcing a new book available at the Boca Grande History Center, 170 Park Avenue on the corner of Park & Banyan Street, entrance in back. “Once Upon an Island, Snapshots of Boca Grande’s Historic Past” is a brief historical overview of the island’s history from the first settlers to present day. Makes […]

Our sweet Miss Dee: 1941-2017

BY MARCY SHORTUSE – If Louise du Pont Crowninshield could be called “the fairy godmother of Boca Grande,” Dee Wheeler could most certainly be called “the mom of Boca Grande.” There is not enough room in this entire newspaper to write Dee’s story, but we have to try. Dee passed away on Friday, May 12, leaving […]

We’re a pretty preppy place, I guess … does that mean we have to wear shoes?

    BY MARCY SHORTUSE – According to Town&Country Magazine, Boca Grande is quite the “tony” location for getting hitched nowadays. In a May article, the periodical gives the top 12 preppiest wedding locations around the world, and we are listed as number six. “Why?” the magazine asks. “Because your grandmothers both have beach cottages […]

Lighthouse to receive state funding

■ BY SUE ERWIN Last month Florida Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto (R-Fort Myers) proposed an amendment (995154) to add the Port of Boca Lighthouse repairs to the historic restoration category. The amendment was adopted at a senate session on Wednesday, April 12. The official budget was printed earlier this week, and it reflected that $89,435 would […]

Lots of island memories from the Bell family

■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE Lowell Bell sat on a park bench, staring down Park Avenue one morning, amazed at what he was seeing. While the 82-year-old had visited Boca Grande a few years ago, it was only a short visit, and he hadn’t had a chance to soak the island in. Once he did, he […]

Scuttled

■ This sailboat ran aground on a sandbar in Gasparilla Pass (Gulf side) last weekend, and is definitely a hazard to navigation at night. Look to your north off the middle bridge, and it is located about 200 yards off the southern tip of Little Gasparilla Island, north of the northern tip of Gasparilla Island […]

BGFD firefighters create life-saving grid system

■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE Gasparilla Island and its surrounding waters have thousands upon thousands of visitors every year who come for the fishing, the boating and the beaches. Out of those thousands of people we are blessed every year that our accident and drowning numbers remain very low, particularly considering the Boca Grande Fire Department […]