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The end of an era … Goodbye, Thor & Blanche

■ After many, many years on the island, Thor and Blanche Johnson have moved on to a new phase in their lives. On Thursday, Blanche stopped by to hug some necks and give one last ‘farewell’ as the papers were signed on their island home. You will be forever missed, my friends.

Republican Club golf outing planned for July 23

■ BY SUE ERWIN The West Charlotte County Republican Club is planning its 8th annual golf outing on Saturday, July 23 at Lemon Bay Golf Club, limited to the first 100 registered golfers. The cost is $75 for WCCRC members and $100 for non-members, and tickets include a continental breakfast and lunch. There will be […]

This Memorial Day, consider helping this WW II veteran meet his goal

BY SUE ERWIN – The GoFundMe account to help send a Veteran to the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 2016, has grown to nearly $1,000 in the past 16 days. Help is still needed to send Englewood resident John Seelie … to the services in Hawaii. Gasparilla Inn Golf Course employee Cathy Joel lives next […]

Manatees ‘making merry’ leave beachgoers concerned

■ BY SUE ERWIN – Boca Grande resident Tom Shaffer was taking his regular morning stroll on the beach around 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 14 when he noticed a peculiar group of manatees frolicking in very shallow water just a few feet from the beach shore. His four-year-old Golden Retriever, Maggie, paused just north of […]

Lemon Bay soccer star with island ties keeps going strong

■ BY SUE ERWIN – Stephanie Tieu is a rising senior at Lemon Bay High School, and she’s been an avid soccer player for the past 14 years. She currently plays forward for the Lemon Bay Manta Rays. Her mom, teacher Tammy Tieu at The Island School, couldn’t be prouder. The team had a respectable season […]

Former Boca Grande chef opens gourmet shop in Asheville, N.C.

BY SUE ERWIN – Denise Searle and her husband, Jimmy, enjoyed living and working in Boca Grande for many years, but in 2015, they suddenly felt a yearning to pursue a lifelong dream. Having worked in the hospitality field for numerous years, the couple visualized owning their own business one day.

Range Light update: Donations up to $725,000, but still a long way to go

■ STAFF REPORT      Larry Hannah, chair of the Gasparilla Island Light fundraising effort, reported that donations have reached $725,000 in cash and pledges. That’s still well short of the project budget of $1.783 million but within reach of the minimum $1.2 million deemed necessary to begin significant phases of restoration during the summer […]

Goss, Graham to speak on Friday

■ BY SUE ERWIN Florida Governor Bob Graham and Former CIA Director Porter Goss will speak about important issues Florida residents are facing in light of the 2016 national elections. The discussion will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 8 in the Boca Grande Community Center Auditorium. The conversation will cover various topics […]

Beloved bird lady says ‘good-bye’ to Boca Grande

■ BY SUE ERWIN Standing on the stage with E.T., the great horned owl by her side, wildlife rescuer Doris Mager informed the crowd that this would be her last year doing an educational program in Boca Grande. Mager has traveled to the island every spring for the past 35 years, her mission being to […]