Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community History, Featured News, News.
The last port agent and manager of Boca Grande’s phosphate dock, Joe Murray Freeman Jr., died Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, in Temple Terrace at age 96. “He had so many answers that the highly educated did not,” said his son, Tommy, who remained in Cape Haze after his father’s retirement from the Seaboard Railroad. Joe […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Opinion, Sports & Outdoors.
BY DANIEL ANDREWS,CAPTAINS FOR CLEAN WATER Long before “water quality” became a headline, a handful of Floridians warned that the way we were reshaping this state would carry long-term consequences. Even in the 1940s, Marjory Stoneman Douglas understood that the Everglades wasn’t swampland to be drained. It was the system that made South Florida work. […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Education, Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: I am writing to express my deepest gratitude to the community for their overwhelming support of the recent Beach Ball held on Monday, March 2 to benefit the Boca Grande Preschool. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our neighbors, local businesses, and volunteers we were able to raise over $300,000 which will […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO L.A. Ainger Middle School held its first concert of the year with some Lemon Bay H.S. players filling in. A “new kind” of Strawberry Festival was held without the boutique and with masks. TEN YEARS AGO A too-heavy tour bus offloaded some of their passengers and made them walk across the bridge […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.
Terry G. Hopkins, 81, died at dawn the day before Valentine’s Day, surrounded by family and her dog Pearl. She was a newspaper woman, and she made the world a better place because of it. She was born October 16, 1944, in Ocala, Florida, to Patricia Gannett of Connor, Florida, and John Gannett of Augusta, […]
Written by Angela McPhillips on . Posted in Profiles.
From vision to silk The idea began with a scarf. Not just any scarf, but a Hermès silk square gifted to Lalania “Laney” Sears by her grandmother when she was a child – a piece she treasured and credits with shaping her sense of style. “It was always the scarf,” she said. “It set the […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
BY CAPT. WILL WATERHOUSE Another great week of back bay fishing to kick off march! Spring weather is upon us and the fish know it. Lots of redfish have poured into Bull and Turtle Bays and are ready to feed. We have been catching them on live bait, swim tails and jigs. Most of the […]
Written by Delores Savas on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
The rapid loss of biodiversity that we are witnessing is about much more than nature. The collapse of ecosystems will threaten the well-being and livelihood of everyone on the planet. Linda Krueger, director of Biodiversity and Infrastructure Policy of Nature Conservancy As we enter March, the month that brings us the joy of seeing new […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Uncategorized.
Englewood Helping Hand, Inc. a local food pantry in Englewood, is expanding their building with an addition of 1,600 sq. ft. of warehouse space. EHH started their capital campaign of $300,000 in January 2025 and has been able to raise about $200,000 so far. The 2,400 sq. ft. pantry located at 700 E. Dearborn Street in […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Events, News.
Donations from local businesses including J.T. Turner dinner and necklace from Barbara Anne’s Above, gathering items for the Strawberry Festival’s silent auction are co-chairs (from left) Philip and Lorri Swords, Janet Lee and Larry Hannah. Photo submitted BY SUSAN HANAFEE Boca Grande’s annual Strawberry Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on […]