Skip to main content
Search Results for “grand

The Kids Classic is coming soon … with ‘park & ride’

■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE The Gasparilla Island Kids Classic Tarpon Tournament that will be held on Saturday, June 1 this year is filling up fast, and Camp Margaritaville is in the final stages of planning. The tournament weekend begins on  Friday, May 31, when everyone is invited to come to the Boca Grande Community Center and […]

Saturday’s ‘Howl’ time changed, tourney now a Belt Buckle qualifier

■ STAFF REPORT The 15th annual “Howl at the Moon” Invitational Tarpon Tournament, sponsored by Gasparilla Outfitters, will still be held this Saturday, May 18, but the time has now changed to 7 to 10 p.m. That is one hour earlier than the originally scheduled start time. There’s another new development regarding this tournament: It […]

Little Spook – Big Winner

■ BY SUE ERWIN This year’s Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce Ladies Day Tarpon Tournament was an extra-special one, with 41 boats releasing 33 tarpon and $22,960 in prize money given to three winning teams. The artwork to commemorate Ladies Day was very special as well. Created by artist Brendan Coudal, the rendering portrays […]

Profile: Parker O’Bannon

■ BY SUE ERWIN Persistent and adventurous is a perfect description for Capt. Parker O’Bannon. He is a sixth-generation Floridian born in Fort Myers and raised in Boca Grande. He is an only child, and he follows in the footsteps of 100 years of notable O’Bannon guides spanning four generations, who have hunted and fished all over […]

Your water might smell a bit odd …

To the Editor: The Gasparilla Island Water Association, Inc. will be temporarily changing the disinfection process for its Placida and Boca Grande potable (drinking water) water supply. From May 20 at 8 a.m. through July 1, GIWA will disinfect the water with free chlorine rather than combined chlorine/ammonia (chloramines). This conversion to chlorine (which is […]

Ladies Day weekend is here! – Celebrate moms and silver kings, win cash money and keep the tradition

■ STAFF REPORT Right now there is someone out there making Jell-O shots. Someone else is buying Mardi Gras beads, and yet other someones are calling their mom, grandmother or sister to talk about this weekend’s festivities. The 2019 Ladies Day Tarpon Tournament, sponsored by the Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce, is upon us. […]

Historic Preservation Board debates 11th Street project, E. Railroad home

■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE Lee County Planning approached the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board at their monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 8 with three projects on the agenda, but one stood out as a point of contention and spurred conversation that lasted well over an hour. Coincidentally, it was also one of the first home […]

Code of Honor takes second and show at 145th Kentucky Derby

■ BY SUE ERWIN The 145th Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs shocked many fans who watched the race when judges ruled that Maximum Security was disqualified, but one of our local horses that ran still did well. Despite a late scare from island resident William Farish’s thoroughbred Code of Honor, Maximum Security crossed […]

Scarpa’s Coastal soft opening has come, and the reaction is positive

■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE The fish tank is still there. The general look is the same, and the phone number is, too. The sign came down last week for PJ’s Seagrille, Scarpa’s Coastal sign went up, and a new dining opportunity has come to fruition. If you called Scarpa’s Coastal Restaurant on Wednesday afternoon, the […]

Kids’ Drama Club to perform this evening, May 10

■ STAFF REPORT The Island School Kids’ Drama Club will be performing a short program for the community today, Friday, May 10 at 5:30 p.m. The show will take place at the Boca Grande Community Center auditorium. The drama club program is led by volunteers from Royal Palm Players who wish to share their passion […]