Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Profiles.
From friends to football, she cherishes the little things in between… BY OLIVIA CAMERON- Mary Keene has served the community of Boca Grande with patience and dedication over the past 36 years. This Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan scored a touchdown when she found Boca Grande. Mary cherished her childhood in a Giants household in Dix […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Health & Wellness, News.
BY DR LAUREN HANA, BGHC- With a recent and continuing spike in new cases of COVID 19 nationwide, it’s important to review what we do know about the virus’s transmission and spread so proper measures can be put in place. So, while realizing that information has been confusing, controversial and inconsistent, particularly regarding face covering […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
STAFF REPORT- The Boca Grande Swing Bridge suffered a malfunction at 3 p.m. on Friday June 12, and was closed to boat traffic. Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority staff worked to resolve the problem, and the bridge reopened to boat traffic Sunday, June 14 at 9 a.m. GIBA Executive Director Kathy Banson-Verrico described the situation.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
Note: CenturyLink services were restored to some islanders on Tuesday afternoon, after this article was written. BY OLIVIA CAMERON- Last week, local complaints concerning the lack of internet service in Boca Grande stretched on for over seven days. Those who were hooked up to CenturyLink noticed the shortage but were unsure why the problem remained […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Sports & Outdoors.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON- Reeling in a tarpon is a rite of passage in the town of Boca Grande. As a Florida native, I spent most of my time soaking up the sun and getting saltwater in my eyes. However, I was always lousy at fishing. Even a minnow wouldn’t touch my hook with a ten-foot […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Letters to the Editor, News.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON- Approximately 100 locals participated in last Sunday’s Paddle for Peace water excursion to the Boca Grande Sandbar. Glass Bottom Rentals owner and coordinator, Aaron Koher, saw his event as a success. Paddle for Peace was designed to steer locals away from their phones and political frustration to experience a day on the water. […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Sports & Outdoors.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON- Just 50 miles from the east coast of Florida rest the western islands of The Bahamas, an archipelagic state that has consistently thrived off of tourism and fishing until the pandemic created a domino effect on the economy and public safety. According to USA Today, over 590,000 boaters frequented The Bahamas during […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, Letters to the Editor, News.
To the Editor: On behalf of our crew of anglers, I would like to thank Robin and Sandy Melvin of Gasparilla Outfitters & Special Effects for organizing the 2020 Ladies Night Out Howl at the Moon Invitational, and to Whidden’s Marina for hosting the awards ceremony. Our group of lifelong friends, originally from Arcadia, will […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News, Obituaries.
William Lee Bentley, Jr., Bill to all his family and friends, passed away peacefully on June 6, 2020 from ALS. He was at his home surrounded by his loving family, which was so important to him. Bill was born to William Lee Bentley and Ruth Glass Balogh on April 5th, 1953 at Wright-Patterson Air Force […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News, Profiles.
A passion for learning drives him to write… BY MARCY SHORTUSE- When having a conversation with Eliot Vestner, one of the first things you notice is the quiet assertiveness in his voice and a gentle demeanor. Within minutes you realize this is a man who is much more comfortable talking about anything but himself. For […]