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Sea turtle hatchlings due any day, but will they survive red tide?

■ BY SUE ERWIN So far this season, there are far fewer sea turtle nests on Gasparilla Island when compared to last year. The Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association reported 281 Caretta caretta (loggerhead) turtle nests on the island. There were 352 on June 23, 2017. No Chelonia mydas (green) turtle nests have been discovered […]

Profile Greg Foos

■BY SUE ERWIN If you’ve enjoyed a meal at the Boca Grande Club over the past several years, you would likely agree that the quality of food served was superb – both in presentation and taste. That’s because Executive Chef Greg Foos takes his job seriously, and he’s put together a culinary team he knows […]

Summer camp kids say ‘thank you’ to Woman’s Club, community with beach access cleanup day

To the Editor: Our Boca Grande Community Center Summer Camp kids wanted to say “Thank You” to the island and especially the Boca Grande Woman’s Club for their sincere generosity in creating a fun, educational and rewarding experience this summer. What better way to say thanks than our annual “Beach/Beach Access Cleanup”. Not to be […]

Outta Line takes first in Red Gill Tarpon Tourney

■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE On Saturday, June 16, more than 20 boats assembled and headed out to the Pass in the third annual Red Gill Invitational Tarpon Tournament, named for the Red Gill Fish House which was the original name of Whidden’s Marina. It seemed as though family and tradition was the theme of the […]

Sea turtle nesting season continues to thrive

■ BY SUE ERWIN As of press time, the Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association reported 207 Caretta caretta (loggerhead) turtle nests on the island. There were 203 reported false crawls (when a turtle comes up onto the beach but does not lay a nest). Red tide is still being detected around the island, particularly at […]

Profile Zachary Lozano

■ BY SUE ERWIN Zachary Lozano is the new Gasparilla Island State Park manager, but he is certainly not new to Boca Grande. Zac worked at the park several years ago before advancing his career in several other parks around the state. He started out with Florida State Parks in 2011 as a part-time ranger […]

OBITUARY: Mary Janice Shortuse

It is with heavy hearts that the loved ones of Mary Janice (Jan) Shortuse announce that she passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, June 8, 2018 while in the care of Hospice. Jan was born in Champaign, Illinois on February 20, 1945 to Mary Lucille McNabb and Bryan Parks. She was raised in […]

Miss Sarah wins Ladies Howl

■BY MARCY SHORTUSE The team aboard Miss Sarah was on fire Saturday night, June 9 in Boca Grande Pass as they smoked their opponents left and right in the 2018 Ladies Howl at the Moon Tarpon Tournament, sponsored by Special Effects and Gasparilla Outfitters. Anglers Jenna Persons, Stefanie Ink Edwards, Mary O’Bannon and Lillian Canfield […]

Plans for Placida Fishery property announced

■BY SUE ERWIN A public meeting was held on Wednesday, June 13 in Rotonda to update residents on the “Village & Marina at Boca Grande” project, planned for the old Placida Fishery property. Real estate developer Jay Feinberg bought out the previous developer and closed on the property on May 1. He said the focal […]

Red tide woes bring about questions

■BY MARCY SHORTUSE Hacking and sneezing continues as red tide is still finding its way to Gasparilla Island shores. While sometimes it seems worse on the Gulf side than the Harbor side – and at other times vice versa – the bloom is a doozy. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the […]