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Boca Grande travels to Cuba: Trial by fire

BY JACK SHORT The following is an ongoing recollection of a recent mission trip to Cuba made by the Boca Grande United Methodist Church. This is part two. The six missionaries on the trip led by Dan Christopherson and including Pastor Brian Brightly had a few different goals, one of which was to deliver the […]

Hardening history for future storms: How much to raise

At its February meeting, the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board reviewed the first case of the elevation of a historic island house to above-flood level. At the meeting, Lee County planner Peter Blackwell gave guidance on how to best encourage the preservation of historic structures in flood-prone areas. “With all of the damage caused by […]

Mid-Century Modern house updates approved by Preservation Board

The Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board had a quick agenda at its July meeting. Members Paul Eddy, Jerry Edgerton, Barbara Wickwire, Paul Eddy and Becky Paterson attended, as well as Chairman Bill Caldwell III and Vice Chair Peggy Stanley. It was held at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church because of work at the Boca Grande Community […]

Guide questions effect of possible Gasparilla parking ordinance

A new parking ordinance restricting off island visits will challenge day fishing and guides here on the island, particularly with a two-hour limit downtown and new restrictions across the island. “The Boca Grande Fishing Guides Association was founded to improve the facilities and natural environment available to fishermen,” said Capt. Christopher Taylor, the group’s president. […]

First Baptist progresses with interior, garden renovations

Storm restoration work continues at First Baptist Church of Boca Grande, which was flooded during the fall hurricanes. Construction crews this week were working inside, clearing where the floor was removed. “It did not have a plywood subfloor,” said Sam Lowman of Right Hand Construction Solutions, who was there with a team looking at the […]

Chamber releases survey of off-island visitors

A Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce survey on visitors to Gasparilla Island is still gathering submissions. It now has over 2,200 responses and almost 900 written comments and ideas. “We wanted to show that day trippers, as everyone is calling them, do patronize the local shops,” said Gary Cross, executive director of the Boca Grande […]

Beach parking petition now has over 3,000 respondents

A petition survey by a local schoolteacher and longtime island resident to keep beach parking access open has grown to over 3,000 signatures in just over a week. “Truthfully, I didn’t want to hinder anybody, but I am very passionate about the beach,” said Mila Wyman, who grew up in Boca Grande and still has a […]

First loggerheads, and an update on our nest adoption

BY ARLENE HALL, BGSTA SECRETARY Since my last article, we have started seeing hatches of our first loggerhead nests! Our first nests were documented on May 1, and with an approximate two-month incubation period, the hatchlings from these first nests are emerging right on schedule. We should now be seeing hatches on a regular basis […]