Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, News, Real Estate, Sports & Outdoors.
BY HECTOR FLORES,COUNTY MANAGER The topic of fishing piers has been getting a lot of attention among residents, especially on social media. The County Commission has been very proactive this year in moving projects through the design and permitting process with the goal of getting damaged piers reopened as soon as possible. Numerous fishing piers […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, News, Sports & Outdoors.
On Wednesday, Aug. 5, the group Open Shores of Southwest Florida Inc. met to have a public meeting since their official incorporation at the South Gulf Shores Community Center. Around 40 residents turned out for the gathering, which included a silent auction from island businesses and a question and answer session. Charlotte resident Robin Wilkins […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News.
Editor’s note: We sent a set of identical questions relating to Boca Grande to both of the Lee Commission candidates for District 5 earlier this month. In Lee County, the commissioner is elected across the county. This week, we print responses from Amanda Cochran, one of two Republican candidates Six generations of my family have […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News.
At Tuesday’s regular Lee County Board of County Commissioners meeting, several members of the Boca Grande Parking Committee were reappointed and one person was appointed to replace a member who resigned. There are four members of the committee with a term expiration in September 2026: Boo Gemes, appointed by Commissioner Kevin Ruane; Ron Drake, appointed […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
A group from the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami last week planted 767 orchids through Sam Murphy Park and the Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association Bike Path as part of their Million Orchid Project. The Million Orchid Project is a native orchid reintroduction program for South Florida with the goal of reestablishing one […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Lee County has the highest total number of manatee deaths in the state for 2026 so far, according to newly released preliminary manatee mortality data from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). FWC’s Marine Mammal Pathobiology Laboratory has recorded 101 manatee deaths in Lee County from Jan. 1, 2026 to July 24, 2026. […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Profiles, Sports & Outdoors.
Latest in generation of guide leadership Above, Dusty with his wife, Nicole, and daughters Alana and Ava. Photo submitted This year, the Boca Grande Fishing Guides Association took on a new relevance. Fresh off a new website, it held a neighborhood party at Whidden’s to kick off tarpon season and promote Boca Grande’s guides and […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, News.
Charlotte County needs nominees for the following: Boca Grande Street & Drainage Unit is seeking one member to fill a position with a term through Oct. 31, 2028, and one member to fill a position with a term through Oct. 31, 2029. Also, Placida Area Street & Drainage Maintenance Unit is seeking one member to […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane was on a mission to make a difference and change the release model that the Army Corps of Engineers chose to release water from Lake “O.” TEN YEARS AGO The Gasparilla Inn & Club was getting a make-over as part of a three-year project. Re-siding the front […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
This week, two bits of news bear mention and comment. The first is that in Lee County, the apartment vacancy rate has spiked to 20.3 percent, with the highest rental vacancy rate for any major metropolitan area. Charlotte County is just below that, at 19.5 percent. Five years ago, vacancy rates were under five percent. […]