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O.J. Simpson was Rotonda Superstar in 1975 

The death of O.J. Simpson on April 10 in Las Vegas brought back a time when the NFL star came to Rotonda for ABC’s The Superstars. We look back at the era. Above, O.J. and Howard Cosell at the 1974 Superstars. He told host Keith Jackson after the tire obstacle race win in 1975: “The […]

SW Florida Fishing: Snook, trout, reds oh my

BY CAPT. WILL WATERHOUSE Snook have been the deal in the back country this week. Lots and lots of snook have been caught on white bait through March and into April. If you are looking to target the snook in artificial lures, try using a spook topwater or a paddle tail swim bait and cast […]

Good grief: Charles Schulz biographer here April 24

At 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 24, David Michaelis will discuss his acclaimed biography of Charles Schulz, creator of the beloved comic strip “Peanuts” (a name Schulz did not like). In its review, Goodreads wrote, “What we do know is that his early experiences would shape his entire life. With Peanuts, Schulz embedded adult ideas […]

Garden Club final season meeting features talk by landscape restoration specialist Rick Joyce

Arborist consults with Edison-Ford, Bahamas gov’t  SUBMITTED BY THE BOCA GRANDE GARDEN CLUB During the 2023-24 season, Boca Grande Garden Club members benefited from horticultural lectures by an impressive lineup of speakers.  Gardening experts from Maine, New Jersey, Connecticut and Washington, DC shared their expertise and personal stories based on colder climes than we experience […]

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Renowned Paper boy celebrates 80

Editor’s Note: This profile has been in the works for a number of years; we realized that in all the years of Dusty and the Beacon, we had not spotlighted him, and thought his 80th would be the perfect time. The profile includes a draft from our previous editor, Marcy Shortuse. There’s a story behind […]

Preservation study slated for historic Placida rail bunkhouse

Last remnant of historic Placida village  The Placida Bunkhouse, a 1907 cottage used to house the railroad workers of the Charlotte Harbor & Northern Railroad, will get an architectural survey, courtesy of its owner and caretaker, Charlotte County.  The building, which was once a landmark of the disappeared village of Placida and a gateway to […]

Eldred’s Marina listed with national brokerage

$40 plus million price hoped The Placida marina Eldred’s is listed for sale with the national brokerage firm Avison Young as of March 15. “We are excited by the listing of this iconic property,” said Michael Fay, chairman of the U.S. Capital Markets group Executive Committee, and he understands its importance as a “gateway” to […]

Opinion: There’s a nitrogen problem in Charlotte Harbor

BY ROBERT J. ROBBINS AND PERCY ANGELO, CAPE HAZE Charlotte County operates four wastewater treatment plants that use secondary treatment systems that fail to remove most nutrients such as nitrogen. This means that the treatment plant effluent that is shipped throughout the county as reclaim water for irrigation (the purple pipes) has high levels of […]

Why Placida matters to Gasparilla Island

This week, we have a story on the sale of Eldred’s (pictured here). Of course, we all know it needs a new custodian. Its current, old Florida, charming and useful state, cannot survive when the property is so valuable. It is literally the tip and entrance to not only Gasparilla Island, but a lifeline for […]