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Historic Board’s denial of Gilchrist CoA heard by HEX examiner

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.

The case of the property at 161/181 Gilchrist Avenue went before the Lee County Hearing Examiner on Tuesday, Sept. 12, with a full house in the audience and two attorneys giving their sides of the story.

Donna Marie Collins, Esq. heard Attorney Megan Strayhorn, representing the property owners, gave her presentation first. She outlined the facts of the April meeting of the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board and explained that while the COA in front of the board was to approve the building of a home and several accessory buildings on the two-strap property, controversy about the Whispering Bench took precedent over the matter at hand.

Woman’s Club donates BIG to EmComm fund

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Police & Fire.

With a projected expenditure amount of around $300,000, the Island EOC Emergency Communications and Interoperability Working Group gratefully accepted a $75,000 contribution from the Boca Grande Woman’s Club this week. Others who have contributed so far are the Boca Grande Disaster Relief Fund ($50,000) and $1,500 from Boca Grande Charities (for 10 Btech radios for BGFD volunteers).

A future for branch banking? While so many have closed, our local banks vow to remain viable

Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Uncategorized.

Despite at least a dozen local bank branch closures in as many years, local “brick-and-mortar” banks are still a part of local banking habits. And they may well be around for the foreseeable future.

“My card got stolen the other day.” said Doug Izzo, director of the Englewood Chamber of Commerce. His first move? Go into a bank branch to sort it out. While the bank ultimately had to resolve the issue online, there was at least a person there to intercede.

“That’s why I like the hometown banks,” said Izzo. “They actually pay attention.”

POLICE BEAT

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, Police & Fire.

Woman leaves child in car to swim with sharks off Bokeelia, Boca Grande Fire Department marine unit responds The Boca Grande Fire Department had to make their way all the way to Bokeelia on Monday, Sept. 11 after a call came in regarding a female who had left her young child in the car to […]

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Marc Vee

Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Featured News, Profiles.

Marc Vee discovered his love of music when he was not much more than 7 years old. His mix of classical, rock, jazz and a few other styles of guitar music can be heard at least weekly at the Key Lime Bistro in downtown Boca Grande.

Marc’s interest in music was originally piqued when his parents bought him a Sears Silvertone electric guitar when he was 7. The guitar case had a built-in amplifier and it was great for making lots of noise … probably more than his parents bargained for. Marc knew nothing at that point about playing, but that did not keep him from working at it.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: GIMM thanks everyone for a great season

Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Featured News, Letters to the Editor.

To the Editor: The Gasparilla Island Maritime Museum (GIMM) and Whidden’s captains had a great tarpon season! We hosted  two “Howl At Moon“ tournaments, and William Woodroffe hosted two more tarpon tournaments to benefit GIMM this past season. Each tournament was a “grande’ success, and a portion of each tournament entry included a donation to […]

Flamingos! Flamingos everywhere! Even in Boca Grande and  … Ohio?

Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, News.

Hurricanes don’t always bring good things, but the latest hurricane, Idalia, has not only brought the American flamingo back to Florida, but highlighted the potential for the eventual restoration and return of the species to Florida on a permanent basis.

Like so many Floridians, Ashley Scarpa had never seen them in Florida, even as an experienced birder.

“To be honest I went searching for them,” said Scarpa, who has in the past monitored birds for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. “Someone had posted that they had been seen in the area, and I sprinted to where they have been seen.”

When your brain says to leave but your heart says no – why so many would rather stay at home with their pets than evacuate (Part II)

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Community, Health & Wellness, News.

Your pets look to you as a provider of sustenance, comfort and safety. It is your responsibility to learn to think like them, understand how they feel pain and stress, understand that they do not always deal with these things like humans do and find ways to optimize your communication and relationship with them. 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Mike Teston

Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Profiles.

Get ready for fancy and fun drinks coming this season. There is a new bar manager at Scarpa’s Coastal, and he is all about mixing things up.
Mike Teston thinks the term “mixology” is a little pretentious for what he does. However, he loves the chemistry, the imagination, the challenge of finding new ways to tickle people’s tastebuds and open them to new adventures through the drinks he develops. He can’t wait to roll out his new cocktail menu in October.

EDITORIAL: Paradise just ain’t what it used to be

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Community, Editorial.

If a hurricane doesn’t leave you dead It will make you strong. Don’t try to explain it, just nod your head, Breathe in, breathe out, move on. Those words went through my head a time or 10 on September 28th of last year. Since then, as well, as we’ve had our lives turned upside down  […]