Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Events, News.
The dates for upcoming Boca Grande tarpon tournaments have been set. “The tournaments” are a great tradition, said Betsy Joiner, president of the Gasparilla Island Maritime Museum. “It’s exciting as the weather gets warmer and tarpon start coming out. Everyone gets tarpon fever.” The season begins with the Ladies’ Day Tarpon Tournament, hosted by the […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Featured News, News, Police & Fire.
Last Saturday Feb. 10, there was an elevator entrapment on island. The Boca Grande Fire Department quickly rescued stuck passengers from a third-floor elevator at 5091 Gasparilla Road after a 911 call. There was a separate case on Jan. 27 that was also resolved. “You see how regular they are,” said Boca Grande Fire Department […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Community History.
The second History Bytes program for 2024 featured Boca Grande native Carolyn Parkinson Nabers sharing about her mother’s life on the island. Mary Ellen Vickers Parkinson was “a true Southern lady,” she said. Carolyn spoke to a full crowd in the Johann Fust Library Loggia on Wednesday morning next to a table filled with historic […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Education, News.
The Island School will be authorized by Lee County to add 10 students to their August 2024 capacity, according to a resolution to be heard by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners to be heard Feb. 20, 2024. The resolution, set for their regular meeting, amends the original June 21, 2005 lease with the […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Featured News, News.
Last weekend, the Miss Elissa catamaran made her first voyage to Boca Grande from Punta Gorda. The new voyage here is about 90 minutes, which is about an hour faster than before. “It’s more stable and it can make better time,” said Elissa Allen, marketing director for King Fisher fleet and namesake for Miss Elissa. […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, News.
Editor’s Note: This electronic story was updated after deadline to include comments and an an update from Lee County. A wheelchair-accessible access point at 5th Street, damaged during recent hurricanes, remains closed. The access point is the only beach ramp immediate to downtown, and the only wheelchair accessible beach access point immediately next to handicapped […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, News.
The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority elected a new chairman at its Tuesday, Feb. 13 meeting. The former vice chairman, Drew Tucker, was elected chairman. George Milne was elected vice chair. “I have enjoyed it but I do believe in term limits,” said outgoing Chairman Ginger Watkins. During the meeting, Watkins took a look back at […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Featured News, Sports & Outdoors.
The Boca Grande Community Center auditorium was packed Wednesday as Dr. Jennifer Toyoda, researcher with the Mote Marine Laboratory, shared the latest information on the monitoring, measuring and mitigating of red tide. Progress is being made, but research is generating as many questions as answers, Toyoda reported. This is leading to discoveries of techniques and […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Events, Sports & Outdoors.
BY THE BOCA GRANDE GARDEN CLUB On February 7, the Boca Grande Garden Club welcomed noted garden designer and author Page Dickey to speak on her latest book, Uprooted, A Gardener Reflects on Beginning Again, which is part memoir and part garden design. The book is not just for gardeners, but for anyone who has […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Sports & Outdoors.
BY CAPT. WILL WATERHOUSE The unsettled weather patterns this year has the water temperatures in the backcountry on the cooler side. But, with the water being fairly cool, the fish have still been biting. Some nice redfish have been caught on the incoming tides using both live bait and artificial. If you like to fly […]