Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Profiles.
BY T MICHELE WALKER – Look! Up in the sky! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s the new mosquito man, Scott Shanks, and he’s eradicating Gasparilla Island mosquitoes in a single bound. Yes, there’s a new mosquito man in Boca Grande. Originally from Colchester, Connecticut, Scott and his wife Kelly have been in Florida […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: Professional captains with a U.S.C.G. license are required to pass a rigorous exam demon, demonstrating their knowledge of the rules of navigation. Since Florida does not require such knowledge for amateur boat operators, anyone with the money to buy or rent a boat can operate a vessel. The rules of navigation state, […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY T MICHELE WALKER – For people with mobility issues, the beach can be difficult to navigate. Even a simple sunset viewing can be daunting. Thanks to the Surfing Evolution and Preservation Foundation, Gasparilla Island State Park is getting a new beach wheelchair, which will make the sand accessible to everybody. The Florida State Parks […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY T MICHELE WALKER – The Charlotte Players have refused to allow a pandemic to stand in the way of their 60th anniversary. Making the best of a challenging season, the non-profit community theater has done its best to remain open while keeping its theater patrons safe with social distancing, masks, and loads of sanitizer. […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE – Barry Hurt of Little Gasparilla Island has been studying the effects of red tide on our waters and economic system for several years, and he thinks he has come up with a plan to make a difference. “A Billion Clams,” or “Project ABC,” has been at the forefront of Hurt’s focus […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY T MICHELE WALKER – Sarasota philanthropist Flora Major is funding a new award to promote the development of theatrical works through the Hermitage Artist retreat. The Hermitage announced on Monday, June 21 the establishment of the Hermitage Major Theater Award, a new annual prize that will recognize a playwright or theater artist with a […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Sports & Outdoors.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE – The 2021 Howl at the Moon Invitational Tarpon Tournament that was originally scheduled for May 22 was held this past Saturday, on June 19 in Boca Grande Pass. Capt. Charlie Coleman and his team aboard Casuarina took first place after releasing their one and only tarpon in the tournament … but […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
STAFF REPORT – While there aren’t any scheduled fireworks displays on Gasparilla Island this year, we will have our annual downtown golf cart parade on Sunday, July 4. Decorate your golf cart, bike, scooter, unicycle, etc. for the holiday and join in the lineup. The parade starts at 9 a.m. in the parking lot of […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY TONYA BRAMLAGE – Looking for adventure? Waymarking is an interactive, creative, and fun way to adventure and explore new places. A waymark is a physical location anywhere on the planet marked by coordinates (latitude/longitude). A waymarking category is a collection of similarly themed waymarks. Waymarking helps participants catalog, mark and visit interesting locations all […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE – Recently a Boca Grande hammerhead made the news in our area for creating a scene on a local beach. Yes, we said “on” the beach, not “near” the beach. That’s because this particular shark, looking to be about 10 feet long, came so close to the beach he was laying on […]