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One of the newest members of the flock … meet Ethan Williams

BY SUSAN HANAFEE – Having hundreds of “aunts” and “grandmothers” eager to share in the excitement of your first baby is pretty special, say the Rev. Dr. Matthew and Joy Williams, whose seven-month-old son, Ethan, is still awaiting a debut at his father’s church in Boca Grande. “We wanted to introduce him to the congregation […]

Spring Break keeps local fire, EMS busy on land and on the water

BY MARCY SHORTUSE – It’s been a busy week of ambulance calls, alarms and water rescues for the Boca Grande Fire Department, but one of the most admirable rescues that took place didn’t even happen on the island. Boca Grande Firefighter Alex Moore was working part-time at a Sarasota gym last weekend when a man […]

A history of Plein Air painting on Gasparilla Island

BY TONYA BRAMLAGE – Although one can never fully know the daily sights that will be seen while spending a day outdoors here on Gasparilla Island, encounters with butterflies, birds, fish, turtles, flowers and exotic plants are quite common. A less common sight was spotted recently under a potted tree at the Boca Grande Post […]

OBITUARY: Barbara Leiter

Barbara Ketcham Leiter, age 76, passed from this life March 4, 2021 at the Venice Florida Regional Bayfront Hospital in the care of her family. Barbara was born in Peoria, IL on January 9, 1945 to John Robert and Ellen Shepherdson Ketcham. She died a resident of Peoria, IL and Boca Grande, FL following a […]

PROFILE: Patricia Christakos

BY T MICHELE WALKER – When COVID-19 struck our world last year and we were all forced into lockdown, the reactions were as varied as the people themselves, serving as an impromptu Rorschach personality test. Some embraced the much-needed rest and solitude. Others controlled their environment by cleaning and organizing, some exercised and set fitness […]

Donate, don’t waste when you head north: Lee County third annual food rescue campaign begins

To the Editor, Lee County Solid Waste’s third annual “Donated not Wasted” food rescue campaign encourages seasonal residents and visitors to donate unopened pantry items before returning north. The two previous campaigns resulted in 6,000 pounds of food diverted from potential disposal – enough to provide 5,000 meals to hungry people. Nationwide, Americans throw out […]

Grande Rounds webinar addresses stress in the age of COVID-19

BY MARK DRISCOLL, CEO OF THE BOCA GRANDE HEALTH CLINIC – Managing the stress of a pandemic was the topic of the recent Grande Rounds hosted virtually by the Boca Grande Health Clinic and the Boca Grande Health Foundation on March 4. Ivy League trained and board-certified psychiatry specialist Alexander P. Miano, MD, addressed how […]

NHR proposal discussion heats up at Wednesday meeting: BGHPB votes against Historic Register nomination for a second time in 4-2 vote

At left, Dennis Ross offered up some visual aids to argue for the NHR proposal. Photo by Susan H BY SUSAN HANAFEE – Supporters of the proposal to include a portion of Boca Grande’s residential historic district on the National Register of Historic Places brought out the big guns from Gilchrist Avenue on Wednesday, March […]