Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News, Uncategorized.
The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority met for their quarterly board meeting on Thursday, Aug. 14, to discuss not only future finances, but to discuss drainage and the strengthening of the Causeway islands, which is now in progress. Through the whole meeting, a subtext on what the new parking regulations would do with toll revenue for […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News, Uncategorized.
The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority voted to address hurricane drainage issues on Gasparilla Road, near Kappy’s, at their August 14 meeting. After hurricanes Ian, Helene and Milton, the standing water lasted for weeks in a right-of-way stretch of road at the Boca Grande Hotel and Kappy’s Market shopping center. A study by the engineering firm […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Breaking News, Featured News, News.
Lee County administration is working on the details of a new parking ordinance for Boca Grande. Currently, the ordinance is not yet enforceable. It reads, “Nothing herein precludes Lee County from hiring a private company to enforce the parking regulations to ensure compliance. Items through of section 28-163 of this division shall not be enforceable […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
The recent decision by Lee County Commissioners to eliminate a majority of the island’s beach access parking for visitors was a shock to many, and has reverberated through social media and the local news like an earthquake. Now, providing the parking amendment is finalized, it is the aftershocks that the island community will deal with. […]
Written by Angela McPhillips on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
The schedule has been set for the 2026 Boca Grande tarpon tournaments, one of the island’s most cherished community traditions. The season is organized collectively by the Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce, William Woodroffe, and the Gasparilla Island Maritime Museum with input from local fishing guides. Gary Cross, Boca Grande Chamber’s Executive Director, says […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
Editor’s Note: This is the second of six weekly wildlife articles submitted by the Barrier Island Parks Society to raise awareness. Invasive animals, like Ctenosaura similis, the black spiny-tailed iguana, can be detrimental to local animals like birds, gopher tortoises and sea turtles when their young eat their eggs for the protein they need to […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
To meet the changing needs of the Boca Grande community, the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority board approved a revised Overweight Vehicle Policy at their August 14, 2025, meeting. The intent of the policy is to protect GIBA’s infrastructure while providing alternatives for customers with special transportation needs involving excess weight. Interested parties are required to […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, Featured News, News.
The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority voted to address hurricane drainage issues on Gasparilla Road, near Kappy’s, at their August 14 meeting. After hurricanes Ian, Helene and Milton, the standing water lasted for weeks in a right-of-way stretch of road at the Boca Grande Hotel and Kappy’s Market shopping center. A study by the engineering firm […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Police & Fire, Uncategorized.
Boca Grande Fire Department and Lee County EMS responded to a shark bite last Saturday night. Chief C.W. Blosser said that fire and EMS responded on Saturday night to a 10:55 p.m. 911 call to “rendezvous with an incoming boat” that arrived on Gasparilla Island from Cayo Costa. Blosser said that the group was tarpon […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, News, Sports & Outdoors.
BY ARLENE HALL, BGSTA SECRETARY One of the more important tasks the BGSTA turtle patrollers perform is nest inventory. This is done by digging up and documenting the nest contents either three days after we notice a nest has hatched, or 70 days after the nest was laid, if we didn’t see indications of a […]