Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial, Letters to the Editor, News, Opinion.
■ SUBMITTED BY LEE COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS The official start to the 2019 hurricane season is less than a month away. Lee County is ready, thanks to the longstanding and constant support of the Lee Board of County Commissioners (BoCC). But Lee County is not idle, as planning and preparations never cease. Efforts to find ways […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial, Letters to the Editor, News, Opinion.
■ SUBMITTED BY BONEFISH & TARPON TRUST Whether you fish for bonefish, tarpon, permit or any other species, it is important to understand the vital role of habitat in our fisheries. The current marine fisheries management model uses regulations such as size limits and seasonal closures to manage harvest. That’s not enough. The amount of […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE The Gasparilla Island Kids Classic Tarpon Tournament that will be held on Saturday, June 1 this year is filling up fast, and Camp Margaritaville is in the final stages of planning. The tournament weekend begins on Friday, May 31, when everyone is invited to come to the Boca Grande Community Center and […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ STAFF REPORT The 15th annual “Howl at the Moon” Invitational Tarpon Tournament, sponsored by Gasparilla Outfitters, will still be held this Saturday, May 18, but the time has now changed to 7 to 10 p.m. That is one hour earlier than the originally scheduled start time. There’s another new development regarding this tournament: It […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY SUE ERWIN This year’s Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce Ladies Day Tarpon Tournament was an extra-special one, with 41 boats releasing 33 tarpon and $22,960 in prize money given to three winning teams. The artwork to commemorate Ladies Day was very special as well. Created by artist Brendan Coudal, the rendering portrays […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ STAFF REPORT If you haven’t tried Scarpa’s Coastal yet, Wednesday night might be the time. Not only will you have some great food, you’ll get some quality entertainment as well. Wesley and Wyatt Locke, two locals with a lot of talent, will be playing from 7 to 9 p.m. that night. Come check them […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Profiles.
■ BY SUE ERWIN Persistent and adventurous is a perfect description for Capt. Parker O’Bannon. He is a sixth-generation Floridian born in Fort Myers and raised in Boca Grande. He is an only child, and he follows in the footsteps of 100 years of notable O’Bannon guides spanning four generations, who have hunted and fished all over […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial, Letters to the Editor, News, Opinion.
To the Editor: The commercial and recreational harvest of stone crab claws in Florida closes on May 16, with the last day of harvest on May 15. Stone crab season will reopen on Oct. 15. This five-month closure occurs each year during the peak spawning season to help conserve Florida’s valuable stone crab resource. Commercially […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Columns, Editorial, News, Opinion.
To the Editor: The Gasparilla Island Water Association, Inc. will be temporarily changing the disinfection process for its Placida and Boca Grande potable (drinking water) water supply. From May 20 at 8 a.m. through July 1, GIWA will disinfect the water with free chlorine rather than combined chlorine/ammonia (chloramines). This conversion to chlorine (which is […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE Lee County Planning approached the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board at their monthly meeting on Wednesday, May 8 with three projects on the agenda, but one stood out as a point of contention and spurred conversation that lasted well over an hour. Coincidentally, it was also one of the first home […]