Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is still pursuing a ban on boating and fishing around some of the islands to the south of us after announcing the public “largely supported” the effort. Modifications to five “critical wildlife areas” in Southwest Florida, including the islands of Useppa, Sanibel/Captiva, Hemp Key […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY SUE ERWIN – Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association volunteers found a stranded turtle on Thursday, September 1 at Gasparilla Marina. The turtle was picked up by BGSTA members Sharon and Karl Knapp and was transported to Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota by Donna Larson … just as Tropical Storm Hermine was being upgraded to […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News, Profiles.
BY SUE ERWIN – If you’re planning a vacation but don’t feel like driving yourself to the airport, you may want to call the newest owner of Boca Grande Limousine, George Hammond. This trustworthy business owner and experienced driver will be sure to get you there safely. George moved here in 2002 from Massachusetts, where […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News, Obituaries.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE – On a hot July day in 1989 a man named Lewis “Lew” Morgan was introduced to the Boca Grande Community. He stood next to Darrell Polk, a man who had held the job of fire chief on the island for 33 years. “I hope I can be the fire chief you want,” […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
The Boca Grande Fire Department responded to two calls recently involving the water, including a man stranded among sharks and another who suffered a medical issue while jet skiing. A day of fishing went off on kind of a crazy tangent for a local fisherman after the Boca Grande Fire Department had to rescue him […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
Work has already begin on the Gasparilla Island Light, a.k.a. Rear Range Light, on Gulf Boulevard. According to Sharon McKenzie, the executive director of the Barrier Island Parks Society, Inc., the fence has been put in place around the structure, and over the next few weeks they will be working on various metal parts of […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
Long-time island resident Zelma Otto reached her 90th birthday recently, and it was celebrated by many at the Rotonda Lakes Clubhouse near her home. She was all dressed in purple for the occasion and got to spend some time with three of the island boys she helped to raise – Seth Joiner, Parker O’Bannon and […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY SUE ERWIN – The GoFundMe account to help send a veteran to the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 2016 has grown to nearly $1,900. But donations are still needed to help send Englewood resident John Seelie to the services in Hawaii. Gasparilla Inn Golf Course employee Cathy Joel lives next door […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY SUE ERWIN – Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association volunteers said the storms over this past weekend destroyed a good amount of the remaining sea turtle nests on Boca Grande beaches. One volunteer said there were nearly 40 nests just before Hurricane Hermine, and she counted only about 12 existing ones on Monday, September 5. […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Opinion.
BY BOB ELLIOTT – It’s time to offer a mea culpa to Mr. Al Gore or whoever invented the internet. All I was trying to do in previous columns was to point out that the internet has caused a certain level of attention-deficit disorder in its frequent users and has put a crimp on clear, concise, written […]