Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE- Legends never die, and our island has had our share of great ones. There are some names that stick out more than others, though, and Dee Wheeler’s is one of them. While she was born in Sarasota and grew up in Englewood, she married island boy Dumplin’ Wheeler in 1958 and – […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Obituaries.
Virginia Knight, 92, of Punta Gorda passed away on Sunday, August 9, 2020. She was born on October 5, 1927, to Bob and Bessie Ernest in Punta Gorda.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News, Obituaries.
Carol Clark Compton, 86, passed away peacefully after a long illness on July 29, 2020. She was living in Chandler, Arizona. Carol was born on December 4, 1933 in Chicago, Ill. to George and Lucille Clark. Her parents were Assembly of God pastors who served several churches in the Chicago area. In 1946 the family moved first to El Salvador and then to Guatemala to do […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON- The year 2020 began with record-breaking temperatures in Southwest Florida, with highs 3 degrees hotter than the previous record in January alone. There’s no chance of records highs dissipating in the weeks to come, either. When local temperatures average at 90 degrees Fahrenheit in the afternoon, there is a chance of developing […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
From menus to matinees… BY OLIVIA CAMERON- Throughout her life, Kathy Kelleher has been drawn to the theatre. As managing director for the Royal Palm Players, she’s worked behind the scenes to accomplish RPP’s mission to entertain, educate and engage the Boca Grande community. Her childhood memories consist of growing up on the coast of […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON- Last week, the Suncoast Humane Society shelter met an unexpected change when their crew set out to rescue four dozen dogs from Puerto Rico. Island Dog Rescue previously revealed an extensive rescue mission for many cats and dogs from the island who were left to roam without any shelter space. Along with […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: At a press conference earlier this week, Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium leadership provided exciting updates regarding the planned Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA) at Nathan Benderson Park. Updates included sharing remastered renderings of the iconic facility, announcing a major milestone in the Oceans for All campaign in support of Mote […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Obituaries.
Eliot N. Vestner Jr. passed away on July 10, 2020 in Boca Grande, following a two-year battle with sarcoma. He is survived by his wife Louisa; two children, Alice-Lee Vestner and Charles F. Vestner; two step-sons, Donald F. Cutler IV and Q.A .Shaw Cutler; and five granddaughters. Just three months before passing, Eliot published “Ragtime […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON AND MARCY SHORTUSE- Local real estate and rentals have flourished after getting back on the market in the past few months, despite previous travel restrictions and social distancing recommendations. Don Lutz of Boca Grande Real Estate compared their rental bookings this summer to those of mid-May to July in 2019, reporting a […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Entertainment.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON- When diving into the thoughts of local Spark Boca Grande founder and CEO Erica Ress Martin, there’s much planning to be done in spite of the all-encompassing pandemic. “I currently have a two-track system,” said Martin, referring to the two ways she would like to take the Island’s path of at-home entertainment. […]