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Bead for Life: entrepreneurship, education, empowerment

■ BY BOOTS TOLSDORF Rosette is 19 years old and was living with her husband and one-year-old son in a mud house in a swampy area that flooded every time it rained. At first, her husband forbade her to attend Street Business School. She persisted and was able to begin her tiny vegetable stand with […]

Get your tickets for ‘Joseph’ now for good seats

■ STAFF REPORT If you are anywhere near the Boca Grande Community Center on Friday mornings, then you’ve already heard Grande Glee practicing their first full-length concert – “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” This fun-filled 90-minute show, by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber, is the story of Joseph from the Book of Genesis […]

Celebration of Life for William Carlstrom

William Joseph (Bad Bill or Wild Willy) Carlstrom, age 79, of Port Charlotte and Boca Grande, passed away December 29, 2018. Bill was born in Queens, N.Y. on August 8, 1939, the son of Norman and Kathleen Carlstrom. A celebration of life will be held at ten March 19, 2019 at Our Lady of Mercy […]

What we know about our island iguanas …

■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE While we have been dealing with an iguana eradication program for many, many years, at Tuesday’s meeting it became apparent that either people haven’t been reading about the situation or just recently moved here. Because of this, and at the iguana panel’s request, we will attempt to break the pertinent information […]

Have you hugged a Methodist today? Now is the time, pancake breakfasts are back

■ BY SUE ERWIN It’s that time of year again to enjoy fluffy pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausages, grits and fellowship at the Boca Grande Lighthouse United Methodist Church. The laborious efforts to create those delectable breakfasts begin the night before with several volunteers. Chef and greeter Dan O’Connell goes to the church on Wednesday evenings […]

Obituary: Elizabeth Ringer

Devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother, Elizabeth M. Ringer, 95, passed away in peace at her home in Wayzata, Minnesota surrounded by her family on March 2, 2019. Her husband of over 60 years, Walter, predeceased her. Elizabeth is survived by her children, Walter III “Joe” (Jane), John (Middie), Elizabeth “Lisa”, and Katherine “Kayte.” […]

Boca Grande family seeks support for Sugarshack Kickstarter

■ BY SUE ERWIN Spencer Paterson, son of Boca Grande Realtor Becky Paterson, has started a live music café and digital video production company called Sugarshack. Spencer is an aerial/video photographer who was born in Sarasota and grew up in Boca Grande. He currently lives in Bonita Springs. Sugarshack Sessions was a YouTube series started […]

An afternoon with Judy Collins: A fan’s perspective

■ BY DEAN LAUX Thanks to Pia Lindstrom and the Friends of Boca Grande Community Center, an overflow crowd of islanders and guests were privileged to “eavesdrop” on a delightful conversation between Pia and her longtime friend, singer/songwriter/author/pianist/guitarist and raconteur Judy Collins on Sunday, Feb. 24. Not that the audience didn’t get involved in the […]

Chico the monkey stole her pork and beans: Capt. Marian Schneider visits History Bytes, recalls childhood memories

■ BY SUE ERWIN The audience laughed, and some cried, when Capt. Marian Schneider shared memories of growing up on the island, her pioneering efforts of ecotourism and the closing of her business “Grande Tours” when she spoke at the library on Wednesday, Feb. 27. Schneider gave a presentation as part of the Boca Grande […]

Profile: Sally Johnson

■ BY SUE ERWIN She knew at a very young age that she wanted to study acting, and with the encouragement of her mother, she headed down that path and never looked back. “I’d always dreamed of being on stage and seeing my name in lights,” said Boca Grande seasonal resident Sally Johnson. Originally from Westport, […]