Skip to main content
Search Results for “rid

PROFILE: Kerri Jacobs

Behind the strong woman are three boys cheering her on… BY OLIVIA CAMERON-As a mother of three boys and a co-owner of an eye-catching new café, Kerri Jacobs barely has enough time to stop and smell the coffee. However, her integrity has taken her further than she envisioned. Kerri was born and raised right here […]

Rentals on island flourish in face of pandemic

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 […]

Island School bells to toll as planned on August 10… but what a different tune they will play

BY MARCY SHORTUSE- The long-awaited announcement that begins to outline how the 2020-21 Island School academic year will play out was made on Wednesday, July 15 by Head-of-School Jean Thompson, and it appears there will be more options than most parents thought. The long-awaited announcement that begins to outline how the 2020-21 Island School academic […]

COVID scams becoming more and more common these days

STAFF REPORT- The Florida Department of Health (DOH) is warning residents to be wary of potential Corona virus-related scams that target people during the global pandemic. Telephone scams regarding COVID-19 test results have been reported by Floridians. Residents have been contacted by callers stating they are with the Florida Department of Health and request social security […]

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: State senate candidate focuses on clean water, open economy, police support

To the Editor: Over the next month voters will cast their ballots for the Republican nominee for State Senate. In order to make an informed decision, voters need to know what a candidate believes and whether that candidate can be an effective Senator for their community. As a candidate for the Florida State Senate who […]

Obituary: Mary Whiteside

Mary Charlotte Herrington Whiteside, age 90, passed away suddenly on March 8, 2020 due to complications of the Covid-19 virus pandemic in Kirkland, Washington. Unfortunately, she was in a rehabilitation facility recovering from surgery, almost ready to be discharged, when symptoms of the virus came on, as one of the early cases, and was transferred […]

PROFILE: Donna Larson

For Donna, the destination is determined by the journey… BY OLIVIA CAMERON- Combing the shoreline of Gasparilla Island, local Turtle Patroller Donna Larson dedicates six months each year to protecting our hatchlings. Born into a southern lifestyle, Donna hardly considers Troy, Michigan her hometown. During her early childhood, she learned to get her hands dirty […]

Boca Grande Preschool is back to the books after virus shutdown

BY MARGUERITE TREMELIN- Boca Grande’s littlest learners have returned to preschool.  The pre-kindergarten 4 and 5-year-olds returned on June 16, followed by the 1 to 3-year old children on July 7. Children, teachers and parents are happy to be back.  It was three months ago, on March 16, when the Boca Grande Preschool closed its […]

Second graduation canceled for Class of 2020: Charlotte County makes decision to hold only virtual ceremonies this year

BY OLIVIA CAMERON- Local high school students who graduated this past school term were looking forward to normalcy, with plans to hold graduation ceremonies this summer. The ceremonies were postponed from their original dates to wait out the COVID-19 outbreak in the hope that they could conduct traditional but safe graduations thereafter. However, all in-person […]