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Charlotte Sea Grant sponsors ethical ecotourism webinars

The UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County Florida Sea Grant office is offering the Florida Society for Ethical Ecotourism Educational Webinar Series, which is scheduled from 7 to 8 p.m. on the second of Wednesday of every month starting in June and ending in November. Designed for ecotourism professionals, enthusiasts, students, and anyone interested in responsible travel […]

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Calusa Waterkeeper, Joe Cavanaugh 

Our water watchman A new Calusa Waterkeeper recently joined the mission of protecting Southwest Florida’s water resources from pollution, misuse and overdevelopment. Joe Cavanaugh now holds this position and is already working to build alliances, share his knowledge and put his experience to work for the public good. Joe brings with him years of experience. “I […]

Pat Neal funds $500,000 New College gift

Florida builder Pat Neal and his wife Charlene have completed a $500,000 gift to New College. The contribution fulfills a pledge made in 1977 and affirms Neal’s continued belief in New College’s evolving role as a national leader in public liberal arts education. “This is more than the completion of a pledge – it’s an […]

History: The L Dock, Boca Grande’s yacht haven

Kiwanis Club challenge BY JAMES J. BLAHA, DIRECTORBOCA GRANDE HISTORY CENTER “Miss Lana Turner, famous movie actress and her husband,  Mr. Dan Topping, who spent four days in Boca Grande on their yacht this season will not return again until the Yacht Dock (L Dock) is in better repair and electric current and other facilities […]

Turtle nest relocated by firm for safety at State Park

Last Friday morning, May 30, a sea turtle nest with 144 eggs was relocated from Gasparilla Island State Park due to pending beach renourishment. Shown here, a mother-daughter team, Anna and Raquel Tripp, from Ecological Associates Inc. relocating the nest. Ecological Associates is an environmental consulting company in Florida that does sea turtle monitoring, among […]

Fishing poles stolen off of center console Gause Boat

On Friday, May 30, Lee County Deputy Sheriff David Scozzafava was contacted in reference to two fishing rods that were stolen from a 26-foot Gause center console vessel at the Miller’s Marina. The owner of the rods provided a general description of the stolen items and estimated the theft amount at $1,080, according to the […]

Burrowing owl off Gasparilla Road

This burrowing owl was just off Gasparilla Road on Tuesday, near Coral Creek Airport. The owls are good at adapting grasslands and golf courses. It is one of the smallest owls in Florida. Main threats are loss of habitat and harrassment by humans and domesticated animals, according to the FWC.           […]

Zelma Otto, 1926-2025

BY MARCY SHORTUSE Zelma H. Otto, a woman who many on the island fondly call their “second mama,” passed away on March 24, 2025, at the age of 98. Zelma was born in August of 1926 in a place that back then was known as Woodmere, Florida – located between Englewood and Venice. She was […]

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Mr. Market triplets 

Dad and kids put together a board game A new finance board game for families, “Mr. Market,” is the creation of a family of longtime Boca Grande regulars. The Jack White family connected to Boca Grande through Jack’s father’s friends from Stetson Law School and started visiting the area more than four decades ago. “One […]