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Profile: Steve Rinaldi

■ BY SUE ERWIN Steve Rinaldi remembers when there was a campground at the north end of Gasparilla Island. As a kid, he would visit Boca Grande with his family every few weeks. He also recalls when the Innlet Marina was the Knight Brothers’ boatyard. “It was still operational when I was a kid, and they […]

The good and the bad regarding anonymity

■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE It’s been a quiet week on the code enforcement complaint front, with nothing new listed since August 19. That’s a refreshing change, to be sure, but it doesn’t stop people on the street from constantly asking me (and each other) who the person was making the complaints. I can tell you […]

GIBA discusses new sidewalk, revenue and other projects at quarterly board meeting

■ BY KATHY BANSON-VERRICO The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority board voted to add a sidewalk on the west side of Gasparilla Road from Gulf Shores to facilitate pedestrian travel along the existing GIBA right-of-way at their quarterly board meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 20. GIBA attorney Rob Berntsson and GIBA engineer Jon Cole have been researching […]

Speaker schedule announced for ‘Friends’ American Revolution Symposium

■ STAFF REPORT Speakers for the 2020 American Revolution Symposium in April have recently been announced, and the list is impressive. The symposium, which runs from Wednesday, April 22 through Friday, April 24, stems from the America’s Conflicts lecture series. This symposium will look at the American Revolution, from its origins to 1783, as 13 […]

Several new hatches recorded this week by turtle patrol

■ BY SUE ERWIN Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association patrol members had an interesting morning earlier this week. After hearing about a report of a live adult turtle wandering on the beach, they came across a loggerhead female turtle that appeared to be sick. Volunteers contacted the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the […]

FWC asks public for help documenting strange panther disorder

■ STAFF REPORT The FWC is investigating a disorder detected in some Florida panthers and bobcats. All the affected animals have exhibited some degree of walking abnormally or having difficulty coordinating their back legs. As of August 2019, the FWC has confirmed neurological damage in one panther and one bobcat. Additionally, trail camera footage has […]

Obituary: Lucile Turner James

Local seasonal resident Lucile Turner James passed away peacefully at home here on the island on August 16th, 2019 after a 4-1/2 year battle with metastatic lung cancer. Lucile was born on October 9, 1951 in Lynchburg, Va. She is survived by her mother, Ann E. White of Boca Grande; husband of 43 years, David […]

Profile: Lisa Sims

■ BY SUE ERWIN Lisa Sims, manager at Gasparilla Adventures, has been associated with Boca Grande since 2008. The first time she came to the island was to help with the wedding of Sarah Blakely (founder of Spanx) and Jessie itzsler at The Gasparilla Inn. The large celebration was the talk of the town, as wedding […]

Why is the promenade obstructed while downtown is picked apart?

To the Editor: I find it ironic that Lee County Code Enforcement is so vigilant in protecting the pedestrian right-of-way in the village by forcing removal of obstructing amenities such as sidewalk cafe seating and attractive flower boxes in front of retail shop display windows, yet they ignore obstructions such as large boulders and shrubbery […]