Skip to main content
Search Results for “un

Native takes first in Ladies day

In the Ladies Day Tarpon Tournament last Saturday, May 10, there were a total of 37 boats. Team Native won first place with two fish caught.  Fishing was from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and there were 10 tarpon caught in total and Gail Coleman Davis from team Native caught two, winning them the $12,950 […]

Letters: Thank you to hotel’s leadership and staff during this long hurricane recovery 

To the Editor: It’s hard to believe that six months ago our restaurants were not open, the town and many homes were underwater, we lost our post office, and the centerpiece of our island, The Gasparilla Inn, was extremely compromised. These have been challenging times. Prized possessions were destroyed, beloved cars and golf carts were […]

Charlotte sets week’s upcoming meetings schedule

Charlotte County government meetings for the upcoming week. Monday, May 19, 2 p.m. – Metropolitan Planning Organization Board Meeting, Charlotte County Administration Center, 18500 Murdock Circle, Room 119, Port Charlotte, FL 33948  Tuesday, May 20, 1 p.m. – Board of County Commissioners Quarterly Local Transportation Meeting, Charlotte County Administration Center, 18500 Murdock Circle, Room 119, […]

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Gail Coleman Davis

First tarpon of the season Gasparilla Island native Gail Coleman Davis earned the accolade of the first tarpon of this year’s tournament season at last weekend’s Ladies Day. Gail was raised on island and is now married to Doug Davis. Doug’s sister is Robin Melvin of Gasparilla Outfitters and Special Effects. She has been fishing […]

COLUMNS: VAN HUBBARD

Fixing water quality now, still cheaper than reviving dead estuaries How do we tackle water quality? Just like an elephant. One bite at a time. Many things contribute to these problems. It took years of abuse to get there, and it will require billions of dollars, and serious effort, to gain water quality resurrection.  We […]

REMINISCENCES: K.Y. FUTCH 

Seaplanes to the oyster beds: My time with Katharine Hepburn BY KATHY FUTCH Miss Hepburn made fairly regular visits to Boca Grande to be with her Houghton family relatives and also some friends. Upon entering Palermo’s “Griswold” home where she was staying, she immediately approached me and removed the straw hat I was wearing and […]

Toilets. Trash cans. A guest experience from the tollbooth.

It was a good day to have three Lee County commissioners come to Boca Grande on Tuesday for a forum on parking. There were some (not us) who were worried that somehow it would be contentious. Indeed there was much that was not said. What was said, every word of it, was useful.  Who would […]

Englewood Leadership visits the island

Leadership Englewood Class of 2025 celebrated their Tourism and Hospitality Day on Gasparilla Island. Shown here are many who orchestrated the day. The class got to drive around in golf carts, learn about turtles and hear some history of the island.                             […]

EcoWatch: New trapping proposal flip-flopping at its best

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is proposing to modernize rules to align with the updated methods, technologies and research in the Association of Florida and Wildlife Agencies’ best management practices. Regulated trapping is a valuable species-specific and humane way to manage and conserve Florida wildlife and benefit people. There will be two sides […]

SW Florida Fishing: May Moon …

BY CAPT. JOE LECLAIR As always this is one of the best times of the year to be fishing charlotte harbor. With all the boats chasing the tarpon it also makes it a great time of year to wade for snook, reds, and trout. After putting on the boots, I slipped into the water this […]