Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News.
The Useppa Island Club has a presumptive new owner, led by Sandy Stilwell Youngquist, CEO and owner of Stilwell Enterprises & Restaurant Group of Fort Myers. “The letters have gone out to the homeowners,” said Youngquist, who owns the Key Lime Bistro in Boca Grande and operates a group of restaurants and inns under her […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Community.
Bringing a message of love and hope, the Rt. Rev. William Mostert will be the guest preacher at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church this weekend on Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Bishop William recently retired as Bishop of the Diocese of Christ the King in Johannesburg, South Africa. “I’m retired, but not tired,” he quipped. Traveling to […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community.
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Featured News, Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: The Lee Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday selected District 5 Commissioner Mike Greenwell to serve as Board Chairman for the coming year and District 1 Commissioner Kevin Ruane to serve as vice chairman. The Board selects a chairman annually in November from among the five commissioners. Commissioner Greenwell previously served as […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in News, Police & Fire.
Fire Chief C.W. Blosser and the Island EOC Emergency Communications & Interoperability Working Group would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Boca Grande Health Clinic Foundation for its recent donation of $8,095 to the Auxiliary Emergency Radio Communications System (AUXCOMM) project.
The Health Clinic’s timely donation covers the entire cost of the Clinic’s radios and extensive training in their use.
With that generous donation, the total amount raised for the project since mid-August is $306,595.
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News.
As fall visitors arrive and winter visitors begin to make plans, local tourism officials are looking for good news as vacation rentals come back on line.
“I think we are seeing some pent-up demand,” said Sean Doherty, the tourism director for Charlotte County tourism, which is branded the Punta Gorda and Englewood Beach Convention and Visitor Bureau.
Looking at Charlotte County’s tourism development tax revenues, in August the county saw its first actual increase in revenue since Hurricane Ian, with an upward blip of 0.7 percent. TDC revenue is derived from the lodging tax, which is assessed on any rental of less than six months and one day. These bed tax funds support both the Charlotte County and Lee County visitor bureaus.
Rental properties coming back on the market on Don Pedro and Little Gasparilla are also helping Charlotte tourism figures, as many were off market after Ian, Doherty said.
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: They’re neither a trick nor a treat, just a reality. Today, more than 562,000 tax bills are being mailed to property and business owners in Lee County. For those who signed up to receive their bill via email, those were sent out on November 1, 2023. These bills reflect the value of […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Entertainment.
After three years of partial seasons, Royal Palm Players is poised and ready to entertain and excite you. They are back with a full season of four major productions starring over 40 different actors—some brand new to our stage—some familiar and beloved—all are committed to raising the bar of entertainment excellence.
The season is off to a “grande” beginning. The Crowninshield is the perfect setting for The Dining Room On Boca Grande, November 13th and 14th at 5pm. RPP’s opening show is adapted from A.R. Gurney’s dramedy of manners. This table reading literally takes place around a dining room table in a mansion on Gilchrist Avenue. Through a vivid mosaic of scenes, different families in different time periods, create a portrait of life on Boca Grande over the past 100 years.
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community.
The renewed Veterans Memorial at the intersection of Gilchrist Ave. and Fifth St. on Boca Grande, will be unveiled on the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 8 (no time given). To celebrate this occasion, a reception will take place at the Boca Grande History Center at 170 Park Ave. from 2 to 4 p.m. All are […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News.
Back in July of 1967, the headline in the News-Press of Fort Myers was, “What to Do About Eroded Tip of Boca Grande.”
Then, as now, islanders were looking to beach nourishment to help prevent erosion on the southern tip of Gasparilla Island. At that time, the Boca Grande Conservation Council, headed by Homer Addison of The Temptation, was in favor of establishing a park at the tip of the island, as the Lighthouse was for sale from the Coast Guard through the General Services Administration. It seemed an ideal solution; the only challenge being the “erosion problem.”
Six decades later, the issue of erosion, while not fixed, is regularly addressed through a mix of federal, local and tourist tax monies. Gasparilla, and indeed all of the Gulf of Mexico islands in Florida, are under regular schedules for replenishment. But what is also a challenge is the flooding at the tip of the island, which hit the south end’s streets and historic buildings during hurricanes Irma, Ian and Idalia.