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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: BIPS says ‘Thank you!’ for Giving Challenge response

To the Editor: The Barrier Island Parks Society wants to say thank you to the many local residents who made our 2020 Giving Challenge an incredible success. In just 24 hours, BIPS received over $75,000 in donations from 338 individuals. The Giving Challenge was hosted by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, with giving strengthened […]

Historical Society documentary regarding COVID-19 to air

SUBMITTED BY THE BOCA GRANDE HISTORICAL SOCIETY –  Jim Blaha, Chairman of the History Center, recently initiated an effort to document the Island’s current experience with the Covid-19 virus for the Historical Society’s archives. He contacted Rick Montgomery of Island TV and the idea grew into a documentary that will begin airing today. The program includes […]

Obituary: Billy Lee Spurgeon

Billy Lee Spurgeon has “gone Home” to meet his Savior and unite with his loving wife, Nancy. He passed away on March 18, 2020. Bill was born on October 23, 1929 at his family farmhouse in Abingdon, Illinois. Bill was an all-conference football standout in high school. After graduation he enlisted in the Air Force, […]

Profile: Nancy Jo Powers

Local Nancy Jo Powers, who now goes by Jo Powers, may be recognizable to avid fans of Island TV, the program that sheds light on public service announcements and provides coverage of local events. When Jo decided to reinvent herself, Boca Grande was the perfect fit. After growing up in Dover, New Hampshire, Jo attended […]

CCP Wuhan Virus or a cold?

To the Editor: It is way past time to logically discuss the evil-villain, the invisible-monster running wild in the world. We need to begin in China where an incomplete science-experiment Coronavirus escaped from wherever you want to believe it resided and in whatever manner most fits your beliefs. These details won’t matter until it is […]

Boca Grande shows up on COVID-19 tracker

BY MARCY SHORTUSE – A case, or cases, of COVID-19 have finally showed up on the radar of the Florida Department of Health this week, as they are reporting “five or less” cases in the Lee County portion of the island on their dashboard. The addition of island cases showed up on Tuesday’s update. In […]

‘Iguana panel’ has two openings on board … are you interested?

STAFF REPORT – If you’re a Gasparilla Island resident whose home is in Lee County and you have a driving urge to help fight the battle against the insurgent spiny-tail iguana, we have an opportunity for you. Lee County has announced two open positions on the Gasparilla Island Municipal Services Taxing Unit Board, the purpose […]

GIBA reports on traffic decrease, toll card extensions

SUBMITTED BY THE GASPARILLA ISLAND BRIDGE AUTHORITY – GIBA Board of Supervisors held their quarterly board meeting on Wednesday, April 22. Island residents Ronald Drake and Kenneth Richardson were welcomed to the two open advisory member positions. Traffic and revenue figures for the cumulative fiscal year 2020 were up four percent before the beach closures […]

Spark Boca Grande to livestream comedy in May

BY OLIVIA CAMERON AND ERICA MARTIN – The island’s famed performers of Spark Boca Grande will entertain from the internet with a distant play. With social distancing recommendations, the group has decided to put on a show for the people at home. On Saturday, May 2 at 3 p.m., eight Spark actors will YouTube livestream […]