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Methodist Church proposal rejected by Historic Preservation Board

■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE The discussion of several topics at the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board on Wednesday, Aug. 14 was quiet and quick until the last two items … and it was apparently those items that had the seats unusually full for an August meeting in Boca Grande. The topic that had the most […]

Hold on to your books …

■ STAFF REPORT The Johann Fust Library Foundation is unable to accept more book donations until after its fall sale. Thanks to the many generous people who donated, we will have thousands of books for you to peruse at the Fall Book Sale. This year’s sale will be held November 4, 5 and 6. Be […]

School is back in session!

■ BY SUE ERWIN The Island School is back in session as of Monday, August 12. The 60 students at the school headed to class on Monday to meet the returning teachers and fellow classmates, as well as one new teacher at the school. Stephanie Shirback started getting her classroom ready at the school several […]

Several new hatches recorded this week

■ BY SUE ERWIN Boca Grande is very fortunate to have a sea turtle patrol association that is dedicated and vigilant. Some of the islands surrounding this area have properties that have been in violation of the ordinance to wildlife safety in the past few weeks. As baby sea turtles make their way from the nest […]

Beach parking reopens after utility work; more FPL work planned

■ BY SUE ERWIN The parking area at the state park beach located at 680 Gulf Boulevard was temporarily closed due to Florida Light & Power utility work recently. The project was to secure hardening feeder maintenance for the power company. “This specific project is part of FPL’s efforts to strengthen the grid,” said Florida […]

New sign at state park boasts new logo

■ BY SUE ERWIN The Florida Department of Environmental Protection launched a new Florida Park Service website in 2018, and this year they launched a new logo to help promote the 175 state parks, trails and historical sites throughout the state. “The Florida State Park logo officially changed earlier this year, and we received the […]

A follow-up to the fire at the Lee Avenue Inn cottage

■ STAFF REPORT The State Fire Marshall couldn’t rule lightning out – or in, for that matter – in the incident that occurred at Gasparilla Inn Cottage 71 on Lee Avenue on Thursday, Aug. 8. At approximately 11 a.m. that day, Boca Grande and Englewood Fire responded to the call of a structure fire at […]

ISLAND SHERIFF, FIRE AND EMS NEWS: Rat trap robber on the loose

■ STAFF REPORT On Thursday, Aug. 8 Lee County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a residential burglary on the island (exact location redacted due to Marsy’s Law). According to reporting deputies, contact was made with the complainant, who is the caretaker of a home in Boca Grande. The caretaker said he witnessed a […]

Obituary: Joseph “J Baldy” Rinaldi

Joseph “J Baldy” Rinaldi, 76, passed into the never on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 10, 2019, surrounded by family and friends. He died from complications related to his battle with lung cancer. Baldy was born Joseph Leonard Rinaldi on April 21, 1942 to Joseph C. and Dolores F. (Colapietro) Rinaldi in Springfield, Massachusetts. He graduated from […]

Profile: Mike Bower

■ BY SUE ERWIN If you’ve visited Hudson’s Grocery recently, you might have noticed a new face helping to run the store. Sporting a bright pink T-shirt, Mike Bower has been working hard at the store, learning how to run the business for the past several weeks. Working alongside his grandfather, John White, a long-time employee of […]