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5th Street parking lot looks a little different lately

■ STAFF REPORT  You may have noticed some subtle changes to the 5th Street parking lot by The Gasparilla Inn Beach Club. Okay, well, they’re actually huge changes, but they are the same changes we have been reporting about for months, and they will add parking to the downtown area. According to Betsy Clayton, communications […]

Profile: Margarita Santiago

■  BY SUE ERWIN If you’ve had dinner recently at Fusion – the island’s newest restaurant – you’ve likely witnessed Food and Beverage Manager Margarita Santiago bustling about the establishment and making sure everything is running as smoothly as possible. Speaking to one staff member in Spanish while simultaneously answering questions in English during our interview, […]

Obituary: William Martin

William “Bill” Martin, 83, of Boca Grande and Charlevoix, Mich., passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at his home on Monday, April 10, 2017. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Elizabeth “Jeanne,” brother Robert Martin of Flushing and Charlevoix, Mich. and sister Carol (Mike) Snyder of Flushing, Mich. William was an […]

OBITUARY: Michael T. Jaekels M.D.

Michael (“Doc”) T. Jaekels, M.D., who helped bring thousands of babies into this world as a career obstetrician and gynecologist, passed on February 15, 2017, at the age of 86. He was a resident of Elkhart Lake and Shorewood, Wis., former resident of Boca Grande and Fox Point, Wis. He was the loving husband of […]

For 90 years the sentinal has stood … and now the Light is finally ours!

■ SUBMITTED BY JIM GRANT OF THE BARRIER ISLAND PARKS SOCIETY Last week directors of the Barrier Island Parks Society finally celebrated, after 14-plus years of frustration in obtaining the island’s Rear Range Light (now known as the Gasparilla Island Light) from its various federal landlords, the completion of its extraordinary restoration over this season! […]

Here is your island Easter in a pastel nutshell

■ STAFF REPORT Good Friday begins the final weekend of “season” on the island, and it begins with the annual Palm on Park sale and the Walk of the Cross. Lilly Pulitzer fans, this is your chance to get some of the greatest bargains of the season at The Palm on Park Easter sale. The […]

Memories of World Wars book introduced

■ BY SUE ERWIN When island resident Barbara Edgerton was asked to manage a collection of World War stories from Boca Grande families, she happily agreed, even though that meant dedicating the next year of her life to complete the project. After it was announced that Friends of the Boca Grande Community Center were going […]

Artist for World’s Richest chosen; sign up while there’s still time

■ STAFF REPORT Congratulations to the artist of the 2017 World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament, Kelly Reark. Kelly is an award-winning local artist inspired by her days fishing in Boca Grande and Chokoloskee. Her mission is to motivate outdoorsmen to preserve resources for the enjoyment of all. Since 2002 she has exhibited work in conjunction with […]

‘Local Color’ to hit the scene at Whidden’s

■ STAFF REPORT Looking for an activity to round out your weekend? Come to the Local Color Art Show at Whidden’s Marina on Saturday, April 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Artists Patti Middleton, Stuart Hoeckel, Melissa Steyer, Beth Perkins, Melissa Perkins and a few emerging guest artists will be there. Add some color […]