Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE – Day One of the 2016 World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament is complete, and in just a few short hours Day Two will begin. Day One, on Thursday, May 19, yielded 24 releases for 26 boats in the competition. The First Fish Award, with a release at 2:51 p.m. , went to Capt. […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ STAFF REPORT Fishing in the 2016 World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament ends at 6:30 p.m. tonight, May 20, and the winners of the competition will be announced downtown during the Boca Grande Invitational Art Festival and Street Party at 8 p.m. Stop by and see if your favorite team won. As of press time, there […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY SHARON MCKENZIE BARRIER ISLAND PARKS SOCIETY The Barrier Island Parks Society (BIPS) reported that thus far the fundraising for the Gasparilla Island Light restoration project has brought in $1,068,000 in gifts and pledges. Larry Hannah, BIPS director and chair of the fundraising effort, said that “over 350 individual gifts have propelled […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY SUE ERWIN The Boca Grande Fire Department took part in a Public Protection Classification survey in March. The results are expected to lower island homeowners’ insurance premiums. The survey was completed by ISO, a company based in New Jersey that rates fire departments based on their capabilities to protect a community. The ratings […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY SUE ERWIN The tarpon were rolling in every direction as the sun was setting on the day of Friday, May 13 … and they seemed hungry. There were 17 teams participating in the annual Howl at the Moon Tarpon Tournament that night, and the tarpon proved to be hungry. The team aboard Capt. […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News, Obituaries.
■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE It would be impossible to determine how many lives any of us has changed in our time here on earth, but in the case of Dr. Henry “Hank” Wright, the list would go on and all the way up to heaven. He was “the island doctor” for so many years, and […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Profiles.
■ BY SUE ERWIN Creating ice-cold concoctions daily and always serving them with a smile, this week’s profile candidate is Alan Lenard, the newest bartender in town. He started working at The Temp in March, and he already knows many of the locals by name and anticipates their favorite drink orders the moment he sees […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial, News, Sports & Outdoors.
I have fished and observed many tournaments over the years and have seen this for myself. I have fished with Capt. Babe Darna and his first mate (and son) Scooter many times, and caught my first tarpon with them. If you listened to them, you would catch a tarpon. Period. Same with Capt. Sandy Melvin. That guy will keep you hopping in the quest to catch a tarpon, snook, redfish, whatever it is you’re angling for. Think you’re going to enjoy a cup of coffee while getting your line wet with Capt. Sandy? Wrong. You’re working it, and he’s showing you how every second. Every fish I just named – and more – I caught with Sandy Melvin. (Walking the dog on the backwater is almost as good as tarpon fishing, believe me.)
But the weirdest thing I ever saw was Capt. Willie Mills call dibs on third place in a tournament almost before the first fish was caught. I’m going to tell a tale on him real quick, and I hope he doesn’t take me to task for it because, honestly, he’s a little scary.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
Nationally recognized artist Carroll Swayze is opening her studio to children this summer for her well known Art Camp Adventure. Working in a real artist’s studio, each child will receive individual instruction in a wide variety of media, from painting and printmaking to sculpture and fine crafts. Each student will take home beautiful original art […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ STAFF REPORT If you hear some howling in the Pass Friday night, pay no mind or join right in, because the 2016 Howl at the Moon Tarpon Tournament will be taking place from 8 to 11 p.m. As of press time, just under 20 boats had signed up, and observers were being […]