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The question of insurance liability and sidewalks: We may save our pink pump, our outdoor seating and our flowers, but at what cost?

While Lee County Ordinance NO. 21-XX, presented at the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board meeting last Wednesday, sounds like a great way to allow us to “keep Boca Grande, Boca Grande,” and to allow businesses to continue to have tables and chairs, benches, flower pots and other decorations and signage that express our uniqueness, one […]

PROFILE: Laquanda Dixon

On a sunny August morning in Boca Grande Laquanda Dixon took a short break to sit out by the fountain and answer a few questions about her work at the Boca Grande Health Clinic, her ties to the island, and even a debate about a “q.” “Laquanda is spelled with a lowercase ‘Q,’ even though […]

OBITUARY: Carol Elwood

Carol Nancy Marilyn Maass Elwood, of Cedar Rapids, formerly of Cresco, Iowa passed away on Monday, August 16, 2021, at the Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, after being diagnosed with cancer of the pancreas and liver. Celebration of life services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, August 20, 2021, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, located in […]

Storm season is right for kite surfing Gasparilla Sound

Tami and Ralph Bellon kite together in Gasparilla Sound locally but the couple travels literally to where the wind takes them. “We love all the diverse walks of life that kitesurfing appeals to. We know surfers as young as four years old all the way up to 87 years old.” There is no age limit […]

GIBA board discusses toll revenue, bridge painting and more at quarterly board meeting

Submitted by the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority Toll revenue was up by comparison with the same months in 2020 by 10 percent in discount passes and 21 percent in cash (non-discounted) tolls, according to Executive Director Kathy Banson-Verrico’s report at the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority quarterly board meeting held on Wednesday, Aug. 18. She also […]

As virus numbers rise, officials warn ‘stay healthy, avoid the ER’

According to local health officials, after fighting COVID-19 for more than 500 days now, the curve of the virus is continuing an upward trend in our area, in part because of the Delta variant … and some hospitals are running out of beds. This statement was followed up by some advice: If you can help […]

An iconic structure on the north end announces name change, and more

If you’re familiar with Boca Grande history at all, when you hear the name “Boca Grande Hotel” you might think of the grand building built by Joseph Spadaro decades ago that stood just south of 1st Street where Boca Bay is now. However, now that famous name will grace another iconic structure on the island […]

OBITUARY: J.S. Lane

John Samuel “J.S.” Lane passed away on August 16, 2021 from COVID complications. He was born on May 28, 1934. John was born in Louisville, KY to Eura Gilbert Lane and Bessie Lee Hopewell Lane. His siblings included James Gilbert Lane, David Hale Lane and Paul Allen Lane. John moved to Boca Grande when he […]

Historic Preservation Board discusses potential zoning amendment with Lee County at monthly meeting

After years of battling anonymous complaints, The Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board presented what seems like a light at the end of the tunnel. Lee County Government attorney, Amanda Swindle, attended the August 11 Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board Meeting with proposed Lee County Ordinance NO. 21-XX. “This is the product of really great work […]

USACE tweaks Lake O plan after original ‘CC’ plan doesn’t sit well with Southwest Florida residents

After an announcement on July 19 regarding the potential new plan for releasing water from Lake Okeechobee, and after an outcry from Southwest Florida residents regarding their initial proposal, on Monday, Aug. 9 the federal government announced they had tweaked the plan to include a few concessions that would benefit the Caloosahatchee River. The tweaks […]