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PROFILE: George Benisek

BY TONYA BRAMLAGE – This is no fish tale of that you can be sure, although George Benisek has no shortage of fisherman tales to tell. An avid, lifelong fisherman,  he began fishing when he was just a young boy. George and his late wife Barbara of 63 years were living on Captiva when they […]

Historic Preservation Board meeting begins with request for NHR input from community

BY SUSAN HANAFEE – The chairman of the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board on Wednesday urged all residents to let their voices be heard on a proposal to nominate a section of the historic district to the National Register of Historic Places. “Since a national listing would create an attraction and additional tourist interest in […]

Organizations turn to creativity in unusual season

BY SUSAN HANAFEE – Virtual speakers, open air musicals, art shows without the usual wine and cheese receptions, pop-up history tours in parking lots – all have been part of the creativity local not-for-profit organizations have exhibited in dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic. And the results have been gratifying for most organizations, as support and […]

BGHS takes note of a rare ‘Magna Carta’

BY SUSAN HANAFEE – Jim Blaha calls the mountain of material the Boca Grande Historical Society received from the attic of a woman in Tennessee late last year the “Magna Carta.” And, indeed, the collection of books and documents contains the names and signatures of such notables as Albert Gilchrist, Peter Bradley and other “movers […]

‘All that Jazz’ featured this week on the lawn

BY T MICHELE WALKER – The Friends of Boca Grande Community Center have managed to keep jazz alive in Boca Grande with their concert series “All That Jazz” made available to a broader audience. World-renowned trumpeter Dominick Farinacci took to the auditorium stage Monday evening as the performance was livestreamed outside the pavilion and in […]

GIBA re-elects Watkins as chair, talks financials at quarterly meeting

STAFF REPORT – Ginger Watkins was re-elected as chairman and Drew Tucker was elected as vice chairman of the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority, when they held their quarterly board meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 10. The Engineering Committee also gave their report, which included a discussion on the recent bridge inspections. The inspectors did not note […]

Take an ‘Adventure in the Glades’ with Gail Cleveland

Spending a week in the swamp may not be everyone’s idea of a dream getaway to celebrate a BIG birthday, but for this artist it was paradise! According to artist Gail Cleveland, it was a perfect week. The weather turned chilly, which worked out fine as the gators were sleepy and the bugs weren’t biting. […]

A taste of Paris in Boca Grande: It’s time for some engagement chicken

Braden Perkins was born in New Orleans Louisiana and grew up in Boston. Braden worked for four years with celebrity chef Tom Douglas in Seattle. In 2011 Braden and his partner, Laura Adrian, opened their first restaurant, Verjus beside the Palais Royal in the center of Paris, France. In 2015 the duo opened their second […]

PROFILE: Susan O’Brien

BY T MICHELE WALKER – It all started with a blank canvas; a blank canvas an estate built in 1670. “I’m from Sherborn, Massachusetts, where we lived for 35 years,” said Susan O’Brien, Boca Grande Garden Club president. “We lived on a farm that was built in 1670. It was wonderful. When I started out […]