Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
Note: CenturyLink services were restored to some islanders on Tuesday afternoon, after this article was written. BY OLIVIA CAMERON- Last week, local complaints concerning the lack of internet service in Boca Grande stretched on for over seven days. Those who were hooked up to CenturyLink noticed the shortage but were unsure why the problem remained […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Sports & Outdoors.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON- Reeling in a tarpon is a rite of passage in the town of Boca Grande. As a Florida native, I spent most of my time soaking up the sun and getting saltwater in my eyes. However, I was always lousy at fishing. Even a minnow wouldn’t touch my hook with a ten-foot […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Entertainment.
STAFF REPORT- On Sunday, June 21 at 5 p.m., Grande Glee is going to premiere their Cocktail Concert on the Spark Boca Grande TV channel on YouTube. No, it’s not the concert they originally planned to sing last April. Instead, this group decided to spend the pandemic working on new solos. Together. Every Wednesday […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Letters to the Editor, News.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON- Approximately 100 locals participated in last Sunday’s Paddle for Peace water excursion to the Boca Grande Sandbar. Glass Bottom Rentals owner and coordinator, Aaron Koher, saw his event as a success. Paddle for Peace was designed to steer locals away from their phones and political frustration to experience a day on the water. […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Sports & Outdoors.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON- Just 50 miles from the east coast of Florida rest the western islands of The Bahamas, an archipelagic state that has consistently thrived off of tourism and fishing until the pandemic created a domino effect on the economy and public safety. According to USA Today, over 590,000 boaters frequented The Bahamas during […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News, Obituaries.
William Lee Bentley, Jr., Bill to all his family and friends, passed away peacefully on June 6, 2020 from ALS. He was at his home surrounded by his loving family, which was so important to him. Bill was born to William Lee Bentley and Ruth Glass Balogh on April 5th, 1953 at Wright-Patterson Air Force […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News, Profiles.
A passion for learning drives him to write… BY MARCY SHORTUSE- When having a conversation with Eliot Vestner, one of the first things you notice is the quiet assertiveness in his voice and a gentle demeanor. Within minutes you realize this is a man who is much more comfortable talking about anything but himself. For […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE- The weather was suited more for the fish than the anglers, but even with torrential rain and storms the 2020 Quarantine Classic yielded 70 tarpon released over two days, and Capt. Charlie Coleman and his team aboard Casuarina taking top honors. The team that included Emily and Howard Wise, Nick Wenzel and […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE- Work will soon begin on a new parish hall for the Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, as the project was approved unanimously by the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board at their monthly meeting on Wednesday, June 10. After a short introduction by Father Jerome Carosella, a slideshow presentation was given by […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON- It’s the first time in a while people in Boca Grande are considering attending an event involving a considerable portion of the community. Glass Bottom Rentals on Boca Grande is holding ‘Paddle for Peace,’ an afternoon to paddle out across the waters that border Gasparilla. Amid consistent protesting nationwide, the upcoming ocean […]