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5th Street beach access is now open

The 5th Street beach ramp and public access point is now open again, after Lee County finished repairing it on June 10. The ramp was closed earlier in the month after erosion took away the beach underneath it, due to high tides and windy storms. This particular beach-access point is important, as it is right […]

It’s hot, the iguanas are afoot: Here’s what you need to know

BY MARCY SHORTUSE – While we have been dealing with an iguana eradication program for many, many years, at Tuesday’s meeting it became apparent that either people haven’t been reading about the situation or just recently moved here. Because of this, and at the iguana panel’s request, we will attempt to break down the pertinent […]

Little Toot paid a visit to Gasparilla Island

BY MARCY SHORTUSE – It was quite an honor when Little Toot paid the island a visit … not to mention Christopher Robin as well. Last week the Johann Fust Library brought the small tug and its captain to Boca Grande Marina. Little Toot is a very famous children’s story written and illustrated by Hardie […]

Military Heritage Museum to celebrate Treaty of Versailles day

BY MARCY SHORTUSE – When you walk through the World War I portion of the Military Heritage Museum, a haunting site will catch your eye immediately. A cast sculpture called “The Buddies” by John Nelson Battenberg depicts two paratroopers, very similar to those who dotted the skies over Normandy on D-Day. Upon closer inspection you […]

OBITUARY: FLORITA FIELD

Florence Rita P. “Florita” Field, 91, of Scituate left this world on June 9, 2019 and entered another, to join her daughter Janet for all time. Florita leaves her husband of 68 years, Charles; children Susan McGowan (Randolph, Mass.) and Amy Chessia (Scituate) and spouse Eric Stamp; son Charles Jr. and wife Susan (also of […]

PROFILE: Ashley Scarpa

BY SUE ERWIN – Ashley Scarpa has been an entrepreneur in the restaurant business since 2006. Since April, she and her husband Glenn have been leasing the space that, until last summer, was home to PJ’s Seagrille located at 321 Park Ave. on the island. They own and operate Scarpa’s Coastal restaurant. The husband-and-wife team behind […]

Another terrific World’s Richest event has come and gone, thanks to the help of many

To the Editor: The 37th annual World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament was filled with Grande traditions, exciting tarpon fishing in Boca Grande Pass, expert captains, mates and anglers, generous sponsors, incredible judges, talented artists, hardworking volunteers and the love and spirit of the Boca Grande Community. The Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce was honored to […]

Boca Blue wins World’s Richest!

■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE A  rough patch of weather and an iffy tide may have slightly slowed the fishing for the 2019 World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament, but the circumstances were summed up by Capt. Sandy Melvin quite succinctly: “Fish have tails. Sometimes, they swim away. Fishing is different every day.” Melvin and his team – […]

More details of GICIA v. Damfiwill made available

■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE More information has come to light regarding the Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association’s lawsuit against Lee County, an individual and a Florida company regarding alleged violations of several acts and state statutes. The suit was filed on June 5 with Lee County courts, naming the GICIA as the plaintiff and […]