Skip to main content
Search Results for “was

The old railroad trestle guardhouse: Who will preserve an island treasure?

■ BY SUE ERWIN     Capt. Marian Schneider, an ecotourism pioneer who owned Grande Tours Kayak and Paddleboard Center in Placida for more than two decades, is searching for an organization to take ownership of and preserve the old railroad trestle guardhouse. The bridge tender’s house was originally built in 1910 by the railroad and […]

Florida Wildlife Corridor team to speak about ‘The Forgotten Coast’

BY SUE ERWIN      Lindsay Cross, executive director of the Florida Wildlife Corridor, will be speaking at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 28 in the Boca Grande Community Center auditorium. Cross will be presenting a program about Florida’s natural resources with Mallory Lykes Dimmitt, president of the Florida Wildlife Corridor. The program will open with a […]

Fusion: A diverse new dining option on the island

■ BY SUE ERWIN     Boca Grande diners now have a new restaurant to add to their list of dinner choices. Fusion, a new unique establishment located at 5800 Gasparilla Road at the north end of the island, will feature Indian, Thai and Mexican food. Food and beverage manager Margarita Santiago said a soft […]

Renny Reynolds to discuss English gardens on March 1

■ SUBMITTED BY THE BOCA GRANDE GARDEN CLUB On Wednesday, March 1 the Boca Grande Garden Club will welcome Renny Reynolds to its monthly meeting at the Boca Grande Community Center Auditorium at 2 p.m. He will present a program entitled “Inspiration from the English Garden,” a visual stroll through predominantly private English gardens designed […]

Profile: Tara Clark

Tara Clark, sales associate at The Palm on Park, a Lilly Pulitzer signature store, has lived quite an adventurous life during the past decade.      Tara, 30, was born in Jackson, New Jersey. Her parents met in St. Croix, and they relocated to New Jersey when her dad transferred to a new position for […]

Watkins, Major stay on as chair and vice-chair of GIBA

■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE     Ginger Watkins and Lee Major have retained their seats as chairman and vice-chairman, respectively, of the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority after open nominations were accepted at the organization’s quarterly meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 15. Watkins accepted the position again and acknowledged her goals for her next term. “Our mission […]

Lead architect updates residents on Gasparilla Island Lighthouse

■ BY SUE ERWIN     Island residents had the opportunity to meet and listen to internationally known master metalsmith Alex Klahm on Thursday, February 9 at the Boca Grande Community Center auditorium. Klahm is locally known for his meticulous work on the Gasparilla Island Lighthouse restoration project and many others in Florida and around […]

Island youth makes lofty goal a reality

■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE     Boca Grande has been Ben Taylor’s home since he was a child, but his aspirations far surpass our narrow little strip of land. At the age of 17 he recently received his private pilot’s certification, and he’s hoping to get his waterplane certification next. “It’s just something I’ve always […]