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 Featured News, News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE- Prior to 2020, many local kids (and their parents) looked forward to the beginning of summer camp, which is held at the Boca Grande Community Center and usually starts the week after school ends. This year, though, things are different. It’s not as simple to drop your child off with a kiss […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE- An old Boca Grande business is getting a new leg up with customer service: Grande Aire Services, Inc. recently announced they will open a new location, in Englewood. Don’t fret though, Boca Grande customers. They will be continuing to serve our island community at their current location; they’ll just have less traffic […]
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 […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
Without our history, it’s difficult to remember where we came from. These words of wisdom have been repeated quite often as of late, but they take on a new meaning when pertaining to the island. Gasparilla Island has changed so much, it’s difficult to picture what it used to be like. A particularly good example […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
SUBMITTED BY THE SUNCOAST HUMANE SOCIETY– During worrisome and unknown times, Suncoast Humane Society had to make many quick decisions. On April 1st, an urgent plea was made to our community to help foster dogs, cats and rabbits by providing safe, loving homes before the statewide Stay-at-Home order went into effect. Our wonderful community showed […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, Letters to the Editor, News.
To the Editor, and to the community of Boca Grande: When we were faced with the reality of distance learning with nine weeks left in the school year, The Island School’s teachers, staff, students, and families had to adapt quickly to a new way of teaching and learning. Although we adjusted to our online “classrooms” […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News, Profiles.
Life imitates art, but cartoonists draw what they see… BY OLIVIA CAMERON-Page five always comes with a splash of color, talking sharks, a peg-leg captain, tourist shenanigans or all of the above. Life imitates art in Tim Banfell’s comic strips. Cartoonist Tim may be known for his classic comics in our own newspaper, but some […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE- Capt. Chuck Jenks had just dropped his tarpon fishing clients off at Pine Island on the afternoon of May 19 and was looking forward to dipping some crabs at the Boca Grande swing bridge. It was a good thing he did, too, as he ended up saving the lives of three Punta […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Police & Fire.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON- After a nice day in the sun, no one wants to get back to their car to see a little paper slip flapping under the wipers. It’s that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach that can be avoided. Gasparilla Island parking rangers and Lee County Sheriff’s deputies issued more […]