Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Community History, Featured News, News.
Above, a close up of the proposed changes to the entrance, which will have a wide ramp from Park Avenue. The Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board will meet at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13 at the Community Center to discuss two new projects up for approval. The main item will be the discussion of […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, Community, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Lee County will consider a new MSBU tax for Gasparilla Island if new parking restrictions impact beach renourishment funding. The recently passed parking ordinance will possibly involve the imposition of a new tax on Lee County property owners on Gasparilla Island to pay for beach renourishment. Currently, Gasparilla Island’s beach renourishment is fully covered by […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Community, Opinion.
Boca Grande: Curve of the horizon, dignity of a heron BY MATTHEW HACKL I was born in May of 1999, but in some ways, I was born again each time I crossed the toll bridge returning to Boca Grande. This island didn’t just raise me – it shaped the rhythm of my life. My earliest […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Profiles.
Her ship sailed to Boca Grande Friends Martina Long is stepping into her new role as program director for Friends of Boca Grande, overseeing event planning and talent booking for the upcoming season – a shift from her experience on the other side of the stage, as a performer herself. Long grew up in Fort […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Police & Fire.
The crew of Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, which supervises rescue operations along the Gulf Coast, held a change of command ceremony on July 24, 2025. Capt. David McCown relieved Capt. Scott Phy as commanding officer of Air Station Clearwater during the ceremony, presided over by Rear Adm. Adam Chamie, commander of Coast Guard Southeast District. […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Electromagnetic technology could reduce fishing depredation Scientists at Mote Marine Laboratory’s research facility in Sarasota are testing devices that send electric pulses intended to repel sharks from caught fish. Demian Chapman, senior scientist and director for Mote’s Center for Shark Research is leading shark research at the Marine Experimental Research Facility (MERF). Currently at the […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History, News, Real Estate.
The Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board meeting will be held on August 13, at 10 a.m., at St. Andrew’s Chapter House. The agenda includes items by the public, two Special Certificate of Appropriateness cases and an item by the staff. In the first item on the agenda, SCA2025-00017, the applicant is seeking approval to deconstruct […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Featured News, News, Police & Fire.
A beachgoer found a burned U.S. Navy phosphorous flare on a Gasparilla Island beach on Tuesday evening around 22nd Street. According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the item was transported to the Charlotte County landfill for destruction. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Air Force […]
Written by VAN HUBBARD on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
As a young high school fisherman, I enjoyed fish legends. Big shark stories just enhanced the adventure and thrills. Everyone from Tampa Bay to Boca Grande Pass had huge hammerhead sharks Old Hitler stories. I’ve witnessed and battled some giants, and here are a few of the stories I remember. Back in ‘65 on Saturday […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO New hand sanitizing stations were being distributed to local businesses that took the “Boca Grande Pledge” to educate the public regarding cleanliness and slowing the spread of COVID. TEN YEARS AGO Charlotte County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested three men and were searching for a fourth who were fishing illegally near Alligator Creek. FIFTEEN […]