Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY WESLEY LOCKE – For the 30th Anniversary of the Ladies Day Tarpon Tournament, we were promised no fish and rough waters. It’s no secret that women and mothers know how to take on a stormy situation with grace. It got a little bumpy in the last hour, but 36 boats and 138 incredible anglers […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Entertainment, News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE – Back in the day when Gasparilla Island was more about community and less about being an exclusive second-home or vacation destination, there was a guy named Mike Weddle and his buddies who made up this little group called the Boca Bande. They may not have made worldwide headlines, but when the […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY SUSAN HANAFEE – Sometimes it takes time for dreams to come true. That appears to be the case for the Puerto family, out of Miami, who have been building a 5,000-plus square foot home on the southern tip of Little Gasparilla Island since 2012. The unfinished concrete structure that rises three stories out of […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY RAYMOND JAMES, D.O., BOCA GRANDE HEALTH CLINIC – While the nation was justly focused on fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, Alzheimer’s Disease and dementia death increased 16 percent according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Alzheimer’s is the 6th leading cause of death behind stroke but causes more deaths than diabetes. Alzheimer’s Disease is responsible for most […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
STAFF REPORT – With June 1 on the horizon, signifying the beginning of hurricane season, one errand you should prioritize is making sure your hurricane hang tags, issued by the Boca Grande Fire Department, are handy and ready to use. The community of Boca Grande has implemented one of the most progressive and user-friendly disaster […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY T MICHELE WALKER – Boca Grande is famous for tarpon fishing, golf carting and spectacular views of the Gulf of Mexico, but it also boasts more tennis clubs and pros per capita than any island in the continental United States. Actually, that might be an exaggeration, but it’s probably not too far off from […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Obituaries.
Michael Lee Weddle, born September 29, 1954, passed away on May 7, 2021 in Englewood at his home in Englewood, FL. He was born in Compton, Calif. to parents Bob and Gene Weddle, but lived most of his life in Florida. He left California right after high school and moved to Maine, then to Florida. […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY T MICHELE WALKER – While most mothers spent Mother’s Day being pampered, brunching and celebrating their one special day of the year, Virginia Williamson spent her Mother’s Day morning teaching a yoga class. “I’m teaching a class on Sundays at the Banyan Tree Pilates & Yoga studio. I teach there on Sundays, a gentle […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Letters to the Editor, News.
To the Editor: During the past six years we were very fortunate to spend time with this special lady. As soon as Patti would get out of the hospital or care facility she would arrive at the History Center. Her knowledge of local history was invaluable to us. Often she would bring photos and artifacts […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Letters to the Editor, News.
To the Editor: Diapers. Sandals. Broken glass. These are just a few of the things that I find on a regular basis when I walk the beaches of Boca Grande. The trash shown here contains not only the things I just mentioned, but also a woman’s visor, a woman’s hair tie, pipe, wire, wire mesh, […]