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Lighthouse rallies for families hurt by Hurricane Melissa

BY LIGHTHOUSE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Many island institutions have rallied to support victims of Hurricane Melissa. “For any of us who have been in Florida for any amount of time, we know all…

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Community

Recalling the Major of St. Lo, Tom Howie, a man of outstanding character

November 13, 2025

BY JIM COCHRUN In the mid-50s, my little hometown of Naples, Fla., had a substandard school system. It was shortly after my father picked me up from school one day that my life would change forev…

Tourism appointments

November 13, 2025

At its Nov. 12 meeting, Charlotte County approved the following appointments: Approved Vince Parrotta, of the Sunseeker Resort, to the Tourist Development Council and appointed Parrotta to fill t…

Lighthouse rallies for families hurt by Hurricane Melissa

November 13, 2025

BY LIGHTHOUSE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Many island institutions have rallied to support victims of Hurricane Melissa. “For any of us who have been in Florida for any amount of time, we know all…

Education

The Island School sets date for Chowder Dinner

November 13, 2025

The Island School PTO will host its 10th Annual Chowder Dinner on Friday, Jan. 16, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Gasparilla Inn Beach Club. Guests can enjoy a cash bar, live music by the Green Flash Ba…

K-9 Birdie visits The Island School

November 13, 2025

Lee County Deputy Barrs and his K-9 partner Birdie paid The Island School a visit on Tuesday, Oct. 14. Birdie is a Labrador, and her primary duty is to search for weapons on school campuses. She is…

Boca Grande Preschool given Palm Avenue commercial building

October 30, 2025

The Boca Grande Preschool, Inc. is new the owner of 311 Palm Avenue. The Palm Avenue property was donated by the Pete and Ginny Nicholas family. It is zoned as commercial, located behind the 3rd…

Entertainment

Chili Challenge and Firehouse 5K this weekend

November 13, 2025

The Grande Firehouse 5k, followed by the Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce Big Mouth Chili Challenge is on Saturday, Nov. 15. The race, hosted by the Boca Grande Fire Department begins at…

Alison Brown brings ‘Sun and Water’ and bluegrass warmth to Crowninshield

November 13, 2025

Musician and entrepreneur here Grammy-winning banjoist, composer and label founder Alison Brown returns to the stage next Friday, Nov. 21, with two performances at the Crowninshield Community Hou…

Farmer’s Market returns Nov. 21

November 13, 2025

The Boca Grande Farmer’s Market is returning Friday, Nov. 21 at the same location as last year, at the Bayou across from the Pink Elephant. The market will run each Friday through the spring from…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Melissa Pell Loughlin

An alliance of art and community For more than 30 years, artist and gallery owner Melissa Loughlin has balanced creating, teaching and representing artists around the world. A longtime exhibiting member of the Boca Grande Art Alliance, Loughlin’s career began in New York City and has since evolved into a life devoted to both art […]

Sports & Outdoors

Health & Wellness

Englewood Hospital earns distinctions

October 30, 2025

HCA Florida Englewood Hospital announced Wednesday that it has earned multiple five-star distinctions for exceptional clinical performance from Healthgrades, the online doctor or hospital ratings se…

OPINION: MARK DRISCOLL

October 23, 2025

Reflecting on five years at the Clinic I was walking on the island the other day, passing the construction site where the new Clinic of the Future is taking shape, when I stopped for a moment to…

Health Clinic taken from the air

October 9, 2025

An aerial view of the construction of the future Boca Grande Health Clinic, looking south, taken Thursday morning. The building, replacing a storm damaged Annex, is part of their Clinic of the Futur…

Flu shot season

October 2, 2025

The Boca Grande Health Clinic is helping the community prepare for flu season by offering flu vaccinations throughout October and November. Shots are available for all registered Clinic patients as…

Police & Fire

Chili Challenge and Firehouse 5K this weekend

November 13, 2025

The Grande Firehouse 5k, followed by the Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce Big Mouth Chili Challenge is on Saturday, Nov. 15. The race, hosted by the Boca Grande Fire Department begins at…

Historic Collier Inn nearly burns on Tuesday

November 6, 2025

Maintenance worker Peter Frazzetta, up early Tuesday Nov. 4, helped saved the historic Collier Inn on Useppa Island from a fire during its renovation. “He gets up early and grades the roads befo…

Former employee convicted

October 30, 2025

Must serve five years in prison A woman who stole from her job at Scarpa’s Coastal Restaurant in Boca Grande last year has been adjudicated guilty and sentenced to six years in prison, followed b…

Fire Department breast cancer awareness shirts on sale now

October 30, 2025

The Boca Grande Fire Department is showing off their breast cancer t-shirts. Purchase the shirts at the Fire Station in support of the cause. Photo submitted

News Archives

Obituaries

Lewis L. Hamilton 1939-2025

Lewis L. Hamilton, M.D. of Boca Grande, FL and Salisbury, CT died peacefully at home in Salisbury on July 20, 2025 surrounded by his loving family a…

David John Williams 1942-2025

David John Williams of East Haddam, Conn., and Boca Grande, Fla., passed away on November 2, 2025, after a courageous battle with metastasized melan…

Mary Naylor Donahue 1940-2025

Mary Naylor Donahue passed away peacefully on October 19, 2025, following a courageous battle with kidney and heart disease. She was 85 and a devote…

Otilia Yanes Fernandez 1934-2025

Otilia Yanes Fernandez, dearly beloved wife of 65 years of the late Emilio Fernandez, passed away Sunday, September 21, 2025, at the age of 91. Lovi…

Matthew Gilmour Thompson 1942-2025

Matthew Gilmour Thompson, 83, died on September 24, 2025. Born in Richmond on June 3, 1942, to Madeline Waller and Edward Thompson, Matt is survived…