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Business & Real Estate: Don Pedro and Manasota Key up for renourishment

Charlotte County is having a public hearing on Wednesday, July 22 on a proposed tax increase to pay for Don Pedro and Knight Island beach renourishment. That meeting, there will be a separate resolu…

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Primary deadline is Monday, July 20

Mail voters must re-submit application With Florida’s Primary Election set for Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026, there are upcoming deadlines for those who wish to vote. The first major deadline is Mond…

Don Pedro right of way discussion set July 21

The Charlotte County Commission has scheduled a meeting at 2 p.m., Tuesday, July 21, in Room 119 of the Charlotte County Administration Center, 18500 Murdock Circle in Port Charlotte. Discussion…

Water group endorses in Lee race

The lobby group VoteWater has endorsed Amanda Cochran, who is running in the August Republican primary in Lee County’s 5th District. She is running against incumbent Trish Petrosky. Based in Stuart…

Island School hosts open house for back-to-school as August looms

The Island School will host its Back-to-School Open House and Meet the Teacher Night from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6. The event gives families an opportunity to meet their child’s teacher, v…

Island School rates ‘A’ in yearly state report

The Island School has once again earned an “A” rating from the Florida Department of Education for 2026. In a release, Head of School Christine Oliver said that the achievement “reflects the dedi…

Congratulations!

Braeden Hobbs graduated from Charlotte High School, Punta Gorda, on May 21 with magna cum laude honors. Braeden ranked among the top 20 percent of his graduating class and plans on starting college…

New Gasparilla Island Magazine out for July/August

Above, the July/August Gasparilla Magazine cover image captured by H Wetzel in Key West in 2023. The new Gasparilla Magazine is out for July/August 2026. Inside are a bevy of stories in one o…

4th Golf Cart Parade

The Boca Grande Fourth of July Golf Cart Parade is set for Saturday morning. The event is an annual July 4th tradition on the island. There are no entry fees, and you just need to line up around 8:3…

Summer Live Music Series at Scarpa’s

Kenny Rose performed at Scarpa’s Coastal last week for Scarpa’s “Island Summer Live Music Series.” Amy Cyr will be performing on Friday, June 26 from 5 to 8 p.m., 321 Park Ave., Boca Grande …

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Kerri Black, WENG-AM

Our local community radio station Above, Kerri Black gives a tour of the station to local chamber guests. In the background is the studio. Photo by Garland On Wednesday this week during a morning show on WENG, the local AM radio station celebrated Linda Ronstadt. Kerri Black, who hosts the station’s morning show “Suncoast This […]

Sports & Outdoors

Health & Wellness

Boil-water notice for Cole Island rescinded

The boil-water notice issued for the Cole Island portion of Gasparilla Island and Boca Grande North Association was rescinded Monday, July 6. “All of the bac-t samples have been cleared by Sander…

Boil Water Notice for Cole Island and Boca Grande North

Editor’s Note: The notice has been rescinded as of July 6. A Precautionary Boil Water Notice has been issued for the Cole Island portion of Gasparilla Island and Boca Grande North…

First patients at new Health Clinic

Kim Newlin (above) was the first patient appointment at the new clinic. Photographed with Dana Pellant, L.P.N. Kimberly Whipple (right) was the first same-day patient at the new clinic. Photogra…

New Boca Grande Health Clinic dedicated

The Boca Grande Health Clinic opened the doors of their new Clinic of the Future on Tuesday, with over 300 gathered. The $30 million project not only includes new clinic offices and facilities, but…

Fire Department plans millage, preps for union; gate access talk

The Boca Grande Fire Department is planning a 7.8 million budget for the next fiscal year, and plans to advertise a millage rate of 1.7605, up from 1.706 last year. “We’ve bumped up the reserves…

Red, white and bruised on the 5th

Only ‘sparks’ were flying fists, cut cheek and scraped knees Just before 11 p.m. on Sunday, July 5, Lee County Deputy Nicholas Garber responded to Miller’s Dockside in reference to a physical alt…

Foundation next step for replacement sheriff’s cottage on Wheeler Road

Above, the empty spot where the sheriff’s house was located, taken this week. Photo by Garland A house for a resident Lee County sheriff’s deputy is finally moving forward at Wheeler Road, thoug…

Don’t wake me ‘till we hit Mexico

Floater ‘drifts off’ near South Beach Tuesday, July 7 just after 1 p.m. there were two 911 calls regarding a motionless woman in the Gulf near South Beach Bar & Grille, about 25 yards from sh…

News Archives

Patricia Schuler 1930-2026

Patricia “Pat” Schuler, a longtime resident of Boca Grande, Florida, passed peacefully with her family by her side on June 28, 2026, at the Tidewell…

Dr. Thomas James 1934-2026

Dr. Thomas P. James, radiologist and passionate sailor, passed away in Tidewell Hospice House in Venice on June 13. He was 92. Tom and his wife…

Bob Leland, 1934-2026

Bob Leland, devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend, entrepreneur, and lifelong supporter of the University of Michigan, pas…

Jeffrey Edward Larson 1987-2026

Jeffrey Edward Larson was born February 12, 1987 and was taken to heaven May 28, 2026. He was 39 years old. He resided with his mother and father, J…

Lane Hartle 1936 – 2026

Lane Hartle passed away in Sarasota on May 26, 2026. She was born in 1936 in Warsaw, Indiana. She attended schools in Warsaw and graduated from Sara…