Lee County, sheriff to push cart ordinance despite opposition, but commissioner says it’s not a done deal
May 9, 2008Despite overwhelming opposition from Boca Grande residents, Lee County officials say they intend to push ahead with a revised ordinance requiring operators of golf carts on county roads to be at least 16 years old and to be licensed drivers.
Steve Jansen, a traffic engineer with Lee County’s Department of Transportation, said that the ordinance has been given to a county attorney for revision.
Public meeting slated to discuss marina expansion
May 9, 2008A public meeting will be held by the Gasparilla Inn and Club in reference to a proposed expansion of the Inn’s marina on 8th Street.
The meeting will be held on Monday, May 19 at 4 p.m. at the marina. Jack Damioli, the Inn’s president and general manager, said that they have been contemplating expanding the marina for quite some time.
Howl at the Moon, Billy Bo tourneys slated
May 9, 2008For those who love fishing in the dark, the next Howl at the Moon Invitational Tarpon Tournament is edging closer, and there is still room for anglers who haven’t signed up yet for the May 31 date.
The previous three years that the tournament has been held have been very successful. So far, out of four tournaments (two were held last year), 180 tarpon have been released.
Calendar goes to the dogs
May 9, 2008If you are a resident of Boca Grande and you’ve always envisioned your canine’s charisma and good looks as star material, Nancy Blank at Fugates is looking to talk to you about a new calendar that Fugates is sponsoring.
Blank is working with “Balimama,” otherwise known as Chris Carey of Sarasota, on a “Dogs of Boca Grande” calendar, and the good-looking hounds of the island will be featured. It will be a desk calendar, neatly kept in a CD jewel case, of professional quality.
Community Panel to meet May 13
May 9, 2008The Boca Grande Community Planning Panel will hold its next meeting on Tuesday, May 13 from 2 to 5 p.m. at the Crowninshield Community House, 121 Banyan Street. The public is invited to attend.
The agenda for the meeting is scheduled to include a review of a meeting with the Lee County Department of Transportation regarding several matters that the panel discussed at their April 1 meeting.
Ziggy Memorial Poker Tournament
May 9, 2008The Gasparilla Island Maritime Museum will be the focus of a new island event, the First Ziggy Memorial Poker Tournament and Cook-Out, which is being held on Friday, May 23 at the Boca Bay Power House.
The event to be held from 6 to 10 p.m. is purely for fun and bragging rights, as all money raised will go to benefit the museum.
Sea turtle season
May 9, 2008Sea turtle season started on May 1, and beach patrollers are getting ready for the first nests of the season to pop up soon.
On average, 40,000 to 84,000 sea turtles nest on Florida coastline. Gasparilla Island is host to between 80 and 120 nesting turtles each year. Last year one area of the beach was honored to host six green turtle nests, a species that is becoming more endangered each year.
Island water restrictions
May 9, 2008New watering restrictions were effective as of May 1, and Lee County business owners and residents should adjust their irrigation time clocks.
New watering restrictions include:
Islanders sound off on new golf cart rules
May 2, 2008CLICK HERE TO TELL LEE COUNTY
WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE PROPOSED GOLF CART ORDINANCE
The following are emails sent to Lee County
Department of Transportation’s Steve Jansen concerning proposed
changes to the county’s ordinance regulating the operation of golf
carts on public streets.
The proposed changes to the Lee County ordinance on golf carts include requiring all drivers of golf carts to be 16 years of age and hold a valid driver’s license, that the number of occupants in the cart is restricted to the number of seats, no one is allowed to stand in the cart at any time while it is moving, and all laws applying to secured child safety seats in passenger vehicles will also apply to golf carts.
The ordinance changes also require all golf cart drivers to hold liability insurance.
