World's Richest day one complete, Spooked Again in the Lead Friday, 24 May 2013 13:12 Day 1 of the 2013 "World's Richest" Tarpon Tournament in the books. So far, 33 tarpon caught and safely released. Read the Full Story

World's Richest, Kids Classic, Art Festival and street party schedule of events Friday, 24 May 2013 13:06
Schedule of events for the World's Richest Tarpon Tournament, Gasparilla Island Kids Classic, Boca Grande Invitational Art Festival, and street party ... Read the Full Story

Happy Graduation to Abigail, Dafne, Luke and Jake, TIS 2013! Friday, 24 May 2013 10:19 BY MARCY SHORTUSE - Four tassels were turned on Thursday, May 23, as Luke Crosser, Dafne Garcia, Abigail Turner and Jake Van Atten graduated from fifth grade and from The Island School. Prior to their commencement ceremony the four, with the help of others, did a “dramatic statues” and chant performance. Afterward, the third, fourth and fifth graders all participated in a song called “Flip Flop,” written and produced by TIS music teacher Diana Donlon. Read the Full Story

FWC releases findings in Bull Bay accident Friday, 24 May 2013 10:17 The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission has completed its report on the two-boat accident in Bull Bay on April 12, and the FWC is holding both Jesse Smith and Capt. Steve Ahlers at fault. Smith, of Port Charlotte, was travelling southwest in a gray 18’ open motorboat. He turned to the south to enter a blind, narrow passage between two mangrove islands when he spotted Ahlers’ yellow boat heading in the opposite direction. Ahlers, of Boca Grande, was traveling northwest towards the same passage, with three passengers on board his 20-foot yellow boat. Read the Full Story

Art festival details for this weekend’s tarpon festival weekend Friday, 24 May 2013 10:14 The Boca Grande Invitational Art Festival has an exciting slate of 60 amazing artists in a wide variety of mediums. Organizer Carroll Swayze is excited and filled with anticipation for the event. “(We) have some amazing work this year,” she said. “The festival is near and dear to my heart because Boca Grande is home to me. The people on the island have supported me for my whole life and I am proud to be able to hand-pick a Fine Art Festival to present to the island. I have spent the past year trying to choose artists who fit the theme and the ideals of the World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament of conservation, education and sportsmanship. I have world-class marine wildlife artists coming as well as some of the finest Florida landscape painters the state has to offer. I hope that everyone will come out, enjoy the festival and meet the artists who work so hard to create their beautiful original artwork.” Read the Full Story

Grant says ‘good-bye’, Kaplans say hello to island Friday, 24 May 2013 10:12 BY LIZA STROUT - Serendipity brought Grant Quirk to Gill’s Grocery, and a decade later it led his successors, the Kaplans, to the store.
Ten years ago, Grant Quirk was discussing the end of his clamming business with a friend. The one-two punch of red tide and “rolling moss” had ruined his clam beds, and he was looking for something new to do. Read the Full Story

Boca Grande, Sweet Pea highlighted in June Vogue magazine shoot Friday, 24 May 2013 10:09 Boca Grande has been the location for an awful lot of photo shoots, so many we usually don’t report on them. But, a couple of months ago a very high-profile fashion magazine – Vogue, to be exact – turned up in town with an interesting model. Her name is Dree Hemingway, and she is the great-granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway. Read the Full Story

FWC break-away jig study refuted by originating scientist Friday, 17 May 2013 10:06 BY MARCY SHORTUSE - In the summer of 2004 Dr. Justin Grubich picked up the phone to take a call from a woman who said she was with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The woman, Kathy Guindon, talked with Justin for about 30 minutes foul-hooking tarpon, and he was asked to provide expert witness testimony on how tarpon feed. He didn’t give the conversation much thought. Read the Full Story

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World's Richest day one complete, Spooked Again in the Lead
Day 1 of the 2013 "World's Richest" Tarpon Tournament in the books. So far, 33 tarpon caught and safely...
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Local man makes good singing about Boca Grande

06 July 2012 Marcy Shortuse

BY LIZA STROUT - Tom Freeman grew up on Gasparilla Island, the son of Joe Freeman, who worked at the port. His first time playing a musical instrument was when he was five. His parents purchased an organ for his mother to learn to play on, and before long, Tom had joined her at the keyboard. He learned quickly.

( 3 Votes )

Turtle patrol optimistic about fatalities left in Debby’s wake

06 July 2012 Marcy Shortuse

BY LIZA STROUT - While the sea turtles of Gasparilla Island may have taken the brunt of damage from Tropical Storm Debby, they are already making up for the lost nests.

In an update from Norma Jean Zvrosec of Coastal Wildlife Club, which monitors turtle activity on Gasparilla Island, it is reported that nests have been appearing rapidly on the beaches of the island.

“I think we lost about half of the nests that we had from before the storm,” said Zvrosec. “But we have been finding as many as five new nests every day. We even have two rare green sea turtles that have nested since T.S. Debby.”

( 3 Votes )

BoMo Tourney to be held this Sunday

06 July 2012 Marcy Shortuse

The annual BoMo Tournament for island children will be held this Sunday, July 8, from 9 a.m. to noon in Boca Grande Pass.

For more information or to register your child that lives on the island for the tournament, call Melissa at 979-2676.

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Attesti visits Boca Grande

06 July 2012 Marcy Shortuse

On Saturday, June 30 Francesco Attesti, a world-renowned pianist, performed at the Boca Grande Community Center to nearly a full house. Randy Wojcik and Bob Melvin, partners at Gasparilla Properties, helped to bring Attesti to the Boca Grande stage and are shown with him above. Photo by Dusty

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Red snapper, snook and live-aboards all affected by recent FWC rulings

06 July 2012 Marcy Shortuse

STAFF REPORT - The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has made several important announcements in the last few days that will affect local fishermen and live-aboard boaters.