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

Newsflash:

Text Size

Breaking News

World's Richest, Kids Classic, Art Festival and street party schedule of events

Schedule of events for the World's Richest Tarpon Tournament, Gasparilla Island Kids Classic, Boca...
Read More...

Website rallies locals to be heard

15 June 2012 Marcy Shortuse

BY LIZA STROUT - First, pictures and videos began to appear on Facebook. Dead tarpon, floating in the Pass after a Professional Tarpon Tournament Series event. A tarpon slowly dying, a circle hook snagged through its throat.

They spread through the local Facebook community and beyond like wildfire.

( 7 Votes )

And from the Pass, there arose a great Howling

15 June 2012 Marcy Shortuse

BY LIZA STROUT - Lew Hastings has spent time tarpon fishing. He has even managed to land a few silver kings, and has also overseen three tarpon tournaments of his own - two Ladies Day events and this year’s successful return of the World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament.

So it came as a bit of a surprise to find out that Hastings had never actually been in a tarpon tournament in his life. What is truly amazing is that of everyone on the winning team from Saturday’s Howl at the Moon Tarpon Tournament, he has the most experience with actually catching the fish.

( 3 Votes )

Three GIBA members to run unopposed in November

15 June 2012 Marcy Shortuse

Ginger Watkins, George Baker and Gay Darsie will be joining the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority board later in the year. They are all running unopposed in the November 6 election.

For Watkins, an incumbent, this will be her second term on the board. Baker has served on the GIBA board before. This is Darsie’s first time around in dealing with bridge action, though.

( 0 Votes )

Turnin’ Tides All-Release Tournament

15 June 2012 Marcy Shortuse

As of press time, 10 boats were signed up for the Turnin’ Tides All-Release Tarpon Tournament ... and lots more possibilities are available for those who are interested.

If you want to grab a captain and a team, sign-ups begin after 1 p.m. on Friday, June 15 and must be cash. Saturday, June 16 is the deadline.

Final registration and T-shirt pickup will be from noon to 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 17, the day of the tournament.

Registration will take place at Gasparilla Outfitters. Call them at 964-0907 for more information, or call tournament coordinator Angie Mills at (941) 270-0289.

( 0 Votes )

Add new comment

The News - Featured News