BY MARCY SHORTUSE - Magalie L., a resident of Haiti, used to live in a dilapidated hut with one of her daughters and two grandchildren. They had little to call their own, no income, no jobs. That was, at least, until the people of Boca Grande stepped forward to help those in her small village, and now Magalie is making money and her family lives in a decent house. Hers is just one of the stories of hope that have come from the two villages that Boca Grande residents have helped to create.

On Saturday, January 5th, the first Youth Fishing Tournament of the season got under way. Fifty-three competitors caught a total of 35 fish.

Anita and Dave Cass (left and center) from Woof Gang Bakery wish to announce that the store now has a new owner, Jane Moyer.

Local wildlife rescuers are in dire need of help this season, as red tide brings call after call to pick up sick and injured birds.

Red tide, fishing and busy waterways are taking their toll on our bird population. Blanche Boudreau, one of the island’s animal rescue volunteers, is swamped with calls right now and could really use some help.

If you are able to help transport birds to the Venice Wildlife Center (in rural Venice), call Blanche at 421-2805.

Citizen paddlers and boaters completed the first comprehensive mapping of the Lee and Charlotte county estuarine shoreline in 2007 and again in 2010. Volunteers collected information about how much shoreline was natural vegetation, nonnative vegetation or “hardened” with the seawalls or riprap. They also estimated hurricane damage to the vegetation.

To the Editor:

I would like to thank the Boca Grande Fire Department, Boca Grande EMS and the 911 dispatcher for their quick response to our home, Whidden's Marina, in the early morning hours of January 10 for an electrical fire.

It was very scary. I'm very thankful for the fire alarms that went off. I also believe someone was watching over us because it could of been way worse then it was.

Thank You.

Melissa Joiner Steyer & Family
Boca Grande