If you haven’t yet yeard about the Boca Grande reunions that have been taking place in the last three years, and you grew up in Boca Grande or spent a lot of time here, it might be an event worth checking out.

BY LIZA STROUT - Between the excitement of bridges being built at the north end and tarpon fishing in the Pass, it is easy for some things to slip between the cracks here on Gasparilla Island. That has not happened with the seawall owned by the Florida Park Service along the Gulf of Mexico at the Boca Bay Pass Club, though.

BY BONNIE PRINGLE - Gasparilla Island Water Association, Inc. (GIWA) will be temporarily changing the disinfection process for its Placida and Boca Grande potable (drinking water) water supply.  

BY NIC MOSTYN -

The following is an essay written by 14-year-old Nic Mostyn, a local boy who won the Gasparilla Island Kids Classic essay contest describing what fishing means to him. He and three friends won spots on a boat in the Kids Classic, sponsored by The Cradle, an 89-year-old child welfare agency in Evanston, Ill. that has facilitated more than 15,000 adoptions. Their captain will be Capt. Waylon Mills aboard the Blaze on May 19 when they compete in the tournament.

Fishing on the front dock is one of the best experiences you can have in Boca Grande. The front dock is the dock at Whidden’s Marina where you can buy bait, hang out, and tell fishing stories.
When I was growing up, going to Whidden’s was my favorite thing to do. Hanging out there is the ultimate Boca experience and people have been making memories there for five generations and great memories on Boca Grande for over 100 years.

Thoroughbred Golf Carts presented the Barrier Island Parks Society with a check for this year’s Boca Grande Prix. Shown above are BIPS Director Sharon McKenzie, Thoroughbred owner Dana Lutz, BIPS President Jim Grant, Thoroughbred owner David Lutz and Park Manager Chad Lach. In 2010 Thoroughbred donated $1,500 through the golf cart event, it was $3,000 in 2011 and, this year, it was a $4,000 check that was presented.      

The Island School had their annual Mother’s Day Tea on Thursday, May 10. Moms and grandmas sat with their children after being served muffins, coffee, juice and other treats, and enjoyed a bit of the morning together. Pictured above are one of the sweetest mother/daughter teams in town, Jill Chatham and her daughter, Charlotte, who is a kindergartner at the school.  

Photo by Marcy