On Saturday, Jan. 21 volunteers and scientsts from Mote Marine Laboratory, Florida Fish and Wildlife and other organizations gathered at Wildflower Preserve to see what kinds of wildlife are emerging at the newly-created conservation area.

Sein nets hauled in the ponds and creeks, caught fish such as warmouth, sunfish, bluegill, mosquitofish and snook .

Nancy Clarke, a speaker who had been slated to speak at the February meeting of the Boca Grande Garden Club, died January 14 at a hospital in Richmond, Va. She was 66.

Lee County Republican Party leaders contacted Boca Grande Chamber Director Lew Hastings Tuesday morning, Jan. 24, with a big request. They asked if he could come down to Fort Myers that afternoon and lead the Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance just prior to Newt Gingrich’s speech in front of approximately 1,500 people.

The Boca Grande Camera Club will present their third “Photography as Art” Show at the Boca Grande Art Alliance on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 28 and 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The opening reception will be tonight, Friday, Jan. 27 from 5 to 7 p.m.

The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority has announced the winner of the 30-day toll pass that stemmed from the Wilbur-Smith toll survey last month. The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority has announced the winner of the 30-day toll pass that stemmed from the Wilbur-Smith toll survey last month.

Bob Arcan of BNT Liquors is the big winner. He was one of 1,847 people that returned the survey.

BY LIZA STROUT - Betty Staugler with Florida Sea Grant and Michael Gerlach of the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority stood out on a windy dock last Thursday, surrounded by empty cages and rope. It was time to deploy this year’s crop of young scallops.