BY MARCY SHORTUSE - Saying “NO” to taxes was the message portrayed by more than 60 island residents to the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority Board at their meeting on Wednesday, April 25, even though the results from the ad valorem tax survey sent out earlier this month were not as clearly defined.

Outspoken islanders who attended the meeting were firm in the fact that tolls, not a tax, should fund the project.

BY MARCY SHORTUSE - If you’re looking at having a wedding on Banyan Street, or any other street in Boca Grande in the future, you’d better talk to Bob Green. He’s the man with the answers.

This is the last call for submissions  to name artist Brendan Coudal's original painting, featuring a retro-style fisherman-pirate lady, that symbolizes the 2012 Ladies’ Day Tarpon Tournament.

According to Lew Hastings, executive director of the Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce, Brendan has received lots of fun and creative suggestions (and a few naughty ones, too) over the last few weeks, but the deadline is April 30.

Lee County Parks & Recreation and the Friends of Boca Grande Community Center will be hosting the last youth-fishing tournament of the season.  

BY LIZA STROUT - It was another successful year for Boca Bargains. This Saturday marked the close of the 2012 shopping season at the island institution, and true bargain hunters were there early to snag their brown paper bags and a good spot in line.

Thanks to Boca Grande’s Hope for Haitians Committee, dozens of Haitian families left homeless by the 2010 earthquake are one step closer to leaving the tent cities of Port-au-Prince and moving into their own sturdy homes.

More than $300,000 has been raised by the group, which leaves just $56,000 to go.