BY MARCY SHORTUSE - After the April 25 meeting of the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority, I had some questions about where the bond issue would be going if the tax referendum didn’t pass. I spoke with some of the GIBA board members, and I wanted to share with you what information I gleaned from them.

To the Editor:

Bill Holmberg, community volunteer and finance advisory committee member to the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority, is to be heartily thanked by all of us for the yeoman job of correlating all of the innumerable factors necessary to assist in identifying how the bridge, now under construction, will be financed.

To the Editor:
I recently submitted this letter to the GIBA Board and Committee members.

These are some observations and recommendation from Wednesday April 25, 2012 meeting.

The Inn Marina at The Gasparilla Inn & Club announces its designation as a Florida Clean Marina, one of select marinas in the state qualifying for the Florida Clean Marina Program. To receive this designation, The Inn Marina proved its commitment to environmental stewardship by helping to reduce pollutants reaching Florida’s waterways.

“Our historic resort and full-service public marina attract guests who enjoy fishing, boating and exploring the barrier islands of southwest Florida,” said Jack Damioli, The Gasparilla Inn & Club’s president and general manager. “It’s our responsibility to do whatever we can to preserve this remarkable environment. Being part of the Florida Clean Marina program is an important part of this ongoing mission for our resort.”

This weekend will be the last youth fishing tournament, sponsored by Lee County Parks and Recreation and the Friends of Boca Grande Community Center, for the season.

On Saturday, May 5 at 9 a.m. fishing will begin at the Boca Grande Fishing Pier, located on the north end of the island by Gill’s Grocery.

Lew Hastings, the Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce’s executive director, appeared at the second Coastal Cities Summit in St. Petersburg on Tuesday, May 1 to speak on behalf of Boca Grande.

The summit, which brought together experts in the fields of ecotourism, finance, planning and policy, among others, was convened so that community leaders could discuss concerns and solutions to many of the common problems that all coastal cities share.