World's Richest day one complete, Spooked Again in the Lead Friday, 24 May 2013 13:12 Day 1 of the 2013 "World's Richest" Tarpon Tournament in the books. So far, 33 tarpon caught and safely released. Read the Full Story

World's Richest, Kids Classic, Art Festival and street party schedule of events Friday, 24 May 2013 13:06
Schedule of events for the World's Richest Tarpon Tournament, Gasparilla Island Kids Classic, Boca Grande Invitational Art Festival, and street party ... Read the Full Story

Happy Graduation to Abigail, Dafne, Luke and Jake, TIS 2013! Friday, 24 May 2013 10:19 BY MARCY SHORTUSE - Four tassels were turned on Thursday, May 23, as Luke Crosser, Dafne Garcia, Abigail Turner and Jake Van Atten graduated from fifth grade and from The Island School. Prior to their commencement ceremony the four, with the help of others, did a “dramatic statues” and chant performance. Afterward, the third, fourth and fifth graders all participated in a song called “Flip Flop,” written and produced by TIS music teacher Diana Donlon. Read the Full Story

FWC releases findings in Bull Bay accident Friday, 24 May 2013 10:17 The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission has completed its report on the two-boat accident in Bull Bay on April 12, and the FWC is holding both Jesse Smith and Capt. Steve Ahlers at fault. Smith, of Port Charlotte, was travelling southwest in a gray 18’ open motorboat. He turned to the south to enter a blind, narrow passage between two mangrove islands when he spotted Ahlers’ yellow boat heading in the opposite direction. Ahlers, of Boca Grande, was traveling northwest towards the same passage, with three passengers on board his 20-foot yellow boat. Read the Full Story

Art festival details for this weekend’s tarpon festival weekend Friday, 24 May 2013 10:14 The Boca Grande Invitational Art Festival has an exciting slate of 60 amazing artists in a wide variety of mediums. Organizer Carroll Swayze is excited and filled with anticipation for the event. “(We) have some amazing work this year,” she said. “The festival is near and dear to my heart because Boca Grande is home to me. The people on the island have supported me for my whole life and I am proud to be able to hand-pick a Fine Art Festival to present to the island. I have spent the past year trying to choose artists who fit the theme and the ideals of the World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament of conservation, education and sportsmanship. I have world-class marine wildlife artists coming as well as some of the finest Florida landscape painters the state has to offer. I hope that everyone will come out, enjoy the festival and meet the artists who work so hard to create their beautiful original artwork.” Read the Full Story

Grant says ‘good-bye’, Kaplans say hello to island Friday, 24 May 2013 10:12 BY LIZA STROUT - Serendipity brought Grant Quirk to Gill’s Grocery, and a decade later it led his successors, the Kaplans, to the store.
Ten years ago, Grant Quirk was discussing the end of his clamming business with a friend. The one-two punch of red tide and “rolling moss” had ruined his clam beds, and he was looking for something new to do. Read the Full Story

Boca Grande, Sweet Pea highlighted in June Vogue magazine shoot Friday, 24 May 2013 10:09 Boca Grande has been the location for an awful lot of photo shoots, so many we usually don’t report on them. But, a couple of months ago a very high-profile fashion magazine – Vogue, to be exact – turned up in town with an interesting model. Her name is Dree Hemingway, and she is the great-granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway. Read the Full Story

FWC break-away jig study refuted by originating scientist Friday, 17 May 2013 10:06 BY MARCY SHORTUSE - In the summer of 2004 Dr. Justin Grubich picked up the phone to take a call from a woman who said she was with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The woman, Kathy Guindon, talked with Justin for about 30 minutes foul-hooking tarpon, and he was asked to provide expert witness testimony on how tarpon feed. He didn’t give the conversation much thought. Read the Full Story

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Reader addresses Gilchrist issue

03 May 2013 Last Updated on 03 May 2013 Liza

To the Editor:

With the neighbor’s Gilchrist Avenue parking plan, arriving from either the north or south will require parallel parking on the LEFT hand side of the street. Difficult and not very possible for most of us. Making room for this plan calls for taking eight feet away from each side of the median. That means the removal of the tall palms that currently hide the very ugly power poles running down the middle of the median. Let’s do better.

Crinny Niles,

Boca Grande

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The News - Letter to Editor

More Gilchrist talk ...

03 May 2013 Last Updated on 03 May 2013 Liza

To the Editor,

As a year-round resident of Boca Grande I am aware that the parking problem on Gilchrist has only recently become a major issue due to the numerous activities at the Methodist Church in season. Trying to turn south on to Gilchrist from 3rd or 4th streets has become a major hazard because parked cars obscure visibility. Please, whatever plan is chosen, make sure that there are plantings (like raised beds) on the corners of the central reservation that preclude anyone parking close to the corner and allow traffic on Gilchrist to be seen.

John Holyland,

Boca Grande

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The News - Letter to Editor

Ladies Day next weekend, 37 boats competing in this year’s event

03 May 2013 Last Updated on 03 May 2013 Liza

After a multi-year drought, 21 tarpon were caught last year in an exciting Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce Ladies Day Tarpon Tournament.

First place in the 2012 Ladies Day Tarpon Tournament went to Team Hudson’s. The team, with Capt. Charlie Coleman manning the Casuarina, managed to bring in and release four of the silver kings. Emily Wise had a series of firsts that day – her first time tarpon fishing, her first tournament and, with the fourth catch, her first tarpon.

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Gasparilla Island Kids Classic just around the corner, get your spot now

03 May 2013 Last Updated on 03 May 2013 Liza

BY MARCY SHORTUSE – On Saturday, May 25, the biggest and best kids’ fishing tournament will be held in Boca Grande Pass, and this year it will be bigger than ever.

Filmed for the World Fishing Network, the boats that take the field this year will go nation-wide, beginning on Thanksgiving Day, when it will initially be aired. It will also be simulcast on WENG 107.5 FM, for those who wish to hear the tarpon fishing action live.

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C’mon, let’s go fishing this weekend

03 May 2013 Last Updated on 03 May 2013 Liza

On Saturday, May 4, Lee County Parks & Recreation and the Friends of the Boca Grande Community Center will hold their last youth fishing tournament of the season.