The Boca Banner: Building a Better Community Together

Index...

GICIA...............................pg 3
(Printed Edition)

Boca Barbershoppers....pg 4

Ron Hart..........................pg 6

Publisher's Corner..........pg 7

Reviews by Boots..........pg 8

Horse & Hound..............pg 9

Arts & Culture..............pg 12

Faith Community..........pg 14

Cookin' with Lee...........pg 16
(Printed Edition)

Hoop Shoot..................pg 18

Let's Really Talk...........pg 19

GIFT Tourney...............pg 20

Boca Banner Website

The Boca Banner is on the internet. There are new links to weather and tide charts. Current news and photos. Links to Boca Grande's Real Estate leaders. Keep watching the site grow.

Its www.thebocabanner.com . The redesigned site is maintained by JD Web Design. of Port Charlotte Florida

Gulf Coast Preservation society
To preserve and protect the Gulf of Mexico by disseminating information and providing vital research necessary to finding solutions to environmental issues in order to maintain a healthy ecosystem in the Gulf of Mexico.

Local Links

The Worlds Richest Tarpon Tournament

Gasparilla Island (Port Boca Grande) Lighthouse

Boca Grande Fishing Guides Association

Gasparilla Island State Park

The Boca Grande
Historical Society

Boca Grande Area
Chamber of Commerce

Local Official Resource

Governor Issues Boca Grande Centennial Proclamation Mistletoe Landing Re-Enactment Slated for Dec. 7
By Linda Fudala-Tucker

The annual lighting of the Boca Grande Lighthouse will be infused with added significance this year as the island marks the 100th anniversary of the landing of the steamboat Mistletoe which took place on Nov. 28, 1905.

The Boca Grande Historical Society provided the research and Gov. Jeb Bush signed a proclamation to commemorate the event that landed an engineer, workmen, and materials to begin building a railroad. The

American Agricultural Chemical Company would link the phosphate mines in the Peace River basin to Port Boca Grande where the mineral would be shipped all over the world.

The Mistletoe’s landing marked the beginning of the development of Gasparilla Island, including construction of the village of Boca Grande. To commemorate that event, the Barrier Island Parks Society and Boca Grande Historical Society will

present a re-enactment of the landing of the Mistletoe and other holiday festivities.

Continued On Page 17

FWC Lauds Local Boaters for Reporting Loggerhead Fatality at Sea
By Linda Fudala-Tucker

Capt. Bob Northedge of Placida, a recent transplant from the Chesapeake Bay area, was going to get some navigational tips around Gasparilla Island from 30-year charter Capt. Jim O’Brien on Nov. 15. But both got a lesson in how to go about reporting a dead loggerhead turtle.

"Capt. O'Brien saw the turtle first and I called the Coast Guard. They gave me the phone number for Karrie Singel,

wildlife technician from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. I took pictures at her request and emailed them to her," said Northedge. Both men are Coast Guard licensed captains.

Singel was most appreciative of the information.

Capts. Bob Northedge and Capt. Jim O'Brien were just taking out Northedge's 26 foot Glacier Bay boat out from Gasparilla Marina for trial run on Nov. 15. Just off Gasparilla Island they spotted a young loggerhead floating at Lat 26 47.482 Lon 82 19.431 and provided the FWC with photos and information.

Continued On Page 17

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