The American flag goes up in each morning in Boca Grande at Hudson's Grocery.
The pink "Good Gulf" gas pump survived.
BGI Painting and Hudson's staff have worked tirelessly on its second round of cleanup at Hudson's Grocery, first after Helene, and then a second after Milton. Yesterday they handed out drinks as well as working a full day.
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno was on Gasparilla Island to check out the rebuilding in Boca Grande. He spoke with the Boca Beacon after visiting the Old Theatre building and Scarpa’s Coastal. He also addressed safety on the island during this period, and how he hoped local and state agencies were working together to get businesses and residents back quickly.
Gasparilla Adventures
Businesses on Gasparilla Island, including Gasparilla Adventures and Grande Flats Boca Grande, have now had two hurricane cleanups in as many weeks. But they are quickly recovering.
We talked to co-founder Duane Zobrist to get an update on his cleanup. He is hopeful that the island, and visitors, will be back quickly.
Extreme good news at the clinic. There was no water intrusion and they have power, just no water.
The Beacon spoke with Mark Driscoll, CEO of the Boca Grande Health Clinic, who gives an update on operations. While they are not open for seeing patients in person at the clinic yet, they have Telehealth in operation and are fully available, and have even made house calls.
There will be a food truck at the Annex site tomorrow.
The Boca Beacon's Cheryl Hopkins sat in with Chief C.W. Blosser to give residents, friends and businesses an update on recovery on the island.
A message from Chief Blosser of the Boca Grande Fire Department.
The Boca Grande Historical Society had water in their office at the Boca Grande Community Center, but on first glance all artifacts and papers seem ok.
They are busy today packing up to put items into storage. It is undetermined what the schedule will be for reopening.
Everyone there was gracious to let us jump in and get a report on the cleanup and move. Below a quick few works with Kim Kyle. Our story is online as well.
https://bocabeacon.com/boca-grande-historical-society-artifacts-ok-after-helene-floodwaters/
Street sweepers have arrived on Park Avenue in Boca Grande. Trucks were here all weekend taking sand off of streets.
Lee County Manager Dave Harner got Lee County staff to bring two pumps to begin to take the water off of Gasparilla Road. This morning, the pumps are still working, and lowering the water so that the road will be passable. If you must come on island, the GICIA path is safe, but please drive slowly. Drives are being considerate and pulling over to the side to let others pass in groups.
I think we all need a little "Surfin' Safari" here on Railroad Avenue, dont we? And it's a local Zap skimboard! Please share away. He did this on the second take, command performance for the Boca Beacon as we headed down Railroad just before sunset tonight
And an Olympic worthy dismount too.
RE: Gasparilla Island and access.
The access on the cart path in the Lee County portion is clogged with vehicles, in both directions. It is a mess. The water will drain nowhere because..There are no places for it to go. Gasparilla Road is not safe for even SUVs. As we came in to the office, a Mercedes SUV got stranded in the water.
Chief Blosser sent out this message on the traffic: "Island access is tough right now. Gasparilla is still flooded and the rain this morning obviously won't help. I am working with Lee County for a solution. Please feel free to call Lee County officials and let them know the situation."
Rain continues. The GICIA cart path has places with water on it that were not wet yesterday.
Placida Road from Englewood is blocked by the Ace hardware and Cool Pickle, and waters from rain were making it worse.
1. If you are here on island on LEE County side, just stay on island. Eat some tuna or something. Make a tuna casserole. Put some potato chips on it like everyone did in the 1970s church supper. But don't try to make a trip on the GICIA path.
2. The Charlotte County area of the Gasparilla Island is passable but there are small puddles. It is just the Lee County road which is under water..
3. It is not fair for EMS to have to rescue folks when there are warning signs on the road.
4. The cart path had some folks driving on it who had little minivans and trailers for yard work. If you are at home, please make sure the yard work folks who work for you are not coming here to pick up palm fronds or something that is not absolutely necessary.
Below, a video to show you that it is just as bad or worse than yesterday.
View of the Boca Bay Pass Club and outside South Beach. They lost a lot of sand dunes, but the bulkheads are there and the buildings are great. A bit of the sand is up on the new porch at South Beach.
The old road that used to run around the Gulf side of South Beach, when it was called the Laff-a-lot, is visible again, however.
BGFD was out clearing the sand on Gulf Blvd. There is still much work to do with that sort of mess on the streets.
