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How FGCU Students Are Helping Dig Up and Archive Remarkable Island History

Go Gulf States staff — Thu, 22 Sep 2022 16:59:00 +0000

An undated aerial photo of Upper Captiva Island from the FGCU University Archives & Special Collections

Like most people who grew up in Lee County, Florida Gulf Coast University senior Hailey Kerr dug her toes into the sugary sands of local islands like Sanibel from time to time. Now, thanks to a research project involving students, faculty and community members, she’s digging into the history of an island formed 100 years ago by a powerful hurricane.

Through an internship, Kerr collaborates with other students to compile a digital archive preserving the history of Upper Captiva Island. Until 1921, it was part of Captiva Island. That year, an unnamed tempest tore open a new channel across Captiva, creating a separate, bridgeless landmass that came to be called Upper Captiva. Although it can only be reached by water or air, development beginning in the 1980s lured adventurous year-round residents, vacation renters seeking unbeaten paths and hungry boaters docking at harborside restaurants.

Kerr hasn’t actually set foot on the barrier island’s shores yet. But scanning historical photos and other documents and listening to islanders’ oral histories have done more than hone resume-enhancing skills.

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The Flavorful Fest that Pays Homage to the Mighty Mango

Go Gulf States staff — Thu, 07 Jul 2022 23:38:00 +0000

What better time of year to celebrate the tropics’ sweet, sticky fruit, than sweet, sticky mid-summer? Deep South magazine previewed this fabulous festival back in 2013, and it’s still going strong.

Be sure to click the button for an amazing Mango Pie recipe and to check the 2022 event listing in our listings for this year’s schedule, as many details may have changed. –Editor

If you like tropical fruit, sunshine and Gulf breezes, then plan a visit to Pine Island, Florida in July for Mango Mania. Dubbed as the island’s Tropical Fruit Fair, Mango Mania was originally created by the Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce to assist local farmers and growers on the island at harvest time.

This ode to the mango offers a chance to try the fruit prepared in more ways than you can imagine. You can get your fill via mango bread, mango salsa, mango ice cream, and, of course, the mango pie-eating contest. “Mango Mania is unique because it is all about the mangoes, and stepping on to Pine Island is like a step back in time to old Florida,” says Jennifer Jennings, director of the Chamber’s Welcome Center.

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The Design Tourist: Sarasota’s Modernist Architecture Ep. 2

admin — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 20:19:00 +0000

The second in a 2-part series. Join the Design Tourist, Karen LeBlanc, as she continues her tour of Sarasota’s Modernist Architectural Legacy—a destination with a design story to tell. Karen explores the city of Sarasota’s self-guided tour of iconic Modernist residential and commercial architecture by members of The Sarasota School of Architecture Movement including renown architects Paul Rudolph, Victor Lundy, Ralph Twitchell, Tim Seibert, Gene Leedy, William Rupp, Jack West, Carl Abbott, and champion of the movement, developer Philip Hiss. Once a year, some of these homes open their doors for public tours during SarasotaMOD weekend.

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The Design Tourist: Sarasota’s Modernist Architecture Ep. 1

Go Gulf States staff — Sat, 30 Oct 2021 18:51:00 +0000

In this 2015 episode of The Design Tourist, Host Karen LeBlanc, travels to Sarasota, Florida, to tour the city’s iconic Mid-Century Modern architecture produced during the Sarasota School of Architecture Movement. This regional interpretation of Modernist architecture was produced by pioneering architects including Paul Rudolph, Ralph Twitchell, Victor Lundy, Edward “Tim” Siebert, Gene Leedy and developer Philip Hiss. We’ll explore their illustrious careers through the world famous homes and buildings they produced. Sarasota has a great design story to tell. Come travel as we learn all about this architectural and cultural jewel of a destination.

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