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Survey: Respondents against adding bridges to islands

Charlotte County Facilities Construction & Maintenance department has released survey results from local residents on accessibility to and from bridgeless barrier islands on the coast. Islands…

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Community

Briefly: Advisory volunteer needed by Beaches and Shores

The Beaches and Shores Advisory Committee is seeking a volunteer to fill the unexpired term of the District 3 representative. The applicant must be a resident of Charlotte County and reside within…

Briefly: Barrier Island Fire Service seeks board volunteer

The Barrier Island Fire Service Municipal Service Benefit Unit Advisory Board is seeking a volunteer to fill a vacant position with term ending Oct. 31, 2025. Applicants must be residents of Charl…

The limits of our earth on this day

Earth Day is coming up this weekend. This week, we have a column about Earth Day from Delores Savas as well as a small article about one of the Earth Day activities in our news section. There are …

Education

Preschool gets a new playground

The Boca Grande Preschool has completed construction on a new playground that includes a play structure, play yard, storage room expansion, easels and a tall security wall fencing the entire area….

Gasparilla Island Conservation promotes bike safety during spring break

Spring has sprung and Boca Grande is abuzz. With the gorgeous weather, there has also been an increase in people enjoying the GICIA Bike Path. In a cooperative effort to provide a safe and fun exp…

Lemon Bay heads to Florida State Thespian Festival

February 29, 2024

The student theater troupe at Lemon Bay High School is heading to Tampa on March 13 for the Florida State Thespian Festival. There were 21 one-act plays in the district, and Lemon Bay was…

Entertainment

Superstars: Locals remember O.J. and Hulk’s Lou Ferrigno

There was a week in February of 1975 that the late Orenthal James Simpson was king of Rotonda and Cape Haze. The event was O.J.’s victory the ABC Superstars competition, which aired Sunday, Feb. 2…

Superstars: America’s great athletes assembled in Rotonda

The first Superstars was Feb. 19-20, 1973 and aired Feb. 25 over the entire ABC network. “There are some who question its integrity as an entertainment vehicle,” said organizer Philip Bottfeld,…

Book-briefs: New regional titles

Some new local history titles out this spring: • “Three Ringling Circus: A History of Sarasota and the Famous Ringling Brothers” by Sandra Gurvis illuminates the Ringling family’s impact on…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Haiti deserves a break

liveBocaGrande.com Boca Beacon App Read More Sports & Outdoors Gasparilla Outfitters Capt. Waylon Mills News Archives Obituaries

Sports & Outdoors

Health & Wellness

Celebrating the people making the Clinic grand

BY MARK DRISCOLL, CEO BOCA GRANDE HEALTH CLINIC Every year we celebrate Doctor’s Day and Nurses Week, but there’s one more recognition event that’s just as important. Administrative Professiona…

Ask a Doc: Parkinson’s disease can now be detected through the skin

BY BRET KUEBER, M.D., ASSISTANT MEDICAL DIRECTOR, BOCA GRANDE HEALTH CLINIC April, the birth month of James Parkinson, is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month. Parkinson’s is a degenerative synd…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Chemist and founder of orphan drugs

There’s a fellow at Sea Oats who has the mind of a scientist and the heart of an artist. Dr. John McCall is an interesting mix, with a humble sense of humor that belies his multiple degrees and ac…

Doctor’s Day at the Clinic, honors for Drs. James, Kueber and Haly

Honoring the physicians of the Health Clinic BY MARK DRISCOLL, CEO BOCA GRANDE HEALTH CLINIC March 30 marks a special day on our calendar – Doctor’s Day. It’s a time to honor those who dedic…

Police & Fire

Town hall addresses Lee/Charlotte cooperation

Charlotte County elected officials and representatives gathered at the community center on Wednesday, April 17 for a townhall meeting to discuss topics of concern submitted by Gasparilla Island ci…

Fire District seeks certificate renewal

The Boca Grande Fire Control District submitted an application for renewal of their Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (COPCN), which Lee County staff have recommended for approval at…

Fire Dept’s Hammerhead truck damaged

The Boca Grande Fire Department is raising money to replace its ladder truck and refresh the department fleet after damage caused by hurricane exposure. “We can’t even rely on it as a backup b…

Fire Dept. aids belfry placement

The Boca Grande Fire Department came the aid of First Baptist Church of Boca Grande with the installation of their new speaker system. Contributed photo

News Archives

Obituaries

Remembering Rob Wells of Cabbage Key

Robert Wells Jr., the founder of the modern Cabbage Key and the Tarpon Lodge, died Tuesday. Wells, and his wife Phyllis, purchased Cabbage Key …

Gaza aid worker caught his first fish here

Jacob Alexander Flickinger, a 33-year-old humanitarian food aid worker for the charity World Central Kitchen, was killed April 1, 2024 while deliv…

World Central aid worker called trustworthy mentor, guide

Quebec Parliament recognized his work BY LYNN SEIBERT The world lost a beautiful soul on April 1, 2024 when my beloved nephew Jacob Alexande…

Shelley Lewis 1943-2024

Shelley Lewis of Boca Grande, Florida, and Greenwich, Connecticut, a loving wife, mother, grandmother and sibling, all of whose lives were enriche…

Dean M. Laux 1932-2024

Dean M. Laux, 91, accomplished Army intelligence officer, publisher, editor, and community volunteer, died Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Born Oct. 26, …