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Featured News

Lee County releases parking ordinance draft in advance of Aug. 5 meeting

Today, Lee County formally put the new parking ordinance for Boca Grande on the agenda for their August 5, 2025 meeting. It appears in the agenda as “Conduct Public Hearing to Adopt Gasparilla Islan…

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Community

Tree crews out across island

Tree removal across the island, including on Gilchrist Avenue and at the location of the Clinic of the Future. The clinic has just begun laying foundations this week. Clinic construction photos…

Community Center Update

Work moves quickly at The Island School, where contractors are building a multipurpose area as part of the Boca Grande Community Center capital project. On the campus, other work continues, includin…

Petition exceeds 9,000 for beach parking

With only two weeks until the Lee County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to discuss the proposed Boca Grande parking ordinance, a community-organized petition to “Keep Boca Grande Open” is neari…

Education

Community Center Update

Work moves quickly at The Island School, where contractors are building a multipurpose area as part of the Boca Grande Community Center capital project. On the campus, other work continues, includin…

The Island School, Ainger score ‘A’ on state tests

Schools of excellence The Island School has earned an A for the eighth time in a row in the annual Florida Department of Education ranking. “I’m proud to share that The Island School has once…

HCA Florida Englewood Hospital & Wellen Park Emergency School Supply Collection

HCA Florida Englewood Hospital and HCA Florida Wellen Park Emergency are collecting school supplies through July 31 to help local students prepare for the upcoming school year. Community members…

Entertainment

New Gasparilla Magazine on newstands

Featuring Wanamakers, gumbo limbo and Sugarshack The July/August edition of the Boca Beacon’s Gasparilla Island Magazine is out now with new feature stories, recipes, shopping and social pages…

Fourth of July golf cart parade begins in the cool morning

Independence Day is right around the corner, and lineup for Boca Grande’s annual Fourth of July parade begins at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, July 4 in the gravel lot on the side of the Old Theatre Building…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Mr. Market triplets

Dad and kids put together a board game A new finance board game for families, “Mr. Market,” is the creation of a family of longtime Boca Grande regulars. The Jack White family connected to Boca G…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: A new Useppa crew

Island purchase set for September A group of Useppa Island residents is preparing for a September purchase of the operations of the island and club. They were here in Boca Grande recently with Simon Bound, a Boca Grande resident who is the chair of the owner group that put the deal together. The CEO will […]

Sports & Outdoors

Health & Wellness

‘Clinic of the Future’ construction continues this week with foundation

At the Boca Grande Health Clinic, their building program continued this week. Footers were being poured and soon the all important concrete pad will go up. Photos by Matt

Ask a Doc: Caution, antibiotics cure for worrisome ‘flesh-eating’ bacteria

Our beaches are part of what makes life in Boca Grande so special. Whether you’re walking the shoreline, collecting shells or enjoying a dip in the Gulf, being close to the water is part of the rhyt…

New AI skin cancer detection device used at Boca Grande Health Clinic

Skin cancer is one of the most common – and treatable – types of cancer when detected early. To promote early detection, the Boca Grande Health Clinic has introduced a handheld diagnostic device cal…

EcoWatch: Time for a good and bad news report as season warms up

The good news is that bad news can be turned into good news when you change your attitude. Robert H. Schuller, American television evangelist, author Sorry to say, this column will offer many…

Police & Fire

Lee EMS wins Heart Association award

Lee County Emergency Medical Services has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Gold achievement award for its commitment to offering rapid and research-based care to peopl…

Charlotte wins state emergency items

State Rep. Danny Nix joined Charlotte County Commissioners on Tuesday, July 22, to present a ceremonial check of more than $8 million in state funding for local infrastructure, emergency response an…

Garrison appointed to state agency

The North Port Police Department reports that Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed Police Chief Todd Garrison to the Florida Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission, alongside six other distin…

Island emergency group meets to prepare for storms

The island Emergency Operations group met at the Boca Grande Fire Department on Thursday morning, July 24 to go through updates and procedures for peak hurricane season. Since Hurricane Ian, and…

News Archives

Obituaries

A bridge GIBA goodbye to Bill Pavia

Last weekend, Boca Grande paid goodbye to William “Bill” Pavia, 76, of Rotonda, who worked in retirement serving the Gasparilla Island Bridge Author…

Charles H. Alexander 1959-2025

Charles Hake Alexander, born September 11, 1959, in Abilene, Texas to Robert and Frances Alexander, passed away peacefully at home on July 15, 2025…

Douglas Regan Sandbo, 1935-2025

Douglas Regan Sandbo, born June 19, 1935, passed away peacefully on July 1, 2025, just days after celebrating his 90th birthday with his entire fami…

Margaret Ringer 1947 – 2025

Margaret Elaine Ringer (formerly Walker, née Tvaroch), 77, of Lake Wales, FL, passed away peacefully on June 6, 2025, surrounded by family. A former…

Helen Beardsley 1928 – 2025

Helen, but everyone called her Nana, mother of Bette Bowen, is once again dancing with her husband. Mom was born and raised in Wisconsin, where s…