Skip to main content

THIS DATE IN THE BOCA BEACON

October 26, 2023
By Marcy Shortuse

FIVE YEARS AGO
Islanders came together with donations for victiams of Hurricane Michael in the Panhandle. Smitty, J.T. and Chef Jim were back together in one place – Hudson’s Grocery.

TEN YEARS AGO
The Temp’s martini sign got a check-up, as it was 36 years old. Jack Damioli resigned as president and general manager of The Gasparilla Inn and Jon Reecher stepped up.

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO
Matt Damon, Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta attended the biggest celebrity wedding in the island’s history. Olivia and John sang “You’re the One That I Want” for the first time in a long, long time under a huge tent set up at the old 7th Street Dog Park.

TWENTY YEARS AGO
The Island School announced that while their building fund was on schedule, they were still waiting on receipt of a number of pledges and the written confirmation of an anonymous $1 million donor promised a year before.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
Kathleen Turner was appointed the director of the 1999 World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament. Jennifer Burch became the new owner of Ariel.

THIRTY YEARS AGO
Charlotte County sued Gaspar, Inc. (owners of the Causeway) for a temporary and permanent injunction order, preventing Gaspar from implementing any rate or operating changes not specified therein.

FORTY YEARS AGO
It was announced that Port Boca Grande handled 71,000 tons of cargo in the month of September.