This date in the Boca Beacon

FIVE YEARS AGO

Lee and Charlotte County schools pushed back their start date for classes to begin. Preparation for brick-and-mortar, virtual and distant learning was being fine-tuned.

TEN YEARS AGO

GIBA announced updates to the new tender house construction and bridge construction. The swing span steel was being balanced and prepared for concrete on the main deck and initial paving on the northeast side had been completed.

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO

Island “Boom Classes” were in full swing. These hands-on classes taught volunteers what to do in case of an oil spill on the water utilizing fruit loops to see how they react to the wind and tide.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

Jam’s of Boca Grande was sold after being owned by Ray Corcoran for 16 years. The new owners changed the eateries name to Boca Palms Eatery.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO 

The Island School held a “barn raising” party to help put the finishing touches on the school. Helpers were invited to paint and do some landscaping.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

A special task force was set up to investigate the three fires involving the fish houses with patrols being increased. The first fish house fire was ruled arson, the second and third fires were suspicious.

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Charlotte County accepted an offer to build an ambulance station on Gasparilla Island. 

FORTY YEARS AGO

More than 600 people attended a 4th of July celebration and fundraiser at The Gasparilla Inn to raise money for the Boca Grande Health Clinic. An elaborate fireworks display lasting about an hour and a half topped off the evening.