This date in the Boca Beacon

FIVE YEARS AGO

“You and Islands” was released by the Zac Brown Band. The song references the sunsets at Boca Grande and is an attempt to take listeners to another place in their minds.

TEN YEARS AGO

Island residents were boiling their water due to a compromised water main. Several businesses were affected and had closed for lack of water.

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO

The Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce moved their office from the north end courtyard to Railroad Plaza. GIBA was defending their use of speed bumps as the bridge was receiving much needed repairs.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

The Boca Grande Storm Assistance Fund was a huge help to over 370 people after Charley swept through Gasparilla Island one year prior.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO 

The GICIA purchased the tip of the landlocked peninsula adjacent to Millers Marina for $725,000.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

 The arson task force stated that they were not close to making an arrest for the fish house fires.

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

The Coast Guard range light was receiving a much-needed facelift. Rusted sections of the beacon were being repaired, the safety railing and many of the rivets were being replaced as well as sand blasting and painting the exterior.

FORTY YEARS AGO

A court hearing was scheduled for Charlotte County and Gaspar Inc. to dispute the use of and eliminate discount coupon books for islanders to traverse the bridge.