This date in the Boca Beacon: Tropical Storm Gabrielle

FIVE YEARS AGO

Island Chef Trish McIlroy won the NPC Ironman Masters 40+ division bodybuilding competition.

TEN YEARS AGO

Long-time island resident Zelma Otto celebrated her 90th birthday with a party and the three island boys she helped raise — Seth Joiner, Parker O’Bannon and Dylan Jansch.

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO

The Gasparilla Island 4-Mile Run and Fun Walk was held. USDA was the chosen iguana removal group for the upcoming trapping season.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

Whidden’s Marina was among the businesses that filed a tax appeal after its tax bill went from $36k to over $103k.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO 

Tropical Storm Gabrielle brought powerful winds to the island which caused substantial but spotty damage.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

An opportunity to preserve 30 acres on the barrier island of Don Pedro had come and gone with Charlotte County Commission taking no action to purchase the property.

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

The assets of Gasparilla Marina were auctioned off with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) being the highest bidder.

FORTY YEARS AGO

CSX applied for a planned-unit development approval from the Lee County Commission for the southernmost 40 acres of property that it owned on the island.

FORTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Hobie Cats boat races were held. The air was weak, not cooperative and the race was slow, but all participants were able to cross the finish line.