Author: Garland Pollard

Red tide at orange ‘medium’ with wait and see on effects

CHNEP and state agencies are monitoring weekly This week, the state of Florida reported a “medium” count of red tide off of the coastal areas surrounding Cape Haze, Gasparilla Island and Pine Island. Coastal...

Charlotte County’s closed fishing piers are un-sung assets

Last week, the Charlotte County Board of Commissioners, in a post-Hurricane Milton meeting, discussed the status of the Boca Grande Fishing Pier and the Placida Fishing Pier, both currently closed. Like...

Coral Creek Club reopened Tuesday, Oct. 29

October 29, 2024
Garland Pollard
News

The Coral Creek Club reopened the front nine holes and dining on Tuesday, Oct. 29 after limited damage from hurricanes. “We were better than most,” said Coral Creek’s General Manager,...

Boil water notice rescinded for Gasparilla Island

October 28, 2024
Garland Pollard
News

The Gasparilla Island Water Association’s Precautionary Boil Water Notice has been rescinded effected Oct. 28, 2024. Please resume all normal water, including irrigation. This according...

Disaster Fund now at $1.5 million with $3 million goal for biz recovery plan

October 25, 2024
Garland Pollard
Breaking News, News

Fund still taking donations An island Disaster Fund set up to help local businesses and institutions recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton has raised over $1.5 million in just a few weeks. “We...

A big Milton shift-er-oo for so many island institutions

October 25, 2024
Garland Pollard
Editorial

The Beacon continues to receive calls about what is where, what will happen when, and when so-and-so will open. So much is, as they say, up in the air. Of note: • The Boca Grande Post Office...

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: A visit from the Commerce Secretary and Lt. Gov, Focus on small business

October 18, 2024
Garland Pollard
Community, Profiles

On Tuesday, Oct. 15, Florida Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly came to Boca Grande to help local businesses ruined by Hurricane Milton. The Beacon discussed the importance of small businesses to not...

Florida Commerce Secretary Kelly, Lt. Gov. Nuñez visit to support recovery

In a visit aimed at highlighting the importance of local commerce, Florida Commerce Secretary Alex Kelly toured Gasparilla Island on Tuesday, Oct. 15, to meet with small business owners affected by...

Island businesses supported by Disaster Fund and state program

A disaster fund to assist island businesses has raised nearly $1 million in cash, with hopes of reaching $3 million to help local businesses survive. The goal of the fund is to “make sure everybody...

‘Doomscrolling’ and searching for a ‘timeline cleanse’

October 18, 2024
Garland Pollard
Editorial

On the Saturday before Milton, this editor was at Dollar Tree in Englewood, at the Winn-Dixie shopping center. For those who do not know it, Dollar Tree almost always has UHT (ultra-high temperature)...