Author: Guest Columnist

SW Florida Fishing: Record setting year for G.I.F.T.

BY CAPT. WILL WATERHOUSE A record setting year all around for the 29th annual Gasparilla Island Fly Fishing Tournament presented by Gasparilla Outfitters. This year the tournament hosted fifteen...

History: Some favorite personal memories of Boca Grande

BY JAMES J. BLAHA, DIRECTOR, BOCA GRANDE HISTORY CENTER After many years of bringing my family to Florida for vacations, my wife and I decided to plan for our retirement, which included moving to...

The Island Golfer: Local golf clubs grand tradition of giving back

BY SCOTT COTHERMAN Tune in to any televised professional golf competition, and you will see an interview with the tournament’s sponsor citing the significant impact of fundraising for local...

SW Florida Fishing: More than some fish…

BY CAPT. JOE LACLAIR Over the last couple weeks we have been cleaning up from Hurricane Milton, elected a new president and catching fish. Fly fishing for snook, tarpon and redfish has been great....

SW Florida Fishing: Our local fishing awaits …

BY CAPT. WILL WATERHOUSE Despite the recent storms, The 29th annual Gasparilla Island Fly Fishing tournament is ON! The event will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 26 and will benefit the Boca Grande Historic...

Guest Essay: Helene – No where to run to …

First-hand account of Helene escape one of many local stories BY BARBARA HUGHES Editor’s Note: Local gallery owner Barbara Hughes was one of the ‘lucky’ ones who came through Helene as it moved...

Remembering the old island school, and the era of the old Boca Grande Hotel

BY KIM KYLE AS TOLD FROM CHARLYN CRANDALL HEIDENREICH Charlyn Crandall Heidenreich and her brother, John, attended the Boca Grande School from 1945 to 1948. At the time, their father, John M. Crandall,...

SW Florida Fishing: After the storm… fishing and trash

BY CAPT. JOE LACLAIR Over the past couple weeks, we have seen the world around us change again. I have been blessed and spared. My small home in SW Florida seems to be blessed and my little boat...

GUEST COLUMNS: KELLENE CARPENTER

Reflecting on early childhood education at the preschool BY KELLENE CARPENTER Editor’s Note: Kelli Carpenter wrote this essay for the Beacon just before Helene. The school was hurt badly in the...

Guest Essay: Islanders need to be effectively informed, involved

BY EMERSON WICKWIRE I applaud the Beacon, serving both as a community platform for ideas to identify and resolve community issues, as well as a central source of information on issue background...