Author: Marcy Shortuse

We knew it would be bad, but …OUCH

December 15, 2022
Marcy Shortuse
News

In some cases, insurance premiums are up 400 percent on island homes for fiscal year 2022-23 Everyone has been aware of the unavoidable insurance premium increase that would come after Hurricane...

OBITUARY: Dennis Oller remembered …

December 15, 2022
Marcy Shortuse
Obituaries

There are many people who love Boca Grande. There are a lucky few who are from Boca Grande. But there are some people who are Boca Grande. Dennis Oller was one of those people. His love...

3 p.m. on Thursday: The Grande Lady was back in business

December 15, 2022
Marcy Shortuse
News

Jon Reecher was cool as a cucumber on Tuesday, sitting in his office at The Gasparilla Inn & Club. All around him was a frenzy of activity – carpets were being cleaned, brass was being polished,...

A tragic fish tale: The case of the missing Miller’s marlin

December 15, 2022
Marcy Shortuse
News, Police & Fire

If you want to kick a man when he’s down, wait for a hurricane to hit, then take his giant fish. This actually happened, but not to a man as much as to a marina. Boca Grande Marina, to be specific. They...

THE BOCA BEACON (NOT SO) ACCUWEATHER FOR THE WEEK

Like the phoenix, South Beach rises from the ashes

December 9, 2022
Marcy Shortuse
News

When you sit down in the old 3rd Street Bistro building the nostalgia is strong. If you remember it as Loons on a Limb, you’ll appreciate the little stained glass window that commemorates the little...

OBITUARY: Barbara Witham

Barbara ‘Barbie’ Haynes Witham, 77, passed away, Sunday, December 4, 2022 at the Sussman House.A complete obituary will be published at a later date, and a celebration of life will be announced in...

THIS DATE IN THE BOCA BEACON …

FIVE YEARS AGO High tea was served at The Island School by volunteers Donna Lutton, Margo Freeman and Susan Bowers, with some help from kindergarten teacher/party planner Megan O’Conner. TEN...

A word from local law enforcement: ‘Illegal dumping is a crime we will aggressively enforce’

December 2, 2022
Marcy Shortuse
News, Police & Fire

Illegal dumping is a very real problem everywhere right now, even on Gasparilla Island, and our local law enforcement officers have been actively and aggressively pursuing those who try to get away...

EDITORIAL: CLEANUP AND REPAIR MEASURES ARE MOVING ALONG … BUT WHAT ABOUT THE CELL PHONE SERVICE?

December 2, 2022
Marcy Shortuse
Editorial

What started out as the slow process of returning to “normal” (were we ever normal?) after Hurricane Ian, has been speeding up over the last few weeks. When they started the construction and demolition...