Author: Sheila Evans

Local men to take Honor Flight this fall

August 3, 2023
Sheila Evans
Community, News

Two local men will be taking the trip of a lifetime in October, as they have been chosen to be aboard the second Honor Flight from Southwest Florida in a year. Pastor Gary Beatty of island’s First...

The smell of fresh office supplies and school uniforms fills the air as TIS is almost back in session

August 3, 2023
Sheila Evans
Education, News

The Island School is at full capacity this year, as 60 students will start school on Thursday, Aug. 10. Head of School Christine Oliver is looking forward to a “normal” school year, free of pandemic...

The Baptists are back at home!

July 20, 2023
Sheila Evans
Community, News

Boca Grande’s Baptist community celebrated in grande style as the congregation returned to its own church building July 16 for services. The fellowship hall will be the venue for services for a while,...

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Effie Joiner

Author George Bernard Shaw famously claimed youth was wasted on the young. Apparently, he never met Effie Joiner, because she is not wasting a moment of her youth. Effie is not yet 27 but is putting...

Bayou bridge might be gone by the end of the year, GIWA says

July 13, 2023
Sheila Evans
News

The Gasparilla Island Water Association’s “Bayou Bridge” will be dismantled by the first of the year – and maybe sooner, according to GIWA Executive Director Ron Bolton. The low bridge is on 7th Street,...

‘Bully Patrol’ author talks about the latest books in the series

July 13, 2023
Sheila Evans
Community, News

Kathy Auman has a fan club. The members are mostly young children, but many are also the parents of these children. For those who are not familiar with Kathy and what the fan club is all about,...

Second Honor Flight scheduled for October of this year

July 13, 2023
Sheila Evans
News

Southwest Florida Honor Flight (SWFL) has just announced it is hosting a second Honor Flight this year. The first one was in May (and included Boca Beacon publisher Dusty Hopkins), and this next one...

If only love was enough … Suncoast helps newborn pups who lost their mama

June 29, 2023
Sheila Evans
Community

The call went out last week. Suncoast Humane Society was in desperate need of people who could foster newborn, fragile puppies. The mother of these puppies came to Suncoast in desperate need. She was...

IN THE SPOTLIGHT – Firefighter Stephen Collison

June 29, 2023
Sheila Evans
News, Profiles

Firefighter Stephen Collison is still pinching himself, hoping his job at the Boca Grande Fire Department is not a cruel joke. He was hired on April 1, so he’s pretty sure by now it’s no April Fool’s...

Saying goodbye to Father Carosella won’t be easy

Fr. Jerome Carosella has been the pastor of Boca Grande’s Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church for more than half of the time he has been a priest. He was ordained 60 years ago and has been pastor on...