Author: Sheila Evans

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Rebecca Cleveland, Third generation in local art

March 8, 2024
Sheila Evans
Profiles

The COVID pandemic was a terrible thing, but it had some incredibly good and unexpected impacts in some people’s lives. Rebecca Cleveland is one of those lucky people. It was when she discovered she...

Local snook season remains open through April 30

The recreational harvest of snook in the Panhandle, Big Bend, Tampa Bay, Sarasota Bay, Charlotte Harbor and Southwest management regions opened March 1, and remains open through April 30. This includes...

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Called to a life of faith, in Boca Grande

February 29, 2024
Sheila Evans
Profiles

There is something special about Garth Bailey. It only takes a few minutes talking to him to know what it is. He is unabashedly in love with the Lord. Garth is from Ocho Rios, Jamaica, but lives...

History Bytes: Viola Dyer recalls Boca Rico, the Pass Marina and sea rescues

Closing out the season’s History Bytes series was a lively hour of story-telling by jack-of-many- trades and master of all of them, Viola Dyer. She came to the island in the 1980s and established the...

Island pastors meet to plan Easter

The leaders of the Boca Grande churches met this week to begin planning for the 2024 Holy Week and Easter services available to the public. With two of the four churches having new leadership this...

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: A banker with most interest in his Faith

February 22, 2024
Sheila Evans
Profiles

Money and ministry go hand-in-hand for Larry Hannah. His efforts have shown that, in the right hands, money can be the root of much good, rather than evil. Larry proved that beyond any doubt as he...

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: No longer on vacation in Boca Grande

February 15, 2024
Sheila Evans
Profiles

You may have noticed a new byline in the Boca Beacon. Behind the byline is the latest addition to the Beacon staff, Anna Ridilla. She’s new to the Beacon, and even to the newspaper business, but not...

Mote scientist Toyoda tells of progress in understanding red tide

The Boca Grande Community Center auditorium was packed Wednesday as Dr. Jennifer Toyoda, researcher with the Mote Marine Laboratory, shared the latest information on the monitoring, measuring and mitigating...

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Life calling an ace volley of sport, family

February 9, 2024
Sheila Evans
Profiles

Anne Beatty is amazed that she is still being called to do the things she is good at, and things she loves doing. She knows not everyone who reaches 81 can do that. The credit, she believes, goes to...

History Bytes looks at book, towns of the island

February 9, 2024
Sheila Evans
Community History

Despite the chill in the air, close to 100 people showed up for the season’s first History Bytes program at the loggia of the Johann Fust Library. The topic was the History Center’s new exhibit, based...