FIVE YEARS AGO
Larry McNiff of The Boca Grande Camera Club taught a Basics of Photography class to kids ages 6 to 12 at the Boca Grande Community Center.
TEN YEARS AGO
An exotic plant remov…
FIVE YEARS AGO
Island Chef Trish McIlroy won the NPC Ironman Masters 40+ division bodybuilding competition.
TEN YEARS AGO
Long-time island resident Zelma Otto celebrated her 90th birthday w…
BY JAMES J. BLAHA BOCA GRANDE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Pictured Above, Joe Spadaro. BGHS Archives
“Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success.”
– H…
Above, rendering for the new house on 10th Street that would replace the current house, which was delisted as historic due to hurricane damage this week. Preservation Board documents
A damaged Sp…
FIVE YEARS AGO
Several people were spearfishing at the end of Belcher Road and were confronted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
TEN YEARS AGO
The Barrier Island Par…
FIVE YEARS AGO
Lee County School Board mandated masks for all schools including The Island School. The mandate would be revisited in 30 days.
TEN YEARS AGO
The 7th Annual Michael O’Donnell…
On a handshake Sam Whidden built his marina and a family, about a hundred years ago this year. So, the Boca Beacon is looking back over this icon of Gasparilla Island, Whidden’s Marina. All stories…
Above, playing the bait shrimp with Sammy Jay Steyer.
BY NIC MOSTYN
Editor’s Note: In 2012, Nicholas Mostyn wrote this essay for the Beacon, which won a Gasparilla Island Kids Classic essay c…
Above, Paul Martin sent in this photo of friends at ‘Sity Hall,’ with ‘Sears Roebuck air conditioning for your comfort.’
Some memories from readers and friends of the Beacon:
A Place Where Me…
One hundred years of Whidden’s. I’ve been lucky to be a small part of that time
BY JAKE POEPL
Where do I begin?
Whidden’s is a true treasure. It’s where I first stepped on a boat in Boca G…
