News
If island retail is important, let’s start with an inventory
July 5, 2024
Currently, the Boca Beacon is digesting hundreds of pages of correspondence between Lee County and Boca Grande as part of a public records request. On June 4, we filed and paid for a record of any r…
Parking meeting set for Monday; invite for all this fall
July 5, 2024
Editor’s Note: Due to a family emergency, this has been postponed.
Sue Sligar of Gilchrist Interiors has invited Vice Chairman Kevin Ruane, who represents the island as District 1 Commissioner on…
EcoWatch: Toxic sunscreens are harmful to our oceans
July 3, 2024
“Sunscreen is a surprising culprit of ocean pollution, and one that’s getting the attention it deserves. Not only are the chemicals in sunscreens damaging to marine life and reefs but they’re also a…
SW Florida Fishing: Tarpon still around
July 3, 2024
BY CAPT. WILL WATERHOUSE
Lots of tarpon are still being caught in Boca Grande Pass, Little Gasparilla Pass, and out on the beaches.
If you are looking to back bay fish, target the snook with l…
Turtle report: Please stop pulling up yellow stakes protecting nests
July 3, 2024
BY ARLENE HALL BGSTA SECRETARY
The most exciting part of turtle nesting season began last week, when hatchlings from the first couple of loggerhead nests started emerging from the sand. With the…
Van Hubbard: Memories of mackerel, and a trout show with Santa Claus
July 3, 2024
Somewhere in the intense mid- ‘80s, I took videographer Gary Sullivan tarpon fishing. It was 1985 when I met Gary, aka Sully, when he came along on a trip. He was in the production business and, awe…
Seagrass survey volunteers needed by Sea Grant
July 3, 2024
A volunteer seagrass monitoring program through the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences needs volunteers to survey sites this summer.
The UF/IFAS Extension Florida…
Keeping a father’s memory alive on Little Gasparilla
July 3, 2024
BY KRISTEN VARELA-SCHILD
At my father’s memorial, I was a little jealous. Jealous of the stories my brother told of connecting with my father nearly every weekend at their hunting lodge; sitting…
Englewood Art Summer Market July 19-20
July 3, 2024
The Englewood Art Center, a division of Ringling College of Art and Design, is offering visitors and residents a chance to enjoy original artworks created by more than 20 area artists. EAC’s Summer…
New Gasparilla Island magazine on newstands
July 3, 2024
The July/August edition of Gasparilla Island Magazine is out with new feature stories, recipes, shopping and social pages.
Featured stories include a discussion of our regional water qualit…