News
The time of the turtles is upon us! May 1 marks start of nesting season
May 4, 2021
BY MARCY SHORTUSE – While no sea turtle nests have been found yet this season on Gasparilla Island, May 1 heralds the beginning of this very special time. Most residents who live on the island year…
Boca Bargains to remain open through May this year
May 4, 2021
STAFF REPORT – If you haven’t had a chance yet this season to stop by and shop at Boca Bargains, you can draw a sigh of relief. The ladies of the Boca Grande Woman’s Club have announced they will k…
In the face of new proposed dredging deregulation that could mean 50 percent more sea turtle deaths, it seems strange that ‘relocation’ is no longer an option
May 4, 2021
BY TONYA BRAMLAGE AND MARCY SHORTUSE – It’s common to hear the phrase “There is no use in dredging things up,” but when it comes to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – the people charged with keepin…
Greatest kids fishing tournament on earth to be held in Boca Grande Pass on June 5: Kids helping kids is what it’s all about
May 4, 2021
STAFF REPORT – After taking 2020 off because of COVID-19, the Gasparilla Island Kids Classic Tarpon Tournament will return on Saturday, June 5, and will be held in Boca Grande Pass from 3 to 6 p.m….
Foster takes first in Basin Sailing Yacht Club World Championship
May 4, 2021
STAFF REPORT – The Basin Sailing Yacht Club held its annual “World Championships” on Sunday, April 25 at the Boca Bay Powerhouse lagoon, with local legend John Foster taking the lead amongst many p…
A history of the du Pont family in Boca Grande
May 4, 2021
BY KAREN GRACE AND THE BOCA GRANDE HISTORY CENTER – The beginning of the du Pont family in Boca Grande came in 1916 or 1917 when Louise (du Pont) and Frank Crowninshield rented Frank’s brother’s (B…
OBITUARY: Michael Calahan
May 4, 2021
Michael (“Mike”) A. Calahan, formerly of Boca Grande, died unexpectedly at his home in Fort Lauderdale on April 17, 2021. Mike and his wife, Midge, built a home in Boca Bay in the mid-1990s and res…
PROFILE: Cathy Ballman
May 4, 2021
BY T MICHELE WALKER – Zoom meetings are as ubiquitous as love bugs in spring. After months of coffee interviews and visits to lovely homes and marinas, the Boca Beacon finally had our first profile…
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Many thanks to all who helped Hope for Haitians committee exceed their 2021 goal
May 4, 2021
Dear Editor and friends of the Boca Grande Hope For Haitians Committee,
We’ve exceeded our goal!
On behalf of the Boca Grande Hope for Haitians Committee, the people of Haiti, the most impoverish…
Real estate on Gasparilla Island: Right now it’s hotter than asphalt in September
April 24, 2021
BY SUSAN HANAFEE – Excuse us for stating the obvious: The housing market in Boca Grande and environs is hotter than Florida asphalt in September and shows no signs of cooling off.
The situation pro…