News
The land of shamrocks and leprechauns: Ireland
May 29, 2015
BY JEAN NETHERY
The Beacon welcomes back our occasional writer, Jean Nethery, who is writing this time about Ireland. This is part one in a two part series.
As our Boeing 757 touched down on…
This Saturday night the howling shall commence …
May 29, 2015
If you’re anywhere near Boca Grande Pass Saturday night, don’t be surprised if you hear some odd noises. The howling will be fierce, as the Howl at the Moon Invitational Tarpon Tournament will be ta…
Coupling failure closes bridge to traffic during holiday weekend
May 29, 2015
BY JACK SHORT
The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority closed its swing bridge briefly to road traffic and for at least 19 hours to boat traffic beginning Sunday afternoon, according to representat…
Memorial Day weekend not kind to island sea turtles
May 29, 2015
BY MARCY SHORTUSE
Island sea turtle patrollers were full of excitement on Thursday, May 28 when they realized they had their first confirmed green turtle nest on Gasparilla Island.
“We’ve got…
More indicators of booming economic recovery
May 29, 2015
Shown in the two accompanying charts, mid-year tourist tax collections for Lee County (through March) have already surpassed FY10/11’s, not including late payments for that year.
Lee County Touri…
Anglers and artists make for a great combination during Tarpon Festival Weekend in downtown Boca Grande
May 29, 2015
BY CARROLL SWAYZE
Excitement is brewing as anglers and artists alike prepare for the 2015 Tarpon Festival in downtown Boca Grande on June 4 through 6. Each year thousands of people travel to the…
Obituary: Virginia Jeane Wilber
May 29, 2015
Virginia Jeane “Shay” Wilber, born in Albany, N.Y. on October 7, 1979 to the parents of Mr. and Mrs. David F. Wilber III, died unexpectedly at home on May 20, 2015.
Shay grew up in Oneonta, N.Y…
Profile: The new minister in town, Matthew Williams
May 29, 2015
BY JACK SHORT
Sometimes it takes a few knocks at the door before someone finally answers. For Rev. Matthew Morgan Williams, the new pastor at the United Methodist Church of Boca Grande, the call…
BGIPOA and 5F sued over settlement agreement
May 22, 2015
Twenty five years of dispute seemed to have been put aside — at least for a day or so.
The ink was barely dry on an agreement between the Boca Grande Isles Property Owners’ Association and defen…
Studying tarpon with … balloons?
May 22, 2015
BY JACK SHORT
Scientists from the Florida Institute of Technology hope everyone fishing the pass next week won’t be alarmed by the presence of an eight foot balloon floating 150 feet in the air…