Ceremony to be held at 5th Street
When residents and visitors gather on Veterans Day at the corner of Gilchrist Avenue and 5th Street, they will do so at a site that has quietly commemorated mili…
From garden to gourmet, Newlin’s own
Chef Wiley Laidlaw’s love for cooking began long before he ever set foot in a professional kitchen. It grew out of long summer days in his grandmother’s garde…
New firefighter-paramedic at BGFD
When firefighter-paramedic Pat Sherman joined the Boca Grande Fire Department, he wasn’t looking for a change of scenery so much as a closer sense of community…
From clubhouse to island
If the name Alison Nash sounds familiar, it’s because for the past three years she’s been a welcoming presence at Coral Creek Golf Club, where she served as clubhouse man…
Part II of a stormy fall, 2024
This time last year, the island was just beginning to get back to normal business following the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene. Mud was being cleared out an…
Pine View teacher with Lighthouse story
When visitors step into the Gasparilla Island Lighthouse, they’re often greeted by docent and historian Caroline Gannon. A longtime teacher, she brings her…
Britannica to Audubon, noted nature illustrator
For years before making Cape Haze his home, artist Albert Earl Gilbert was a frequent visitor to Boca Grande. Drawn to the island’s coastal beauty…
The state takes on water, weather
Above, Mary Margaret Hull of Southwest Florida Water Management District. Photo by Angela
The fifth annual Southwest Florida Resiliency Summit brought togethe…
Authors and illustrators
Jack and Gabby Gibbons moved to Rotonda West about two and a half years ago after nearly two decades in Colorado. The couple, who spent much of their careers in construct…
Master naturalist, water advocate
Many Beacon readers will recognize Michelle Starr. Over the years, she has guided countless eco-tours through Boca Grande’s waters, teaching visitors about the m…
