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Profiles


October 23, 2025
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…

October 16, 2025
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…

October 9, 2025
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…

October 2, 2025
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…

September 25, 2025
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…

September 18, 2025
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…

September 11, 2025
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…

September 4, 2025
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…

August 28, 2025
Science, solutions, neighbors. Hurricane season in Southwest Florida is more than just a few names on a weather map. For residents across Charlotte and Lee counties, Boca Grande and the barrier i…

August 22, 2025
Readers of the Beacon might have noticed a new byline in last week’s paper; Angela McPhillips is the newest edition to the Boca Beacon and Gasparilla Magazine team, bringing with her a fresh perspec…