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Profiles


IN THE SPOTLIGHT: No longer on vacation in Boca Grande

February 15, 2024
You may have noticed a new byline in the Boca Beacon. Behind the byline is the latest addition to the Beacon staff, Anna Ridilla. She’s new to the Beacon, and even to the newspaper business, but n…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Life calling an ace volley of sport, family

February 9, 2024
Anne Beatty is amazed that she is still being called to do the things she is good at, and things she loves doing. She knows not everyone who reaches 81 can do that. The credit, she believes, goes …

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: From 4-H to playground builder, volunteer

February 2, 2024
When it comes to getting thing organized and getting them done, few people can outshine Gloria Mitchell. She is small in stature, but has a way about her that gets big things accomplished. Love is…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Green Flash was in the plan for investor Rick Ganong

January 26, 2024
Rick and Kris Ganong have a philosophy: work hard, play hard and give back to the community. It is how they live their lives, and they found a whole community of like-minded people when they start…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Pat Witschonke, West Point blind date succeeds 52 years

January 19, 2024
Pat Witschonke laughs easily, and enjoys life. She knows what she likes and what she doesn’t. Because of her humor and style, she has been able to surround herself with the things she likes. Princ…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Pam Heilman, attorney and community volunteer

January 4, 2024
Few people are more enthusiastic, joyful, grateful, or optimistic than Pam Heilman. She is a board member and number one cheerleader for the Boca Grande Historical Society. Pam served as president…

Profile: Karen Irvine, artist and teacher of sailors valentines

December 22, 2023
Come February, valentines will be on many people’s minds. For Karen Irvine, a certain type of valentine is on her mind almost all the time. She is an artist who specializes in “sailors’ valent…

Profile: Jennifer Burby finds new family life in Boca Grande

December 14, 2023
There is not much good to be said about the recent worldwide COVID pandemic, but at least one person has found a silver lining for that terrible time. She discovered that she could work from home….

Profile: Dr. Patrick Bell, surgeon and woodworker

December 8, 2023
It didn’t take long for Dr. Patrick Bell to fall in love with Boca Grande and all of Gasparilla Island. He came for a weekend visit, and by the third day, he had bought a house and decided this wo…

There she is: Miss America, a nuclear engineer

December 8, 2023
Before her reign as Miss America was to come to an end, a stop in Boca Grande was essential for Grace Stanke. With the help of Diane Cook – Grace’s great-aunt, a Boca Grande resident and a member …