Sports & Outdoors
Bear Hunting Zones results released for Florida season harvest
January 2, 2026
After FWC staff presented options on highly regulated black bear hunting and the public provided their comments at the August and November 2025 Commission meetings, FWC Commissioners approved final…
Waif turtle sites funding offered by state
January 2, 2026
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Wildlife Diversity Conservation Section is now offering habitat management assistance funding opportunities for the 2025-2026 fiscal year…
Lightning whelk in Florida history talk
January 2, 2026
Dr. Michelle Calhoun, Archaeologist, will be discussing “The Role of the Lightning Whelk in Florida History” on Monday, Jan. 19 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Manasota Beach Club, 7660 Manasota Key Ro…
Corkscrew Swamp will open new Discovery Center in February
January 2, 2026
Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Spurlino Foundation Discovery Center on Tuesday, Feb. 3, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the sanctuary, 375 Sanctuary Road. The…
Calusa Blueway speaker series begins on Tuesday, Jan. 6
January 2, 2026
Kayaking the Everglades is the first talk in a series of free Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail-related programs set for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, at the Wa-Ke Hatchee Recreation Center, 16760 Bass Roa…
Watchful Banyan Street owl
December 18, 2025
A reader out working on island sent us this photo of an owl on Banyan Street on Wednesday. Indeed there were two in the trees; he also got a video for our Beacon Facebook page. …
Blueway Trails Talk
December 18, 2025
Liz Eastes is a Marine Environmental Specialist with Charlotte County and will be giving a lecture on the Blueway Trails of Charlotte County, and artificial reefs on Friday, Jan. 9 from 10:30 a.m. t…
Lock schedule listed
December 18, 2025
The South Gulf Cove Lock holiday schedule is as follows:
Christmas Eve – Normal business hours 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Christmas Day, Dec 25, 2025 will be unmanned.
Water Management plan expects 27 percent user increase by 2045
December 18, 2025
The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s Governing Board approved the 2025 Regional Water Supply Plan (RWSP) on Dec. 16. The District’s RWSP provides a framework for future water management…
Landscaping installed along Gasparilla Road
December 18, 2025
Charlotte County adds plantings along 771
Over the past several weeks, crews from Brightview Landscaping Services, Inc. have been working to install the final landscaping elements in the medi…











