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Opinion

Take advantage of the low tide, and chilly water

January 22, 2026
Several people have asked me about our extremely low tides recently. I’ll try to help you understand what creates them. First, of course, is the moon. Both the full and new moons exert strong influe…

Subsidiarity and the noisy leaf blower

January 22, 2026
The United States is living in two worldviews these days. As the late Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams would say, we are each living in two different movies. As a local newspaper, the issues we cover…

EcoWatch: Clean Water Act needs your support – get involved

January 22, 2026
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. It is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead (1901–1978) American Cultural Anthropologist, author and p…

SW Florida Fishing: January fishing … quiet sometimes …

January 22, 2026
BY CAPT. JOE LECLAIR With the weather in early January absolutely perfect the water temps shot back up. The snook and tarpon started gorging on all the small bait and the action was awesome. The…

SW Florida Fishing: The redfish bite is on…

January 22, 2026
BY CAPT. WILL WATERHOUSE Redfish have been the story of the backcountry this week here around Gasparilla Island and the bite has been hot. If you like to target redfish you are in luck. Lots o…

History: Working the railroad, Charlotte Harbor to Arcadia 

January 15, 2026
Above, workers on the Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railroad, from the Historical Society archives. The railroad was originally along the beach. BGHS photo JAMES BLAHA, BOCA GRANDE HISTORICAL SOC…

Remembering the railroad bascule bridge removal 

January 15, 2026
Above, a 1980s photo of what is believed to be the bridge in New York. Readers can help us by remembering where it might have been placed, and if it is still there. Boca Beacon archives  BY JAME…

Many more blue dolpins patrolling in the chill ahead

January 15, 2026
The dolphins were out and the mullet were jumping this weekend on the north end of the island. It was about as perfect weather as we could hope for in January before the cold front rolls in this…

EcoWatch: 2026 Year of the Horse … or is it?

January 15, 2026
“No,” he said, “that is more than a horse can understand, but the enemy must have been awfully wicked people, if it was right to go all that way over the sea on purpose to kill them.” Anna Sewell…

Letters: Gasparilla Island Conservation District Act asks formal public input 

January 8, 2026
To the Editor: Monday’s conflict resolution meeting between Lee and Charlotte County over the Lee parking ordinance was the shortest political meeting I’ve ever attended. What? 20-some minutes IN…