Sports & Outdoors
To DEET or not to DEET … that is the question
October 1, 2021
Developed by the U.S. Army in 1946, DEET is a synthetic chemical that provides one to six hours of total protection against mosquitoes. DEET has been used by hundreds of millions of people with an e…
The ‘do’s’ and ‘don’t’ of spearfishing around Gasparilla Island
September 10, 2021
Just before our most recent bout of red tide the Boca Beacon received reports of several individuals spearfishing at the end of Belcher Road and in other locations around the south end, and two of t…
Fred was a dud, Grace got lost … what’s next?
August 20, 2021
While Fred came and went with a whimper, and Tropical Storm Grace turned into Hurricane Grace but decided to visit Mexico, Gasparilla Island has received more rain from afternoon thunderstorms than…
Storm season is right for kite surfing Gasparilla Sound
August 20, 2021
Tami and Ralph Bellon kite together in Gasparilla Sound locally but the couple travels literally to where the wind takes them. “We love all the diverse walks of life that kitesurfing appeals to. We…
While Englewood suffers from massive fish kill, our island is hit-and-miss with red tide
August 6, 2021
As the water heats up and the rains start coming more frequently, we all start to get nervous about our old nemsis named red tide. For weeks we had been hearing about the problems Tampa Bay was havi…
Golf cart protocol: It does exist
July 30, 2021
This has been a busy time for local deputies, as visitors and homeowners seem to be staying longer into the year, and quite often bringing children with them. While we all love kids, and Boca Grande…
COME OUT FROM THE INSIDE TO BREATHE THE AIR … Stop stressing and get into some ecotherapy
July 30, 2021
Did you know that the average American spends eleven hours per day on a screen and more than 90 percent of their lives indoors? The 1998 film “Hope Floats” highlights her character being admonished…
CHNEP breaks down what macroalgae is all about
July 30, 2021
A three-day workshop was recently held locally to discuss a growing problem in Florida, excessive macroalgae. The workshop focused on the estuaries of the four National Estuary Program entities in F…
A study in sea cow mortality for 2021 shows a disturbing picture
July 16, 2021
The death toll for the first half of 2021 is greater than it was in the entirety of previous years
While natural selection does play a part in the lifespan of all species in nature, the record-br…
Profile: Capt. Chad Bombenger
July 16, 2021
The first Jay Joiner Memorial Belt Buckle was given out the year after he passed away, in 1993. The buckle is engraved with an eagle, which represents the best fisherman nature has to offer, and a r…