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Disaster Fund now at $3.4 million; island biz, orgs get counsel

The Island Disaster Fund has already given $1.8 million away to aid the quick reopening and rebuilding of businesses and organizations on Gasparilla Island. As of this week, they have raised $3.35…

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Community

Give a Boca Beacon Christmas gift

November 28, 2024

A gift that keeps on giving. It’s that time of year when we give gifts to people we love and appreciate. What better gift than a subscription to the Boca Beacon? It comes in several flavors. The p…

Disaster Fund now at $3.4 million; island biz, orgs get counsel

November 28, 2024

The Island Disaster Fund has already given $1.8 million away to aid the quick reopening and rebuilding of businesses and organizations on Gasparilla Island. As of this week, they have raised $3.35…

Gasparilla Magazine offers falconry, palmettos and Mackle brothers

November 28, 2024

The new November/December edition of the Boca Beacon’s Gasparilla Island Magazine is out with new feature stories, recipes, shopping and social pages. The cover depicts the Boca Grande Range Li…

Education

Lemon Bay theatre brings down the house

November 28, 2024

Lemon Bay High School theatre cast (right) performed “Catch Me If You Can” to a packed house. Tristen Sasser and Makaila Lindsey (left) are putting their best foot forward. Additional plays an…

Boca Grande preschool update

November 28, 2024

Alternative temporary sites are being considered for the Boca Grande Preschool after suffering major damage from Hurricanes Milton and Helene, said Preschool Director Kellene Carpenter. “These …

Scholarship reminder

November 21, 2024

The Scholarship Committee of the Boca Grande Woman’s Club will be accepting scholarship applications starting November 1, 2024, for the 2025-26 school year. Applicants for the program must meet th…

Entertainment

Lemon Bay theatre brings down the house

November 28, 2024

Lemon Bay High School theatre cast (right) performed “Catch Me If You Can” to a packed house. Tristen Sasser and Makaila Lindsey (left) are putting their best foot forward. Additional plays an…

Englewood Invitational Fall Art Festival this weekend

November 28, 2024

Jewelry, watercolors, oils The Englewood Invitational Fall Art Festival is slated for Thanksgiving weekend, Saturday and Sunday, November 30 and December 1. The annual art show, to be held on t…

Christmas Tree Lighting on Dec. 8

November 28, 2024

The annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, sponsored by the Boca Grande Woman’s Club, will be held on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 5 p.m. Unfortunately, the tree across from Hudson’s did not survive Hurricanes H…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Our staff writer Sheila Evans tells of being thankful after storms

Sometimes thankfulness comes easily. Other times it is harder to see the blessings, especially when they come wrapped in traumatic events. Nearly everyone in and around Boca Grande can identify with this circumstance, especially following the whiplash we have experienced from our two recent hurricanes. I have been asked to share my journey of gratitude […]

Sports & Outdoors

Health & Wellness

Winds help keep red tide at bay

November 28, 2024

Experts are still watching red tide, but with winds, and cooler weather, the area may escape a bad season. The Calusa WaterKeepers have been seeing fluxtuating results for red tide amounts, sai…

Good news on levels of red tide this week

November 14, 2024

Red tide conditions in the surrounding waters of Boca Grande have had slight changes shown by recent testing results. State testing had determined the presence of red tide had decreased dramatical…

Health Clinic returns to full operations Nov. 11

November 7, 2024

The Boca Grande Health Clinic will resume full operations beginning Monday, Nov. 11, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. A physician is on duty after hours on weekends and holidays by phone. Call 941-96…

Ask a Doc: Trouble breathing? Respiratory illnesses & hurricane cleanup

November 7, 2024

As we settle into November here in Boca Grande, the challenges of hurricane recovery are matched by the need to stay vigilant about our health. The Boca Grande Health Clinic is already busy with c…

Police & Fire

Sheriff blotter: Yogi on loose and Yeti elusive

November 28, 2024

On Friday, Nov. 22, an incident was reported of a loose dog on Palm Avenue and Fourth Street, according to a Lee County Sheriff’s incident report. A dog named Leroy that lives on Damfiwill Str…

Milton tees to benefit BGFD

November 21, 2024

Shirts featuring hand-drawn art by local artist Olivia Craig are being sold on Etsy to benefit the Boca Grande Fire Department. The shirts were created in collaboration with Chief C.W. Blosser …

Report of stolen picnic table after hurricane blowout

October 31, 2024

On Tuesday, Oct. 15, Precinct Deputy Angelo Lanni responded to Gulf Boulevard in reference to a report of a stolen picnic table, according to the police report. As a result of hurricane Milton, a …

Boca Grande Fire Department landscaping gets a boost

October 31, 2024

Brent Benson donated his hurricane check and landscape work to the Boca Grande Fire Department. The project took four full days, and he finished on Monday, Oct. 28. He runs Artisan Landscaping and…

News Archives

Obituaries

Margaret Flynn 1921-2024

Margaret Mary (Marge) Loviner Flynn, 102, of Hudson, Ohio died peacefully on November 20, 2024, one month shy of her 103rd birthday. Marge was bor…

Robert N. Elwell 1942-2024

The Beacon has learned that Rob Elwell, born in Washington D.C. to Robert Newell and Mary Morrill Elwell during the war on November 24, 1942, died…

Bob Edic remembered

The family of Robert (Bob) Edic invites you to join them in the celebration of his life on Saturday, Nov. 16 from 2 to 4 p.m., at Gulf Cove Park 5…

Priscilla Masselink 1957-2024

Priscilla Pope Masselink died on August 12, 2024 at her home in Sorrento, Maine after a 20-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Priscilla was 67 y…

Bette Gallagher 1929 – 2024

Bette Joan (Davis) Gallagher, 95, of Augusta, Michigan died peacefully at home on Tuesday, October 22, 2024. Bette was born July 20, 1929, in Detr…