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Business and Real Estate: Water Authority elects new officers, announces treatment improvements

The Gasparilla Island Water Association (GIWA) held its Annual Membership Meeting at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church on Jan. 21. The agenda focused on the organization’s recovery efforts following Hur…

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Community

Send us Love Lines

January 30, 2025

February is almost here and it’s time to start writing your Valentines. The Valentines can be to the person you love, or anything or situation that needs some love. If you want to submit a Love Line…

4-Digit deadline Friday

January 30, 2025

Get us your updated address for the 4-Digit Phone Book. Email info@bocabeacon.com or call us at 941-964-2995.

No Bike Parade this year

January 30, 2025

Goodbye to a longtime family spring break tradition, at least this year. There will be no Spring Bike Path Parade or Spring Fair, according to the Boca Grande Woman’s Club. The Boca Grande Woman’…

Education

Preschool finds temporary location on Placida Road

January 23, 2025

The Boca Grande Preschool has secured a temporary location in Grove City, on Placida Road. The Preschool expects to open as soon as possible at its Grove City location. The building is a former…

‘Suite Life’ of learning on the ocean for local student

January 23, 2025

Back in college in Tampa after expedition Kylie Robbins grew up in and around Boca Grande, but last fall she was far from home during her Semester at Sea that she spent traveling around the world…

Letters: The Island School Chowder Dinner digs thank yous

January 23, 2025

To the Editor: We raised over $32,000 at the 9th Annual Chowder Dinner this past Friday! We couldn’t have done it without the support of our community! A big thank you to Gasparilla Inn for hosti…

Entertainment

New Florida nonfiction

January 30, 2025

Some new Florida books: “Alligator Tears” by Edgar Gomez Orlando author Edgar Gomez writes a memoir-in-essays recounting his life lessons in Florida, beginning with the survival tactic…

Bestselling authors coming to Lee County

January 30, 2025

Romance novelist Debbie Macomber popular highlight Twenty-five acclaimed and bestselling authors are coming to Lee County to connect with fans and sign books at the 26th Annual Southwest Florida…

Here’s your lineup for the 2025 Boca Grande Film Festival

January 30, 2025

Get ready, film lovers – the wait is over! The Boca Grande Film Festival is bringing you an unforgettable lineup of cinematic magic. From thought-provoking dramas to breathtaking documentaries, eigh…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Hometown son … Mike Nabers

No one can regale you with a good story like a fisherman, unless it’s a boat captain. Boca Grande is a mecca for such storytellers, and Mike Nabers is one of the best. Besides his exploits on the water, Mike’s stories include his rare Boca Grande heritage, which goes back farther than most: five or […]

Sports & Outdoors

Health & Wellness

Lee Commissioners’ item to address parking minimums

January 30, 2025

The Lee Board of County Commissioners will hold a regular meeting at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4. On the agenda is an item to authorize land development code amendments for parking requirements in…

Lee staff proactively working on Clinic parking issue, Ruane says

January 23, 2025

Lee County Commissioner Kevin Ruane raised a commissioner’s item during the regular Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 21, regarding an upcoming Boca Grande Health Clinic zoning…

Boca Grande Health Clinic letter: Reflecting on a year of resilience and progress

January 23, 2025

BY MARK DRISCOLL, CEO BOCA GRANDE HEALTH CLINIC As we step into the new year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the incredible strides we made together in 2024. This past year tested our resili…

Hearing Examiner zoning case for Health Clinic Annex building

January 16, 2025

The Lee County Hearing Examiner is set at press-time to hear a zoning case regarding the Boca Grande Health Clinic’s new annex at 9 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 23. The hearing, in Ft. Myers, is regarding…

Police & Fire

Escape room tight-space fire training

January 30, 2025

Boca Grande firefighters, including Lt. Jason Hutchinson, pictured here, trained in simulated tight spaces at the Boca Grande Fire Department on Monday, Jan. 27. Firefighters practiced crawling…

Pit bull attacks golden retriever on beach; family hurt in rescue

January 23, 2025

On Sunday, near 14th Street, an unknown pit bull attacked an island golden retriever. The dog was rebuffed by an 18-year-old girl and her father, according to a Lee County Sheriff’s Department Repor…

Sheriff blotter: PayPal fraud and kayak launch fly theft

January 23, 2025

Old Florida Fly Shop items of $900 value An attempted fraud was foiled by the counsel of a grandchild. At 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 17, Deputy Nick Garber with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office res…

Roofer nails his hand to wood shingles

January 23, 2025

Worker stuck to roof until EMS extrication Last Friday, Jan. 17, a nail gun shot a nail through the hand of a roof carpenter on 19th Street. Lee County EMS was called to the scene at 9 a.m. The e…

News Archives

Obituaries

Shep Hermann 1952-2024

Shep Hermann passed away peacefully at his home in St. Louis, MO on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, fortified with the sacraments of the Holy Mother Ch…

David A. Galliher 1932-2025

David A. Galliher passed away peacefully on January 23, 2025 after a short battle with cancer. He was 92 years old. David was born on April 17th, 19…

Kent Bonney 1940-2025

Kent L. Bonney of Chatham, Massachusetts, passed away on January 14, 2025, having lived his 84 years to the fullest. Born in Mount Kisco, New York i…

Edison Paxton 1940-2024

Edison “Ed” Paxton passed at the age of 84. Survived by his daughters Lorraine (Dan) Lietz, Amy (Mark) Doyle and sister Mary Ellen Phillips. He was…

JoAnn Carol Barwick 1930-2024

JoAnn Carol Ridgeway Barwick, aged 94, a cherished mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend passed away unexpectedly but peacefully on Dec…