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Where are the $igns to our $leepy little town?

While there is no official plan for parking for Boca Grande from Lee County, county officials are already circulating a draft list of ideas for this island and parking. The Beacon is sorting throu…

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Community

Merchants hold impromtu meetup on parking

A dozen local retailers and officials came to a meeting to discuss possible parking restrictions in Boca Grande on Monday, July 8 at the Boca Grande Community Center. There was some confusion …

Charlotte meeting to discuss Boca Grande crosswalk

The Charlotte County Commission has scheduled a workshop at 9 a.m., Tuesday, July 16, in Room 119 of the Charlotte County Administration Center, 18500 Murdock Circle in Port Charlotte. Discussions…

Appointment to Street & Drainage

The Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners on June 28 appointed Robin Grace to the Boca Grande Street & Drainage Advisory Board. The appointment is effective immediately and will expir…

Education

Preschool graduation celebrated

The Boca Grande Preschool held its graduation on Thursday, May 30. Twelve preschoolers graduated to kindergarten as family and friends gathered in the Parish Life Center. Each student was presente…

Boca Grande Woman’s Club Scholarships

The Boca Grande Woman’s Club Scholarship Committee representatives Sue Ewing and JoAnn Welch (shown at right) with scholarship recipients Jason Hutchison, Boca Grande Fire Department, and Cara Ono…

New third grade teacher named forThe Island School, Mrs. Kristen Maitland-Shank

Mrs. Kristen Maitland-Shank has been selected to serve as the new third-grade teacher for The Island School. Mrs. Shank is incredibly passionate about teaching and holds a Bachelor of Science i…

Entertainment

Gasparilla Mallet Club Celebrated National Croquet Day

Gasparilla Mallet Club Celebrated National Croquet Day. Although most of the members of the Gasparilla Mallet Club already headed for summer pastures, they still had a few players assemble to cele…

Gator Camp BBQ

Caroline Clabaugh won ribs from Gator Wilderness Camp School of Punta Gorda at the Englewood Florida Chamber of Commerce June Fun After Hours. They were picked up for a Pre-Fourth of July lunch fo…

Red, White and Blue Parade

On July 4th an estimated 2,000 showed up for the annual Golf Cart Parade. See here for more photos. &…

Police & Fire, Profiles

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: New at the Boca Grande Fire Department, Gavin Morley

Gavin Morley is among the newest members of the Boca Grande Fire Department. He is not a rookie at firefighting though, since he served on the Charlotte County Fire Department for five years, following in his father’s footsteps. “When I first visited here, I saw everyone training as a group and working out as a […]

Sports & Outdoors

Health & Wellness

EcoWatch: Toxic sunscreens are harmful to our oceans

“Sunscreen is a surprising culprit of ocean pollution, and one that’s getting the attention it deserves. Not only are the chemicals in sunscreens damaging to marine life and reefs but they’re also…

Ask a Doc: The Pros and Cons of Electrolyte Beverages

BY DR. BRET KUEBER, M.D. As an avid sportsman and a strong believer in the power of healthy living, I sometimes get questions about the role of electrolyte beverages in maintaining optimal hydr…

Record breaking season at Boca Grande Health Clinic

By MARK DRISCOLL As the pace slows down on the Island, the Boca Grande Health Clinic wraps up an extraordinarily busy season marked by record-setting patient engagements. • Patient Visits: W…

Boca Grande Health Clinic kicks off National Nurses Week with giant card

The Boca Grande Health Clinic kicked off National Nurses Week (May 6 to 12) with a surprise presentation of giant greeting cards signed by members of the community expressing their gratitude. …

Police & Fire

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: New at the Boca Grande Fire Department, Gavin Morley

Gavin Morley is among the newest members of the Boca Grande Fire Department. He is not a rookie at firefighting though, since he served on the Charlotte County Fire Department for five years, foll…

Propeller strike highlights dangerous boating weekend

Useppa assists in boat resembling beached whale Area fire and EMS had a busy afternoon last Saturday, June 22, with calls of an overturned boat in the pass and a prop strike. The Boca …

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: From Beach Rescue to Boca Grande, Sarah Cislo, firefighter

Sarah Cislo grew up with sisters, but she seems to have a good handle on working in what is usually a “man’s world.” Sarah is one of two new firefighters at the Boca Grande Fire Department. She is…

Testing emergency prep at BGFD

The Boca Grande Fire Department held a hurricane training session for island organization leaders on Thursday, June 13. Leaders from the Health Clinic, the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority, The …

News Archives

Obituaries

Robert Coerver Jr. 1938-2024

Robert Albert Coerver Jr. Born Nov. 24, 1933 in Phoenix, Arizona; died April 8, 2024 in Boca Grande. Starting in 1938, my family moved every ye…

Nicholas Kaiser 1933-2024

SUBMITTED BY THE KAISER FAMILY Our Dad sadly left us. Nicholas Thomas Kaiser passed away on 5 June, 2024. He was 90. Nick was born on December…

Harold Russell 1935-2024

Harold Russell passed away on June 13, 2024, surrounded by family members. Harold grew up in Chicago, graduating from Yale University with a BA…

Sandra Kinder Bertsch 1941-2024

Sandra “Sandy” Kinder Bertsch, 82, passed away on May 31, 2024, after a short but courageous battle with cancer. Born on November 15, 1941, in Har…

John Irving Welch 1933-2024

John Irving Welch of Boca Grande and formerly of St. Petersburg, Florida, passed away peacefully on June 2, 2024, at the age of 91. John was b…