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Featured News

Banyans pruned last week

Crews recently carefully pruned the banyans on Banyan Street, led by Coastline Tree and Lee County’s consultant, Rick Joyce. The pruning was to remove dead branches, and ensure that no parts of tree…

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Community

Blue Gate painter shows here

February 27, 2025

Pictured here, Blue Gate by Neal Hughes. There will be a show of his work at the temporary Hughes Gallery from Monday, March 3 to Friday, March 7. Hughes is a fellow of the American Society of Marin…

Old Theatre Mall fully reopened after 2024 storms

February 27, 2025

Kathleen and J.T. Turner, as well as Betsy F. Joiner are excited to announce the full re-opening of the historic Boca Grande Old Theatre Mall. We are so thankful to have weathered the storms and…

Resident deputy program important to island, Lee County Sheriff’s Office

February 27, 2025

Last week, the Beacon raised the issue of the hurricane-damaged Sheriff’s Cottage in Boca Grande, which had been moved years ago, and may be demolished for a replacement (See Feb. 21 edition for his…

Education

Preschool’s temporary move in process

February 27, 2025

Top, from left, Gabrielle Cunningham, Zachary Cunningham, Kelli Carpenter, Laurie Burnell, Shelley Blankenship, Breon Strickland, Gus Stillwagon, Wendy Kelly, Tiffany Nazzaro and Jackie Eby. Above…

Prep for preschool opening

February 20, 2025

On Tuesday, Kelli Carpenter was out on Park Avenue, taking down the Boca Grande Preschool sign. They are in the midst of a temporary move to Grove City in March. Once there, they will be preparing f…

Preschool sets March date for reopening in Englewood

February 13, 2025

New location is only temporary; school will move back on island BY THE BOCA GRANDE PRESCHOOL Founded in 1989 with the mission of offering a rich learning environment to the young children of…

Entertainment

Economic Summit talks U.S. debt, China relationships and Europe’s failures

February 27, 2025

Many technology features of the Jetsons’ era are now a reality; talk on March 6 Are you concerned about artificial intelligence? Does the United States’ growing debt wake you at 3 a.m.? Do you wo…

Boca Grande’s Got Talent set for March 29

February 27, 2025

Tickets for the Boca Grande’s Got Talent show, sponsored by the Boca Grande Woman’s Club, are available now. The cost is $20 and proceeds will go directly to support BGWC community grants and schola…

Tokyo Cowboy wins Boca Grande Film Fest

February 27, 2025

The 2025 Boca Grande Film Festival has announced its winners, with “Tokyo Cowboy” taking the festival’s highest award. The acclaimed film, which previously won accolades at the Tallgrass, Boston, Se…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: From music to construction

Scott Shute Originally from Illinois, Scott Shute moved to Florida nearly three decades ago in search of new opportunities, trading his guitar for a construction career. Scott was born in Peoria, Illinois, but moved to Florida 29 years ago after unloading a nightclub he and his friends had been running. “My dumb luck,” he said. […]

Sports & Outdoors

Health & Wellness

Heart disease awareness for this February

February 13, 2025

Heart disease is serious, but the good news is that it’s preventable. Making small but meaningful lifestyle changes can protect your heart and improve your overall well-being. This Heart Month, t…

Ask a Doc: Let’s get to the heart of the matter

February 6, 2025

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. According to the American Heart Association, someone dies of heart disease every 34 seconds. That’s nearly 2,500 people every d…

Lee County discontinues adding fluoride to water

February 6, 2025

The Lee Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday voted to discontinue adding fluoride to Lee County Utilities drinking water. Lee County Utilities (LCU) is one of about 10 utility providers…

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…

Police & Fire

Wave makes woman bounce off boat seat

February 27, 2025

Around 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 26 the Boca Grande Fire Department responded to a call of a back injury. A boat had hit a wave and a woman bounced off a seat and hurt her back. “We went out an…

Resident deputy program important to island, Lee County Sheriff’s Office

February 27, 2025

Last week, the Beacon raised the issue of the hurricane-damaged Sheriff’s Cottage in Boca Grande, which had been moved years ago, and may be demolished for a replacement (See Feb. 21 edition for his…

Sheriff Deputy cottage was an early Boca Grande residence

February 20, 2025

Possible demolition for house, outside of official Historic District A once-historic sheriff’s deputy house owned by Lee County is still unrepaired, four months after Hurricane Helene. Currently…

Woman thrown from golf cart on Harbor Drive last Sunday

February 6, 2025

On Sunday on Harbor Drive, a 66-year-old female was injured when she fell off her golf cart. The EMS call at 2:30 p.m. noted that she was knocked out cold for five seconds, and was bleeding from her…

News Archives

Obituaries

Robert Knapp, 1946-2024

There will be a Celebration of Life for the late Robert D. Knapp on Saturday, March 8th, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. The service is at 10 a.m…

Eugene Jacobs, 1936-2025

It is with great sadness that I share the news of my husband’s death with our friends and former neighbors in Boca Grande where we spent thirty-five…

Celebration of Lifefor Pam Hannah

There will be a Celebration of Life for the late Pamela Morris Hannah on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025 at Lighthouse United Methodist Church. The service…

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…