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Featured News

Hardening history for future storms: How much to raise

At its February meeting, the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board reviewed the first case of the elevation of a historic island house to above-flood level. At the meeting, Lee County planner Pete…

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Community

November 3 date set for Light Keeper’s Open

Barrier Island Parks Society has set the date for the return of the Light Keeper’s Open, a charity golf tournament taking place at the Coral Creek Club on November 3. Proceeds will support the…

New petition website to ‘Keep Boca Grande Open’ debuts

A new web petition effort supports keeping Boca Grande parking open to the public. At a recent county meeting, supporters of a change to parking regulations presented their own petition of over 1…

Shop local this holiday in Boca Grande

As the weather heats up, stop in to the cool shops and spend some time checking out the seasonal merchandise available. Shown above: Drea at Boca Grande Outfitters shows off some great t-shirt o…

Education

HCA Florida Englewood Hospital & Wellen Park Emergency School Supply Collection

HCA Florida Englewood Hospital and HCA Florida Wellen Park Emergency are collecting school supplies through July 31 to help local students prepare for the upcoming school year. Community members…

New science teacher at Island School

The Island School has selected Mrs. Anne Smith to serve as the new Reading Intervention/MTSS Coordinator and 5th Grade Science teacher. She will officially start her new position on August 4, 2025. …

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Ellen Thompson

A foundation for Michigan college education Being labeled a visionary is pretty high praise. That’s the word the Detroit News has chosen to describe Ellen Thompson, long-time winter resident of B…

Entertainment

New Gasparilla Magazine on newstands

Featuring Wanamakers, gumbo limbo and Sugarshack The July/August edition of the Boca Beacon’s Gasparilla Island Magazine is out now with new feature stories, recipes, shopping and social pages…

Fourth of July golf cart parade begins in the cool morning

Independence Day is right around the corner, and lineup for Boca Grande’s annual Fourth of July parade begins at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, July 4 in the gravel lot on the side of the Old Theatre Building…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Mr. Market triplets

Dad and kids put together a board game A new finance board game for families, “Mr. Market,” is the creation of a family of longtime Boca Grande regulars. The Jack White family connected to Boca G…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Forristall fleet arrival!

A Boca Grande family celebrates This week, the large extended Forristall family gathered at their cottage on Gasparilla Road. They are one of the many regulars in the Fourth of July parade. They first started coming to the island in 1989. They would stay at the Anchor Inn, or wherever they could find a rental. […]

Sports & Outdoors

Health & Wellness

Ask A Doc: What’s new in Alzheimer’s detection and care

According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s most recent annual report, an estimated 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease – and that number is projected to reach…

Water disenfection process change planned by utility in June

Gasparilla Island Water Association, Inc. will be temporarily changing the disinfection process for its Placida and Boca Grande potable (drinking water) water supply. From June 2, at 7 a.m. through…

Groundbreaking on the Clinic of the Future, with one-year timetable

The Boca Grande Health Clinic of the Future hopes to formally begin construction this month, after a ceremonial groundbreaking last Thursday afternoon, May 1. The groundbreaking included staff…

Honoring the staff at the Boca Grande Health Clinic for Nurses Week

Every year from May 6 to May 12, organizations across the country take time to honor the people who are truly at the heart of patient care: our nurses. National Nurses Week recognizes the vital role…

Police & Fire

Lee County EMS successfully completes national reaccreditation

Lee County Emergency Medical Services has received a full three-year re-accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services. The services provided by the department also are acc…

New BGFD engine helps out on Interstate 75 trooper accident

A new Boca Grande Fire Department engine that will replace the aging Silver King was brought into “service” on its way in to be delivered to Gasparilla Island on Tuesday, July 8. “It got in the m…

Lee County Sheriff Office quiet on enforcement cost

Officers issued over 1,021 citations citations The upcoming Boca Grande parking draft ordinance that will come before the Lee County Commission in August contains numerous references to the Lee…

DeSantis vetoes Boca Grande Fire District Ladder Truck

A $1.5 million appropriations request for a Boca Grande Fire Control District ladder truck replacement was vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday, June 30. “We are disappointed,” said Chief C.W. B…

News Archives

Obituaries

Douglas Regan Sandbo, 1935-2025

Douglas Regan Sandbo, born June 19, 1935, passed away peacefully on July 1, 2025, just days after celebrating his 90th birthday with his entire fami…

Margaret Ringer 1947 – 2025

Margaret Elaine Ringer (formerly Walker, née Tvaroch), 77, of Lake Wales, FL, passed away peacefully on June 6, 2025, surrounded by family. A former…

Helen Beardsley 1928 – 2025

Helen, but everyone called her Nana, mother of Bette Bowen, is once again dancing with her husband. Mom was born and raised in Wisconsin, where s…

Alice Kubista, 1936-2025

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Alice Elizabeth (Maris) Kubista who reunited with our Lord on May 29th, 2025. S…

Zelma Otto, 1926-2025

BY MARCY SHORTUSE Zelma H. Otto, a woman who many on the island fondly call their “second mama,” passed away on March 24, 2025, at the age of 98…