Featured News

A word from local law enforcement: ‘Illegal dumping is a crime we will aggressively enforce’

Illegal dumping is a very real problem everywhere right now, even on Gasparilla Island, and our local law enforcement officers have been actively and aggressively pursuing those who try to get awa…

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Community

Island traditions upheld: Community Tree Lighting, Christmas Walk dates announced

November 18, 2022

While many are still recovering from Hurricane Ian, no mere hurricane can stop the spirit of Boca Grande during the holidays. We may have confused some people with a graphic in last week’s pap…

Island girl gives back with proceeds from shirts featuring storm photo

November 10, 2022

Some people are unforgettable for many different reasons. Some have a radiant smile that just makes you feel better about the day. Others have a gentle, laidback attitude and a listening ear. Stil…

Financial assistance for a fresh start given by Disaster Relief Fund

October 28, 2022

The Boca Grande Disaster Relief Fund handed out its first 23 checks to help businesses and organizations in Boca Grande recover from Hurricane Ian. The amount of the grants is not public informati…

Education

From The Island School … ’tis Bubble Day!

November 4, 2022

By Donna Catanzarite Fifth-grade students at The Island School have been busy investigating physical science. Through a variety of hands-on…

Picking the brain of Roger Lewis … no pun intended

August 26, 2022

Last week the Boca Beacon received an email blast from Marta Howell, executive director of Friends of Boca Grande, announcing a new series called “Roger’s Picks.” It’s a series of talks covering a…

From bare feet to book learnin’: School is back in session at TIS

August 12, 2022

It’s not easy for most kids on the first day back to school … or the first week … sometimes the first month. For teachers the struggle is real as well, but on Wednesday, August 10 all staf…

Entertainment

Bocascopes for the week of 11-25-2022

November 23, 2022

Boca Beacon backpages Aries: “Me” time is a must this week, no matter how dirty the house is or how many relatives are going to smite … I mean, visit you this holiday. That thing you’ve been wa…

Pigskin Pick’em: Week 12

November 23, 2022

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The Boca Beacon’s (not so) Accu-weather forecast

November 23, 2022

Boca Beacon backpages

Featured News, Profiles

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Baby Silas waited for the coast to be clear before making his way into this crazy world

Silas Kai Swartzendruber went through Hurricane Ian in a unique way. He was inside his mother, Nikki Heimann. He was due to be born right around the time the hurricane hit, but for a while it appeared he would come early. In the end, he came almost two weeks late. Silas Kai was born on […]

Sports & Outdoors

Health & Wellness

‘Welcome back to the island’ webinar now available to watch

November 24, 2022

The Grande Rounds health lecture series sponsored by the Boca Grande Health Clinic and the Boca Grande Health Clinic Foundation kicked off the season on November 16 with a recorded webinar to welc…

Cases of the flu, RSV continue to rise as holiday season approaches

November 18, 2022

Influenza is hitting the U.S. unusually early and very hard. The New York Times reports that we are seeing the most hospitalizations at this point in the season in more than a decade, “underscorin…

Red tide, flesh-eating bacteria and more show up in the Ian aftermath, leaving us to wonder … say, Doc? You think that water is safe?

November 4, 2022

By Dr. Raymond James, DO, Boca Grande Health Clinic That is a good question after the storm of the century. And when might it be safe? City Water Everyone who was in Boca after the storm …

Are we okay?Telltale signs of stress tell the story after a traumatic event like Hurricane Ian … particularly regarding our children

November 4, 2022

Many say that the climate of a community is best monitored by the mental health of the children who live there. Are they safe? Are they happy? Do they have plans for their future? Do they have fai…

Police & Fire

Island charter captain’s boat stolen from island

A boat theft from a Gasparilla Island residence turned into a police chase through two counties on Saturday, July 16. The boat was recovered with minor damage and the subject was arrested.Tristan …

Business owners, residents – make sure you are hurricane ready!

With August 1 coming up quickly, that means that the peak of hurricane season is as well. While we are lucky so far in 2022, that doesn’t mean we are out of the woods. In fact, most hurricanes occ…

A visit from the sheriff, a new golf cart for our guys

Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno visited Boca Grande on Thursday, June 30 to speak with local residents. Sheriff Marceno’s top priority of law and order and preserving the “hidden gem” that is …

Boca Grande Fire Department passes inspection with flying colors

The Boca Grande Fire Department has received an outstanding accreditation from the Bureau of Emergency Medical Oversight in the Florida Department of Health’s Division of Emergency Preparedness an…

News Archives

Obituaries

OBITUARY: Catherine Munsell

Catherine Anne Halpin Munsell, 81, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Boca Grande passed away on Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, in Englewood. Cathy was born in …

OBITUARY: Merle “Jean” Moenning

Merle “Jean” Moenning, 88, of Punta Gorda, was born on May 26, 1934, in Vincennes, Indiana to Clark and Dorothy Johnson and passed away into the a…

OBITUARY: Penny Griggs Doerge

Penelope Griggs Doerge, 16, daughter of Chad and Kate Doerge, sister of Henry and Frankie, died at home in Glen Cove, N.Y. surrounded by family an…

CELEBRATION OF LIFE

A memorial service to celebrate Mary Tucker’s life will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 23 at 2 p.m. at the Lighthouse United Methodist Church, 300 Gil…

OBITUARY: Natalie Conklin

Natalie “Pat” O’Brien Conklin passed peacefully on October 9, 2022 in Sarasota, Florida, surrounded by family at the age of 96. She was born in 19…