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2025 4-Digits out now

The eagerly awaited 4-Digit Phone Books are out now. Pick up yours at the Boca Beacon office, 431 Park Ave, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Special parking lot pick up times Tuesday (3/25) or W…

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Community

Green Gala Scavenger Hunt winner

Congratulations to Phil Dreiss for discovering a hidden Castaway Flat Stanley at Barnichol Harware! The BIPS Green Gala Flat Stanley Scavenger Hunt can be played by finding a “Flat Stanley” at a…

Family Story Time at the library

Cousins Tate (19 months) and Ella Bowen (22 months) had a great time at the Johann Fust Library’s Family Story Time with Toni Vanover. Photo by Christine Bowen

First 4-Digit

Susan Carruthers was the first person to receive her 2025 4-Digit directory. Copies can be obtained at the Beacon’s office at 431 Park Ave., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Copies are also a…

Education

Island School 5th Graders highlight Bike Path Safety

March brings gorgeous weather and increased users on the GICIA Bike Path. Working to provide a safe and fun experience for all users, the GICIA has once again partnered with The Island School’s fift…

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…

Entertainment

Kelly Reark shows at Crews Bank

The first thing you notice about Kelly Reark (Borza)’s artwork is her obvious passion for fish and fishing, revealed in stunning detail on a grand scale. She has been an active part of Boca Grande’s…

Young author Hyland signing at the Tide Bookstore

Adeline Hyland, a young author from Chester County, Penn. with family in Boca Grande, will be at The Tide for a book signing on Saturday, March 22 from 1 to 3 p.m. Her new book is Second Start Farm…

Explore Cook, Peary at Fust Library Mar. 27

Are you intrigued by the polar explorers and how the media covered their historical expeditions? On Thursday, March 27, at 4 p.m., the Johann Fust Library Foundation will present a Literary Series E…

IN THE SPOITLIGHT: Sons in the Shadow, a new book by

Roy H. Park Jr. In his new book, Boca Grande resident Roy H. Park Jr. has chronicled the ups and downs of being the son of a television and media baron. The book, “Sons in the Shadow” is subtitled “Surviving the Family Business as an SOB,” or Son of the Boss. Park Jr. comes to […]

Sports & Outdoors

Health & Wellness

Food for thought: Eating well this Nutrition Month?

BY DR. BRET KUEBER, M.D. BOCA GRANDE HEALTH CLINIC Have you ever eaten a light salad for lunch only to raid the cookie jar by 3 p.m.? Have you convinced yourself that coffee counts as breakfast…

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…

Police & Fire

Maintenance break in report

Door pried open On Saturday, Feb. 22, Lee County Deputy David Scozzafava was notified of a burglary at the Boca Bay maintenance building located at 901 Gulf Boulevard. According to an official…

Fire Department to host second annual Putting Around Boca Grande

Benefits new equipment The Boca Grande Fire Department is once again holding its Putting Around Boca Grande open house on April 5. The Fire Department is raising money to replenish trucks, equipm…

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…

News Archives

Obituaries

Lemuel ‘Phil’ Woods 1932-2025

Capt. Lemuel “Phil” Woods, a lifelong sportsman, accomplished angler, avid golfer and devoted family man passed away peacefully on March 13, 2025, i…

Frank ‘Skip’ McKean, 1929-2025

Frank H. “Skip” McKean, 95, formerly of Fox Chapel, PA, Boca Grande, FL and Castine, ME, passed away peacefully, with his family at his side on Satu…

Robert Horgan, 1943-2024

Robert (Bob) W. Horgan was born in Boston, Massachusetts on September 18, 1943, to Doris P. Horgan and Leo J. Horgan. He died on July 29, 2024, at M…

James F. Carlin 1940-2025

James F. Carlin, of Boca Grande, FL, and Newport, RI, passed away on March 2, 2025, in Newport, Rhode Island. Adored and adoring husband of Brenda (…

James C. Barany, 1935-2025

James “Jim” Carroll Barany, born December 8, 1935, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully on February 2, 2025, in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, wi…