Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Community History, News.
There was a rivalry between The Gasparilla Inn and the Boca Grande Hotel for some time. They tended to attract much of the same clientele, but there were differences. It is said that Spadaro decided to invest in Boca Grande when he and his wife were excluded from the Inn’s dining room because of the way they were dressed, even though they had the financial wherewithal to pay for anything they wanted.
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
Donovan, who vacations in Boca Grande, will discuss finding common discourse through difficult dialog. We are living in a time of great discord making it hard to sustain the ties of civility which bind our nation together. Polarization is a caustic emotional state, and a major contributor to our spiritual and mental fragility. This talk will highlight the underlying issues in the current ideological division, its consequences and its potential for reversal.
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
The Boca Economics Group is back at 3 p.m. on Thursday, March 2, armed with their crystal balls and plenty of educated insights into the current and future state of the world. “We’ll be addressing a wide spectrum of economic, social and geopolitical issues, all of which have the potential to impact our economy in […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, News.
The GICIA is holding an island-wide cleanup on Saturday morning, March 18. Hurricane Ian dealt Boca Grande a major blow and debris from its unrelenting winds still litters our island home. The Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association is calling on residents to volunteer a couple of hours to help remove unsightly debris. Hurricane […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
You don’t have to be silent when visiting the big tent with the auction items at the 2023 United Methodist Women’s annual Strawberry Festival on Saturday March 4. In fact, the Silent Auction Committee is hoping for a lot of positive comments as visitors examine and bid on more than 60 items on display. […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
The Johann Fust Library Foundation is excited to present accomplished songwriter and author Layng Martine, Jr., who will speak in the library loggia on Friday, March 10, 2023, at 4 p.m. Layng’s story is an inspiring one. His book, “Permission to Fly,” is a captivating blend of humor, love, and humanity. In 2007, he wrote an essay for the New York Times’ “Modern Love” column titled “In a Charmed Life, a Road Less Traveled.” It was the most shared piece in the column’s history. Layng wrote about his and his wife Linda’s life since she was paralyzed in a car accident. The enormous response to that essay inspired him to write his memoir.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
It took a minute, but the kayak launch at 19th Street is back in business! The launch, part of the Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail (a 190-mile marked canoe and kayak trail that meanders through the coastal and inland waters of Lee County) had originally been altered with large river rock and railroad ties to […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Obituaries.
On February 17, 2023, Harry Childs’ daughter went into his room and opened the window to let a breeze in. A 1950s hymnal selection was playing in the background. A song called “Here I am, Lord” came on as she left the room and attended to other things. When she came back, Harry had apparently […]
Written by Delores Savas on . Posted in Columns, Editorial.
“Most whales and dolphins will be subjected to 3.5 million instances of temporary and/or permanent hearing loss. For species that depend on hearing for survival, to find food, migrate and communicate, any hearing loss could be catastrophic. As, one scientist noted, a deaf whale is a dead whale.” -Pierce Bronson, actor and environmentalist Many readers may recall the […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Boca Beacon Back Pages.