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New Florida fiction

Some new Florida books: “State of Paradise” by Laura van den Berg   In a small Florida town, a ghostwriter navigates a surreal summer filled with missing people, a mysterious virtual reality device from a company called ELECTRA and eerie changes in her own life, including family secrets and a bizarre physical transformation. When her […]

‘Ten Restaurants That Changed America’ at Friends lecture

BY FRIENDS OF BOCA GRANDE Join the Friends on Friday, January 10, at 4:30 p.m. at St. Andrew’s for a lecture by Yale Professor Paul Freedman on his book, “Ten Restaurants That Changed America.” This lecture explores not the ten best restaurants, but rather ten influential establishments that, through their history and impact on themes […]

American Glory passing Boca Grande Lighthouse

The coastal catamaran American Glory arrived in Boca Grande Pass on its Florida Gulf Coast and Keys Cruise on New Year’s Day. They run through March. She has capacity for 100 guests, and is part of American Cruise Lines, which has American flagged ships exploring the U.S. The vessel was built in 2023. Photos by […]

The GICIA celebrates 40th anniversary of island’s cherished Bike Path

BY MISTY NICHOLSEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association (GICIA) is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the cherished GICIA Bike Path. Originally opened on February 23, 1985, the path was created from the former Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railway right of way, thanks to the generosity of the Bayard and Hugh Sharp families […]

Scholarship reminder

The Scholarship Committee of the Boca Grande Woman’s Club is accepting scholarship applications. Applicants for the program must meet the following criteria: 1. Have applied for admission to a school of higher education. 2. Demonstrate a high school grade point average of B or better. 3. Reside in Boca Grande, or be the child or […]

Girl goes missing on beach, found quickly by deputies

Last Thursday, Dec. 26 a six-year-old girl was missing for about 15 minutes after being seen walking northbound of 1st Street and Gilchrist Avenue.  The girl was found safely in about 15 or 20 minutes. She reportedly wandered up the beach, where she was found. “They found her pretty quickly thank goodness,” Boca Grande Fire […]

Busy December for Causeway crossings

The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority will have final year-end numbers from the bridge at the end of this week; so far, the December traffic count is up about 1,000 from December 2023.  “We average about 93,000 vehicles each December,” wrote Executive Director Kathy Banson in an update to the Beacon. “Through last Thursday (12/26) our […]

Get your 4-Digit listing updated for 2025

It’s the time of year to check on and update your listing in the 4-Digit Phone Book.  Since 1991, the Boca Beacon has published this reference text, one of the last remaining residential phone books in the U.S., which were once ubiquitous. Do you have a new number? Do you want to switch to or […]

Pink pachyderm in the Gulf sunset

On Saturday, Dec. 28, a pink elephant appeared in the clouds. The view was looking west across the Gulf in south Boca Grande. The photo was caught by Erin Reid, daughter-in-law of Boca Grande residents Randy and Karen Reid.                                  […]