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New FDEP plumbing rules may affect some island residents

BY JACK SHORT The Gasparilla Island Water Association would like people to be aware that rules, whose formation began in 1992, have gone into effect that may affect some of their stakeholders on the island. According to a GIWA representative, the rules, developed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, determine the kinds of backflow-prevention […]

Florida Warbirds Squadron: Taking to the skies over Boca Grande

BY CAROLINE CLABAUGH Having two very important veterans in my life, my father, retired LT Col. Edward “Shorty” Livingston and my husband, former Air Force, Airman First Class, Mark Clabaugh; I jumped at the chance to ride along with EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) Florida Warbirds Squadron 24 to salute our troops and veterans to open […]

Haag team takes first in Gasparilla Island Kids Classic

BY MARCY SHORTUSE There were 120 excited kids in Boca Grande Pass on Saturday, June 6, all waiting to catch that winning silver king in the Grande Aire Gasparilla Island Kids Classic.Capt. Matt Haag and his team, which included Megan Huer, Jack Allgeier and Sean Hyer, came out the winners when the tournament ended. They […]

GIWA and CCU: A look at our water (Part II of our series)

BY JACK SHORT Last week we published part one of our analysis of Consumer Confidence Reports, particularly those issued by the Gasparilla Island Water Association and Charlotte County Utilities. As we said last week, Consumer Confidence Reports measure levels of contaminants in drinking water. Contaminant levels detected fell far below maximum levels set by the […]

Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority Revised Bridge Opening Schedule

The revised seven (7) day a week opening schedule for the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority Swing Bridge is as follows: The bridge will open to vessel traffic on the hour from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Open 4 p.m., 6 p.m., and 8 p.m. and Resume on the hour openings after 8 p.m. This revised […]

Delays to be expected when crossing the Boca Grande Causeway on Friday

On Friday, May 29 between the hours of 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. there will be limited and/or no power to the bridge or toll booth, as the electric lines to the new tender house will be energized. According to administrators with the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority, during the outage tolls will continue to be […]

Fires around the island, vandalism at South Beach reported

Several incidents kept area firefighters busy over the Memorial Day weekend, but none of them were on Gasparilla Island. We did have one crime report, though. On the afternoon of Saturday, May 23 firefighters from Charlotte County were battling a brush fire that burned more than 100 acres just northwest of Coral Creek Golf Course […]

The land of shamrocks and leprechauns: Ireland

BY JEAN NETHERY The Beacon welcomes back our occasional writer, Jean Nethery, who is writing this time about Ireland. This is part one in a two part series. As our Boeing 757 touched down on the Dublin runway I could almost hear the angels singing “When Irish eyes are smiling, sure ‘tis like a morn […]