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State reopens parking lot at south end

Gasparilla Island State Park reopened its Dune parking area near the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse on Wednesday, April 23. Previously, the Range Light, Sea Grape and Sea Wall beach access areas had been open. The park is in the process of beach renourishment; much of the park remains blocked off. Port Boca Grande Lighthouse at […]

This date in the Boca Beacon

FIVE YEARS AGO COVID-19 was in full swing and the World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament for 2020 had been canceled. TEN YEARS AGO The Downtown Beautification Project continued with three benches with palms and bamboo plantings alongside them on both sides of the Post Office. sFIFTEEN YEARS AGO The pain was felt by anyone trying to […]

Laser regatta season winners

Competitors in the April 6, 2025 BSYC “Island Championship” are (L to R): Mark Rickenbaugh, Oakley Johnson, Lee Edwards, Nat Leonard, Steve Brink, Sam Howe – Commodore, Bill Ewing, Tom Wilcox, Henry Becton, John Foster, Tom Kimmel and Eric Holch. Patty Brink and Sue Ewing acted as race officers. Final outcome for Group A was […]

BRIEFS: Bridge meeting; burn ban

Bridge meeting  The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority Board of Supervisors will be conducting a Finance Committee meeting on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at 1 p.m. in the GIBA administration building. Agenda topics include long-term cash flow projections.  The board will also be conducting a Quarterly Board Meeting on Wednesday April 23, 2025, at 1 p.m. […]

Donation aids Range Light

Just after a check donation this week from the Boca Grande Disaster Fund to benefit Barrier Island Parks Society, Charles Nadler observes as BIPS President Crossan Seybolt looks at the Range Light with Larry Hannah of the Fund.   Photo by Anna 

Fund announced for deputy house

The Boca Grande Disaster Fund is announcing the fundraising for a new home to be built for deputies working in Boca Grande. After Hurricane Milton, the existing 1920s Florida Cracker home located at 305 Wheeler Road was completely destroyed and condemned. The critical need is to have Lee County deputies living on the island as […]

Town Park restoration begins Easter Monday

BY THE GICIA  The Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association (GICIA) will start restoring the Town Park between 3rd and 5th Streets, beginning on Monday. Stormwater intrusion from both Helene and Milton damaged and killed much of the vegetation along the five miles of Bike Path. The Town Park is a highly visible and extensively […]

Parking code change allows Health Clinic to move forward

After an April 15 code amendment for parking requirements for historic districts, Boca Grande Health Clinic will be able to break ground on their new Annex project in May. “The good news is that they adjusted it,” said Mark Driscoll, the clinic’s chief executive officer. On April 15, 2025, Lee County’s Board of County Commissioners […]

Southwest Florida Honor Flight: A veteran’s perspective here 

BY AMANDA MOCANU, SENIOR MASTER SERGEANT (E-8), USAF, RET On April 8, 2025, my husband Brandon and I were among over 100 southwest Florida veterans blessed to fly on Southwest Florida Honor Flight’s Mission XXII to Washington, D.C., to see the memorials. Brandon and I both served 20 years in the Air Force (‘92-‘12 and […]