Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Education.
This coming Wednesday, join in celebrating The Island School 5th grade graduates as the golf cart parade makes its way through town. The parade will take place on May 28 between 11:45 a.m. to noon to celebrate the students’ accomplishments. As horns signal their arrival, show your support for our students by stepping outside and […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Community History.
Looking back into previous Boca Beacon issues: FIVE YEARS AGO: The Seagate Development Group was reconstructing the pier accessible to the Hill Tide Estates. The pier used to be an old oil dock. TEN YEARS AGO: FPL was replacing utility poles along Gasparilla Road near 18th Street with more resilient poles, rated to winds up […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Uncategorized.
The last day of the blue food barrels for Boca Grande on island was Monday, May 19. Jane Caple thanks all for their support for the homeless in Englewood through Englewood Helping Hand. During the summer, donors are always welcome to drop food off at their facility at 700 Dearborn Street, Englewood, FL 34223. Call […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
Each year, Paula Barth brings a group to Boca Grande from Miami for tennis. This has been a tradition for the last decade. This year the friendly competition was held at the Boca Bay Pass Club. Above, from left, in white, Nicole Wigelsworth, Lori Siman, Michelle Wolfe, Lindsay Waterhouse, Kelly Chestnut and Shannon Coe. […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
Almost 500 parking spaces lost to unpermitted gardening At the parking community meeting on Tuesday, May 13, Lee County Commissioner David Mulicka presented several large maps prepared by county staff that broke down public street parking in Boca Grande. The maps, entitled Boca Grande Parking Review, show in detail every street and part of the […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History, News, Sports & Outdoors.
The Port Boca Grande Lighthouse & Museum opened May 5, after, what they generously called, eight months of “stormy setbacks.” The re-opening was a celebration, as Linda Edic, the wife of the late historian Bob Edic, was there to sign copies of her husband’s history, “Fisherfolk of Charlotte Harbor.” The opening came after Lighthouse Day […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Featured News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
The 2025 Grande Tradition honorees were the late Freddy Futch and Capt. Wayne Joiner. Freddy Futch was local fishing guide and grew up at Gasparilla Village, north end of island. He was born in 1933 to parents Rayford “Sug” Futch and Pearl Lowe Futch and died in 2018. Wayne Joiner is one of the owners […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: It’s hard to believe that six months ago our restaurants were not open, the town and many homes were underwater, we lost our post office, and the centerpiece of our island, The Gasparilla Inn, was extremely compromised. These have been challenging times. Prized possessions were destroyed, beloved cars and golf carts were […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
FROM SHARON MCKENZIE,EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BIPS I recently attended the parking issue meeting at the Boca Grande United Methodist Church and in hindsight, I realized I did not clarify our role. Barrier Island Parks Society (BIPS) is a Citizen Support Organization (CSO) for four local Florida State Parks, Cayo Costa, Don Pedro Island and land base, […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, News.
Leadership Englewood Class of 2025 celebrated their Tourism and Hospitality Day on Gasparilla Island. Shown here are many who orchestrated the day. The class got to drive around in golf carts, learn about turtles and hear some history of the island. […]