Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial, Opinion.
The dedication of the new island Christmas tree gave the island a moment of cultural clarity last Sunday night. It was a perfect evening – the cookies, the weather, the breeze, the sunset. The crowd that gathered was at minimum 500, using the Jacobs Method: Add up the people in a section and then count […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, News, Obituaries.
It is with great sadness to announce the passing of Jacob Patrick Halunen of Englewood, Florida on Thursday, November 23, 2023. Jacob was 19 years old. Born on October 22, 2004, to Michael Paul Halunen Sr. and Yvonne Diane (Barnthouse) Halunen. Jacob was a senior who would have been part of the graduating class of […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
When a group of Cape Haze residents met last month with Charlotte County officials about a proposed sewer project in their neighborhood, they had a new set of data: water quality tests taken by a group of high school volunteers. The group, led by biologist and resident Robert J. Robbins, took the surveys by boat […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
At their upcoming Dec. 5, 2023 Board of County Commissioners meeting, Lee County will vote on a new contract for “population control services for black spiny-tailed iguanas” on Gasparilla Island. The award, set for the consent agenda, would be given to Blue Iguana Pest Control, Inc. dba Iguana Control of Coral Springs, Fla. as the […]
Written by Delores Savas on . Posted in Opinion, Sports & Outdoors.
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.All the King’s horses and all the King’s menCouldn’t put Humpty Dumpty together again.” Lewis Carroll There is now a great push to return the manatee to the Endangered Species List. Many environmental agencies are asking the public to write to the United States […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History, News.
Almost ten years ago, James Blaha joined the Board of Directors of the Boca Grande Historical Society, and he and Rose Marie Blaha began to volunteer at the History Center. Their combined backgrounds include teaching, chairing humanities departments, museum administration, library resource centers and consulting. Jim notes that he spent several summers on archeology projects […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News.
A resident heading back home to Boca Grande had his most recent work of art, a Betsy Ross flag made of shark’s teeth, stolen while he stopped somewhere between Tampa and home. “The flag was the best one I have ever made,” said Frank Koffend, a historian, fisherman, park volunteer, author and a lifetime collector […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, News.
Tuesday, Lighthouse United Methodist Church blessed their wooden steeple cross in an outdoor ceremony led by the Rev. Daphne Johnson, the church’s senior pastor. At the ceremony, the Rev. Johnson not only blessed the newly painted cross, but also asked for prayers for the whole island. A group of about two dozen church members came […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
Each year, the Boca Beacon publishes a guide to all things Gasparilla Island, the Boca Beacon Visitor’s Guide. The annual publication is the official guide to Gasparilla Island. The booklet, which is free, has a 30,000 circulation. It is the only all-inclusive printed resource for visitors and residents to find out about all things Boca […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Opinion.
The first newspaper in the U.S. colonies was a weekly, like ours. Appearing on April 24, 1704, the “Boston News-Letter” was sold at a “shop near the Old Meeting House” and printed by Bartholomew Green, an early American notable whom many on this island might claim as an ancestor. That weekly paper carried news both […]