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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: More information about upcoming parking discussions

Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Featured News, Letters to the Editor.

To the Editor:
The structured parking plan that now seems to be a source of controversy is not about Gilchrist Ave. The plan is for the Lee County portion of Gasparilla Island. It is intended to protect our entire community from becoming a massive beach parking lot, which it soon will be because of the exploding population growth around us. Aside from the tens of thousands of platted lots on the Cape Haze Peninsula, there are thousands of new homes being built from Winchester Boulevard all the way out South River Road to I-75. Have you noticed the new subdivisions and apartments under construction on SR 776 on the way to Murdock? Where do you think all of these people will be going to the beach?

THIS DATE IN THE BOCA BEACON

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Columns, Community History.

FIVE YEARS AGOIslanders came together with donations for victiams of Hurricane Michael in the Panhandle. Smitty, J.T. and Chef Jim were back together in one place – Hudson’s Grocery. TEN YEARS AGOThe Temp’s martini sign got a check-up, as it was 36 years old. Jack Damioli resigned as president and general manager of The Gasparilla […]

BOCASCOPES

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Columns, Entertainment.

Aries: It is entirely possible that your paranoid nature will pay off this week. Your cell phone, your computer and your car have all broken in one form or fashion, not to mention you’re camping indoors, listening to the sounds of flapping tarp and banging metal all night. If you feel like this is all […]

Gilchrist parking: It’s baaaa-ack

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.

While Tuesday morning’s meeting of the Lee County Board of Commissioners was relatively quick and painless, with no big agenda items pertaining to Gasparilla Island, there was one public comment that is of great importance to the island and its future.

The comment was made by Mary O’Bannon, chairman of the Boca Grande Parking Committee. She attended the meeting with Vice-Chair Deb Martin and asked the Commissioners at the meeting for one thing – transparency – in an upcoming item that was to be presented to the Board at their November meeting by Commissioner Kevin Ruane, and to not leave the fate of anything in Boca Grande in the hands of one person.

Restoring cell coverage… HERE’S THE LATEST

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.

Electricians are on site now working on our new cell phone tower, and it looks like AT&T came up from behind to possibly be the first carrier for “cutover” (the process of bringing a system, application or interface live into an environment, which can include steps such as repointing interfaces from a non-production to production […]

Art Colony of Englewood gives a glimpse of their 2023-24 season

Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Community, News.

Pioneer Plaza, on Dearborn Street in Old Englewood, has become a gathering place for singers, actors, artists and dancers, thanks to the imaginative design of Sydney Martin, a lover of the arts in all forms.
Sydney is the founder of The Art Colony of Englewood, which started as a way for artists to show and sell their creations, but it has blossomed into much more.

“The Art Colony is beginning its second season,” Sydney said. “Last season we had eight artist galleries, having shows from December to April, and one dinner concert, which was in April. This season we will have 14 permanent outdoor galleries, and the season will run from October to April.

THIS DATE IN THE BOCA BEACON

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Community History.

FIVE YEARS AGOWe said a quiet goodbye to the folks at The Fishery who had been there for so many years, like the Albrittons and Hatch Gallery. TEN YEARS AGOLee County Commissioners chucked a rock at a hornet’s nest, as they proposed a Gilchrist parking plan that set the island abuzz. FIFTEEN YEARS AGOIt wasn’t […]

Capstan to lead golf tourney sponsorship

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Sports & Outdoors.

Along with a new venue, the Educate Boca Golf Scramble has a new Lead Presenting Sponsor – Capstan Financial Consulting Group. This year’s tournament at Wellen Park Golf and Country Club on Nov. 6, 2023 will feature Capstan, a member of the Wells Fargo Advisors Financial network, on their swag and program. Capstan has donated […]

Captiva height issue draws letter from Florida commerce

Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News.

A relaxation of height restrictions offered to the South Seas Resort on Captiva Island by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners has resulted in a sharp letter of rebuke from the state of Florida’s Department of Commerce. The October 6 letter from James D. Stansbury, chief of the state’s Department of Community Planning and […]

Bell repair needed? Just call the BGFD

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Police & Fire.

Our firefighters have been known as “jacks of all trades” for many years, as they’ve helped perform tasks that range from helping with the fireworks to retrieving cats from trees (yes, it really happened), giving sick and injured sea turtles stretcher rides off the beach, unlocking cars and now … helping the bells to ring […]