Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Community, Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: My name is Tina Dodge. My family and I have been vacationing in Boca Grande since I was a young child. Some of my greatest memories are in Boca Grande. My parents started out just renting the old Anchor Inn when the ball field was near and we would light fireworks there, […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
Just in time for our nation’s 250th Birthday, Walt Disney World will close its Tom Sawyer Island and its companion Liberty Square Riverboat on July 6. The boat, waterway and island will disappear in favor of a Cars-themed attraction. The shuttering and destruction of a Florida theme park ride is not normally of note in […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Uncategorized.
The Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce has released a new visitor survey called “Off Island Visitors.” It comes in the wake of a new ordinance that would restrict parking on the island to two hours for shoppers, and eliminate all beach parking for day-trippers except for Gasparilla Island State Park. The link to the survey […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Uncategorized.
A new draft ordinance would remove public beach access parking from all of Boca Grande, except for the Gasparilla Island State Parks, and institute a two-hour limit for business customers. The ordinance draft was moved forward on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 by Lee County. It will be voted on August 5, 2025. Highlights: Other notes: […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Sports & Outdoors.
This dragonfly, likely a common four-spotted pennant, recently landed near the Coral Creek Jetport. Brachymesia gravidais is common in Florida. Watson Wu photo
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
The Lee Board of County Commissioners funded the repair of two pedestrian projects damaged by Hurricane Ian. The contracts include: Bonita Beach: The project will repair and replace portions of the sidewalk along Hickory Boulevard on Bonita Beach that was caused by substantial damage during Hurricane Ian. Work includes concrete and asphalt removal and replacement. […]
Written by Boca Grande Health Clinic on . Posted in Columns, Health & Wellness.
According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s most recent annual report, an estimated 7.2 million Americans aged 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease – and that number is projected to reach nearly 13 million by 2050. One in three older adults dies with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, and it causes more deaths than […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Featured News, News, Police & Fire.
Incident sparks island-wide reminder: Unplug appliances A toaster apparently created the possibility of a house fire on Monday, June 16 at the north end of the island. The Boca Grande Fire Department responded when a call went out for a possible structure fire on Sunset Pines. The 3:31 p.m. alert read that “caller smells smoke […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
With the summer months comes the start of Florida’s peak mosquito season. Two jurisdictions cover mosquito control for Gasparilla Island. “We started this mosquito season with a bang,” said Jenifer McBride of Lee County Mosquito Control District. “We had a really dry winter so basically you guys are inundated with those salt marsh mosquitos.” Throughout […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Featured News, News, Police & Fire.
Victim appears at press conference The nine-year-old survivor of last week’s shark attack near 22nd Street sat for a press conference from Tampa General Hospital alongside family and doctors on Thursday morning, June 19. Leah Lendel, who just last week sustained a shark bite that nearly severed her whole wrist, was in a wheelchair with […]