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Beacon crew up for five awards at upcoming FPA event

■ STAFF REPORT        When September rolls around and the Florida Press Association holds its annual convention, the Boca Beacon crew will be looking to win or place in five categories. It was announced earlier this week that Beacon editor Marcy Shortuse is up for two awards – one for noninvestigative reporting and […]

Still searching for any sign of Javier

■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE      Several men and a dog set out from Pineland Marina in Bokeelia on Wednesday, July 27 in a continuing search for a swimmer missing from Boca Grande waters. The missing boy’s father, Edwin Castro, was one of the men. He is heartbroken, and he is exhausted from his efforts […]

Profile: Jessica Smith

■ BY SUE ERWIN       If you haven’t met the newest staff member at the Friends of Boca Grande Community Center, you’ll want to read more about this week’s profile candidate, Jessica Smith. Jessica, 23, started her position as program assistant at the Community Center in May. She was born in California, but […]

Maugham sends out challenge to Benacquisto to sign ‘Now or Neverglades’

Jason Maughan is vying for the District 27 Florida Senate seat currently held by Lizbeth Benacquisto. He has issued a challenge to his District 27 Florida Senate opponent to sign the Now or Neverglades Declaration. In her official statements and campaign literature, Senator Benacquisto claims she supports stopping Lake Okeechobee releases and is in favor […]

Beach-access resident rebuts last week’s editorial

To the Editor: I was disappointed to read the editorial, “The parking-challenged ghosts of Boca Grande” on July 22nd. I found it mean-spirited and inaccurate, seemingly intended to foster an antagonistic relationship between so-called selfish beach street property owners and everyone who parks on these streets. As a homeowner and president of our neighborhood association, […]

Profile: Jim Morrow

■ BY SUE ERWIN Chef Jim Morrow has been keeping busy adding flavorful new lunch and dinner items to the menu at Hudson’s Grocery since early March, 2016. With years of experience working as a chef, owning his own restaurant and dealing with food distribution and sales, Jim bring vast experience to the island grocery. […]

Thank you all for making Ladies Mix & Match a great day!

To the Editor: Ladies Draw: Mix and Match Tarpon Tournament was so much fun! Congrats to our winners! First-place winners on the Tracy Lynn with Capt. Willie Mills were Kalee Joiner, Candy Brooks, Leslie Edwards and Jodi Alice. Second-place winners on the Casuarina with Capt. Charlie Coleman were Nicole Coleman, Alex Young, Cannon Jones Wenzel […]

The end of an era … Goodbye, Thor & Blanche

■ After many, many years on the island, Thor and Blanche Johnson have moved on to a new phase in their lives. On Thursday, Blanche stopped by to hug some necks and give one last ‘farewell’ as the papers were signed on their island home. You will be forever missed, my friends.

New palms on Causeway signify completion of GIBA bridge replacement project

■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE The final phases of construction on the new bridge system are almost complete, including a major landscaping project that has come along more quickly than anyone anticipated. According to Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority Board Member David Hayes, Cintron Landscape Services of Fort Myers was definitely the right choice to make when […]