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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Marine minerals and state interests

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

Billions of acres of submerged land off the nation’s coast are thought to contain large reserves of cobalt, manganese and other minerals considered critical to our national interests. 

Ocean areas and resources offer a wide range of uses to both the state and nation. The maritime industry relies on safe shipping channels. Commercial and recreational fishing industries are dependent on productive marine habitats, including coastal reefs, seagrass beds and artificial reefs. Universities and other institutions need a natural marine environment for their research and to provide educational and economic opportunities now and in the future. Oil, gas, sand, gravel, phosphate, and heavy mineral reserves all elicit industry interest.

The wind blew hard, the COWs danced and fell down

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.

Did you know that COWs can dance? They surely can, and we saw it happening on the morning of Sunday, April 30 and into the following day. Strong storms with tornadic activity and high winds ripped through the area, leaving one COW (cell phone tower on wheels) dancing and another COW flat on its back.

Yep, we had a man down. The Verizon tower on the Bike Path north of 5th Street succumbed to the early-morning storms. It was a sad sight to see for those with Verizon service.

Taxes and trapper bids discussed by a duo of ‘Iguana Board’ members

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.

The Boca Grande streetlight MSBU, a.k.a. the “Iguana Board,” met on April 27 with only two of the three sitting members in attendance. That means there was no quorum, but Board Members Mark Masselink and Skip Branin did cover some topics with Lee County MSBU Manager Josh Malo. 

There are two open seats on the committee, but at least one application is expected shortly. Applications can be found at leegov.com/budget/mstbu/committees.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Islander against Clinic plan to be discussed at BGHPB meeting next week

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

I am writing to ask for your support in OPPOSING the plans the Boca Grande Clinic has submitted to Lee County to build a 13,299 square foot medical building at the cost of $35 million on the site of the current Clinic Annex on the SE corner of 3rd and Park. (You can access the plans through the Lee County link found at the bottom of this email – the relevant pages are 19 thru 37).

  These plans will be discussed at the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board Meeting on May 10th at 10 a.m. in the Women’s Club Room at the Community Center. Please join me at the meeting to speak out against this plan!!

Additionally, it is vital that voices be heard – so please write a letter of opposition/concern and send to the attention of Janet Miller (JMiller@leegov.com) no later than Monday, May 8 so she may include in the record. Additionally, a copy of the letter should be sent to the attention of the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board: contact@bghpb.org.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Island resident really upset about, well … us

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

After years of reading articles in the Beacon attacking Gulf-front property owners as selfish millionaires who don’t care about the community, the Beacon publishes an article telling us it’s “everyone’s” fault that the whispering bench was destroyed. Not the fault of a dreaded Gulf-front property owner who hired a bulldozer, and not the fault of the consultants and representatives who helped. No, it was everyone’s fault according to the Beacon.  

Strawberry Festival wrap-up shows amazing numbers, generous islanders

Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in News.

If there had been any concerns that the 2023 Strawberry Festival would suffer as a result of Hurricane Ian, they vanished quickly when members of the United Methodist Women’s board met recently to distribute $140,000 to local charities that serve women and children in need.

“It was a record year,” said Gloria Mitchell, who along with her daughter, Amy Mitchell, chaired this year’s Festival, held on March 4. “To say that we were surprised is an understatement. But we couldn’t be happier that we had this much money to distribute when there is so much need.”

Alice’s Secret Garden: A piece of the Fust Library, named for an island visionary

Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in News.

On Friday, April 14, 2023, under the cover of dappled light and surrounded by latticed brick walls and lush greenery, an intimate crowd of current and former board members of the Johann Fust Library Foundation, its Literary Advisors, and the live poets of Boca Grande gathered just beyond the children’s library in a magical space that has been christened Alice’s Secret Garden. They were there to dedicate the space to Alice Gorman and to express gratitude for her support of the Johann Fust Library Foundation’s mission: “To preserve the buildings and gardens of the library while providing a literary and cultural center for the residents and visitors of Boca Grande.”

 Alice was first elected to the Board of Directors in 2006, when the Johann Fust was a private library. Cotton Hanley was president, Rosemary Bowler was vice president, and Board members included Paul Csank, Tim Dumas, Sue Fuller, Sandy Hemm, Bill Morton, Sue Shaffer, Charles Tyler and Daly Walker.

Celebrating the Gasparilla Island Lighthouse

Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in News.

The Gasparilla Island Lighthouse is open for business again. The historic structure was seriously damaged during Hurricane Ian, but with the help of many groups and individuals, it has been restored and is open again to the public.
A grand ribbon-cutting officially marked the Lighthouse’s return on Saturday, April 22. Sharon McKenzie, the Barrier Island Parks Society’s executive director, thanked the many people who helped make the return happen in a timely way. That included the Florida Lighthouse Association, Island TV and the Boca Grande Disaster Relief Fund, overseen by the Lighthouse United Methodist Church, as well as all the people of the community who contributed to the fund.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Island lover is so thankful for all of the memories made here

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

To the Editor:

I would like to thank the Boca Beacon for writing an informative story about the iconic “Whispering Bench.” The story was loaded with details and information about this historical gem located on one of the properties along the very special Gilchrist Blvd.

I found the story compelling since as a family we first came to Boca Grande when I was about twelve years old. We rented at the Boca Grande Beach Club. Aside from the homes in “town” or the “village” and some homes north of Boca Grande, there were virtually no other condominiums or homes south of the Range Light.