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Proposed Fishery amendment voted in with no contest; plans are to feature replicas of island lighthouses

■ BY SUE ERWIN At a public hearing on Tuesday, September 25, Charlotte County Commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance to adopt a small-scale plan amendment to the development of the Fishery property, located at 13000 Fishery Rd. The “Village & Marina at Boca Grande” project, spearheaded by real estate developer Jay Feinberg, went before commissioners […]

Mark Futch: His passing has left us in shock

■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE On Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2018 island residents were shocked to hear of the passing of Capt. Mark Futch, a man taken far too early who will be missed very much by many. While his brother David will be writing a full obituary that will run next week, we want to acknowledge […]

Profile Jeff Ash

■ BY SUE ERWIN If you’ve had a drink at the Boca Bay Pass Club bar over the past several years, you would most likely recognize the friendly face of bartender Jeff Ash. Jeff has worked at the Pass Club for the past ten years, alongside his wife, Janette, also a bartender at the club. […]

BIPS looks for beach ambassadors for new season

■ STAFF REPORT The Barrier Island Parks Society is looking for beach ambassadors to help inspire stewardship and preserve our local beaches. This exciting volunteer program provides informational training, with only two mandatory training dates available on October 27 and November 10. Becoming a beach ambassador means you’ll learn all kinds of fascinating things, and you […]

CCA Florida and FWC partners to support Southwest Coast snook population following red tide event

The Coastal Conservation Association Florida (CCA Florida) is partnering with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and Mote Marine Laboratory to address the loss to the snook population on the Southwest Coast as a result of the red tide event. The two-year initiative includes raising and releasing 10,000 hatchery-reared juvenile snook along Florida’s […]

Shell artist aspires to publish children’s book

BY SUE ERWIN – Paulee Bowin met Boca Grande shell enthusiast George Melissas five years ago, while the two were in an art studio in Clearwater Beach. Bowin has been creating shell art for years, and when she shared her passion about shells with him, the master shell collector gave her a variety of shells […]

Turtle nest numbers up compared to this time last year

BY SUE ERWIN – Green sea turtle nesting is happening later into the season than usual, but Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association volunteers are hopeful there are still a few more new nests before the season officially closes on October 31. As of August 31, the Association reported 709 Caretta caretta (loggerhead) turtle nests on […]

Turtle nest numbers up compared to this time last year

STAFF REPORT – Despite the red tide situation, sea turtle nest numbers are continuing to grow, hatchlings are making their way to the sea, and nest counts are up from this time last year. As of August 24, the Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association reported 687 Caretta caretta (loggerhead) turtle nests on the island. There […]

Snook, redfish to be catch-and-release only until FWC re-evaluates

STAFF REPORT – The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has temporarily made snook and redfish catch-and-release only from the northernmost point of Anna Maria Island in Manatee County to Gordon Pass in Collier County. This was done through an executive order in response to the red tide bloom in Southwest Florida and is […]

Who has our best interests in mind when it comes to …

■ BY SUE ERWIN With a primary election right around the corner, this might actually be a year when people sit up and take notice of one hot topic in particular – clean water. While the Boca Beacon does not endorse candidates for any election, but knowing that people feel very strongly about water quality […]