Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Featured News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
The 2025 Grande Tradition honorees were the late Freddy Futch and Capt. Wayne Joiner. Freddy Futch was local fishing guide and grew up at Gasparilla Village, north end of island. He was born in 1933 to parents Rayford “Sug” Futch and Pearl Lowe Futch and died in 2018. Wayne Joiner is one of the owners […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Emily Wheeler, owner of Aqua Boutique and Boca Grande Trading Company, is ranked third in the world for three different types of Spartan races. Throughout this year she will be racing for another world title in December. Last Saturday, May 10, Wheeler competed in a Spartan race at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Stadium, placing third […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, News.
Tuesday, May 13, over 200 community members gathered in the Lighthouse United Methodist Church to discuss parking regulations. Lee County Commissioners David Mulicka, Cecil Pendergrass and Brian Hamman were in attendance. The meeting, which was moderated by Larry Hannah, began with Peter Soderberg telling the group that the churches and the residents on Gilchrist Avenue […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News.
Tuesday’s meeting at Lighthouse United Methodist Church regarding parking started with an announcement that the church had struck an agreement with neighbors in its decades-long fight over parking on Gilchrist Avenue. “We have reached an agreement on how to remain friends and respect one another,” said Church Council Chair Peter Soderberg. He said that the […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Featured News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
In the Ladies Day Tarpon Tournament last Saturday, May 10, there were a total of 37 boats. Team Native won first place with two fish caught. Fishing was from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and there were 10 tarpon caught in total and Gail Coleman Davis from team Native caught two, winning them the $12,950 […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: It’s hard to believe that six months ago our restaurants were not open, the town and many homes were underwater, we lost our post office, and the centerpiece of our island, The Gasparilla Inn, was extremely compromised. These have been challenging times. Prized possessions were destroyed, beloved cars and golf carts were […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
FROM SHARON MCKENZIE,EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BIPS I recently attended the parking issue meeting at the Boca Grande United Methodist Church and in hindsight, I realized I did not clarify our role. Barrier Island Parks Society (BIPS) is a Citizen Support Organization (CSO) for four local Florida State Parks, Cayo Costa, Don Pedro Island and land base, […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
Charlotte County government meetings for the upcoming week. Monday, May 19, 2 p.m. – Metropolitan Planning Organization Board Meeting, Charlotte County Administration Center, 18500 Murdock Circle, Room 119, Port Charlotte, FL 33948 Tuesday, May 20, 1 p.m. – Board of County Commissioners Quarterly Local Transportation Meeting, Charlotte County Administration Center, 18500 Murdock Circle, Room 119, […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Profiles, Sports & Outdoors.
First tarpon of the season Gasparilla Island native Gail Coleman Davis earned the accolade of the first tarpon of this year’s tournament season at last weekend’s Ladies Day. Gail was raised on island and is now married to Doug Davis. Doug’s sister is Robin Melvin of Gasparilla Outfitters and Special Effects. She has been fishing […]
Written by VAN HUBBARD on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
Fixing water quality now, still cheaper than reviving dead estuaries How do we tackle water quality? Just like an elephant. One bite at a time. Many things contribute to these problems. It took years of abuse to get there, and it will require billions of dollars, and serious effort, to gain water quality resurrection. We […]