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Update from Lee County on Boca Grande recovery

During its regular meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 15, the Board of Lee County Commissioners included various updates on Boca Grande Milton recovery, including sand screening and permitting. Lee Director of Solid Waste Douglass Whitehead gave an update on debris collection, which started for Hurricane Milton on Monday, Oct. 14. By Tuesday’s meeting they had collected […]

Losses significant at Catholic Church and Preschool

The Rev. Anthony Hewitt, priest of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, has begun daily Mass at the parish’s Life Center, and for the time being will have one Mass on Sundays there, as well. The main church, rectory and Boca Grande Preschool, which is under the direction of the Catholic Diocese of Venice, are […]

Charlotte County opens barrier islands

Charlotte County’s bridgeless barrier islands have reopened to residents and businesses, including Palm Island and Little Gasparilla. As residents return, we urge them to exercise caution:  • FPL continues to work to restore power. • Use caution crossing Don Pedro Island’s Anne Merry Bridge. • Many areas still contain debris and storm surge sand.

Island School moves to Fellowship Church

BY CHRISTINE OLIVER We would like to provide you with an update regarding our transition to our temporary location. We are excited to welcome all students back on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024, at Fellowship Church in Rotonda. We are grateful to Fellowship Church for allowing us to use their space, and we will continue to follow […]

GUEST COLUMNS: KELLENE CARPENTER

Reflecting on early childhood education at the preschool BY KELLENE CARPENTER Editor’s Note: Kelli Carpenter wrote this essay for the Beacon just before Helene. The school was hurt badly in the storms but will rebuild. Over the summer, I had a conversation with a Boca Grande Preschool Board Member about characteristics of quality early-childhood programs. […]

‘Doomscrolling’ and searching for a ‘timeline cleanse’

On the Saturday before Milton, this editor was at Dollar Tree in Englewood, at the Winn-Dixie shopping center. For those who do not know it, Dollar Tree almost always has UHT (ultra-high temperature) milk in those juice box containers. For reference, and for the next storm, they are on the bottom shelf in the back. […]

Voting elects move to Methodist Church

In-person voting at Precinct 122, which typically is held at the Boca Grande Community Center will instead use the Lighthouse United Methodist Church for the Nov. 5 General Election. The Community Center, which sustained significant damage from Hurricane Helene and the Hurricane Milton, is unusable, so the Lee County Supervisor of Elections has made a […]

Water service restoration by G.I.W.A. and Margate crews

At press time, a crew from Margate, Florida, hired to help Boca Grande restore its water service, hoped to have the main fully repaired by Friday. As of Wednesday, the water system was coming back online faster than expected, with a crew from Margate, on Florida’s east coast, assisting in rebuilding the main water line […]

Drinking water and ice at Community Center

Fort Myers, FL, Oct. 16, 2024 – Lee County now has drinking water and bags of ice available for Boca Grande residents at its comfort station that opened Tuesday at 240 Banyan St. at the rear parking lot of Island School and Community Center.