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New Boca Beacon calendar for 2024 is out

Since 1987, the Boca Beacon has offered a calendar for subscribers inserted into the newspaper as a Christmas gift to our subscribers. This year, photos are by our very own Matthew Gutman, Dusty Hopkins and H Wetzel.  As dependable as the Christmas Hess Oil toy trucks, we have had a number of themes since our […]

Obituary: Laurence DeFrance, 1944-2023

Laurence DeFrance, age 79, passed away peacefully on December 6, 2023. He was born October 3, 1944 in New York, the son of Margaret and Professor Joseph J. DeFrance. Laurence (“Larry”) grew up alongside his extended family and attended Garden City High School, where he made lifelong friends. As a Little League Yankee All-Star, baseball […]

Obituary: Sabrina Johnson-Lambert, 1959-2023

Sabrina Johnson-Lambert passed away on December 7, 2023, surrounded by family at home in Dunnellon, Florida, and formerly of Boca Grande. Born August 14, 1959, she is survived by her husband, Stephen Lambert; son, Matthew (Brittany): daughter, Rachel (Ben): three grandchildren, Amelia, Jaxton and Isla: brother, Darian (Liz): several nieces, nephews, and cousins: Aunt Hazel […]

Charlotte County shuts down gambling operations

On December 20, 2023, members of the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Gaming Control Commission executed a legal search warrant of two casino-style businesses that were operating in Charlotte County. Deputies removed slot machines from two businesses, including a bingo parlor in Englewood. Below, a video press release from Sheriff Bill Prummell.

Cool temps wake up wildlife

BY CAPT. JOE LACLAIR With a couple very cold evenings the water temps have really started to fall. What seems to be different this winter is the amount of rainfall we are still experiencing. This has made the fishing very difficult in the past week. The abundance of wildlife however, that we have seen on […]

EcoWatch: Let’s get it done for the environment

Recently a reader wrote to Eco-Watch and asked what she could do to help the environment. She was concerned about the ecosys- tem and its decline in protective measures to save our planet. It was a timely and welcomed question, as many have noticed that problems in the environment have not gotten better but only […]

Hermitage offers beachfront preview of new work

The Hermitage Artist Retreat will preview a new arts program on Friday, Jan. 5 at 5 p.m. on the Hermitage Beach on Manasota Key.  This new program will offer a glimpse into the creative process of three Hermitage Fellows in the midst of creating new work. Multidisciplinary visual artist Anne Patterson and composer Patrick Harlin […]

Ham it Up: Terry Seitz visits Peru

Terry Seitz travels the world for his furniture business and takes the Boca Beacon. But this time I’m vacationing on the trail to Machu Picchu, Peru. It was declared a Peruvian Historic Sanctuary in 1982, UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Social: Barrier Island Parks Society Lighthouse Lighting

Barrier Island Parks Society hosted the evening Dec. 9, 2023. The crowd was welcomed by Scott Feringa and Sharon McKenzie. The evening proved to be a festive time as many attendees arrived to celebrate the lighting of the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse. The friends gathered, sang carols and enjoyed the sights of the season. Shown […]