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Florida real estate prices stable, but fewer sales going on lately

Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, News.

In spite of interest rate increases, the Florida real estate market this June remains stable, with the average house selling for $420,000, the same as June 2022, and the average condo selling for $325,000, also the same as 2022.
However, statewide there has been a decrease in closed sales of existing houses, down 7.9 percent year over year. Condo and townhouse sales were down 11 percent, to 10,494. Florida Realtors Chief Economist Brad O’Connor said in a national press release that a 7.9 percent year-over-year decline in closed single-family home sales is understandable due to interest rates. 
Today, the 30-year fixed rate is in the 7-7.375 percent range, according to Terese Dulge, vice president and residential lender for Englewood Bank and Trust, now Crews Bank and Trust. She said that rates, coupled with today’s property prices, are making it more and more difficult for many borrowers to qualify for a new mortgage.

New airlines make for breezier visits, fewer stopovers

Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News.

In the last few years, new airlines serving Southwest Florida have meant hundreds of new direct flights and cheaper fares – as cheap as a Greyhound bus fare in the 1980s.  For Boca Grande residents like Anne Honey, one can now take a direct flight – at a discount and in a new plane – […]

OBITUARY: Bob Halford

Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Obituaries.

Robert “Bob” Sidney Halford, 94, died Thursday, July 20, 2023 at his home surrounded by his family. Interment will be held at a later date in Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa. Visitation was held from 4 to 6 p.m., on Monday July 24 at Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, and one hour […]

PROFILE: Fr. Anthony Hewitt

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Profiles.

Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church is now in the hands of its new pastor, Father Anthony Hewitt. Fr. Anthony began offering masses at the church this past weekend. This will be a major change of pace for him, but one he is looking forward to.  For the last 10 years, Fr. Anthony has been […]

THIS DATE IN THE BOCA BEACON

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Columns, Community History.

FIVE YEARS AGO PJ’s Seagrille and The Grapevine were officially out of business. TEN YEARS AGO Kathy Banson-Verrico was named as the new GIBA director. The pipes were smokin’ in some island homes, as GIWA was looking for pipe leaks. FIFTEEN YEARS AGO The Boca Grande Reference Room in the Community Center was complete, featuring […]

Time marches on at the Fishery property …

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Community History, News.

Tuesday, July 18 was the beginning of the end for two pieces of Cape Haze Peninsula’s history. The former home of Mike Schworm was dismantled and taken down to the ground, while Eunice Albritton’s little house that stood nearby waited forlornly for its turn under the proverbial wrecking ball.

Both homes were in grave disrepair even before Hurricane Ian, but afterward they were damaged even more. They had stood there since the 1940s, when Walter Gault brought his fishing operation from the village of Gasparilla at the north end of the island over the waters of Gasparilla Sound to the southern tip of the Cape Haze Peninsula, in Placida. He purchased the Gasparilla fishery property in the 1930s, but a decade later the railroad sold the land.

$3.8 million restoration contract signed for Lighthouse

Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, News.

This week, Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) signed a contract to complete repairs at the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse at Gasparilla Island State Park, according to Brooke Keck, communications and external affairs officer for the Department.

“The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has replaced the roofs for the Boca Grande Lighthouse and Museum and chapel,” said Keck. “Park staff continue to work diligently on these ongoing restoration projects and are working closely with the Florida Department of State’s Division of Historical Resources to ensure care is taken to repair and restore these historic structures to their original conditions.”

Fall debut scheduled for Temp sign

Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community History, News.

Did you really think it wouldn’t be back? Ha ha, ho ho, hee hee, you must belong in the maison de fous!
The Temptation martini sign, destroyed during Hurricane Ian, is finally put back together and ready to hang over Park Avenue.
“It is finished,” said Jeff Simmons, co-owner of The Temptation.

Saying goodbye to a Boca Beacon staple: Hortoons by Dave Horton

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Entertainment, News.

Quite often, a good laugh is all anyone needs. Those who can provide it are valuable and should be treasured.

That being said, it is with much sadness that we say goodbye to our “Hortoons” cartoon and its creator, Dave Horton. He has been one of our cartoonists for almost 20 years but, after the hurricane and some other family business to attend to, he has decided to quit while he’s ahead with Hortoons.

“A lot of my friends moved away (after the storm) and I don’t blame them,” he said. “They lost much more than we did. We were lucky. My house is surrounded by destruction but it survived. The office/warehouse was destroyed and I work on it every day until it’s good enough to hire new employees.”

The Baptists are back at home!

Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Community, News.

Boca Grande’s Baptist community celebrated in grande style as the congregation returned to its own church building July 16 for services. The fellowship hall will be the venue for services for a while, as the sanctuary is still under renovation following Hurricane Ian. 

Pastor Gary Beatty said they are “so excited to be back” in their own place, but very grateful to the Episcopal congregation for allowing them to use their church for services throughout the last 10 months.