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Profile: Todd Hampton

■ BY SUE ERWIN Todd Hampton may have spent much of his life in Winter Haven, Florida, but he’s been coming to Boca Grande for almost than 30 years. Todd is the friendly face behind the bar inside Scarpa’s Coastal Restaurant on the island. He started prepping for the soft opening in April, and the restaurant […]

Back-to-school sales tax holiday August 2 through 6, technology items included this year

To the Editor: The Florida Retail Federation (FRF), the state’s premier trade association celebrating more than 80 years of supporting Florida’s retailers, is encouraging consumers and retailers to prepare for the upcoming Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday. This popular annual “holiday” takes place August 2-6.  During this time, consumers will not have to pay sales tax […]

FWC admits they’ve slighted spiny-tails

■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE A flurry of excitement has recently swept the globe regarding the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s lenience in allowing private citizens to kill iguanas on their own property. While it may seem like news to some, truth be told no one is really sure who  made it seem like something […]

Republican golf outing planned

■ BY SUE ERWIN All are invited to the 11th annual West Charlotte County Republican Club’s golf outing on Saturday, July 20. The outing will be held at Lemon Bay Golf Club, 9600 Eagle Preserve Drive in Englewood. The cost to register is $85 per player (before July 14) or $100 per player on Saturday, […]

Your local newspaper, magazine bring home 11 awards

■ STAFF REPORT The Boca Beacon and Gasparilla Magazine staff traveled to the swanky Vinoy Rennaissance Hotel in St. Petersburg for the 2019 Florida Press Association/Magazine Association Awards, and came back with 11 awards in total. During the lunchtime presentation of the FPA awards, Boca Beacon Editor Marcy Shortuse took home three first- place trophies […]

Profile: Christopher Robin

■ BY SUE ERWIN Capt. Christopher Robin is a former New Yorker who moved to Florida after finding a very special boat. Even though he had no nautical experience whatsoever, he knew the little abandoned tugboat was extraordinary. “Little Toot” is Christopher Robin’s private mission to pay it forward by teaching children about hope, faith and […]

Obituary: Mickey Carlton

Mickey Carlton taught in a one-room schoolhouse on the island in years leading up to World War II. Mrs. Minnie M. “Mickey” Carlton, 101, passed away Saturday, July 13, 2019 in Bradenton. She was born March 20, 1918 in Marietta, Oklahoma and came to Florida at a young age in 1925. After her elementary and […]

Obituary: Michael G. Miller

Michael “Mike” G. Miller Jr., age 60, of Durham, NC, formerly of Dayton, Ohio, passed away on July 10, 2019 after courageously battling a series of health-related issues for many years. Mike is survived by his loving parents, Carole and Gerald Miller, his sister, Kathy Miller Alpeter, and husband David Alpeter, Jr., their children; David […]