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It’s been awhile since the kayak launch was usable, soooo … what’s up with that?

But the question still remains – whose job is it to put the kayak launch back to rights? After all, it is an official stop on the Blueways Trail, which is a interconnected statewide map and information system that gives kayakers access to where some of the best waterways are located along 220 miles of coastline. It includes tidal creeks, estuary bays and, in this area, Charlotte Harbor.

The future of Warm Mineral Springs is once again tentative

Last November, North Port’s City Commission reviewed and accepted an unsolicited proposal from WMS Development Group, LLC to repair and restore the current facilities at the Springs, and to add a “Phase 2” development that includes condominiums, health spa and other amenities, by expanding the developed area of the park. 

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Amy McCandless, the lady behind the Facebook persona of Fugate’s during the storm

Island living is her thing. She and her husband Don sold everything they had a number of years ago, bought a boat and planned to see the world from the deck of that boat. They ended up in the Keys when a big hurricane hit (her name starts with “I,” but we will not name her, either). It sunk the boat. The two adventurers returned to Little Gasparilla and have found generous friends whose homes have become their own. 

THIS DATE IN THE BOCA BEACON

Boca Beacon backpages FIVE YEARS AGO The Tesla Quartet was performing at the Community Center, Mote was celebrating their five year anniversary on the island and the Three Sisters’ variances debate was getting ugly. TEN YEARS AGO Mote Marine Laboratory opened its office on the island with a ribbon-cutting by Former First Lady Laura Bush. […]

Why are our beaches, playground and 5th Street docks closed?

While many things are slowly coming back from the storm named Ian that turned us upside down, there are still a few things that are frustrating. Stuck in our craw, if you will. Three of those are the beach access closures, the Community Center playground closure and, now, the closure of the “Pink” docks at […]

Food bank utilizes donations from island Catholic Church

As the hurricane becomes something that is farther and farther away from the minds of those who weren’t seriously affected, those who were are feeling the financial crunch even more than before … and help is running out. Luckily there are a lot of organizations that can help with food needs, including one that may […]

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Habitat’s 3rd Annual Build Campaign ‘Dollar for Dollar’ match in progress

To the Editor, All monies raised during the current Habitat for Humanity “Dollar for Dollar” match will go directly into building homes for families like Jennifer Morales and her children. Jennifer is the café manager at Imagine School in North Port and a single mom to three boys – Ryan, Noah and Cayne. She currently […]

A look back at 2022

There aren’t many years that start out with so much hope for a “back-to-normal” life, only to have a big old sledgehammer come at the end of the third quarter, but 2022 provided that. Hurricane Ian picked up our island and shook it like a snow globe, and while we didn’t have the same devastation […]

THIS DATE IN THE BOCA BEACON

Boca Beacon backpages FIVE YEARS AGO U.S. Sugar President and CEO Robert Buker and Judy Sanchez, senior director of Corporate Communications and publications for U.S. Sugar, gave a presentation about “big sugar” at the Community Center.  TEN YEARS AGO Work on the new bridge system was coming along, as Wyoming rails were erected and the […]