Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Community History, News.
In May of 1991, a week after The Queen had flown home, her ship, Brittania, docked just off the Boca Grande coast and its officers spent a few hours on Useppa Island, mingling with residents and Useppa owner Garfield Beckstead (they came at the invitation of an island resident who had ties with the Royal Navy). Beckstead even made Admiral Robert Woodard of the Royal Navy an honorary member of Useppa Island, with a permanent invitation to return whenever he liked.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
There’s some big changes taking place down at the end of Wheeler Road. The dog park plan is starting to take shape, with fences being installed and sod being laid down. A cul-de-sac has appeared as well (see top left) and parking for the big and little dog parks has been paved. Lee County officials said they are currently in the process of selecting a date for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to happen in the month of November or early December. As far as the tennis/pickleball courts are concerned, they are still closed.
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.
Fayma A. Childs, 83, of Burnsville, N.C. passed away on August 27, 2022. A private family service will be held at Lighthouse United Methodist Church on Boca Grande. Fayma was born in Rural Hall, N.C. on November 19, 1938. Her family relocated to South Florida, where she raised her family and received her Bachelor of […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
What would make sense to us and others with whom we have talked moving forward is a specific plan to protect our waters and our health by ensuring that our septic systems are functioning properly. Listed below are a few ideas in that regard. Others will undoubtedly have more.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Boca Beacon Back Pages, Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO The lady who couldn’t make up her mind decided Boca Grande wasn’t for her. Hurricane Irma played tag with Southwest Florida for 11 days before she finally came through the state, but pretty much missed the island. TEN YEARS AGO Many local guides and fishermen went to the Florida Fish and Wildlife […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
According to the filed resolution, on January 18, 2022, the members of GIWA approved by a vote of 457 to 48 to increase their rates by Rate Indexing. This means that on October 1 of this year and annually each year after this one, water and wastewater rates may change upon approval of the Board, up to the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index U.S. City Average – All Urban Consumers. If they choose to increase their rates, they must request a rate increase from the Director of Utilities for Lee County. The request must be approved by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
If you’ve been following our last two weeks of stories on this matter, you read that a private utility contractor who currently provides water service to parts of the barrier islands now was attempting to be considered as the primary utility in that area for central sewage.
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in News.
The pitch-apple is a native tree and loves the salt spray. It grows well in full sun and tolerates sandy soil, which is ideal for Island trees. The pitch-apple has coarse evergreen leaves, solitary white or rose flowers and a whitish, resinous fruit, which is poisonous. It makes an ideal hedge but also can grow to be a large tree, so it is quite versatile.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
According to the last U.S. Census Bureau statistics, the Lee County portion of Gasparilla Island has 1,130 homestead-exempt people living here, which is a 41.8 percent decrease since 2020. The same area recorded 1,720 people in 2010, 1,500 in 2000 and 777 in 1990. If you go back to the 1980 figures above, that means 1980 was the last year for an increase in population that the Lee County portion of the island has had.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Boca Beacon Back Pages, Columns.
Boca Beacon backpages FIVE YEARS AGO The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission decided to pursue a new “sportfish” designation that would include tarpon as a catch-and-release only species. TEN YEARS AGO Toxins were found at the Boca Grande Community Center that included asbestos and lead. The Munchkin room was vacated, but other than that […]