Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor:Two Questions:1. Did you know?2. Does Boca care about their neighbors?At 6:37 a.m. on January 16, 2022 an EF1 (110 mph) tornado ripped through Gasparilla Marina and Estates. Most Boca residents, including myself, assumed it occurred some distance away. Yet it happened less than a mile outside the entrance to Boca Grande. At […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Boca Beacon Back Pages, Columns, Featured News, News.
Suncoast Humane Society has set a goal to raise $100,000 for their general operating fund which provides critical support for the animals and community-based programs such as the Pet Food Bank and Pet Therapy Program. “We’re just beginning to emerge from extremely challenging times, when many nonprofits felt great uncertainties about sustaining their operations,” said Suncoast CEO, Maureen E.
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Entertainment, News.
Check out the complete photo coverage of the 2022 Gasparilla Island Bike Parade & Spring Fair!
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
This public exhibit showcased three major hurricanes – unnamed hurricane of 1926, Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, Hurricane Charley in 2004 which caused major damage to the island.
It also featured the explosion of the Arthur Albright, a phosphate carrier that blew up at the Port of Boca Grande in 1965 (due to a faulty valve resulting in over pressurization of the fuel tank). Eight men were hospitalized with extensive injuries.
Written by T Michele Walker on . Posted in Profiles.
To put the timeline into perspective, by the time Betsy’s father built their home in 1940, their family had been on the island for 32 years.
“When the train moved to Boca Grande, my grandfather, Jerome, Sr., was offered a job and eventually opened up his own business, Fugate’s Drug Store,” she said.
Fugate’s opened in 1916, in the same building where it operates today. A few years earlier, Jerome married Betsy’s grandmother in 1911 and in 1912, Betsy’s father was born on Banyan Street.
“My grandfather Jerome passed away in 1955, when I was pretty young, but he was a big fisherman. He was involved with the very beginning days with the tarpon fishing,” Betsy said. When he passed away, Betsy’s uncle took over the family business.
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
Boca Grande celebrated the 2022 Boca Grande Woman’s Club Spring Fair last Saturday. “Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler” or “Let the Good Times Roll” was possible due to the 100 or so dedicated volunteers who participated both during the Fair and leading up to the big day. The morning started with the annual bike and golf cart parade, and it continued at the Boca Grande Community Center with great food, games, dog agility shows and so much more.
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
With rising gas prices, thieves around the country are targeting your gas tanks. The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office provides tips on how to protect your tank, and wallet, from thieves.
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
The GICIA does a very good job of encouraging safety on the path north of First Street. Behavior on the path south of First is the anti-GICIA rules of the road. The South Path is under the jurisdiction of Lee County. There are not even signs encouraging speed limits or even courtesy toward pedestrians. It is an autobahn for golf carts – faster is better with NO consideration for pedestrians. I run on that path six days a week, staying ever alert for fast carts driven by people of all ages. It is dangerous.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
… a Walton County circuit court judge issued a lengthy ruling earlier this week regarding his rejection of a challenge to the precedent of the public’s “customary use” of dry sand beach. Judge David Green countered a development company that owns property on the Gulf of Mexico after representatives claimed that customary use violates state and federal constitutions.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
“Every year we improve a little bit in the statistics, and a lot as far as violent crimes,” she said. “In 1990 when I became a prosecutor, our circuit’s population was half of what it is now, but the crime rate was double what it is now. That’s how much we’ve changed. Now we are recognizing what’s important in criminal justice – what requires a long sentence and what does not, and which offenders can be rehabilitated. If you’re a violent person, you have to be incarcerated. On the other hand, a large portion of offenders can be helped and rehabilitated, and hopefully it will bring about less recidivism. After I was elected I looked to what I could do to make sure we didn’t just rest at the top … I wanted the statistics to be even lower. I had to realize what our biggest challenges were as a circuit and at this time it is the opioid epidemic, and fentanyl coming into the picture.”