Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Editorial, News.
By Hector Flores, Charlotte County The Christmas and New Year’s holidays are a time of celebration and reflection. I wish you and your loved ones health, happiness and a deserving respite from the hard work we’ve all been doing to recover from the damage caused by Hurricane Ian. I am so proud of the efforts […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Police & Fire.
The actions of one local man erratically driving drunk last Friday, Dec. 9, could have had a much worse outcome than it did. According to witnesses, that day at approximately 7:30 a.m. Timmie Carroll Spain, 49, of Port Charlotte was northbound on Gasparilla Road and allegedly ran several people off the road in the Lee […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in News.
No one in Boca Grande could have missed the presence of Gaston TDR on the Island the last two months. Their double-container knuckle loaders are hard to miss. They have been up and down the Island picking up storm debris and helping residents get back to some sense of normal. The “TDR” in Gaston’s name […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Police & Fire.
If you want to kick a man when he’s down, wait for a hurricane to hit, then take his giant fish. This actually happened, but not to a man as much as to a marina. Boca Grande Marina, to be specific. They had a 16-foot, marlin on the side of the building for years. The […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Police & Fire.
Congratulations are in order for several local first responders as they have recently been promoted. Jeff Knowles will be promoted from Firefighter Paramedic / Shift Supervisor to Lieutenant. According to Fire Chief C.W. Blosser, firefighter and paramedic Knowles has been instrumental in the department obtaining its Advanced Life Support Certification. “He administrates our CPR and […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Boca Beacon Back Pages, Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO High tea was served at The Island School by volunteers Donna Lutton, Margo Freeman and Susan Bowers, with some help from kindergarten teacher/party planner Megan O’Conner. TEN YEARS AGO An internet feud was taking place between the live-baiters and the jiggers, as a gutted tarpon was found in Boca Grande Pass and […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Police & Fire.
Illegal dumping is a very real problem everywhere right now, even on Gasparilla Island, and our local law enforcement officers have been actively and aggressively pursuing those who try to get away with it. According to Capt. Jeff Corkhill, in the last few weeks they have been actively patrolling and looking for people who are […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial.
What started out as the slow process of returning to “normal” (were we ever normal?) after Hurricane Ian, has been speeding up over the last few weeks. When they started the construction and demolition debris pickups this past weekend, you could really start to see a difference. Most of the shops are open. The restaurants […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
If you have been coming to Gasparilla Island for a few years or more and you love golf, perhaps this name will ring a bell with you: Leon Oliver. Oliver is a Gasparilla Inn & Club course record-holder (63, five times) who moved to Maine. Oliver has served as the owner/superintendent of Sheepscot Links Golf […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
The Hermitage Artist Retreat today announced the first several programs for the new calendar year. These events will be presented on the Hermitage’s historic beachfront campus on Manasota Key and throughout Sarasota County. Newly announced January programs include featured artists and performers sharing their work, including author of “Breath Better Spent: Living Black Girlhood” […]