Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Profiles.
Hurricane Ian was the ninth named storm, fourth hurricane and second major hurricane of the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season. Those facts seem so matter of fact when you look out your window and see exactly what a monstrous, devastating storm Ian turned out to be. The storm’s slow crawl across the state, bringing damage from […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
UPDATED 2330 SEPT. 26 … The Boca Grande Causeway does NOT close to CAR traffic. It closes to BOAT traffic when winds reach sustained 40 mph. That means if you are in a boat and the winds are 40 mph or higher, you aren’t coming under the Boca Grande Causeway swing bridge.
Officials will sometimes close the bridge to general traffic after a storm has passed and officials have declared it unsafe to come on the island.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Boca Beacon Back Pages, Columns, Community History.
Boca Beacon backpages FIVE YEARS AGO Hurricane Irma came and went, leaving many trees down but few homes damaged. Power was out for some time, though. Wini Smart left us at the age of 85. TEN YEARS AGO There was some major landscaping renovation going on at Coral Creek Airport, and numerous swing bridge builders […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: Don’t leave your pets, and don’t use your pet as an excuse not to evacuate. Don’t put yourself, your family and your pet at risk! You are responsible for planning for your pet. Take your pet disaster supplies if you evacuate, go to friends/relatives, a public shelter (Charlotte County public shelters are […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in News.
The board had begun discussing the need for an elevator some 10 years ago, she said, but actually voted to initiate this aspect of the project three years ago. Among the first things necessary was to find an architectural firm to design and plan out the work required to add an elevator to the facility. The choice was not difficult, based on the success of the library renovations made in 2012 and 2013.
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 […]