Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
Donations made out to the Charlotte Community Foundation cannot be designated for the benefit of Gasparilla Mobile Estates. They can be designated for Charlotte County Tornado Victims and therefore may be used to assist any tornado victim in Charlotte County.
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
Let me get this straight. We already have an excess of boats using the existing parking facilities at the Placida boat ramp. This purchase will support, and encourage, more cars on our roads, more boats on our precious waters, and more pressure on the fish. More fossil fuels being burned, more destruction to the natural grasses that are essential to a healthy fishery, more insensitive boaters abusing what used to be so very special, and more congestion on the causeway — because this additional excess will further congest access to the causeway.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
Last week two real estate transactions took place that were quite important to the downtown historic district – the purchase of the Railroad Plaza building in the 400 block of E. Railroad Avenue and the Fugate’s building, which includes Fugate’s, The Patio Shoppe, Key Agency and Parsley-Baldwin.
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
An analysis of the counties in Florida where residents earned the most income from investments in 2018 has been completed, and Lee and Sarasota counties came in strong for the state at fifth and sixth place, respectively. The year 2018 was used as it had the most complete (returned) information to date. The study compared counties across three metrics using IRS data: ordinary dividends, qualified dividends and net capital gains. Counties where residents earned the greatest amount of income in these categories were those that ranked the highest.
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in News.
There were two croquet grounds on the island when Lucinda arrived. One was a Boca Bay amenity for residents of Boca Bay. The other was a Gasparilla Inn amenity for guests of The Inn and Inn owner Bayard Sharp. Lucinda, who lived in Boca Bay across from the court, took up the sport along with Boca Bay neighbors Blaine and Sheila Davis. Blaine and Sheila became particularly expert, so much so that Blaine was invited to play with Mr. Sharp. Blaine also had a vision: that The Inn Club become open to outside membership, as are The Inn Golf and Beach Clubs. Mr. Sharp was receptive to Blaine’s vision, thus the Gasparilla Mallet Club, with a subscription membership, was born. The Mallet Club now hosts the annual USCA- sanctioned Blaine Davis Invitational Six-Wicket Croquet Tournament, in Blaine’s honor and memory.
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.