Skip to main content
Search Results for “county

Profile Mitch Smith

■ BY SUE ERWIN Mitch Smith recalls spending the summer months of his youth at day camp at the Boca Grande Community Center. His father, Myron, worked for a cleaning business on the island for many years. His mother, Janice, worked as a teacher in Charlotte County for many years and now works for the Department of […]

The Gasparilla Island Act: Part II Building in Boca, and a war of words over the island’s future

■ BY SUSAN HANAFEE Editor’s Note: This is the second in a series of articles about the forces that have shaped development in Boca Grande and on Gasparilla Island. As the tarpon season is getting underway in 1975, a station wagon backs into a gas pump at Millers Marina, rupturing a 5,000-gallon tank. The resulting […]

PROFILE: Karen Kelly

■ BY SUE ERWIN – Known for her smiling face and pleasant manner, Karen Kelley wears many hats at The Island School, where she has been employed since the school started back in 1999. Karen worked in the office that first school year, eventually leading her to other positions as a paraprofessional, creative arts and drama teacher, as […]

First fishing tourney to be held in September

■ STAFF REPORT The Boca Beacon is teaming up with Boca Grande Marina and Lee County County Parks and Recreation staff to host a free youth fishing tournament at 9 a.m. on Saturday, September 9. The two-hour fishing tournament is for boys and girls ages 15-and-under. It will take place at the Boca Grande Fishing […]

The Gasparilla Island Act: Part I The Act takes shape

■ BY SUSAN HANAFEE Editor’s Note: This is the first in a random series of stories about the forces that have shaped and continue to impact development and construction in Boca Grande and on Gasparilla Island. The fight over the fate of Gasparilla Island nearly 40 years ago sounds like a novel Florida writers Carl […]

New boardwalk officially open!

On Thursday, Aug. 17 Gasparilla Island State park officially opened the ADA accessible boardwalk on the south end of the island. Funds for this boardwalk were made possible through the Lee County Tourist Development Council. According to Parks Manager Chad Lach, special thanks goes out to not only the TDC, but also Park Rangers Shannon […]

Searching for ‘La Pirate’ … have you seen this boat?

■ STAFF REPORT A 2002 26’ Glacier Bay boat was reportedly stolen from Marina Bokeelia on July 21 between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. The boat belongs to Capt. Jack who operates “Capt. Jack Boat Tours” in Bokeelia. T he boat was docked along with other tour boats behind Capt. Con’s Fish House on Main […]

Profile: Laquanda Dixon

■ BY SUE ERWIN If you’ve visited the Boca Grande Health Clinic over the past few years, you’ve probably met Laquanda Dixon, the medical assistant at the health center. Laquanda has been working at the clinic for three years. Besides greeting and helping to care for patients, she also is the quality improvement coordinator. She was born […]