Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in News.
Shown in the two accompanying charts, mid-year tourist tax collections for Lee County (through March) have already surpassed FY10/11’s, not including late payments for that year. Lee County Tourism Development Council Director Tamara Pigott, collections for this fiscal year have already surpassed last year’s (for the same months) by nearly 16 percent. Information compiled […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in News.
Twenty five years of dispute seemed to have been put aside — at least for a day or so. The ink was barely dry on an agreement between the Boca Grande Isles Property Owners’ Association and defendants 5F, LLC, and 5F BA, LLC, when those three entities and several other parties were named as defendants […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE When you feed a kid a fish, they will eat for a day … or push it around on their plate, at least. When you teach a kid to fish, though, well … sometimes you’ll create a monster. That is what Capt. Sandy Melvin is hoping for after this year’s Gasparilla Island […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Letters to the Editor, News.
To the Editor: Suncoast Humane Society is excited to announce that its 2016 Pet Calendar Photo Contest has officially begun. Your pet’s photos could be featured on the front cover of this exclusive pet calendar! Suncoast Humane Society has four convenient ways to enter your pet’s photo into the contest. You are able to upload […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE Sea turtle season has just begun and while nest numbers are still low, island patrollers have already found one turtle dead on local beaches. According to Maureen McConnell, the head of the island’s sea turtle patrollers, she received a call of a “stranded” juvenile loggerhead turtle at the north end of the […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Editorial.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE As the tourist season cools down and tarpon season heats up, an outsider would think that things would be pretty quiet around here. It sounds logical, but wait.Look, there in the distance, coming toward us. It’s our old friends, drama and controversy! Hey guys, how are you doing? Right now there are […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in News.
BY JACK SHORT A routine inspection revealed that the small bridge on Harbor Drive suffered from a bowing seawall that will be repaired next week. Representatives of Lee County said the repairs should last one to two weeks. Randy Cerchie, acting director of the Department of Transportation for Lee County, said he suspects a tieback […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Featured News.
In its ongoing efforts to maintain a safe bike path for all users, the Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association (GICIA) has coordinated with the Lee County Sheriff’s Department to continue the safety details throughout the summer. Stepping up the number of safety details and scheduling them on busy summer weekends is possible because of […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: I just read the reply to my letter to the editor from last week, from Mr. Regnery. It made me dizzy. The RPMs of that spin were off the scale. Unsubstantiated charges? Red Herrings? Ginned up by a couple of well-known locals?Oh, those pesky locals, what are we to do? Perhaps we […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Featured News, Letters to the Editor.
(The following was sent to Lee County Commissioners by Boca Grande resident Bill Regnery on May 11. By his request it is printed here) Gentlemen: I read Executive Director Misty Nichols’ letter detailing the GICIA’s decision to support the parking plan endorsed by the Churches and Gasparilla Inn Group. While I was disappointed with the […]