Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in News.
The Boca Beacon has received a draft of an updated parking regulation for Gasparilla Island in Lee County. The draft, which is dated March 19, 2025, was circulated by the Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, March 20. The ordinance would define downtown Boca Grande as “certain properties generally bounded by 5th Street to […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, News.
There was no formal agenda item concerning Boca Grande parking at the Lee County Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday morning, March 18, despite county staff telling attendees last meeting that it would come back up on the 18th. “The reason we didn’t have a public meeting today [about parking in Boca Grande] is four people […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
On Saturday, this paper had a visit from a family who had been photographed and included in our publication the previous week. They wanted to get some extra copies of the paper. They came up to the office to see us, as so many of you do. The daughter wanted to tell us – as […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, News.
Lee County staff has no plan for a county sponsored “community panel” for Boca Grande, modeled on Captiva. “This is not in the works for Boca Grande and is not being discussed at a staff level,” said Betsy Clayton, the county’s public information officer, in an email to the Beacon Wednesday. There have been some […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Sports & Outdoors.
In the category of a good deed punished, the Gulf Shores North Property Owners Association has been relandscaping and removing the non-native vegetation around Gasparilla Lake, which is on Gulf Shores Drive. The property is the important visual gateway to Boca Grande, as it is the first bit of property seen to the right as […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, Community History, News, Sports & Outdoors.
The fate of the Amory Chapel, severely damaged during hurricanes Helene and Milton, is still in question. The issue came up after the Boca Beacon raised it with Lee County Planner Peter Blackwell at the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board. “We want to get it fixed because it is a significant property on this island,” […]
Written by Susan Hanafee on . Posted in Opinion.
The Art Center on our little island in Southwest Florida was hard hit by back-to-back hurricanes last fall. The hardwood floors had to be replaced as well as some drywall. Now the county, which owns the building, reportedly wants to put down carpet as the new flooring. “Carpet?!” I said when my friend told me […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Opinion.
BY DUANE ZOBRIST, OWNER GASPARILLA ADVENTURES As a business owner in downtown Boca Grande, I’ve watched our island community flourish through hospitality, charm, and the warmth of local businesses; especially these past months as we all pull together to recover from hurricane Milton. Today, however, we’re facing a decision by the county commission that […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: Our County Commissioner Kevin Ruane has studied our island parking intensively and talked to all different constituencies. He has adapted a plan for Boca Grande that he successfully implemented in Sanibel. His plan is balanced and fair. We residents and business people need to support it. If we don’t limit parking on […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, Community, News.
Church land use attorney addresses Lee Commission During the regular Lee County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday morning, March 4, several members of the Boca Grande community, as well as an attorney hired by the churches, spoke on the parking issue during the public comment period. “We need to have them welcome this, the changes, and […]