Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Education, News.
BY CHRISTINE OLIVER, HEAD OF SCHOOL Students’ first day back to school is tentatively scheduled for Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. However, we still need the all-clear from the county. Lee County Facilities and several teams from Fireservice Emergency Disaster Response are currently at The Island School. They appear to be on schedule to be out […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in News.
Hurricane Helene brought the second highest water levels to Southwest Florida in 60 years (after Hurricane Ian). Below is an approximate timeline of Helene’s impacts on Gasparilla Island over the last week, gathered from Beacon reporting and local weather stations. Thursday, Sept. 26 1 p.m.: Wind gusts, minor bands of rain and high tides. Power […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Real Estate.
Charlotte County encourages residents to begin recovery efforts as soon as possible. To streamline the rebuilding process and prevent delays, the Charlotte County Community Development Department is providing guidelines for work that may be completed without the need for a permit. The following work does not require a permit:
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Police & Fire.
On Wednesday, September 25, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a battery on island, according to a department report. Deputy David Scozzafava and Lieutenant Mike Sawicki responded to the victim, identified as Christopher Eastman. Eastman stated he was with a coworker, identified as Daniel Lofsten, for Dun-Rite Carpet and Tile, and they went […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Featured News, News, Police & Fire.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, local fire departments, including the Boca Grande Fire Department, are responding to alarms relating to lithium batteries. When exposed to water, these batteries can rapidly deteriorate, overheat, and release gasses that may cause explosions and fast-moving fires. The rule is that if they have been damaged by water, get […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Featured News, News.
Lee County provided a hurricane recovery update at its regularly scheduled Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024, including updates on the Boca Grande Community Center grounds. Assistant County Manager Robert Codie said that the Community Center and The Island School had between 2-22 inches of water intrusion. “Those buildings are old, […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in News, Profiles.
The Lee rescue crew The Lee County Department of Transportation has worked tirelessly to alleviate Boca Grande’s flooded roadways after Hurricane Helene passed off the coast. County crews were out in full force the entire weekend after the storm and continued to work on drainage issues all week. From Friday, Sept. 27, through Sunday night, […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Breaking News, News.
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, Featured News, News, Police & Fire.
Editor’s update: At the end of day Monday, the road was clear of water. For those that need to commute into Boca Grande, the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority is open, and Boca Grande Fire Department hang tags are not required. Gasparilla Road, which flooded during Hurricane Helene, is also open. However, there is still some […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, Featured News, News.
BOCA GRANDE – Like that fifth labor of Heracles, cleaning out the Augean stables, a crew from Lee County has installed a pumps to clear putrid standing water off Gasparilla Road today. By late afternoon, the crew arrived mid-island, where large portions of Gasparilla Road in Lee County are impassible due to standing water. The […]