Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Featured News, News, Police & Fire.
The Boca Grande Fire Department hosted a meeting of the island’s Emergency Operations group Wednesday morning, Aug. 27 to plan for potential storm events. “We just want to be on the same page and work efficiently,” said Fire Chief C.W. Blosser. “The goal is to get information out faster and be more reliable.” One change […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Featured News, News.
After an August 5 ordinance that will change parking rules on Gasparilla Island, the Beacon continues to get complaints that there are at least three new, unpermitted ‘curb lawns’ in Boca Grande. In response, the Beacon asked Lee County staff if there were any plans to address the non-permitted landscaping on the island on county […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Letters to the Editor, Opinion.
Editor’s Note: Lighthouse United Methodist Church has a weekly newsletter entitled ‘Midweek News’ for their congregation. They sent this one out to members, to update them on parking and access to the church. We are publishing it here to update readers on how the church is dealing with the ordinance, as well as questions about […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO GIBA announced that a contract had been awarded for the construction of the southern roadway sidewalk which would include paved shoulders, concrete sidewalk and curbing. TEN YEARS AGO Island firefighters rescued a woman from the water between Pine Island and Cayo Costa where the currents quickly carried her away from her boat. […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, Editorial.
A kind and anonymous X.com user reached out to the Boca Beacon Twitter feed this week, suggesting a PGA-like shuttle for Boca Grande to help preserve the independent merchants on the island after parking restrictions. Ads could be sold, he said. He did not even live nearby. “I’m a small-business owner and the story reminded […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Uncategorized.
FIVE YEARS AGO Charlotte County launched their County Records website allowing all county documents going back to 1921 be viewed by the public. TEN YEARS AGO The Boca Grande Community Center Summer Camp Program sent the kids to a surprise day trip to Sea World with funding provided by Boca Grande Woman’s Club. FIFTEEN YEARS […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Uncategorized.
By KAREN GRACE In 1915, Peter Bradley of the American agricultural Chemical Company had 26 banyan trees planted on each side of what was then Second Street. The trees may have been part of a 1914 master plan produced for the company by landscape architect Carl Rust Parker. Banyan trees were proposed “to help transition […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial, Opinion.
Last week, there were no actual items relating to Boca Grande on the agenda of the Lee County Commission. But there was one item that was indirectly related, by inference and omission. Commissioner David Mulicka brought up a “Commissioner’s Item” relating to the purchase of a property for a boat ramp on San Carlos Island, […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News, Uncategorized.
The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority met for their quarterly board meeting on Thursday, Aug. 14, to discuss not only future finances, but to discuss drainage and the strengthening of the Causeway islands, which is now in progress. Through the whole meeting, a subtext on what the new parking regulations would do with toll revenue for […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News, Uncategorized.
The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority voted to address hurricane drainage issues on Gasparilla Road, near Kappy’s, at their August 14 meeting. After hurricanes Ian, Helene and Milton, the standing water lasted for weeks in a right-of-way stretch of road at the Boca Grande Hotel and Kappy’s Market shopping center. A study by the engineering firm […]