Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Community History.
BY GINGER WATKINS Editor’s Note: At her last meeting as chairman last month, outgoing GIBA Chairman Ginger Watkins assembled facts and history about the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority. We have presented here a brief excerpt for Beacon readers who wish to know more about the “early years” from 1996 on. The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority’s […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
The South Gulf Cove boat lock will be nonoperational due to repairs. The lock cannot be opened manually or via bridge tenders until repairs are complete. For information, contact Patrick Ferriter at 941-681-3776 or email Patrick.Ferriter@charlottecountyfl.gov.
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Entertainment, Events, News.
BY ERICA RESS MARTIN March 13 is the night I look forward to and dread. It’s the night RPP’s “The 25th annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” opens. This hectic, exhilarating, difficult show is causing sleepless nights. Can I learn a whole show where I’m never off stage? Can any of us? My emotions are mixed. […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, News.
Early voting for the upcoming presidential preference primary begins Saturday, March 9 for Lee County and Monday, March 4 for Charlotte County. Florida is a closed primary state, which means that only voters who are registered members of political parties may vote for respective candidates or nominees for an office in a primary election. The […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Events, News.
The Boca Grande Easter Egg Hunt will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 30, 2024. This free event is sponsored by Lee County Parks & Recreation and The Friends of Boca Grande Community Center. Activities include an egg hunt for ages 11 and under, goodie boxes for all children and a photo opportunity with […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Police & Fire.
The steering committee for Gasparilla Island’s new Auxiliary Emergency Communications system met Monday morning at the Boca Grande Fire Department to hear a presentation about the new system’s capabilities, and to discuss how the communications system will be used by groups and individuals. The system, which consists of simple two-way radios and an island-wide antennae […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, News.
Longtime employees, friends, rally to cause of lost fathers Three of the four men lost off the coast near Venice in an apparent fishing boat accident on Feb. 17 were employees of Safety Harbor Builders on Gasparilla Island. “We were super close with those men,” said Chip Crawford, a co-owner and CEO of the firm. […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
Sixty years ago, the National Geographic came to Florida. The magazine devoted over 50 pages to this state, in a major feature called “Florida Rides a Space Age Boom.” Some of us might admit to having a musty December 1963 edition on the shelves in a stack somewhere. (It had an illustration of the “Triumph […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Events, News.
The Boca Grande Woman’s Club invites residents to celebrate on Saturday, March 9 by joining them at the annual Bike Path Parade and Spring Fair. To represent their love for their island’s past, the club has chosen as a theme the historic railroad line and train that carried both phosphate and passengers to the island […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in News.
Visitors might notice some new additions to the Gasparilla Lighthouse or “Range Light” park as the Barrier Island Parks Society (BIPS) works to refurbish it after two devastating hurricanes. BIPS’ goal is to inspire the exploration and preservation of natural and historical treasures, Executive Director Sharon McKenzie said. One of the ways they do this […]