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 […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, Community, News.
The Boca Beacon has received a circulating draft of an updated parking regulation for Gasparilla Island in Lee County. The Beacon asked for a draft copy from the county, but the county did not provide one. The draft is dated Feb. 26, 2025. It would restrict beach parking to existing state parks, as well as […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Community, News.
Spring breaks have officially begun, and as students from across the country head for the warmth of Florida, expect more crowds and traffic throughout the month of March. Lee and Charlotte Counties’ public schools have March 17-21 off, as does The Island School here in Boca Grande. Collier County students get March 10-14 off. Among […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community History, Featured News, News, Real Estate.
Four residential projects, as well as a commercial façade improvement, will come in front of the next meeting of the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 12, at the Boca Grande Community Center. The one commercial project is the rebuilding of the façade wall and the replacement of windows and […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
Lee County’s iguana-removal vendor for Boca Grande has resumed service after a three-month winter hiatus. “The break is there because it’s a stipulation of the contract written by Lee County,” said Tom Portuallo, owner and founder of Blue Iguana Pest Control Inc. Brian Ambrose is a technician for Blue Iguana which is the primary vendor […]