Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: The Fifth Street Beach Access on Boca Grande has been closed as a safety precaution because Hurricane Idalia eroded the beach and washed away the access ramp. The Beach Access points north and south of Fifth Street remain open. Visit leeparks.org for more details. Residents and visitors are reminded that Gasparilla State […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Police & Fire.
Boca Grande has been known to experience its share of miracles, and this past week we had evidence of that again. The Boca Grande Disaster Relief Fund has found a way to donate another major gift – $100,000 – to the Auxiliary Emergency Radio Communications project. Having already donated $50,000 to the cause, this is above and beyond … and also very necessary.
This leaves a figure just shy of $80,000 remaining out of a needed $305,000. The BGDR Fund has donated $150,000; the Boca Grande Woman’s Club has donated $75,000; and Boca Grande Charities, Inc. has donated $1,500 (for an initial 10 additional BTech radios for volunteers).
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Featured News.
Volunteers gathered on Gasparilla’s beaches for the annual International Coastal Beach Clean Up, held across the world, and on island, on Saturday, Sept. 16.
“We even had a couple of walk-ons,” said Susan Heyl, one of the volunteers for the day. A volunteer from sponsoring group Barrier Island Parks Society (BIPS), she was working the 7th Street beach cleanup site with Danielle Domke of Grande Escapes, another one of the sponsors of the day.
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Education.
The Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce has announced that it will hold their annual fall golf tournament to raise money for scholarships at an off-island venue.The tournament will be held at Wellen Park Golf and Country Club, a new 18-hole course in the new planned town of Wellen Park, off of River Road in Venice. […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, News.
Local experts on seacoast ecology are leading state efforts to reconcile scheduled beach replenishment and the environment at the second Florida Resilience Conference, set for Sept. 27-29 in Fort Lauderdale. The conference brings together local, national and international experts to address issues with Florida’s beaches and waterways.
One of the lead speakers is Michael Poff, a Lee County professional engineer. His work includes getting the Federal Emergency Management Association, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and dozens of other parties to sign off on regularly scheduled Lee County beach rebuilding efforts and at the same time, repair the damage from Hurricane Ian.
“They all have to agree on everything,” said Poff, who is who is president of Coastal Engineering Consultants. “It’s one less disturbance to the environment.”
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, Featured News.
One of the original elements of the Cape Haze development of Alfred and William Vanderbilt began restoration this week. The Cape Haze Community Center, which sits just off the fountain entrance at the corner of Spyglass Alley and Spaniards Road, was part of the earliest promotional material for Cape Haze. The building’s prominent architectural feature […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Featured News, Obituaries.
Annie Elizabeth Oakley Parsons, 84, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, September 12, 2023. Annie was born to Cary and Mildred Oakley on July 10, 1939, in Dora, Alabama. Due to her ever-loving and devoted parents, she enjoyed an amazing childhood growing up in the countryside in Gorgas, Alabama. She earned bachelor’s degrees in […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Featured News, Profiles.
There is a personality “type” the psychology professionals call “The Caregiver” or “The Consul.” People of this sort tend to be outgoing, loyal, organized, and tender-hearted. They gain energy from interacting with other people, according to the “Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Guide,” used by many folks who study such things.
These caregivers are typically described as “outgoing and gregarious.” They have a way of encouraging other people to be their best. In Boca Grande, one of the best examples of this type of person is Richard Malcolm. Richard has not only made his life reflect these characteristics, but makes a living at it, as well.
Richard – not Rich or Rick or Ricky – lives in Englewood, but has been a fixture on Gasparilla Island since the early 1990s. He started out working in the restaurant industry, working as a waiter, bartender, busboy … whatever was needed. His first gig was at Uncle Henry’s, where he recalls an incident that may have started him on the road to being a professional “helper.”
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Uncategorized.
Despite at least a dozen local bank branch closures in as many years, local “brick-and-mortar” banks are still a part of local banking habits. And they may well be around for the foreseeable future.
“My card got stolen the other day.” said Doug Izzo, director of the Englewood Chamber of Commerce. His first move? Go into a bank branch to sort it out. While the bank ultimately had to resolve the issue online, there was at least a person there to intercede.
“That’s why I like the hometown banks,” said Izzo. “They actually pay attention.”
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Featured News.
Last week, the Lee County Board of County Commissioners voted 4 to 1 to overturn longstanding height restrictions due to a storm “resilience” initiative and a need for the rebuilding of the South Seas Resort on Captiva.
“We were very, very disappointed with the 4-1 vote to move that forward,” said James Evans, CEO of the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, which advocates for the islands and manages 2,100 acres of coastal lands. They presented over 13,000 signatures against the changes, 6,000 of which where from across Lee County.
Evans said that it was incredible that density and building heights were increased in what is defined as a Coastal High Hazard area in the “guise of resiliency.”