Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
While many things are slowly coming back from the storm named Ian that turned us upside down, there are still a few things that are frustrating. Stuck in our craw, if you will. Three of those are the beach access closures, the Community Center playground closure and, now, the closure of the “Pink” docks at […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
Sign up now! The Gasparilla Island Tennis Classic is about to begin on a court near you … are you signed up yet? The tournament, sponsored by the Boca Beacon’s publisher, Dusty Hopkins (who plays a mean game himself), and hosted by Boca Bay Pass Club, The Gasparilla Inn Tennis Club and the Boca Grande […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: Happy New Year to ALL! The G.I.M.M. is happy to announce the 2023 dates for the HOWL AT THE MOON Tournaments: Please book your Captains now for the 2023 Season! HOWL AT THE MOON – Sunday, May 28, 2023 LADIES HOWL AT THE MOON – Saturday, June 10, 2023 Ladies Cocktail […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
There aren’t many years that start out with so much hope for a “back-to-normal” life, only to have a big old sledgehammer come at the end of the third quarter, but 2022 provided that. Hurricane Ian picked up our island and shook it like a snow globe, and while we didn’t have the same devastation […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
The ongoing issue at Gasparilla Mobile Estates took a sharp turn last week, as the Homeowner’s Association filed suit against the property owner for unlawful closure, and two days later property owner Carol Kropp filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy on the park. The bankruptcy document, filed on December 22 in the United States Bankruptcy Court Middle […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
The Gasparilla Island Water Association will convene for their annual meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 5 p.m. in the Boca Grande Community Center. Included on the agenda is the election of new directors. Bob Heilman, Jeff McMillen and Shelley Patenade have expressed interest in filling three positions left vacant on the board. In the […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Boca Beacon Back Pages, Columns, Community History.
Boca Beacon backpages FIVE YEARS AGO U.S. Sugar President and CEO Robert Buker and Judy Sanchez, senior director of Corporate Communications and publications for U.S. Sugar, gave a presentation about “big sugar” at the Community Center. TEN YEARS AGO Work on the new bridge system was coming along, as Wyoming rails were erected and the […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in News.
Green is the color of recovery in Boca Grande. Green is popping up all over the Island as the vegetation that once made this a lush island paradise is returning to its former beauty. It is not quite there yet, but the signs of health and growth are nearly everywhere. Rick Joyce, certified arborist and […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday, Dec. 20 to approve interlocal agreements to fund 14 Lee County Beach and Shoreline projects using more than $5.78 million in Tourist Development Tax revenue. One of the projects money is allocated for is in Boca Grande. The applicant is the Barrier Island Parks Society, and the […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
While much of Gasparilla Mobile Estates was dark last Saturday night, in the very back there was a little corner of festivity, complete with Christmas lights. Inside the Clontz home there were nine people gathered to eat, to drink, to share company among friends. Not long ago that was what the little mobile home park […]