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BGWC announces community grants and scholarship awards

At its annual meeting on April 4, the Woman’s Club announced that 20 area organizations will receive funding through the BGWC’s community grant program, for a total of $210,584.
Grants were awarded this year to the following organizations: Barrier Island Parks Society); Boca Grande Art Center; Boca Grande Charities; Boca Grande Historical Society; Boca Grande Preschool; Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association; Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association; GasparilAla Island Maritime Museum; Lee County Parks and Recreation; Mote Marine Laboratory; Royal Palm Players; and The Island School. Grants will also be given to L.A. Ainger Middle School Band; Lemon Bay High School Band Boosters; LBHS Chorus; LBHS Project Graduation; LBHS Theater Guild; and Lemon Bay booster organizations for the school’s football, girls basketball, and softball teams.
In addition to awarding community grants, the Club voted to provide post-secondary education (university, college, trade or vocational) scholarships for 39 local students for a total of $ 234,000 for the 2022-2023 school year.

PROFILE: Jorge Matos

The municipality of Sabana Grande is located in the western coastal valleys of Puerto Rico some 1,144 miles from Boca Grande. This small town is surrounded by public forest land and packed with history and architectural gems. It has been nicknamed the Town of Petateros in honor of the multigenerational artisans who make petate, a mat woven from a specific type of palm leaf. The most famous petate weaver of the town is Doña Monserrate Montalvo, but its most famous chef is perhaps Jorge Matos. 

This date in the Boca Beacon …

Fifteen years ago the Gasparilla Island Water Association monitored the island’s water situation and deemed it to be in a critical state due to the winter drought. Cayo Costa rangers aided seven Cuban refugees who came ashore on Cayo Costa State Park. 

Railroad Plaza, Fugate’s building sold

Last week two real estate transactions took place that were quite important to the downtown historic district – the purchase of the Railroad Plaza building in the 400 block of E. Railroad Avenue and the Fugate’s building, which includes Fugate’s, The Patio Shoppe, Key Agency and Parsley-Baldwin. 

Jo Anne Speer: 1928 – 2022

‘Kin to almost everyone on the island’ As the sun would start setting on any given day, you might find Jo Anne Speer down at 1st Street beach. Sometimes her nephew and caretaker, Nelson, would accompany her. Other times it was her little dog.  Jo Anne passed away on March 7, 2022, in her sleep, […]

Stahl, Brokaw take stage at Fust’s first Author’s Luncheon

Two news legends took the podium at the Johann Fust Library Foundation’s first-ever Author’s Luncheon Thursday, April 7, at the Gasparilla Inn. The crowd of 100 was enthralled by the wit and charm of the principle speaker, as well as the man who introduced her.
Tom Brokaw, resident of Boca Grande, and retired television journalist and author, presented his friend and fellow television journalist Lesley Stahl at the Johann Fust Library first-ever “Author’s Luncheon” on Thursday, April 7 at The Gasparilla Inn and Club.

Show the island your artistic side at the BGAC

Would you like to become part of the Gasparilla Island’s community of visual artists? The time is now to stop by the Boca Grande Art Center and pick up your application to become an exhibiting member for our 2022/2023 season. You are invited to join a group of colleagues working together to encourage each other’s artistic achievements and progress.

‘No whine’ wine and wickets

There were two croquet grounds on the island when Lucinda arrived. One was a Boca Bay amenity for residents of Boca Bay. The other was a Gasparilla Inn amenity for guests of The Inn and Inn owner Bayard Sharp. Lucinda, who lived in Boca Bay across from the court, took up the sport along with Boca Bay neighbors Blaine and Sheila Davis. Blaine and Sheila became particularly expert, so much so that Blaine was invited to play with Mr. Sharp. Blaine also had a vision: that The Inn Club become open to outside membership, as are The Inn Golf and Beach Clubs. Mr. Sharp was receptive to Blaine’s vision, thus the Gasparilla Mallet Club, with a subscription membership, was born. The Mallet Club now hosts the annual USCA- sanctioned Blaine Davis Invitational Six-Wicket Croquet Tournament, in Blaine’s honor and memory.