Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
The public is invited to attend upcoming matches for the Gasparilla Island Tennis Classic sponsored by the Boca Beacon. This week, there have been some delays because of the rain, so call the clubs to confirm times. Finals for the 70+ Mixed Doubles are scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 25 at 2 p.m. at The Gasparilla […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Real Estate.
A crew from the women’s fashion retailer Hunter Bell was in Boca Grande recently to photograph part of their spring 2025 line. Hunter Bell, launched by its namesake designer in New York City in 2006, takes a bit of a coastal prep look with their resort wear. Each season they pull from a range of […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Breaking News, Community, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Lee County has announced that a number of beach access points have officially reopened on Gasparilla Island. The beach access points, part of Lee County Parks & Recreation, were closed after Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The streets have needed extensive stabilization and road repairs, as in most cases the sand was either washed out completely, […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
Features on presidents in Boca Grande, a hurricane roundup, and a weddings page The January/February edition of the Boca Beacon’s Gasparilla Island Magazine is out now with new feature stories, recipes, shopping and social pages. Featured stories include a history of Florida’s National Airlines, a collection of photos from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, a look […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Letters to the Editor, Sports & Outdoors.
To the Editor: On behalf of our permit holder, Denise Juergens, I am writing this letter from the Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association (BGSTA) to acknowledge and thank the generous individuals, businesses and organizations who have supported the BGSTA during the 2024 sea turtle nesting season. Each of them provided a significant resource for us, […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Events.
The Gasparilla Island Tennis Classic opens on Saturday, Jan. 18. The all-island tournament, sponsored by the Boca Beacon’s publisher, Dusty Hopkins, will be held at the Boca Bay Pass Club, The Gasparilla Inn Tennis Club and the Boca Grande Club. The matches will begin on Saturday, Jan. 18 and will end on Saturday, Feb. 8. […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Police & Fire.
Two men were arrested for resisting an officer without violence around 11 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13 on South Harbor Drive. Gage Liam Towles and Wesley Robert Owensby, both 21, were fishing in the water at a “community dock,” along with one other man, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s report. Deputies Justin Coker and […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: The damage caused by Helene and Milton in our area was unprecedented. While many communities received immediate attention and governmental support, Little Gasparilla Island has been overlooked, treated like an afterthought. Everyone here has been affected, with countless homes completely destroyed. Some of the most cherished people in my life lost everything […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News.
The new November/December edition of the Boca Beacon’s Gasparilla Island Magazine is out with new feature stories, recipes, shopping and social pages. The cover depicts the Boca Grande Range Light, an iconic local landmark, reimagined by artist Ashley Lippincott in a bold pop-art style. Featured stories include a tour of Sarasota’s Historic Burns Court, an […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Community History.
BY MARILYN HOECKEL A story from 1989 detailed some of the biggest storms to hit Boca Grande Editor’s note: This was from an Aug. 4, 1989 edition of the Boca Beacon. There are five big storms that seem to stand out in the memories of Gasparilla Island residents. The years of those storms are 1910, […]