Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Obituaries.
Frances Sybil Joiner Mills was born on Gasparilla Island, Florida on November 26, 1938, and spent her early years growing up in the unique coastal environment of the surrounding islands. She passed away peacefully at her home in Rotonda West, Florida, on March 26, 2025, surrounded by her loving family. Sybil was married to her […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Obituaries.
James Thomas Burcham (Tom), 83, of Mission Hills, Kansas, passed away March 31, 2025, surrounded by loved ones. Tom was born in Springfield, Missouri, in 1941. He attended the University of Kansas where he received a bachelor’s degree in business administration and then went on to successfully get a Master’s in Business Administration from University […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Profiles.
Dr. Chris Russo You may have noticed a sleek black moonshine-era car cruising around Boca Grande over the last few months. That car, and its owner, Dr. Christopher Russo, live at Boca Grande North. Chris, as he prefers to be called, hopes you will stop him sometime and ask about his car. “It is such […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
BY CAPT. WILL WATERHOUSE Lots of great fishing this week in the windy conditions. We have really started to target the snook in the back country the last few weeks and some really nice sized snook have been around. Along with the slot snook lots of smaller but hard fighting snook have kept trips action […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO The Boca Grande Woman’s Club announced the establishment of a $250,000 Emergency Relief Fund. TEN YEARS AGO Kipp, owned by Mike Giobbe, won the Boca Bowser Dog Award at the Boca Grande Dog Show. FIFTEEN YEARS AGO Lee County’s Visitor’s Bureau toured Boca Grande along with volunteer greeters from the Fort Myers […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, Editorial.
Over 30 Boca Grande representatives, on both sides of the issue of a possible new parking ordinance, traveled to Fort Myers to the Lee County Old Courthouse Tuesday. There is a historical irony of going up to address the commissioners there. It was designed by the same English-born architect who designed The Gasparilla Inn. It […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, Community, News.
A motion to move forward with the Gasparilla Island Parking Ordinance amendment, and direct it to an anticipated May 20 public hearing, was passed 3-2 with Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass and Commissioner David Mulicka voting against the directive during the Tuesday, April 1 meeting. “I personally don’t want to go to the Temp, and have dinner […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Featured News, News.
Alternate version shown by attorney at Lee meeting The Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce circulated a separate draft ordinance for parking on Gasparilla Island on Tuesday night, April 1 after it was brought up by attorney Michael R. Whitt during the Lee County Board of Commissioners meeting that morning. The document is undated. “What was […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Featured News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
During the Tuesday, April 1 Lee Board of County Commissioners meeting, Assistant County Manager Christine Brady gave an update on Gasparilla Island beach accesses. At the end of March, Lee County Parks and Recreation opened the 19th Street paddle craft launch as well as beach accesses on 1st, 3rd, 10th, 11th, 12th, 14th, 17th and […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Featured News, News, Police & Fire.
A golf cart got stuck as it attempted to exit the closed construction site at Gasparilla Island State Park. The cart was seen moving around Saturday night in the closed area. Reports from Lee County Sheriff’s Office were not available at presstime. The park is currently closed for a beach renourishment project. Photo by Cheryl