Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Obituaries.
Andrew Poysell Ireland (Andy), a former U.S. Member of Congress from Florida, banking executive, and beloved community leader, passed away peacefully at The Glenridge on Palmer Ranch in Sarasota, Florida, at age 94. Born August 23, 1930, Andy grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, the son of Ellsworth Frederick and Dorothy Poysell Ireland. He attended Cincinnati Country […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
The Beacon continues to receive calls about what is where, what will happen when, and when so-and-so will open. So much is, as they say, up in the air. Of note: • The Boca Grande Post Office is in Placida. • The Island School is in Rotonda. • First Baptist Church is at St. Andrew’s. […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News.
Lee County, through our First District Commissioner Kevin Ruane, sent the Boca Beacon and the island an update on all that is going on with the restoration of Gasparilla Island, including streets, utilities and the Community Center. Below is an abridged version of some of the county’s task notes as of Tuesday, Oct. 22. Note […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Uncategorized.
On Friday, Oct. 25 at 5 p.m., the need for a Hurricane Pass will be eliminated for Gasparilla Island. This will also coincide with the demobilization of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office checkpoint at the county line, where passed are checked, and cars are surveyed on exiting the island. This news came from Chief C.W. […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Uncategorized.
Toll collections at the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority will resume at midnight tonight, Weds. Oct. 23, 2024. A reminder: Also, GIBA has placed a sign on the Causeway letting the public know that the beaches are closed until further notice. The Lee County Sheriff is going to continue the Hurricane Tag checkpoint at the county […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
Clockwise from top, remediation trucks at The Gasparilla Inn. Right, street sweepers from Lee County are busy. Ziad & Kaz Kazbour, BubbaQue’s of Brandon, came thanks to the Faustini Family of Pavement Technology. While much of Hudson’s was flooded, they donated unspoiled drinks to anyone as a gift to the island recovery, BGI distributed with […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, Profiles.
On Tuesday, Oct. 15, Florida Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly came to Boca Grande to help local businesses ruined by Hurricane Milton. The Beacon discussed the importance of small businesses to not only each local economy, but overall tourism. While here, he saw damage from Milton and Helene, and toured Hudson’s, Scarpas, Key Lime Bistro, […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, Featured News, News.
Day by day Hurricane Milton recovery on Gasparilla Hurricane Milton was the third hurricane landfall in Florida this year after Debby and then Helene less than two weeks prior. Below is an approximate timeline of Milton’s impacts on Gasparilla Island throughout the week, gathered from Beacon reporting, local weather stations and Gasparilla Island Conservation and […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, Community, News.
In a visit aimed at highlighting the importance of local commerce, Florida Commerce Secretary Alex Kelly toured Gasparilla Island on Tuesday, Oct. 15, to meet with small business owners affected by the recent hurricanes. Kelly’s visit focused on businesses still recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which caused significant damage in the area. Kelly and […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in News.
During its regular meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 15, the Board of Lee County Commissioners included various updates on Boca Grande Milton recovery, including sand screening and permitting. Lee Director of Solid Waste Douglass Whitehead gave an update on debris collection, which started for Hurricane Milton on Monday, Oct. 14. By Tuesday’s meeting they had collected […]