Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, News.
This was updated Monday, Sept. 30, and newer stories. Information on sand and debris is now available here. After surveying across Gasparilla Island, it appears that at absolute minimum, dozens of houses have been severely damaged by Hurricane Helene, and many more with substantial damage. In town, many businesses, including Hudson’s and Fugutes, were flooded. […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, Featured News, News.
Currently all 20 lift stations are working on the island, and every lift station has power. However, the system is filled with seepage of sea water and rain, and Gasparilla Island Water Authority will be working all of today and tomorrow to clear out the system. The treatment plant continued to work and was not […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
Last week, after a visit to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners, a reader asked the Beacon what you had to do to speak at a Lee County meeting if you have concerns. The answer is simple. You need to drive to Ft. Myers, attend the meeting and speak. If you are addressing an […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Community, Letters to the Editor.
BY EMERSON WICKWIRE I applaud the Beacon, serving both as a community platform for ideas to identify and resolve community issues, as well as a central source of information on issue background and facts. I have followed the surge of Beacon letters commenting not just on our ever-present parking issues, but also on the pending […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Profiles, Society.
Once someone meets Caroline Farrington, they are unlikely to forget her. She has the smile, the flair, the looks and, yes, the accent, that make her virtually unforgettable. She comes by all these attributes quite honestly, as a woman who has seen the world, taken the best of it and made a comfortable, low-key living […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Community History.
BY KAREN GRACE The late Capt. Fred Futch once said that although many people say the biggest change to the island came from the building of the bridge, he thought it was the formation of the water company that was the greatest impetus for the development that followed. Before 1968 and the Gasparilla Island Water […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Featured News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Before Hurricane Helene, some beachgoers have had questions about the color of the water, which, even on the Gulf of Mexico side of the island, was the light brownish color of a cypress swamp. “Water-wise, we are still experiencing a tremendous amount of rain inland that is causing storm water runoff and hence the tannins […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, Community, News.
This Sunday, Pastor Gary Beatty will preach his last message at First Baptist Church in Boca Grande. Beatty announced his retirement last Sunday. “God’s been good to me,” said Beatty. “The island’s been good to me. People have been good to me.” He came to the church in 2000. His wife Betty knew from the […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: I was horrified to read of a proposal to put up parking meters or some sort of paid parking system in downtown Boca Grande. Parking meters, and even parking apps and kiosks, of course come with parking meter maids, which also means parking tickets. For a community that prides itself as one […]
Written by VAN HUBBARD on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
Please consider that water quality issues have reduced fish stocks, and the significant influx of residents and visitors has reduced water quality. Businesses are eager to grab all this easy-growth money, but when the scales flip how do we deal with the mess? Can we afford to continue trashing our natural resources? I don’t believe […]