Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: I read the brief excerpt and felt that the author left out some important points regarding the creation of the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority. In my 47 years as resident of Charlotte County, I visited the small quaint fishing village with the phosphate train, hundreds of times, years before all the new development. […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Police & Fire.
BY G.B. (BO) HAMRICKPROJECT COORDINATOR The Boca Grande Fire Department’s Emergency Communications and Interoperability Working Group has completed the new Island (standby) Emergency Operations Center design. The design was presented to and approved by Chief C.W. Blosser of the Boca Grande Fire Department on March 5th. The new Emergency Operations Center, or EOC, is the […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
BY ARLENE HALL, BOCA GRANDE SEA TURTLE ASSOC. Although there is still a bit of morning chill in the air and in the gulf waters along the beaches of Gasparilla Island, sea turtle nesting season will be heating up very soon. Around May 1st, as female loggerhead and green sea turtles start to haul themselves […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
A 5K race, set for St. Patrick’s Day 2024 on Gasparilla Island and sponsored by the Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce, has been canceled due to logistics and permitting issues. The chamber hopes to reschedule the event, upon the resolution of the issues. Questions? Visit bocagrandechamber.com
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News.
A Dogs for Dogs fund-raiser is being held on Saturday, March 16 to raise funds for the last 25 percent of Suncoast Humane Society’s capital campaign for their new campus. “There is no other place in the country – or in the world – like this,” said Chief Executive Officer Maureen O’Nell. “We literally thought like […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Featured News, News.
A proposed apartment building set to be located behind Cape Haze Plaza, appears to be stalled as a development. In 2022 before Hurricane Ian, a 108-unit multi-family housing project was in the planning stages. The nine-acre property had been proposed to the county as “Cape Haze Multi-family Property” and originally submitted May 26, 2022. It […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Police & Fire.
Sheriff’s office had held off on adopting Motorola recorders As a result of a county-wide purchase of bodycams from Motorola, Lee County deputies on Gasparilla Island are now wearing body cams. That necessarily includes the officers here in Boca Grande. “By policy, deputies will record when responding to all calls for service and during all […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
BY CAPT. SANDY MELVIN Last week was a good one for big speckled trout in the backcountry. We also saw some nice redfish scattered around as well. On these warmer days, we saw some big snook that began cruising the shallow grass flats moving into the islands. They haven’t been biting very well, but It […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Profiles.
There is something special about Garth Bailey. It only takes a few minutes talking to him to know what it is. He is unabashedly in love with the Lord. Garth is from Ocho Rios, Jamaica, but lives and works in Boca Grande during the season. He works as a server for The Gasparilla Inn and […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Community History.
BY GINGER WATKINS Editor’s Note: At her last meeting as chairman last month, outgoing GIBA Chairman Ginger Watkins assembled facts and history about the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority. We have presented here a brief excerpt for Beacon readers who wish to know more about the “early years” from 1996 on. The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority’s […]