Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News.
Above, newspaper and magazine awards from last year’s convention. Boca Beacon archives The Boca Beacon and Gasparilla Island Magazine received word that has been nominated for 39 awards at the annual Florida Magazine Association and Florida Press Association contests. The Beacon is a finalist for 18 awards, including a The Jon A. Roosenraad First Amendment […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Featured News, News, Police & Fire.
A beachgoer found a burned U.S. Navy phosphorous flare on a Gasparilla Island beach on Tuesday evening around 22nd Street. According to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the item was transported to the Charlotte County landfill for destruction. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office and the United States Air Force […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Community, Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: Guess what is not being shared with the public but the Lee County Board is discussing internally? Approving the Boca Grande parking proposal triggers an immediate and expensive FY25 ($4.2M+) price tag, and by federal law, tens of millions of dollars of already approved future federal funds must also be withheld. The […]
Written by VAN HUBBARD on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
As a young high school fisherman, I enjoyed fish legends. Big shark stories just enhanced the adventure and thrills. Everyone from Tampa Bay to Boca Grande Pass had huge hammerhead sharks Old Hitler stories. I’ve witnessed and battled some giants, and here are a few of the stories I remember. Back in ‘65 on Saturday […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO New hand sanitizing stations were being distributed to local businesses that took the “Boca Grande Pledge” to educate the public regarding cleanliness and slowing the spread of COVID. TEN YEARS AGO Charlotte County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested three men and were searching for a fourth who were fishing illegally near Alligator Creek. FIFTEEN […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
This Friday, The Beacon office will be closed for the Florida Press Association annual meeting. The paper won 18 awards, including one for the work of the hurricane fund and for the volunteers from Lighthouse United Methodist Church who made it happen. Another is the Jon A. Roosenraad First Amendment Defense Award. Roosenraad died in […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.
Decker Todd 63 of Brandon FL died 03/10/2025 at home. Born September 28, 1963 in Lincoln Maine, the son of Donovan E. Todd Jr and Joyce (Fern Elaine Thibodeau) Todd. He grew up in Charleston and gained his love of golf while working at his parents golf course “Todd’s Valley.” Decker attended Foxcroft Academy High […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Education, Featured News, Profiles.
New at The Island School this year Anne Smith may be new to The Island School, but she’s no stranger to the classroom – with 20 years of teaching experience, she’ll begin her first week on island this Monday, Aug. 4. “I was in Sarasota County for 20 years,” Smith said. “My first five years, […]
Written by Harry Kalajian, MDT on . Posted in Columns.
Let’s make a few things clear about training your dog. All unwanted behavior is caused by the owner. Either it was never corrected or guided when your dog was young and you brought it home. If your dog goes up on the couch and you allow it, several things happen. You give them a high […]
Written by Delores Savas on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
In a world where so much that is wild and free has been lost to us, we must leave these beautiful animals free to swim as they will and must. They do us no harm and wish us none and we should let them alone. A dolphin smileis the greatest deception.It creates the illusionthat they […]