Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
BY CAPT. WILL WATERHOUSE Despite the recent storms, The 29th annual Gasparilla Island Fly Fishing tournament is ON! The event will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 26 and will benefit the Boca Grande Historic Society. This year, teams will set out to catch the two largest combined length redfish. If you are interested in participating […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, News.
Lee County is working through a long list of road repairs on the side streets of Gasparilla Island. Currently, Lee County DOT has assessed all the damaged areas of roadways on Boca Grande and is preparing bids for the repair of the side streets, with work potentially beginning in less than two weeks. These repairs […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Community, Letters to the Editor.
First-hand account of Helene escape one of many local stories BY BARBARA HUGHES Editor’s Note: Local gallery owner Barbara Hughes was one of the ‘lucky’ ones who came through Helene as it moved through Appalachia. She wrote this essay just after the storm; it is one of dozens of firsthand stories of locals who were […]
Written by Boca Grande Health Clinic on . Posted in Columns, Health & Wellness.
As we settle into November here in Boca Grande, the challenges of hurricane recovery are matched by the need to stay vigilant about our health. The Boca Grande Health Clinic is already busy with cases of seasonal respiratory illnesses. At this time of year, colds, flu, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) are common, while COVID-19 […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News.
The island Disaster Fund, set up to help local businesses and institutions recover from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, has now raised over $2.4 million toward a $3 million goal. The fund, which is run through Lighthouse United Methodist Church and has been supported by over 232 donors (as of Thursday) across the island and the […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
Charlotte County Parks & Natural Resources has reminded residents and contractors that new development/re-development construction must adhere to Charlotte County coastal lighting review and inspections, per Sea Turtle Ordinance 98-41. Alexandria Grant, Coastal Environmental specialist for Charlotte County, said that this is a problem they encounter after every hurricane. “Not only is there major loss […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, News.
Town trash still on county agenda; looking at options Three weeks after the departure of Hurricane Milton, there are piles of trash still littering the island. And where the piles have been cleaned up, there are, what Misty Nichols, executive director of the Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association calls, “thousands of little pieces of […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
Many who love Florida travel know that in Daytona Beach, in Volusia County, there is a strip of beach where you can drive your car, and park it. The practice is a relic of the olden days of Florida, when the beaches were less crowded, and the entertainment options simpler. Most of us who did […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Obituaries.
Priscilla Pope Masselink died on August 12, 2024 at her home in Sorrento, Maine after a 20-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Priscilla was 67 years old. She was surrounded by her loving family and embraced virtually in the arms of countless friends from her Maine childhood in Bangor and Sorrento, her college years at Duke […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Profiles.
There’s a new pep in the step of Dencina Barracks, front office manager for The Gasparilla Inn and Club. Dencina, or “Dee,” is a brand-new American citizen. Her citizenship became official at a ceremony in October. “October 25, at 2 p.m., the best day of my life!” she enthused. “The whole week I cried.” The […]