Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Community History, News.
The third History Bytes of 2026 was presented by Tom Knight, who shared about his time at Mercury Marine, or Mercabo, on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at the Johann Fust Library Loggia. This is the 25th year of History Bytes, which is a series offered by the Boca Grande Historical Society and hosted by Betsy Fugate […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Police & Fire.
On Tuesday, an extremely long parade of Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office vehicles visited Gasparilla Island and were spotted off Gasparilla Road. “The presence was due to law-enforcement training,” wrote Gabriella Ruiz, public information officer for the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, in a statement to the Beacon. A bystander counted the cars, some of which appeared […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
Some of the group interested in beach access and parking on Gasparilla Island have incorporated as a 501(c)4 non-profit in Placida to help better support public access on the beaches across Southwest Florida and on Gasparilla Island. Their new group is called Open Shores of Southwest Florida; they incorporated in January. Their stated goal is […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Featured News, News.
Above, Kappy’s Richie Woodham and Brandi DeBruler with Tenpenny, at center. Members of the band of country singer Mitchell Tenpenny came to Gasparilla Island before playing the Big Boy Toyz Expo in Port Charlotte last Friday. A staffer at Kappy’s happened to recognize them as part of a country band from Tennessee. “They came in […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Featured News, News, Police & Fire.
The Boca Grande Fire Department responded to 55 calls for assistance in January 2026, reported Chief C.W. Blosser during the Board of Fire Commissioners meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 18. There were 55 incidents in January 2025, and 54 incidents in January 2024, so last month was right on par with previous years. Throughout January 2026, […]
Written by Angela McPhillips on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Every spring through fall, sea turtles return to Boca Grande’s shoreline to nest. The tracks they leave behind fade quickly with the tide, but the effort required to protect those nests does not. The work is daily, physical, precise and sustained by a small nonprofit that operates almost entirely on volunteer power. That nonprofit is […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Featured News, News.
Lost chain belonged to different veteran with the same name Above, Schroeder in a group photo from his time in the Air Force. He is on the bottom row, far right. In January, the Beacon reported that military dog tags had been found by a woman from France swimming off 13th Street. Lee County Deputy […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, News.
The Suncoast Humane Society is proud to announce and sincerely thank Key Agency for their ongoing generous donation in support of animals in need throughout our community. Pictured in the photo are Brandon, David and Austin of Key Agency, Paws for Play Camp Children, and the CEO of Suncoast Humane Society, Maureen E. O’Nell. […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News.
Lee County has released the agenda for the first meeting of the Boca Grande Parking Committee on April 22 at the Community Center Auditorium. The meeting was rescheduled from March. There will be a formal election of the Parking Committee officers, public comment with three minutes per speaker, education on the parking ordinance and discussion […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.
Richard Scott Faley, of Boca Grande passed away peacefully in Florida on February 15, 2026 at the age of 78. Born on August 18, 1947 in Trenton, NJ, Scott grew up in Titusville, NJ and graduated from Holy Ghost Prep in Bensalem, PA, where he played basketball and was known as “The Bear.” He obtained […]