Written by Arlene Hall on . Posted in Featured News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Although it was again too chilly on Tuesday to have coffee outdoors at the Boca Grande Community Center before the second “Coffee with a Scientist” presentation of the 2026 series, the auditorium was comfortably warm for the dozens of people in attendance to hear Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium Senior Scientist Ryan Schloesser speak. The […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Police & Fire.
The Charlotte County Marine Unit has been around for over 20 years. Matthew McElroy, who last week was appointed fire chief and public safety director for Charlotte County Public Safety has been around since the unit’s inception. In 2002, Chief McElroy began his career with Charlotte County Fire & EMS. He helped develop the Marine […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: House Bill 433 falsely pits the health of Florida families and free speech against our agricultural legacy. It is an assault on the right of every citizen to speak up against harmful corporate practices. This bill creates an artificially protected market, undercutting innovative farmers who wish to distinguish their products as […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: The hypocrisy and irony have not escaped me that there were island people protesting ICE enforcement operations against criminal illegals in Minneapolis but don’t seem to be bothered by the Lee County parking ordinance that basically removed legal beach access parking for regular legal Americans to go to their beaches. Very […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Community, Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: Boca Grande, our cherished jewel on Gasparilla Island, has always embodied natural beauty intertwined with genuine community spirit. Yet over the past year, a painful rift has widened between the island’s affluent residents and the many respectful visitors and residents from Charlotte County who have treasured this barrier island for generations. The […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
Thursday, the region got an actual rain, something desperately needed by all after a cold snap. How long has it been since we have seen “100%” on the weather app as the chance of rain? There is a promise of more chill this weekend, but then Florida will get back to its more seasonable weather […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.
Frank Steele Koffend, shark tooth collector, feather-wearer, friend gatherer, Poppy extraordinaire, of Appleton, Wisconsin, died on December 6th, 2025 at the age of 92, at home and surrounded by family. Frank was born in Appleton on April 24,1933, to the late Joseph and Mary (Slosson) Koffend into a family of twin sisters, Mary and Jean, […]
Written by Angela McPhillips on . Posted in Profiles.
Setting up for turtle season At sunrise, when Boca Grande’s beaches are still quiet, Denise Juergens is already out there. She walks the same stretch of sand most mornings, scanning for signs that most people would never notice: the wide drag marks of a nesting turtle, the faint zigzag of hatchling tracks or the subtle […]
Written by Delores Savas on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
“The fact is that no species has ever had such wholesale control over everything on Earth, living or dead, as we now have. That lays upon us, whether we like it or not, an awesome responsibility.In our hands now lies not only our own future,but that of all other living creatures with whom we share […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Entertainment, News.
Susan Kerns, executive director of the Milwaukee Film Festival, will be one of two guest speakers during the 2026 Boca Grande Film Festival. Kerns will be speaking from noon to 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 19, following the film “Sally.” Bio: Dr. Susan Kerns, Executive Director of Milwaukee Film, has been working with film festivals […]