Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO Voters weighed in at the polls with mail-in ballots almost equal to the number of voters that came to the polls on Election Day. TEN YEARS AGO The Halloween Carnival and Halloween Walk were a huge success. Savannah Pope won the “guess the pumpkin’s weight” contest and received a pumpkin carving kit […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community History, Editorial.
To stand in the new exhibit room at the Crowninshield House, with its completed exhibits, is a wonder – especially considering where the Boca Grande Historical Society was after Hurricane Helene. Remember that Helene flooded their old space in the Teacherage, which backed up to Boca Bargains. While the flood only reached the floor of […]
Written by Delores Savas on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
Help our sea cows The first part of a manatee that I saw was a big white scar,” Patrick Rose says. “As I got closer, I could seehow that was affecting the manatee itself. That is still imprinted in my mind today.It just really endeared me to them.It strengthened all the thoughtsand feelings that I […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Police & Fire.
Maintenance worker Peter Frazzetta, up early Tuesday Nov. 4, helped saved the historic Collier Inn on Useppa Island from a fire during its renovation. “He gets up early and grades the roads before light,” said Useppa Fire Rescue’s Chief Marc Mascarelli. “He saw the flicker. If it wasn’t for him, The Collier Inn would be […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Legal.
Citizens of Lee and Charlotte Counties are often asking how to get in touch with local officials. Below are names and contact information as of Oct. 30, 2025. Email us at editor@bocabeacon.com to update. We will be adding to this page. Charlotte County General email and telephone for commissioners is at Assistant@CharlotteCountyFL.gov or 941-743-1300. Agenda item questions […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
On Saturday, Charlotte Commissioner Joe Tiseo came to Cape Haze to talk to residents about issues and see the newly renovated Cape Haze Community Center. It was the unofficial re-re-opening of that little Cape Haze building, just one block over from the Baby Publix we all share. A remark on the building, which is a […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Community History.
BY KAREN GRACE,BOCA GRANDE HISTORY CENTER Whether hauntings are real or not, Gasparilla Island and its surroundings have a history of ghost stories. The earliest involve Cayo Pelau, an island to the east of Gasparilla that was once inhabited by Indigenous people and later by pirates. It has been an archaeological site and includes a […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, News.
Two or more Charlotte County commissioners will travel to Tallahassee, FL to meet with legislators to advocate for Charlotte County’s legislative priorities. The commissioners plan to be in Tallahassee from Nov. 4-6, 2025, and are tentatively scheduled to meet with the following officials: Rep. Danny Nix, Jr. Rep. Vanessa Oliver The commissioners may meet with […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, Community, News.
On Tuesday, Oct. 28, Charlotte County’s Commissioners voted unanimously to go into an arbitration process relating to the issue of parking access in Boca Grande. The meeting included an array of speakers from Charlotte County, frustrated about the Aug. 5 ordinance that would restrict much public beach parking in Boca Grande. “I thought we had […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Travel.
On Friday, Oct. 24, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Virginia “Ginger” Watkins to the board of the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority. She had previously served as chair. “This seat was left vacant last fall when Member Jon Reecher moved out of the area,” said Kathy Banson, executive director of the Gasparilla Island Bridge […]