Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Uncategorized.
The Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce has released a new visitor survey called “Off Island Visitors.” It comes in the wake of a new ordinance that would restrict parking on the island to two hours for shoppers, and eliminate all beach parking for day-trippers except for Gasparilla Island State Park. The link to the survey […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Uncategorized.
A new draft ordinance would remove public beach access parking from all of Boca Grande, except for the Gasparilla Island State Parks, and institute a two-hour limit for business customers. The ordinance draft was moved forward on Tuesday, June 17, 2025 by Lee County. It will be voted on August 5, 2025. Highlights: Other notes: […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, News.
Editor’s Note: This draft ordinance passed. It now goes to an August vote. Lee Commission Chairman Kevin Ruane has introduced a last minute item to the Lee County Board of Commissioners meeting set for Tuesday, June 16 at 9:30 a.m. It is his Commissioners Item regarding a proposed Gasparilla Island Parking Ordinance. The draft is […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News.
In interview last week he shared thoughts after visit Editor’s Note: The Boca Beacon sat down with Commissioner David Mulicka for a profile two weeks ago. He had additional thoughts on beach access, and shared them with our reporter, Sheila Evans. Below are some of his transcribed thoughts on the issue, which help to shed […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Charlotte County is working to reopen the parking lot and roadway at the Boca Grande Fishing Pier, which has been closed since Hurricanes Helene and Milton. “We are repairing the parking lot and roadway as well as the erosion at the natural canoe/kayak launch. Both are anticipated to re-open in the next two weeks,” said […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History, Opinion.
BY KATHY Y. FUTCH It was 10 p.m., on a February evening in 1975 at the intersection of Hwy. 41 and SR 776, which was very dark and desolate back then and only used by those who lived off it. A young man, named Mark, had gotten off a bus from Tampa where he had […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Police & Fire.
A little after noon on Wednesday, June 11, a child was injured by an apparent shark bite on the 2200 block of Shore Lane, according to Lee EMS alerts. The 911 alert, which went out at 12:11 p.m., read: “SHARK IN THE WATER/KID ARM INJ; SERIOUS bleeding; ARM BY HAND.” No one on the beach […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Community History.
Kiwanis Club challenge BY JAMES J. BLAHA, DIRECTORBOCA GRANDE HISTORY CENTER “Miss Lana Turner, famous movie actress and her husband, Mr. Dan Topping, who spent four days in Boca Grande on their yacht this season will not return again until the Yacht Dock (L Dock) is in better repair and electric current and other facilities […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Featured News, News, Real Estate.
Lee County Property Appraiser Matt Caldwell released the initial estimates for 2025 property values on Sunday, June 1. They include a $3.5 billion estimate of valuation of Boca Grande real estate. In 2025, the total assessed value of all taxable property in Lee County is estimated to be over $167 billion, which is about 4.85 […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History, News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE Editor’s Note: This August, Lee County commissioners are scheduled to vote on an ordinance related to parking in Boca Grande. It could contain a sweeping revision of current ordinances, which have evolved over the last decades. With that in mind, the Boca Beacon has gone back and reviewed how we got to […]