Written by VAN HUBBARD on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
As a young high school fisherman, I enjoyed fish legends. Big shark stories just enhanced the adventure and thrills. Everyone from Tampa Bay to Boca Grande Pass had huge hammerhead sharks Old Hitler stories. I’ve witnessed and battled some giants, and here are a few of the stories I remember. Back in ‘65 on Saturday […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO New hand sanitizing stations were being distributed to local businesses that took the “Boca Grande Pledge” to educate the public regarding cleanliness and slowing the spread of COVID. TEN YEARS AGO Charlotte County Sheriff’s Deputies arrested three men and were searching for a fourth who were fishing illegally near Alligator Creek. FIFTEEN […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
This Friday, The Beacon office will be closed for the Florida Press Association annual meeting. The paper won 18 awards, including one for the work of the hurricane fund and for the volunteers from Lighthouse United Methodist Church who made it happen. Another is the Jon A. Roosenraad First Amendment Defense Award. Roosenraad died in […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.
James A. Runde, a distinguished American investment banker, author, and corporate director, passed away peacefully at the age of 78 on July 26, 2025. With a career that spanned over six decades, he was one of the longest-serving investment bankers in American history. Runde began his career at Morgan Stanley in 1974, where he rose […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Education, Featured News, Profiles.
New at The Island School this year Anne Smith may be new to The Island School, but she’s no stranger to the classroom – with 20 years of teaching experience, she’ll begin her first week on island this Monday, Aug. 4. “I was in Sarasota County for 20 years,” Smith said. “My first five years, […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Breaking News, Community, Featured News, News.
Today, Lee County formally put the new parking ordinance for Boca Grande on the agenda for their August 5, 2025 meeting. It appears in the agenda as “Conduct Public Hearing to Adopt Gasparilla Island Parking Ordinance Amendments.” It was posted at 4:13 p.m on Tuesday, July 29. The ordinance, extracted from the 4,488 page master […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, News, Sports & Outdoors.
For safety reasons, Gasparilla Island State Park at the south end of the island will be temporarily closed at the southernmost entrance to the park due to the beach renourishment project, the Barrier Island Parks Society reports. Port Boca Grande Lighthouse & Museum will be closed as well until the park reopens. You can follow […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Community History, News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE Since the early 1900s Boca Grande’s beach streets have been openly designated for public use. In 1925, these water access points were clearly marked on plat maps created by the railroad’s own land development company, and they were used as such for 100 years. In newspaper articles over the years it has […]
Written by Arlene Hall on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
BY ARLENE HALL, BGSTA SECRETARY My grandkids from Kansas were visiting for the past couple weeks, and one of the highlights is having them join me for turtle patrol early in the morning. OK, it’s one of my highlights; most days they would prefer a pre-breakfast dip in the pool over a pre-breakfast two-mile hike […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
Signs were up near Kappy’s on the North End, as the Boca Grande Causeway armoring project began mobilizing and staging materials. Fall hurricanes damaged the road bed; rip rap will help protect the shore if there are future storms. Photo by Garland