Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO The Gasparilla Island Tennis Classic was canceled due to COVID-19. The first COVID shots were distributed at the Boca Grande Health Clinic. TEN YEARS AGO The new swing bridge opened to traffic for the first time. The new 22-foot-tall bridge had been under construction since 2012. Happy VanBeuren and her dog, Penny, […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
Next week, Charlotte County will submit an application to the state for help in acquiring two properties in Placida that abut Coral Creek and the Causeway intersection. This discussion is good. We need more public lands and publicly accessible places in Charlotte County, indeed across Florida. We also need open-space lands to absorb the things, […]
Written by Angela McPhillips on . Posted in Profiles.
From standing on cars to running the show For longtime Boca Beacon readers, the Chitwood name may stir a memory. In the May 18, 1990 edition of this paper, Joie Chitwood Jr. was featured in a profile that captured a life shaped by speed, showmanship and a deep family tradition in racing. More than three […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
An interesting idea for New Year’s Eve 2026. What if, instead of a ball drop or some other countdown, we de-levitated a Boca Nut from the Boca Beacon at an earlier time, when some other island nation drops the ball? Then we could get New Year’s over with and go on about our business, with […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO Englewood Helping Hand received a $5,000 donation from Boca Grande’s Lighthouse United Methodist Church. TEN YEARS AGO The Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association announced that they had reached the $20 million mark in pledges for the Mercabo site and were aiming for the $22 million mark. FIFTEEN YEARS AGO A mulch […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: Thank you Molly and Todd Simonds for your recently published letter regarding leaf blowers vs. the RAKE. (See ‘Dear Islanders: Try a blower free Christmas week’ Boca Beacon, Dec. 12, 2025) Can the winds of change be in the future? We hope so. Please respect us as full-time residents who are being […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News.
Next week, parking pass pickups start back up again at the Crowninshield House, with dates through January. There are permits available for: “A” Resident decal – for Gasparilla Island residents. “B” Hotel Guest placard – for registered hotel or motel guests. “C” Island Employee and Volunteer decal – for employees and volunteers working on Gasparilla […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Featured News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
The Boca Beacon’s Gasparilla Island Tennis Classic opens on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. The annual all-island tournament will be held at the Boca Bay Pass Club, The Gasparilla Inn Tennis Club and the Boca Grande Club. The matches will begin on Saturday, Jan. 17 and will end on Saturday, Feb. 7. Everyone is welcome to […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, News.
A meeting between Charlotte and Lee Counties regarding the Boca Grande Parking Ordinance will occur on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Punta Gorda. The meeting will be at the Punta Gorda Library. The meeting will be held at 10 a.m. The meeting is open to the public but there will be no public comment as […]
Written by Alici Ouellette on . Posted in Entertainment, News.
To kick off the new year the Boca Beacon’s Gasparilla Island Magazine January/February edition is out with new feature stories, recipes, shopping and social pages. Features include “Betty Barndollar’s Boca Grande” a piece emphasizing the charm and people of the island of Boca Grande; “In the Company of Butterflies: Lemon Creek Wildflower Preserve” an informative […]