Written by VAN HUBBARD on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
The Lemon Bay Girls Beach Volleyball team sponsored the “Catch a Convict” sheepshead tournament as a fundraiser. Cape Haze Marina hosted the event. The weather and fish cooperated, with plenty of thieving convicts, sheepshead, in attendance. The event was held Feb. 21. They enjoyed a strong turnout and raised more than $13,000 to support the […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
The Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce has introduced the first annual Gasparilla Grande Slam Back Bay Fishing Tournament, to be held on March 28. This inshore fishing event celebrates competitive angling, sportsmanship and coastal heritage targeting redfish, snook and speckled trout. On Saturday, March 28, lines will be in from 9 a.m. to 1 […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Education, News, Sports & Outdoors.
BY THE ISLAND SCHOOL FOUNDATION The Island School Foundation’s chairperson, Mary Johnston, summed up the day: “Conditions couldn’t have been much worse, but our community came out with their best!” The Island School, a tuition-free charter school for grades K-5, held their $1,000,000 Golf Challenge last week on a chilly, windy winter day at The […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
The Boca Beacon’s 2026 Gasparilla Island Tennis Classic opened on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026 and finished on Tuesday, Feb. 10. We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to our incredible community for supporting this year’s Gasparilla Island Tennis Classic. It’s been truly inspiring to see players step out of their comfort zones, challenge themselves […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Entertainment, Events, News.
Editor’s Note: This has been rescheduled as of 2/5/26. ‘Everything (and everyone) alive today is descended from an organism that somehow survived the impact. But it does not follow from this that they (or we) are any better adapted.’ The Friends of Boca Grande Community Center is set to host one of the most influential […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Community History, News.
The co-founder of a Southwest Florida homebuilding company that built Sea Oats, a condo complex on the north end of Boca Grande, died on Jan. 23. Milton William “Bill” Frey II moved to Sanibel in 1975 and founded Sanibel Homes before starting Frey & Sons Homes with his son. His obituary stated that “he persevered […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Real Estate.
Two new tenants expanding in Wellen Park are Sassy Tarts! which has a bakery and restaurant in Placida, and the James Griffith Salon, with locations in Boca Grande at the Inn, and in Sarasota and Venice. There is still build-out work to be completed in that retail stretch of Wellen Park Boulevard, which is under […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History, News.
BY THE JOHANN FUST LIBRARY FOUNDATION The Johann Fust Community Library has been at the core of the Boca Grande Community for decades, and now, after more than 75 years, the Johann Fust Library Foundation would like to share some of its rich history with the community. In February, March and April, the foundation will […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Events, News.
Media entrepreneur Frederick Ryan came to Boca Grande to speak on Tuesday, Feb. 17. Ryan is the former chairman of the board of directors of the White House Historical Association. His interest in history is a hobby; Ryan was co-founder of Politico from 2007 to 2014 and most recently the publisher and CEO of The […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Community History, News.
The third History Bytes of 2026 was presented by Tom Knight, who shared about his time at Mercury Marine, or Mercabo, on Wednesday, Feb. 18 at the Johann Fust Library Loggia. This is the 25th year of History Bytes, which is a series offered by the Boca Grande Historical Society and hosted by Betsy Fugate […]