Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Obituaries.
Klaas “Dutch” Frans Heidsieck, 84, of Sea Island, Ga. died Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023 at Hospice of the Golden Isles. Brunswick Memorial Park Funeral Home is assisting the family. Dutch was a long-time resident of Boca Grande, a volunteer with many organizations and was loved by many. His obituary is pending.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Community History, Featured News.
FIVE YEARS AGOThe Boca Grande Historical Society was celebrating “Railroad Week” by introducing a new exhibit called “Railroads, Phosphate and Real Estate.” TEN YEARS AGO We had a sunrise eclipse. FIFTEEN YEARS AGO John McCain took the island vote in the polls with 58 percent. Island businesses were shuffling from locations and some disappeared altogether […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Community History, Featured News.
To the Editor: On Tuesday, Nov. 14 join the Boca Grande Historical Society in welcoming John Pether to discuss Florida’s timeless boats. The presentation will cover highlights from his book, “Wood, Fiberglass, and Steel: The History of Boat Building on Florida’s Gulf Coast,” about the history of boat building on the Gulf Coast of Florida […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Featured News, Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: The barrels are coming back! Look for them at the post office, Crews Bank, in front of the Lighthouse United Methodist Church office and at the entrance to the church office. Also, look for an article soon with an update on Englewood Helping Hand and the big blue barrels. Jane Caple Boca […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
Last week in the hard copy of the Boca Beacon (the paper copy) we ran our story regarding a meeting with the Boca Grande Parking Panel, Sheriff Carmine Marceno and Commissioner Kevin Ruane that was scheduled for Thursday. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss and clarify items to be presented by Commissioner Ruane […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in News, Police & Fire.
Fire Chief C.W. Blosser and the Island EOC Emergency Communications & Interoperability Working Group would like to express their sincere gratitude to the Boca Grande Health Clinic Foundation for its recent donation of $8,095 to the Auxiliary Emergency Radio Communications System (AUXCOMM) project.
The Health Clinic’s timely donation covers the entire cost of the Clinic’s radios and extensive training in their use.
With that generous donation, the total amount raised for the project since mid-August is $306,595.
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in News.
Hurricane Idalia effectively ended the sea turtle nesting season this year, much like Hurricane Ian did last year. The good news is that most of the nesting season was already completed before either storm hit the area.
This season the number of nests and hatchlings was down from 2022, according to Denise Juergens, marine turtle permit holder for the Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association (BGSTA), which covers the entire island except for the state park properties. She said, however, that there was good news with this year’s final tally of nests and hatchlings.
“This year the depredation rate in our nests went from roughly 47 percent in 2022 to 12 percent,” she said.
Depredation is the disturbance of the nests and hatchlings by dogs, seabirds, raccoons, ghost crabs and other predators. On Gasparilla Island, most of the destruction is done by coyotes, Juergens said.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Health & Wellness, News.
There was a lot of information to cover at the first Boca Grande Health Clinic “Welcome Back to the Island” webinar” on Thursday, Oct. 26. The doctors spoke about updates at the Clinic in technology, numbers and vaccinations. Fire Chief C.W. Blosser discussed emergency medical information and varying levels of emergency care. But the most intriguing part of the presentation was made by Clinic Executive Director Mark Driscoll and others, discussing their newest plan for the second renovation proposal that will go before Lee County and the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board in the future.
After their initial plan was denied by the Historic Preservation Board in May of last year by a unanimous vote, Driscoll said the Clinic Foundation members have been listening to the people of the island, as have been the doctors. They’ve heard many comments, such as that the building was too big, there were too many entrances and exits, they didn’t like the windows and that there would be parking problems with a bigger facility.
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News.
As fall visitors arrive and winter visitors begin to make plans, local tourism officials are looking for good news as vacation rentals come back on line.
“I think we are seeing some pent-up demand,” said Sean Doherty, the tourism director for Charlotte County tourism, which is branded the Punta Gorda and Englewood Beach Convention and Visitor Bureau.
Looking at Charlotte County’s tourism development tax revenues, in August the county saw its first actual increase in revenue since Hurricane Ian, with an upward blip of 0.7 percent. TDC revenue is derived from the lodging tax, which is assessed on any rental of less than six months and one day. These bed tax funds support both the Charlotte County and Lee County visitor bureaus.
Rental properties coming back on the market on Don Pedro and Little Gasparilla are also helping Charlotte tourism figures, as many were off market after Ian, Doherty said.
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.
Funeral services for Karen Hugger, 78, longtime Boca Grande resident and real estate broker, will be held at 10 a.m. at the Lighthouse United Methodist Church in Boca Grande on Saturday, Nov. 11. A reception will follow in the church’s Fellowship Hall. All are welcome. Karen passed away in October following a stroke in March. […]