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Lighthouse Lighting on Saturday, Dec. 9

The Barrier Island Parks Society will share the magic of the season at the annual lighting of the Lighthouse. Join them at Port Boca Grande Lighthouse & Museum between 5:30 and 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023. Gates to the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse & Museum will open at 5:30 p.m. and the annual […]

There she is: Miss America, a nuclear engineer

Before her reign as Miss America was to come to an end, a stop in Boca Grande was essential for Grace Stanke. With the help of Diane Cook – Grace’s great-aunt, a Boca Grande resident and a member of the Boca Grande Woman’s Club – that highlight of her year was fulfilled this week. Grace […]

A margarita cup transformed by a simple story

The dedication of the new island Christmas tree gave the island a moment of cultural clarity last Sunday night. It was a perfect evening – the cookies, the weather, the breeze, the sunset.  The crowd that gathered was at minimum 500, using the Jacobs Method: Add up the people in a section and then count […]

Jacob Patrick Halunen, 2004-23

It is with great sadness to announce the passing of Jacob Patrick Halunen of Englewood, Florida on Thursday, November 23, 2023. Jacob was 19 years old. Born on October 22, 2004, to Michael Paul Halunen Sr. and Yvonne Diane (Barnthouse) Halunen. Jacob was a senior who would have been part of the graduating class of […]

Holidays with bluegrass artists Darin and Brooke Aldridge

From the Grand Ole Opry stage to Boca Grande, bluegrass and the Americana duo, Darin and Brooke Aldridge, will be performing at the Community Center in Boca Grande on Monday, Dec. 11. The Aldridges have enjoyed top spots on the Billboard, SiriusXM, Bluegrass Today, Bluegrass Unlimited, Americana/Roots, and Gospel charts. They have received multiple nominations […]

Historical Society to dedicate Blaha library with Saturday reception

Almost ten years ago, James Blaha joined the Board of Directors of the Boca Grande Historical Society, and he and Rose Marie Blaha began to volunteer at the History Center. Their combined backgrounds include teaching, chairing humanities departments, museum administration, library resource centers and consulting. Jim notes that he spent several summers on archeology projects […]

Betsy Ross sharktooth flag artwork taken from car

A resident heading back home to Boca Grande had his most recent work of art, a Betsy Ross flag made of shark’s teeth, stolen while he stopped somewhere between Tampa and home. “The flag was the best one I have ever made,” said Frank Koffend, a historian, fisherman, park volunteer, author and a lifetime collector […]

Gasparilla Island State Park targets invasive plants

Gasparilla Island State Park is finishing a restoration project to remove invasive plants from the southern half of the island, north of Boca Grande Pass. Restoration projects are frequently undertaken at Florida’s state parks to ensure that native habitats thrive. Invasive plants alter native plant communities by out competing and displacing them but provide little […]