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LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Islander against Clinic plan to be discussed at BGHPB meeting next week

Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor, News.

I am writing to ask for your support in OPPOSING the plans the Boca Grande Clinic has submitted to Lee County to build a 13,299 square foot medical building at the cost of $35 million on the site of the current Clinic Annex on the SE corner of 3rd and Park. (You can access the plans through the Lee County link found at the bottom of this email – the relevant pages are 19 thru 37).

  These plans will be discussed at the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board Meeting on May 10th at 10 a.m. in the Women’s Club Room at the Community Center. Please join me at the meeting to speak out against this plan!!

Additionally, it is vital that voices be heard – so please write a letter of opposition/concern and send to the attention of Janet Miller (JMiller@leegov.com) no later than Monday, May 8 so she may include in the record. Additionally, a copy of the letter should be sent to the attention of the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board: contact@bghpb.org.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Island resident really upset about, well … us

Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor, News.

After years of reading articles in the Beacon attacking Gulf-front property owners as selfish millionaires who don’t care about the community, the Beacon publishes an article telling us it’s “everyone’s” fault that the whispering bench was destroyed. Not the fault of a dreaded Gulf-front property owner who hired a bulldozer, and not the fault of the consultants and representatives who helped. No, it was everyone’s fault according to the Beacon.  

OBITUARY: Patricia Leggat

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.

Patricia Bowler Leggat, longtime Cohasset, Mass. resident, died peacefully on April 20, 2023, surrounded by her loving family. She was 93 years old.  Patricia was born to Dr. John Pollard Bowler and Madelaine Gile Bowler on August 19, 1929, Patsy grew up in Hanover, NH. Her father was a surgeon at the Mary Hitchcock Hospital, […]

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Marty McFadden

Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Profiles.

If Marty McFadden refers to someone as “kind of an odd duck,” you know he really enjoys being around them. He always has his ear tuned to hearing the previously untold story and the inside details that bring the real color and flavor to an area, especially if the area is Boca Grande, which he treasures.

Marty recently retired as president of the Boca Grande Historical Society, serving in that role for seven years. The Historical Society is a mecca for “odd ducks” who love history, enjoy a good retelling of an event, and don’t mind sharing little known details. Marty feels at home among them and privileged to be part of the history inner circle.

IT’S GONE

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Community History, News.

The Whispering Bench is gone. Early Saturday morning heavy equipment operators came and began to gouge it out of the earth, while Boca Grande residents gathered around and did their best to protest it. Some tried to block the way of the equipment. Others tried to climb on the equipment. There were epithets thrown, as well as more than one projectile.
Someone in the crowd was heard to say, “They just started a war.”
It’s not as much about the bench as it is about the mentality of those who are moving here. Many of these are people who don’t know or care about the island’s rich history and, more to the point, they don’t know about how things have been done around here for almost 150 years.
But it didn’t matter in the end; the job was done.

BGWC announces community grant, scholarship awards

Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in News.

At its April annual meeting, the Woman’s Club announced that 21 area organizations would receive funding through the BGWC Community Grants Program, for a total of $308,417. Grants were awarded this year to the following organizations: Barrier Island Parks Society (BIPS); Boca Grande Art Center; Boca Grande Historical Society; Boca Grande Preschool; Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association; Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association (GICIA); Gasparilla Island Maritime Museum; Lee County Parks and Recreation; Mote Marine Laboratory; Royal Palm Players; and The Island School. Grants will also be given to L.A. Ainger Middle School Band; Lemon Bay High School (LBHS) Band Boosters; LBHS Chorus; LBHS NJROTC; LBHS Project Graduation; LBHS Theater Guild; and Lemon Bay booster organizations for the school’s football, girls basketball and softball teams.

In addition to awarding community grants, the Club has awarded $236,856 in scholarships for postsecondary education (university, college, trade or vocational) this season. BGWC has committed to providing scholarships to 26 new scholars for the upcoming season. Scholarship recipients must qualify academically, display financial need via FAFSA, and have a verified island connection per the scholarship guidelines. The Scholarship and Community Grant Programs are funded through the Club’s annual fundraiser and proceeds from Boca Bargains.

‘Hearts Filled With Love’; PanCan event this Saturday, April 29

Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in News.

Where have your “Hearts” gone?

They have landed on Ann Fletcher’s Christmas tree!

In December of 2022, a member of our RPP family, Priscilla Masselink, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  A trip for treatment at Dana Farber in Boston meant she missed seeing Ann Fletcher’s Xmas tree filled with ornaments that Priscilla enjoyed seeing during the holidays. 

That is when the idea of a “Hearts full of love” tree was born.

Strawberry Festival wrap-up shows amazing numbers, generous islanders

Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in News.

If there had been any concerns that the 2023 Strawberry Festival would suffer as a result of Hurricane Ian, they vanished quickly when members of the United Methodist Women’s board met recently to distribute $140,000 to local charities that serve women and children in need.

“It was a record year,” said Gloria Mitchell, who along with her daughter, Amy Mitchell, chaired this year’s Festival, held on March 4. “To say that we were surprised is an understatement. But we couldn’t be happier that we had this much money to distribute when there is so much need.”

A flooded causeway took precedence at latest GIBA meeting

Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Community, News.

Flooding on the Gasparilla Island Causeway after Hurricane Ian was the main topic of discussion for the spring meeting of the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority (GIBA), held Thursday, April 22. The long duration of the flooding has had many people wondering why, and what can be done to prevent a recurrence.

There was agreement that the flooding was a highly unusual happening, with the volume of rain generated by the storm a major factor. Nevertheless, if reasonable steps can be taken to prevent a recurrence of the situation in future storms, the Board is determined to take those steps.