Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Education, Profiles.
Being known as a jack of all trades is a good thing. It means you are versatile, resourceful, multi-talented and able to move smoothly from one helpful thing to another. The Boca Grande Preschool has just such a “Jack”: Jackie Eby. Jackie has been working (playing, hugging, laughing, loving, encouraging and so forth) at the […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, News, Sports & Outdoors.
BY ARLENE HALL, BGSTA SECRETARY Even though Debby disrupted most of the incubating nests on the island, many of those that survived her onslaught are going about their business as usual. As of Saturday, Aug. 17th, we have had nine of the remaining nests hatch since the storm, with 57 still incubating. There is still […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Community History, Education.
BY KIM KYLE From 1893 to 1908 there was a school located on 4th Street in a frame building. The building may have also been used as a church. The first school on Gasparilla at the north end of the island was in a bunk house that was no longer used by the railroad. Around […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Featured News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
There is no timeline yet for the reopening of the Boca Grande Fishing Pier, closed by Charlotte County after Hurricane Debby. But in a review Tuesday by the Boca Beacon, the erosion appears to be in places along the approach path to the pier, and there is no apparent damage to the pier itself. Charlotte […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Uncategorized.
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Health & Wellness, Profiles.
It’s not magic, but it is a good omen: when people come to the Boca Grande Health Clinic and encounter nurse Dyan Wilson, they often feel better immediately. Dyan is serious about medicine, but usually puts people at ease quickly with her happy personality and easy laughter. Dyan is a registered nurse, working primarily with […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Police & Fire.
Boca Grande Fire Department Chief C.W. Blosser, along with BGFD and Auxcomm staff, won second place at the Florida Press Association’s 2024 Weekly Newspaper Contest for a service project under the Community Service category. Staff of the Beacon traveled to Orlando on Thursday, July 26 for the Florida Press Awards where the Boca Beacon won […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Community History, Featured News, Society.
BY KAREN GRACE Famous stars have been coming to Gasparilla Island for years, from Lana Turner to Robert Redford, Harrison Ford and Michael Keaton. The most famous was Katherine Hepburn, a relative of the late Arthur Houghton. She wintered in Boca Grande for many years. There are some less-known stars as well, one of which […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Charlotte County has closed the Boca Grande Fishing Pier due to storm damage from Hurricane Debby. While there is also a sailboat lodged off of the end of the pier, where the old railroad trestles used to reside, the boat does not appear to have hurt the pier itself. “There is erosion damage from the […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, Community, Sports & Outdoors.
Gold medalist Cole Hocker captured in viral video On Tuesday, Aug. 6, Team USA’s Cole Hocker won a gold medal in the men’s 1,500-meter race at the Paris Olympics and broke an Olympic record. In the wake of the win, an inspirational video from 2022 of Hocker training in Boca Grande has been circulating on […]