Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in News.
The board had begun discussing the need for an elevator some 10 years ago, she said, but actually voted to initiate this aspect of the project three years ago. Among the first things necessary was to find an architectural firm to design and plan out the work required to add an elevator to the facility. The choice was not difficult, based on the success of the library renovations made in 2012 and 2013.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Community History, News.
In May of 1991, a week after The Queen had flown home, her ship, Brittania, docked just off the Boca Grande coast and its officers spent a few hours on Useppa Island, mingling with residents and Useppa owner Garfield Beckstead (they came at the invitation of an island resident who had ties with the Royal Navy). Beckstead even made Admiral Robert Woodard of the Royal Navy an honorary member of Useppa Island, with a permanent invitation to return whenever he liked.
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Profiles.
While she and her family only moved to the Boca Grande area about a year ago, Lauren has many years of history on and near the Island. Her parents retired to Rotonda many years ago, and Lauren and her own family have vacationed here for years.
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.
Fayma A. Childs, 83, of Burnsville, N.C. passed away on August 27, 2022. A private family service will be held at Lighthouse United Methodist Church on Boca Grande. Fayma was born in Rural Hall, N.C. on November 19, 1938. Her family relocated to South Florida, where she raised her family and received her Bachelor of […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.
Anne H. Wallace of Chestnut Hill, Yarmouth, Maine and Boca Grande died peacefully on August 21, 2022, at the age of 92. She is survived by her husband, Monte, to whom she was married for 69 years; her children John and Gardner Wallace and Elizabeth (Bo) Trase; as well as six grandchildren. Her brother John […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Entertainment, Letters to the Editor.
The Boca Grande Film Festival (BGFF) is one of our biggest events of the season, and we have to say that we enjoy bringing the community together for a true cinematic experience. Utilizing almost the entire community center grounds, we transform our venues into a theater atmosphere. With the help of Artistic Director Jonathan Jackson, our BGFF Committee and our BGFF Sponsors, we are able to source and present the top films and documentaries in the major festival circuit.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Boca Beacon Back Pages, Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO The lady who couldn’t make up her mind decided Boca Grande wasn’t for her. Hurricane Irma played tag with Southwest Florida for 11 days before she finally came through the state, but pretty much missed the island. TEN YEARS AGO Many local guides and fishermen went to the Florida Fish and Wildlife […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
Boca Grande businessman Pearce Presnell took this photo from his back lanai on Wednesday night, as a wildfire raged just on the other side of Coral Creek, not too far off island. Pearce said the firefighters were camped out there for a long time, hoping the flames wouldn’t reach Placida homes. He said he could […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
According to the last U.S. Census Bureau statistics, the Lee County portion of Gasparilla Island has 1,130 homestead-exempt people living here, which is a 41.8 percent decrease since 2020. The same area recorded 1,720 people in 2010, 1,500 in 2000 and 777 in 1990. If you go back to the 1980 figures above, that means 1980 was the last year for an increase in population that the Lee County portion of the island has had.
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.
Pamela L. Turnbull passed away August 30, 2022. She was born in California and raised in Virginia and Glencoe, Illinois. Pam was most at home in Boca Grande, Florida and the mountains of Western Colorado. Her love of life brought an incredible richness to all the places she lived. Pam graduated from Culver Academy, attended […]