Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Profiles.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON- Some people come to Gasparilla Island for its renowned beaches, to reminisce on the Olde Florida feel or to sip on cocktails inspired by ocean puns. No matter where people are visiting the island from, we all frequent the same store in the heart of this small town. Nick Gassman works at […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Obituaries.
STAFF REPORT- George Luzier is a man who changed the face of Boca Grande Pass. Many who have fished or boated in Boca Grande waters have marveled at the old inboard tarpon boats with clean, majestic lines, and some of them were built by George Luzier. He also built boats in a coordinated effort with […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
Be prepared for a more-than-full field of boats this Saturday, Sept. 5, as the First Annual Sandbar Music Festival will take place, as well as a Trump flotilla that will fill the waters between Pine Island and Cayo Costa. The music festival, advertised by KIX Country Radio, will be held at the sandbar just off […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Entertainment.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON- On Tuesday, Sept. 1, Friends of Boca Grande Community Center joined the nationwide effort, “Red Alert,” to light the outdoor stage red and plead to Congress to make a change. As one of more than 60 performing arts venues of the Florida Professional Presenters Consortium, Friends of Boca Grande has kept the […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Community History, Sports & Outdoors.
Part I of this series ran in the August 21 edition of the Boca Beacon. You can find it online at bocabeacon.com, or on our Facebook page with the same name. SUBMITTED BY THE BGHS- Boca Grande’s early fishing guides prepared the way for their sons, grandsons and even later descendants both by teaching them […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Obituaries.
Janice M. Carleton (Watts) 84, loving wife of James R. Carleton Sr. passed away peacefully in the early hours of Sunday, Aug. 30, 2020, at Knox Center for Long-Term Care in Rockland, Maine. Born July 17, 1936, in Rockland to Leon Watts and Maude Holbrook Beal. She was educated in local schools and graduated from […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
Fishing on the fly… BY OLIVIA CAMERON- Chas Madden has fond memories of spending a portion of his childhood on the island. Even before he can remember, Chas was brought from his home in Orlando to Boca Grande to fish and spend time out at sea. His parents, Charlie and Carolyn, appreciated the simplicity of […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
STAFF REPORT- The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority has announced the award of the Southern Roadway Sidewalk contract to EHC Inc. of Naples, FL.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON- What’s with all the iguanas? It’s a phrase you’ve likely heard recently, or maybe even uttered yourself. It’s true, our island iguana population is prolific, and in the hottest months of the year they are most commonly seen around town. Iguana trapper George Cera has been monitoring the iguana population in Boca […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, Letters to the Editor, News.
To the Editor: As the fall semester begins at colleges across the country amid the uncertainty of COVID-19, hundreds of local students have at least one thing they can rely on: scholarship funding to help ease the challenges of an unprecedented return to school.