Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Profiles.
■ BY SUE ERWIN – Known for her smiling face and pleasant manner, Karen Kelley wears many hats at The Island School, where she has been employed since the school started back in 1999. Karen worked in the office that first school year, eventually leading her to other positions as a paraprofessional, creative arts and drama teacher, as […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
A 2002 26’ Glacier Bay boat reportedly stolen from Marina Bokeelia on July 21 has been recovered. The boat, which belongs to Capt. Jack who operates “Capt. Jack’s Boat Tours” in Bokeelia, was docked along with other tour boats behind Capt. Con’s Fish House on Main Street when the owner noticed it was gone at 5 p.m. […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News, Obituaries.
Patricia Ann Heisel, 84, died July 30, 2017, at her home at Walloon Lake, Michigan, surrounded by her husband of 61 years and five children, after a brief and brave fight against acute myeloid leukemia. Pat and her husband, William, split their time between Boca Grande and Walloon Lake. Pat enjoyed volunteer work tutoring migrant […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial, Letters to the Editor, News, Opinion.
To the Editor: As his time on our island winds down, the Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association wishes to extend a generous thank you to Dr. Jeff Humbarger for his years of dedicated service to our organization. Dr. Humbarger brought fresh insight along with a tremendous work ethic and enthusiasm to the turtle patrol. Despite […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
■ STAFF REPORT The Boca Beacon is teaming up with Boca Grande Marina and Lee County County Parks and Recreation staff to host a free youth fishing tournament at 9 a.m. on Saturday, September 9. The two-hour fishing tournament is for boys and girls ages 15-and-under. It will take place at the Boca Grande Fishing […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
■ STAFF REPORT OIn the evening of August 11 Boca Beacon and Gasparilla Island Magazine staffers were more than happy to find out we had won a total of 12 awards from the Florida Press Association Better Weekly Newspaper Awards, and the Florida Magazine Association Awards. The Boca Beacon received two first place awards, one […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
■ BY SUSAN HANAFEE Editor’s Note: This is the first in a random series of stories about the forces that have shaped and continue to impact development and construction in Boca Grande and on Gasparilla Island. The fight over the fate of Gasparilla Island nearly 40 years ago sounds like a novel Florida writers Carl […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY SUE ERWIN Pearl Harbor survivor John Seelie, who attended the 75th anniversary ceremony of the attack on December 7, 2016, has passed away. Seelie, 94, was a resident of Englewood and for years would ride his bike from his home to Boca Grande to have coffee or enjoy lunch on the island with […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News, Obituaries.
Gerry Getman, 70, of McMurray, Pennsylvania and Boca Grande, died unexpectedly Thursday, August 10, 2017. He was the beloved husband of Katy Getman; loving father of Chrissy (Stephen) Martin and Mandy (Timothy) Cribbs; dear grandfather of Jameson Cribbs; and brother of the late Darold (Barbara) Getman. Several nieces and nephews also survive. Mr. Getman retired […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Profiles.
■ BY SUE ERWIN If you’ve visited the Boca Grande Health Clinic over the past few years, you’ve probably met Laquanda Dixon, the medical assistant at the health center. Laquanda has been working at the clinic for three years. Besides greeting and helping to care for patients, she also is the quality improvement coordinator. She was born […]