Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in News, Profiles.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE When Jeremy Chamathorn (a.k.a. Jeremy Chino) first came to Boca Grande, he was astounded by the island’s beauty. His cousin, Patrick Vollmer, had enticed him here with the promise of a job working in paradise. It wasn’t until Jeremy arrived here that he realized just how true that was. “My first thought […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: In the course of events, both public and private, no one person or entity can possibly take sole credit for the success or failure of any undertaking. The event is the sum of so many moving parts, and those parts require much in the way of planning and coordination. So it is […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
SUBMITTED BY THE GICIA The Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association (GICIA) continues its efforts to protect the beauty and charm that make Boca Grande a special place. Of course, it takes a strong membership base to maintain a growing and successful nonprofit organization. In an effort to further its’ mission the GICIA Board of […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in News.
BY LEW HASTINGS Tarpon Fishing. For some it’s an old family tradition, one that goes back generations. The World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament has become a tradition in its own right. In various iterations over the past 33 years, the tournament has become known both locally and by participants from around the world as “The Big […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in News.
If you’re anywhere near Boca Grande Pass Saturday night, don’t be surprised if you hear some odd noises. The howling will be fierce, as the Howl at the Moon Invitational Tarpon Tournament will be taking place from 8 to 11 p.m. The entry fee is $500 per team. Long time local fisherman Dave “Smitty” Smith […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE Island sea turtle patrollers were full of excitement on Thursday, May 28 when they realized they had their first confirmed green turtle nest on Gasparilla Island. “We’ve got a green!” was the post on Facebook by the Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association. They noted the green turtle’s “enthusiastic nesting style,” and said, […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in News, Obituaries.
Virginia Jeane “Shay” Wilber, born in Albany, N.Y. on October 7, 1979 to the parents of Mr. and Mrs. David F. Wilber III, died unexpectedly at home on May 20, 2015. Shay grew up in Oneonta, N.Y. where she attended Valleyview Elementary and Oneonta Middle School. During High School, she attended Miss Hall’s School in […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in News, Profiles.
BY JACK SHORT Sometimes it takes a few knocks at the door before someone finally answers. For Rev. Matthew Morgan Williams, the new pastor at the United Methodist Church of Boca Grande, the call to pastorship came knocking three times before he knew he had to say yes. Matthew was raised a devout Christian and […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in News.
Twenty five years of dispute seemed to have been put aside — at least for a day or so. The ink was barely dry on an agreement between the Boca Grande Isles Property Owners’ Association and defendants 5F, LLC, and 5F BA, LLC, when those three entities and several other parties were named as defendants […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in News.
BY JACK SHORT Scientists from the Florida Institute of Technology hope everyone fishing the pass next week won’t be alarmed by the presence of an eight foot balloon floating 150 feet in the air, tethered to the back of a research vessel. They’re working out a concept for tracking tarpon schools, perhaps as far as […]