Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Obituaries.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE Zelma H. Otto, a woman who many on the island fondly call their “second mama,” passed away on March 24, 2025, at the age of 98. Zelma was born in August of 1926 in a place that back then was known as Woodmere, Florida – located between Englewood and Venice. She was […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Entertainment, Profiles.
Dad and kids put together a board game A new finance board game for families, “Mr. Market,” is the creation of a family of longtime Boca Grande regulars. The Jack White family connected to Boca Grande through Jack’s father’s friends from Stetson Law School and started visiting the area more than four decades ago. “One […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Community, Letters to the Editor, Opinion.
To the Editor: Bravos and kudos to South Beach Grille’s Bart DeStafano’s letter to the editor of the Boca Beacon of May 30. Every issue Bart addressed was SPOT ON! I encourage everyone to REREAD IT. But one thing in particular did concern me greatly and should concern everyone who believes in honest and respectful […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO Capt. Chuck Jenks rescued three boys out of the water near the middle bridge. The boys jumped off the bridge for fun but didn’t realize that the current was so strong. TEN YEARS AGO GIWA’s annual water testing received an excellent bill of health with contaminant levels far below maximum levels set […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
BY CAPT. WILL WATERHOUSE June is here and we have started to switch into summer weather patterns with scattered showers and thunderstorms popping up in the mornings and afternoons. The tarpon have been the main story this time of year. We are still catching lots of tarpon in Boca Grande Pass, Little Gasparilla Pass and […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in News, Profiles.
Commissioner with love for island, county When David Mulicka (muh-lik-ah), newest member of the Lee County Board of County Commissioners, was a kid he asked his dad for an allowance. David was attending a prep school in Fort Myers and many of his classmates were getting as much as $20 a week as spending money […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Featured News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
BY THE GICIA The Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association Bike Path restoration projects are well underway. The Town Park project between Third and Fifth Streets is in the final stages of construction, with completion expected by the 4th of July weekend. Landscaping the rest of the GICIA Bike Path between First and the North […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Events, News, Sports & Outdoors.
The Gasparilla Island Maritime Museum will hold the Howl at the Moon tarpon fishing tournament from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 31. The live-bait event has an $800 entry fee. A non-refundable $100 will be donated to the museum, and 25 percent of proceeds will benefit the museum. Rules, and shirts, will […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, News, Sports & Outdoors.
An internet-based petition criticizing Charlotte County for its slow pace in reopening Englewood Beach mentions the quick speed of beach reopening in Boca Grande. The petition, at the site moveon.org, is asking the Charlotte County administration to quickly reopen Englewood Beach. “As of today, it has been over seven months since the park was initially […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History, News, Real Estate.
BY TALIA ECKSTEIN The Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board will meet at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 11, in the St. Andrew’s Chapter House to review two proposals. The two special certificates of appropriateness cases to be reviewed are: • Proposed new wall and gate at 710 Palm Ave., planned for the west boundary line […]