Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, Community, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Lee County will consider a new MSBU tax for Gasparilla Island if new parking restrictions impact beach renourishment funding. The recently passed parking ordinance will possibly involve the imposition of a new tax on Lee County property owners on Gasparilla Island to pay for beach renourishment. Currently, Gasparilla Island’s beach renourishment is fully covered by […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Community, News.
My heart is with Boca Grande, no matter which side BY NIKKI HEIMANN Editor’s Note: We share this message from the Boca Beacon Facebook. The Pink Pony is the first business people see in downtown, and among its most beloved. The good news is important amendments were made during the meeting, including untimed vehicle parking […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Community, Opinion.
Boca Grande: Curve of the horizon, dignity of a heron BY MATTHEW HACKL I was born in May of 1999, but in some ways, I was born again each time I crossed the toll bridge returning to Boca Grande. This island didn’t just raise me – it shaped the rhythm of my life. My earliest […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO “You and Islands” was released by the Zac Brown Band. The song references the sunsets at Boca Grande and is an attempt to take listeners to another place in their minds. TEN YEARS AGO Island residents were boiling their water due to a compromised water main. Several businesses were affected and had […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, Editorial.
The last real top 40 hit from James Taylor was a duet with J.D. Souther. The song “Her Town Too” did not reach that high on the Billboard list in 1981, but many will remember it as a lament about how the familiar sights change after a breakup. It is unclear if it was Carly […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Obituaries.
FROM THE BOWEN FAMILY The Bowen family celebrated the late Helen Beardsley, who died June 19, 2025. Born in 1928, she had nine children, 23 grandchildren and 39 great grandchildren. The family wanted to share this poem of thanks to the community: You joined us in celebration of tears, A remembrance of all the years, […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Profiles.
Her ship sailed to Boca Grande Friends Martina Long is stepping into her new role as program director for Friends of Boca Grande, overseeing event planning and talent booking for the upcoming season – a shift from her experience on the other side of the stage, as a performer herself. Long grew up in Fort […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community.
The Friends of Boca Grande team is gearing up for the 2025-26 season. Left to right: Kyle Rich, Judy Prestia, Melissa Richardson, Tammy Rigney, Marta Howell, Martina Long and D.J. Keisling. Photo by Matt
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community.
The Porsche Club of America was in Boca Grande recently for one of its regular outings. Rob Vigorito, vice president of the Everglades Region of the PCA, organized the outing, which included lunch at the KeyLime Bistro in the old train depot. Members came from across Southwest Florida. The club has about 1,700 members; the […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, Community, News.
Above, Chamber director Gary Cross addresses the board. Photo by Matt The Gasparilla Island parking ordinance passed unanimously at Tuesday’s Lee County Commissioners meeting with several amendments, including increasing a downtown two-hour parking limit to three hours. Commissioners Kevin Ruane and Brian Hamman motioned and seconded the ordinance before hearing public […]