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SW Florida Fishing: The bite is on…

BY CAPT. WILL WATERHOUSE The snook have been biting in the backcountry this week! Lots of really nice sized snook have begun to show up around the mangrove islands and they have been hungry. From shrimp and pilchards to artificial if you can find a deep edge you are likely to find some snook! The […]

This date in the Boca Beacon

FIVE YEARS AGO Lee County and Gasparilla Island beaches were closed due to concerns over COVID-19. Boca Grande Fire Department launched their new app. TEN YEARS AGO A record number of manatees were recorded in the Florida state-wide count.  FIFTEEN YEARS AGO Scott Harrington was the winner and defender of the Professional Tennis Exhibition Series […]

Kelly Reark shows at Crews Bank

The first thing you notice about Kelly Reark (Borza)’s artwork is her obvious passion for fish and fishing, revealed in stunning detail on a grand scale. She has been an active part of Boca Grande’s creative community since 2002, promoting awareness through her art about the importance of preserving our waters and marine wildlife. Her […]

Business & Real Estate: Preservation Board resumes meetings schedule

The Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board has resumed its regular schedule of meetings, as the volume of renovations and construction has increased after a hiatus due to the fall hurricanes. Currently, there are a handful of pending historic cases for April 9, as reported at their March meeting. These cases are announced at the end […]

Opinion: The Parable of Lazarus and privatization

BY JAY WHIPPLE In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells the story of a wealthy man who lived in comfort while a poor man named Lazarus suffered just beyond his gates. Though the rich man ignored Lazarus in life, he later found himself in torment, realizing too late that his selfishness had consequences beyond what […]

Favorite Ladies of the Island 

BY KATHY Y. FUTCH A few weeks ago, Delores Savas remembered special island people. I would like to add a few of the ladies who are memorable to me, in no particular order of importance. Watching Mrs. Junkin feed mullet every day at 5 p.m. on her front lawn at the water’s edge to the bald […]

Chamber circulates draft version of parking ordinance

The Boca Beacon has received a draft of an updated parking regulation for Gasparilla Island in Lee County. The draft, which is dated March 19, 2025, was circulated by the Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, March 20. The ordinance would define downtown Boca Grande as “certain properties generally bounded by 5th Street to […]

Island churches make plans for Easter services, worship

Easter is almost a month away, but plans are under way among Boca Grande churches to honor the religious foundations of this holiday by holding special services on Easter Sunday and the week leading up to Easter, which is April 20 this year. St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church will begin the Easter festivities early with a […]