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This date in the Boca Beacon: BIPs acquires Range Light

FIVE YEARS AGO Lee County announced that the Wheeler Road Dog Park would be completed by Spring 2022. TEN YEARS AGO Barrier Island Parks Society announced the signing of the final license to acquire the Gasparilla Island Light was on track for April 1.  FIFTEEN YEARS AGO Lee County Parks & Recreation Department met their […]

EcoWatch: Life awakening as Spring migration begins

When all the world appears to be in tumult, and nature itself is feeling the assault of climate change, the seasons retain their essential rhythm. Yes, fall gives us a premonition of winter, but then winter will be forced to relent, once again, to the new beginning of soft greens, longer light and the sweet […]

SW Florida Fishing: Snook fishing heats up …

 BY CAPT. WILL WATERHOUSE Another great week of spring break fishing out on the flats! A slower start to the week with water temperatures climbing back up from the cold spell last weekend but the snook have been biting! The white bait has finally made its way to Boca Grande as well and the snook […]

John William ‘Tater’ Spinks, 1947-2026

On New Year’s Day, 1947, Lillian and Roy Spinks welcomed their 5th child, a boy named John William, nicknamed by his older siblings as “Tater,” and that name stuck with him his whole life. Born and raised in St. Andrew’s (Panama City), he spent most of his days down at St. Andrew’s Bay, where he […]

Hildegard Werner Messenbaugh, 1940-2026

Dr. Hildegard Werner Messenbaugh – beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and pioneering adolescent psychiatrist – passed away peacefully at the age of 85 on January 10, 2026, surrounded by loved ones. Her remarkable life was a testament to power of truth and hope to help people overcome trauma. Hildegard was born on June 2, 1940, in […]

Ask a Doc: What happens when your doctor recommends a specialist?

The Boca Grande Health Clinic is the first stop for many residents and workers seeking care, from routine checkups to serious conditions such as cancer, heart disease and complex infections. Each year, we manage thousands of visits, and in 2025 alone, the clinic referred about 1,500 patients to specialists. Referrals are an important part of […]

Chamber orchestra here for Palm Sunday

The music ministry of Lighthouse United Methodist Church of Boca Grande will present the Palm Sunday cantata “Calvary’s Lamb: A Song, A Sacrifice, A Savior” during worship services on Palm Sunday, March 29, at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Composed by respected church music composer Mary McDonald, with orchestrations by Ed Hogan, the work traces […]