Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO The Boca Grande Historical Society made changes to their staff and officers, adding Kim Kyle as the new executive director and electing six new board members. TEN YEARS AGO Mote Marine Laboratory held its first ever comprehensive fundraising campaign and surpassed its $50 million goal for advancing the Lab’s critical mission and […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News.
The Boca Grande Parking Committee will meet at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 14 in the Women’s Club Board Room at the Boca Grande Community Center. On the docket for the meeting is a call to order, approval of June 17 meeting minutes, public comment on agenda items and presentation of agenda items. Public commenters […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
BY CAPT. WILL WATERHOUSE Summer weather patterns are slowly starting to break down and early fall cold fronts are starting to show. This means only one thing, fired up fish in the backcountry! Expect lots of snook and redfish to be caught in the following weeks as they leave their summer time hideouts and push […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
This week, the Beacon attended the celebration of the opening of the renovated G.C. Herring Park in Rotonda West. Details and photos are inside. It is a superb facility, and facilities for outings and exercise are needed in Cape Haze and Rotonda. Rotonda is where young families can actually afford to buy a house, and […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, News.
A new coalition of groups banding together in Lee County has grown. The Lee Communities Coalition, an alliance of civic and community organizations that formed in August 2026 to oppose proposed changes to Lee County’s Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code, announced Wednesday, Sept. 30, that several organizations have joined the coalition. The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Police & Fire.
The Englewood Fire Department invites the community to its annual, family-friendly Open House, kicking off Fire Prevention Week with this year’s theme, “Safe Charging is a Superpower.” The free event gives residents an up-close look at fire department equipment, including fire truck tours and ladder truck rides, along with a vehicle extrication demonstration. Children can […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.
Thomas “Tom” Dignam, a lifelong Englewood resident, businessman, community leader, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and devoted friend to the community he loved, passed away peacefully in his sleep on September 18, 2026, at the age of 84. For Tom, Englewood was far more than the place he lived. It was home, and for nearly eight […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Entertainment, News.
The Friends of Boca Grande have released their book list which includes authors that will be speaking in the 2026-27 Friends of Boca Grande season. Below is roundup of some books for the season, taken from their catalog. Titles include: “Family of Spies: A World War II Story of Nazi Espionage, Betrayal, and the Secret […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, News, Obituaries, Real Estate.
Above, the late Tom and Annette Dignam. Photo submitted Thomas “Tom” Dignam, a lifelong Englewood resident, businessman, community leader, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and devoted friend to the community he loved, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sept. 18, 2026, at the age of 84. For Tom, Englewood was far more than the place […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, News.
A USA Today survey apparently puts Boca Grande among the best of the “not dumpy” Florida cities. The roundup by Phil Fernandez of the USA Today network, tried to create a “Dumpy Scale” of Florida cities via AI. Boca Grande rates a 2.3 out of 10. He (or it, the AI) writes: “The Vibe: Exclusive, Old-Money […]