Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Police & Fire.
Next Tuesday, the Lee County Board of Commissioners will vote on a memorandum of understanding with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office to replace the sheriff’s house at Wheeler Road which was damaged by Hurricane Milton on Oct. 9, 2024. “I am glad that it is in the Lee County Sheriff’s Office facilities department to expedite […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
Each week the Boca Beacon looks back at news from previous years. FIVE YEARS AGO The Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association announced that the restoration of Sam Murphy Park had been completed in anticipation of the GICIA’s 50th Anniversary. TEN YEARS AGO The Island School held a Give Thanks Dinner for parents and students. […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
Last week, America’s coastal cities were obsessed with general high water up and down almost every waterfront. This time it was an October supermoon that, combined with companion storms and winds far off in the Atlantic, brought about the coastal high water. For once and thankfully, Southwest Florida has been out of the national weather […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.
Otilia Yanes Fernandez, dearly beloved wife of 65 years of the late Emilio Fernandez, passed away Sunday, September 21, 2025, at the age of 91. Loving mother of Dr. Otilia Fernandez (Dr. Thomas Perrino), Dr. Adelaida Fernandez, and Emilio Thomas Fernandez (Susan Kelley). Cherished abuela of Dr. Carmen Perrino (Dr. Albert Kim), Lourdes Perrino (Nathan […]
Written by Angela McPhillips on . Posted in Profiles.
From clubhouse to island If the name Alison Nash sounds familiar, it’s because for the past three years she’s been a welcoming presence at Coral Creek Golf Club, where she served as clubhouse manager. Now, island residents will find her in a new role: rental manager at BRC Realty Group, where she’s bringing her hospitality […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Community History.
BY JAMES J. BLAHA, BOCA GRANDE HISTORICAL SOCIETY George Eliot, famous novelist, poet, and one of the leading writers of the Victorian Era, said that “Animals are such agreeable friends – they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.” The love and adoration of pets on Gasparilla Island is testimony to Eliot’s assessment of why […]
Written by Arlene Hall on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
Adoptive ‘parents’ for nests across Gasparilla Island BY ARLENE HALL, BGSTA SECRETARY As of this week, the 2025 sea turtle nesting season for the BGSTA is down to single digits, with only six (6) incubating green turtle nests remaining. Hopefully by the time this article is printed, some of them will have hatched. We have […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community History, News, Real Estate.
The Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board approved two projects at their Wednesday, Oct. 8 meeting. Lee County Planner Marysue Groth presented the house renovation projects, both of which detailed flood damaged residences that will be raised out of danger. The first case was the elevation of the Burcham residence, at 740 E. Railroad. Groth said […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Health & Wellness, News.
An aerial view of the construction of the future Boca Grande Health Clinic, looking south, taken Thursday morning. The building, replacing a storm damaged Annex, is part of their Clinic of the Future project. […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, Community, News.
Nine out of 15 members were appointed to the Boca Grande Parking Panel at Tuesday’s Board of Lee County Commissioners meeting. At the Oct. 7 meeting, during commissioner appointments, Commissioner Brian Hamman appointed Sandy Stilwell Youngquist, Richard Weber and Barbara McLaughlin to the panel. Younquist owns Keylime Bistro downtown. McLaughlin and Weber were on the […]