Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
Charlotte County officials are working to help with pedestrian safety at the north end of the island on Gasparilla Road. The discussion began with the possibility of creating a cross-walk across Gasparilla Road, at the intersection of Gulf Shores Drive. The Board of County Commissioners addressed the issue at their July 17 meeting, and noted […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Featured News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
A state-wide Great Outdoors Initiative by Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which aims to add amenities like golf and pickleball to several Florida State Parks, does not affect our nearby state parks. At a press conference Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis pulled back from the proposals, which he called “half-baked and not ready for primetime,” and […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Obituaries.
Charles E. “Chuck” or “Charlie” Blanchard, age 80, passed away on August 17, 2024 at his home in Gardnerville, Nevada. He was surrounded by loved ones. After a long illness, he made the choice to go into Hospice care, and had time to reminisce, enjoying notes and calls from friends and loved ones. Charlie was […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, News, Sports & Outdoors.
BY ARLENE HALL, BGSTA SECRETARY Even though Debby disrupted most of the incubating nests on the island, many of those that survived her onslaught are going about their business as usual. As of Saturday, Aug. 17th, we have had nine of the remaining nests hatch since the storm, with 57 still incubating. There is still […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Profiles.
Getting a ride to school on your father’s fishing boat sounds like part of a story from Boca Grande’s History Center. Indeed, those stories are favorites around the island. One of the fun and charming things about Boca Grande is that this story is still the way things are happening today. Candace Beye, stylist at […]
Written by VAN HUBBARD on . Posted in Columns, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Florida experiences sewage spills by local government facilities after every significant rain event, such as Tropical Storm Debby. Over six million gallons of untreated sewage were dumped as Debby passed by Southwest Florida, and 11.5 million gallons of partially treated water were discharged, according to WTSP. Charlotte County luckily had no discharges. This was a […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial, Sports & Outdoors.
This time of year is prime for storms. The state desperately needs the summer rains to replenish aquifers, remoisturize forests and de-heat the ground. These storms are our Florida reality. But there is danger, of course. Even safely inside, lightning fries our transformers, melts our hard drives and makes mincemeat of expensive HVAC circuit boards, […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News, Real Estate.
Question of parking signage raised to staff The Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board met Wednesday, and approved two projects, including an addition to a house at 235 Banyan St., and a renovation to the 3rd Street Bistro, at 310 East Railroad Ave. Members present were Peggy Stanley, Barbara Wickwire, Paul Eddy, Dennis Maloomian, Jerry Edgerton, […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Featured News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
A new report on the health of the Banyan Street banyan trees shows that they have strongly recovered from recent hurricanes, and a moth attack in the spring. “You get to really see the rev of the trees and how resilient that they are,” said arborist Rick Joyce, of Florida Resources Ecological of Fort Myers. […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Featured News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
There is no timeline yet for the reopening of the Boca Grande Fishing Pier, closed by Charlotte County after Hurricane Debby. But in a review Tuesday by the Boca Beacon, the erosion appears to be in places along the approach path to the pier, and there is no apparent damage to the pier itself. Charlotte […]