Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Education, Letters to the Editor.
From Betsy F. Joiner: I had the most delightful experience a few Wednesday nights ago at Cape Haze Publix. I went in to do my shopping and when I walked inside I saw the happy faces of The Island School teachers lined up in front of a table. I said, what are you all doing […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
By MICHELLE STARR On a morning drive over the Boca Causeway, I get a true bird’s eye view of Little Gasparilla Pass, the sandbar and local water clarity and condition. The high winds over the last several days have made the water very messy, so while coming over the Causeway Sunday morning, I spotted a […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News, Opinion, Sports & Outdoors.
Last week, a subscriber came into the Beacon office to ask for help with a one-legged ibis. The ibis was stranded by his flock (or in bird lingo, a wedge, or congregation or stand of birds). People do have a habit of calling us and stopping in with their wildlife issues, both human and otherwise. […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Opinion.
By Dr. Raymond A. James What does it mean to be a good physician? What makes a physician great? These are difficult questions, and they can mean different things to different people. Some patients are willing to overlook a poor bedside manner to be treated by someone who is reported to be the expert in […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in News.
The new season of Mote Marine Laboratory’s “Coffee With A Scientist” got off to a great start with scientist Dana Wetzel on Tuesday, Dec. 12, at the Boca Grande Community Center. Wetzel shared stories from her work as a senior scientist and program manager of Mote’s Marine Environmental Laboratory for Forensics. Some 40 people from […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in News, Profiles.
There is not much good to be said about the recent worldwide COVID pandemic, but at least one person has found a silver lining for that terrible time. She discovered that she could work from home. That seemed impossible before she was forced to do it. Jennifer Burby is a civil litigator. She has been […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News.
Contractors from Harper Little are this week rebuilding the trademark octagonal steeple of First Baptist Church. The reconstruction was not easy with eight sides that get narrow at the top. According to the contractor, they had to meet at a pole at the top. “We were given a set of prints and pictures of what […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News.
The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority (GIBA) held a special Finance Committee meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023 to discuss the authority’s investments, and its reporting and handling of those instruments. At the meeting, the Finance Committee offered a resolution led by Jay Feinberg to be presented at the next GIBA board meeting. The resolution stated […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in News, Profiles.
It didn’t take long for Dr. Patrick Bell to fall in love with Boca Grande and all of Gasparilla Island. He came for a weekend visit, and by the third day, he had bought a house and decided this would be his permanent home. That was in 1994. The local real estate agent was actually […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
By Michelle Starr Manatees are on the move. Over the last few weeks our beloved sea cows have been spotted in groups of as large as six around the Boca Grande Fishing Pier. They have also been feasting away from the shore on the seagrass of Gasparilla Sound. Seeing a manatee or two throughout the […]