Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News.
The issue of parking on Gasparilla Island is not a new one. Through the years, the Boca Beacon has covered the issue as locals and county officials have tried to balance competing interests. Below, a few assorted dates from 1982 on. The list below is not comprehensive; many of the recent stories are at bocabeacon.com/parking: […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
Lee County announced Friday, April 19 that FEMA has granted a 30-day extension for submitting documents demonstrating compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program after Hurricane Ian. The board has met with FEMA administrators and staff as well as the district administrator who was involved in the original decision to remove the flood insurance discount, […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
Florida’s recreational and commercial stone crab seasons in state and federal waters will close May 2, with the last day of harvest being May 1. This annual season closure is intended to increase the stone crab population and build resiliency in the fishery. Commercially harvested stone crab claws may be possessed and sold during the […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in News.
The non-profit Englewood Alano Club has recently reestablished a Future/Building fund committee to raise money to purchase a building for a permanent location, as it has outgrown its usual leased space. The Alano Club, which is located on South McCall Road, is a “Recovery Oasis,” offering addiction recovery support in an alcohol and drug-free environment. […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News.
Kathy Peters led the Lighthouse United Methodist congregation in honoring and encouraging this year’s high school and fifth grade graduates, as well as providing personal Bibles for the third graders of the church. This took place last Sunday, as the school year will soon be coming to a close. At the ceremony, the young people […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Featured News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
The Gasparilla Island Kids Classic tarpon tournament is set for June 8, organized by the Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce. The event is advised by Boca Grande Charities, which originally founded and ran the tournament since 2011. This is the second year that the Chamber has taken over the tournament and the theme is “Kids […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, News.
This week, there were two more 5G Verizon small cell towers erected on Gasparilla Island. They are part of a series of Verizon “small cell” wireless towers that will provide a secondary service in addition to the cell service from the new cell tower downtown. “One live ‘small cell’ on the very north side of […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Police & Fire.
‘Dual sync’ defib takes charge from both sides The Boca Grande Fire Department responded to a call at Gasparilla Outfitters on February 29, 2024, using new technology. The procedure saved customer Frank Ruby, who had gone into cardiac arrest while in the store. To save him, they utilized a new process called dual synchronization defibrillation, […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Letters to the Editor, Sports & Outdoors.
BY KATHY FUTCH Tarpon fishing became quite the sport in Boca Grande Pass, which is the deepest natural harbor in Florida. When the water temperature is just right and full of tasty shrimp and crabs, the hungry Silver Kings travel up from their time in Key West and settle in. Having both fresh water (Charlotte […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: Your April 12 editorial (Why Placida Matters to Gasparilla Island) is very much on point. I wonder if what you’re describing is essentially what the Comprehensive Plan should contain. I get the sense that maybe, just maybe, we in the Cape Haze Peninsula are ready to have another kick at the comprehensive […]