Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Community History.
BY CAPT. ROBERT JOHNSON Editor’s Note: The late Capt. Johnson wrote a history of The Boca Grande Quarantine Station during the COVID-19 outbreak for the Beacon. We are reprinting the May 2020 story. The Boca Grande Quarantine Station, located on the south end of the island, was built in 1892 on the beach next to […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Featured News, Profiles.
Among the yearly regulars at the Boca Grande Club is Dr. Constantine Mavroudis, one of the nation’s top pediatric cardiac surgeons. Born an American citizen in his ancestral home of Thasos, he has just written a memoir of his journey from World War II-era Greece to his current position, as chief of pediatric cardiac surgery […]
Written by Boca Grande Health Clinic on . Posted in Featured News, Health & Wellness, News.
By MARK DRISCOLL As the pace slows down on the Island, the Boca Grande Health Clinic wraps up an extraordinarily busy season marked by record-setting patient engagements. • Patient Visits: We reached a total of 5,394 patient visits from October 2023 to April 2024, a 32 percent increase over last season. • Busiest Month: March […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
Last Wednesday evening, May 8, Boca Grande Outfitters hosted a fly tying social above the store. As someone who has never fly fished, let alone tied a fly, I was the obvious choice to go represent the Beacon. I am from Colorado, where fly fishing is very popular and there are plenty of places to […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, Editorial, Opinion.
This week, the Boca Grande Quarantine Station house went on the market (see pages 16-17). One feature of the house is a working, wooden cistern. During Hurricane Ian, the tank was disconnected from gutters, but it is still in place, with an actual hose spigot at the bottom. It functions not only as a practical […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, Community History, News.
The Boca Grande Quarantine House, the oldest house on Gasparilla Island, is on the market for the first time in its history. The house, built in 1892, has four bedrooms and four baths. It includes the old 19th century house, as well as a comfy but compatible separate addition, built by Safety Harbor Builders. “There […]
Written by Delores Savas on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
“Mothers are the gardenersof the wind-blown wildflowers.They water them with happy tears. Happy with them for many yearseven as the hours ring with sweet,sad melodies sighing through their bowers.” –Nicholas Gordon, author, poet Please forgive the above old cliche describing the life of a mother. But it is so true. Last year’s Mother’s Day column […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Featured News, Profiles.
Boca Grande is very close to being a perfect community. That’s the personal and professional opinion of Oliver T. Carr, who has owned a home in Boca Grande for 20 years, and has been developing homes, office buildings, hotels and communities for longer and more successfully than just about anyone on the planet. Ollie, as […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Featured News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
BY RON BOLTON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Gasparilla Island Water Association, Inc. is pleased to present to you this year’s Annual Drinking Water Quality Report. This report is designed to inform you about the quality of water and related services we deliver to you every day. As always, we are committed to ensuring the quality of your […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News.
About four years ago, David Merced, son-in-law of Boca Grande homeowner Marilyn Witt, was driving his family from Chicago down to the island for Christmas break when he noticed a spot in his four-year-old son Harrison’s eye. “The doctor was so surprised we had spotted it so early,” Witt said. “Most parents don’t see it […]