Skip to main content
Search Results for “not

Warm Mineral Springs development moving forward 

Warm Mineral Springs restoration and development is moving forward. After much public input and North Port City staff work, the City Commission has approved a plan to develop the park surrounding the Springs. 

At its meeting on September 12, the Commission gave its okay to hire Ardaman & Associates, a geotechnical engineering firm headquartered in Orlando, but with offices in Sarasota, to perform an evaluation of the subsurface conditions within the proposed building areas that could impact the proposed development.

THIS DATE IN THE BOCA BEACON

FIVE YEARS AGO It’s been five years since we lost Mark Futch. TEN YEARS AGO The Barrier Island Parks Society was one step closer to owning the Range Light as the Department of Defense signed off. FIFTEEN YEARS AGO One week after Hurricane Ike, islanders were starting to take notice of some serious beach deficits.  […]

OBITUARY: Annie Parsons

Annie Elizabeth Oakley Parsons, 84, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, September 12, 2023. Annie was born to Cary and Mildred Oakley on July 10, 1939, in Dora, Alabama. Due to her ever-loving and devoted parents, she enjoyed an amazing childhood growing up in the countryside in Gorgas, Alabama. She earned bachelor’s degrees in […]

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Richard Malcolm

There is a personality “type” the psychology professionals call “The Caregiver” or “The Consul.” People of this sort tend to be outgoing, loyal, organized, and tender-hearted. They gain energy from interacting with other people, according to the “Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Guide,” used by many folks who study such things.
These caregivers are typically described as “outgoing and gregarious.” They have a way of encouraging other people to be their best. In Boca Grande, one of the best examples of this type of person is Richard Malcolm. Richard has not only made his life reflect these characteristics, but makes a living at it, as well.
Richard – not Rich or Rick or Ricky – lives in Englewood, but has been a fixture on Gasparilla Island since the early 1990s. He started out working in the restaurant industry, working as a waiter, bartender, busboy … whatever was needed. His first gig was at Uncle Henry’s, where he recalls an incident that may have started him on the road to being a professional “helper.”

All kinds of October fun at Cedar Point Park

There’s always something interesting going at the Cedar Point Environmental Park off Placida Road, and here are just a few things to put on your calendar.

Every Saturday Night in October, Cedar Point Environmental Park will hold a “Halloween Haunted Hike” from 6 to 9 p.m. The event will feature a spooky guided haunted hike, food trucks, pumpkin patch, keynote speakers, crafts and more.

Historic Board’s denial of Gilchrist CoA heard by HEX examiner

The case of the property at 161/181 Gilchrist Avenue went before the Lee County Hearing Examiner on Tuesday, Sept. 12, with a full house in the audience and two attorneys giving their sides of the story.

Donna Marie Collins, Esq. heard Attorney Megan Strayhorn, representing the property owners, gave her presentation first. She outlined the facts of the April meeting of the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board and explained that while the COA in front of the board was to approve the building of a home and several accessory buildings on the two-strap property, controversy about the Whispering Bench took precedent over the matter at hand.

Woman’s Club donates BIG to EmComm fund

With a projected expenditure amount of around $300,000, the Island EOC Emergency Communications and Interoperability Working Group gratefully accepted a $75,000 contribution from the Boca Grande Woman’s Club this week. Others who have contributed so far are the Boca Grande Disaster Relief Fund ($50,000) and $1,500 from Boca Grande Charities (for 10 Btech radios for BGFD volunteers).

A future for branch banking? While so many have closed, our local banks vow to remain viable

Despite at least a dozen local bank branch closures in as many years, local “brick-and-mortar” banks are still a part of local banking habits. And they may well be around for the foreseeable future.

“My card got stolen the other day.” said Doug Izzo, director of the Englewood Chamber of Commerce. His first move? Go into a bank branch to sort it out. While the bank ultimately had to resolve the issue online, there was at least a person there to intercede.

“That’s why I like the hometown banks,” said Izzo. “They actually pay attention.”

Lee County vote increases Captiva building height in the name of ‘resilience’

Last week, the Lee County Board of County Commissioners voted 4 to 1 to overturn longstanding height restrictions due to a storm “resilience” initiative and a need for the rebuilding of the South Seas Resort on Captiva.

“We were very, very disappointed with the 4-1 vote to move that forward,” said James Evans, CEO of the Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, which advocates for the islands and manages 2,100 acres of coastal lands. They presented over 13,000 signatures against the changes, 6,000 of which where from across Lee County.

Evans said that it was incredible that density and building heights were increased in what is defined as a Coastal High Hazard area in the “guise of resiliency.”

POLICE BEAT

Woman leaves child in car to swim with sharks off Bokeelia, Boca Grande Fire Department marine unit responds The Boca Grande Fire Department had to make their way all the way to Bokeelia on Monday, Sept. 11 after a call came in regarding a female who had left her young child in the car to […]