Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
STAFF REPORT – After taking 2020 off because of COVID-19, the Gasparilla Island Kids Classic Tarpon Tournament will return on Saturday, June 5, and will be held in Boca Grande Pass from 3 to 6 p.m. According to Capt. Sandy Melvin, the founder and coordinator osf the tournament, this is the world’s greatest kids fishing […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY KAREN GRACE AND THE BOCA GRANDE HISTORY CENTER – The beginning of the du Pont family in Boca Grande came in 1916 or 1917 when Louise (du Pont) and Frank Crowninshield rented Frank’s brother’s (Benjamin) Gulf front cottage. In the years that followed, Louise and Frank bought land at First Street and Gulf Boulevard, […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY T MICHELE WALKER – Zoom meetings are as ubiquitous as love bugs in spring. After months of coffee interviews and visits to lovely homes and marinas, the Boca Beacon finally had our first profile Zoom interview with Cathy Ballman from St. Paul, Minnesota. “Zoom fatigue is all too real,” Cathy said, as she sat […]
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BY SUSAN HANAFEE – Excuse us for stating the obvious: The housing market in Boca Grande and environs is hotter than Florida asphalt in September and shows no signs of cooling off. The situation prompted Kevin Hyde of Parsley-Baldwin Real Estate, a district vice president for Florida Realtors, to post a humorous comment on Facebook […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Health & Wellness.
BY DR LAUREN HANA MD, BOCA GRANDE HEALTH CLINIC – With so much attention over the past year-plus focused on COVID-19, there was little time to discuss one of the largest killers: non-communicable or chronic diseases. Unlike diseases that can spread, non-communicable diseases can be controlled and often prevented. That was the key message of […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY TONYA BRAMLAGE – Bridge part II explores the rumors, intrigue, and little known nuances of game play here in Boca Grande. In the 1940s, bridge was played in 44 percent of American homes according to the Association of American Playing Card manufacturers. In 1970, ACBL membership stood at 170,000. Today, that figure remains around […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY BOOTS TOLSDORF – As I have not been seen standing by the post office on a weekly basis selling my Ugandan women’s handmade jewelry made of recycled paper, many friends and acquaintances have asked me often, “Whatever happened to Bead for Life?” COVID happened to Bead for Life. And in this case, the timing […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY T MICHELE WALKER – Birthdays are a time of celebrating another year on this third rock from the sun, splurging on some birthday cake, and looking forward to new beginnings. For Kyle Rich, his birthday was the day an ad was posted in the Boca Beacon that would change the course of his life. […]
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BY SUSAN HANAFEE The proposal to put a portion of Boca Grande’s residential district onto the National Register of Historic places has been removed from the May 6 agenda of Florida’s National Register Review Board, the Boca Beacon has learned. The item had been up for discussion by state officials based on an indication there […]
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BY MISTY NICHOLS, GICIA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR In 1985 the Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association (GICIA) completed construction of the 5 miles of paved bike path that run from First Street north. In the 36 years since the dedication many things have changed. Boca Grande has increased its resident and visitor populations, the GICIA […]