Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, News, Sports & Outdoors.
BY ARLENE HALL, BGSTA SECRETARY The good news is we have seen our first hatchlings this past week. The bad news is that they hatched and emerged from their nest, but unfortunately a coyote dug them up before they were quite ready. While they were fully formed, they still had their yolk sacs attached, which […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News.
The publicly traded firm Blackstone (NYSE: BX), the new owner of Burnt Store Marina just across Charlotte Harbor, has been figured to be a purchaser of the Sunseeker Charlotte Harbor Resort, according to Reuters and Bloomberg reports. Local tourism officials are watching closely, as the 785-room Sunseeker, owned by the airline Allegiant, has been promoting […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Community History.
From Badcock to Lykes, and so many automobile dealers, physicians Above has tournament organizer and director Dixie Hollins with Capt. Wayne Joiner and daughter Effie after winning his four Hollinswood tarpon tournament back in 2003 BY KAREN GRACE Summer in Boca Grande has always been different from winter. The weather is hot 24 hours a […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, News.
This week the Beacon made a public records request of Lee County to obtain the parking petition that Commissioner Kevin Ruane cited in last week’s commissioners meeting. “I think you all may have received an email from Brent Cross,” Ruane said at the Lee County meeting on June 17. “With that was an attachment of […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community.
In the early 1970s, a group of island residents came together with a mission to preserve the charm, character, and traditions of Gasparilla Island. They formed the GICIA in 1971, marking the beginning of a grassroots effort to preserve island life. With the assistance of Lee County Commissioners and State representatives, the GICIA successfully secured […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Profiles.
Cape Coral to WINK to Commissioner Lee County Commissioner Brian Hamman is proud of his heritage as a native of Lee County. His parents both came to the area as children, and so he counts himself as a “quasi-second-generation Lee Countian.” Brian has served as District 4 Commissioner since 2013, when he was appointed by […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Featured News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Tarpon season this year was a little quieter than some years, but fishing was great, and the annual tournaments were as spirited as always. “It was a good season, not the greatest for business, not as busy as some past seasons,” Capt. Sandy Melvin said. “We’ll recover into next year.” This year’s tarpon tournament season […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Real Estate, Sports & Outdoors.
Currently, there are three major marina projects on the table on Gasparilla Island and in Cape Haze, and there are no listed buyers or partners yet. The most notable is Eldred’s, which has been formally on the market since early 2024. Eldred’s was listed in March 2024 for a reported $40 million asking price. It […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Featured News, News, Police & Fire.
$1.5 million awaits governor’s approval A $1.5 million appropriations project request sponsored by Florida House Representative Adam Botana for a Boca Grande Fire Control District ladder truck replacement has now passed both the House and Senate. “Its final step is approval from the governor. We are just waiting on this now,” wrote Annabella Romano, legislative […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News.
Last Thursday, Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce released a new visitor survey called “Off Island Visitors.” It comes in the wake of a new ordinance that would restrict parking on the island to two hours for shoppers and restaurant patrons while eliminating beach parking for day-trippers except for Gasparilla Island State Parks. “It was […]