Skip to main content
Search Results for “not

The Gasparilla Island Act: Part I The Act takes shape

■ BY SUSAN HANAFEE Editor’s Note: This is the first in a random series of stories about the forces that have shaped and continue to impact development and construction in Boca Grande and on Gasparilla Island. The fight over the fate of Gasparilla Island nearly 40 years ago sounds like a novel Florida writers Carl […]

New boardwalk officially open!

On Thursday, Aug. 17 Gasparilla Island State park officially opened the ADA accessible boardwalk on the south end of the island. Funds for this boardwalk were made possible through the Lee County Tourist Development Council. According to Parks Manager Chad Lach, special thanks goes out to not only the TDC, but also Park Rangers Shannon […]

Local Pearl Harbor survivor passes away just after life-changing trip

■ BY SUE ERWIN Pearl Harbor survivor John Seelie, who attended the 75th anniversary ceremony of the attack on December 7, 2016, has passed away. Seelie, 94, was a resident of Englewood and for years would ride his bike from his home to Boca Grande to have coffee or enjoy lunch on the island with […]

Searching for ‘La Pirate’ … have you seen this boat?

■ STAFF REPORT A 2002 26’ Glacier Bay boat was reportedly stolen from Marina Bokeelia on July 21 between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. The boat belongs to Capt. Jack who operates “Capt. Jack Boat Tours” in Bokeelia. T he boat was docked along with other tour boats behind Capt. Con’s Fish House on Main […]

Profile: Laquanda Dixon

■ BY SUE ERWIN If you’ve visited the Boca Grande Health Clinic over the past few years, you’ve probably met Laquanda Dixon, the medical assistant at the health center. Laquanda has been working at the clinic for three years. Besides greeting and helping to care for patients, she also is the quality improvement coordinator. She was born […]

Historic Board approves two requests to renovate properties

■ BY SUE ERWIN The Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board approved two certificates of appropriateness at its monthly meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 9. The first item on the agenda was a request to construct an addition to the existing garage into the front of the property at 1071 10th Street East. The applicant proposes to construct […]

Most turtle nests survived Tropical Storm Emily

■ BY SUE ERWIN The majority of sea turtle nests survived Tropical Storm Emily. Thankfully, reports from the turtle patrol front lines are very positive and the storm has not been as destructive as storms breaking at this time of the year in the past. Many nests have been washed over (when the waves break […]

Beacon columnist publishes new book

■ STAFF REPORT Dean Laux, who writes a bi-monthly column for the Boca Beacon titled “Remembrances,” has just completed a new book that was almost two years in the making: the true story of Werner Meudt, a German of Jewish heritage, whose “remembrances” are vastly different from those of his American counterparts in the so-called […]

Profile Adair Newman

Adair Newman appreciates spending peaceful days in Boca Grande. She lives on the island with her daughter, Carol Stewart, and her son-in-law, Doug. Carol is a Broker/Associate at Michael Saunders Real Estate. Adair was born in Milwaukie, Oregon, just south of Portland. When she was 19, she signed up for a cadet nursing program that […]

What happens if the worst happens?

■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE Every year, the first weather event of the hurricane season usually serves to spur many of us into setting our plan of action in case severe weather hits us, and this year is no exception. After Tropical Storm Emily formed almost right over us this week, there’s been an small influx […]