Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
A peaceful lone sculler plied the Bayou last Friday on the opening day for the Boca Grande Farmers Market. Families watched from the Bayou Bridge. It evoked a Thomas Eakins painting. In the 19th century Eakins depicted rowers on Philadelphia’s Schuylkill River, often with a bridge in the background. On that brisk chilly Friday across […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Obituaries.
JoAnn Carol Ridgeway Barwick, aged 94, a cherished mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend passed away unexpectedly but peacefully on December 13, 2024 at Indian River Estates in Vero Beach. Born on July 10, 1930 in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, JoAnn’s life was one of exceptional creativity, energy, inspiration and love. Born to the late Russell Ridgeway and […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Profiles.
Lighthouses were never of special interest to Dale Uncapher before he was introduced to the Gasparilla Island Lighthouse (locally known as the Range Light) in 2017. Today he is just short of obsessed with them. Dale is one of the docents and lighthouse keepers volunteering with the Barrier Island Parks Society, and specializes in tending […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Profiles.
It’s terrible when food is your enemy. Laura Witt is working to take the “bite” out of food that is meant to make us happy. Laura is a baker who makes exclusively gluten-free deliciousness. Laura is the daughter of Marilyn and the late Howard Witt, longtime residents of Chicago and Boca Grande. Laura has decided […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Community History.
BY MILTON BELLMilton Bell is a Boca Grande native, born October 26, 1950, who grew up on the property of the phosphate loading facility at Port Boca Grande. He is one of six children born to Angelo and Myrtle Padilla Bell, who moved to Boca Grande in 1926. Angelo Bell was born in Punta Gorda […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
BY CAPT. WILL WATERHOUSE Not only have the holidays brought great weather, they have also brought great fishing! The back country fishing has been outstanding this past week! Large speckled trout are being caught on live bait and artificial lures. If you are looking for action the speckled trout are your best bet. Look for […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, News.
The island Disaster Fund is now at $3,596,000 to aid island non-profits and businesses. “It keeps coming in,” said co-organizer Larry Hannah, who is one of a group of volunteers who are helping to sort and select the donations that have helped with recovery from hurricanes Helene and Milton. Officially they are ending the fund […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Entertainment, News.
Some new Florida books: “State of Paradise” by Laura van den Berg In a small Florida town, a ghostwriter navigates a surreal summer filled with missing people, a mysterious virtual reality device from a company called ELECTRA and eerie changes in her own life, including family secrets and a bizarre physical transformation. When her […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Entertainment, Events, News.
BY FRIENDS OF BOCA GRANDE Join the Friends on Friday, January 10, at 4:30 p.m. at St. Andrew’s for a lecture by Yale Professor Paul Freedman on his book, “Ten Restaurants That Changed America.” This lecture explores not the ten best restaurants, but rather ten influential establishments that, through their history and impact on themes […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Police & Fire.
Last Thursday, Dec. 26 a six-year-old girl was missing for about 15 minutes after being seen walking northbound of 1st Street and Gilchrist Avenue. The girl was found safely in about 15 or 20 minutes. She reportedly wandered up the beach, where she was found. “They found her pretty quickly thank goodness,” Boca Grande Fire […]