Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, News.
The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority will have final year-end numbers from the bridge at the end of this week; so far, the December traffic count is up about 1,000 from December 2023. “We average about 93,000 vehicles each December,” wrote Executive Director Kathy Banson in an update to the Beacon. “Through last Thursday (12/26) our […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News.
It’s the time of year to check on and update your listing in the 4-Digit Phone Book. Since 1991, the Boca Beacon has published this reference text, one of the last remaining residential phone books in the U.S., which were once ubiquitous. Do you have a new number? Do you want to switch to or […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
The Charlotte County Commission has scheduled a utilities quarterly update meeting at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2025, in Room 119 of the Charlotte County Administration Center, 18500 Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte, FL. Discussions include but are not limited to updates on fiscal, utility projects, sewer master plan, West Port Water Reclamation Facility expansion, and […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Letters to the Editor, Sports & Outdoors.
To the Editor: On behalf of our permit holder, Denise Juergens, I am writing this letter from the Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association (BGSTA) to acknowledge and thank the generous individuals, businesses and organizations who have supported the BGSTA during the 2024 sea turtle nesting season. Each of them provided a significant resource for us, […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Entertainment, Events, News.
The late illustrator Charley Harper created famous images of nature, for not only magazines, but biology textbooks. Curator and collector Terry Wright will explore the early days of his career on Jan. 17 at the Peace River Botanical & Sculpture Gardens at 5800 Riverside Dr., Punta Gorda. Harper worked for magazines like Ford Times with […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns.
BY KATHY Y. FUTCH One February, a few years back, islander-author Thomas McGuane enthralled an auditorium full of readers and writers in the Boca Grande Community Center. Those present then were rewarded with writing wisdom from his many years of teaching and being published, with added tips from authors he valued. I still value that […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial, Events.
Next Wednesday, Doug Bradburn, director of Mount Vernon, will visit the island as part of a Friends of Boca Grande lecture in their History and Heritage series. Most people over a certain age have a decent knowledge of the life of Washington, but this is no longer the case with later generations. (Indeed, Washington’s Birthday […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
It’s all in the numbers. Who doesn’t enjoy a date with a good number? Was your date a good number? That’s what we get next week with New Year’s Day, always a 1-1. Christmas Day was a good number, 12-25-24, but a greater date will be 12-25-25. On Christmas Day, we talked to friends visiting, […]
Written by VAN HUBBARD on . Posted in Columns.
We celebrate the birth of Christ, Christmas and welcome a New Year. 2024 was tough on most of us and I’m looking forward to 2025. While times have been challenging, we live in a very special place. Recent events have us climbing uphill, but we can still enjoy our piece of paradise and go fishing. […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.
With a natural zest for life and all of its blessings, Maxine Morrison Hunter’s love of family and her never ending thirst for knowledge, guided her throughout her life. The communities of Lake Forest, IL and Boca Grande, FL lost a warm and welcoming friend on November 30, 2024. Maxine was 94 and was fortunate […]