Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, News.
It was just like a kids’ sandbox today on Gasparilla Island. Crews from Lee County came to the island today to begin the removal of sand from across Gasparilla Island, including on Gilchrist Avenue, and on Gasparilla Road. Saturday, the crews were on Gilchrist and other locations, down to a sandpile on Wheeler Road. There […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, News.
The Boca Grande Post Office is temporarily closed until officials can assess and clean up any damage from Hurricane Helene. “We will go out there tomorrow (Monday) to see if there is any damage,” said Kellie Harris, acting postmaster of Placida. The Beacon reached her by phone today. She said that all the mail and […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, Featured News, News.
Currently all 20 lift stations are working on the island, and every lift station has power. However, the system is filled with seepage of sea water and rain, and Gasparilla Island Water Authority will be working all of today and tomorrow to clear out the system. The treatment plant continued to work and was not […]
Written by Delores Savas on . Posted in Columns, News, Sports & Outdoors.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” Margaret Mead, American cultural anthropologist, author, and speaker Astute readers might recognize the above quote from other Eco Watch columns. However, this quote by Margaret Mead fits the essence of this column. […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
Last week, after a visit to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners, a reader asked the Beacon what you had to do to speak at a Lee County meeting if you have concerns. The answer is simple. You need to drive to Ft. Myers, attend the meeting and speak. If you are addressing an […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Community, Letters to the Editor.
BY EMERSON WICKWIRE I applaud the Beacon, serving both as a community platform for ideas to identify and resolve community issues, as well as a central source of information on issue background and facts. I have followed the surge of Beacon letters commenting not just on our ever-present parking issues, but also on the pending […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Profiles, Society.
Once someone meets Caroline Farrington, they are unlikely to forget her. She has the smile, the flair, the looks and, yes, the accent, that make her virtually unforgettable. She comes by all these attributes quite honestly, as a woman who has seen the world, taken the best of it and made a comfortable, low-key living […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, News, Sports & Outdoors.
And then there were ten. Yes, the BGSTA turtle patrollers are down to the last ten incubating nests on the island. Eight loggerhead and two green turtle nests. The last observed hatch was weeks ago on September 8th, but there is still hope that at least a couple of the remaining nests, especially those that […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Community History.
BY KAREN GRACE The late Capt. Fred Futch once said that although many people say the biggest change to the island came from the building of the bridge, he thought it was the formation of the water company that was the greatest impetus for the development that followed. Before 1968 and the Gasparilla Island Water […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, News, Sports & Outdoors.
BY THE BARRIER ISLAND PARKS SOCIETY Marine pollution is an increasing threat to the overall health of Florida. It makes a negative impact in many ways, and it comes from many sources. Many types of marine pollution are caused by human activity. Identifying threats and being proactive can help protect and preserve Florida’s ecosystems for […]