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Books: Great restaurants, extinction, Egypt and happiness 

2025 Book series with Roger Lewis’ picks BY FRIENDS OF BOCA GRANDE Each year, the Friends of Boca Grande have a book series with titles picked by Roger Lewis. Below are titles for the season, in a Q&A format. BEACON: Thanks for sitting down with us to talk about the third year of “Roger’s Picks.” […]

Fust Library Foundation updates on storm repairs

BY BOBBIE MARQUISEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Ever since Hurricane Milton brought a four-foot wave from the Gulf of Mexico into our beautiful buildings and gardens, Johann Fust Library Foundation has faced the daunting task of cleaning up, drying out and repairing building systems. We know that we are not alone in facing this formidable task. Homes and […]

Generous givers send Island Disaster Fund over $3 million goal

A fund to help island businesses is now over its initial $3 million goal, and has given out over $1.5 million to help jump start business re-openings across Gasparilla Island. “The people don’t have the seed dollars to go out and make the down payment,” said co-organizer Larry Hannah of Lighthouse United Methodist Church. “It’s […]

Christmas Tree Lighting on Dec. 8

The annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, sponsored by the Boca Grande Woman’s Club, will be held at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8. Unfortunately, the tree across from Hudson’s did not survive Hurricanes Helene and Milton, so the ceremony will take place around the tree across from the front door of The Gasparilla Inn. Island clergy […]

State Park now open at Range Light, main lot at Belcher still closed

Florida State Parks reopened three parking areas for Gasparilla Island State Park last weekend, and the “Beaches Closed” electronic signage at the Boca Grande Causeway toll was removed.  The three areas that are open are the Range Light area, the Sea Grape and Sea Wall parking areas which are located between the Range Light and […]

Reminder: Cross-island hurricane debris dumps a felony

The island continues to have an issue with the dumping of hurricane debris, even as crews from the disaster recovery firm Crowder Gulf, contracted by Lee County, continue to pick up refuse on island by the ton, daily. This week, debris piles continued to grow, especially along Gasparilla Road, Gilchrist Avenue and Gulf Boulevard. Some […]

Go deeper this Thanksgiving week

Strong fish stocks – reds, snook and trout We might need to search a little deeper this year for reasons to celebrate Thanksgiving. If we are reading this, there is already a lot to celebrate. If we’re healthy, we have even more to be thankful for. These have certainly been challenging times. Many of us […]

It’s a very good time to be here. But mind your step.

This week, the Engineering Committee of the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority met to talk about the cost of the damage to the bridge during Helene and Milton. We will have extensive details about those needed repairs next week; they have a long list of short-term and long-term items, but the good news is that the […]

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: At Anchor Inn, Joyce King

The grand veranda at Boca Grande’s Anchor Inn is an inviting stop for many visitors to the community, even if they never go inside or stay a night at the inn. Visitors to the town often pause to sit for a while as they take in the surroundings. Joyce Najjum King, owner of the Anchor […]