Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, Community, News.
In a visit aimed at highlighting the importance of local commerce, Florida Commerce Secretary Alex Kelly toured Gasparilla Island on Tuesday, Oct. 15, to meet with small business owners affected by the recent hurricanes. Kelly’s visit focused on businesses still recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which caused significant damage in the area. Kelly and […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News.
A disaster fund to assist island businesses has raised nearly $1 million in cash, with hopes of reaching $3 million to help local businesses survive. The goal of the fund is to “make sure everybody stays in business,” said Larry Hannah, one of three organizers of the fund, which is being run through the Lighthouse […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
Residents can use over-washed sand to fill in holes and may return sand to the beach as long as the below requirements are met, including the return of sand to the beach dune system which has been deposited upland by the storm. No state or local government permit or other authorization shall be required for […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Featured News, News, Police & Fire.
BY CHIEF C.W. BLOSSER The Beacon has been putting the daily emails from Chief Blosser out on our Storm Center page at BocaBeacon.com. Chief, as folks call him, has an un-erring ability to sum it all up. We print this not only as a matter of record, but a sense of the scale of the recovery […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Featured News, News.
The Rev. Anthony Hewitt, priest of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church, has begun daily Mass at the parish’s Life Center, and for the time being will have one Mass on Sundays there, as well. The main church, rectory and Boca Grande Preschool, which is under the direction of the Catholic Diocese of Venice, are […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Education, Letters to the Editor.
Reflecting on early childhood education at the preschool BY KELLENE CARPENTER Editor’s Note: Kelli Carpenter wrote this essay for the Beacon just before Helene. The school was hurt badly in the storms but will rebuild. Over the summer, I had a conversation with a Boca Grande Preschool Board Member about characteristics of quality early-childhood programs. […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
On the Saturday before Milton, this editor was at Dollar Tree in Englewood, at the Winn-Dixie shopping center. For those who do not know it, Dollar Tree almost always has UHT (ultra-high temperature) milk in those juice box containers. For reference, and for the next storm, they are on the bottom shelf in the back. […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, Community, Featured News, News.
In-person voting at Precinct 122, which typically is held at the Boca Grande Community Center will instead use the Lighthouse United Methodist Church for the Nov. 5 General Election. The Community Center, which sustained significant damage from Hurricane Helene and the Hurricane Milton, is unusable, so the Lee County Supervisor of Elections has made a […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, News.
At press time, a crew from Margate, Florida, hired to help Boca Grande restore its water service, hoped to have the main fully repaired by Friday. As of Wednesday, the water system was coming back online faster than expected, with a crew from Margate, on Florida’s east coast, assisting in rebuilding the main water line […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Uncategorized.
An update from Gasparilla Water, and Ron Bolton, executive director. As work continues on the water main to the island on Cole Island in the Causeway, the staff continues to work to bring service back to the whole island, house by house. A reminder that there is a boil water notice for the island: