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The Grand Old Lady: Remembering the Boca Grande Hotel, 1930-72

BY JAMES BLAHA, BOCA GRANDE HISTORICAL SOCIETY On February 10, 1930, the following article appeared in the Fort Myers News-Press: “Plans for a three-story resort hotel at Boca Grande to cost approximately $250,000, have been prepared for Joseph Spadaro, New York owner of considerable property in Fort Myers and Lee County. The plans were prepared […]

Oliver Carr rebrands development and property companies into CarrAmerica

In a move to honor its legacy and mark a new chapter in its storied history, Carr Companies has announced that it is rebranding to CarrAmerica.  “As we transition to CarrAmerica, we are more committed than ever to building the communities of tomorrow,” said Austin Flajser, president and chief executive officer of CarrAmerica. “Our new […]

Q&A: History professor at UVA on public beach access

The issue of parking and beach access in Boca Grande is not unique to Gasparilla Island, or even Southwest Florida. University of Virginia historian Prof. Andrew Kahrl studies the social and environmental history of land use, real estate and racial inequality in the U.S., and teaches courses on African American history, real estate and U.S. […]

Cane toads hanging by dam streets?

Cane toads have been spotted around the island recently. Be sure to differentiate these invasive species from native Florida toads.  George Cera, who was the primary iguana hunter in Boca Grande for many years, wanted to remind residents not to kill native toads. One easy way to identify a cane toad is that it has […]

Marine rescue system MERT assists with boaters in distress

When marine emergencies require a multi-agency approach, Lee County’s Marine Emergency Response Team, or MERT, provides vital communication among agencies.  On June 22, there were multiple marine emergencies at once, including an overturned boat and a propeller strike (See “Propeller strike highlights dangerous boating weekend” in the June 28 edition of the Beacon). In a […]

Lee County creates new tool for insurance information 

Lee County has announced that it enhanced the dedicated website landing page and launched a new tool related to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program. FEMA’s retrograde decision is expected soon, and in an attempt to help educate the community on the efforts that have gone into retaining the CRS rating, the […]