Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Featured News, News.
The Boca Beacon has a current guide to parking spaces across the island HERE, with state, local and town parking spots, and a map of public beach access points as of 2025. Currently, Lee County is proposing to effectively shut down beach parking on the island, to just over 200 places. There would be two-hour […]
Written by Delores Savas on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
“The quality of a fathercan be seen in the goals, dreams, and aspirations he sets not only for himselfbut for his family.” Reed Markham, professor, and author of Communication at Dayton State College As Father’s Day nears, many children will attempt to make it a perfect day for their dad. Memories will be made of […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, News, Sports & Outdoors.
BY ARLENE HALLBGSTA SECRETARY A stroll down the beaches from around 19th Street south to the parking lot by the state park will reveal some brightly colored stakes being used to protect incubating sea turtle nests. They range from multicolored polka dots, stripes, and flower designs to royal blue and white stakes with turtle plaques […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
By ANDREW COLBURN, RTCBOCA GRANDE HEALTH CLINIC The summer is the perfect time to focus on your game’s fundamentals and ensure you’re in top shape for the next season. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or an enthusiastic amateur, understanding how to manage and prevent injuries is key to maintaining your performance on the course. Chronic […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Obituaries.
John Irving Welch of Boca Grande and formerly of St. Petersburg, Florida, passed away peacefully on June 2, 2024, at the age of 91. John was born on February 18, 1933, to Mary Merrell Welch and John Parker Welch. He spent his childhood in St. Petersburg and graduated from the McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tennessee […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, Community History, News.
Charlotte County has received a preliminary report on the fate of the Placida Bunkhouse, a 1907 cottage used to house the railroad workers of the Charlotte Harbor & Northern Railroad. “It was kind of a mixed bag,” said Charlotte County Commissioner Joe Tiseo, who has, by default, taken a leadership role in the project. “We […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Featured News, News, Real Estate.
Real estate enters slow season with high values As the season winds down and the summer real estate quiet begins, brokers are saying that Gasparilla Island is getting back to a pre-COVID market, albeit with prices higher, and more uncertainty. In the five-year period from before COVID to today’s market, real estate prices have essentially […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, Community, News.
Amid the parking discussion that is once again dominating Boca Grande, many in the commercial district are concerned about how they might be affected by proposed parking limits. Last Tuesday, June 4, Commissioner and Vice Chairman Kevin Ruane brought a “Commissioners’ Item” to the regularly scheduled meeting, detailing his plan to work toward a parking […]
Written by VAN HUBBARD on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
First, I want to explain that fishery management is an impossible job. How do we accurately count multiple species of fish underwater, absorb the guessed numbers, compile it into functioning data, then apply balanced allocation, while maintaining sustainable stocks? I am sharing my views attempting to enhance more common sense, factual data, with balanced vetted […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
This weekend on Gasparilla Island was not a major holiday, just a plain old summer weekend. The weather was clear, and visitors came, while so many of our regulars have gone home. The tarpon crowd kept restaurants busy Saturday night. In the story of parking, it was a tale of two places, one Gilchrist Avenue, […]