Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News, Real Estate.
As the Boca Grande North condo complex continues its building renovations, their association is just beginning an entire landscaping process for Cole Island. “We have 38 royal palms to line the causeway,” said Trey Winter, vice president of the Boca Grande North association. “Landscaping begins this week.” Tuesday, Hazeltine Nurseries staff began irrigation installation, and […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in News, Profiles.
Before her reign as Miss America was to come to an end, a stop in Boca Grande was essential for Grace Stanke. With the help of Diane Cook – Grace’s great-aunt, a Boca Grande resident and a member of the Boca Grande Woman’s Club – that highlight of her year was fulfilled this week. Grace […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial, Opinion.
The dedication of the new island Christmas tree gave the island a moment of cultural clarity last Sunday night. It was a perfect evening – the cookies, the weather, the breeze, the sunset. The crowd that gathered was at minimum 500, using the Jacobs Method: Add up the people in a section and then count […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Police & Fire.
The Boca Grande Fire Department and the Lee County Sheriff responded to a golf cart accident involving juveniles this past weekend. On Sunday, Nov. 19 at 4:09 p.m. a call came in regarding a single-cart accident at 4th Street and Gilchrist Avenue. The driver, the caller said, was a 16-year-old male who sustained a head […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Sports & Outdoors.
The Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of the sponsors, players, volunteers and community members who took part in the recent Educate Boca Scholarship Golf Scramble, which was held this year at Wellen Park Golf & Country Club. Together, we raised more than $20,000 for local […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News.
The Useppa Island Club has a presumptive new owner, led by Sandy Stilwell Youngquist, CEO and owner of Stilwell Enterprises & Restaurant Group of Fort Myers. “The letters have gone out to the homeowners,” said Youngquist, who owns the Key Lime Bistro in Boca Grande and operates a group of restaurants and inns under her […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Featured News, News.
The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority (GIBA) Quarterly Board meeting was held on Thursday, Nov. 2, in the offices of the Authority.
The members were updated on the traffic and revenue figures for the 12 months of the 2023 fiscal year. Toll revenue was up by four percent and traffic was down by three percent, compared to last year.
The Audit Committee report included an update on the fieldwork that was completed last week by auditors from Suplee Shea Cramer and Miller on the fiscal year 2023 audit. The final audit report will be presented to the GIBA Board at the February 2024 meeting.
The Governance Committee report included the approval of the annual contribution to the discretionary employee retirement fund at Corebridge Financial.
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Featured News, Profiles.
If it is wrong to lie about your age when you are 16 so you can earn money to help your mother support the family, Pastor Gary Beatty has probably been forgiven. What was truly wrong was how poor he and his mother and five sisters were. Someone had to relieve the burden, so young Gary took it up as his responsibility. He joined the National Guard to get a paycheck.
The Beatty family was not the only poor family in Lancaster, Ohio, and Gary was not the only underage boy who enlisted in 1956.
“It wasn’t that uncommon,” Pastor Beatty recalled. “There were probably eight or 10 of us in our company who were underage.”
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Featured News, Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: The Lee Board of County Commissioners on Tuesday selected District 5 Commissioner Mike Greenwell to serve as Board Chairman for the coming year and District 1 Commissioner Kevin Ruane to serve as vice chairman. The Board selects a chairman annually in November from among the five commissioners. Commissioner Greenwell previously served as […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Community History, Featured News.
To the Editor: On Tuesday, Nov. 14 join the Boca Grande Historical Society in welcoming John Pether to discuss Florida’s timeless boats. The presentation will cover highlights from his book, “Wood, Fiberglass, and Steel: The History of Boat Building on Florida’s Gulf Coast,” about the history of boat building on the Gulf Coast of Florida […]