Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: They’re neither a trick nor a treat, just a reality. Today, more than 562,000 tax bills are being mailed to property and business owners in Lee County. For those who signed up to receive their bill via email, those were sent out on November 1, 2023. These bills reflect the value of […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Editorial.
Over the years, I’ve read the Boca Beacon without fail. The best parts of the weekly paper are what I call “The Boca Soaps.” I savor every word. I love the Gilchrist sagas that kept going for several months … then the private fence on the south end of the island that extended across the […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO The Barrier Island Parks Society announced they would be relighting the restored Gasparilla Island Lighthouse (the Range Light) following the installation of a replica of the original fourth-order Fresnel lens needed. TEN YEARS AGO At the Whidden’s Back Bay Tournament a lot of fish were caught. The first-place team included anglers Capt. […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community.
BY SHEILA EVANS AND MARCY SHORTUSE Not only do we have a new cell phone tower in the middle of town, baby cell phone towers have popped up as well … and more are being planned. Right now we have two new “Q-tip” towers at the north end – one at Gulf Shores Drive and […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News.
Back in July of 1967, the headline in the News-Press of Fort Myers was, “What to Do About Eroded Tip of Boca Grande.”
Then, as now, islanders were looking to beach nourishment to help prevent erosion on the southern tip of Gasparilla Island. At that time, the Boca Grande Conservation Council, headed by Homer Addison of The Temptation, was in favor of establishing a park at the tip of the island, as the Lighthouse was for sale from the Coast Guard through the General Services Administration. It seemed an ideal solution; the only challenge being the “erosion problem.”
Six decades later, the issue of erosion, while not fixed, is regularly addressed through a mix of federal, local and tourist tax monies. Gasparilla, and indeed all of the Gulf of Mexico islands in Florida, are under regular schedules for replenishment. But what is also a challenge is the flooding at the tip of the island, which hit the south end’s streets and historic buildings during hurricanes Irma, Ian and Idalia.
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community.
As insurance issues and condominium assessments have cleared up, buyers and sellers have been getting a better picture of property values and what the upcoming property season will entail, both on island and off.
“There were so many unknowns,” said Olivia Jones of Parsley Baldwin Real Estate. “There was ‘unknown’ from insurance, from condos.”
She feels that we are now at the stage where “some of the unknowns are now known.”
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
This week it was announced that the beach at Cayo Costa State Park is now open daily, 8 a.m. to sunset, for with private vessels. Ferry services, bayside docks, electricity, drinking water and overnight accommodations are not available, but restrooms are available on the gulf side of the island.
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News.
Boca Grande will soon have a new excursion boat visitor, the “Miss Elissa,” courtesy of the Punta Gorda-based King Fisher Fleet.
“Miss Elissa,” commissioned by King Fisher Fleet and built by Scarano Boatbuilding of Albany, N.Y., will be launched this week. She will hit the Hudson River and begin her trek down to Florida for the Christmas season.
Currently, Boca Grande is served by the King Fisher Fleet’s “Charlotte Lady” or the “Helen M.” The King Fisher line offers regularly scheduled excursions from Punta Gorda’s Fishermen’s Village. That seasonal service will resume Nov. 25. The line also offers charter excursions from Boca Grande.
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in News, Profiles.
It was time for Barbara Stirling to open a new book, to try something different. She is not one to stagnate or rest on her laurels, so the newest incarnation of Barbara is as a thespian.
No, that is a bit grandiose for her taste. She has taken up community theater.
“I am a novice actor. I am a behind-the-big-people-in-front kind of actor,” she insisted. “I am the kind of person who loves to watch and be with these actors and actresses. They are so enthusiastic and they are so inclusive.”
Barbara is one of several community members who have decided this year to be part of the Royal Palm Players. She is moving from an audience position to an “on stage” position. And she is loving it. She will be playing several parts in the first program of the season, “The Dining Room on Boca Grande,” opening in mid-November.
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor:
Preparations are underway for the upcoming Lemon Bay Garden Club 2023 Garden Tour & Fair. The self-guided tour includes seven beautiful local gardens. Save the dates, Friday and Saturday, November 17 and 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Featured again this year is our fabulous plant sale, handcrafted crafts and cards and gift basket raffle. Presale is Thursday, Nov. 16 from 9 a.m. – noon at Lemon Bay Garden Club.
Proceeds provide college scholarships, youth nature “camperships” as well as community projects.
For tickets and more information, contact 941 474-9068. Tour donation is $15.