Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Community History, News.
The Boca Grande Historical Society opened for the season on Tuesday, Oct 10. At the center is a new exhibit entitled One Island, Three Hometowns. It retells the story of Boca Grande through the three towns of Gasparilla Island, and is based on their companion picture book of the same name. The society has also […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Police & Fire.
The Boca Grande Fire Department’s annual breast cancer awareness T-shirts are in. This year, the department decided to support the wife of a Sarasota County fireman who has just had her breast cancer surgery. The T-shirts are $20. Look for the brigade on Saturdays out at the corner near Fugate’s. You can also go by […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News.
A Charlotte County historic plaque makes a very clear promise about the Placida Bunkhouse, an old railroad dormitory that is currently resting and rotting behind the South Gulf Cove Publix off of Gasparilla Road. The sign states: However, a Placida resident, John Valickas, has raised the issue of the deterioration of the abandoned building, which […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community.
Opening day will be Friday, Dec. 15 and we will be open every Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. through the end of March,” she announced. More details will be coming, including a list of expected vendors.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
It’s gunmetal gray. It’s monolithic. It even has a handsome blinking red light. The problem is, there are no carriers attached to our new cell phone tower. When will the equipment be delivered and installed? According to the Boca Grande Cell Tower Committee, two of the three carriers – AT&T and Verizon – have already […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Community, Community History.
If you thought like we did that last year’s Halloween Carnival and Turkey Hoop Shoot were changed to Thursdays because of Hurricane Ian issues, you were incorrect. Lee County Parks & Recreation let us know this week that this change is permanent … and there’s even more to the story. Last week on the front […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History, News.
Homer Addison would be proud of the shindig planned for Saturday, Oct. 7, as The Temptation will hold a street party to celebrate their 75th anniversary … on their 76th anniversary.
Not only will their newly repaired iconic sign be in place and ready to start shining into the night in its neon glory, Maker’s Mark will be on hand with their 12th barrel of Temptation Private Select bourbon. There will be live music and food to celebrate the occasion as well.
The reason Homer Addison, the man who built The Temptation, is mentioned, is simple – you can’t honor The Temp without honoring Homer.
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, News.
At their Oct. 3, 2023 Board of County Commissioners meeting, Lee County approved and extended their lease with the Johann Fust Library Foundation, Inc. for the Boca Grande branch library.
The lease amount, which was set for $56,250 for the upcoming year, was approved in September as part of the County’s $2.5 billion budget.
The monthly rental cost is $4,687.50 (or $56,250 annually). Utility costs, janitorial services and maintenance are provided by the Foundation at no additional cost. The Foundation also continues to maintain the library archives, shell collection and campus, as well as offering speakers and events.
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News.
A tax deduction wrinkle related to the deductibility of Hurricane Ian is still not resolved, a year out from the disaster, and just a few weeks before the final 2022 Internal Revenue Service tax filing date of Oct. 15.
The sponsor of the tax relief bill, Rep. Greg Steube, has reported some action on it, according to Sadie Thorman, communications director for Steube, who represents Charlotte County. She messaged the Beacon Monday that the committee action was imminent. Steube also tweeted on X.com that the House Ways and Means Committee was holding a markup session on a bill to fix it.
On Sept. 28, Steube urged the committee to act.
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Entertainment, News.
Troubadour Tinsley Ellis has been immersed in music his entire life. Born in Atlanta, Georgia in 1957 and raised in South Florida, he acquired his first guitar at age seven, inspired by watching The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show. Like many kids his age, Ellis discovered the blues through the back door of British Invasion bands like The Yardbirds, Cream, and The Rolling Stones as well as Southern rockers like the Allman Brothers Band. Twenty albums later – on record labels such as Alligator and Capricorn (and millions of miles traveled) – Ellis has become an elder statesman of the Blues world.
With his new project “Acoustic Songs and Stories”, Ellis performs many of his most popular songs (plus delta blues and classics by artists like Gregg Allman, Bob Dylan, and Leo Kottke) on his 1937 National Steel and 1969 Martin D-35. Ellis weaves the music together with interesting and sometimes ribald stories from over forty years of a life spent on stages and in motels and truck stops. Ellis shows no signs of slowing down and is headed to Boca Grande with his newest and perhaps most unique project.