Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Profiles.
BY JACK SHORT To put it simply, Scott O’Connor is living the good life. He and his wife, Kristin, aren’t cruising the seas in luxury yachts or gambling in Monte Carlo, but he lives in a tropical paradise (let’s face it, that’s Boca Grande in a nutshell) golfing, swimming and raising rescue dogs, cats and […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in News.
BY JACK SHORT The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority board met on June 25 for a quarterly meeting, and foremost on the agenda and in the minds of many residents were recent bridge failures that caused the roadway to be shut down on two Saturdays in recent months. “This is the first time, certainly in my […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in News.
BY JACK SHORT Some people like adding a little challenge to their charity. Boots and Dick Tolsdorf are just such people. In a move that is, amazingly, not unusual for them, the Tolsdorfs are going to join about 2000 other cyclists on June 26 and 27 for a two-day, 150-mile bike ride beginning in Boston […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
Fundraising for Capt. Jimmy Robertson continues next weekend on Sunday, July 5 at The Sand Bar.There will be a fish fry at 2 p.m. and more auctions and raffles will be held. There will also be a corn hole tournament. The cost to get in the fish fry is $12 per person. Call (352) 586-0480 […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in News.
BY JACK SHORT Among the record setting number of items, worth a combined $461 million, that fell to Florida Governor Rick Scott’s veto pen, was a large appropriation for Gasparilla Island State Park. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection would have received, from the general fund, $1 million (non-recurring) for the assessment and evaluation of […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in News.
BY JACK SHORT Sometimes, to understand something, you have to be willing to dive right in.The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is hoping that bringing people into close contact with the nature around them will help convince people of the need for preservation. They have begun shuttling people to see the preserves firsthand, for free. […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE Sea turtle season is heating up, with hatches about to begin and large numbers of nests to be found on island beaches. So far we have 283 nests, as well as seven green turtle nests. Last year at approximately this time, we had 158 loggerhead and four green nests, which means that […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor:The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) today approved changing the minimum size limit for greater amberjack caught in Gulf of Mexico state waters from 30 inches fork length to 34 inches fork length. Fork length is measured from the tip of the lower jaw to the center of the fork in […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor:Once again, I have decided to help our American Heroes! I am sending Mary Kay Sunscreen Sets to our Troops overseas, and I will personally match every donation that is given, meaning that 100 percent of your donation will go to the troops. Why Mary Kay Sunscreen? Yes, you can buy cheaper sunscreen, […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE There was excitement out in the Pass on Saturday night almost as soon as lines hit the water at 8 p.m. for the 2015 Ladies Howl at the Moon Invitational Tarpon Tournament, as three boats hooked up within the first four minutes. There were 27 releases in all, which meant the fish […]