Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Churches on Gilchrist have released statements in the wake of discussions about restrictions on island parking. Peter Soderberg, chair of the church council of Lighthouse United Methodist Church of Boca Grande, issued the following statement Wednesday: “It is with great frustration and deep concern that once again our three churches have to defend ourselves against […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
The Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 25 to discuss the preservation and restoration plans for the historic Placida Bunkhouse. The meeting will address ongoing efforts to stabilize the structure, potential restoration options, and the financial implications of various proposals. It is currently at the entrance to […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in News.
The Board of the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority (GIBA) met Wednesday, Feb. 5, for a quarterly report on bridge operations and upcoming remediation work. “We’ve made excellent progress in hurricane repairs,” said Executive Director Kathy Banson. January 2025 traffic was up two percent from last January 2024 and revenue was up two percent as well, […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Entertainment, Events, News.
The Boca Grande Art On Park Avenue Festival returns to the island on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 22 and 23. This juried and curated art event will transform Park Avenue and 4th Street into a live fine art gallery for two days, co-sponsored by the Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce and artist Carroll Swayze. Swayze is […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Community History, Featured News, News.
Dusty Hopkins knows how to tell a good story. It is one of the things that makes him a natural as the owner and publisher of the iconic Boca Grande newspaper, the “Boca Beacon.” Dusty was the guest speaker at this week’s History Bytes, sponsored by the Boca Grande Historical Society and hosted by the […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Featured News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Florida’s beach sand replenishment project for the south end of Gasparilla Island at Gasparilla Island State Park has begun. Last summer, the state solicited bids for the renourishment of the south end. The process includes over 150,000 cubic yards of fill that is “compatible with the existing native beach sand.” The Florida Department of Environmental […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, Community History, News, Police & Fire.
Possible demolition for house, outside of official Historic District A once-historic sheriff’s deputy house owned by Lee County is still unrepaired, four months after Hurricane Helene. Currently, a resident deputy and his wife are living in a recreational vehicle on the property. The county would like to build a new house there for the Lee […]
Written by Delores Savas on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
The assumption that animals are without rightsand the illusion that our treatment of them has no moral significance is positively an outrageous example of Western crudity and barbarity.Universal compassionis the only guarantee of morality.” Quote attributed to Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher Since the second and fourth centuries BCE, with the earliest reference found in Greek […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
BY CAPT. JOE LECLAIR Over the last couple of weeks we saw the weather improve and water temps went from the lower 60’s to the lower 70’s in a very short time. This coincided with the full moon tides. That added to the lack of people on the water brought about some extraordinary fishing. Snook, […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: Since this season began, we have been experiencing the increasing degradation of our Historic District and its residential beach street neighborhoods, which on some days, are completely overrun. Beach parking has been chaotic and is overflowing into adjacent areas causing visibility and safety issues. This is the direct result of the unprecedented, […]