Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News.
In news from the most recent meeting of the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority, members approved allowing Lee County to install a license tag reader on the bridge, as well as noting a 19 percent increase in traffic in the first half of the fiscal year. Currently, GIBA keeps the tag information of drivers crossing the […]
Written by Michelle Starr on . Posted in Sports & Outdoors.
Particularly during the spring and early summer, the Gasparilla Sound is one of the most beautiful and special bodies of water in Florida. I’m very fortunate to be able to paddle this body of water nearly every day. There are many native Floridians and families who have been exploring and fishing the Sound for much […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
The Hilarium received a warm welcome as she pulled into the Boca Grande Marina on Thursday afternoon, May 2. Hilarium is a motor yacht built by Royal Hakvoort Shipyard from The Netherlands and owned by the Nicholas family of Boca Grande. She has been in Fort Lauderdale for the season undergoing repairs, but this week […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, Editorial.
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Featured News, Profiles, Sports & Outdoors.
There is a synergy between what Nelson Smith Groome IV does and what the fisherpeople of Boca Grande do. One would have a hard time surviving without the other. They certainly would not be as successful without one another. Nelson catches and sells bait during tarpon season in the waters around Boca Grande. For most […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
BY CAPT. WILL WATERHOUSE It is starting to feel like summer here in Boca Grande and that means one thing. Tarpon! The tarpon are starting to show up in the passes and in the harbor. Look to target them on live bait and artificial as well as with the fly if you are looking to […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
The May/June edition of Gasparilla Magazine is out with new feature stories, recipes, shopping and social pages. This edition’s recipe is a prize-winning lemon and raspberry trifle from the Lemon Bay Pioneer Fest, and the cocktail recipe comes to you from the Rabbit Hole at Cape Haze Tavern. The magazine includes a story from the […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
ORLANDO – Florida’s first quarter of 2024 residential real estate statistics reported more new listings, higher median sales prices and increased inventory compared to a year ago’s first quarter. In March, closed sales of existing single-family homes statewide totaled 23,435, down 10.4 percent year-over-year, while existing condo-townhouse sales totaled 9,332, down 16.6 percent over March […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News.
The issue of parking on Gasparilla Island is not a new one. Through the years, the Boca Beacon has covered the issue as locals and county officials have tried to balance competing interests. Below, a few assorted dates from 1982 on. The list below is not comprehensive; many of the recent stories are at bocabeacon.com/parking: […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Events, News.
Seven area charities will share $125,000 in proceeds raised by the United Women in Faith (UWF) organization at the annual Strawberry Festival. UWF, formerly known as the United Methodist Women, is affiliated with the Lighthouse United Methodist Church in Boca Grande. “We grateful for the enthusiastic participation of Boca Grande and neighboring communities and help […]