Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News.
Currently, the Boca Beacon is waiting on a public records request from Lee County to get a better understanding of what is happening with a proposed parking ordinance. This week, we were made aware that a Boca Grande resident, opposed to the possible restrictions, had also asked for and received over 600 pages of emails […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Entertainment, Events, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Excitement is brewing as anglers and artists prepare for the 2025 “World’s Richest” Tarpon Tournament and the Annual Boca Grande Tarpon Festival May 13 to 16 in downtown Boca Grande. The Tarpon Festival marks the beginning of tarpon season and celebrates the return of the fish to Boca Grande Pass. The island is preparing for […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
Irrigation overuse last weekend resulted in a low pressure for water across the island. “We had about 30 percent chance of running out of water,” said Ron Bolton, executive director of Gasparilla Island Water Association. Bolton made individual calls to larger water clients who use irrigation. Because of this, water pressure had to be turned […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Capt. Phil O’Bannon appeared this week on the Mill House podcast. The sporting show podcast is led by Andy Mill, an athlete, broadcaster and author. Mill, an Olympic skier, is the author of “A Passion for Tarpon.” “Phil O’Bannon is a sixth-generation Boca Grande fisherman whose life has been defined by the water,” the description […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Featured News, News, Real Estate.
Keylime Bistro reopened at the train station Saturday. The restaurant was essentially rebuilt, with new kitchen and a removal of the bar, so that the inside seating is larger. All the familiar train elements are still there. The restaurant is owned by Sandy Stilwell-Youngquist, owner of the Historic Captiva Island Inn as part of Stilwell […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
BY THE GICIA The Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association Town Park, located between 3rd and 5th Streets, is buzzing with activity. Restoration began on Monday, April 21. During the first week, the crews focused on site preparation. “On Monday, April 28, our trees began to arrive. It is so exciting to watch these […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, Featured News, Health & Wellness, News.
The Gasparilla Island Water Association now has its advanced water treatment up and running. “We turned on yesterday,” said GIWA Executive Director Ron Bolton. “We sent the ‘mixed liquor’ over.” The utility started the switch at 10 a.m. Wednesday, when the pipes were switched over. By 6 p.m., the utility was sending high quality reclaimed […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, Community History, News, Sports & Outdoors.
The Barrier Island Parks Society (BIPS) will reopen the historic Port Boca Grande Lighthouse and Museum at Gasparilla Island State Park on Monday, May 5 after nearly eight months of closure due to hurricane damage. Nestled at the southern tip of Gasparilla Island, the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse, originally built in 1890, has withstood the […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Charlotte County environmental specialists have posted a bird nesting area at the north end of Gasparilla Island in front of Island Court, but numbers have been unusually low due to human disruption. Susie Derheimer, coastal environmental specialist for Charlotte County Community Services, has observed one adult least tern on a nest and five other individuals […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, News.
The Lighthouse UMC Pancake Breakfast Team got together to celebrate the end of another successful Pancake Breakfast Season. The breakfast cleared $4,000 which will go to Myakka River Elementary School Food Pantry. The fearless leaders Dan O’Connell and Becca deRosa received the coveted “Golden Pancake Medalla de Oro” for their work. Master Chef Extraordinaire Dan […]