Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News.
In interview last week he shared thoughts after visit Editor’s Note: The Boca Beacon sat down with Commissioner David Mulicka for a profile two weeks ago. He had additional thoughts on beach access, and shared them with our reporter, Sheila Evans. Below are some of his transcribed thoughts on the issue, which help to shed […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Featured News, News, Police & Fire.
Hurricane season has officially begun and the time to prepare is now. Part of that preparation for Gasparilla Island residents, property owners and business owners should be to obtain hurricane passes from the Boca Grande Fire Department. A driver’s license with a Boca Grande address may still be used for re-entry after a storm; however, […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Featured News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Blaze takes second, again Tracy Lynn won the annual Gasparilla Island Kids Classic Tarpon Tournament last Saturday, June 7, put on by the Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce. There were 33 fish released. Second place went to Blaze and third place went to Jill Marie. The first release for boys was Paul Wagenseil Jr, […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Police & Fire.
Surgeons were able to reattach hand A little after noon on Wednesday, June 11, a nine-year-old girl was injured by an apparent shark bite on the 2200 block of Shore Lane, according to Lee EMS alerts. The 911 alert, which went out at 12:11 p.m., read: “SHARK IN THE WATER/KID ARM INJ; SERIOUS bleeding; ARM […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Charlotte County is working to reopen the parking lot and roadway at the Boca Grande Fishing Pier, which has been closed since Hurricanes Helene and Milton. “We are repairing the parking lot and roadway as well as the erosion at the natural canoe/kayak launch. Both are anticipated to re-open in the next two weeks,” said […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, Community, News.
While there is no date for the reopening of the Boca Grande Post Office, the USPS has updated the island on repair status for the Beacon. “The repairs at the Boca Grande Post Office are ongoing,” said Carol Hunt, a strategic communications specialist with the USPS in Texas and Florida. “Customers can be assured that […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History, Opinion.
BY KATHY Y. FUTCH It was 10 p.m., on a February evening in 1975 at the intersection of Hwy. 41 and SR 776, which was very dark and desolate back then and only used by those who lived off it. A young man, named Mark, had gotten off a bus from Tampa where he had […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Opinion.
Southwest Florida seafood tasting memories BY JIM COCHRUN In the early days of Southwest Florida, all small coastal towns had key spots where townspeople gathered and chatted about the news of the day. In our town it was the post office, our only grocery store, church and, of course, our local fish market. This is […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO The Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board voted unanimously to approve the new parish hall for Our Lady of Mercy. TEN YEARS AGO The Island School joined with Royal Palm Players to perform for parents and peers before school let out. FIFTEEN YEARS AGO The County ordered 27,000 feet of boom and oil […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
It is the end of an era in Florida. Lu, the hippopotamus at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park, died June 8, 2025. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Alexandra Kuchta had the good sense to send out a tribute email over the weekend. They said that the state’s “beloved” citizen hippo “passed away […]