Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Featured News, News, Real Estate, Sports & Outdoors.
A new promotional board for the Boca Grande Fishing Guide Association is part of a wider effort to promote traditional fishing guides in Boca Grande. The association, which replaced the board just before the New Year, tried to replicate the old guide as much as they could. “Ian took it out. It’s been gone for […]
Written by VAN HUBBARD on . Posted in Columns, Featured News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
It’s a new year, but I’m stuck reminiscing about old observations. I’ve read several older books about fishing; it’s amazing that it took me 70 years to discover that I didn’t invent the wheel. What I’m talking about is, the more I read about past lifetime fisherfolk back in the ’40s through the ’60s, the […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Featured News, News.
Bishop Douglas Scharf of the Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida has appointed the Rev. Michelle L. Robertshaw as provost of the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, effective February 16. Her first service at the Cathedral will be Sunday, March 2. “I am eager to partner with Mother Robertshaw and St. Peter’s during this time of […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Community, Letters to the Editor.
BY RICK STAGER You may have seen a shopping cart abandoned on the side of Gasparilla Road near the billionaire’s airport on New Year’s Day and wondered how it got there. Let me tell you the story. On New Year’s Eve, I was driving west on Gasparilla Road to the UPS store in that strip […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
A peaceful lone sculler plied the Bayou last Friday on the opening day for the Boca Grande Farmers Market. Families watched from the Bayou Bridge. It evoked a Thomas Eakins painting. In the 19th century Eakins depicted rowers on Philadelphia’s Schuylkill River, often with a bridge in the background. On that brisk chilly Friday across […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Obituaries.
JoAnn Carol Ridgeway Barwick, aged 94, a cherished mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend passed away unexpectedly but peacefully on December 13, 2024 at Indian River Estates in Vero Beach. Born on July 10, 1930 in Dodgeville, Wisconsin, JoAnn’s life was one of exceptional creativity, energy, inspiration and love. Born to the late Russell Ridgeway and […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Community History, Obituaries.
Merritt “Babe” Neel Darna, a member of one of Boca Grande’s legacy families, died December 24, 2024. Babe was born on May 16, 1938 to Alfonso and Edith Darna on the remote barrier island of Cayo Costa, Florida, just across the Pass from Gasparilla Island. He holds the distinction of being the last recorded birth […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Profiles.
It’s terrible when food is your enemy. Laura Witt is working to take the “bite” out of food that is meant to make us happy. Laura is a baker who makes exclusively gluten-free deliciousness. Laura is the daughter of Marilyn and the late Howard Witt, longtime residents of Chicago and Boca Grande. Laura has decided […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Columns, Community History.
BY MILTON BELLMilton Bell is a Boca Grande native, born October 26, 1950, who grew up on the property of the phosphate loading facility at Port Boca Grande. He is one of six children born to Angelo and Myrtle Padilla Bell, who moved to Boca Grande in 1926. Angelo Bell was born in Punta Gorda […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, News.
On Election Day in November, two seats on the Lee County Board of Commissioners were up for election: District 3, which includes much of South Lee, and District 5, which covers the Northwest portion of the county. David Mulicka was elected to the District 3 commissioner seat, succeeding Ray Sandelli, who retired earlier this year. […]