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Allegiant adds flock of new routes to SRQ 

The airline Allegiant, with hub in Punta Gorda, has introduced new routes to and from Sarasota Bradenton International Airport, including: • Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina via Greenville Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) – beginning Feb. 13, 2025 with one-way fares as low as $49. • Moline, Illinois via Quad Cities International Airport (MLI) – beginning Feb. 13, […]

1925 Anchor Inn reopens after renovation

Waltons-like porch on 4th  The Anchor Inn, after a full renovation this fall, will reopen to guests this weekend. Its first guests are reported to be a newlywed couple. While the building’s grounds were damaged during Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the building, which sits up on a foundation, was higher than the flood waters. Its […]

Books: Great restaurants, extinction, Egypt and happiness 

2025 Book series with Roger Lewis’ picks BY FRIENDS OF BOCA GRANDE Each year, the Friends of Boca Grande have a book series with titles picked by Roger Lewis. Below are titles for the season, in a Q&A format. BEACON: Thanks for sitting down with us to talk about the third year of “Roger’s Picks.” […]

Scholarship reminder

The Scholarship Committee of the Boca Grande Woman’s Club will be accepting scholarship applications starting November 1, 2024, for the 2025-26 school year. Applicants for the program must meet the following criteria: 1. Have applied for admission to a school of higher education, such as a university, college, trade, or vocational school. 2. Demonstrate a […]

Iguanas get cold-blooded break, chill til Feb.

Lee County’s iguana-removal vendor for Boca Grande will be taking a winter hiatus which began Friday, Nov. 15 and will last until Feb. 15. Brian Ambrose is the technician for Blue Iguana Pest Control Inc., which is the primary vendor for population-control services for black spiny-tailed iguanas on the Lee County side of Gasparilla Island.  […]

G.I.F.T. returns to benefit the island for the 29th time

The 29th annual Gasparilla Island Fly Fishing Tournament is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 26 and will benefit the Boca Grande Historic Society’s ongoing efforts to document and preserve the unique island heritage. If you would like to participate, contact Gasparilla Outfitters, (941) 964-0907 or Capt. Will Waterhouse at (914) 907-6628 for more details.

Christmas Tree Lighting on Dec. 8

The annual Tree Lighting Ceremony, sponsored by the Boca Grande Woman’s Club, will be held at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 8. Unfortunately, the tree across from Hudson’s did not survive Hurricanes Helene and Milton, so the ceremony will take place around the tree across from the front door of The Gasparilla Inn. Island clergy […]

State Park now open at Range Light, main lot at Belcher still closed

Florida State Parks reopened three parking areas for Gasparilla Island State Park last weekend, and the “Beaches Closed” electronic signage at the Boca Grande Causeway toll was removed.  The three areas that are open are the Range Light area, the Sea Grape and Sea Wall parking areas which are located between the Range Light and […]

Reminder: Cross-island hurricane debris dumps a felony

The island continues to have an issue with the dumping of hurricane debris, even as crews from the disaster recovery firm Crowder Gulf, contracted by Lee County, continue to pick up refuse on island by the ton, daily. This week, debris piles continued to grow, especially along Gasparilla Road, Gilchrist Avenue and Gulf Boulevard. Some […]

Letters: Support sought for Island School after return to classroom

BY CHRISTINE OLIVER Our beautiful Gasparilla Island, including Boca Grande and The Island School, has faced immense challenges in the wake of these back-to-back storms. While the facility and staff continue to navigate these challenges, we would like to provide an update on The Island School’s recovery and the steps being taken to return to […]