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What’s Open, What’s Closed: Helene Update

Retail Establishments & Marinas: Aqua Boutique is closed until further notice. 421 Park Ave. Ariel, LTD is closed until further notice. 444 4th St., (941) 964-0480. Barbara Anne’s Jewelry & Repair is open Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 410 Park Ave., (941) 964-1776. The Barnichol is open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. […]

Post office ‘temp’ break in Placida

The Boca Grande Post Office is temporarily closed until officials can assess any damage from Hurricane Helene. All the mail and packages that would go to the Boca Grande Post Office will now go to the Placida Post Office, where they will be sorted and kept in trays. Whatever forwarding instructions that were in place […]

After a storm, hope for the quiet waters of October

Editor’s Note: Van Hubbard was up in North Carolina, on vacation, when the flood waters came up to his cabin. He came through the storm, only to find his house flooded here. The bill came due for waterfront views. Just some thoughts on the sustainability of living on our beaches and open-water views. Our Florida […]

A stiff upper lip, for an Act of God

Everyone thought the storm would pass us by.  Before Helene, there was sandbagging and some boarding up. There was unease, but confidence. The island just finished cleaning up after Ian, and everyone was prepared. Be prepared. Here at the Beacon, we planned to get our issue out early Thursday, in case the power went out. […]

Edward A. Dean Jr., 1940-2024

No one can deny that Edward A. Dean, Jr. was a devoted, loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle who cared deeply for his family. He fought the good fight for 84 years. He was born in Bartow, Florida on January 23, 1940, and passed away on Sunday morning in his beloved mountain cabin in […]

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: A fix for flooded Gasparilla Road

The Lee rescue crew The Lee County Department of Transportation has worked tirelessly to alleviate Boca Grande’s flooded roadways after Hurricane Helene passed off the coast.  County crews were out in full force the entire weekend after the storm and continued to work on drainage issues all week. From Friday, Sept. 27, through Sunday night, […]

Boca Grande Historical Society artifacts OK after Helene floodwaters

The Boca Grande Historical Society is moving its artifacts and papers off island, until its offices can be restored. During Hurricane Helene, a few inches of flood water came into their building, which is at the Boca Grande Community Center. Today, President Johns Knight and others were there cleaning out and packing the contents and […]

Updating road conditions for Monday commute into Boca Grande

Editor’s update: At the end of day Monday, the road was clear of water. For those that need to commute into Boca Grande, the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority is open, and Boca Grande Fire Department hang tags are not required. Gasparilla Road, which flooded during Hurricane Helene, is also open. However, there is still some […]

Heraclean feat? Pumps now working to take water off Gasparilla Road

BOCA GRANDE – Like that fifth labor of Heracles, cleaning out the Augean stables, a crew from Lee County has installed a pumps to clear putrid standing water off Gasparilla Road today. By late afternoon, the crew arrived mid-island, where large portions of Gasparilla Road in Lee County are impassible due to standing water. The […]