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Clinic holds first webinar of season, discusses updated potential renovation  

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Health & Wellness, News.

There was a lot of information to cover at the first Boca Grande Health Clinic “Welcome Back to the Island” webinar” on Thursday, Oct. 26. The doctors spoke about updates at the Clinic in technology, numbers and vaccinations. Fire Chief C.W. Blosser discussed emergency medical information and varying levels of emergency care. But the most intriguing part of the presentation was made by Clinic Executive Director Mark Driscoll and others, discussing their newest plan for the second renovation proposal that will go before Lee County and the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board in the future.
After their initial plan was denied by the Historic Preservation Board in May of last year by a unanimous vote, Driscoll said the Clinic Foundation members have been listening to the people of the island, as have been the doctors. They’ve heard many comments, such as that the building was too big, there were too many entrances and exits, they didn’t like the windows and that there would be parking problems with a bigger facility.

Decide a 100-year-old debate on November 8

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.

Was Warren Harding one of our worst presidents? Next week, you can decide. On November 8, historian Ryan Walters will give us a chance to reconsider the historically poor opinion of our 29th president when he presents his book, “The Jazz Age President: Defending Warren Harding,” at the Community Center auditorium at 4:30 p.m. According […]

Tarpon and snook catch $1.2 million research grant

Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.

Increasing development and the importance of local tarpon and snook populations have spurred a $1.2 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that will specifically target Charlotte Harbor. 

“These are very specific needs of a very specific fish,” said Nicole Iadevaia, director of research and restoration for the Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership. CHNEP is working on the project with a team that includes the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust, Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Charlotte County government.

The study is unique in that it takes into consideration economic development, and asks for “realistic options for implementing habitat protection or restoration.” It is officially titled “Implementation of a research plan to guide decisions on place-based recreational fishery conservation in Charlotte Harbor.”

OBITUARY: Karen Hugger

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.

Funeral services for Karen Hugger, 78, longtime Boca Grande resident and real estate broker, will be held at 10 a.m. at the Lighthouse United Methodist Church in Boca Grande on Saturday, Nov. 11. A reception will follow in the church’s Fellowship Hall. All are welcome. Karen passed away in October following a stroke in March. […]

Bocaween 2023

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community.

WINNERS OF THE 2023 LEE COUNTY PARKS & RECREATION HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST: Ages 0-3: Silas Swartzendruber; Alfred Norberg; Izzy Freeman Ages 4-5: Landon Ringeisen; Noah Branham; Alma (no last name) Ages 6-9: Ava Spurgeon; Penny Oliver; Georgia Pope Ages 10-14: Brielle Spurgeon; Savannah Pope; Hunter Pope –––––––––––––––

PROFILE: Gordon Allen

Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Profiles.

High tech meets high drama. And it’s all happening in a quiet neighborhood in the elegant town of Boca Grande. 
This is not the plot of a new play, but the real-life story of one of the newest actors joining the ranks of the Royal Palm Players. 

Gordon Allen took a couple of acting classes when he lived in Santa Barbara, California some 20 years ago. He was not actually looking to perform on stage, though. He was hoping to improve his skills as a salesman. 

“It was more just for fun. I’m in sales, so I spend a lot of time in front of people,” he explained. “I was talking to lots of senior-level executives, tech executives, things like that. So taking an acting class was a help in getting better at just talking … talking on my feet and thinking on my feet.”

That changed recently, however.

OBITUARY: Emerson White

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.

Emerson Donald White, 86, of Placida, Florida peacefully passed away on October 29, 2023 at home, surrounded by family. Known to all as Don, he was born in Winchendon, Massachusetts to Emerson and Alice White. He graduated from Leominster High School, received a business degree from Babson College and was also a veteran of the […]

GUEST EDITORIAL: SHARING THE RESPONSIBILITY

Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Editorial.

Over the years, I’ve read the Boca Beacon without fail. The best parts of the weekly paper are what I call “The Boca Soaps.” I savor every word. I love the Gilchrist sagas that kept going for several months … then the private fence on the south end of the island that extended across the […]

THIS DATE IN THE BOCA BEACON

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Community History.

FIVE YEARS AGO The Barrier Island Parks Society announced they would be relighting the restored Gasparilla Island Lighthouse (the Range Light) following the installation of a replica of the original fourth-order Fresnel lens needed. TEN YEARS AGO At the Whidden’s Back Bay Tournament a lot of fish were caught. The first-place team included anglers Capt. […]