Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Community, News.
This year, Christmas Eve falls on a Sunday. That means a slightly different timing for services on Gasparilla Island. For Lighthouse United Methodist Church, all services will be on Sunday, the 24th. There are three services: regular Sunday of Advent service at 10 a.m., a family Christmas service at 5 p.m., and a traditional candlelight […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Education, Letters to the Editor.
From Betsy F. Joiner: I had the most delightful experience a few Wednesday nights ago at Cape Haze Publix. I went in to do my shopping and when I walked inside I saw the happy faces of The Island School teachers lined up in front of a table. I said, what are you all doing […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial, Opinion.
When traveling the Causeway, one might admit, if pressed, to playing a game of what song happens to be on the radio. If it is a good song (and a particularly good view of the water and sunset), it is a good moment, and one might actually turn up the volume. This Christmas season, the […]
Written by Delores Savas on . Posted in Opinion, Sports & Outdoors.
When Hurricane Ian struck Boca Grande on Setember 28, 2022 with its 150 mph winds, it proved to be a catastrophic storm, causing major damage to Island life and erasing many sites. […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.
Laurence DeFrance, age 79, passed away peacefully on December 6, 2023. He was born October 3, 1944 in New York, the son of Margaret and Professor Joseph J. DeFrance. Laurence (“Larry”) grew up alongside his extended family and attended Garden City High School, where he made lifelong friends. As a Little League Yankee All-Star, baseball […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.
Sabrina Johnson-Lambert passed away on December 7, 2023, surrounded by family at home in Dunnellon, Florida, and formerly of Boca Grande. Born August 14, 1959, she is survived by her husband, Stephen Lambert; son, Matthew (Brittany): daughter, Rachel (Ben): three grandchildren, Amelia, Jaxton and Isla: brother, Darian (Liz): several nieces, nephews, and cousins: Aunt Hazel […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
Gasparilla Island State Park is finishing a regrade at the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse. Bulldozers and sand trucks were on hand this week to grade the potholes in the park and in the entrance driveway. This week, crews at the park also blocked off dune areas with a fence to protect them from pedestrians. There […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
By MICHELLE STARR On a morning drive over the Boca Causeway, I get a true bird’s eye view of Little Gasparilla Pass, the sandbar and local water clarity and condition. The high winds over the last several days have made the water very messy, so while coming over the Causeway Sunday morning, I spotted a […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News.
Vendor Patrick Kasprik brought a paperback Penguin Classic version of a Greek play by Euripides to the Farmers Market last Friday, Dec. 13. No one knew how the bread sales would go at the first outing of the Boca Grande Farmers Market this season. But sales went well, and the high winds and chillier weather […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News, Opinion, Sports & Outdoors.
Last week, a subscriber came into the Beacon office to ask for help with a one-legged ibis. The ibis was stranded by his flock (or in bird lingo, a wedge, or congregation or stand of birds). People do have a habit of calling us and stopping in with their wildlife issues, both human and otherwise. […]