Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
While the Atlantic is kicking up, action at the Bakery Building has slowed down this week. A new demolition crew will begin work on Monday, headed up by Kevin Kelley, and the Lee County Attorney’s Office has spoken with the building’s new owner, Sue Sligar, who is back in town. The building is listed under […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Sports & Outdoors.
After a massive hurricane and a year of drought, the status of seagrass in Charlotte Harbor could perhaps be characterized by experts as “not better, in fact marginally worse.”
“We have lost massive amounts of seagrass,” said Dr. Richard Whitman, who heads up the nonprofit environmental charity Heal our Harbor. The group looks regularly at the water quality in Charlotte Harbor and its tributaries, enlisting volunteers in monitoring and educating about the importance of our water.
Observations are often anecdotal and micro-observations, and not all seagrass is the same. Whitman likens the question to how the stock market is doing. Are you asking about how it is doing this week, this year or over decades?
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
A beached manatee, later found to be safe, was the highlight of a Boca Grande visit for Columbus, Ohio resident Heather Gilligan on Wednesday, Aug. 9.
“This morning my original plan of going to Key Largo was canceled,” said Gillian. “So I just felt led by God to come out here.”
She had heard about Gasparilla Island from a friend, Lucy, who had been here in March.
“She finds the coolest places to go,” said Gilligan. “She just said it was really beautiful, really peaceful, and one of the safest places she had ever been.”
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, News.
The magazine Coastal Living has “discovered” a new secret island, Gasparilla.
The new fall edition of the magazine put Gasparilla on its front cover with the caption “Florida’s Secret Island. The Old-School Charm of Gasparilla.” Boca Grande, however, did not make the actual cover photo; that honor was reserved for the Reethi Rah resort in the Maldives.
Writer Tracey Minkin cited the “affinity for blue-blood Northeasterners” as an island that grew with a “sporting forward generation” that discovered “wily, hard-fighting tarpon.” Dressing is described as where “Salt Life criss-crosses with dressing for dinner.”
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News.
If you’ve been seeing a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) truck out on the Boca Grande Causeway lately, it’s because it’s prime season for iguana hunting.
While the Lee County portion of the island uses trapper George Cera, who has been on the job for about 16 years, the Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU) takes care of the iguana issue in the Charlotte County part of the island. They hired the USDA about 10 years ago.
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community.
As cash deals continue, the Lee and Charlotte County regions slightly lag the rest of the state in July real estate statistics, according to information released this week from the Florida Board of Realtors and local boards.
Statewide, existing single-family houses sales were down 6.4 percent year-over-year, to 22,198, while existing condo-townhouse sales were down 9.4 percent, to 8,463.
For Lee County and the Cape Coral Fort Myers area, closed sales were down 5.3 percent to 1,106, comparing July to July. Closed sales in the county so far for all of 2023 were down 14.6 percent, to 8,431. The median sales price in that metro area was $434,980, down just 1.1 percent for the year so far.
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Profiles.
Daniel Martinez has found himself a home at the Boca Grande Fire Department. He’s only been here since June, but he envisions himself retiring from this department one day. Since he is 24, that means he will be here a long time.
“I’ve lived in the area pretty much my whole life,” Daniel said. “I was born in Hollywood (Florida) and moved over here when I was about five, to Rotonda West. Basically, every time I wanted to do something fun, I would come to Boca Grande. I’ve lived so close to the island, I was out here a lot as a kid. My prom was out here. I used to do the Turkey Hoop Shoot whenever I could. I ran the 5K out here sometimes. So the island’s always been a part of my life.”
He has discovered a new depth to the community since joining the fire department, though.
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Sports & Outdoors.
The next Lee County Parks & Recreation Boca Grande Youth Fishing Tournament is scheduled for September 16, 9 to 11 a.m. at the Boca Grande North Fishing Pier, on the road just south of Kappy’s Market. All kids 13 and under are welcome to this catch-and-release-only tournament. Bait will be provided – no lures allowed. […]
Written by Delores Savas on . Posted in Columns, Opinion.
“Only when the last tree has died, the last river has been poisoned, and the last fish has been caught will we realize we cannot eat money.” […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: Sarasota Opera’s annual Food & Wine Festival returns on September 23 from 1 to 4 p.m. and will take place at Sarasota Opera House. Local restaurants will gather to serve tasty bites, wine and other treats as a benefit for Sarasota Youth Opera. This year’s festival will feature many returning classics, such […]