Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
If anyone thinks that Boca Grande won’t be celebrating Independence Day just because we don’t have an official fireworks display, they would be wrong. Not only do our residents set up some amazing displays all on their own, we also have the golf cart and bike parade that has been taking place for years. Starting […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, News.
The Englewood Habitat for Humanity ReStore, which has been closed since Hurricane Ian, is set to reopen on Wednesday, July 5. This week, more than two dozen volunteers were busy restocking the 12,000-square-foot ReStore and warehouse located off McCall Road, all with donated goods collected from across Charlotte County.
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
The Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association recently announced their inaugural Adopt-A-Nest program for the 2023 season, which allows you to adopt a sea turtle nest on Gasparilla Island and be a part of protection and conservation efforts. Adoption donations will help protect and conserve endangered sea turtles. Funds will be used for turtle patrol equipment, […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in News, Profiles.
Firefighter Stephen Collison is still pinching himself, hoping his job at the Boca Grande Fire Department is not a cruel joke. He was hired on April 1, so he’s pretty sure by now it’s no April Fool’s joke.
Steve likes a good laugh and can almost always be found with a smile on his face. He is a naturally happy person. Working for the Boca Grande Fire Department has substantially added to that happiness. It’s not that he was unhappy working for the Sarasota County Fire Department, but this station just fits his sense of community better, he said.
He had been with the Sarasota Department since September of 2021, and before that he was a member of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office for more than 11 years. Public safety and public service are his bedrocks.
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Obituaries.
Joseph Leo Adrian, 78, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota and Boca Grande, Florida passed away from complications due to ataxia on June 23, 2023. He is preceded in death by his loving parents, Herbert and Bernnes (née Peterson), brothers John, Herbert M. Jr., and Anthony. Joe was known for his sharp wit, observant nature, quiet […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial.
Retirees and investors may still be flocking to Florida to find that “perfect life” or great investment opportunity, but unless more insurance regulation bills are written and passed, or more insurance assistance programs are offered for workers, those who live here will find few people left in the stores, shops, hospitals, law enforcement agencies and fire departments.
It has been well known by many “locals” in this area why there are few hometown kids who continue to live or start businesses here when they finish high school or return from college. It’s because this is one of those places where, unless their family has a business they can jump into or has enough of the right contacts to help them along in finding a job. Small towns like Port Charlotte, Englewood and Placida are not places where it is easy to get a solid initial foothold on your own. The good-paying jobs just aren’t here, particularly when you’re faced with big-city costs of living at the same time.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Boca Beacon Back Pages, Columns.
Boca Beacon backpages FIVE YEARS AGO Red tide was insane, so much so that we had “fish disposal” dumpster sites available to the public. GIBA talked about changing the name of the Boca Grande Causeway to Gasparilla Road. TEN YEARS AGO We lost Bud Amen. Mila’s swim team did a great job in a California […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Police & Fire.
As the July 4th holiday approaches, millions of boaters from across the country will convene on our nation’s waterways. With the increased public presence on the water, there is also an increase in the number of boating incidents and fatalities that take place during this time. From July 1 through 3, CCSO, in partnership with […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Uncategorized.
Weather was the top story this week, as we went from sweltering hot with little rain to some decent storms and rainfall. There were even a few tense moments on Father’s Day morning when the phone alerts were going off everywhere, as a tornado warning was issued for our area. We got a lot of rain that morning, enough to fill the ditches along Gasparilla Road heading into town.
On Tuesday night the skies were illuminated at the south end of the Cape Haze Peninsula by a fire that originated near the old quarry in Rotonda Meadows (once called Rotonda Trace). It was just across a small canal from homes on the south end of the South Gulf Cove neighborhood. The cause of that fire was a lightning strike.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Sports & Outdoors.
The magic number was three for the 2023 Red Gill Invitational Tarpon Tournament, as three tarpon were released and three anglers took the top prize in the tournament. Capt. Sandy Melvin, Bob Melvin and Jeri Smith won first place on the “Boca Blue,” Melvin’s first win of the season. The team is shown in the photo above, with Capt. Sandy wearing the “King of the Dock” chapeau.