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Primary election results 2022:

The primary election held on Tuesday, Aug. 23 yielded 41 votes onsite at polling place 122, otherwise known as the Boca Grande Community. Of those 41, seven were Democrats, 33 were Republicans and one was a Non-Affiliated voter. There were 174 mail-in votes for our precincts and no early voters. County wide voter turnout was […]

Inn to move phone reservations to new space on Park Avenue

The Gasparilla Inn & Club will be moving into their newly-aquired space in the Gulf Coast International Properties building at the corner of Park Avenue and 4th Street in the very near future, but the two other businesses that occupy the space will stay until their leases are up at the end next year. According […]

Beacon takes home 13 awards from Florida Press Conference annual meeting

The staff at the Boca Beacon and Gasparilla Island Magazine are very proud of our awards received at the 2022 Florida Press Association awards, held earlier this month at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa in Jacksonville. In total we came home with 13 awards, including the following:  For Gasparilla Island Magazine Marcy Shortuse […]

BIPS talks gopher tortoises

Gopher tortoises can live 40 to 80 years in the wild. They love to forage on tender low-growing green plants and leaves in the early morning or late afternoon but can also be found eating flowers on prickly pear cactus and hibiscus, saw palmetto berries and gopher apples. They have one clutch of eggs per year, which contains anywhere from three to 14 eggs, and it takes about 100 days for the eggs to incubate. The sex of the eggs is temperature-dependent, meaning that if the temperature is above 85 F, the hatchling will be a female, and if lower, it will be a male.  

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: RON BOLTON

on came to GIWA at the beginning of this year, abandoning his plan of retiring after working nearly four decades in the utilities industry. Southeast Florida had been his home most of his life, coming to Hollywood with his parents when he was only seven years old. After high school graduation he joined the Air Force, serving in active duty for a year, and then six years in the Air Force Reserves. 

ASK A DOC: Checkups?

BY DR. RAYMOND JAMES, D.O. Doubtful David recently asked me, “Do I really need to see you every year for a checkup if I feel good?”  His question was especially pertinent, since he had skipped his annual physical last year due to the pandemic. He had gained weight like many have during the change in […]

This date in the Boca Beacon …

Boca Beacon backpages FIVE YEARS AGO A 2002 Glacier Bay named La Pirate was missing, and everyone was on the lookout. The new boardwalk officially opened at Gasparilla Island State Park. TEN YEARS AGO Boaters, boarders, swimmers and paddle boarders were keeping a close eye on several pieces of metal rebar sticking out of the […]

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Island resident gives thanks for historical dictatorial regarding Eldred’s Marina, offers kudos to another

First off I would like to offer condolences and respect to Mr. Tim Dixon and the family for the loss of his brother Sam. I would also like to say how exquisite and memorable were the series he submitted to the Beacon regarding the history and current state of historic Eldred’s Marina. That was an excellent idea to put into the public record all the trials and tribulations the family has endured. I certainly hope the Charlotte County Commissioners have the grace and decency to decide on behalf of the Dixon family. It’s the only right thing to do after all their years of giving to the community

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Red grouper recreational harvest to close in Gulf on August 30

To the Editor: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is closing the recreational harvest of red grouper in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico, excluding waters of Monroe County, on August 30 for the remainder of the 2022 fishing season. Harvest will reopen on Jan. 1, 2023.    This closure is consistent […]