Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON- From the scent of blooming jasmine to the taste of salt in the air, Gasparilla Island is home to many classic tropical tropes. However, some things may be beautiful from the outside but dangerous within. Take, for example, our multitude of coconut palms. Coconuts may be a staple to seaside towns like this […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, Letters to the Editor, News.
To the Editor: About 20 years ago a friend of ours brought his son over to our house. His son had recently had an operation that left him partly paralyzed from the waist down. While we were sitting on our porch looking at our boats I noticed that he had such a wistful look […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News, Obituaries.
Doris Russell, 61, a longtime resident of Rotonda, passed away on June 19, 2020. For the past 30 plus years, Doris has overseen the care of multiple properties and assisted several families at Boca Grande. She was a member of the Writers Guild of Englewood. She is survived by her parents, brother and two sons, […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
Born with the salt air in his lungs and fishing in his soul… BY OLIVIA CAMERON- The small seaside town of Boca Grande is built on a foundation of fishing families. Fishermen alike flock to the island for each tarpon season, share their livestock with the locals and cook their greatest catch. For Capt. Chuck […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Sports & Outdoors.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE- One lone tarpon made it to the boat in the 5th annual Red Gill Invitational Tarpon Tournament held on Saturday, June 20, and one has to wonder if the team on the winning boat didn’t have a little help from a higher power. Capt. Chase McBride took his team of anglers that […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON- Our Boca Beacon website has a new calendar! The event amenity widget labeled “What’s Going On?” on our homepage highlights some upcoming activities. The “Local Events” tab will then lead you to detailed information for a plethora of events within a radius of your selection. These events are created by local groups […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE- The expansion project at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church is moving along, and a public meeting was held online on Thursday, June 18, regarding an application to allow the expansion and for several special exceptions. The requested variances are for a plot of land, approximately 0.22-acres, located between West Railroad Avenue […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Health & Wellness, News.
STAFF REPORT- Social distancing is more important than ever now, as the state of Florida saw its highest day of reported cases – coming in at 5,508 new positive COVID-19 cases and 44 new reported deaths – on Wednesday, June 24. That number breaks the old record, which was also reported last week. While it […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY OLIVIA CAMERON- Seagate Development Group has confirmed that the Hill Tide Estates pier reconstruction is to be completed in the upcoming months while the project continues to develop. The construction barrier will remain on the beach until project completion to ensure the safety of the public. But what about the safety of the island’s […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY STEVIE KIM-RUBELL- In honor of World Oceans Day and Capitol Hill Oceans Week, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Youth Ambassador Stevie Kim-Rubell wrote an essay on the Unites States’ recycling crisis, and the ways in which we can all reduce our plastic use. This was written in conjunction with World Oceans Day, which takes place […]