Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
■ PROVIDED BY MOTE MARINE. Smartphone users can now download a new app to self-report impacts of Florida red tide algae (Karenia brevis), thanks to Mote Marine Laboratory’s project to engage citizen scientists along Florida’s Gulf of Mexico coast. The free app, Citizen Science Information Collaboration (CSIC), allows users to report when and where they experience […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
■ BY SUE ERWIN Kindness is cool. That’s the message Johann Fust librarian Gladys Varga wants to share with island residents by encouraging them to spread a little joy – just because. She created a “Kindness Tree” which will be on display at the library for the rest of the summer. Supplies are available on […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News, Profiles.
■ BY SUE ERWIN Capt. Paul Wagenseil is quite familiar with tarpon fishing in Boca Grande Pass. Born and raised in Englewood, Paul started fishing when he was a kid. After receiving a kayak as a birthday present, he started exploring local creeks and canals, and his love of the sport grew from there. “I was raised […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial, Featured News, News, Opinion.
■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE “Heard an old man by the pier asking where the time’s all gone, it’s been almost 50 years; my, how this place has grown. “Used to come here by ferry before they built that big hotel; this old island feels the same, this old island is aging well. “ The pirates […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
The Boca Grande 5th Street Beach Access is closed indefinitely due to erosion stemming from recent storms and high tides. The parking lot will remain open. Other Lee County beach accesses on Boca Grande include 9th Street, 10th Street, 11th Street, 13th Street, 14th Street, 17th Street, and 19th Street. These locations have limited parking […]
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■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE First it was Ladies Day. Then it was World’s Richest. Now it’s the kids’ turn, as the 2017 Gasparilla Island Kids Classic Tarpon Tournament is scheduled to drop lines in the water at 5:30 p.m. in Boca Grande. The event, created by Capt. Sandy Melvin and Boca Grande Charities, Inc., is […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
■ BY SUE ERWIN If you’ve taken a walk near the water at Gasparilla Island State Park over the past year, you’ve most likely noticed that the boardwalks on the beach side were pretty much washed out. A few months ago, two state park rangers decided to do something about it. Robert Longo and Shannon […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE It was an extraordinary night of fishing for the 2017 Ladies Howl at the Moon on Saturday, June 3, with a double-header (and both brought to the boat) for one team, seven releases for the winning team and 43 whopping releases in all. It was an extraordinary night of fishing for […]
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■ STAFF REPORT The Boca Beacon team is proud to announce the newspaper is up for nine awards at the Florida Press Association Better Weekly Newspaper Contest, to be held this year in August in Naples. Beacon cartoonist Dave Hortoon is up for an award in the “Original Local Editorial Cartoon” category, and both Editor […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
■ BY SUE ERWIN A local television news station reported recently that Lee County is looking to move a 1920s cottage once owned by Katharine Hepburn to Fort Myers Beach. The report stated, “The Boca Grande Historical Society next month will discuss allowing the County to relocate the cottage. The plan is for its new home to […]