Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News.
Two rare Neiman serigraphs will be auctioned off at the YMCA 27th Annual Tropical Nights fundraiser on November 18, 2023. The event kicks off at 5 p.m. at Palm Island Resort. Cocktails and gourmet dinner catered by Rum Bay Restaurant will accompany a live and silent auction featuring many other items including local artwork, vacation packages, golf, […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
Last week in the hard copy of the Boca Beacon (the paper copy) we ran our story regarding a meeting with the Boca Grande Parking Panel, Sheriff Carmine Marceno and Commissioner Kevin Ruane that was scheduled for Thursday. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss and clarify items to be presented by Commissioner Ruane […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History, News.
The board of the Gasparilla Island Maritime Museum is happy to announce that the Museum is re-opening their doors on Friday, Nov. 3. The board has reported that while the interior is all fresh with new windows and roof repairs completed, there is still a lot to do. They ask that anyone who is interested […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in News.
Hurricane Idalia effectively ended the sea turtle nesting season this year, much like Hurricane Ian did last year. The good news is that most of the nesting season was already completed before either storm hit the area.
This season the number of nests and hatchlings was down from 2022, according to Denise Juergens, marine turtle permit holder for the Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association (BGSTA), which covers the entire island except for the state park properties. She said, however, that there was good news with this year’s final tally of nests and hatchlings.
“This year the depredation rate in our nests went from roughly 47 percent in 2022 to 12 percent,” she said.
Depredation is the disturbance of the nests and hatchlings by dogs, seabirds, raccoons, ghost crabs and other predators. On Gasparilla Island, most of the destruction is done by coyotes, Juergens said.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
Word has it that Lee County might be working to remove the sailboat lodged in the sand at 9th Street beach since Hurricane Ian … maybe even as early as today. On Thursday, Oct. 26 it was discussed that 9th Street beach access would be closed today, Friday, Nov. 3 so that the company A-C-T […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Health & Wellness, News.
There was a lot of information to cover at the first Boca Grande Health Clinic “Welcome Back to the Island” webinar” on Thursday, Oct. 26. The doctors spoke about updates at the Clinic in technology, numbers and vaccinations. Fire Chief C.W. Blosser discussed emergency medical information and varying levels of emergency care. But the most intriguing part of the presentation was made by Clinic Executive Director Mark Driscoll and others, discussing their newest plan for the second renovation proposal that will go before Lee County and the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board in the future.
After their initial plan was denied by the Historic Preservation Board in May of last year by a unanimous vote, Driscoll said the Clinic Foundation members have been listening to the people of the island, as have been the doctors. They’ve heard many comments, such as that the building was too big, there were too many entrances and exits, they didn’t like the windows and that there would be parking problems with a bigger facility.
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News.
As fall visitors arrive and winter visitors begin to make plans, local tourism officials are looking for good news as vacation rentals come back on line.
“I think we are seeing some pent-up demand,” said Sean Doherty, the tourism director for Charlotte County tourism, which is branded the Punta Gorda and Englewood Beach Convention and Visitor Bureau.
Looking at Charlotte County’s tourism development tax revenues, in August the county saw its first actual increase in revenue since Hurricane Ian, with an upward blip of 0.7 percent. TDC revenue is derived from the lodging tax, which is assessed on any rental of less than six months and one day. These bed tax funds support both the Charlotte County and Lee County visitor bureaus.
Rental properties coming back on the market on Don Pedro and Little Gasparilla are also helping Charlotte tourism figures, as many were off market after Ian, Doherty said.
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
Was Warren Harding one of our worst presidents? Next week, you can decide. On November 8, historian Ryan Walters will give us a chance to reconsider the historically poor opinion of our 29th president when he presents his book, “The Jazz Age President: Defending Warren Harding,” at the Community Center auditorium at 4:30 p.m. According […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
Increasing development and the importance of local tarpon and snook populations have spurred a $1.2 million grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) that will specifically target Charlotte Harbor.
“These are very specific needs of a very specific fish,” said Nicole Iadevaia, director of research and restoration for the Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership. CHNEP is working on the project with a team that includes the Bonefish and Tarpon Trust, Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Charlotte County government.
The study is unique in that it takes into consideration economic development, and asks for “realistic options for implementing habitat protection or restoration.” It is officially titled “Implementation of a research plan to guide decisions on place-based recreational fishery conservation in Charlotte Harbor.”
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.
Funeral services for Karen Hugger, 78, longtime Boca Grande resident and real estate broker, will be held at 10 a.m. at the Lighthouse United Methodist Church in Boca Grande on Saturday, Nov. 11. A reception will follow in the church’s Fellowship Hall. All are welcome. Karen passed away in October following a stroke in March. […]