Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, Community, News.
While a new parking plan is under consideration by Lee County, what is not defined in the ordinance is how much these permits will cost for island residents, homeowners and workers. A new parking draft ordinance presented June 17 for Gasparilla Island would have a tiered plan for residents, hotel guests, house guests and island […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Police & Fire.
A $1.5 million appropriations request for a Boca Grande Fire Control District ladder truck replacement was vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday, June 30. “We are disappointed,” said Chief C.W. Blosser, reached Tuesday. “We had to get that signature, and we didn’t get it.” Last week, the item overwhelmingly passed in both the House […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Above, the causeway from the days following Hurricane Milton. GIBA Photo The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority will begin its causeway armoring project in July, and is expected to be completed by mid-November. “This summer will be a busy one for GIBA,” wrote Executive Director Kathy Banson in a statement to the Beacon. “While we recover […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Profiles.
A Boca Grande family celebrates This week, the large extended Forristall family gathered at their cottage on Gasparilla Road. They are one of the many regulars in the Fourth of July parade. They first started coming to the island in 1989. They would stay at the Anchor Inn, or wherever they could find a rental. […]
Written by VAN HUBBARD on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
We have a challenge to deal with; dolphin have mastered welfare. Dolphins, aka Flipper, have developed into a significant problem; they have become dependent on us to fish for them. We exhaust the fish, and they enjoy the easy meals. It started decades ago. The first encounters I remember were back in the eighties. They […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO Boca Grande Health Clinic announced the appointment of Mark Driscoll as Chief Executive Officer. TEN YEARS AGO Full July 4th festivities were in the works with a golf cart and bicycle parade and fireworks at the Boca Grande Marina. FIFTEEN YEARS AGO GIBA voted to keep the speed limit for the two-mile […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial.
This Fourth of July we are in a countdown to July 4, 2026 – our nation’s 250th. Is it a semiquincentennial or a sestercentennial? Bicentennial, in 1976, was a lot easier to say. In 1976, there was a wave of patriotism that came seemingly out of nowhere to bring the nation together after the divisions […]
Written by Delores Savas on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
“Hold on, my friends,to the Constitutionand the republic for which it stands. Miracles do nut cluster,and what happened once in 6,000 years,may not happen again.Hold on to the Constition,for if the American Constition should fail,there will be anarchy throughout the world.” Daniel Webster, American lawyer, orator and statesman in the 19th century. He served as […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Uncategorized.
The canoe/kayak launch and parking area at the Boca Grande Fishing Pier 5810 Gasparilla Road, Gasparilla Island, FL 33921 reopened officially today. Portable toilets are available on site for public use. The county said that patrons are advised to use caution as fenced off areas that include the pier and pier approach walkway remain closed […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in News.
The publicly traded firm Blackstone (NYSE: BX), the new owner of Burnt Store Marina just across Charlotte Harbor, has been figured to be a purchaser of the Sunseeker Charlotte Harbor Resort, according to Reuters and Bloomberg reports. Local tourism officials are watching closely, as the 785-room Sunseeker, owned by the airline Allegiant, has been promoting […]