Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Featured News, News, Real Estate.
Lee County Property Appraiser Matt Caldwell released the initial estimates for 2025 property values on Sunday, June 1. They include a $3.5 billion estimate of valuation of Boca Grande real estate. In 2025, the total assessed value of all taxable property in Lee County is estimated to be over $167 billion, which is about 4.85 […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Featured News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
BY KACY CHESKE First place at the Howl at the Moon Tarpon Tournament last Saturday, May 31, went to Capt. Willie Mills’ team on the Tracy Lynn. Fishing ran from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and there were 31 fish caught from 16 boats. Second place went to Capt. Waylon Mills on Blaze. First fish […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
Blaze takes second BY BETSY JOINER Sixteen boats captains and teams fished under the young moon on Saturday, May 31, releasing a total of 31 tarpon. The tarpon bite was on immediately and continued until the last minute of the three-hour tournament. The last few minutes were tense with two brothers neck and neck, five […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Obituaries.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE Zelma H. Otto, a woman who many on the island fondly call their “second mama,” passed away on March 24, 2025, at the age of 98. Zelma was born in August of 1926 in a place that back then was known as Woodmere, Florida – located between Englewood and Venice. She was […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Entertainment, Profiles.
Dad and kids put together a board game A new finance board game for families, “Mr. Market,” is the creation of a family of longtime Boca Grande regulars. The Jack White family connected to Boca Grande through Jack’s father’s friends from Stetson Law School and started visiting the area more than four decades ago. “One […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Community, Letters to the Editor, Opinion.
To the Editor: Bravos and kudos to South Beach Grille’s Bart DeStafano’s letter to the editor of the Boca Beacon of May 30. Every issue Bart addressed was SPOT ON! I encourage everyone to REREAD IT. But one thing in particular did concern me greatly and should concern everyone who believes in honest and respectful […]
Written by VAN HUBBARD on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
We are frequently careless and take our natural resources for granted. Here are a few things we might want to consider. Pelicans are interesting to observe but not always the smartest birds around. We depend on birds, especially pelicans, to help us locate minnows and fish eating those minnows. If they are diving, there is […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Opinion.
BY ROB ROBBINS Recent local media coverage of the Buc-ee’s and Harborview proposal didn’t tell the real story from the epic May 27th marathon board of county commissioner’s meeting. No context was given to Chair Joseph Tiseo’s quote “One Buc-ee’s for all those net benefits.” Wait, what benefits? It would be a shame if […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial, Sports & Outdoors.
For those reading the paper remotely, there has now been a week of rain in these coastal parts. It did seem like the rain would never come, as we had basically eight months of none. This was much longer than usual. The umbrellas are now sitting by the front door, in the back seat and […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO Capt. Chuck Jenks rescued three boys out of the water near the middle bridge. The boys jumped off the bridge for fun but didn’t realize that the current was so strong. TEN YEARS AGO GIWA’s annual water testing received an excellent bill of health with contaminant levels far below maximum levels set […]