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IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Firefighter Daniel Martinez

Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Profiles.

Daniel Martinez has found himself a home at the Boca Grande Fire Department. He’s only been here since June, but he envisions himself retiring from this department one day. Since he is 24, that means he will be here a long time. 
“I’ve lived in the area pretty much my whole life,” Daniel said. “I was born in Hollywood (Florida) and moved over here when I was about five, to Rotonda West. Basically, every time I wanted to do something fun, I would come to Boca Grande. I’ve lived so close to the island, I was out here a lot as a kid. My prom was out here. I used to do the Turkey Hoop Shoot whenever I could. I ran the 5K out here sometimes. So the island’s always been a part of my life.”
He has discovered a new depth to the community since joining the fire department, though.

TIMELINE FOR AUGUST 25: THIS DATE IN THE BOCA BEACON

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Community History.

FIVE YEARS AGO The Beacon swept the Florida Press Association awards presentation, and Hopkins & Daughter celebrated 30 years of ownership of the Boca Beacon. TEN YEARS AGO Fire destroyed a Pilot Point Lane home, and Capt. Phil O’Bannon was in Lee County trying to make a difference in tarpon fishing gear regulations. Also, our […]

Demo crew quits, droopy Bakery Building more precarious than ever as crews try to begin construction of new tower base

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.

The status of our new cell tower is now officially in question after the demolition company hired to do the job has now quit, citing the safety of his crew and the public as his reason for doing so.

Allegedly Robert Phineas, the owner of the Sarasota company called Roots SRQ, said he would not take responsibility for the project, so he packed up his equipment and left. In the mean time, part of the debris hanging from the second floor of the building fell into the street either Wednesday night or Thursday morning, which meant the road had to be blocked off. Heavy rains predicted in the next few days will endanger the project more by rendering the dangling debris soggier and heavier.

The original pile of debris that was left by the demo company was scooped back into the building by the workmen on site and contractor Leo Pfliger has already done his work on the wall between the Lumen Building and the Bakery Building, which was to cut a hole so the tower assembly company, Steele Construction (who works for the main tower company, Vertical Bridge) could get their equipment through to the tower site.

First $50,000 donation given to emergency comms project

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Community, News.

After a disaster, when first responders aren’t able to communicate with each other and the public cannot communicate with them, there’s a feeling of hopelessness and anxiety that in this technological day and age we seldom feel. In part, that is why one island organization – the Boca Grande Disaster Relief Fund – has stepped up to make an initial donation of $50,000 to an island committee in charge of purchasing and implementing a new emergency operations/communications system that will be vital to our island.

There is hope that other island organizations will donate as well to help the committee reach their goal, which is a fluid number at this time – somewhere around $270,000. 

The need for this type of technology became apparent after Hurricanes Irma and Ian, as Irma created a situation in which communications and cell phone failure took place sporadically up and down the Gulf Coast. Ian was worse, obviously. Not only did the island lose its cell tower, but also there was the realization  that this one lone tower was serving us for just about the entire signal we had. If a tower goes down on the mainland, one might get a signal here and there – sometimes even a clear one – by repositioning and triangulation of other cell phone towers in the area, but we do not have that luxury here.

Think this Florida heat has made window a/c units obsolete? Think again

Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, News.

Last Saturday, the island officially hit 101 degrees, after a week of highs around 97 or 98. The “feels like” temps were, at times, around 118 degrees.

Through this heatwave and others, some places in Boca Grande still rely upon, and prize, the extra cooling potential of the humble A/C window unit. 

On a hot afternoon at Gasparilla Adventures, Sam Fletcher (aka ‘Socks in Crocs’) and Brittani Salmon are still cheery when helping customers renting golf carts and bikes. Their not so secret weapon? A GE brand window unit, blasting out cool air next to the cash register. A second upstairs window unit, which keeps the second floor cool enough for Snow Mizer, had other benefits in this month’s heat and humidity.

OBITUARY: Robert Johnson

Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Community History, Obituaries.

This generational pilot boat captain has crossed the bar Capt. Robert W. Johnson passed away on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at his family home, the historic Quarantine House. Robert was born on November 27, 1938 to Carey and Carrie Johnson on the south end of Boca Grande. Robert graduated from Boca Grande High School in […]

Can you take the fountain? 

Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Community History.

Fountain created decades ago by Alzamora sister needs a home right away Sometimes you don’t realize how much has changed in a place until you find out that the things that were once so important no longer are. Such is the case with a most outstanding work of art, created decades ago by a well-known […]

$4.2M Waterways Ave. home top of latest sales in Boca Grande, Cape Haze

Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community.

The Englewood Area Board of Realtors’ recent sales report for Boca Grande and the Cape Haze Peninsula, issued Monday, Aug. 14, shows that a 1,464 square-foot home on Waterways Avenue took the top price of the week at just over $4.2 million. The house was on the market for 67 days and was paid for in cash on August 8, through Gulf-to-Bay Sotheby’s International, Agent Maryjo Pigott.
Other sales include the following:

Locals could do more on Lemon Bay Scenic Byway

Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, News.

The two approach roads to Boca Grande, namely Gasparilla Road and Placida Road, are both part of one of 27 Florida Scenic Byways. Officially called the Lemon Bay/Myakka Traill Scenic Byway, the honorific status promotes and celebrates “cultural, historic, archaeological, recreational, natural and scenic aspects” of the entrance to Boca Grande. A key part of […]