Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Profiles.
on came to GIWA at the beginning of this year, abandoning his plan of retiring after working nearly four decades in the utilities industry. Southeast Florida had been his home most of his life, coming to Hollywood with his parents when he was only seven years old. After high school graduation he joined the Air Force, serving in active duty for a year, and then six years in the Air Force Reserves.
Written by Boca Grande Health Clinic on . Posted in Columns, Health & Wellness.
BY DR. RAYMOND JAMES, D.O. Doubtful David recently asked me, “Do I really need to see you every year for a checkup if I feel good?” His question was especially pertinent, since he had skipped his annual physical last year due to the pandemic. He had gained weight like many have during the change in […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Columns, Community History.
Boca Beacon backpages FIVE YEARS AGO A 2002 Glacier Bay named La Pirate was missing, and everyone was on the lookout. The new boardwalk officially opened at Gasparilla Island State Park. TEN YEARS AGO Boaters, boarders, swimmers and paddle boarders were keeping a close eye on several pieces of metal rebar sticking out of the […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
First off I would like to offer condolences and respect to Mr. Tim Dixon and the family for the loss of his brother Sam. I would also like to say how exquisite and memorable were the series he submitted to the Beacon regarding the history and current state of historic Eldred’s Marina. That was an excellent idea to put into the public record all the trials and tribulations the family has endured. I certainly hope the Charlotte County Commissioners have the grace and decency to decide on behalf of the Dixon family. It’s the only right thing to do after all their years of giving to the community.
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is closing the recreational harvest of red grouper in state waters of the Gulf of Mexico, excluding waters of Monroe County, on August 30 for the remainder of the 2022 fishing season. Harvest will reopen on Jan. 1, 2023. This closure is consistent […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial, News.
It has been more than seven months since the morning of January 16, when an F1 tornado swept the bottom of Cape Haze Peninsula, damaging more than two dozen mobile homes in Gasparilla Island Estates. You would think in that amount of time, certainly the damage was cleaned up and repaired. But time has been […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Community History, News.
Change can be difficult to accept, especially in the last few years when progress seems to be accelerating and changes are everywhere all over the Cape Haze Peninsula. One thing that has not changed – at least not yet – is a little family home at the back of Eldred’s Marina. You might have missed it all this time if you’ve only been to the main parking area, but when you see it, you’ll never forget it.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission FWC), cane toads are reddish-brown to grayish-brown, with a light-yellow or beige belly and can be uniform in color or have darker markings around the body. They have enlarged glands behind the eyes, which angle downward onto the shoulders. The glands secrete a potent milky-white toxin (bufotoxin) as defense against predators – including domestic pets. Cane toads generally range in size from six to nine inches in length. They can be confused with the native southern toad, however; adult cane toads are much larger than adult southern toads, which only grow to a maximum of approximately three or four inches. Cane toads do not have ridges across the head, as seen in the southern toad.
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in Community History, News.
In 1992 Charlotte County decided to put a public boat ramp on a strip of property they owned along the old railroad bed in Placida. It was an old rail siding that was abandoned when the rail line shut down, and the County had acquired ownership of the property after the train stopped running. The County had built the fishing pier on the old trestle, and this would provide parking for the pier as well as a boat ramp. The property was on the west side of what is now the walk path to the pier, and adjacent to the Mercury Marine test facility. Mercury got wind of it, and they didn’t want people launching boats and parking beside their operation, so they offered to trade the current site of the public ramp for the strip adjacent to their property. Why not just pass that headache to someone else? The County took them up on the proposal and built a boat ramp right beside Eldred’s Marina, then started giving away what the marina was charging for. Now the County was in direct competition with a local business, but they were providing the service for free. Private businesses can’t compete with that.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
We told you about the ongoing court case between Boca Grande resident Boots Tolsdorf and a Nantucket beachfront homeowner who ended up with an assault charge after he allegedly pushed Boots twice during an alteration. While Boots claimed to have been below the mark that signifies private property, the homeowner said she was not.