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PROFILE: Dr. Bret Kueber

Dr. Bret Kueber always knew that he wanted to semi-retire in Florida; he just didn’t think it would happen this soon. It seems as though while he was waiting for his daughter Katie to finish high school, Boca Grande was suddenly thrust in his path.
“We found this place and, wow! It’s perfect.” he said. “I didn’t want anything too touristy and I was looking for something more low-key, more old Florida style. I love to boat, my son David loves to fish and Katie likes being out on the boat. I love being on the water. That’s my happy place.”

OBITUARY: William Johnson

William “Bill” Johnson, 82, died peacefully and surrounded by family in his home on January 28, 2022. William Vincent Johnson was born in Owensboro, Kentucky, on January 7, 1940, the fifth son of James and Eleanor nee Kerrick Johnson. Eleanor passed away when “Billy” was four, after giving birth to her sixth child, a girl. […]

Hill Tide fence shrinks … just a little bit

It appears there may be some changes to the fence at Hill Tide Estates that stands on the beach. According to those who are intimately aware of the situation, at least one of the sections of fence have been removed. The signs that advise people not to walk the beach, though, are still there.

‘We’re just overwhelmed’: Gasparilla Mobile Estates residents seek assistance to figure out their next steps after the storm

On Sunday, Jan. 16 at 6:37 a.m. the winds of change blew at 110 mph for many residents of Gasparilla Mobile Estates. The EF-1 tornado that touched down and cut a narrow swath through the park completely destroyed seven mobile homes, and up to 33 more had damage. Many of the homes that were not destroyed still have been tagged as unfit for inhabitance. That means while people can still go in and get belongings and look at damage at their own risk, they cannot live there.
Out of the homes affected, only two were insured.

ROLLING! The Boca Grande Film Festival has begun

While it was a rainy night for the opening party of the Boca Grande Film Festival, the people who gathered in the Boca Grande Community Center Woman’s Club Room were warm and sheltered from the elements, as they celebrated the announcement of films. This event was virtual last year, so this was a welcome gathering.
Sponsored by the Boca Beacon and Friends of the Boca Grande Community Center, this event includes special guests from some of the films. Many of these have been viewed at well-known festivals such as Sundance and each one was hand-picked for the event.
Here is your line-up of films and schedule for the 2022 Boca Grande Film Festival:

Janet Gillespie recalls the origin of the Bike Parade and other events at History Bytes

Gillespie arrived on the Island in December 1978 to work in management for the newly constructed Boca Grande Club. She tells this story and 25 years worth of other information at the first of this season’s Historical Society “History Bytes,” presentation at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 2, at the Johann Fust Library.
The Boca Grande Club had one condominium building and only pilings for the restaurant building in 1978, and Janet recalls that the town of Boca Grande except for Nabor’s gas station, Fugate’s and the Temptation was run down and boarded up.

The Boca Grande Garden Club to dig in the dirt with Barbara Robinson

Barbara Paul Robinson’s life includes a lot of “firsts.” She was the first woman to make partner at the legendary Debevoise & Plimpton law firm, she was the first woman president of the NYC Bar Association. Indeed, she was unsurprisingly an early second-wave feminist, launching Debevoise’s flextime program for child-rearing attorneys in 1967, another NYC first.

Royal Palm Players announcements include good news and bad

The Royal Palm Players have worked hard this year to be creative and bring you live theater, despite the complications of COVID. They were able to move “Inherit the Wind” outside and sold out to enthusiastic audiences every evening. Their dinner theatre, “Miracle on 34th Street: A Live Musical Radio Play” was performed to sold-out […]