Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ SUBMITTED BY THE GICIA The Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association has an insert in this week’s Beacon to acknowledge and thank the many, many donors who have supported our bold initiative to purchase and protect the 30-acre Mercabo property, now known as the .” Our board and staff are tremendously grateful for your […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE Iguana hunting taxes are going up by 0.102 percent, but iguana numbers are definitely going down. At an annual meeting of the MTSBU advisory committee for Gasparilla Island’s street lighting and iguana control Friday, April 1, Lee County MSTBU Coordinator Melissa Geissler told the Board they had to raise […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
At their Annual Meeting held on Monday April 4, The Boca Grande Woman’s Club announced that the grand total of their 2016 community grants and scholarships is $649,600. The membership approved community grants totaling $260,600 for 20 local nonprofit organizations, which included assistance in funding the restoration of the 1927 Range Light, support for professional […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Profiles.
■ BY SUSAN ERWIN Boca Grande part-time resident Garry Carley is a native of Detroit, Michigan, and while he enjoys the peaceful island life here, he also has a sincere passion for the revitalization of his hometown. He currently serves as Chairman of Detroit Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc. Carley met his wife, Nancy, while […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Obituaries.
Sydell Friedman was a Boca Grande phenomenon. She and her husband, Stanley, were well known throughout the island and highly regarded in intellectual, social and tennis circles (and in just about every endeavor in which they participated) for more than 30 years. They were loving parents, grandparents and pet owners, as well as being energetic […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial, Letters to the Editor, News.
Letter to the Editor; Most people know by now about the BG Haiti project that has been taking place for the last seven years. In that time period, this generous community has donated $1,650,000 to build five villages consisting of 200 homes plus schools and community centers/ churches, and to provide fresh water, outdoor lighting, […]
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■ BY SUE ERWIN Florida Governor Bob Graham and Former CIA Director Porter Goss will speak about important issues Florida residents are facing in light of the 2016 national elections. The discussion will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 8 in the Boca Grande Community Center Auditorium. The conversation will cover various topics […]
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■ BY SUE ERWIN The lease is here. Gasparilla Island Light Committee Jim Grant announced that Barrier Island Parks Society has received a lease dated as of April 1 to restore the Gasparilla Island Range Light. “This will enable BIPS to get the key and start fixing it up,” he said. Grant gave a presentation […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Profiles.
■ BY SUSAN ERWIN Meredith Haws Bolasco spends many of her days creating beautiful, exotic pieces of wearable art. Her jewelry designs often include rare treasures found in an exotic locale, such as ancient Greek and Roman coins, Byzantine bronze crosses and French medallions. She will be the featured artist at Island Art Days this […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY JULIE SALVETTI Another year, another amazing art event for Boca Grande! Island Art Days is a lovely little art show on our beautiful little island. This is the 11th year for this happening, and we are pleased to have such a diverse group of accomplished artists joining us this year.