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Painter Diane Mannion opens show in December

Artist Diane Mannion will have a show in Grove City in December. Mannion began painting at age five, when she received her very first watercolor box, and she has carried that inspiration for art into adulthood, having countless sketchbooks filled with new ideas for future pieces. Mannion, who studied at Pratt Institute and in her […]

1925 Anchor Inn reopens after renovation

Waltons-like porch on 4th  The Anchor Inn, after a full renovation this fall, will reopen to guests this weekend. Its first guests are reported to be a newlywed couple. While the building’s grounds were damaged during Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the building, which sits up on a foundation, was higher than the flood waters. Its […]

Books: Great restaurants, extinction, Egypt and happiness 

2025 Book series with Roger Lewis’ picks BY FRIENDS OF BOCA GRANDE Each year, the Friends of Boca Grande have a book series with titles picked by Roger Lewis. Below are titles for the season, in a Q&A format. BEACON: Thanks for sitting down with us to talk about the third year of “Roger’s Picks.” […]

Iguanas get cold-blooded break, chill til Feb.

Lee County’s iguana-removal vendor for Boca Grande will be taking a winter hiatus which began Friday, Nov. 15 and will last until Feb. 15. Brian Ambrose is the technician for Blue Iguana Pest Control Inc., which is the primary vendor for population-control services for black spiny-tailed iguanas on the Lee County side of Gasparilla Island.  […]

Fust Library Foundation updates on storm repairs

BY BOBBIE MARQUISEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Ever since Hurricane Milton brought a four-foot wave from the Gulf of Mexico into our beautiful buildings and gardens, Johann Fust Library Foundation has faced the daunting task of cleaning up, drying out and repairing building systems. We know that we are not alone in facing this formidable task. Homes and […]

Generous givers send Island Disaster Fund over $3 million goal

A fund to help island businesses is now over its initial $3 million goal, and has given out over $1.5 million to help jump start business re-openings across Gasparilla Island. “The people don’t have the seed dollars to go out and make the down payment,” said co-organizer Larry Hannah of Lighthouse United Methodist Church. “It’s […]

State Park now open at Range Light, main lot at Belcher still closed

Florida State Parks reopened three parking areas for Gasparilla Island State Park last weekend, and the “Beaches Closed” electronic signage at the Boca Grande Causeway toll was removed.  The three areas that are open are the Range Light area, the Sea Grape and Sea Wall parking areas which are located between the Range Light and […]

Reminder: Cross-island hurricane debris dumps a felony

The island continues to have an issue with the dumping of hurricane debris, even as crews from the disaster recovery firm Crowder Gulf, contracted by Lee County, continue to pick up refuse on island by the ton, daily. This week, debris piles continued to grow, especially along Gasparilla Road, Gilchrist Avenue and Gulf Boulevard. Some […]

Letters: Support sought for Island School after return to classroom

BY CHRISTINE OLIVER Our beautiful Gasparilla Island, including Boca Grande and The Island School, has faced immense challenges in the wake of these back-to-back storms. While the facility and staff continue to navigate these challenges, we would like to provide an update on The Island School’s recovery and the steps being taken to return to […]