Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: I know it seems early, but the Charlotte County “Toys for Tots” campaign has already begun. Please email Toys for Tots if you have any questions at charlotte.county.florida@toysfortots.org. The following is the timeline for the program this year: • Application Open Date: 10/1/2023 (date campaign begins accepting toy applications) • Application […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Education, Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: The Scholarship committee of the Boca Grande Woman’s Club is now accepting applications for the 2024- 2025 school year. Applicants for the program must meet the following criteria: 1) Have applied for admission to a school of higher education, such as a university, college, trade or vocational school; 2) Demonstrate a high […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, Community History.
Work has still not yet begun on repairs to the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse.
“A start date is anticipated within the next 30 days,” said Brooke Keck, of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, in an email to the Boca Beacon.
“Repairs have yet to be started as we are awaiting the last of the county building permits to be issued and for materials to be delivered.”
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community.
BB: Do you have a theme for this year’s talks?
RL: There are two themes if you can consider one book a theme. This year we will look at fish, vegetable farming, and the plight of birds and insects. The lone book deals with America’s first rape trial in 1783 and its impact then and impact now.
BB: Let’s start with fish.
RL: Paul Greenberg is a lifelong fisherman and an award-winning writer on oceans, climate change, the environment, and culinary matters. His book, Four Fish: The Future of the last Wild Food, looks at four fish – salmon, bass, cod, and tuna (recently he has added shrimp to the list!) that are at present the base of a fish diet.
BB: Sounds interesting, what is his main thesis?
RL: A century ago nearly all seafood was wild. Now half is produced through aquaculture. Paul travels the globe looking for where we went wrong with the human – ocean relationship and how we might one day get it right.
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Profiles.
Truly, Edie believes in the old saying that “to rest is to rust.” There is certainly no rust on her, as she is still out walking the dog and doing yoga regularly. She doesn’t mind disclosing her age: She is proud of the life she is living, and plans to keep living as long as she can. In fact, when asked what her plans are for her 100th birthday, she doesn’t bat an eye. She hasn’t quite decided yet, because she has something more pressing on her mind in the near future – the wedding of her granddaughter. She is getting married on the island next May, and those plans come first. The big birthday party can be planned after that.
Edie is healthy and strong, thanks to a life-long commitment to eating right and exercising, as well as maintaining an active social life. She is also surrounded by lots of family and friends to bolster a positive, well-rounded outlook on life.
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: This week, I highlighted the success of the My Safe Florida Home program, which helps Floridians harden their homes against storms while reducing their insurance premiums. It’s no secret that our country has faced a hardening property insurance market, and Florida has already seen a very active hurricane season. This program has […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Police & Fire.
Boca Grande has been known to experience its share of miracles, and this past week we had evidence of that again. The Boca Grande Disaster Relief Fund has found a way to donate another major gift – $100,000 – to the Auxiliary Emergency Radio Communications project. Having already donated $50,000 to the cause, this is above and beyond … and also very necessary.
This leaves a figure just shy of $80,000 remaining out of a needed $305,000. The BGDR Fund has donated $150,000; the Boca Grande Woman’s Club has donated $75,000; and Boca Grande Charities, Inc. has donated $1,500 (for an initial 10 additional BTech radios for volunteers).
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Featured News, Obituaries.
Annie Elizabeth Oakley Parsons, 84, went to be with the Lord Tuesday, September 12, 2023. Annie was born to Cary and Mildred Oakley on July 10, 1939, in Dora, Alabama. Due to her ever-loving and devoted parents, she enjoyed an amazing childhood growing up in the countryside in Gorgas, Alabama. She earned bachelor’s degrees in […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
The case of the property at 161/181 Gilchrist Avenue went before the Lee County Hearing Examiner on Tuesday, Sept. 12, with a full house in the audience and two attorneys giving their sides of the story.
Donna Marie Collins, Esq. heard Attorney Megan Strayhorn, representing the property owners, gave her presentation first. She outlined the facts of the April meeting of the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board and explained that while the COA in front of the board was to approve the building of a home and several accessory buildings on the two-strap property, controversy about the Whispering Bench took precedent over the matter at hand.
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Uncategorized.
Despite at least a dozen local bank branch closures in as many years, local “brick-and-mortar” banks are still a part of local banking habits. And they may well be around for the foreseeable future.
“My card got stolen the other day.” said Doug Izzo, director of the Englewood Chamber of Commerce. His first move? Go into a bank branch to sort it out. While the bank ultimately had to resolve the issue online, there was at least a person there to intercede.
“That’s why I like the hometown banks,” said Izzo. “They actually pay attention.”