Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
While much of Gasparilla Mobile Estates was dark last Saturday night, in the very back there was a little corner of festivity, complete with Christmas lights. Inside the Clontz home there were nine people gathered to eat, to drink, to share company among friends. Not long ago that was what the little mobile home park […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in News.
People have started noticing a change in the air. It is not only the cold fronts that have started bringing lower temperatures and lower humidity, but the air is full of birds. Recovery from Hurricane Ian is starting to happen among wildlife, as it is doing to many of the human species. Dr. Robin Bast, […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
BY CAPT. SANDY MELVIN Our first major cold front of the season blasted through this week and spoiled the offshore gulf fishing with some strong winds. Things will pick back up as soon as winds settle down. Fortunately, the winds and cold weather don’t stop the backcountry fishing where we can get into the protected islands […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.
Col. James Clark Dieffenderfer (“Jimmie Dee”), a long-time visitor to Boca Grande and the father of local resident Ann Fletcher, took his final flight on 16 September 2022. A decorated World War II hero and a man of extraordinary character, he leaves behind a loving and extended family, along with countless friends. He died peacefully […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: The Gasparilla Island Maritime Museum and Whidden’s Marina would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and happy holiday season. A special thank you to Sandy Melvin and Boca Grande Charities for their generous donation from the recent G.I.F.T. Tournament for assistance in cleaning up hurricane debris as we are working […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial, Opinion.
This has been a strange year. So was the year before it … and the year before it … and so on. It’s been a non-stop parade of “unprecedented” situations we’ve been experiencing, all the while trying to continue on with what we recall our “normal” lives to have been. That memory is slipping further […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in News.
No one in Boca Grande could have missed the presence of Gaston TDR on the Island the last two months. Their double-container knuckle loaders are hard to miss. They have been up and down the Island picking up storm debris and helping residents get back to some sense of normal. The “TDR” in Gaston’s name […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
Jon Reecher was cool as a cucumber on Tuesday, sitting in his office at The Gasparilla Inn & Club. All around him was a frenzy of activity – carpets were being cleaned, brass was being polished, fixtures were being dusted and maintained. The time until their grand opening on December 15 could be counted in […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
Carroll Swayze will hold her 33rd Annual Studio Party on Saturday, Dec. 17 from 2 to 10 p.m. at 201 Greencove Rd., Venice. Everyone is invited. This is Carroll’s annual holiday extravaganza and “once a year” art sale, but this year the location of the party is at the new Carroll Swayze Studio There will […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in News.
Sometimes, those grade school projects can turn into something very special. For Gladys Stiness of Englewood and Hollie Tomko, of Napanee, Indiana, it became an unlikely friendship that has already lasted 40 years. Hollie was eight years old, learning to write a formal letter. To add interest to the lesson, the teacher had the students […]