Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Profiles.
Garber has been in Boca Grande just a couple of months but is already fully enmeshed in the island vibe. Some of that just comes naturally to him, and some is because he had served on Captiva Island for a considerable time before being assigned here. This experience has made him a perfect fit for the job in Boca Grande.
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Editorial.
Using the most sensitive technology available for detecting harmful algal bloom (HAB) toxins, the Calusa Waterkeeper (CWK) research team started airborne toxin monitoring in July 2021 at eight locations in Lee County, Florida. Samples were collected with the use of a monitoring device designed and optimized from the ground up, incorporating elements of other design […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
The U.S. Census Bureau statistics say that more than 50,000 people have moved to the Sarasota/North Port/Punta Gorda area in the last 18 months, and the state had 221,000 more residents arrive from other U.S. states than leave from July 2020 to July of 2021. This accounted for the biggest population gain for the state since 2005
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in News.
And then we found a message in a bottle. Somewhere along a stretch of Boca Grande beach, probably the same day we found it, some kids decided to send out a message to the world in a time-honored way, by tossing a bottle into the water with a note in it and letting the currents take it to its destiny.
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Profiles.
Gina Thomsen has a passion for life…the life of every creature she encounters. Thomsen is sometimes known as “the bird lady,” but she is really the “every living creature” lady. If you want evidence of that, go swimming or paddleboarding with her in the Gulf sometime. The dolphins and manatees know her board and honor her presence by seeking her out. She is known by some as the dolphin and manatee whisperer.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial.
The sense of loyalty to our island community in our newsroom is profound. Whether you are a billionaire from the Northeast or a high school baseball player selling cookies to support the team, we are here for you. We want your news – good or bad – to be printed in our newspaper so we can contribute to the history of this amazing place. We hope that someday 100 years from now, someone sorting through their grandmother’s attic will find an old Boca Beacon news article about how she won the Ladies Day Tarpon Tournament raffle. We hope that someone searching for their ancestors online can find a scanned version of an article about their great-great-grandfather that brings them more information in their search.
Written by Tonya Bramlage on . Posted in News.
When we consider alternative perspectives and adopt new approaches toward the environment and how we as humans impact it, the more likely we are to preserve our planet for future generations. The first Earth Day occurred on April 22,1970. It marked a growing consciousness of man-made, human-related environmental damage in the U.S. and around the globe. Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson is credited with developing the concept. His primary goal was to organize teach-ins across university campuses in an attempt to bring greater awareness to air and water pollution issues. As a direct result of his efforts, the three “R’s” of sustainability were established. Notably, the most widely recognized among them are, “reduce, reuse, and recycle.”
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Police & Fire.
This time of year in Southwest Florida often leads to fire hazard warnings, particularly when the breeze is blowing and there is nary a cloud in the sky. Notifications have been issued for Southwest Florida by FEMA in the last few weeks, and several incidents around Cape Haze Peninsula have led to homes getting too […]
Written by Guest Columnist on . Posted in News, Police & Fire.
The new boat is a 9M Interceptor with an aluminum hull and a ¾ enclosed cabin. She is powered by twin Mercury Motors, has a fire pump that delivers over 500 gallons per minute of water, front and rear deck guns and dive doors.
Written by Susan Hanafee on . Posted in Profiles.
It was 10:30 p.m. and the end of a long day of moving for Matthew Williams, the new pastor at the Lighthouse United Methodist Church of Boca Grande. He was grimy and exhausted. He sat on the steps leading to the church office, contemplating the new life he and his young wife, Joy, were facing. Would this be the paradise it seemed when they crossed the bridge onto Gasparilla Island for the first time weeks earlier? Or something else?