Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Obituaries.
Mary Naylor Donahue passed away peacefully on October 19, 2025, following a courageous battle with kidney and heart disease. She was 85 and a devoted parishioner at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Boca Grande, Florida. Mary was born on January 11, 1940, in Greenville, South Carolina, to Mary Amelia Metts and Edward Wood […]
Written by Angela McPhillips on . Posted in Police & Fire, Profiles.
New firefighter-paramedic at BGFD When firefighter-paramedic Pat Sherman joined the Boca Grande Fire Department, he wasn’t looking for a change of scenery so much as a closer sense of community. After nearly a decade in the fire service, he was ready to work in a smaller department where teamwork and connection still define the job. […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Community, Opinion, Sports & Outdoors.
From Illinois, turtle appreciation BY RICK MUSGROVE When I first arrived at the west side of Gasparilla Island in Boca Grande four and a half months ago, the beach was littered with stakes. Up and down the coastline were stakes in groups of three with a colored ribbon at the top that went from stake […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO The north end of the island and town were undergoing road construction and detours as sidewalk improvement, sewer improvement and a manual bridge lift was being tested. TEN YEARS AGO All four age levels of the Englewood Cats Cheer teams competed in the Peace River Cheer Competition and brought home a first-place […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, News.
A sneak preview of Keith and Laurie Farlow’s new undertaking, Chophouse285 by Farlow’s, located on Dearborn Street in Englewood, was held last week. The restaurant will feature one of Florida’s rare in-house dry-aging rooms and a custom wood-burning grill that serves steaks with unparalleled depth of flavor. Senepol beef, known for exceeding the U.S. national […]
Written by Delores Savas on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
May your Halloweenbe scarier than what’s actually going on in this country. A meme often shared around the country Welcome to Halloween 2025, which has turned from a one-night celebration into a month long decorating and party holiday. This year is expected to be one of the highest spending days in the history of its […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Events, News.
On November 22 through 23 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers will hold its 17th annual Autumn Garden Festival. Over 80 garden vendors from around Florida and the Southeastern states will have exotic and native plants and trees for sale. The festival takes place under large shade trees where plant vendors will be spread out on […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, News.
Lee County has created an email address for questions about the new Boca Grande parking regulations. It is BocaGrandeParkingCommittee@leegov.com. The email address came about after merchants and residents were concerned that signs, including a “By Permit Only” resident sign, had gone up across the island before parking permits were ready or even announced. Potential fines […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Entertainment, Events, News.
This upcoming season marks the beginning of the Johann Fust Library Foundation’s milestone 75th year, and the 2025-2026 Literary Series offers the community the opportunity to see and hear exceptional authors and speakers. Most of these events are free to attend, with only two exceptions. Additionally, in honor of its 75th Anniversary, the foundation has […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community History, Police & Fire.
The original sheriff house is believed to have been moved from the block at 1st Street and Gilchrist Avenue, donated by the Hammond family for the benefit of the island. There are two similar houses at 121 and 125 1st St. W. The Boca Grande Historical Society was not able to find a record of […]