Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Breaking News, Community, Featured News, News.
Today, Lee County formally put the new parking ordinance for Boca Grande on the agenda for their August 5, 2025 meeting. It appears in the agenda as “Conduct Public Hearing to Adopt Gasparilla Island Parking Ordinance Amendments.” It was posted at 4:13 p.m on Tuesday, July 29. The ordinance, extracted from the 4,488 page master […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Community History, News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE Since the early 1900s Boca Grande’s beach streets have been openly designated for public use. In 1925, these water access points were clearly marked on plat maps created by the railroad’s own land development company, and they were used as such for 100 years. In newspaper articles over the years it has […]
Written by Arlene Hall on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
BY ARLENE HALL, BGSTA SECRETARY My grandkids from Kansas were visiting for the past couple weeks, and one of the highlights is having them join me for turtle patrol early in the morning. OK, it’s one of my highlights; most days they would prefer a pre-breakfast dip in the pool over a pre-breakfast two-mile hike […]
Written by VAN HUBBARD on . Posted in Columns, Featured News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Three generations sometimes together I just attended the annual International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades (ICAST) in Orlando. My first observation is, may God help anyone driving in the Orlando area. It’s scary, crazy and crowded. The show was well attended, and most people I spoke with were happy with the traffic and purchases by […]
Written by Boca Grande Health Clinic on . Posted in Featured News, Health & Wellness, News.
Our beaches are part of what makes life in Boca Grande so special. Whether you’re walking the shoreline, collecting shells or enjoying a dip in the Gulf, being close to the water is part of the rhythm of island life. But during the hot summer months — especially after heavy rains — certain harmful bacteria […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, Community, News, Police & Fire.
The island Emergency Operations group met at the Boca Grande Fire Department on Thursday morning, July 24 to go through updates and procedures for peak hurricane season. Since Hurricane Ian, and through last hurricane season, the BGFD has made significant changes to improve emergency communication and operations, including increasing staffing levels, Chief C.W. Blosser said […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Pipes, heavy equipment and two boats from Gator Dredging are now at Gasparilla Island State Park for a long-delayed renourishment project at the south end of the island. While big bulldozers and offshore barges have not arrived, a diesel fuel tank is in the parking area behind the Port Boca Grande Lighthouse. The news has […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Profiles.
Island purchase set for September A group of Useppa Island residents is preparing for a September purchase of the operations of the island and club. They were here in Boca Grande recently with Simon Bound, a Boca Grande resident who is the chair of the owner group that put the deal together. The CEO will […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Community, Letters to the Editor.
Letter to Commissioners: Rethink the proposed parking ordinance BY JACKIE SILCOX FOGARTY I am writing regarding the proposed Boca Grande Parking Ordinance that was presented to the Lee County Board of County commissioners on June 17, 2025, by a group of individuals representing themselves as speaking for the majority of the Boca Grande Community. I […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO Lee and Charlotte County schools pushed back their start date for classes to begin. Preparation for brick-and-mortar, virtual and distant learning was being fine-tuned. TEN YEARS AGO GIBA announced updates to the new tender house construction and bridge construction. The swing span steel was being balanced and prepared for concrete on the […]