Written by Arlene Hall on . Posted in Columns, News, Sports & Outdoors.
BY ARLENE HALL, BGSTA SECRETARY Since my last article, we have started seeing hatches of our first loggerhead nests! Our first nests were documented on May 1, and with an approximate two-month incubation period, the hatchlings from these first nests are emerging right on schedule. We should now be seeing hatches on a regular basis […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History, News.
Above, a detail of the Lebourgeois residence from plans from architect T.A. Krebs. The simple carport is on 11th Street. BY TALIA ECKSTEIN The Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 9, at St. Andrew’s Chapter House to review the following four special certificates of appropriateness: Proposed rehabilitation of the […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Community, News.
Above, a fence at the south end of the island in November 2021 at Hill Tide became the subject of discussions about the customary use of beaches, as it blocked walkers. Boca Beacon archives BY MARCY SHORTUSE Tuesday, June 24, was a big day for Florida beaches, as Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law Senate Bill […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
The canoe/kayak launch and parking area at the Boca Grande Fishing Pier located at 5810 Gasparilla Road on Gasparilla Island has officially reopened. Portable toilets are available on site for public use. Charlotte County advised patrons to use caution as fenced off areas, that include the pier and pier approach walkway, remain closed until permanent […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Police & Fire.
A $1.5 million appropriations request for a Boca Grande Fire Control District ladder truck replacement was vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday, June 30. “We are disappointed,” said Chief C.W. Blosser, reached Tuesday. “We had to get that signature, and we didn’t get it.” Last week, the item overwhelmingly passed in both the House […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Breaking News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Above, the causeway from the days following Hurricane Milton. GIBA Photo The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority will begin its causeway armoring project in July, and is expected to be completed by mid-November. “This summer will be a busy one for GIBA,” wrote Executive Director Kathy Banson in a statement to the Beacon. “While we recover […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Profiles.
A Boca Grande family celebrates This week, the large extended Forristall family gathered at their cottage on Gasparilla Road. They are one of the many regulars in the Fourth of July parade. They first started coming to the island in 1989. They would stay at the Anchor Inn, or wherever they could find a rental. […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Sports & Outdoors.
Charlotte County Parks & Natural Resources are accepting artwork beginning July 1 for “Lights Out for Sea Turtles,” a campaign designed to raise awareness around sea turtle education and conservation. The chosen artwork will be featured on educational materials for the 2026 sea turtle nesting season. Submissions can be dropped off at or mailed […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community.
The directional signs pointed to a quiet sunset last week at South Beach Bar & Grille. Many of the winter regulars, we assume, are now at Pond Hill, Pioneer Ohio and Cape Porpoise, Maine. Photo by […]
Written by VAN HUBBARD on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
We have a challenge to deal with; dolphin have mastered welfare. Dolphins, aka Flipper, have developed into a significant problem; they have become dependent on us to fish for them. We exhaust the fish, and they enjoy the easy meals. It started decades ago. The first encounters I remember were back in the eighties. They […]