Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Obituaries.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE Zelma H. Otto, a woman who many on the island fondly call their “second mama,” passed away on March 24, 2025, at the age of 98. Zelma was born in August of 1926 in a place that back then was known as Woodmere, Florida – located between Englewood and Venice. She was […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Entertainment, Profiles.
Dad and kids put together a board game A new finance board game for families, “Mr. Market,” is the creation of a family of longtime Boca Grande regulars. The Jack White family connected to Boca Grande through Jack’s father’s friends from Stetson Law School and started visiting the area more than four decades ago. “One […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Editorial, Sports & Outdoors.
For those reading the paper remotely, there has now been a week of rain in these coastal parts. It did seem like the rain would never come, as we had basically eight months of none. This was much longer than usual. The umbrellas are now sitting by the front door, in the back seat and […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO Capt. Chuck Jenks rescued three boys out of the water near the middle bridge. The boys jumped off the bridge for fun but didn’t realize that the current was so strong. TEN YEARS AGO GIWA’s annual water testing received an excellent bill of health with contaminant levels far below maximum levels set […]
Written by Delores Savas on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
“Hurricane season bringsa humbling reminder that despite our technologies,most of nature remains unpredictable.” Diane Ackerman, American poet, essayist, and naturalist, known for her books and films The first day of summer will be welcomed on June 20 this year. Many people look forward to the popular month filled with weddings, trips to the beach and […]
Written by Alici Ouellette on . Posted in News.
The owners of Farlow’s have released plans for their new restaurant on Englewood’s historic Dearborn Street, Chophouse285. The steakhouse represents the latest project from owners Keith and Laurie Farlow, who first opened Farlow’s on the Water along Ainger Creek more than 20 years ago. It will have a fall 2025 opening. “We’ve been surrounded by such a welcoming […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in News, Profiles.
Commissioner with love for island, county When David Mulicka (muh-lik-ah), newest member of the Lee County Board of County Commissioners, was a kid he asked his dad for an allowance. David was attending a prep school in Fort Myers and many of his classmates were getting as much as $20 a week as spending money […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History, News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE Editor’s Note: This August, Lee County commissioners are scheduled to vote on an ordinance related to parking in Boca Grande. It could contain a sweeping revision of current ordinances, which have evolved over the last decades. With that in mind, the Boca Beacon has gone back and reviewed how we got to […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community History, News, Real Estate.
BY TALIA ECKSTEIN The Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board will meet at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, June 11, in the St. Andrew’s Chapter House to review two proposals. The two special certificates of appropriateness cases to be reviewed are: • Proposed new wall and gate at 710 Palm Ave., planned for the west boundary line […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community History, Featured News, News, Sports & Outdoors.
With this year’s back-to-back winning of the World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament, the Boca Beacon has compiled a list of historical winners of the tarpon season below. One name that has come up over and over is Capt. Wayne Joiner, of Hey, Moma! On May 15, the Hey, Moma! team led by Capt. Wayne Joiner won […]