Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News, Uncategorized.
FORT MYERS – The Lee County Department of Community Development continues to operate temporary, remote permit offices in the county’s most affected areas. These offices have proved successful in assisting residents in unincorporated Lee County to apply for permits to repair existing buildings damaged by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. The locations are as follows: […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
Following the destruction from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, several island businesses have set up fundraisers to help with recovery. Click the links below to visit each individual campaign. If you own or know of a business in Boca Grande with a verified fundraiser that is not included below, send the link to aridilla@bocabeacon.com
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Featured News, News, Uncategorized.
Gasparilla Island Water Association has about 95 percent of the island’s water connections back in service. “We are getting to the nitty gritty,” said Ron Bolton, GIWA’s executive director, who said that less than 120 units are without water and/or sewer. In a Monday email to the board, he said that most of the lift […]
Written by Boca Grande Health Clinic on . Posted in Health & Wellness, News.
BY MARK DRISCOLL, CEO As we begin the long road to recovery following Hurricane Milton, we want to express our heartfelt concern for all of you who have been affected. We are relieved to share that our clinic staff is safe, though some have experienced personal losses like so many in our community. Despite these […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
Clockwise from top, remediation trucks at The Gasparilla Inn. Right, street sweepers from Lee County are busy. Ziad & Kaz Kazbour, BubbaQue’s of Brandon, came thanks to the Faustini Family of Pavement Technology. While much of Hudson’s was flooded, they donated unspoiled drinks to anyone as a gift to the island recovery, BGI distributed with […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Obituaries.
Marjorie Katz Fortgang died peacefully on October 5, 2024, surrounded by her family at her home on the island of Boca Grande, Florida. She was 91. Marjorie was born on July 28, 1933, in Longmeadow,Massachusetts, the first daughter of Abraham andIrene Katz. She and her younger sister, June, were best friends who enjoyed a long life full of fun and adventure, bravely supporting […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, Profiles.
On Tuesday, Oct. 15, Florida Secretary of Commerce Alex Kelly came to Boca Grande to help local businesses ruined by Hurricane Milton. The Beacon discussed the importance of small businesses to not only each local economy, but overall tourism. While here, he saw damage from Milton and Helene, and toured Hudson’s, Scarpas, Key Lime Bistro, […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in News.
Friends of Boca Grande Community Center will postpone all scheduled programs for November and December as the island continues its recovery from storms Helene and Milton, both of which flooded the organization’s offices and locations at the Boca Grande Community Center. In a letter to supporters, Marta Powell, executive director of Friends of Boca Grande, […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Breaking News, Featured News, News.
Day by day Hurricane Milton recovery on Gasparilla Hurricane Milton was the third hurricane landfall in Florida this year after Debby and then Helene less than two weeks prior. Below is an approximate timeline of Milton’s impacts on Gasparilla Island throughout the week, gathered from Beacon reporting, local weather stations and Gasparilla Island Conservation and […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, Community, News.
In a visit aimed at highlighting the importance of local commerce, Florida Commerce Secretary Alex Kelly toured Gasparilla Island on Tuesday, Oct. 15, to meet with small business owners affected by the recent hurricanes. Kelly’s visit focused on businesses still recovering from Hurricanes Helene and Milton, which caused significant damage in the area. Kelly and […]