Barbara Paul Robinson’s life includes a lot of “firsts.” She was the first woman to make partner at the legendary Debevoise & Plimpton law firm, she was the first woman president of the NYC Bar Association. Indeed, she was unsurprisingly an early second-wave feminist, launching Debevoise’s flextime program for child-rearing attorneys in 1967, another NYC first.

The guest speaker on the evening of Wednesday, Jan. 19 at the Boca Grande Community Center was the focus of a very appreciative and attentive audience – an audience that filled every chair and two additional rows in the auditorium … and the Houghton Room … and the Boca Grande Woman’s Club. The presenter spoke of his newest book and his artwork with a relaxed, casual demeanor and at many points had the crowd howling at his antics with his sister, who joined him. Their family looked on from the first two rows and seemed to enjoy the presentation as much as the audience did.
Former President George W. Bush and his sister Doro were the pair who took the stage Wednesday night, with the focus of discussion centered on his book titled, “Out of Many, One: Portraits of America’s Immigrants.” With a cover adorned by several of President Bush’s portraits of the people interviewed on the inside, it is a beautiful book … inside and out.

The following information regards our Lee County commissioners, as taken from interviews with island resident Mary O’Bannon. We will be continuing on with interviews from several elected officials from Lee County and the state of Florida, to allow you to know each one a little bit better.
As far as the Boca Beacon is concerned, our readership deserves to be better acquainted with those who make and uphold our laws and create legislation. Many thanks to Mary, and to the commissioners, for helping us with that mission.

Once upon a time – about a year and a half ago – a little, white dog was found wandering here in southwest Florida. He was brought to a nearby veterinary clinic where, because his back legs were mysteriously compromised, the staff at the clinic named him Forrest Gump.  When no owner came forward, a […]

It’s difficult to put a pin in Tim Fetzer’s accent. Born and raised in Germany, Tim has a clear German accent, but his father is from Chicago which is evident when Tim says words like, “Chicago” voicing the characteristic mid-western vowel spread.  None of this will matter one iota when Tim, now 18 years old, […]

(Warning, a multitude of mosquito larvae were harmed during the writing of this story) Three warriors step forward, cross-armed, ready to take flight. Cue Wagner’s “Ride of the Valkyries.” The warriors’ names are Jamie Fowler, Scott Shanks, and pilot Mike Haslam, members of the Lee County Mosquito Control District (LCMCD or nicknamed “The District”) team. […]