Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
BY SUSAN HANAFEE – The chairman of the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board on Wednesday urged all residents to let their voices be heard on a proposal to nominate a section of the historic district to the National Register of Historic Places. “Since a national listing would create an attraction and additional tourist interest in […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
Spending a week in the swamp may not be everyone’s idea of a dream getaway to celebrate a BIG birthday, but for this artist it was paradise! According to artist Gail Cleveland, it was a perfect week. The weather turned chilly, which worked out fine as the gators were sleepy and the bugs weren’t biting. […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
SUBMITTED BY THE GICIA – In October 2015 the Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association realized that the perfect storm was brewing; an offer had been made by a resort developer to purchase the Mercabo property located at the entrance to Gasparilla Island. The 30 acres, armored by 4,700 linear feet of seawall, boasted potential […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
Braden Perkins was born in New Orleans Louisiana and grew up in Boston. Braden worked for four years with celebrity chef Tom Douglas in Seattle. In 2011 Braden and his partner, Laura Adrian, opened their first restaurant, Verjus beside the Palais Royal in the center of Paris, France. In 2015 the duo opened their second […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
Note: Journalist and mystery writer Martin Walker’s annual appearance on the island – this one a virtual talk on global issues pertaining to Europe – courtesy of the Friends of Boca Grande will be rescheduled to Friday, February 12. If you have tickets to this livestream event, your current tickets will be valid for the […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY TONYA BRAMLAGE – Island postal contractor Tom Gardner is asking for assistance from our island community to help his daughter, Heather, in her fight with leukemia. Two years ago the Boca Beacon featured Heather’s story when she was first diagnosed with a form of leukemia, in the summer of 2017, when she was in […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
BY MARCY SHORTUSE – If you shake a tree in Boca Grande, a Futch will fall out: That is how David Futch described his family and their long history on Gasparilla Island. Futch was the featured speaker at a Boca Grande Historical Society event about the old days of Boca Grande, held on Tuesday, Jan. […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, News.
STAFF REPORT – Have a little science with your morning coffee on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 10 a.m. during a virtual event with Mote Marine Laboratory. Dr. Ryan Schloesser, Program Manager for Fisheries Ecology & Enhancement at Mote Marine Laboratory will present “New Technologies Moving Fisheries Ecology and Stock Enhancement Forward in a New Decade.” […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
STAFF REPORT – Join BIPS to welcome back renowned authors and professional naturalists, Blair and Dawn Witherington, for another fascinating program titled Our Sea Turtles. Blair is a Senior Sea Turtle Conservation Biologist at the Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research, and professor at University of Florida. He earned BA and MA degrees in […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
STAFF REPORT – For the first time in 12 years, the Boca Grande Hope For Haitians reception at The Gasparilla Inn Beach Club in Boca Grande is going virtual. The annual in-person fundraiser was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, but Chairpersons Ben and Louise Scott, who have held the event with Food For The […]