Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Featured News, Police & Fire.
Woman leaves child in car to swim with sharks off Bokeelia, Boca Grande Fire Department marine unit responds The Boca Grande Fire Department had to make their way all the way to Bokeelia on Monday, Sept. 11 after a call came in regarding a female who had left her young child in the car to […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community History, Featured News.
A parcel on Placida Road, with an empty 1920s cottage just south of the Hacienda condominiums and across from Cape Haze Resort, may have a new owner.
The property was originally listed on the commercial real estate website Loopnet as an 11-acre waterfront development site and offered at $2,750,000. It had been listed by Sunmark Realty Agent Sage Andress, and is now marked as “under contract.” Andress, reached by email, was not able to talk about the sale until “all deals are closed.”
The parcel, also advertised as 8019 and 8436 Placida Road, includes a historic bungalow that has had an extensive history discussion on the Placida/Cape Haze Memories Facebook page. 8019 Placida was advertised at 4.22 acres, and 8436 Placida was advertised at 3.12 acres.
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Featured News, Profiles.
Marc Vee discovered his love of music when he was not much more than 7 years old. His mix of classical, rock, jazz and a few other styles of guitar music can be heard at least weekly at the Key Lime Bistro in downtown Boca Grande.
Marc’s interest in music was originally piqued when his parents bought him a Sears Silvertone electric guitar when he was 7. The guitar case had a built-in amplifier and it was great for making lots of noise … probably more than his parents bargained for. Marc knew nothing at that point about playing, but that did not keep him from working at it.
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Featured News, Obituaries.
Donna High Adams passed away peacefully after a long illness on Sunday, Sept. 10, 2023 at her home in Birmingham, Ala. surrounded by her loving family and friends. Donna was born January 29, 1959 in Rockland County, N.Y. She moved to Columbus, Miss. in 1975. She is a 1977 graduate of Heritage Academy and she […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Featured News, Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: The Gasparilla Island Maritime Museum (GIMM) and Whidden’s captains had a great tarpon season! We hosted two “Howl At Moon“ tournaments, and William Woodroffe hosted two more tarpon tournaments to benefit GIMM this past season. Each tournament was a “grande’ success, and a portion of each tournament entry included a donation to […]
Written by Boca Beacon Reader on . Posted in Featured News, Letters to the Editor.
To the Editor: The summer has been an active season at the Boca Grande Community Center, and that will continue through the fall. Here are some highlights of what has happened and what is to come at the Boca Grande Community Center, 131 First Street West: Summer Camp Lee County Parks & Recreation staff wrapped […]
Written by Delores Savas on . Posted in Columns, Opinion.
BY DELORES SAVAS ‘’We are playing Russian roulette with features of the planet’s atmosphere that will profoundly impact generations to come. How long are we willing to gamble?” […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Columns, Community History.
FIVE YEARS AGO The newly-replanted Gilchrist median was thriving. Red tide was still a problem along island beaches. TEN YEARS AGO The mere mention of the Gilchrist median at the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board set off an hour-long conversation that ended, once again, with no results other than to show how divided island residents […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
Joe Steele thinks his crew can meet the deadline of September 19 to have the cell tower up and at least very close to running. As he laid out the schedule in his head for drilling the 32-foot hole, filling it with water as they go, then putting the casement in, filling it with concrete and letting it set, plus the tower raising and device positioning, he was optimistic it was possible.
He and his co-worker Luke Boultinghouse flew in from Rock Island earlier this week and were raring to go. They were still waiting on barricades and detour signs Wednesday at noon, but hope was still in the air that with the Bakery Building gone, things would move smoothly. That would be a good idea, as their flight back to Illinois is scheduled for September 17.
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
The Fire Department’s “Island E.O.C. Emergency Communications and Interoperability Working Group” responsible for creating a new network of emergency communications – both on and just off island – is steadily moving forward. In fact, their efforts have now been stepped up to “Mission Critical” status, after a near-miss from Hurricane Idalia and other systems out in the Atlantic on the move.
The Group’s communications subcommittee is working with Motorola and Suncoast Expeditionary Associates to optimize their efforts in creating a backup auxiliary emergency communications system. Which will allow representatives from all of the island’s key organizations – such as the school, fire, deputies, the GICIA, the Boca Grande Community Center and others – to communicate with each other in the event we have no cell service for any reason.