Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY COMMISSIONER JOHN MANNING The following was written by John Manning, Lee County Commissioner for District 1. This letter pertains to the changes in beach access parking and county parking that have taken place in the last year. In the many years I have served as your representative on the Lee County Commission, your […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE Here we are, mere days before the 2019 “Taste of Boca Grande,” and I’ll bet you haven’t bought your tickets yet, have you? Have you even shined your dancing shoes or pegged out another notch in your belt? Now is the time to do these things. Just a reminder about the […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ STAFF REPORT The 10th annual Gasparilla Island Tennis Classic competition began on January 26, and the action continues tonight. Exhibition games and a cocktail party for the players and their families will take place on Friday evening from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Boca Grande Club. Competition will continue through February 2. The […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ STAFF REPORT The Barrier Island Parks Society (BIPS) is throwing a party on Saturday, Feb. 9 to officially relight the historic Boca Grande Rear Entrance Range Light, now officially designated as Gasparilla Island Light. The public is invited to the event, which starts at 4 p.m. with escorted lighthouse climbs (first-come, first- served). Entertainment will […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News.
■ SUBMITTED BY THE GARDEN CLUB The irrepressible J Schwanke lands in Boca Grande February 6 for two days of flower festivities. Mr. Schwanke, who may be the hardest-working designer in the floral biz, will speak about “Creating a Life in Bloom” on Wednesday at 2 pm at the Boca Grande Community Center. The next […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Obituaries.
John “Jack” Byers Horner of Boca Grande and Richmond, Virginia passed away peacefully and surrounded by his family on January 17, 2019. Jack was born in Lynchburg, Virginia on December 18, 1937. He was the son of Dave and Kitty Horner of Lynchburg. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 58 years, […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in News, Profiles.
■ BY SUE ERWIN Zestful and energetic, Joan Ardrey once took an aptitude test that suggested she would make a good reporter, but she didn’t like the idea of being in the face of people who were dealing with high-pressure situations. So when she graduated from high school in Stamford, Connecticut and moved to Massachusetts […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial, News, Opinion.
■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE As another season on the island begins, another controversy has been brought to light. No, it’s not Gilchrist (yet). It’s not parking (yet). It’s the breakdown in communication we seem to be having with our post office. This is a touchy situation, as the post office – like the dog park […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial, Letters to the Editor, News, Opinion.
To the Editor: I have several comments pertaining to the publication of a letter from the pseudonymous person(s) “Concerned citizenry of Boca Grande” that was published in the January 25, 2019 edition. First, the Beacon should have a policy that no letters should be published anonymously or under pseudonyms. The reason for this is obvious: […]
Written by Marcy Shortuse on . Posted in Editorial, Letters to the Editor, News, Opinion.
To the Editor: I was stunned to read the attack on Melisa Bicker by the “concerned citizenry of Boca Grande” under the bold-faced headline “It is time for the postmistress to go,” and I was disappointed that the Beacon would publish an anonymous ad hominem attack of this kind. Whatever made the “concerned citizenry” think […]