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Board rejects proposal to move historic cottage

■ BY SUE ERWIN At its monthly meeting on Wednesday, June 14, the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board rejected a proposal to relocate a guest cottage located at 300 Third Street West to Matanzas Pass in Fort Myers. The cottage was built in 1925. The owner of the cottage approached Lee County Parks and Recreation […]

Want to report red tide? There’s an app for that

■ PROVIDED BY MOTE MARINE.   Smartphone users can now download a new app to self-report impacts of Florida red tide algae (Karenia brevis), thanks to Mote Marine Laboratory’s project to engage citizen scientists along Florida’s Gulf of Mexico coast. The free app, Citizen Science Information Collaboration (CSIC), allows users to report when and where they experience […]

Build a better world – be a part of the kindness tree

■ BY SUE ERWIN Kindness is cool. That’s the message Johann Fust librarian Gladys Varga wants to share with island residents by encouraging them to spread a little joy – just because. She created a “Kindness Tree” which will be on display at the library for the rest of the summer. Supplies are available on […]

Profile: Paul Wagenseil

■ BY SUE ERWIN Capt. Paul Wagenseil is quite familiar with tarpon fishing in Boca Grande Pass. Born and raised in Englewood, Paul started fishing when he was a kid. After receiving a kayak as a birthday present, he started exploring local creeks and canals, and his love of the sport grew from there. “I was raised […]

Gasparilla Island Kids Classic Tarpon Tournament this weekend

■ BY MARCY SHORTUSE First it was Ladies Day. Then it was World’s Richest. Now it’s the kids’ turn, as the 2017 Gasparilla Island Kids Classic Tarpon Tournament is scheduled to drop lines in the water at 5:30 p.m. in Boca Grande. The event, created by Capt. Sandy Melvin and Boca Grande Charities, Inc., is […]

Lighthouse boardwalk almost complete

■ BY SUE ERWIN If you’ve taken a walk near the water at Gasparilla Island State Park over the past year, you’ve most likely noticed that the boardwalks on the beach side were pretty much washed out. A few months ago, two state park rangers decided to do something about it. Robert Longo and Shannon […]

Water restrictions in place for Charlotte County – Probable soon in Lee

■ SUBMITTED BY GIWA The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (SWFWMD) governing board voted last week to increase water restrictions throughout the region, which affects the Charlotte County portion of the Island. This week’s rain is very welcome, but SWFWMD’s hydrologists report a rainfall deficit of 11 inches since the start of the dry season […]

Beacon team up for nine awards in FPA annual contest

■ STAFF REPORT The Boca Beacon team is proud to announce the newspaper is up for nine awards at the Florida Press Association Better Weekly Newspaper Contest, to be held this year in August in Naples. Beacon cartoonist Dave Hortoon is up for an award in the “Original Local Editorial Cartoon” category, and both Editor […]