Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News.
The Island Disaster Fund has already given $1.8 million away to aid the quick reopening and rebuilding of businesses and organizations on Gasparilla Island. As of this week, they have raised $3.35 million from donors here, and from across the nation. “This community is blessed because a lot of people have seen that they can […]
Written by Anna Ridilla on . Posted in Featured News, Health & Wellness, News, Sports & Outdoors.
Experts are still watching red tide, but with winds, and cooler weather, the area may escape a bad season. The Calusa WaterKeepers have been seeing fluxtuating results for red tide amounts, said Codty Pierce, WaterKeeper and life-long resident of the Caloosahatchee watershed. “I’m hopeful,” Pierce said. “We still have this consistent east wind which has […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Community, Featured News, News.
The new November/December edition of the Boca Beacon’s Gasparilla Island Magazine is out with new feature stories, recipes, shopping and social pages. The cover depicts the Boca Grande Range Light, an iconic local landmark, reimagined by artist Ashley Lippincott in a bold pop-art style. Featured stories include a tour of Sarasota’s Historic Burns Court, an […]
Written by Garland Pollard on . Posted in Breaking News, News.
In a long-term list of things that needed to be fixed after double hurricanes, the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority had some items that were easier and much more crowd-pleasing. “Dog biscuits are back. We had to wait until we got gate arms,” said Kathy Banson, executive director. “We can’t distribute biscuits without gate arms.” That, […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Breaking News, News.
Lee County surpassed the 200,000 cubic-yards-collected milestone for vegetative and construction debris in unincorporated areas post-Hurricane Milton. Vegetative and construction debris operations are expected to continue with crews working seven days a week until their final push. Sand collections along the coastline are mostly complete while crews continue to collect sand in Boca Grande. Lee […]
Written by Staff Report on . Posted in Breaking News, News.
Long list of fixes Work to repair washed out roads on Gasparilla Island will begin next week. Lee County has sent out a post-Hurricane Milton update from the Department of Transportation about emergency road repairs on local roads in Boca Grande. A pre-construction meeting was held Thursday, Nov. 21, and work will begin on Monday, […]
Written by Sheila Evans on . Posted in Profiles.
Sometimes thankfulness comes easily. Other times it is harder to see the blessings, especially when they come wrapped in traumatic events. Nearly everyone in and around Boca Grande can identify with this circumstance, especially following the whiplash we have experienced from our two recent hurricanes. I have been asked to share my journey of gratitude […]
Written by VAN HUBBARD on . Posted in Columns, Sports & Outdoors.
Wasting grouper stocks with discards In my lifetime of fishing, I could never have considered the challenges we face today because of mismanagement. I completely agree we need to manage our fish stocks. How we do it is my concern. What we currently have is blatant disregard for the business depending upon fishing to pay […]
Written by VAN HUBBARD on . Posted in Opinion.
We are all dealing with individual, life-changing events, not one but two devastating hurricanes flooding us so close together. Debby doesn’t even count anymore. Many of us are still in emotional shock and find these storms psychologically and financially destructive. Our homes, businesses and communities have been permanently transformed. Some just slightly, others in ways […]
Written by Boca Beacon on . Posted in Community, Editorial.
Many families have the tradition at Thanksgiving of going around the table and asking each person what they are thankful for. This can be particularly humorous with small children, as their blessings can sometimes be quite basic. OIder children groan through the practice, but it never fails to make everyone think of what a privilege […]