THIS DATE IN THE BOCA BEACON

October 5, 2023

By Marcy Shortuse

FIVE YEARS AGO

Local water appeared to be healthy, even with some strange shades of gray, black, brown and more types of algae at the beach.

TEN YEARS AGO

Margaret Fugate passed away at the age of 96. The Gasparilla Inn & Club opened for its 100th season.

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO

Anne Cannon Fairbanks, known for high fashion worldwide, passed away. The toll system was brokedy broke and a hearing was set for the expansion of the Gasparilla Inn Marina.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

A blackout blanketed most of the village for almost three years due to a tree branch falling on power lines.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

The island dodged a direct hit from Hurricane Georges, Millers Marina launched a proposal for an $180,000 tarpon tournament and, for the first time, Boca Grande had full-time firefighters.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

The drawbridge from the old port railroad went to Long Island and the final hearing on the “Pink Docks” was scheduled to be held. The hearing was to finalize details regarding usage, signage and codification.

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

The first “Coastal Cleanup” was held, yielding 6,000 pounds of trash picked up on local beaches and streets. John Eubanks became the editor of the Boca Beacon.