This date in the Boca Beacon: Community Center auditorium renovation and Gasparilla Marina construction

FIVE YEARS AGO

Voters weighed in at the polls with mail-in ballots almost equal to the number of voters that came to the polls on Election Day. 

TEN YEARS AGO

The Halloween Carnival and Halloween Walk were a huge success. Savannah Pope won the “guess the pumpkin’s weight” contest and received a pumpkin carving kit for her exact guess of 41 pounds.

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO

Dick Ryan and Virginia Watkins were the newest elected members of the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority Board.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

Chef Gene Marra taught culinary classes at the Community Center. Publisher Dusty Hopkins’ parked pick-up truck was involved in a collision but no injuries were reported.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO 

The Friends of Boca Grande Community Center voted to contribute additional money for the renovation of the center’s auditorium. 

THIRTY YEARS AGO

Chamber of Commerce members and residents were in disagreement at a community meeting. The majority of the attendees opposed the chamber purchasing a home page on the internet.

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce members voted to sponsor the World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament which was formerly known as the Boca Grande Club Invitational Tarpon Tournament.

FORTY YEARS AGO

The Gasparilla Marina in Placida was set to begin construction. A proposal to build a new airport opposite The Rotonda Airport was being formulated. The historic railroad depot changed hands and was in line to get a facelift.