This date in the Boca Beacon: Iguana trapper Scott Howe makes the Today Show

FIVE YEARS AGO

Three eighth graders, The Island School alumni, were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society at L.A. Ainger Middle School.

TEN YEARS AGO

A 19-foot-long baby sperm whale washed up in the shallows off Little Gasparilla Island. Mote’s Dolphin & Whale Hospital and Mote’s Stranding Investigations Program stepped in to help.

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO

Hudson’s was fundraising for Boca Grande’s Relay for Life run. The Boca Grande Reference Room and Library announced winners of its yearly Bookmark Design Contest for 3rd, 4th and 5th graders.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

Boca Grande made national news on the Today Show. The show spent a day with iguana trapper Scott Howe, highlighting the island’s battle with iguanas.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO 

A two-day Nautical Flea Market was held at The Fishery property with more than 80 participants.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

The Boca Grande Fire Department responded to the Boca Grande Club when a clothes dryer in the housekeeping department caught fire. 

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

Laff-A-Lott Bar & Restaurant was saved from the auction block when lawyers decided it would be in the best interests of both parties to call the auction off. 

FORTY YEARS AGO

A new Teen Club was being planned by the Boca Grande Community House for students in Junior High and High School.

FORTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

A group from Boca Grande, led by the Spurgeons, went to Jamaica to help a private orphanage which housed 28 children.