This date in the Boca Beacon: Laff-a-Lott detour

FIVE YEARS AGO

The Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association announced that work had begun to refurbish the 3.5-mile walking path with 30 loads of coarse sand.

TEN YEARS AGO

Barbara Anne’s Jewelry & Repair celebrated its 25-year Anniversary on Gasparilla Island. The Boca Grande Club celebrated the opening of the season with a “Farm-to-Table” Party.

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO

CaffeBoca, a new bakery, opened their doors on East Railroad Ave. Two local men were arrested and charged with stealing golf carts from Silver King Condominiums on Palm Ave.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

Darrell and Margaret Polk, Boca Grande natives and former owners of the Barnichol, were asked to light the Christmas tree at the Annual Christmas Tree Lighting.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO 

The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority switched over to new bridge passes and decals. The previously used blue cards would soon be invalid.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

Charlotte County was again reconsidering purchasing about 30 acres of undeveloped beachfront land on Don Pedro Island.

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

The Army Corps of Engineers was conducting underwater surveys at the south end of the Island in preparation of the upcoming dredging project.

FORTY YEARS AGO

Motorists heading for the south end of the Island were detoured on a makeshift dirt road just past the Laff-A-Lott Restaurant. Gulf Boulevard had lost fill and pavement due to Hurricane Juan.