This date in the Boca Beacon: Pickup softball at Wheeler

FIVE YEARS AGO

As the temperature heated up, heat exposure cases and heat-related illnesses increased.

TEN YEARS AGO

Animated storyteller Windell Campbell was at the Boca Grande Community Center using his voice and puppets to bring stories alive. The program was sponsored by the Lee County Library System.

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO

Pickup softball games were coming back to the island as weekly games were organized and the first practice was held at the Wheeler Road field.

TWENTY YEARS AGO

The Gasparilla Inn rebranded themselves as “The Gasparilla,” encompassing all aspects of their operations.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO 

Suncoast Communities Blood Bank bloodmobile came to Boca Grande to help one of “their own.” Ashley Coleman was ill and required massive blood transfusions.

THIRTY YEARS AGO

Islanders David & MiMi Regamey watched their daughter, Mara DePuy, compete in the Olympics as a member of the United States Equestrian Team.

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

The play “Charlotte’s Web” was held at the Boca Grande Community Center. Director Kristina Johnson, Dee Wheeler, Nina Houghton and numerous volunteers from the community contributed.

FORTY YEARS AGO

Eight “humps” were installed on roads around Boca Grande to control vehicles speeding noisily through neighborhoods.

FORTY-FIVE YEARS AGO

The Boca Grande Club Marina opened up and islanders reminisced about the town of Gasparilla and how it had thrived for over 50 years on the marina site.