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Boil water notice still in effect for Placida, Rotonda & West County

The Charlotte County Utilities Department has continued a precautionary boil water notice for some customers in parts of Rotonda and West County due to repairs made to a water line. The affected cus…

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Kids Classic seeks entries

The Gasparilla Island Kids Classic tarpon tournament, hosted by the Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce, will be held on June 6. Registration is from noon to 2 p.m. at the Pink Pony Courtyard. F…

Conservation plan for Warm Mineral Springs proceeds at North Port meeting

During their May 19 City Commission Regular Meeting, the North Port City Commission approved the revised General Terms and Parcel Map Option B to advance a conservation easement with Big Waters Land…

LEE COUNTY BRIEFS: May 22

County funds Sanibel and Captiva road hardening The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted Tuesday to award a contract for engineering services for a project to provide additional structural har…

Woman’s Club scholarships

The Boca Grande Woman’s Club awarded 11 scholarships to Lemon Bay High School seniors. All 11 students have a strong connection to Boca Grande either by employment themselves or through a parent or…

Chamber scholarships

Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce scholarship recipients this year. Shown above with Wally Rutan and Austin Fogo are Tazana Botterfield and Monica Heeg. Photo by Tim Kern

A Better Shot scholarships

2026 A Better Shot Scholar, Kylee Rice, from Port Charlotte High School. Photo submitted A Better Shot scholarship recipients from Lemon Bay High School shown above with Tom and Donna Catanzarit…

TARPON SCHEDULE 2026

Ladies Day Fishing The annual Ladies Day Tarpon Tournament will be held on Saturday, May 9 from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. An open awards party to follow at Scarpa’s Coastal from 8 to 10 p.m. This ye…

Memorial Day sandbar lineup announced

On Saturday, May 23, the Uncle Don’s Boca H2O Music Festival will be held in the water off the sandbar between Gasparilla Island and Placida. The concert is put together by Big Boy Toyz Expo. The…

Lemon Bay High spring concert salutes America 250

The Lemon Bay High School band will present a spring concert Thursday, May 7, at the Lemon Bay Performing Arts Center, featuring a program celebrating the sound, spirit and story of America as the n…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: John & Lisa Walsh

Houston, we have Finnegan and ….. Among the Boca Grande regulars, and friends of so many, are John and Lisa Walsh, who call Houston their permanent residence. They are among the regulars who spend so much time here that they could legitimately call Boca Grande their home. “Every time we can get to Boca Grande, […]

Sports & Outdoors

Health & Wellness

First patients at new Health Clinic

Kim Newlin (above) was the first patient appointment at the new clinic. Photographed with Dana Pellant, L.P.N. Kimberly Whipple (right) was the first same-day patient at the new clinic. Photogra…

New Boca Grande Health Clinic dedicated

The Boca Grande Health Clinic opened the doors of their new Clinic of the Future on Tuesday, with over 300 gathered. The $30 million project not only includes new clinic offices and facilities, but…

Boca Grande ‘Clinic of the Future’ dedicated this week

More than 300 people gathered on May 5 as the Boca Grande Health Clinic officially dedicated its new Clinic of the Future to the community and recognized the many donors who made the project possibl…

Clinic: Mother’s Day is perfect time to reflect on women’s health

BY NATALIE COLE, R.N. BOCA GRANDE HEALTH CLINIC If you are struggling to think of the perfect gift this Mother’s Day, consider something many women rarely give themselves: time to focus on their…

Coast Guard watching charter crews

Two over weekend A Coast Guard Station Cortez law enforcement crew terminated an illegal charter voyage that was acting as a bareboat charter Thursday near Anna Maria Island. Coast Guard officer…

Man overboard chaos in Boca Grande Pass

Man rescued in shark and tarpon filled waters during busy evening A man-overboard situation in Boca Grande Pass on Friday, May 15 during evening tarpon fishing made national attention. According…

Union, increased calls discussed at Boca Fire meeting

The Boca Grande Fire Department responded to 134 calls for assistance in April and May 2026, reported Chief C.W. Blosser during the Board of Fire Commissioners meeting on Wednesday, May 20. The…

He told that to the Judge: Canadian visitor beats Boca Grande ticket

Citations dismissed after tourist parking case A Canadian man visiting Boca Grande this March had his parking ticket thrown out this week in court in Fort Myers. Jon Dimick, of Chester, Nova Scot…

News Archives

Dennis Guppy

The Beacon has received word of the death of Dennis Guppy, who died May 21, 2026. He was known on the island for Black Tie Catering, and had previou…

DeeAnn Phillips 1938-2026

We are heartbroken to share the passing of our beloved DeeAnn Phillips, who passed peacefully with her family by her side on April 20, 2026. DeeAnn…

Celebration of Life April 26 for Chef Lenny Clymer

There will be a celebration of life at The Temptation Restaurant from 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 26 for Leonard “Lenny” E Clymer, 66. Leonard…

Robert Vanden Bosch 1936-2026

Robert Vanden Bosch of Chicago, IL and Boca Grande passed away on March 22, 2026 at Brighton Gardens Assisted Living in Chevy Chase MD. Robert grew…

Paul ‘Chico’ Euwer 1935-2026

Paul (Chico) Euwer, from Boca Grande and Ligonier, PA, died on March 23, 2026. He graduated from the Lawrenceville School, Princeton and the Wharton…