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Goodbye to our Gumbo Limbo

Last week, the Gumbo Limbo tree on the 5th Street median just before Gasparilla Road, was toppled by an afternoon storm. Arborist Rick Joyce, president of Forestry Resources Ecological Inc., said in…

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Primary election is Tuesday, August 18

August 13, 2026

Florida’s Primary Election is set for Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. This year, there are primary elections for state offices, including governor; local primaries for commissioners in both Lee and Charlott…

North Port Town Hall on infrastructure

August 13, 2026

The City of North Port is inviting residents to its next Community Town Hall, a 90-minute session focused on the major infrastructure projects shaping North Port’s future. The event is scheduled for…

Charlotte Affordable Housing meets Aug. 19

August 13, 2026

The Affordable Housing Advisory Committee has scheduled a meeting at 10 a.m., Aug. 19, 2026 at the Family Services Center, 21500 Gibralter Dr., Port Charlotte to consider approval of Charlotte HOME…

Tech market to support local Charlotte Technical students

Charlotte Technical College is starting a new vendor market on its campus. This event hopes to bring in 100 vendors, food trucks, hands-on activities and more. The idea came from numerous student an…

Island School hosts open house for back-to-school as August looms

The Island School will host its Back-to-School Open House and Meet the Teacher Night from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 6. The event gives families an opportunity to meet their child’s teacher, v…

Island School rates ‘A’ in yearly state report

The Island School has once again earned an “A” rating from the Florida Department of Education for 2026. In a release, Head of School Christine Oliver said that the achievement “reflects the dedi…

New Gasparilla Island Magazine out for July/August

Above, the July/August Gasparilla Magazine cover image captured by H Wetzel in Key West in 2023. The new Gasparilla Magazine is out for July/August 2026. Inside are a bevy of stories in one o…

4th Golf Cart Parade

The Boca Grande Fourth of July Golf Cart Parade is set for Saturday morning. The event is an annual July 4th tradition on the island. There are no entry fees, and you just need to line up around 8:3…

Summer Live Music Series at Scarpa’s

Kenny Rose performed at Scarpa’s Coastal last week for Scarpa’s “Island Summer Live Music Series.” Amy Cyr will be performing on Friday, June 26 from 5 to 8 p.m., 321 Park Ave., Boca Grande …

Profiles, Sports & Outdoors

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Rowan Boyer

Potential World Record in youth soccer What seemed like another victory for Englewood’s West Coast Chaos U15 soccer team turned into a potential world record a month later when 13-year-old Rowan Boyer sat down to review game footage. During a match on Sept. 28, 2025, in Bradenton, the West Coast Chaos striker scored a hat […]

Sports & Outdoors

Health & Wellness

Ask a Doc: Three questions men over 70 should ask

August 13, 2026

BY RAYMOND A.JAMES, D.O. BOCA GRANDE HEALTH CLINIC One of the biggest mistakes men can make as they get older is assuming that a new symptom is simply part of aging. Some changes are expected, bu…

Boil-water notice for Cole Island rescinded

The boil-water notice issued for the Cole Island portion of Gasparilla Island and Boca Grande North Association was rescinded Monday, July 6. “All of the bac-t samples have been cleared by Sander…

Boil Water Notice for Cole Island and Boca Grande North

Editor’s Note: The notice has been rescinded as of July 6. A Precautionary Boil Water Notice has been issued for the Cole Island portion of Gasparilla Island and Boca Grande North…

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…

Storm meeting ahead

August 13, 2026

The Boca Grande Fire Department will be hosting its annual Island Emergency Operations Center Meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 10 a.m. at the station. They will review and update hurricane policy and…

Coast Guard assists in Placida leakage

Last week, the Beacon reported on a felony arrest for a derelict boat leaking diesel fuel into Gasparilla Sound. The Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment Fort Myers Beach pollution responders found…

Damaged barge investigation

Lack of evidence closed the case for sheriffs Just after 1 p.m. on Monday, July 27 a Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the Placida Boat Ramp at 6499 Boca Grande Causeway in re…

Diesel pollution spurs pursuit and arrest

At 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 12 Deputy Jonathan Smith with the Charlotte County Sheriff Marine Patrol was monitoring the waterway in the area of Gasparilla Sound near 13000 Fishery Road in Placida a…

News Archives

Arnold Rapoport 1935-2026

Arnold Sayer Rapoport, M.D., passed peacefully on Monday August 3, 2026, at the age of 91, at his home in Cornwall, VT. Born in Philadelphia, PA, he…

Fred Scott 1941-2026

Capt. Frederic ‘Fred’ E. Scott has cast out his last line in Boca Grande waters. He passed away on June 10, 2026 at the age of 85, and joins many of…

Bonnie Simonds 1938-2026

Bonnie Helen Simonds passed away on July 22 in Englewood, Florida. Bonnie grew up in Wilmette, Illinois, where she attended New Trier East High Scho…

Peter Diebold 1938-2026

Peter DeWitt Diebold was born November 13, 1938, in Buffalo, New York. He passed away on July 13, 2026, in Boca Grande, Florida. Peter received a…

John Larsen 1939-2026

John Allen Larsen was born on August 10, 1939, and died at home surrounded by family and friends in St. Paul, Minnesota on July 16, 2026. Born in Ve…