Skip to main content

Featured News

Golf ball may have played through & ‘sliced’ sludge pipe

Unexpected water hazard or freeze-out It may have been a stray golf ball that hit a sewer pipe designed for drying sludge that caused a small spill at the water plant on New Year’s Eve. “It’s…

Read More

Community

Warning tickets given out to cars without passes

January 8, 2026

Several island visitors have reported getting warning tickets if they are parked in areas where new parking restrictions have been implemented. “We are using written warnings as an educational to…

Bridge finance and engineering meeting next Wednesday

January 8, 2026

The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority will have meetings of the Audit, Finance and Engineering committees beginning at 1 p.m. next Wednesday, Jan 14. The meetings will be held at the newly reno…

Englewood Helping Hand’s Blue Barrels

January 8, 2026

Non-perishable goods are needed for the program operated by Englewood Helping Hand, an independent 501(c)3 non-profit agency serving residents of the Englewood area who are food deprived. Donations…

Education

Chowder Dinner at Beach Club next week

January 8, 2026

The Island School PTO will host its 10th Annual Chowder Dinner on Friday, Jan. 16, from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Gasparilla Inn Beach Club. “This special event brings together our community, businesses…

Mercabo Cove initiative with The Island School

January 8, 2026

BY THE GICIA The Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association announces the second year of our collaborative initiative with The Island School focused on the “Living Shoreline,” an…

Scholarship application season announced

December 11, 2025

BY THE BOCA GRANDE WOMAN’S CLUB The Scholarship Committee of the Boca Grande Woman’s Club will be accepting applications from November 1, 2025, to February 1, 2026. Students who are awarded the…

Entertainment

Yale’s Marisa Bass explores monuments

January 8, 2026

As the United States grapples with the removal of statues from public squares, the process often feels chaotic to the casual observer. It is this very volatility that inspired Roger Lewis, curator o…

Tony Lapi tells of Lindberghs, ‘Tween Waters

January 8, 2026

Hotelier stories of old inn on Captiva begin benefit series for Ding The 21st annual “Ding” Darling Winter Lecture Series opens Thursday, Jan. 22, with Tony Lapi, longtime innkeeper at the histo…

Global issues upcoming seminar in March

January 8, 2026

Simon Bound, former Global Director of Research at Morgan Stanley, will speak on Russia, Ukraine and the echoes of history on Friday, March 6 at 4:30 p.m. Boca Grande Community Ctr., 131 First St. W…

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Sue Schultz

A membership welcome at Coral Creek Sue Schultz has spent much of her time in Southwest Florida working behind the scenes of island life, helping visitors, seasonal residents and locals feel welcome. Originally from Lake Grove on Long Island, N.Y., Schultz moved to the area about 20 years ago after discovering Southwest Florida and deciding […]

Sports & Outdoors

Health & Wellness

New physicians at Boca Grande Health Clinic for urgent care

January 8, 2026

To best serve patients during the busy season, the Boca Grande Health Clinic is adding two physicians to provide seasonal coverage for same-day and urgent-care services. “When something unexpecte…

Dr. Larry Antonucci leaves as CEO of Lee Heath

December 29, 2025

Lee Health President and CEO Dr. Larry Antonucci has announced that he will not renew his employment contract when it concludes on September 30, 2026. Dr. Antonucci, who has served as CEO since 2…

Clinic work and a welcome back patients

December 4, 2025

BY MARK DRISCOLL As we welcome many of you back to the island, I would like to share a brief update on what’s been happening at the Boca Grande Health Clinic – from construction progress and new…

Ask a Doc: Avoid the uh-ohs when the grandkids visit

November 20, 2025

BY CHARLOTTE C. COWAN, MD Few things are more joyful – or more unpredictable – than a grandchild’s visit. Children inevitably bring with them both fun and minor chaos. And, as every grandparent k…

Police & Fire

Car crash New Year’s Eve

January 2, 2026

A car accident at Gasparilla Road and 13th Street had no injuries, though Lee County EMS was called out as a precaution. Please drive carefully and slowly in the New Year. …

Sheriff: Vigilant islander finds fraud activity on credit report

January 2, 2026

Monday Dec. 15, Deputy Angelo Lanni of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, responded to an island man who had found fraudulent activity during a review of his credit reports. The man found that som…

Boca Grande Fire Department honors

December 26, 2025

From left to right: Sarah Cislo with Chief C.W. Blosser. Cislo successfully completed her rigorous 12 month training and testing program and is now recognized as a 1st Class Firefighter; Erik Fatica…

Coast Guard suspends search for Fort Myers boaters

December 23, 2025

The Coast Guard suspended the weekend search for two missing boaters at sunset Monday, pending the development of new information. Missing are 57-year-old Randall Spivey and 33-year-old Brandon Bill…

News Archives

Obituaries

Memorial Service for Constance ‘Connie’ Gregg

There will be a Memorial Service for the late Constance Weiser “Connie” Gregg on Tuesday, Jan. 13 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. Im…

In Memoriam: Goodbyes for 2025 in Boca Grande Obituaries

The Boca Beacon remembers and honors those members of our community who died in 2025. We invite readers to go online at the end of this year to…

David A. Jenkins, 1941-2025

David Albert Jenkins, 84 died peacefully on December 12, 2025, watching the sun set on the Gulf of Mexico from his home in Boca Grande. His loving a…

Thomas C. McDermott 1936-2025

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Thomas C. McDermott, who left us on December 7, 2025 at the age of 89. Surrounded by his…

William Colehower 1937-2025

Born May 28, 1937, in Abington, Pennsylvania to Emily Squibb Colehower and Harry Howard Colehower, Bill was raised in a close family that loved one…