Taste of Boca Grande scores another hit

BY MARCY SHORTUSE – Maybe it’s the chocolate crepes. It was quite possibly the crab cakes. No, perhaps it was the sushi. And the fact it wasn’t raining. Whatever it was, the eighth annual Taste of Boca Grande brought hundreds together from on- and off-island to sample some of the finest food and wine in [...]

BIPS fundraiser is one to bet on

BY MARCY SHORTUSE – Sensuous spies, million-dollar baccarat games and intrigue will be the theme for the Barrier Island Parks Society’s “007: Casino Royale” Green Gala, which will be held on Saturday, Feb. 20 at the Boca Bay Pass Club.

Inn to begin offering yacht cruises

BY MARCY SHORTUSE –The Guide Docks have a new resident, one that will take the Gasparilla Inn & Club’s reputation for luxury accommodations to an even higher level.

Bike Parade theme: Flower power!

BY MARCY SHORTUSE –It’s said that if you remember The Sixties, you weren’t really there. If you have any vague recollection of the time, you can utilize that knowledge to possibly create an award-winning float in the 25th Annual Boca Grande Bike Parade.

Recent Articles:

Guide admits tarpon tag laws skirted in PTTS tourney; fish fed to sharks

February 8, 2010 News No Comments

The following was posted by Capt. Scott Hughes on the Florida Sportsman Southwest Florida forum. The comment came in response to a debate over an article published on BocaBeacon.com written by David Futch. The article appears in the January issue of  Pirate Coast Magazine and is reprinted with permission. There are two posts here. And yes, we are archiving all of the posts on this subject in the event they somehow vanish. The Professional Tarpon Tournament Series is predominately fished by jiggers.

You can follow the debate here. It’s quite entertaining. Here is what Capt. Hughes wrote. … Continue Reading

Taste of Boca Grande scores another hit

February 5, 2010 Featured Content, News No Comments
Taste of Boca Grande scores another hit

BY MARCY SHORTUSE – Maybe it’s the chocolate crepes. It was quite possibly the crab cakes. No, perhaps it was the sushi. And the fact it wasn’t raining. Whatever it was, the eighth annual Taste of Boca Grande brought hundreds together from on- and off-island to sample some of the finest food and wine in the area, and to enjoy each other’s company.
… Continue Reading

BIPS fundraiser is one to bet on

February 5, 2010 Featured Content, News 1 Comment
BIPS fundraiser is one to bet on

BY MARCY SHORTUSE – Sensuous spies, million-dollar baccarat games and intrigue will be the theme for the Barrier Island Parks Society’s “007: Casino Royale” Green Gala, which will be held on Saturday, Feb. 20 at the Boca Bay Pass Club.
… Continue Reading

Inn to begin offering yacht cruises

February 5, 2010 Featured Content, News No Comments
Inn to begin offering yacht cruises

BY MARCY SHORTUSE –The Guide Docks have a new resident, one that will take the Gasparilla Inn & Club’s reputation for luxury accommodations to an even higher level.
… Continue Reading

Food For the Poor fundraiser March 9

February 5, 2010 News No Comments

The organizers of the “Food For the Poor” fundraiser have set March 9 as the date, and 6 p.m. as the time and the Boca Bay Power House will be the location for their first fundraiser.
… Continue Reading

Bike Parade theme: Flower power!

February 5, 2010 Featured Content, News No Comments
Bike Parade theme: Flower power!

BY MARCY SHORTUSE –It’s said that if you remember The Sixties, you weren’t really there. If you have any vague recollection of the time, you can utilize that knowledge to possibly create an award-winning float in the 25th Annual Boca Grande Bike Parade.
… Continue Reading

Charlotte portion of Gasparilla Road to get pave job

February 5, 2010 News No Comments

Paving construction on Gasparilla Road and the Charlotte County roads of the island will begin in mid- to late-February.

… Continue Reading

PROFILE: Biologist Nancy Douglass a booster of Florida’s beaches

February 5, 2010 Profile No Comments

BY MARCY SHORTUSE – When Nancy Douglass was a child and going to an all-girls Catholic school, she was surrounded by people who voiced an interest in becoming doctors, lawyers and accountants. She wanted to work with animals.
… Continue Reading

FWC: Saving our fish or saving themselves?

February 5, 2010 Commentary, Special Report No Comments
FWC: Saving our fish or saving themselves?

BY GB KNOWLES – They many not know it yet but Florida’s fishery managers and staff may be on the verge of an economic crisis. Part of it is government ineptitude and arrogance. The economy is a trouble spot. Now a devastating freeze has put fishery managers in a position they haven’t seen since the 1960s.
… Continue Reading

Italiano-GICIA cleanup

February 5, 2010 News No Comments

Misty Nabers and Nat Italiano are hoping that those who love Boca Grande for its beauty will help to keep it clean when the Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association and Italiano Insurance sponsor the next Island-Wide Clean-Up on Saturday, Feb. 27.
… Continue Reading

Steffan named clinic medical director

February 5, 2010 News No Comments

Dr. Michael Steffan was named as the new medical director of the Boca Grande Health Clinic at a reception on January 27, and outgoing director, Dr. Gordon Nidiffer, was honored as well.

… Continue Reading

Obituary: David Sherman

February 5, 2010 Obituaries No Comments

David Eyre Sherman, 92, of Hendersonville passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home Sunday morning, November 1, 2009. A native of Marshall, Mich., he was the son of the late Lee C. and Cecil Eyre Sherman.
… Continue Reading

Obituary: Suzanne ‘Sussie’ McKean

February 5, 2010 Obituaries No Comments

Suzanne “Sussie” Eldridge McKean of Boca Grande and Castine, Maine passed away on  February 1 after a valiant battle with cancer. Mrs. McKean was born in Harrisburg, Pa. on January 23, 1932.
… Continue Reading

Taste this! Here’s what’s on the menu for Taste of Boca Grande

January 29, 2010 Featured Content, News 1 Comment
Taste this! Here’s what’s on the menu for Taste of Boca Grande

It’s over. And if you missed it you missed the best party of the year. Check out our video here featuring the Steve Chapin Band.

BY GARY DUTERY – It’s once again time to come to the rescue of all you non-Foodies and decipher the menu for this year’s Taste of Boca Grande slated for Monday, Feb. 1 at the Boca Bay Pass Club.

This year’s edition of Taste features 18 area restaurants, the most ever. And if you want a taste of Taste, tickets are $75 and can be purchased at the Boca Beacon or at the Boca Bay Pass Club.

When you talk Taste of Boca Grande, you aren’t talking cocktail weenies. You aren’t talking Ritz crackers and Cheez Wiz. You’re talking food. Real food. Real good food. And don’t forget the open bar and wine tables.
… Continue Reading

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Taste of Boca Grande 2010

A Taste of Boca Grande was held Monday, Feb. 1 at the Boca Bay Pass Club. The event benefits the Harry Chapin Food Banks of Southwest Florida.

Fishing Report for January 19, 2009

Capt. Sandy Melvin and Capt. Doug Stewart discuss the January Big Chill and the state's decision to extend the closure of snook season.

Visitors Guide

Download the Boca Beacon's 2010 Visitors Guide to Boca Grande. Click here. (.pdf)

Facebook with the Boca Beacon

Our Endangered Fishery

FWC: Saving our fish or saving themselves?

February 5, 2010

FWC: Saving our fish or saving themselves?

BY GB KNOWLES – They many not know it yet but Florida’s fishery managers and staff may be on the verge of an economic crisis. Part of it is government ineptitude and arrogance. The economy is a trouble spot. Now a devastating freeze has put fishery managers in a position they haven’t seen since the [...]

The great tarpon debate: Jiggers are killing our fish, and our fishery

January 29, 2010

The great tarpon debate: Jiggers are killing our fish, and our fishery

The following article by David Futch appears in the January edition of Pirate Coast Magazine. It is reproduced here  with permission.
Nathaniel Reed refuses to mince words when it comes to snagging tarpon with a jig that kills them or leaves them so exhausted they become an easy meal. According to Reed, a nearly-dead tarpon having [...]

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RSS Local Weather

  • Current Conditions : 57.1F, Clear - 9:34 AM CST Feb. 8
    Temperature: 57.1°F | Humidity: 62% | Pressure: 30.06in ( Falling) | Conditions: Clear | Wind Direction: NE | Wind Speed: 5.0mph […]
  • Today as of Feb. 8 3:26 AM EST
    Today - Mostly sunny. Highs around 70. East winds around 5 mph. […]
  • Tonight as of Feb. 8 3:26 AM EST
    Tonight - Mostly clear in the evening then becoming partly cloudy. Warmer. Lows in the lower 50s. East winds around 5 mph. […]
  • Tuesday as of Feb. 8 3:26 AM EST
    Tuesday - Partly sunny in the morning then becoming mostly cloudy. Slight chance of showers in the morning...then chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s. South winds 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50 percent. […]
  • No incident has been reported
    No incident has been reported […]

RSS Tropical Weather

  • There are no tropical cyclones at this time.
    No tropical cyclones as of Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:51:45 GMT […]
  • Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook
    000 ABNT20 KNHC 302338 TWOAT TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 700 PM EST MON NOV 30 2009 FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO... TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 48 HOURS. TODAY MARKS THE END OF THE 2009 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON. ISSUANCE OF THIS PRODUCT WILL RESUME […]

RSS Boca Beacon

  • Taste of Boca Grande scores another hit
    BY MARCY SHORTUSE – Maybe it’s the chocolate crepes. It was quite possibly the crab cakes. No, perhaps it was the sushi. And the fact it wasn’t raining. Whatever it was, the eighth annual Taste of Boca Grande brought hundreds together from on- and off-island to sample some of the finest food and wine in [...] […]
  • BIPS fundraiser is one to bet on
    BY MARCY SHORTUSE – Sensuous spies, million-dollar baccarat games and intrigue will be the theme for the Barrier Island Parks Society’s “007: Casino Royale” Green Gala, which will be held on Saturday, Feb. 20 at the Boca Bay Pass Club. You don’t even have to declare war on Le Chiffre to attend, and you’ll be handed [...] […]
  • Inn to begin offering yacht cruises
    BY MARCY SHORTUSE –The Guide Docks have a new resident, one that will take the Gasparilla Inn & Club’s reputation for luxury accommodations to an even higher level. As of the first of the year, a 55-foot Fleming classic motor yacht has been employed to take guests of the Inn on cocktail cruises around the island, [...] […]
  • Food For the Poor fundraiser March 9
    The organizers of the “Food For the Poor” fundraiser have set March 9 as the date, and 6 p.m. as the time and the Boca Bay Power House will be the location for their first fundraiser. The chairmen of the island’s chapter of the group, Ben Scott and Louise Scott, along with Tom Lorden, invite everyone [...] […]
  • Bike Parade theme: Flower power!
    BY MARCY SHORTUSE –It’s said that if you remember The Sixties, you weren’t really there. If you have any vague recollection of the time, you can utilize that knowledge to possibly create an award-winning float in the 25th Annual Boca Grande Bike Parade. If you’re into the smell of incense and peppermints, weaving flowers into your [...] […]

RSS WGCU-FM

  • Scrub Jay Count
    An annual report from the Nature Conservancy on the threatened Florida Scrub Jay finds the birds’ population and habitat remain in decline.  WGCU’s John Davis has more. […]
  • Air Travel Delayed by Weekend Weather
    Travelers arriving or departing from Southwest Florida International Airport are going to need to watch the weather this weekend. WGCU’s Luis Hernandez reports. […]
  • National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day
    Local health agencies and other community partners are kicking off a campaign to combat HIV infection rates among African-Americans.  It’s in conjunction with National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on Sunday.  WGCU’s John Davis reports. […]
  • Celebration of Reading
  • Federal Assistance for Florida Farmers
    Federal assistance is available for Florida farmers suffering losses after extensive crop damage from last month’s cold weather.  WGCU’s John Davis reports. […]

RSS Herald-Tribune

  • Two mobile homes destroyed in Manatee County fire
    Bart Pfankuch MANATEE COUNTY — Two families were displaced by fire early Saturday after a pair of homes in the Star Mobile Home Park on 41st Avenue East were destroyed in a blaze. […]
  • Suicide by chemicals on Siesta Key Beach
    Bart Pfankuch Method almost exactly the same as used by man on Nov. 24 […]
  • Arrest in 2008 hit-and-run death
    By John Davis Carol Teehee learned that she may finally get some answers about the night her son, Alex, was hit and killed by an SUV in Charlotte County. […]
  • Mid-Atlantic braces for major winter storm
    SARAH KARUSH Associated Press Writer Shoppers jammed aisles and emptied stores of milk, bread and shovels Friday as a massive snowstorm blew into the Mid-Atlantic. Forecasters predicted a record 30 inches or more for the nation's capital, and authorities already were blaming the storm for the deaths of father-son Samaritans in Virginia. […]
  • Bald eagle saved after crashing into Gulf
    Anthony Cormier When beachcombers saw the eagle, they knew the majestic animal was in trouble. The eagle had crashed down into the Gulf of Mexico about 200 yards offshore in Venice earlier this week, and those who witnessed the flight noticed the bird was unable to pull itself out of the water. […]

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