Spooked Again rocking the Pass on day one of the World's Richest Thursday, 23 May 2013 19:38 Breaking news from the World's Richest ... Day 1 of the 2013 "World's Richest" Tarpon Tournament in the books and 31 tarpon caught and safely released. Read the Full Story

Elusive Tiger Shad, Let's Go Fishin' take top spots at Ladies Day 2013 Friday, 17 May 2013 10:31 BY MARCY SHORTUSE - The bite may have been slow, but Capt. Chris Frohlich’s team got the first qualified release in the 2013 Ladies Day Tarpon Tournament at 5:40 p.m. on Saturday. Anglers included Alysha Aratari, Olivia Britto, Joellen Morris and Mia Benton. Read the Full Story

World’s Richest, tarpon festival, Kids Classic coming up this week Friday, 17 May 2013 10:00 This week will bring one of the most action-packed and entertaining times that Boca Grande has seen in quite awhile. It is the World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament on May 23 and 24, the Gasparilla Island Kids Classic on May 25, and Tarpon Festival Weekend downtown. Read the Full Story

GIBA signs $30 million loan agreement, no new toll increases coming in the near future Friday, 17 May 2013 09:57 BY LIZA STROUT - With a unanimous vote, the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority board of directors approved the terms of a long-sought State Infrastructure Bank loan. The loan, to fund the construction of the new swing bridge, will keep tolls at their current levels for the foreseeable future. Read the Full Story

A lighthouse legend passes Friday, 17 May 2013 09:53 BY LIZA STROUT - Dian McKeithan Miller, youngest daughter of the last keeper of the Port Boca Grande Light, passed away Wednesday morning, May 15. Read the Full Story

Look for changes within the Community Center this summer Friday, 17 May 2013 09:52 BY MARCY SHORTUSE - The summer has come, the snowbirds are leaving and it’s time for the Boca Grande Community Center to start making some changes. They have tented for termites (and found a few bodies after the fact, so it was a worthy cause). Now they’re going to be tearing down some walls and moving things around. Read the Full Story

Letter to the Editor: World-renowned scientist makes changes to his conclusions about break-away jigs Friday, 17 May 2013 09:37 The following letter was sent to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Chairman Ken Wright on May 8, 2013. This letter is reprinted here with Mr. Grubich’s consent. Read the Full Story

Profile: Capt. Chris Frohlich Friday, 17 May 2013 09:31 BY JACK SHORT - Tarpon fishing seems to fascinate some folks in a way no other subject can. Capt. Chris Frohlich is one of those people, and his connection to the sport is as strong as his opinions about it. Read the Full Story

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... and that’s why the bridge was backed up

09 March 2012 Marcy Shortuse

On Tuesday morning the Boca Beacon office started getting phone calls about traffic on the Causeway backing up. Wayyy up.

Why do they call us? To find out what’s going on, of course. We were here, in the office.

We didn’t know. When we got a hold of Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority Executive Director Jim Cooper, he said he had just found out about it as well. A board member had contacted him about it, and he made sure that the utility company who decided it was perfectly all right to shut down the road without mentioning it to GIBA.

It wasn’t. And people weren’t happy.

At all.

From about 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., traffic was backed up, both ways, as workers tried to manipulate power lines and huge pieces of conduit. To add to motorist distress, there was a large amount of boats waiting at the bridge, so bridge openings were up.

“This is part of the whole utility coordination issue,” Cooper said. “Unfortunately, it wasn’t coordinated with me.”

It was a fluke, and not to be expected again in the near future.

GIBA will be doing a second survey at all three toll booths, beginning March 15 for one week.

Feel free to fill it out again, and try to win that 30-day toll pass.

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Fust has several activities scheduled for next week

09 March 2012 Marcy Shortuse

The Johann Fust Community Library and the Boca Grande Woman’s Club are combining their book sales on Saturday, March 17 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is the day of the annual Woman’s Club Fair.

Donations of books, CDs and DVDs will be accepted at the Fust Library prior to the sale.

The Woman’s Club Room will be available for drop-offs on Wednesday, March 14 from 3 to 5 p.m., Thursday, March 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Friday, March 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you have questions or want to volunteer, contact Betsey Hall 964-2959 or Joanne Hall at 964-0773.

The Fust will also host a Sissy Yates Designs jewelry party on Thursday, March 22 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Half of the proceeds of the sale will be donated to the library.

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History Bytes: That wacky, wild Spanish Empire

09 March 2012 Marcy Shortuse

Dr. Carl Wise related the weird, wacky and sometimes tragic history of the Spanish Empire in Florida during the 16th Century at the latest History Byte. The special edition was held at the Community Center Auditorium, and was well attended.

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Islam to be featured during week-long series of events

09 March 2012 Marcy Shortuse

It is hoped that a film and forum series devoted to some knotty issues will capture the interest of Gasparilla Island over the next week. Four experts on Islam and the Arab Spring have been invited to speak by the Boca Grande Community Center and the Johann Fust Library: two university professors, a writer whose prize-winning book has been turned into an acclaimed film, and a beloved Deerfield Academy headmaster who created a modern, co-educational school in the traditional society of Jordan.