Spooked Again team takes first place in World's Richest, Blaze and Sitarah teams take second and third Friday, 24 May 2013 22:26 Capt. Steve Ahlers and his team aboard Spooked Again took home the first place winnings in the 2013 World's Richest Tarpon Tournament, held by the Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce. Read the Full Story

World's Richest, Kids Classic, Art Festival and street party schedule of events Friday, 24 May 2013 13:06
Schedule of events for the World's Richest Tarpon Tournament, Gasparilla Island Kids Classic, Boca Grande Invitational Art Festival, and street party ... Read the Full Story

Happy Graduation to Abigail, Dafne, Luke and Jake, TIS 2013! Friday, 24 May 2013 10:19 BY MARCY SHORTUSE - Four tassels were turned on Thursday, May 23, as Luke Crosser, Dafne Garcia, Abigail Turner and Jake Van Atten graduated from fifth grade and from The Island School. Prior to their commencement ceremony the four, with the help of others, did a “dramatic statues” and chant performance. Afterward, the third, fourth and fifth graders all participated in a song called “Flip Flop,” written and produced by TIS music teacher Diana Donlon. Read the Full Story

FWC releases findings in Bull Bay accident Friday, 24 May 2013 10:17 The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission has completed its report on the two-boat accident in Bull Bay on April 12, and the FWC is holding both Jesse Smith and Capt. Steve Ahlers at fault. Smith, of Port Charlotte, was travelling southwest in a gray 18’ open motorboat. He turned to the south to enter a blind, narrow passage between two mangrove islands when he spotted Ahlers’ yellow boat heading in the opposite direction. Ahlers, of Boca Grande, was traveling northwest towards the same passage, with three passengers on board his 20-foot yellow boat. Read the Full Story

Boca Grande, Sweet Pea highlighted in June Vogue magazine shoot Friday, 24 May 2013 10:09 Boca Grande has been the location for an awful lot of photo shoots, so many we usually don’t report on them. But, a couple of months ago a very high-profile fashion magazine – Vogue, to be exact – turned up in town with an interesting model. Her name is Dree Hemingway, and she is the great-granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway. Read the Full Story

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Spooked Again team takes first place in World's Richest, Blaze and Sitarah teams take second and third
Capt. Steve Ahlers and his team aboard Spooked Again took home the first place winnings in the 2013 World's Richest...
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Letter to the Editor: Reader excited to see fishery stand taken by author

01 June 2012 Marcy Shortuse

To the Editor:

It was wonderful to see Randy Wayne White’s letter published in the Beacon. Most of the local people are “in the know” about snagging and have already sounded off about it.

RWW’s comments are, however, a good reminder that to the broader boating and fishing public, snagging is something they do not know nor appreciate until they are given a heads up.
Way to go, Randy.

Now let’s move on to exhausted fish (from weigh-in), disturbed pre-spawning schools and general deterioration of our fishery. Yeah, we know science and data is just now beginning to reveal how bad the PTTS really is. We need more science, but so far it all points to bad.

Again, way to go Cappy, RWW and the Boca Beacon!

Richard Hirsch
New York

( 0 Votes )

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The News - Letter to Editor

Letter to the Editor: Chamber Ladies Day kudos given

01 June 2012 Marcy Shortuse

To the Editor:

The Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce’s 22nd Annual Ladies Day Tarpon Tournament had ample reasons to celebrate this year’s booming event, with a field of 37 boats and 21 total tarpon released.

On behalf of the Chamber of Commerce, the Ladies Day committee would like to thank all the volunteers, sponsors and the endless support of the community that made this day an event to remember.

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Obituary: Mary Alice King

01 June 2012 Marcy Shortuse

Mary Alice Escalante King passed away peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 in Boca Grande.

She was born in Tampa on May 30, 1933 to the late Carlos and Florinda Escalante. She is survived by: Her three daughters, Georgette Hassler, Lisa King and Andrea King; cousins Elaine Fernandez and Debbie (Jim) Wolfe and their son, Jack; the children and grandchildren of Carlos Escalante.

( 1 Vote )

Profile: Bridge builder JP Donoghue

01 June 2012 Marcy Shortuse

BY LIZA STROUT - John Donoghue, better known as JP, is a busy man. As project manager in charge of replacing the fixed bridges on the Boca Grande Causeway, he has a lot on his plate.

“I’m in charge of scheduling, cost control, logistics and personnel,” said JP. “Basically, day-to-day operations for the demolition of the old bridges and the construction of the new ones.”

The son of a healthcare administrator and a CAT scan technician, JP’s career in construction might seem unusual, until you hear about his grandfather.

“He was a homebuilder in Venice in the 1950s and 60s,” explained JP. “I took to marine construction. You have the water, the tides, so many variables that you don’t have to deal with on land.”

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WRTT, 2012: A tournament to remember

25 May 2012 Marcy Shortuse

BY LIZA STROUT - Capt. Willie Mills knew what he had to do to remain sane when his team was in first place on the second day of the World’s Richest Tarpon Tournament.

He turned the radio off. With fierce competitor Capt. Wayne Joiner and the Hey, Moma! team breathing down their necks, it was all they could do to sit in slience and hope for the best.