FWC votes 4-3 to pursue jig ban Friday, 14 June 2013 14:00 BY MARCY SHORTUSE - In a decision that will change the face of tarpon fishing in Boca Grande Pass, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission voted 4-3 to pass a proposal to create new definitions for the term “snagging,” and decided to proceed with a draft ruling that would prohibit the use of bottom-weighted jigs as well. Read the Full Story

Beacon buys Gasparilla Gazette Friday, 14 June 2013 13:59 The Boca Beacon, Boca Grande’s locally-owned newspaper for 33 years, has purchased the Gasparilla Gazette. The purchase agreement with Breeze Newspapers of Cape Coral was made final this week. Read the Full Story

Be free, manatee: Two native 'tees released back to their home on Thursday Friday, 14 June 2013 13:53 Representatives from Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo made a very special trip to the island on Thursday, June 13, with some very unique cargo. Read the Full Story

Boca Grande still a 'best little beach town' Friday, 14 June 2013 13:50 Once again, Boca Grande finds itself on a list of top 10 places, this time as one of America’s best little beach towns as listed by CNN. Read the Full Story

Island sea turtle patrol experiencing funding snag, but still hitting the beaches Friday, 14 June 2013 13:45 BY MARCY SHORTUSE - The Gasparilla Island Turtle Patrol has had a bit of bad luck lately, between Tropical Storm Andrea and a new development that has stopped their funding cold for the moment.
According to Grace Harvey, the permit holder for Gasparilla Island, the Coastal Wildlife Club has taken away the money they need to operate ... and all because of a matter of security. Read the Full Story

Local surfers goin’ to Cali Friday, 14 June 2013 13:44 BY LIZA STROUT - When Mila Wyman and the rest of the Florida Atlantic University’s Surf Team finished one point off first place in the 2013 National Scholastic Surfing Association’s East Coast Regional Championship in April, they knew that they were going to be heading to California for the national competition. Read the Full Story

Profile: Lynne Warberg Friday, 14 June 2013 10:31 BY MARCY SHORTUSE - Lynne Warberg has played many roles in her lifetime. She’s been the relish girl, the Playboy bunny, the receptionist, the photographer, the author and the mom. Her long and winding path to Boca Grande is more than just interesting ... it’s a testament to just what a woman can do all on her own. And just what she did was become a very well-known photographer, and she will be helping out shooting pictures from the Boca Beacon from time to time as well. Read the Full Story

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FWC votes 4-3 to pursue jig ban
BY MARCY SHORTUSE - In a decision that will change the face of tarpon fishing in Boca Grande Pass, the...
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Profile: Jack Short

10 May 2013 Marcy Shortuse

BY MARCY SHORTUSE - When Jack Short moved from Pennsylvania to Florida as a pre-teen, it took him some time to make the adjustment. After all, the towering trees and welcoming woods of the Keystone State are dramatically different than the saw palmettos and scrub brush here, and he was a huge fan of exploring the outdoors.

It took our new writer here at the Boca Beacon about 10 years to come to the realization that here in Florida, it’s not necessarily the woods you want to explore ... it’s the water.

( 1 Vote )

Key Agency wins award

10 May 2013 Marcy Shortuse

Auto-Owners Insurance is pleased to announce that Key Agency Inc. of Englewood and Boca Grande, has been named one of the Top 10 growth agencies for the company in the Lakeland Region for 2012.

( 1 Vote )

Gilchrist plan up to bat again, Business owners urged to attend May 8 meeting

03 May 2013 Last Updated on 03 May 2013 Liza

Yet another call to action has been sent out through the community referencing Gilchrist Avenue median parking ... and this time it’s from the bridge club, and they are supporting the Gasparilla Inn Plan.

On May 2, Jay Whipple, a Boca Grande resident and leader of the Boca Grande Duplicate Bridge Club, sent out a letter to everyone who plays the game at the United Methodist Church twice a week.

( 0 Votes )

PTTS files suit against Save The Tarpon

03 May 2013 Last Updated on 03 May 2013 Liza

This week the company that coordinates the Professional Tarpon Tournament Series has filed an injunction against Save The Tarpon, a local, grass-roots organization.

Members of the Save The Tarpon organization found themselves staring at a big stack of paperwork Tuesday morning, more than 200 pages to be exact. The papers were hand-delivered right to their doorsteps, to be exact, by process servers. Those named in the injunction include Chairman Tom McLaughlin, Frank Davis, Chris Frohlich, Richard Hirsch, Rhett Morris, Walton “Tommy” Locke Jr., Mark Futch and newly-minted executive director of Save The Tarpon, Lew Hastings.

( 3 Votes )

Rich and Toni Caccavale

03 May 2013 Last Updated on 03 May 2013 Liza

Some people just have Boca Grande in their blood. Their very names are synonymous with our island. So it is with Rich and Toni Caccavale.

As fate would have it, the two have had some major life changes lately that have taken them closer to the mainland than the island. Rich has recently retired from the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, where he was the marine patrol deputy in Boca Grande waters. He was also a Lee County deputy on the island for 24 years.

Toni recently closed her Boca Grande business, Island Nails.

But don’t think they’re sitting back and relaxing ... not by any stretch of the imagination.