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...
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Isaac: The storm that wasn't for Southwest Florida

27 August 2012 Last Updated on 19 September 2012 Marcy Shortuse

It started with a whimper and ended with a whine. Tropical Storm Isaac, which many meteorologists thought would have a major impact on our area, has essentially passed us by without a hitch.

( 17 Votes )

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Latest Isaac update from Lee County EOC

26 August 2012 Last Updated on 19 September 2012 Marcy Shortuse

From the Boca Grande EOC at 11 am:

No mandatory evacuations for Boca Grande.

Sandbags available at Boca Grande Fire Department, sand available on wheeler road behind Bill's house.

If stop signs blow down in the wind, please treat intersection as a four-way stop.

There is no guaranteed emergency response from local fire and EMS after winds of 40 mph sustained.

High tides at 0030 on 8/27, 0935 on 8/27. They will be higher than normal, obviously. Low tides at 1600 today. They will be lower than normal by 2 to 4 feet.

Isaac should be a category 1 at 1400 today. Surge of 3 to 5 feet expected for Boca Grande, tropical storm conditions. Winds expected to pick up at 1400 today.

Rainfall of 4 to 7 inches expected.

Bridge open to vehicular traffic, closed to boat passage after sustained winds of 40 mph. Tolls still active.

( 11 Votes )

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Water, water everywhere ... and goodness does it stink

24 August 2012 Liza

BY MARCY SHORTUSE AND LIZA STROUT - Don’t think of it as a ditch. Think of it as a linear retention pond, and you will be closer to the truth.

That’s the input from Lee County Department of Transportation officials when it comes to the ditches that line Gasparilla Road between 40th and 48th Streets. Many Boca Grande residents don’t care what you call it, they just want the standing water gone.

( 6 Votes )

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Good wishes to island resident injured while hiking

24 August 2012 Last Updated on 24 August 2012 Liza

BY MARCY SHORTUSE - Island resident Carol Lindenbaum has a lot of prayers and good thoughts coming her way, as she recovers from a fall that occurred while hiking in Switzerland recently.

According to her site established by the family on the caringbridge.org website, Carol lost her footing and slid down a steep embankment of grass and rock while hiking near Grindlewald, Switzerland with three other couples from Florida. It happened very quickly, but luckily a man on the trail below witnessed the incident and immediately called mountain rescue airlift.

( 0 Votes )

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Win cash while fishing and tagging

24 August 2012 Last Updated on 24 August 2012 Liza

Boca Grande’s annual satellite tagging project will hold a Tarpon Tagging Challenge on Friday, Sept. 7.

This will be the third consecutive year that fall tags are placed on Charlotte Harbor tarpon in order to identify exactly when and where these tarpon migrate in the fall/winter.