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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Marathon bridge board meetings

26 July 2012 Marcy Shortuse

It always comes down to the money. In this case, it is the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority’s hope that a potential new funding source will relieve the need for any toll increases beyond the one already scheduled for October.

It was a busy day for the GIBA board. From a 9 a.m. Engineering Committee meeting to a 4 p.m. executive session, with a special board meeting sandwiched in between at 2 p.m., it was a day full of updates and information for the board and members of the public who attended.

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Letter: answered

26 July 2012 Last Updated on 26 July 2012 Marcy Shortuse

Noah Agles has a long history of concern for the environment.

“I first became interested in the environment when I was five years old,” said Agles. “I have always wanted to protect and preserve it. I learned about reusing, reducing and recycling when I was four. I have done all three since.”

( 1 Vote )

Editorial: The power of electricity

26 July 2012 Last Updated on 26 July 2012 Marcy Shortuse

BY NOAH AGLES -

Electric vehicles are good for the environment. People should know about the benefits of driving green, which will help us in the long run. I am an environmentalist and care very much about our ecosystem. Planet Earth is more sensitive than you would think. It reacts in different ways depending on what we do to it. Electric cars run on electricity and are CO2 free. They do not use fossil fuels, which hurt our environment, both land and sea. Gas powered cars run on an engine, and pollute everywhere they go. That is a huge comparison.

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Letter to the Editor: There’s a first time for everything ...

26 July 2012 Last Updated on 26 July 2012 Marcy Shortuse

To the Editor:

Lately, it has been rare that our small family is together. With three in Florida, and two of us in Pennsylvania, we do not get much quality time. In early June my twin sister, Brittany, and I came down for our younger sister, Pam’s, high school graduation. The family was finally all together. With only one free night in Boca Grande, Papa Lew decided to call Capt. David Chatham to take us on a tarpon charter.

Capt. Dave had his work cut out for him as we boarded the Jill Marie. Papa Lew was the only pas- senger who had fished for tarpon before. Pam and I were up first for our tarpon lesson. Our first mate, Paul Wagenseil, showed us both how to use the equipment and baited our lines.

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Profile: Keri Saeger

26 July 2012 Last Updated on 26 July 2012 Marcy Shortuse

BY MELISSA LATERZA -

Living in a big city couldn’t hinder Keri Saeger’s love for nature and the outdoors.

“It’s not Philadelphia and it’s not New York. My hometown in Allentown, Pennsylvania is kind of in-between,” said Keri, owner of Sea Squirts, a children’s store in Boca Grande. “It’s a fairly large city, the third largest city in Pennsylvania. “We lived in the suburbs surrounded by woodland,” she continued. “We had a pool, so we either swam or made something up in the woods. I played outside a lot, went to summer camp and vacation bible school as a kid.