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

FWC break-away jig study refuted by originating scientist Friday, 17 May 2013 10:06 BY MARCY SHORTUSE - In the summer of 2004 Dr. Justin Grubich picked up the phone to take a call from a woman who said she was with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The woman, Kathy Guindon, talked with Justin for about 30 minutes foul-hooking tarpon, and he was asked to provide expert witness testimony on how tarpon feed. He didn’t give the conversation much thought. 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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Elusive Tiger Shad, Let's Go Fishin' take top spots at Ladies Day 2013
BY MARCY SHORTUSE - The bite may have been slow, but Capt. Chris Frohlich’s team...
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Two local artists win prizes for their work

11 May 2012 Marcy Shortuse

Earlier this month Boca Grande artist Susan Shaffer’s framed paper sculpture, “Synchronicity,” was awarded first place at ArtCenter Manatee’s juried exhibition entitled “Retrospective Color.” The exhibit includes 80 regional artists in multiple mediums. Susan is a founding member of the Boca Grande Art Alliance and year-round island resident. She will be exhibiting in the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend Show and Summer Days Exhibition at the BGAA Art Center.

The “Retrospective Color” exhibit will run through June 1.

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Birth announcement: Tucker Michael Cera

11 May 2012 Marcy Shortuse

Tucker Michael Cera, we welcome you ...

On May 1, 2012 at 5:52 a.m.Tucker Michael Cera was born at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. He is the son of George and Cindy Cera of Boca Grande. He weighed in at 9 pounds, 1 ounce at birth and was 21 inches long. Welcoming him home are siblings Jesse Jon Michael, 21, Marlana Lynn Messina, 22, and Gabriela Rose Crespo, 8. Harry and Fayma Childs are Tucker’s maternal grandparents, and Beverly Cera is his paternal grandmother.

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The News - Featured News

Guest editorial: We made a promise, we need to keep it

11 May 2012 Marcy Shortuse

About 60 island property owners recently called on our bridge authority to break a promise we, as a community, made to the state in 1995 and once again in 2000.

Who is responsible for operating, maintaining and replacing Boca Grande’s bridges and causeway? Based on that promise, we are. In 2000, the Florida Legislature passed an act re-creating the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority it had originally established in 1995. Most of the statute's language is technical. Not what you’d consider bedtime reading. But the rest is easy to comprehend for anyone interested in taking the time to understand what we told the Legislature we would do back in 1995 and again five years later.

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Letter to the Editor: Artist thanks Beacon for support and coverage

11 May 2012 Marcy Shortuse

To the Editor:

I just want to thank the Beacon on behalf of the Art Alliance for the wonderful and timely coverage of our 25th Anniversary Celebration and Spring Show! It helped generate a lot of interest in our beginnings and we really appreciate the support.

Cecilia Jonsson-Bisset,
Boca Grande Art Alliance Show Chair
Boca Grande

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The News - Letter to Editor

Letter to the Editor: GIBA board member supports tax referendum

11 May 2012 Marcy Shortuse

To the Editor:

GIBA and its Board are bringing us three new bridges which will be safe, functional and aesthetically pleasing for a projected seventy-five years. During the last five years, and including the coming October toll increase, the board will have raised the cash toll from $4 to $6, a 50% increase, the discounted tolls from $2.25 to $3.90, and annual passes from $450 to $780, both reflecting a 73% increase.

Proceeds from these increases have allowed us to repay previous debt (from the purchase of the bridges) and to finance both the design of the two fixed bridges and part of their construction.