Elizabeth C. Betsy Biddle, 83, of Ligonier, Pa. and Boca Grande, passed away late Saturday evening, June 23, 2012 at her Ligonier residence.

She was born October 3, 1928 in Pittsburgh, Pa., daughter of the late William and Marion Clapp Collin. Betsy was a member of St. Michael's of the Valley Church in Rector, the Rolling Rock Club, and the Gasparilla Beach Club and St. Andrews Episcopal Church, both in Boca Grande.

She was well known as a faithful and caring volunteer for the Latrobe Area Hospital.

In addition to her parents she was also preceded in death by her beloved husband, Livingston L. Toby Biddle in 2009; one brother and three sisters.

Betsy is survived by three children; Page (Joel) Cook of Carbondale, Colo., Nick Biddle of Greensburg, and Collin (Ann) Biddle of Brooklyn, N.Y.; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and a sister, Helen Adams of Kennebunkport, ME.

Memorial contributions may be made in Betsy’s memory to St. Michael's of the Valley, P.O. Box 336, Ligonier, PA 15658.

To sign the online guest book or to send condolences to the family, please visit jpaulmccrackenfuneralchapel.com.

BY LIZA STROUT - The gap between hospitality manager at a major hotel and project manager for a construction company may seem like a wide one, but it is one that Dave Borza has bridged for most of his working life.

“My dad was a contractor, and I’ve tinkered around with construction and handyman jobs for most of my life,” Dave said. “My parents also owned three restaurants at one time, and I worked in them. My dad had a lot of projects that he worked on. There was the contracting business, the restaurants and a computer learning center.”

Tropical Storm Debby has covered Boca Grande with wind, rain and storms for the last three days, but Sunday night and Monday morning has brought the worst weather so far.

Power outages were reported Sunday night. Some residents experienced only a momentary lapse of power, but others had no electricity for more than an hour. Monday morning at approximately 7 a.m. the power went out again in the Lee County portion of the island, with a two-hour lapse in electrical service.

So far the highest wind gust recorded on Monday, June 25 was 36 m.p.h. at 8:54 a.m. On Sunday night a recorded gust came in at 55 m.p.h.

Precipitation on the island since the storm first hit stands at just over 3 1/2 inches.

A few small trees came down and many branches and palm fronds, but no severe damage was reported.

We will now be posting photos of island events on our web site for sale or simple perusal. Please visit the "media" option at the top of the page where it says "photos and video." If you're looking for pictures of a particular event that you don't see listed, please contact our office via email (info@bocabeacon.com) or phone us at 964-2995.

Photo by Marcy

To the Editor:

I have guided in tarpon tournaments ever since I started taking clients for tarpon in Boca Grande more than two decades ago. We have participated in World’s Richest, Miller’s Tarpon Tide, World Tarpon and PTTS.

My family has roots in Boca Grande that cover a hundred years and date back to the earliest of 1900’s. The Markett’s were a pioneer Arcadia family and my grand and great-grandfathers were with the railroad. I have guided clients for tarpon in Boca Grande Pass and the surrounding sounds, beaches and Charlotte Harbor for a long time. My son and his family live on the island and it is my grandson Dalton’s only home. Capt. Lou Baggett and I started the Boca Grande Pass Cleanup during a Miller’s Tarpon Tide Tournament years ago and I was actively involved in that effort as long as it existed.

To the Editor:
Has the GIBA considered a lottery to finance the new Bridges? Is the GIBA authorized to run a lottery? Could the GIBA seek State approval to run a lottery?