Boca Beacon: Weekly Newspaper of Boca Grande

Azaleas in time for the weekend. Happy Friday! #JoyScavengerHunt

Our biggest issue in years at 52 pages, a full three sections, including the April 1 Bogus Beacon. While we have our e-edition and online Bocabeacon.com, our print paper still thrives each Friday. Inside are details about Charlotte fishing piers, sawfish return, etc.

40 page giant edition of @BocaBeacon New plans for area state parks and a large slate of events including Apple in China author Patrick McGee speaking. Plus Palm Sunday plans at Lighthouse United, and Van Hubbard remembers Capt Tater Spinks. Plus Corey Polin who runs the caddy program at Coral Creek as part of Island Golfer column of Scott Cotherman. And Joe Iconis and Lauren Marcus interviewed. Don Pedro open too. And then Englewood Chamber Nite at Mike Douglass.

The state of Florida's Department of Environmental Protection's Office of Park Planning released new draft management plans for Gasparilla Island State Park, Cayo Costa, Don Pedro Island and Stump Pass, all in advance of public meetings in April and a public comment period ahead. Plans include rebuilding a campground on Cayo Costa, resurfacing parking areas and changing road access at Gasparilla Island, upgrading parking at Stump Pass and improving trails at Charlotte Harbor Preserve. Link to our story in comments.

@MattDevittWX So a friend had a flight to Florida yesterday during the storms from DC. Folks throwing up, worst turbulence ever. Fingernails in legs from the person in seat trying to hold on. Weather always surprises and doesn't give you exactly what the weatherman says but we all are warned.

I am a big believer that some of the best meteorologists out there are the ones that don't tell you when they're right...they tell you when they're wrong. It shows their willingness to get better, improve and also find out why. That's one of the ways to excel as a meteorologist. The greatest lessons I've learned throughout the years are the ones where my forecast was wrong or I could have done something better. I was determined to figure out why to try and prevent them from happening again. To quote the great Albert Einstein...“Failure is success in progress.”

@HVNYrefugee Banyans on Banyan Street, Boca Grande, Florida.

Name me a better tree than a Southeastern live oak with Spanish moss. I'll wait.

Joe Iconis and Lauren Marcus will be on the beach at the Gasparilla Island Range Light @FLStateParks next Friday, March 20 making music on behalf of Barrier Island Parks Society and Hermitage Artist Retreat. @BarrierIslands bocabeacon.com/joe-lauren-mak…

With less than 7 months to go, we are well on our way to what will be the biggest @PresidentsCup in @PGATOUR history! 🏆

It's #TourismTuesday, and we’re driving to Alachua County to visit the homestead of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. Purchased in 1930, the 72-acre citrus grove and cracker homestead’s natural landscapes served as inspiration for her books. @FLMemory

Thank you @jonmartinesq for protecting our first amendment rights. Proud to be a constituent.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will assist Charlotte County in cleaning out the 37 miles of canal. That, and electric bicycles, are one of many items on agenda for the February 10, 2026 Regular Meeting of Charlotte County. bocabeacon.com/grant-clears-c…

Lee County updates island on rules and enforcement for proper right-of-way plantings across Boca Grande. #beach #florida bocabeacon.com/lee-county-upd…

@janellob @GarlandPollard Glad you are here! Sorry about the cold

@GarlandPollard We’re visiting now and find what they have done not at all offensive - it’s about time something changed 🌴

Lee County Sheriffs Office will begin enforcing a massive new parking regulation fully on Boca Grande this weekend. While it reduces the number of public spaces considerably, there is still plenty of parking and space at State Park. Just look where you park the car. Now we are like any other beach town in the US. @VISITFLORIDA @RealPureFlorida

Back in 1989 it snowed in Boca Grande. Our cartoonist Patti Middleton had some fun. And now @grok can animate them.

Tarpon Season is around the corner, be sure to book your trip now! Call or text 941-270-0291 #tarpon #tarponfishing #iwanttocatchatarpon

The Hermitage Artist Retreat has just announced programs in Boca Grande and on Manasota Key for this spring. Headlining on Gasparilla are Joe Iconis and Lauren Marcus. bocabeacon.com/hermitage-arti…

New day. New Friday. new Beacon.

@TheSmokingYeti @GarlandPollard Yes signs are clear and everywhere. In town there is plenty of space and 5th street has parking by the beach for 3 hours. State Parks are busy on warm days.

@BocaBeacon @GarlandPollard Is it easily understood as what is acceptable?

@TheSmokingYeti @GarlandPollard There is plenty you just need to be careful now.

@GarlandPollard Last time we were there parking was great. Never had an issue finding spots.