Letter to the Editor: Many thanks given for volunteers at community picnic

To the Editor: This letter is a thank you to everyone who helped make the Friends of Boca Grande Community Picnic a great success on January 21.

First we thank our sponsors, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and Tim Dumas, for helping fund the event. Thank you Lee County Parks and Recreation for providing the tent, and to the Gasparilla Inn & Club for 200 chairs to go under the tent.

Special thanks to Fire Chief C.W. Blosser and his men of the Boca Grande Fire Department for everything. Also to Bruce Collins who brought his huge smoker and prepared delicious pulled pork, grilled chicken and hot dogs. The aroma of barbeque was all of the advertising that was needed at the Boca Grande Community Center for the crowd to begin to appear.   

As much as the barbeque was appreciated, so were the salads. The restaurants were very generous, giving a large selection of healthy and delicious salads. They were provided by the Boca Bay Pass Club, the Boca Grande Club, the Gasparilla Inn & Club, Eagle Grille, Grace Harvey, Hudson's Grocery, Loose Caboose,  Newlin's Mainely Gourmet, P.J.'s Seagrille, Patrick's Thai Bistro, Sister's Restaurant, South Beach, the Temptation, Key Agency and The Palm on Park. Our local restaurants cannot be beat.

More thanks to Jean Meanwell and to Native Gardens for the table decorations.

At one point Friends Board Chair, Pat Chapman was so pleased and appreciative she took the stage and thanked everyone for their special contributions.

Thanks to the food committee, including Shelly Corl, Betsy Joiner, Nancy Lingeman, Trisha Lowe and Dee Wheeler. Thanks to volunteer coordinators Marcia Spencer, Barb Taylor, and Dee Wheeler, and to Denise Searle as well.

One of the highlights of the picnic was when the entertaining Bocapella Singers arrived, surprising everyone with their lovely music, while weaving through the crowd and singing around the tables.  

Many thanks to Bob Green and Joe Wier who helped facilitate the event.  Many in kind donations were also made be the volunteers.

Thank you all.

Honorary Friends Board Member
Dee Wheeler