Friends of Boca Grande move office to marine containers
Friends of Boca Grande are now operating out of old marine containers for offices, as they wait for repairs to the Boca Grande Community Center, which was flooded during hurricanes Helene and Milton. The “offices” are in the parking lot of the Crowninshield House, which will be the first building renovated for use after the floods.
“Once you add a Xerox machine,” said CEO Marta Howell, “they fill up fast.”
The offices are not really trailers, but truly marine cargo containers refurbished for use as a temporary building, and far more resembling what the staff has called a “tin can.”
After the storm, organizations have had to scramble for space. The GICIA is operating out of the Boca Grande Fire Department, and the Royal Palm Players are upstairs at Crews Bank.
This week they were just getting settled in offices. The container on Banyan is the reception and front office; the container nearest the entrance to the Crowninshield House has the rest of the staff.
Currently, the whole plan for the renovation and redo of the Community Center has been modified. Howell said that of all the places in Lee County, Boca Grande was hardest hit. After the first flood of Helene, the Community Center was quickly remediated.
The second flood, with its dirty water, forced the county to go in and look at not only the structure of the buildings on the campus, but the right way to rebuild.
“That just stopped us in our tracks,” said Howell.
It was important that the staff be on island, and not off island.
“It’s just so important for us to be out here while we are working on things,” said Howell.
They do have dates that they are working toward. As of this week, the Crownishield was being readied for use again, and HVAC and electrical are being installed. The wood floor did not make it. They expect to be in there around March 15.
The old auditorium will be repurposed, and will be open January 13 for All That Jazz. It will have a smaller capacity, as the chairs were lost. The county will also bring in “comfort station” bathrooms again, until the Community Center’s bathrooms reopen.
“We are just really excited to be here and be a part of the community again,” said Howell.
Program notes: Below, some upcoming events for January and early February. Check Friendsofbocagrande.org or call (941) 964-0827 for more information about tickets, seating and location.
Upcoming Friends Events
January 2025 Events
Wednesday, Jan. 8; Mount Vernon; Speaker Event, Douglas Bradburn
Thursday, Jan. 9; Seals & Crofts 2; Rhythm & Boots Concert
Friday-Saturday, Jan. 10-11; Exploring the Florida Everglades; Tra vel Event
Friday, Jan. 10; 10 Restaurants That Changed America; Speaker Event, Paul Freedman
Monday, Jan. 13; Emilie-Claire Barlow; Jazz Performance
Wednesday, Jan. 22; King Hancock; Speaker Event, Brooke Barbier
Monday, Jan. 27; Sounds of Soul; Live Music Performance
Wednesday, Jan. 29; The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History; Speaker Event, Elizabeth Kolbert
Early February Events
Tuesday, Feb. 4; “What the Devil Has Happened in Europe?” Speaker Event, Martin Walker
Monday, Feb. 10; The Lost Melody; Jazz Performance
Tuesday, Feb. 11; Why Are People Still Starving? Speaker Event, Greg Page
