LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Superheroes were everywhere at the Bike Path Parade and Spring Fair!

To the Editor:

Boca Grande celebrated the 2023 Boca Grande Woman’s Club Bike Path Parade and Spring Fair last Saturday. “Superheroes Everywhere” was possible due to the 100 or so dedicated Woman’s Club and community volunteers who participated both during the events and leading up to the big day. The morning started with the annual Bike Path Parade, and it continued at the Boca Grande Community Center with great food, games, bouncy houses, the Dunk Tank, photo booth, and so much more at the Fair.

On behalf of the Woman’s Club, thank you for supporting the Bike Path Parade and Spring Fair and celebrating our special island. We especially want to thank the following for their help in creating a memorable day for our community.

• Lieutenant Jeffrey Knowles of the Boca Grande Fire Department for serving as this year’s Grand Marshal 

• Bill York, our incomparable Master of Ceremonies

• Parade judges: Boca Grande Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Gary Cross; GICIA Executive Director Misty Nichols; and President of the BGWC Chris Reecher 

• Members of the Lemon Bay High School Basketball, Baseball, Football and Softball teams 

• Lemon Bay High School Bands

• Lemon Bay High School ROTC Color Guard

• Kim Newlin for her contributions to the Bake Sale

• The Gasparilla Inn

• GICIA 

• Scarpa’s Coastal

• Grande Aire Services

• The Pink Pony

• Boca Grande Fire Department

• Lee County Sheriff’s Office

• Lee County Parks and Recreation local staff and Rangers, especially Jesse Kanuch, Dawn Balsizer and Tim Bonisolli

• D.J. Kiesling, Friends of Boca Grande Community Center

• Mike Hilton, sound technician

• Julia Pierce for poster design

• Candace Kendle, Founder, Read Aloud 15

Bike Path Parade Winners

We also want to thank everyone who participated in the Bike Path Parade and to congratulate the following winners:

Group category

• Best Presentation of Theme: Our Daddys Are Superheroes (Cheske and O’Connor families of BG Fire Department) and The Pierce Family

• Best of Show: Olympic Heroes (Lilly, Reed, and Sams families).

• Most Creative: Southwest FL Yacht Club 

• Non-profit Organization Category

• Best Presentation of Theme: The Island School 

• Best of Show: Boca Grande Preschool 

• Most Creative: Boca Grande Sea Turtle Association

Children’s Category 

• Best Presentation of Theme: The Cox Family

• Best of Show: Strachota Family

• Business Category 

• Best of Show: Michael Saunders & Company

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!

Meg Pierce and Regina Haddad

Co-Chairs, 2023 Spring Fair