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Search Results for “garden

A history of the du Pont family in Boca Grande

BY KAREN GRACE AND THE BOCA GRANDE HISTORY CENTER – The beginning of the du Pont family in Boca Grande came in 1916 or 1917 when Louise (du Pont) and Frank Crowninshield rented Frank’s brother’s (Benjamin) Gulf front cottage. In the years that followed, Louise and Frank bought land at First Street and Gulf Boulevard, […]

PROFILE: Cathy Ballman

BY T MICHELE WALKER – Zoom meetings are as ubiquitous as love bugs in spring. After months of coffee interviews and visits to lovely homes and marinas, the Boca Beacon finally had our first profile Zoom interview with Cathy Ballman from St. Paul, Minnesota. “Zoom fatigue is all too real,” Cathy said, as she sat […]

Whatever happened to Bead for Life?

BY BOOTS TOLSDORF – As I have not been seen standing by the post office on a weekly basis selling my Ugandan women’s handmade jewelry made of recycled paper, many friends and acquaintances have asked me often, “Whatever happened to Bead for Life?” COVID happened to Bead for Life.  And in this case, the timing […]

Elisabeth Obry Henneberger

Elisabeth Obry Henneberger, 87 died on April 1, 2021 in Riverview, Fla. Born January 31, 1934 in Weilerbach, Germany, she immigrated to the U.S. in 1957, with her husband and infant son. They spent 10 years in the NYC area. In 1967, her beloved husband, Henry, of 66 years, moved them to New Hampshire and […]

A history of Plein Air painting on Gasparilla Island

BY TONYA BRAMLAGE – Although one can never fully know the daily sights that will be seen while spending a day outdoors here on Gasparilla Island, encounters with butterflies, birds, fish, turtles, flowers and exotic plants are quite common. A less common sight was spotted recently under a potted tree at the Boca Grande Post […]

“Flower’s” Margot Shaw to talk about floral lifestyle

BY CATHERINE BALLMAN – Margot Shaw has an eye for living and decorating with flowers and it shows in her magazine, Flower. She also has an eye for opportunity. Ms. Shaw spied a need for a flower-focused publication to fill a niche between popular and trade magazines. In a recent blog-cast on “Design Chic,” she […]

Fred Rich presents his latest novel at Fust for Booknotes 2021

T MICHELE WALKER – The Johann Fust Library Foundation kicked off it’s Island Booknotes 2021 with a successful virtual livestream event on Thursday, February 11.  Featuring author Fred Rich, who spoke about his latest novel “Escape from Extinction: An Eco-Genetic Novel” the meticulously planned event went off without a hitch.  “The preparations for this program […]

Organizations turn to creativity in unusual season

BY SUSAN HANAFEE – Virtual speakers, open air musicals, art shows without the usual wine and cheese receptions, pop-up history tours in parking lots – all have been part of the creativity local not-for-profit organizations have exhibited in dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic. And the results have been gratifying for most organizations, as support and […]

PROFILE: Susan O’Brien

BY T MICHELE WALKER – It all started with a blank canvas; a blank canvas an estate built in 1670. “I’m from Sherborn, Massachusetts, where we lived for 35 years,” said Susan O’Brien, Boca Grande Garden Club president. “We lived on a farm that was built in 1670. It was wonderful. When I started out […]

Nationally-known designer Lucy Penfield on her way to Boca Grande

BY CATHERINE BALLMAN – The tagline “live colorfully” can be found on Lucy Penfield’s website. Poke around a bit on the site (lucyinteriordesign.com) and your eyes will be dazzled by color and enormous light. It would be a cheap trick to simply pop her into the whimsical category, despite the white Mongolian fur-covered bench pulled […]