The festival will officially begin on Wednesday, Feb. 23 with the following line-up: 10 a.m., Luzzu; 1 p.m., On Broadway; 3:30 p.m., Quo Vadis, Aida; 7 p.m., The Rescue (In-person only).
On Thursday, Feb. 24 films include:
10 a.m., Last Film Show (In-person only); 1 p.m., Hit The Road; 3:30 p.m., Playing With Sharks; 7 p.m., SECRET SCREENING (In-person only).
On Friday, Feb. 25 viewings include: 10 a.m., My Donkey, My Lover & I; 1 p.m., Imperfect.
Eleanor Aherne was the wife of the stage and movie actor, Brian Aherne. Kelli remembers movie posters from Brian’s movies on the walls of the house and a sign on one of the bedroom doors that said “We don’t rent to thespians,” proving that Brian like Eleanor had a sense of humor. Kelli has also seen a photo of the couple in bed where Eleanor has a lampshade on her head. While Brian died before Kelli met Eleanor, she has heard that he was very British and formal but that the couple held hands as they walked in Boca Grande.
Coral reefs cover less than one percent of the ocean floor but support about 25 percent of marine life. However, coral reefs worldwide are declining due to climate change, including increasing temperatures and ocean acidification, along with coral disease, pollution, overfishing and other stressors.
Florida’s Coral Reef, which stretches approximately 350 miles from the Dry Tortugas to the St. Lucie Inlet, provides more than an $8 billion economic impact, attracting visitors, protecting coastlines from major storms, and supporting diverse life, including fisheries.
Young Life is a nonprofit organization that steps into the lives of teenagers with the mission of developing mentoring relationships and introducing them to who Jesus is. Regardless of their response, Young Life staff and volunteers continue to walk through life with them.
Why? Teenagers need hope and more adults that care. They are experiencing life much differently than 10, 30 or 50 years ago. Parents feel distant, stress levels are high, anxiety and depression are on the rise and social media adds even more pressure.
So how do we do it? First, by praying and stepping into their world. As a Young Life staffer, it’s been a joy to step into the public schools, Lemon Bay High, L.A. Ainger Middle, Sky Academy, and meet students. Thanks to the support of our local schools, Young Life is able to visit regularly, and be a listening ear to students. We also get to cheer them on at their soccer games, theater plays and more.
That’s how the Kate Leigh Mother-Daughter Resort Wear line was born.
“This line is inspired by our love for this island and our passion for raising funds for breast cancer. I have always believed that you should follow your heart and dream big. Kate and I have reached for the stars and took a leap of faith to follow our dream of creating our very own mother-daughter resort wear line. Our collection is made with love and manufactured in our very own U.S.A.”
Kate Leigh is a brand that celebrates women and girls, but especially mothers and daughters.
“Working on the development of this brand and custom prints allows the legacy of my late mother, whose nickname with close friends and family was ‘Penny,’ to shine through and make all of us feel magical.”
The celebration of life service for Ann Barry-Fitzgerald will be held Saturday, Feb. 19 at 11 a.m. at the Lighthouse United Methodist Church of Boca Grande.Anan passed away on November 6, 2021.
Born and raised in Connecticut, later moving to Berwyn, Pennsylvania with her husband Dan, Sharon learned how to play tennis at the local YMCA, where she taught aerobics classes.
“I started playing tennis when I was 27. I worked at the local YMCA, so I got free babysitting for my children. They came with me because they were zero and two years old at the time. I also got free classes, so I got to take tennis. I had never picked up a racket, but I thought it would be kind of fun. I fell in love with the game.”
Sharon met her husband, Dan, at Denison University in Ohio. After graduation, they traveled through Europe.
“When we came back, we said whoever gets a job first, the other will move to that area. Dan found a job in Berwyn, so I moved here, and we’ve been there ever since.
“My son Charlie works for a catering company in Orlando, and he loves it,” she said. “My daughter Laine works in Manhattan, but due to the pandemic, she decided to stop paying rent because she could never go to her job. Now she’s a nomad, spending a few weeks in Boston and here in Boca Grande. She says that it’s been the best thing ever for her. She was paying so much money in rent, and now she can live anywhere.”
To the Editor: I wish to thank the community for the outpouring of love and compassion after the passing of my dear Penny, the Island Dog Boutique shop mascot. Thank you for the hugs, cards, calls and texts, food, pictures, the plants and trees in her honor and so much more. She touched everyone who […]
On behalf of Boca Grande Woman’s Club, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to our island community for its magnanimous support of our annual fundraiser. When it was determined that gathering in a tent for “A Grande Gatsby Affaire” was not in the best interest of our community, we proceeded with a virtual auction. Most of our generous ticket holders converted these purchases to donations. Many island businesses and residents donated unique items and experiences to the auction. Other altruistic Boca Grande residents provided sponsorships and donations.
An age-old debate among fans of both sports is whether golf or tennis is the more enjoyable game. Both have experienced strong, double-digit growth in recent years. There are those who love to play tennis and others who enjoy the game of golf. Then there are those who spend a lot of their free time playing both sports.
Islander Bill Bax is a mid-handicapper who plays golf at Coral Creek Club and tennis at the Boca Bay Pass Club. He did not start playing either sport regularly until he finished college, took a job and started entertaining clients. “I can play golf a lot better now than I ever did before, but I don’t put in the short-game practice required to be a low-handicapper,” Bax admitted. “I am more proficient at tennis because of my consistency and athleticism. I can make all the shots in golf, but never on the same day.”
