One of the biggest bones of contention, however, was not either of those things, but rather something that sits on the property of the big house. The Whispering Bench, created by Louise du Pont Crowninshield in the early 1900s, sits next to The Promenade and has been recognized by some as one of the last vestiges of the original Crowninshield property that once stood there, aside from the home next door that was Frank Crowninshield’s art studio and the pool and pool house at the corner of 1st Street and Gilchrist. 

Friends of Boca Grande invited Bren Smith to share stories from his book, “Eat Like a Fish,” detailing his bold vision for the future at the Community Center on Wednesday, April 19 at 4:30 p.m. Bren will show how we can transform current agriculture models while enjoying delicious, nutritious, locally grown food, not to mention how restorative ocean farming could create millions of jobs and protect our planet from the causes and effects of climate change. To learn about Bren Smith in advance of his lecture, please plan to join him the night before for a kelp inspired seafood dinner prepared by the chefs at the Eagle Grille on Tuesday, April 18, 5:30 p.m.