The Boca Banner: Building a Better Community Together

Celebrating A Year Of Publication - First Edition 1-14-05

The Internet Edition- Vol. 2 Issue 1 January 13, 2006

The Dishong-Teacherage buildings get upgraded landscaping Wednesday in time for Saturday's ribbon cutting ceremony marking the completion of the $1.3 million renovation.

The Friends of the Boca Grande Community Center are marking their 20th anniversary of service. The center serves all residents of the island.

Index...
David Howell..........pg 3

Ron Hart...............pg 6

Anniversary...........pg 7

The Italian Job.......pg 9

Wini Smart..........pg 12

Vicar...................pg 14

Building Fire........pg 16 (Printed Edition)

Review................pg 17

Gorski House......pg 18

Reception............pg 19

The Donald...........pg 20

Boca Banner Website

The Boca Banner is on the internet. There are new links to weather and tide charts. Current news and photos. Links to Boca Grande's Real Estate leaders. Keep watching the site grow.

Its www.thebocabanner.com . The redesigned site is maintained by JD Web Design. of Port Charlotte Florida

Gulf Coast Preservation society
To preserve and protect the Gulf of Mexico by disseminating information and providing vital research necessary to finding solutions to environmental issues in order to maintain a healthy ecosystem in the Gulf of Mexico.

Local Links

The Worlds Richest Tarpon Tournament

Gasparilla Island (Port Boca Grande) Lighthouse

Boca Grande Fishing Guides Association

Gasparilla Island State Park

The Boca Grande
Historical Society

Boca Grande Area
Chamber of Commerce

Local Official Resource

Event Celebrates Joint Efforts of Lee
County and Community
Friends of the Community Center Mark 20 Years
By Linda Fudala-Tucker

This Saturday a celebration of historic proportions will mark the completion of two historic structures and the 20th anniversary of the Friends of the Boca Grande Community Center.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Dishong-Bowen and Teacherage Historic Houses will be at 11:30 a.m., followed by a 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Friends of the Community Center. Lee County Commissioner Bob Janes is expected to be on hand to serve as master of ceremonies. He'll be joined by representatives of the island's groups served by the county facility - Art Alliance, Historical Society, Woman's Club, Fire Control District, Gasparilla Island Conservation and Improvement Association, and the Lee County Historic Preservation Board.

Friends History
"Twenty years ago a group of inspired Boca Grande residents decided to form the Friends of Boca Grande Community Center, a nonprofit organization whose mission was to encourage both volunteer efforts and their financial contributions to help Lee County enhance program offerings and improve facilities and equipment available at our early Cornmunity Center. Dee Wheeler, who was hired by Lee County to open the Center in 1975, presented the idea to Nina Houghton who became one of the Friends founders. Who would have believed back then that the Friends organization would contribute over $ 2 million during the next twenty years to help make our Center what we enjoy today in so many ways?" writes Friends president Lyman Randall, in

the group's first issue of the Community Communicator newsletter.

Historic Renovation
Cost of the renovation of the two facilities cost $1.3 million, according to a Lee County press release which included the background on each of the buildings that provide a "home" for three island groups - Historical Society, Boca Bargains, and Art Alliance (see page 12).

Dishong - Bowen and Teacherage Historic Houses
Originally built circa 1930 at 340 E. Railroad Avenue by early Boca Grande residents, the Dishong-Bowen House is a contributing structure to the Boca Grande Historic District that

Continued On Page 8

Education the Key to "The Dragons of Gasparilla"

By Jim Tucker

The packed Community Center auditorium Wednesday night heard Lori Williams, Executive Director of the National Invasive Species Council, describe what defines an "invasive species" and how governments at all levels can coordinate efforts to eliminate or control them. She gave a comprehensive overview of the invasive species problem nationally and described the growing cooperation between governments

at several levels to help communities solve local problems.

Her agency's efforts are relatively new on the national level. The numbers she presented included an estimated economic cost to the nation of $137 billion annually. That focused everyone's attention on the scope of the problem nationally. The NISC emphasizes "early detection/ rapid response" and prevention by

Continued On Page 8

Lee County Commissioner Bob Janes and Charlotte County Commissioner Tom Moore discuss future cooperation on the iguana problem at Wednesday's GICIA meeting.

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