The Boca Banner: Building a Better Community Together

Index...
Panel................................pg 3

Boca Bargains................pg 5
(Printed Edition)

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

Publisher's Corner..........pg 7

Rumors............................pg 8
(Printed Edition)

Boca Seaplanes..............pg 9

McGee Baby.................pg 12

Art Alliance..................pg 13

Tree lighting.................pg 14

Cookin' with Lee...........pg 16
(Printed Edition)

FWC...............................pg 18
(Printed Edition)

Parties............................pg 19
(Printed Edition)

Reason for the Season ........................................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

By Linda Fudala-Tucker

The sky seemed blue enough, but sure enough, snow was falling on Wednesday. The Island School called for a "snow day," and hot chocolate and cookies were the order of the day. And if that weren’t enough, two very special guests came to call.

Misty eyes yet smiles of joy greeted Beverly Sutton, former head of the school. Parents and students were happy to see her. They were also happy to see "Santa Paws" a terrier named 'Buddy' adopted from the Suncoast Humane Society. Buddy was only too happy to get all the attention and seemed glad that it snowed.

BIPS Hires Sharon McKenzie to be Executive Director

By Linda Fudala-Tucker

Sharon McKenzie shown here pointing to a map of Cuba, will now be executive director for BIPS.

Known for her work as Director of Christian Education at the United Methodist Church, Sharon McKenzie will now use many of those skills in her new position as executive director for the Barrier Island Park Society starting Dec. 31.

BIPS President Pete Durno made the announcement through a press release on Tuesday.

A year-round resident, filling the role at United Methodist since 2001, she was especially active in

missionary trip organizing the church’ss to Cuba, including the alignment of 15 Florida churches with 15 Cuban sister churches. This summer, she and Jean Woods made their fifth trip there to conduct a summer Bible school among three churches, a first for the island nation.

Prior to 2001, she was employed by Federal Express for 11 years in various management posi-

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