Dr. David Hayes and his wife, Patty, were the winners of a sunset cruise aboard the Hilarium, a vessel owned by Peter and Ginny Nicholas, and they took advantage of that cruise on March 14 with 16 other couples.

The trip was originally won during an auction at the Boca Grande Woman’s Club Black and White Ball. As a result of events like the Black and White Ball, the Woman’s Club was able to offer 25 scholarships this year, and was also able to support numerous other not-for-profit organizations on the island.

The Hayes’, the Nicholas’ and their 32 generous guests were treated to a Greek-themed gourmet dinner in a setting that included plenty of libations, Greek music and a fabulous sunset.

Left ro right are Pat and Maribeth Cunningham, Lee and Lindsay Major, Bob and Barb Ryan, Sally Allgyer, Bill and Tina Colehower, Denny and Melanie Sullivan, Chuck and Sandy Hemm, Chrys and Doug Hyde, Carolyn and Ray Castelluccio, Brian and Sig Corcoran, Esther Jensen and Connie Schwartzendruber, Sabrina and Ed Wotitzky, Bob Allgyer, Diane and Bill Johnson, Cookie and Bruce Creger, James and Almeda Wallbridge. Patty and David are seated, H and Gail Wetzel were the photographers who also were on the trip.

Dear Editor,

Citizens is inspecting just about every home in the state. Citizens, the State Run Insurance carrier writes most of the Windstorm Coverage along the coast. If you haven’t been called to schedule an appointment for an inspection you most likely will.

Here are some tips so you can be ready for your inspection.

1. If possible your agent should be present. The inspectors can sometimes be lazy and they will not go out of their way to access your attic. They are not allowed to unscrew or pull nails out of hatches.
2. If your agent can’t be there your contractor could be helpful.
3. If you have plans for the home or bills, invoices or proposals from your roofer showing the details of your roof it can be a great help. Also any information you have on your Hurricane Shutters or Impact windows should be available.

If the Inspector cannot get into your attic to see your hurricane Clips or the nailing pattern of your roof deck you probably will lose all your Mitigation Credits unless your plans show these things.

It could cost you thousands if you lose some of your valuable credits.
 
Nat Italiano
Italiano Insurance Services, Inc.
Boca Grande

The Boca Grande Garden Club held its annual garden tour on Wednesday, and visited three gardens designed by Mary Ellen Flanagan as well as two other incredibly different gardens in Boca Grande. 

The gardens by Mary Ellen were the Hamilton Garden and the Chapman Garden, which are both located in the historic district, and the Walbridge Garden on Shore Lane. They all featured many native plants and included a number of flowering plants. In addition, they all had interesting and unique places to sit and relax among the plantings. All were low maintenance, especially the Walbridge garden on the Gulf, which had artificial turf that was so realistic members had to keep touching it to make sure it was not real grass!  

BY LIZA STROUT - Dept. Dave Kardys spent his childhood looking up to his police officer father, so no one was surprised when he attended police academy and became an officer himself.

The new Lee County Deputy spent 25 years as an officer in the Hartford, Conn. police force before retiring in 2007 and moving to Florida.

To the Editor:

Last week the Beacon published a letter from Cookie Potter Feinberg discussing GIBA’s decision to send out an opinion survey regarding possible ad-valorem taxes levied to support the financing of our new bridges.  

In the letter she claims “there was one very important detail missing” with respect to the tax, misquoting the “bond specialist” in saying “the tax needs to be in effect for 30 years … even if the bonds are paid off before that time.”

To the Editor:

The opinion survey distributed by GIBA asking for a preferred split between taxes and tolls to finance the bridge replacement reflects the bias of a board which favors taxation. Voters who believe that users of the bridge should pay for the bridge based solely on their usage had to say NO to both the .30 and .55 mil options. There was no line to indicate the respondent’s preference for a zero mil tax increase, even though that is an option discussed in GIBA’s accompanying letter and chart.  Hopefully in November the ballot can be made clearer.