Rotary meets Kiwanis: Jack and Nancy "Santa" Rozance and Michael Garey.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Longboat Key
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The Town Center Green was shoulder to shoulder with holiday spirit Saturday night for the annual Christmas tree lighting.Â
The general manager at Casa Del Mar, Mark Meador, strings the lights each year. But as the oak tree grows, so does the job. He used his landscaping crew this year to get 4,000 feet of lights wrapped around the branches.Â
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium mascots, Gilly the shark and Shelley the sea turtle, roamed through the crowd taking pictures. Of course, Santa stopped by too.Â
Rotary Club’s Nancy Rozance loves playing Santa each year. Her husband Jack even bought her new black boots with white trim for her 2022 season. Rozance notes that Light up Longboat is the only time of the year you’ll see so many children gathered together on Longboat Key.Â
With attendees ranging from nine months to 99 years old, it’s an event for all ages. Toddlers and seniors donned Santa hats, antlers and anything else that could light up. The Town Center Green glowed with holiday glee. Â
Shelley and Gilly from Mote pose with Cora Cashin.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Kyle Tomko holds his nephew Mac Cashin as they meet Shelley the sea turtle.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Sienna Cashin fills out a raffle ticket as Cora Cashin grabs a candy cane.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Sam DiGiammarino Jr. manning the Longboat Key Turtle Watch booth.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Betsy Kohl manning the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium booth.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
An emergency Rotary store is set up in an old Kmart down in North Port, where these toys will be delivered.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Toys gathering for the Rotary Club's toy drive.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Rotary meets Kiwanis: Jack and Nancy "Santa" Rozance and Michael Garey.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Terry Driver with John, Jack and Taffy Brill
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Michael Garey, Jim Larson, Lynn Larson and Chris Sachs
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
The Breglia family enjoys Light up Longboat.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Santa takes a load off under the Christmas tree.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Brad Marner spins Patti Mae Bosco.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
95 and 99 year-old sisters Barbara Lancia and Penny Williams. Lancia is visiting from Rhode Island.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Harrison Heacock, Gilly and Betsy Kohl
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Jim and Virginia Craig with Robin, David, Austin and Addison Portman
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
The Christmas tree is lit in the Town Center Green.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Each year, the lights get a little taller with the oak tree.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Town Center Green is packed with elves for Light up Longboat Saturday night.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Susan Phillips and Kathleen Wingate give away poinsettas at the Gardening Club booth.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Mayor Ken Schneier greets the crowd and offers an update on the Town Center Green.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Joanne and Larry Wilhelm get in the Christmas spirit.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Celia Moore, Reva Jackson and Debbie Shaffer
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Carol Peschel, Dorothy Peschel and Irina LaRose
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
10-yeor-old Luca Virgin helps his dad, and CEO of Save Our Seabirds, Aaron Virgin.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
The Rotary Club of Longboat Key collects toys for vicitms of Hurricane Ian.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Santa asks BJ Bishop what she'd like for Christmas this year.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Gilly, Santa and Shelley. Rotary's Nancy Rozance plays Santa for the evening.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
General manager of Casa Del Mar Mark Meador with his wife Donna.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Callen and Taryn Finnigan
Photo by LESLEY DWYER
Donna and Mark Meador under the lights they help to set up each year.
Lesley Dwyer is a staff writer for East County and a graduate of the University of South Florida. After earning a bachelor’s degree in professional and technical writing, she freelanced for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Lesley has lived in the Sarasota area for over 25 years.
