- July 26, 2024
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Shelley and Gilly from Mote pose with Cora Cashin.
Photo by LESLEY DWYERKyle Tomko holds his nephew Mac Cashin as they meet Shelley the sea turtle.
Photo by LESLEY DWYERSienna Cashin fills out a raffle ticket as Cora Cashin grabs a candy cane.
Photo by LESLEY DWYERSam DiGiammarino Jr. manning the Longboat Key Turtle Watch booth.
Photo by LESLEY DWYERBetsy Kohl manning the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium booth.
Photo by LESLEY DWYERAn emergency Rotary store is set up in an old Kmart down in North Port, where these toys will be delivered.
Photo by LESLEY DWYERToys gathering for the Rotary Club's toy drive.
Photo by LESLEY DWYERRotary meets Kiwanis: Jack and Nancy "Santa" Rozance and Michael Garey.
Photo by LESLEY DWYERTerry Driver with John, Jack and Taffy Brill
Photo by LESLEY DWYERMichael Garey, Jim Larson, Lynn Larson and Chris Sachs
Photo by LESLEY DWYERThe Breglia family enjoys Light up Longboat.
Photo by LESLEY DWYERSanta takes a load off under the Christmas tree.
Photo by LESLEY DWYERBrad Marner spins Patti Mae Bosco.
Photo by LESLEY DWYER95 and 99 year-old sisters Barbara Lancia and Penny Williams. Lancia is visiting from Rhode Island.
Photo by LESLEY DWYERHarrison Heacock, Gilly and Betsy Kohl
Photo by LESLEY DWYERJim and Virginia Craig with Robin, David, Austin and Addison Portman
Photo by LESLEY DWYERThe Christmas tree is lit in the Town Center Green.
Photo by LESLEY DWYEREach year, the lights get a little taller with the oak tree.
Photo by LESLEY DWYERTown Center Green is packed with elves for Light up Longboat Saturday night.
Photo by LESLEY DWYERSusan Phillips and Kathleen Wingate give away poinsettas at the Gardening Club booth.
Photo by LESLEY DWYERMayor Ken Schneier greets the crowd and offers an update on the Town Center Green.
Photo by LESLEY DWYERJoanne and Larry Wilhelm get in the Christmas spirit.
Photo by LESLEY DWYERCelia Moore, Reva Jackson and Debbie Shaffer
Photo by LESLEY DWYERCarol Peschel, Dorothy Peschel and Irina LaRose
Photo by LESLEY DWYER10-yeor-old Luca Virgin helps his dad, and CEO of Save Our Seabirds, Aaron Virgin.
Photo by LESLEY DWYERThe Rotary Club of Longboat Key collects toys for vicitms of Hurricane Ian.
Photo by LESLEY DWYERSanta asks BJ Bishop what she'd like for Christmas this year.
Photo by LESLEY DWYERGilly, Santa and Shelley. Rotary's Nancy Rozance plays Santa for the evening.
Photo by LESLEY DWYERGeneral manager of Casa Del Mar Mark Meador with his wife Donna.
Photo by LESLEY DWYERCallen and Taryn Finnigan
Photo by LESLEY DWYERDonna and Mark Meador under the lights they help to set up each year.
Photo by LESLEY DWYERThe Town Center Green was shoulder to shoulder with holiday spirit Saturday night for the annual Christmas tree lighting.
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.
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.
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.
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.