Three Boca Grande businesses will celebrate centennial anniversaries in 2013: The Gasparilla Inn & Club, Palmetto Inn and the Railroad Depot.
The trio of milestones was touted Friday at the Boca Grande Area Chamber of Commerce annual meeting.
Lew Hastings, executive chamber director, also new board members for 2013: President Richy Edwards of Key Agency, Vice President Kevin Hyde of Michael Saunders and Co., Secretary Marcie Shortuse of the Boca Beacon and board members Chad Lach of Gasparilla Island State Park, Bart DeStefano of South Beach Bar & Grill, Alison Henderson of Englewood Bank & Trust and Julie Camp of Dolphin Cove/Pink Pony.
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The 2013 Boca Grande Area Chamber Board, from left: members Julie Camp of Dolphin Cove/Pink Pony, Alison Henderson of Englewood Bank & Trust, Secretary Marcie Shortuse of the Boca Beacon, member Chad Lach of Gasparilla Island State Park, Vice President Kevin Hyde of Michael Saunders and Co., President Richy Edwards of Key Agency and Lew Hastings, executive chamber director. Not shown: member Bart DeStefano of South Beach Bar & Grill.
Sisters Restaurant provided light refreshments and drinks at the annual meeting outside chamber offices on East Railroad Avenue.
Among chamber highlights:
$28,000 raised from the golf tournament provided 48 scholarships for students in Boca Grande, Englewood, Placida and Acardia.
Chamber membership up 16.5 percent from 2012.
Annual Christmas Walk participation increases.
Hasting said returning sponsorship of the World's Richest Tarpon Tournament to the Chamber of Commerce from The Boca Grande Fishing Guides Association has been a success. Guy Harvey Enterprises and Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation will again sponsor the 31st anniversary of the tournament in May.
