Annual Holiday House on Pine Island opens
The Beacon of H.O.P.E.’s annual Holiday House at the Tarpon Lodge on Pine Island, which officially opened Thursday with Family Night — and the arrival of Santa Claus. The special festival continues tonight and Saturday.
“One thing we want to emphasize this year are the table top trees,” Beacon of H.O.P.E. president Elsie Stearns said concerning the event. “These trees will be auctioned off to the highest bidder.”
This year Holiday House has trees decorated by Barnhill Fisheries, author John Mills, Tow Boat US, SP Designs, Island Girl Fitness, Raymond James, Bobby Holloway Jr. Memorial, PI Pizza, Olde Fish House, JP Sports, Matlacha Wellness, Pam & Christine Hair/Nail Designs, Royal Tee Golf Course and Chico’s White House/Black Market.
The Chico’s tree includes jewelry and gift certificates for its stores.
The event will continue tonight, Dec. 4, and Saturday, Dec. 5, from 5:30-9:30 p.m.
“Once again we will auction off our ‘artists tree’,” Stearns said. “This tree gives us an opportunity to show off the incredible talent of our local artists. The tree has over 200 hand-painted ornaments from our local artists. The Matlacha Art Association provided all the materials and decorated the balls. This is a ‘home-grown’ one-of-a-kind tree that was very successful last year and will once again be auctioned off!”
Nan Patterson, owner of Island Time Fashions and Gifts, is busy preparing for her second year of participating at the Beacon of H.O.P.E.s Holiday House.
“We have some new and exciting ideas for this year’s Holiday House,” Patterson said. “This year we will be located in the Captiva Room just off the back of the old lodge section near the bar. Of course we cant bring the whole shop to the lodge but we found a unique and fun way to feature some special holiday items in fashion and gifts.”
In the Captiva Room, visitors will find Anita Skinner, Island Times jewelry designer, displaying and selling some of her one-of-a-kind art jewelry. There is something for everyone’s taste and price range.
Her work includes simple nautical earrings to beautifully crafted pearls and sterling silver pieces that will enhance any woman’s wardrobe.
Thursday evenings featured author was D.L. Havlin, the author of “Blue Water Red Blood,” “Cross on Cotton Creek,” “September on Echo Creek” and the recently released “Bully Route Home.” To-night’s guest authors are Gretchen Coyle and Deborah Whit-craft. Coyle and Whitcraft wrote “In-ferno at Sea The Morro Castle.” Satur-day’s guest author is John Mills, author of “The Hooker, the Dancer and the Nun.”
Vendors at the event include CW Fudge’s Chocolate Candyland, Mullethead Outpost featuring Mel Meo and Brian Darby, Sanibel Soul Jewelry, Friends of the Beacon Specialty Shop, Island Time Fashions, wood carver Dan Fischer and Reel Chase.