Florida’s Creative Coast Weekends will continue
To the editor:
This letter is to address Florida’s Creative Coast weekends. This month we have had several customers indicate that a member of the recently formed Matlacha Island Chamber of Commerce has told them that this event no longer exists and has not for some time. While we respect the formation of this new organization and commend them for their promotion of Matlacha, they do not speak for the entire Matlacha business community.
We have been a merchant here in Matlacha for nearly four years. During this time, Florida’s Creative Coast Weekend, previously known as “Art Night,” has always been part of this business community. While the new organization may not agree, Florida’s Creative Coast Weekend is still an event that happens here in Matlacha. Several Matlacha merchants actively participate in extended hours and activities the second weekend of every month through April. During these weekends, local authors, jewelry makers and artists can be found demonstrating their techniques and displaying their work at several businesses.
The following is a list of a few of the participating businesses, their owners and the year in which they started business in Matlacha: Trader’s Hitching Post, Cindee and Jerry Tolliver since 1981; Wildchild Gallery, Peggy McTeague since 1998; Bert’s Pine Bay Gallery, Manager Deborah Cole since 2002; Elena’s, Elena R. Holmes since 2002 and Island Visions Gallery & Gifts, Steve and Lisa Timcak since 2007.
We all want to thank you for your business and hope to see you in February for the next Creative Coast Weekend.
Sincerely,
Linda Kay and Larry Solinger
Matlacha Menagerie