CIHS to present documentary on area families
The Captiva Island Historical Society (CIHS) is taking reservations for its free film event.
The CIHS will host the Cart-In Movie Night on March 3 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the parking lot of McCarthy’s Marina on Captiva. The film will be “Family Pictures USA: Southwest Florida.”
“Our mission is to share Captiva and Southwest Florida’s history,” CIHS Board President Tom Libonate said, noting that the screening also aims to give people a chance to get together.
“Especially this year, we felt that is was very important to create a sense of normalcy by bringing the community together after what the community has been through, what islanders have been through,” he said, referring to the hurricanes last year. “And our outdoor movies are always a very popular event.”
Provided courtesy of the local WGCU, NPR and PBS, the documentary gives a heart-warming look at some of the family histories of Southwest Florida’s ranchers, Native Americans and migrant workers.
“It’s about people,” Libonate said of the film. “It’s about the families that have been here for generations, from all different backgrounds.”
He reported that the CIHS picked the movie partly because it felt that this season is about people.
“We felt that it was a really nice story talking about families and the variety of families over our history that have populated the area,” Libonate said. “Families that have been here for a long long time.”
Tying into the theme of Southwest Florida’s longtime families, there will be a special speaker.
Kathryn Kelly, president, chief executive officer and founder of The Heights Foundation, is a fifth generation Floridian whose family were pioneers of Chokoloskee Island. The family migrated to Fort Myers in the 1920s, and her father was a potato farmer in the Iona area. She was born and raised on Kelly Road in Fort Myers.
“She’s going to give her own family insights,” he said.
Attendees can come by golf cart or bring a chair.
“For those who come by cart, it’s more like a drive-in movie,” Libonate said.
“Bring your own refreshments,” he added. “Whatever you feel like snacking on.”
The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company is the CIHS’ season sponsor.
“And always a big thank you to McCarthy’s Marina and Captiva Cruises, who are continually generous to us by providing us the resources, the parking lot, to do events like this,” Libonate said.
The rain date for the event is March 5.
“Check the weather before you come out,” he said, noting that two events were already postponed.
While the screening is free, reservations are requested.
The community is invited to reserve a seat.
“It’s a great movie,” Libonate said. “It’s a good time for folks to be with their island neighbors.”
For reservations or more information, visit http://www.captivaislandhistoricalsociety.org/ or call the CIHS office at 239-472-2323.
McCarthy’s Marina is at 11401 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva.
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IF YOU GO
What
Cart-In Movie Night
When
March 3 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Where
McCarthy’s Marina, 11401 Andy Rosse Lane, Captiva.
Details
Free to public, but RSVPs requested