A card of thanks from Sanibel Uncorked
To the editor:
The 2014 Food and Wine Festival was an outstanding success, held by the Sanibel-Captiva Optimist Club, at Lily & Co., Jewelers.
Lily & Co. (co-host) and Bailey’s General Store and Catering are Student Enrichment Supporters. Many thanks are due to Dan Schuyler, Karen Bell, and all the wonderful people at Lily’s for sharing their day off, and also to Richard Johnson of Bailey’s General Store and their staff of chefs and servers.
The catering sponsors were Sanibel-Captiva Community Bank, Rochester Resorts, and Bailey’s Catering. Safety Officer and Vintage supporters were Tammie’s Total Care, Barrier Island Title Services, Inc., ‘Tween Waters Inn, Sanctuary Golf Club and Nu Way Concrete Forms, Inc.
Table sponsors were Enchanted Ballroom Sanibel, Island Scene, Douglas and Sherry Gentry, T-Shirt Hut, Casa Ybel Resort, YOLO Watersports, Inc., George & Wendy’s Sanibel Seafood Grille, Island Insurance, Island Management, Dave and Donna Edwards and John F Jones.
Thanks are also due to the following who provided support in many ways: Big Red Quick Print, Blueash Media, Hillgate Communications, Quebbie Music System, Island Sun Newspaper, Island Graphics, Southern Wine & Spirits of South Florida, Johnson Brothers Liquor Co. of Florida, Bailey’s Liquor Department and Rachel, Islander/Breeze Newspapers, The Valet Parking Team, all the Optimist Club volunteers and all our guests.
Cooking demonstrations were performed by Island Celebrities: Chef Karl Hamme and his amazing wife, Chef JT, Timber’s Chef Matt Asen, and Island BBQ’s Chef James.
The following provided generous donations and/or items for the silent auction: Timbers’ Chef Teh, Enchanted Ballroom, Broadway Palm Theater, BIG ARTS Strauss Theater, SW Florida Symphony, Florida Repertory Theatre, Island Cinema Extravaganza, Sanctuary Golf Club, Dunes Golf & Tennis Club, Shell Point Golf Club, Sanibel Inn, West Wind Inn,
South Seas Island Resort, Island Inn, She Sells Sea Shells, Marit Hansen Mouchou & OYA, Mon Reve Lawn Care, Inc., Offshore Sailing School, author Charles Sobczak, Sanibel Island Golf & Tennis Club, Jensen’s Cottages & Marina, Captain Steve Kreter, pilot Michael Macray, Pirate Cruise on Pieces of Eight , Ace Performer , Key West Express, Billy’s Rentals, John Grey Painting, Sanibel Double D. Taxi, Amy Cason and Cason Photography, The Jacaranda Restaurant, Zebra Frozen Yogurt, Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille, Island Pizza, Over Easy Caf, Island Paws, The Bubble Room, Blue Coyote Supper Club, Sanibel Shell Service Station, artist Bobby Dune, and Floral Artistry.
A number of wine distributers brought a variety of wines to try. Canaps were prepared and served by Bailey’s Catering Services. Incidental music was provided by Frans Kox with Quebbie.
Many thanks to all the generous folks who bought entry donation tickets. Additional thanks go out to anyone we missed: thank you!
Donated funds made it possible for the Optimists to maintain one of six four-year college scholarships to replace one vacated by a graduating recipient. This special one is dedicated to the memory of Sam and Francis Bailey and was announced at the festival to all attendees. Richard Johnson said how much the dedication meant to the Bailey Family and how pleased they were to support continuing education. Funds also helped the Optimist’s Junior Anglers summer fishing adventures and an archery group (through the Recreation Center), to sponsor a kids’ summer basketball league (also through the Recreation Center), and to continue a number of other charitable endeavors for kids.
Plan on coming next year and joining the fun. The date and time will be announced later in the year.
-Sanibel-Captiva Optimist Club