Holiday Festivities at BMO Harris

By Don Manley

Marco Island’s Christmas spirit and its sense of community were in abundance at a recent gathering on a second-floor patio at The Esplanade Shoppes.

The occasion was the BMO Harris Bank Holiday Spectacular, which brought together residents, merchants, friends and family members and city officials for a festive evening one floor above the bank’s branch.

About 80 people attended the evening affair, where they enjoyed light refreshments, with music provided by D.J. Anthony DeLucia, AKA Steve Reynolds, a personal banker for BMO Harris’ Marco location.

“This was our first one, and it looks like a great

turnout,” said the branch’s manager, Rachel Schenk. “We decided to invite all of our clients and their friends and families and have just a nice holiday reception for them.”

Schenk said the return of Marco’s seasonal residents made this the perfect time for such an event.

Kirk Gardner, owner of the Mermaid Chaser charter boat business on Marco, said the evening’s balmy temperatures made it the, “Perfect night for a soiree.”

It was the involvement of Schenk and Marva Sutt, a team leader at the branch, that brought Gardner out to the event.

“What a great group of women,”

he said. “People in the community are always supporting each other. This whole island is like one big family, and they’re (Schenk and Sutt) always part of the giving. Every time something’s going on for somebody, they’re always there in a heartbeat. They support us, so I support them.”

Sherry Hoyo, administrative assistant for the Marco Island Police Department, was there on behalf of her husband’s business, Xcel Fitness Spa, located in the Shops of Marco.

“I wanted come out to do a little networking and give back to the community that we both live and work in,” said Hoyo.