Christmas

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe calls its holiday offering their Christmas card to the community. This year, WBTT returns “A Motown Christmas” to the Donelly Theatre stage.

NEW YORK — With Christmas right around the corner, you might want to check the list of what stores are open (and closed) twice.From retail to grocery chains, many companies across the U.S. close early on Christmas Eve and shut their doors entirely on Christmas Day — while others opt to cut back hours. But there’s also a handful of businesses that stay open on the holiday.

The documentary unit for WGCU has been interviewing Sanibel residents for a new program coming out next year. Recently, they interviewed Kenneth and Eugene Gavin, who grew up on Sanibel Island and are now in their early 80s. Their grandparents were among the first Black families to settle on Sanibel. Kenneth Gavin described how their grandparents chose the island.

The Charlotte County Sheriff's Office is celebrating its 20th year of Shop With A Cop in Charlotte County with two weeks of activities. The program began in 2004 in the wake of Hurricane Charley's destruction.

The 35th Annual Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce Christmas Boat Parade took to the waters to kick off the holiday season after having to cancel last year due to Hurricane Ian.

On Wednesday, a group of “elves” from Florida Power and Light Company teamed up with the Florida National Guard to help make the holidays for a U.S. Army veteran in Port Charlotte and her five-year-old son a little brighter.

The Singing Cowboy, Gene Autry, wrote and sang the original version of Our Song of the Day, “Here Comes Santa Claus. It was released October 6, 1947.

On Monday a group of about 30 Florida Power & Light employees, friends and neighbors donated their time of decorate the Port Charlotte home of Leah and Justin Hessinger and their children, Faith, 14, and Carter, 5.

With Christmas just days away, family and togetherness are prominent themes and thoughts on the minds of many as they prepare to celebrate the holiday.…