Of Special Note (10/14/15)

By Staff | Oct 14, 2015

Auxiliary to collect coupons, Box Tops

The Lehigh Acres American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 323, is collecting manufacturers’ coupons. The coupons are sent to commissaries overseas to help servicemen and service women over there.

It is also collecting Box Tops for Education. They are given to the schools in Lehigh Acres to help them obtain items that they may not be able to get otherwise.

There is a collection box located inside the side entrance to the post, at 1124 Ashlar Ave. Include your name and address, so the post can send out a thank you note.

‘Million Dollar Quarter’ now showing

The Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre presents “Million Dollar Quarter” now through Nov. 21.

The Tony award-winning musical is inspired by the electrifying true story when four rock ‘n’ roll icons came together as a red-hot band for one night.

Performances are Wednesday through Sunday evenings with selected matinees. Beginning Oct. 27, they are Tuesday through Sunday with selected matinees.

Ticket prices range from $39 to $62, with group discounts available for parties of 20 or more.

They can be reserved by calling (239) 278-4422, by visiting: www.BroadwayPalm.com or by stopping by the box office at 1380 Colonial Blvd. in Fort Myers.

ACS Relay For Life of Lehigh to hold kickoff

The American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Lehigh will hold a kickoff on Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Veterans Park Academy of the Arts, at 49 S. Homestead Road.

The program will highlight how the community has benefited from funds raised and will honor cancer survivors and caregivers.

Free and open to the public.

Speakers will include a local cancer survivor and more.

Attendees will have the opportunity to register a team for the Relay For Life, which will be held on April 16 at the academy.

Last year, 288 people participated in the Relay For Life of Lehigh and raised over $48,000.

For information, contact Lisa Dodd at (239) 980-0946 or relayforlifelehigh@gmail.com, or visit: relayforlife.org/lehighfl.

Annual Celebrate Safe Communities Walk set

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office will host its 5th Annual Celebrate Safe Communities Walk on Oct. 15 at 6 p.m. at the substation, at 1301 N. Homestead Road.

The walk is in recognition of Crime Prevention Month, a national program aimed at fostering the bond of trust and cooperation between citizens and police.

To start a Neighborhood Watch program or have a crime prevention specialist conduct a free residential security survey, contact the LCSO at (239) 258-3280.

Edible Gardening Exchange to meet

The Edible Gardening Exchange will meet on Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the North Fort Myers Community Center, at 2000 N. Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers; informal chat at 5:30 p.m.

Karen Harty, with Grow A Gardener, will discuss vegetable gardening in containers.

Membership through March is $10, plus a $10 Lee Parks and Recreation lifetime membership.

Bring a cup for free coffee and tea; consider bringing something to share with other gardeners.

For information, contact Karen Harty at (610)?530-8883.

Autism screening available for families

The Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southwest Florida will offer a free autism spectrum disorder screening for children ages 18 months to 5 years old.

Held on the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, it will take place on Oct. 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the East Lee County Regional Library, at 881 Gunnery Road.

The screenings are administered by an advanced registered nurse practitioner, who has extensive training and experience in typical child development and developmental disorders.

A physician referral is not required. To schedule a screening, call (239) 343-6838.

General Woman’s Club to host Game Day

The General Woman’s Club will host its annual Game Day on Oct. 17 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Sweatlock Hall at Faith Lutheran Church, at 705 E. Leeland Heights Blvd.

It will feature cards, games, 50/50 drawing and a raffle, as well as lunch.

The event benefits the Annual Scholarship Awards Program.

Tickets are a donation of $7; they can be purchased at the Oct. 16 meeting or by contacting Sue Thompson at (239) 369-4807.

Gulf Coast Writers announce speaker

The Gulf Coast Writers Association will meet on Oct. 17 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Zion Lutheran Church, at 7401 Winkler Road, Fort Myers.

Speaker Robert S. McCarthy will talk about freewriting and the critique group process.

Members and first-time visitors are free of charge; guests are $5.

For information, call (239) 247-4515 or visit: www.gulfwriters.org.

Writers cruise planned

The Gulf Coast Writers Association will host a Bahamas cruise for writers on April 8-11 on the Majesty of the Seas.

It will be an opportunity for writers of all genres and abilities to hone their skills, network and learn from Kim Weitkamp, a national award-winning humorist, author, storyteller and speaker.

Deposits due by Oct. 19; the deposit is refundable until Jan. 15.

Information is available at: gulfwriters.org, or through Jennifer Christiansen at (239) 433-5083, (239) 297-4400 or jennifer.christiansen@cruiseplanners.com.

For separate workshop reservations, contact Alice Oldford at aoldford@yahoo.com.

Lehigh Democratic Club to talk on environment

The Lehigh Democratic Club will meet on Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m. at the Veterans Park Recreation Center, at 55 S. Homestead Road.

Speaker Mike Bonacolta will talk about GS 10, a project by the Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District to divert water from the Caloosahatchee into the marshy areas of Lehigh to clean it before it returns to the river and flows to the Gulf.

Solar electricity and the two dueling amendments that will appear on the November 2016 ballot will also be discussed.

Open to the public.

For information, contact Will Bronson at (239) 940-6080.

Garden workshops set

Karen Harty, a master gardener with Grow A Gardener, will present the following workshops:

– Oct. 31: Organic controls for the home gardener from 10 a.m. to noon at the Southwest Florida Enterprise Center, 3903 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Suite 8, Fort Myers. Fee of $25 includes a pest/disease control guide, making of yellow sticky traps and take-home personalized spray mix.

– Nov. 7: Issues with vegetable gardening in South Florida from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Hendry County Extension Office, Dallas B Townsend Agricultural Center, at 1085 Pratt Blvd., Labelle. Fee of $15 includes handouts and seeds, plus contacts to obtain free or low-cost soil testing, plant identification and insect identification.

Walk-ins accepted, but advance registration is recommended.

For information or to register, call (610) 530-8883, email GrowAGardener@gmail.com or visit: www.GrowAGardener.org.

Artist of the Month named

Becca Pratt is the Artist of the Month for October at the Arts of the Inland gallery in the cafe at Lehigh Regional Medical Center, 1500 Lee Blvd.

Stop in and view her artwork Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Pratt is also the AOI’s Artist of the Month for October at the Barron Park House Gallery, at 471 N. Lee St., LaBelle.

Stop in and view her artwork Thursday-Friday from noon to 6 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For information, call Donna Thewlis at (239) 339-7265.

Photo contest for Old Courthouse

Lee County welcomes photo submissions to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Old Courthouse, at 2120 Main St., Fort Myers.

The request is for modern pictures of the building for the celebration. Selected entries may be used in the celebration and perhaps displayed in the courthouse.

Submissions must be original images and be emailed as a single high-resolution photo jpg attachment to: tengstrom@leegov.com.

There is a maximum of three entries per person; submissions do not require an entry fee.

Entries must be accompanied with the photographer’s name, address, telephone number, email address and photo title.

The use of corrective editing functions to improve the natural appearance of the image is allowed.

The deadline is Nov. 1.

All submissions become the property of Lee County and may be used in print and online.

For information about the building, celebration and photo contest, visit: www.leegov.com/100.

Fall Student Concert Series announced

Florida SouthWestern State College’s Fall Student Concert Series will return to the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, at 13350 FSW Parkway, Fort Myers.

The series will be held:

– Nov. 2: Jazz ensemble at 7:30 p.m.

– Nov. 24: Concert band at 7:30 p.m.

– Dec. 1: Symphony orchestra and choir at 7:30 p.m.

The concerts are free to the public and seating is open.

Call to artists

The Arts of the Inland is accepting submissions for its Perceptions Art Show 2015.

The juried/judged show will be held Nov. 5-29 at the Barron Park House Gallery, at 471 N. Lee St., LaBelle.

It is open to all AOI members.

Cash prizes and ribbons will be awarded.

Entry fee is $10 per artwork.

Artists may submit a maximum of two pieces of work; works that received an award higher than honorable mention in any AOI or Art Council of Southwest Florida show are not eligible.

The work must have been completed within the last two years and it must be original, not a copy of another artist’s work or from a magazine, book or photograph not originally taken by the artist or used without permission.

Art must not be a giclee or print reproduction and must be the creation of the artist without physical assistance from another.

Paintings and photographs?- oil, watercolor, acrylic, mixed media, collage, pen and ink, pencil, charcoal, pastel, and photography are accepted mediums.

Works must be suitably framed or gallery wrapped with painted, staple free edges; they must have a wire in the back for hanging.

Framed works larger than 24-by-30 must be framed using Plexiglas or acrylic, not regular glass; works must not exceed 48-by-48, including framing.

3D art and sculpture – art should not exceed 40 pounds in weight, and artist must provide their own pedestal/display.

Exhibitors are required to be gallery sitters at least one day while the show is open.

Accepted entries are to remain in the gallery until the show closes unless purchased and removed by a buyer, in which case the artist shall replace the sold item; the replacement item shall be subject to all the terms and conditions.

For prospectus and applications visit: www.artsoftheinland.com or call (863) 843-2929.

Fair at Fenway South prepares to open

The Fair at Fenway South will be held on the weekends from Nov. 6-22 at JetBlue Park, at 11500 S. Fenway Drive, Fort Myers.

Hours are from 5 to 11:30 p.m. on Fridays and from 1 to 11:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Admission is as low as $3.50 per person, with a two-for-one discount available online.

Unlimited rides wristbands are also available at a discount of $20 each through the website before the start of the fair.

Individual ride tickets may fair.

For information, visit online at:?www.fairatfenway.com.

White featured at Rauschenberg gallery

The Bob Rauschenberg Gallery at Florida SouthWestern State College is featuring an exhibition of artwork by Wayne White now through Nov. 7 at 8099 College Parkway in Fort Myers.

White is known for creating the iconic “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” characters Randy, Cool Cat, Chicky Baby and Dirty Dog.

Gallery hours are Monday-Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For information, call (239) 489-9313 or visit: www.rauschenberggallery.com.

Annual Writing Contest accepting submissions

The Gulf Coast Writers Association announces its Annual Writing Contest.

Original works of fiction, nonfiction, children’s stories and poetry will be awarded prizes of $100 for first, $50 for second and $25 for third in each category.

Fiction, nonfiction and children’s works must be no more than 1,500 words; poetry is limited to 40 lines or less.

Open to association members and non-members who are 18 or older by March 15.

Submissions must be postmarked by Dec. 1.

The winners must be present at the association’s Feb. 20 meeting to receive their award.

Entry forms and rules can be found at: www.gulfwriters.org.

Pool holding classes

The Lehigh Acres Community Pool, at 1400 W. Fifth St., is heated and open year-round.

A wide range of swim lesson skill levels are offered, including adult beginners; all taught by American Red Cross Certified instructors. Eight classes for $50.

Commit to get fit with aqua aerobics. Choose from a fast-paced workout at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday through Friday or the ultra-low impact class at 1:15 p.m. Tuesday and Friday. Classes are 45 minutes long in chest deep water.

There are lifeguards-on-duty. Lap swimmers welcome.

For hours and rates, call (239) 369-8277 or visit the website at:?www.leeparks.org.

Boot camps focus on fitness and nutrition

Healthy Harvest Community Farms, at 607 Mirror Lakes Drive, hosts the following boot camps:

– Mondays and Fridays from 6 to 7 p.m. at Williams Park

– Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Veterans Park

– Wednesdays from 6 to 7 p.m and Saturdays from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Healthy Harvest Community Farms

The classes are free; donations are welcome. At least 10 people must be signed up for a class.

Visit the website online: www.healthyharvestfarms.org.

Community Band taking members

The Lee County Community Band rehearses Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. Michael Lutheran School in Fort Myers.

The band will perform:

– Nov. 8

– Dec. 13

– Jan. 10

– Feb. 7

– March 13

– April 10

The scheduled concerts will take place at 3 p.m. at Cape Coral High School, at 2300 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral.

They are free and open to the public; donations will be accepted.

New members are welcome.

For information, call Norman Jones at (239) 995-2097 or visit: www.leecountyband.org.

Farmers Market returns

A Farmers Market will be held on Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lakes Regional Park, at 7300 Gladiolus Drive, Fort Myers, through April 29.

It will include fresh local produce, flowers, soaps and more.

Parking is free.

For information on being a vendor, visit: BuyLocalLee.com.

Lehigh Children’s Choir rehearsing

The Lehigh Children’s Choir rehearses from 6-7 p.m. Tuesdays at Cayuga Music Studio, at 1100 Homestead Road

For information, call (239) 368-2488.

Lehigh Singers seek members

The Lehigh Singers rehearse every Tuesday until mid-March from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Landex Building on Homestead Road

If you want to join, call (239) 822-1890 for an audition.

Lehigh Concert Band practicing

The Lehigh Concert Band rehearses at 7 p.m. Tuesdays in the annex at Faith Lutheran Church, at 705 Leeland Blvd.

The band is in need of clarinets, trumpets, trombones, tubas and more. Concert band musicians who can perform at at least a senior high school level are invited to sit in on a rehearsal.

The March concert will be recorded for a CD.

For information, visit online: www.lehighconcertband.org.