31 minute read
Sports
Report your news to CAPTIVASANIBEL.COM
The recreational harvest of gag grouper and gray triggerfish closed in Gulf state waters on Jan. 1.
The recreational harvest of gag grouper for all Gulf state waters, excluding Monroe County, will open on Sept. 1. The recreational harvest of gray triggerfish in Gulf state waters will open on March 1.
The modification of the Gulf gag grouper recreational season was approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in July in order to reduce overfishing and improve its abundance.
The FWC is committed to collecting recreational harvest fishing data to inform management of popular reef fish. The State Reef Fish Survey provides a clearer picture of stock health, so make sure you are signed up as a State
Reef Fish Angler. The designation is required for recreational anglers and spearfishers who intend to fish for or harvest certain reef fish species from a private vessel in Florida. To learn more about the State Reef Fish Survey, visit MyFWC.com /SRFS. For more information on recreational grouper regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations, ” “Reef Fish” and then “Grouper. ” For more information on recreational gray triggerfish regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations, ” “Reef Fish” and then “Triggerfish. ” People can also download the Fish Rules App to keep up to date on current fishing regulations.
Harvest of red grouper and lane snapper reopens
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported that the harvest of red grouper and lane snapper reopened in Gulf state waters on Jan. 1, after early season closures.
The FWC is committed to collecting recreational harvest fishing data to inform management of popular reef fish. The State Reef Fish Survey provides a clearer picture of stock health, so make sure you are signed up as a State Reef Fish Angler. The designation is required for recreational anglers and spearfishers who intend to fish for or harvest certain reef fish species from a private vessel in Florida.
To learn more about the State Reef Fish Survey, visit MyFWC.com/SRFS.
For more information on recreational regulations for red grouper,
visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations, ” “Reef Fish” and then “Grouper. For more information on recreational lane snapper regulations, visit MyFWC.com/Marine and click on “Recreational Regulations, ” “Reef Fish” and then “Snapper. ” People can also download the Fish Rules App to keep up to date on current fishing regulations. Refuge expands wellness program for new year
Building on last year's Wellness Week and Bailey Tract Mindfulness Trail debut, staff from the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel are partnering with the Sanibel Recreation Center to offer up opportunities to relieve stress through free meditationandnaturemindfulnessprograms.
Refuge mindfulness specialists are leading half-hour, entry-level Mindfulness Meditations on Wednesdays at 8:30 a.m. at the center. It is a seated meditation program. On Saturdays at 10 a.m., 60-minute Guided Mindfulness Walks depart from the center for an outdoor grounding experience.
The programs are walk-in; no preregistration is required at this point.
Participation in the walks is limited to 25 people, so it is on a first-come basis.
“We are so grateful to Sanibel Rec for helping us present our wellness programs to the public while the facilities at 'Ding' Darling undergo hurricane recovery, ” Supervisory Refuge Ranger Toni Westland said. “These programs are a part of our greater 'Ding' Wellness Program: Mind, Body & Heart. Its purpose is to provide programs and opportunities to connect individuals and communities to themselves, each other, nature, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s mission of conservation. ”
With support from the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge, initiatives since Hurricane Ian have included social media posts and remote mindfulness programs. The team plans to further expand its programs to include yoga, mindful birding, journaling, a mindfulness workbook, participation in February’s Heart Healthy Month, and a second annual Wellness Week in May to align with National Mental Health Awareness Week.
The refuge is also taking the mission into the community with mindfulness garden activities at certain Title I schools throughout the School District of Lee County.
“The mental health of our youth is so important these days, and the more removed they become from nature by urbanization, the more important our wellness initiative becomes to keep them centered and in touch with their mind, bodies, and heart, ” Ranger Jessica Barry, who leads the design of the programs, said. “Our wellness program makes that connection between physical and mental health and the healing properties of being out in the natural world, especially coming off the stressful climate of pandemic and hurricane recovery in our communities. ”
For more information, visit dingwellness.com.
The Sanibel Recreation Center is at 3880 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel.
REFUGE/DDWS
The Sanibel Recreation Center is partnering with the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge to offer free mindfulness sessions.
Red Sox to begin Spring Training season at JetBlue Park
The Red Sox recently announced that the 2023 Spring Training exhibition season will begin on Feb. 24 at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers, where the team will launch the season with a game against the Northeastern University Huskies. The club will play 18 home games and 16 away games, including 32 Grapefruit League games against seven American League teams and four National League teams. For the first time since 2017, a World Baseball Classic exhibition game will be played at JetBlue Park on March 8.
The Red Sox will play 11 games against divisional opponents, including two against their American League East rival New York Yankees. The club will face the Yankees on March 9 at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa and will host the Yankees at JetBlue Park on March 12. Other divisional match ups include four games against the Tampa Bay Rays, three games against the Baltimore Orioles, and two against the Toronto Blue Jays. The team will also square off against the Atlanta Braves, Minnesota Twins, Miami Marlins, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, Detroit Tigers, and Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Red Sox will look to defend their Lee County Commissioners Cup title against their cross-town foes — the Minnesota Twins — at JetBlue Park on Feb. 27, March 22 and 26. A total of five match ups will take place between the Lee County rivals with the Red Sox heading to Hammond Stadium at Lee County Sports Complex on March 3 and 11.
The Red Sox will play six games against the Atlanta Braves, the most of any opponent. The final two exhibition match ups of the season will be against the Braves, with the Red Sox set to travel to CoolToday Park on March 27, and host the Braves at JetBlue Park the following day, March 28, to close out the Spring Training season.
For more information including game times and tickets, visit https://www.mlb.com/redsox.
JetBlue Park is at 11500 Fenway South Drive, Fort Myers.
Report your sports news to THE ISLAND REPORTER: captivasanibel.com
alsOInsIdetOday alsOInsIdetOday alsOInsIdetOday alsOInsIdetOday
New Year’s resolutions that are easy to keep
Now that we’re into 2023, isn’t it time you reviewed all the New Year’s resolutions you made during your inebriated state on New Year’s Eve? Weren’t some of them a bit too ambitious and truly out of reach?
What’s the point of making New Year’s resolutions that you know you’ll never keep? Isn’t it frustrating to constantly make the same goodiegoodie resolutions over and over like this year you won’t eat desserts or insult your mother-inlaw?
Well, this column’s for Art Stevens you, my friend. Here’s a list of tions New you Year can ’s pl res an olufor Shell 2023 which you absolute- Shocked ly will be able to keep. ∫ Since red wine is considered by health experts a means to a healthy heart, I resolve to consume ten glasses a day until I’m in a healthy stupor. ∫ I will ask every Minnesota Twin during their spring training in Lee County in March why they can’t beat the New York Yankees when it counts. ∫ I resolve to eat blackened pizza. ∫ I will join the Polar Bear Club this year in its annual ritual of manhood and prepare by removing ice cubes from my martini and strategically placing them on various parts of my body. ∫ I’m going to start smoking this year. ∫ I’m going to gain fifty pounds. ∫ This is the year that I’m finally going to embezzle funds from my boss’s business. ∫ I’ve put off splashing graffiti on my neighbor’s house much too long and I plan to do it this year. ∫ I promise to raise my cholesterol count to titillating levels. ∫ I resolve to become more sedentary until my waist line increases by six inches. ∫ I plan to practice aerobics by holding my breath. ∫ I plan to snub my niece on her sweet sixteen celebration as a steppingstone to a clean break with my entire family. ∫ I plan to root for the British on July fourth. ∫ I plan to fail my stress test. ∫ I promise to raise my blood pressure this year. ∫ I promise to include ten “have a nice day” during a three-minute conversation with the next person I meet. ∫ I promise to give up my volunteer work at the pizza rehab facility. ∫ I promise to litter the streets. ∫ I promise to honk my horn in front of the Sanibel Public Library. ∫ I promise to send Christmas cards to the first sixteen U.S. presidents.
If you can keep even half of these New Year's resolutions then I will happily turn the deed of the Brooklyn Bridge over to you. Happy New Year!
Art Stevens is a long-time columnist for the Sanibel-Captiva Islander. His tongue-in-cheek humor is always offered with a smile.
Al-Anon, Al-Ateen meetings
Are you concerned with a friend or family member's drinking? Let us help.
Call our 24-hour helpline at 941-564-5098 or visit www.SouthFloridaAl-Anon.org. Meetings are held every day in Lee County.
Al-Ateen meetings are alsoµ offered for ages 1018.
BIG ARTS to host community gathering with demos and more
By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
An upcoming event hopes to bring the islands together to heal through the power of the arts.
BIG ARTS will host a “New” New Year Community Gathering on Jan. 18 from 4 to 6 p.m. on its campus on Sanibel. The free open house will feature artist demonstrations, music and more.
“It's for the community, ” Executive Director Lee Ellen Harder said, explaining that BIG ARTS was lucky to suffer only about a quarter-million in manageable damages as a result of Hurricane Ian.
“We know we're in much better shape than many on the islands, ” she added. “We want to make a contribution to the community — with no cost to it — with these healing community events. ”
Harder noted that next week's event will be the first of several.
“We're going to have one every month, ” she said.
There will be a handful of artists conducting demonstrations in the education classrooms.
“It's going to be three artists, instructors doing demos, ” Harder said, adding that each one will showcase their medium, which they provide instruction on through classes offered at BIG ARTS.
Attendees will be able to see what Zentangle drawing entails from Donna Cole. There will be basket weaving offered up by Gisela Damandl, and Petra Kaiser will showcase how glass fusing works.
“We want to encourage people to go to the Education Center, ” she said.
Live entertainment will be provided by Jenny Ve in the Sculpture Garden, weather permitting.
“We want people to roam, ” Harder said of the building and campus.
The Mezzanine Gallery, with its elevator access, will be open.
“It's featuring Lynda Fay Braun, ” she said.
“Finding Perfection” features her digital art, which combines photography, digital applications and painting. Braun's exhibit will be on display through the end of July, which is the end of season.
There is no exhibition in the Dunham Family Gallery, but attendees will want to stop in.
“There will be two different projections on two different walls, ” Harder said, explaining that they will be slideshows of past exhibits. “The gallery will be open for people to sit and have drinks and food. ”
Complimentary bites and beverages will provided.
Attendees can also browse and shop the recently reopened gift shop.
“The gift shop will be open, ” she said.
The community in encouraged to come and relax.
“It's an opportunity for all of us to reconnect and just experience the healing power of the arts and community, ” Harder said. “To be with each other in a beautiful atmosphere. ”
“We're really looking forward to it and anxious to see everyone again, ” she added.
RSVPs are requested at 239-395-0900 or info@bigarts.org.
For more information, visit https://bigarts.org/ or call 239-395-0900.
BIG ARTS is at 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel.
If you go
What “New” New Year Community Gathering When Jan. 18 from 4 to 6 p.m. Where BIG ARTS, at 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel Details Free and open to the community
Refuge's WoW sees record-breaking year
The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge recently reported that despite bouts of COVID outbreak and a hurricane that shut down operations for a month, the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge's Wildlife on Wheels mobile classroom managed to reach more people in 2022 than it did the previous year — 10,330 versus 10,030.
“As an educator, it is not the numbers that matter, ” Urban Education Leader Melissa Maher reported on Dec. 29. “What matters the most is for the WoW to get students engaged in their individualized learning, along with them becoming inspired to carry on our mission. The last few weeks out at schools have proven this to be true. ”
The numbers for last year, nonetheless, illustrate the impact the WoW team is having. It visited eight schools throughout the year, where it reached 5,060 students. Nearly half of that number — 2,125 — visited after Hurricane Ian between Nov. 1 and Dec. 20. Another 715 children learned from the WoW team at five off-campus summer camps. At 10 public outreach events, including open houses at the Sanibel refuge, 2,430 toured the WoW.
“The impact they are making with the students, as well as with the families, is evident and so important to continuing the conservation mission in our wider communities and with our next generation of conservation stewards, ” DDWS Executive Director Birgie Miller said.
The WoW currently operates with a reduced team because of the storm's impact on staffing.
To donate to support the upkeep and programming for the WoW efforts, visit https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/WebLink.aspx?n ame=E54182&id=12.
Local youths receive adaptive tricycles
Robbie’s Riders, Grampy’s Charities and Sanibel Captiva Community Bank recently presented six custom-made adaptive tricycles — each worth $3,000 to $5,000 — to Southwest Florida children with special needs at the bank’s Bridge Branch in Fort Myers.
Between the ages of 6 and 11, all of the recipients were referred from the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, GiGi’s Playhouse and various therapy centers in Naples.
The children will benefit from general strengthening, new proprioceptive sensory input and improved reciprocal coordination of the legs by riding the tricycles. They can also participate in activities with their families and peers and enjoy the childhood experience of riding a bike.
Robbie’s Riders, Grampy’s Charities and Sanibel Captiva Community Bank present custom-made adaptive tricycles to local children with spe-
cial needs and their families. PHOTO PROVIDED
SANIBEL-CAPTIVA KIWANIS CLUB
The Sanibel School Principal Jamie Reid and Sanibel-Captiva Kiwanis Club Treasurer Doug Congress.
Kiwanis donates to island school
The Sanibel-Captiva Kiwanis Club recently presented a check donation to The Sanibel School.
Kingfisher donates to CROW
Kingfisher Vacation Rentals & Real Estate recently donated $2,000 to the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife on Sanibel to further assist with CROW’s efforts to save wildlife through stateof-the-art veterinary care, research, education and conservation medicine.
Island HOMe Report your news to CAPTIVASANIBEL.COM islanderSanibel Captiva
Coral bean
PHOTO PROVIDED
Try out a colorful salt-tolerant native
The native coral bean (Erythrina herbacea) is ready to branch out along your coastal seascape, brightening the mood with evergreen and scarlet hues. The blossoming shrub blooms bright red during spring and early summer, popping out tubular flowers and pods full to the brim with beans. What a wonderful piece of natural beauty to raise in your own backyard. The coral bean’s foliage owns a distinctive look of bright green trifoliate leaves, meaning three leaflets in each bunch. However, watch your fingers with this armored plant, as little prickles line the underside of each leaflet, along with thorns running down the stems. It is a way to fend off pesky birds trying to take a grab at all the luscious fruitful seedpods that look irresistible to them The zippy hummingbird though cannot be easily deterred, as it is known for finding the coral bean highly attractive. The tube-like flowers grow in groups of 2-foot long racemes, reaching a deep shade of ruby at their peak. The seed pods, which stay somewhat hidden while growing, split in the months of fall to release their mass of bright red beans.
To keep into consideration when harvesting such a plant, the coral bean is high salt and drought tolerant — perfect for the island atmosphere — and they grow 5-10 feet high and 8-12 feet wide at a moderate rate. They suit well as borders against a fence line or in masses, but also fit as a specimen piece for an accent among other mild greenery. Partial shade is ideal. Alongside its regular position as a landscape plant, the coral bean has also been known to have other uses. Florida’s Native Americans were known to use its seeds to poison rodents and paralyze fish. What a versatile plant with an intriguing background and attractive qualities to bring to an island garden.
In The Garden is a joint effort by all at the local garden center, at 3889 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel. For more information, contact 239-3955859 or visit www.facebook.com/rswalshinthegarden.
RACHEL PIERCE ART GALLERY
By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
In the wake of Hurricane Ian, the Rachel Pierce Art Gallery has organized an Outdoor Gallery and Island Market on Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside of her business.
The outdoor event features artwork and creations by Pierce, along with other displaced island businesses and non-profits. Attendees can browse and shop from the participants, which have included Adventures In Paradise Outfitters, CJ's Swimwear, Coco y Cabana, the “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge, Island Shells, MacIntosh Books and Paper, Pandora's Box and others.
Starting this week, Spoondrift Island Bowls was scheduled to begin selling its dishes.
The Rachel Pierce Art Gallery is at 1571 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel.
By CHEF LORETTA PAGANINI
Indulge in these delicious chocolate truffles or make them as hostess gifts to share with family and friends. Fast and dangerously scrumptious. (Chef tip: For best results, use good quality European chocolate.) 8 ounces bittersweet or semi-sweet chocolate 1/2 cup heavy cream
Finely chopped nuts, as needed
Cocoa powder, as needed
Confectioners’ sugar, as needed
Chop the chocolate into small pieces and place in a bowl. Heat the cream until bubbles form around the edge of the pan. Pour the hot cream over the chocolate. Mix with a rubber spatula until all the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth. Refrigerate the ganache until it is very firm, about three to four hours.
Using a melon baller or small scoop, shape the cold ganache into balls and place on a cold baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover the baking sheet and chill until firm, about two hours. Dust hands with cornstarch. Roll the truffles between palms to form smooth balls. Dredge the truffles in chopped nuts, cocoa powder, or powdered sugar. Place truffles in an airtight container, with wax paper between each layer.
Variations: Truffles can be flavored with flavoring oils, which can be found available at candy supply stores. Do not use alcohol-based flavorings (extracts) as they may cause the chocolate to seize.
For milk chocolate truffles: Use 12 ounces of milk chocolate and 1/2 cup heavy cream.
For white chocolate truffles: Use 12 ounces of white chocolate and 1/3 cup heavy cream.
Chef Loretta Paganini
Annual Winter Home & Garden Show to take place
The 27th Annual Winter Home & Garden Show will return on Jan. 14-15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center at 1375 Monroe St., Fort Myers. Admission is free for attendees.
“With all the damage from Hurricane Ian, the Home & Garden Show is a great opportunity to meet with contractors, remodelers and home specialists to help residents that were impacted, ” Bill Anderson, president of Expo Management that produces the shows, said. “During this show, attendees can find experts to address all their home improvement needs under one roof over two days. ” The show will feature local and regional companies that display and present products and services to homeowners. Attendees will experience the newest in-home improvement products and services inside and out — from furnishings, accessories, decorating and remodeling ideas, to landscaping and more.
In addition, hourly drawings and door prizes will be given away.
For more information, visit expomanagementinc.com.
Participants attend a gardening class at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers.
EDISON AND FORD WINTER ESTATES
Edison, Ford estates to offer gardening programming
The Edison and Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers offers opportunities throughout the year to learn about gardening in Florida.
Programming scheduled for the month of January includes the following:
Garden Talks
∫ Jan. 14: Staghorns and Jungle Cactus at 10 a.m.
Learn about the largest “ferns” that hang on heavy chains at the estates and about another kind of “epiphyte, ” the jungle cactus. While some have adapted to growing in a loose soil medium, many of these are pendulous and do not tolerate drought. Cost is $10 for members or $15 for non-members.
Gardening Classes
∫ Jan. 24: Introduction to Florida Gardening Part I from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Participants will receive a foundation of how plants work, their nomenclature and understanding of unique weather patterns and unusual soils found only in Florida, zone 10. The class will educate them with identification of native and non-native plants and how to recognize invasive species. Palms will also be discussed and participants will spend the last 20 minutes in the Palmetum. Participants should bring a notebook, pencil and drinking water. Hats, sunscreen and good walking shoes are recommended for the outdoor portion. Participants will receive handouts, a recommended reading list and additional resources. Cost is $45 for members or $55 for non-members. ∫ Jan. 28: Introduction to Florida Gardening Part I from 10 a.m. to noon
Participants will receive a foundation of how plants work, their nomenclature and understanding of unique weather patterns and unusual soils found only in Florida, zone 10. The class will educate them with identification of native and non-native plants and how to recognize invasive species. Palms will also be discussed and participants will spend the last 20 minutes in the Palmetum. Participants should bring a notebook, pencil and drinking water. Hats, sunscreen and good walking shoes are recommended for the out-
Island Worship
∫ Bat Yam Temple of the Islands 2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel (Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ), https://www.batyam.org/, https://www.facebook.com/batyamsanibel/
Rabbi Stephen Fuchs and Cantor Rabbi Sunny Schnitzer
Sabbath service on Friday at 7 p.m. at the Jewish Federation of Lee & Charlotte Counties, at 9701 Commerce Center Court, Fort Myers, and via Zoom. For Zoom links, email batyamsanibel@gmail.com. ∫ Captiva Chapel by the Sea 11580 Chapin Lane, Captiva, 239-472-1646, https://www.captivachapel.com/, www.facebook.com/Captiva-Chapel-By-The-Sea
Rev. Larry Marshall
Sunday service available online; in-person services have been postponed until further notice. Services from the past season have been videotaped and posted on the chapel's website and Facebook page. ∫ Chavurat Shalom of Southwest Florida www.chavuratshalomofsouthwestflorida.org
Lecture and discussion on Thursday at 11 a.m. via Zoom. Torah Talk on the third Thursday of each month at 11 a.m. via Zoom. Friday Shabbat service at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. Len Minsky Current Events discussion on Saturday at 11 a.m. via Zoom. For Zoom links, email ChavuratShalom@gmail.com. ∫ Sanibel Christian Science Church 2950 West Gulf Drive, Sanibel, 239-810-1077
Due to the hurricane, it is not currently holding services. ∫ Sanibel Community Church 1740 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 239-472-2684, https://sanibelchurch.com/, https://www.facebook.com/sanibelchurch/
Pastor Jeramie Rinne
Sunday service at 10 a.m. in the SCC Historic Chapel. Sunday service at 5 p.m. at the Fort Myers Community Church, at 8440 Cypress Lake Drive, Fort Myers. Services will be recorded and posted on the SCC's YouTube channel on Monday. ∫ Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ 2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 239-472-0497, https://www.sanibelucc.org/, https://www.facebook.com/sanibelucc/
Senior Minister Dr. Mark Boyea
Sunday service at 10 a.m. at The Refuge Church, at 1901 Brantley Road, Fort Myers. ∫ St. Isabel Catholic Church 3559 Sanibel-Captiva Road, Sanibel, 239-472-2763, https://www.saintisabel.org/, https://www.facebook.com/stisabelcatholicchurch/
Father Ed Martin
Due to the hurricane, it is not currently holding services. ∫ St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church 2304 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, 239-472-2173, https://www.saintmichaelssanibel.org/, https://www.facebook.com/saintmichaelssanibel/
Rev. William “Bill” Van Oss
Service with optional healing prayers on Wednesday at 9 a.m. at the Peace Lutheran Church, at 15840 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Sunday service at 11:30 a.m. at the same location, followed by a coffee hour in Fellowship Hall.
door portion. Participants will receive handouts, a recommended reading list and additional resources. Cost is $45 for members or $55 for non-members. ∫ Jan. 31: Introduction to Florida Gardening Part II from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
Participants will be introduced to the concepts of “Florida Friendly Gardening, ” including learning the proper use of fertilizers and soil amendments. Pest identification will be covered, as well as when to use chemical versus biological controls as recommended by the Green Industries Best Management Practices concepts. Weed identification and diseases will also be covered, along with a discussion on selecting plants for a Florida landscape, followed by a question-and-answer session. The last 20 minutes of class will be held in the Butterfly Garden. Participants should bring a notebook, pencil and drinking water. Hats, sunscreen and good walking shoes are recommended for the outdoor portion. Participants will receive handouts, a recommended reading list and additional resources. Cost is $45 for members or $55 for non-members.
Seating is limited and registration is required.
For more information or to register, visit EdisonFord.org.
The Edison and Ford Winter Estates is at 2350 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers.
Lee Health's “It’s All About You” — a self-management resource program with the SMRC — is offering the following research-based virtual programs for free to the community:
Chronic Pain Self-Management Program
Would you like to learn how to better manage chronic pain conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, back pain, headaches and more?
Information presented in the Chronic Pain Self-Management Program can help you become empowered to improve your quality of life. Learn how to more easily manage your medications; understand the benefits of exercise; manage symptoms of stress, pain and fatigue; and make smarter decisions related to health eating. The virtual workshops are held once a week for six weeks.
Participants will receive a copy of the book “Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Pain. ”
The program will be offered virtually on Thursdays starting on Jan. 12 from 1 to 3 p.m.
For more information or to register for one of the programs, call 239-424-3121.
islandBeatislander Sanibel Captiva
WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY
Cielo, 1244 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel SCOTT McDONALD 4 to 7:30 p.m. SCOTT McDONALD 4 to 7:30 p.m. SCOTT McDONALD 4 to 7:30 p.m. SCOTT McDONALD 4 to 7:30 p.m. MONDAY TUESDAY
SCOTT McDONALD 4 to 7:30 p.m.
Traders, 1551 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel PETER REDPATH 5 to 8 p.m.
DANNY MORGAN AND JOHN McLANE 5 to 8 p.m. DANNY MORGAN 5 to 8 p.m.
ALLIANCE FOR THE ARTS Alliance taking submissions for juried exhibit
The Alliance for the Arts is accepting artist submissions for the 37th Annual All Florida Exhibition, scheduled for March 3 through April 1 at the alliance, at 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers.
The juried exhibit will feature pieces created by artists in a variety of media from all over the state.
Categories for entry are sculpture, painting — including oil, acrylic, collage, watercolor and mixed media — photography, prints and drawing. An entry may consist of one to three artworks. Awards will include $1,000 cash for Best In Show, a second place gift certificate, $100 cash for third place and Juror's Choice Award(s) of Alliance membership(s).
All entries are due by Jan. 23.
To download the prospectus, visit ArtInLee.org/AllFlorida2023.
For more information, email exhibitions@ArtInLee.org.
Chamber orchestra to perform Farrenc
The Gulf Coast Chamber Orchestra will present “Farrenc Symphony No. 3” on Jan. 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the Music & Arts Community Center, at 13411 Shire Lane, Fort Myers. A work by Louise Farrenc, “Symphony No. 3 in G minor” is the last of the symphonies she composed. It is the best known and most appreciated of Farrenc's symphonies. The all French program will also include Darius Milhaud's “Le Boeuf sur le toit, Op. 58” and Charles Gounod's “Symphony No. 1 in D Major. ” Tickets are $35-41. For more information and tickets, visit https://gulfcoastsymphony.org/.
PETER REDPATH 5 to 8 p.m. JOHN McLANE 5 to 8 p.m. DANNY MORGAN 5 to 8 p.m.
GULF COAST SYMPHONY
Collective to perform Jazz at the MACC
The Gulf Coast Jazz Collective will present “Jazz at the MACC: Jazz Funk” with bass player Dan Navarro on Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Music & Arts Community
Center, at 13411 Shire Lane, Fort Myers. It will play some of his compositions, as well as music from the Jazz masters who entered the funk genre, including Herbie
Hancock, Jacoi Pastorius and others. Featured alongside Navarro will be James
Suggs on trumpet and Zach Bornheimer on saxophone. Tickets are $38-44. For more information and tickets, visit https://gulfcoastsymphony.org/. Alliance for the Arts to host movie night
TheAlliancefortheArtswillhostanoutdoor double feature, Disney’s “Freaky Friday” and “Friday the 13th, ” on Jan. 13 starting at 6 p.m. at 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers. Doors open at 5 p.m.
Attendees are welcome to bring chairs and blankets. Coolers and pets are prohibited.
Food trucks and beverages will be available.
Tickets are $12 for members and $15 for non-members; children under age 5 are free.
For more information or tickets, visit https://www.artinlee.org/.
“No hableh ingléh en Viequeh, ” (Do not speak English in Vieques) I still remember my mother’s words a few days before Christmas and after we had just completed a five-day steamship voyage to Puerto Rico and a long drive in a público to Fajardo where we were waiting for “La lancha” to brave the choppy straits for two hours and land us on my mother’s home island, Vieques, an island off the eastern shore of Puerto Rico, itself an island in the West Indies. And I still remember that when half the island came to greet my mother and see the first americano born in the family and hear him speak English and kept demanding “Habla ingléh, habla ingléh. ” that I held out for as long as I could, repeating after each request my mother’s admonition, “No hableh ingléh en Viequeh. ” but the bribes of bananas, oranges, sugar cane and pennies were too great for four year old me to resist and I succumbed by reciting the first stanza of the Star Spangled Banner that my brother had taught me before I left New York and even though I was not too sure of the meaning and pronunciation of many of the words, a shower of applause and pennies rewarded my first adventure into performance poetry. A few days later I wowed the crowd even more at my uncle Agustin’s house when I remembered it was Christmas and added to my repertoire “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” but when I asked, “¿cuándo viene Santa Claus?” I was given the bad news: Vieques was one town Santa (San Nicolás) didn’t go to. Everyone watched my reaction in a careful silence until my devastation was relieved by my uncle’s revelation that there were Tres Reyes, Gaspar, Melchor and Baltasar who delivered presents not on Christmas Day but on January 6 because the camels on which they traveled were much slower than reindeer. They would be tired and hungry and if I left some straw for them in a shoebox, the next morning I might find presents. ‘Three Santa’s! Three times more presents!’ I remember thinking in English, ‘and they don’t even have a list of who’s naughty and nice. ’ I obeyed and did not speak English in Vieques except on those performance occasions and that one time when my Uncle Braulio tripled the ante to three pennies to hear me say the “f” word but the Spanish I spoke was an equal source of delight — larded with English words and syntax hybrid utterances such as me comí five bananas and no me gustan anyway were preserved in family lore for decades. I didn’t realize then: I was one of the pioneer speakers of Spanglish. There were parties every night, and three of my uncles were the island’s musicians and my cousins and I would accompany them on parrandas to people’s houses where they played while everyone sang aguinaldos and danced and ate and drank and partied on to the next house with many of us being carried sleepily and piled on beds and hammocks at each stop. On New Year’s Day, I wept with my cousins who were heartbroken over the slaughter of their pet suckling pig, Cucharón, but that same evening we fought over the rights to his cuerito — roasted crinkled skin, that tasted better than candy. Barefoot and happy the entire time, I spent my second remembered Christmas with coconut palms instead of pine trees, sand instead of snow, sleeping in open shacks without doors, rocking softly in hammocks canopied with mosquito nets, with Three Kings and camels and straw and hand-made gifts in shoeboxes, and family singing and dancing every evening — the rhythmic joy and faith of the aguinaldos shining through their poverty, illuminating and deepening the memory and celebration of all my Christmases to come.
Joe Pacheco Poetic License
GULF COAST SYMPHONY
Sunday Night Chamber Music concert
The Gulf Coast Symphony will present its Sunday Night Chamber Music series, featuring Jennifer Grim and Michael Sheppard, on Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. at the Music & Arts Community Center, at 13411 Shire Lane, Fort Myers. Grim on flute and Sheppard on piano will perform the music of Tania León, Allison Loggins-Hull, Regina Harris Baiocchi and more. Tickets are $30. For more information and tickets, visit https://gulfcoastsymphony.org/.
‘Changing Direction’ exhibit opens at Alliance
The exhibition “Changing Direction: National Association of Women Artists” will be on display now through Jan. 28 at the Alliance for the Arts, at 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers.
Juried by Florida Gulf Coast University professor Morgan Paine, the exhibit presents 50 pieces by NAWA members meditating on the theme “Changing Direction. ” Founded in 1889, the NAWA is the oldest professional women’s fine arts organization in the United States.
In addition, the exhibition’s juror will host a panel discussion with several artists on Jan. 21 from 11 a.m. to noon. The discussion is free and open to the public; however, RSVPs are recommended.
Gallery admission is free, but a $5 donation keeps programming affordable and accessible.
For more information, visit https://www.artinlee.org/event/changingdirection/.
