On The Gulf NEWS &

Teleman on March 22 at 7pm at Cambier Park and a collaboration with the Grand Piano Series on March 25 at 5pm at Moorings Presbyterian Church, featuring the duo of Dominic Cheli and the Milana Strezeva.

‘Festival Under the Stars’ will also include a Family & Community Day on March 26. Free to the public, it will feature a performance of ‘The Ugly Duckling,’ by the Opera Naples Resident Artists.

Cambier Park is located at 755 8th Ave. S. in downtown Naples. Moorings Presbyterian Church is located at 791 Harbour Dr. in Naples. Call 963-9050 for information.

Niki Butcher’s Debut Book

Niki Butcher, artist and photographer, and wife of photographer Clyde Butcher, has published her debut book, Daydreaming, a collection of over 140 beautifully hand-painted photographs created over five decades.

The large coffee table book is printed on high-quality matte paper and spot varnished for protection, and bound in light pink linen with a waterproof coating and silver foil embossed details on the cover and spine.

“Using my photographs and oil paints, I am able to turn landscapes into dreamscapes and reality into fantasy,” Niki explains. “When I moved to Florida in 1980 from California, I was fascinated with the Florida culture. It was so different from California. The unique old mom-and-pop roadside stops, the fascinating characters, the beauty of the landscape, and the most amazing pastel colors of the Florida skies. I couldn’t resist taking photos of this beautiful state.

”She continues, “I want people to remember old Florida and what is left. I hope this book helps bring attention to Florida’s unique heritage and culture and that it brings attention to help preserve it for future generations.”

The book is divided into six parts: Roadside Attractions & Nostalgia Inspired By Nature, Art Deco Beginnings, Historic Gems, Capturing the Human Spirit, and Fantastical Ideas.

Niki Butcher’s debut book, ‘Daydreaming’ features 140 hand-painted photographs of Florida.

The first 500 books sold will be autographed by Niki.

Daydreaming is available at Clyde Butcher’s Venice Gallery & Studio and Big Cypress Gallery, and online at nikibutcher.com. For information, call 941-4860811.

Clyde Butcher’s Venice Gallery & Studio is located at 237 Warfield Ave S. in Venice. His Big Cypress Gallery is located at 52388 Tamiami Trail in Ochopee.

Children’s Museum’s Exhibit Celebrates Indian Culture T

he Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples is hosting the cultural exhibit, ‘Namaste India’, featuring the arts, foods, traditions, and future of India. The exhibition compares the similarities and differences between their lives and those of children in the country of India in hopes of encouraging global awareness and cultural appreciation.

‘Namaste India’ features a variety of immersive environments including a dhaba (restaurant), marketplace, tuk tuk (motorized rickshaw), home and school, as well as iconic spaces like the Taj Mahal and Bollywood.

‘Namaste India’ features a variety of experiences:

Bollywood: Families can walk a red carpet and pose for a glamorous photo op dressed in colorful sarees and other traditional clothing. Visitors can watch clips from famous

Bollywood movies and the biggest film industry in the world.

Tuk Tuk: Guests take a simulated ride in a three-wheeled tuk tuk, a motorized rickshaw found throughout India.

Cricket: Visitors will learn about the second most popular sport in India. Children can practice ‘bowling’ (throwing a ball) at a wicket target.

School: Families will learn about a traditional school day for children in India. Students will study the geography and diversity of India as well as learn Hindi words and numbers.

Family Home: Visitors will explore a traditional home featuring an entrance decorated with a rangoli and filled with other traditional Indian art forms.

14400 Six Mile Cypress Parkway • Fort Myers 768-4210

APR 6: vs Dunedin Blue Jays

APR 7: vs Dunedin Blue Jays

APR 8: vs Dunedin Blue Jays *

APR 18: vs Jupiter Hammerheads

APR 19: vs Jupiter Hammerheads

APR 20: vs Jupiter Hammerheads

APR 21: vs Jupiter Hammerheads

APR 22: vs Jupiter Hammerheads *

APR 23: vs Jupiter Hammerheads **

MAY 2: vs Dunedin Blue Jays

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MAY 6: vs Dunedin Blue Jays *

MAY 7: vs Dunedin Blue Jays **

MAY 9: vs Tampa Tarpons

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MAY 14: vs Tampa Tarpons **

MAY 30: vs St Lucie Mets

MAY 31: vs St Lucie Mets

JUN 1: vs St Lucie Mets

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JUN 4: vs St Lucie Mets **

JUN 6: vs Clearwater Threshers

JUN 7: vs Clearwater Threshers

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JUN 10: vs Clearwater Threshers *

JUN 11: vs Clearwater Threshers **

JUN 28: vs Lakeland Flying Tigers

JUN 29: vs Lakeland Flying Tigers

JUN 30: vs Lakeland Flying Tigers

JUL 1: vs Lakeland Flying Tigers *

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JUL 14: vs Clearwater Threshers

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JUL 25: vs Clearwater Threshers *

JUL 26: vs Palm Beach Cardinals **

JUL 27: vs Palm Beach Cardinals

JUL 28: vs Palm Beach Cardinals

JUL 29: vs Palm Beach Cardinals *

JUL 30: vs Palm Beach Cardinals **

AUG 8: vs Bradenton Marauders

AUG 9: vs Bradenton Marauders

AUG 10: vs Bradenton Marauders

AUG 11: vs Bradenton Marauders

AUG 12: vs Bradenton Marauders *

AUG 13: vs Bradenton Marauders **

AUG 22: vs Daytona Tortugas

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AUG 25: vs Daytona Tortugas

AUG 26: vs Daytona Tortugas *

AUG 27: vs Daytona Tortugas **

SEP 5: vs Bradenton Marauders

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Children can practice yoga in the home’s backyard.

Marketplace: Children will test their senses by smelling popular spices like turmeric, cumin and cloves. Visitors can try block printing, a traditional Indian art form.

Dhaba: Families can prepare roti, a traditional flatbread cooked in a clay tandoor oven.

Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples is located at 15080 Livingston Rd. in Naples. For information, call 514-0084.

Vintage Base Ball at Terry Park

On March 26, Edison & Ford Winter Estates will host its annual Vintage ‘Base Ball’ Tournament at historic Terry Park in Fort Myers. Vintage base ball (baseball in the 1860s, was spelled with two words) is played by 1860s rules, which include using wooden bats, no gloves and lemon peel baseballs. Players will wear vintage uniforms and the umpires will call the game according to the rules used during the time period. Gates will open at 9:30am with the first game starting at 10am.

Teams will play several consecutive games throughout the day in a small tournament format. Teams include the Vagabonds Base Ball Club (Fort Myers’ home team), Awkwards

Vintage Base Ball of Central Florida, Bradenton Shamrocks

Vintage Base Ball Club, Early Riser Base Ball Club of Detroit, and the Wyandotte Stars Base Ball Club (Michigan).

Terry Park was once the hub of baseball’s spring training, and where Thomas Edison was a frequent visitor. Construction of the original ball field began in 1923. The Philadelphia Athletics began playing their spring training games in Terry Park in 1925 and continued to play in the park until 1936.

Over the next five decades, other major league baseball teams used the ballpark to play their pre-season exhibition games, including the Cleveland Indians, Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates. Hall of Famers such as George Brett, Roberto Clemente, Ty Cob, Jimmy Foxx, and Babe Ruth are just some of stars that graced the fields at Terry Park.

Thomas Edison was also a die-hard baseball fan and visited Terry Park on a several occasions to watch the Athletics play, even seizing one opportunity to