Originally named

AROUND TOWN

9TH - BUNNY BASH 2022: Bring your grandchildren to meet & have their picture taken with the Easter Bunny and let them play all day at the Amazing Play Place at Mixon Fruit Farms. 10am-3pm. $8 (2yrs and up) Under 2 FREE. 2525 27th St., E. Bradenton. 941-748-5829 Ext: 239.

10TH - CHORAL ARTISTRY: under Artistic Director, Dr. Trent Brown, is proud to present the SWFL premiere performance of “Considering Matthew Shepard” at 4 pm at Faith Presbyterian Church at 4544 Coronado Pkwy in Cape Coral.   Please visit us online at ChoralArtistry.org for more information or call 239-560-5695.

16TH - FOUR LOCAL STORYTELLERS TELL STORIES OF APRIL FOOLS AND TALL TALE:

7 - 9pm. $18 members, $20 non-members. Alliance of the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, 33919. www.artinlee.org. 239-939-2787 12TH - FLORIDA SNAKES INFORMATIONAL TALK: Learn how to identify the native snake species and venomous snake species of SWFL. Also, learn the importance of snakes as mother nature’s best pest control. 1-2pm. Rotary Park, 5505 Rose Garden Road, Cape Coral. This event is free to the public to enjoy but please RSVP to 239-5494606.

12TH - VENICE AREA WOMEN’S COLLEGE CLUB: invites you to a lunch/speaker on April 12, 2022, 11:30 am at the Plantation Golf & Country Club, 500 Rockley Blvd, Venice. The club supports 2 yearly college educational scholarships and the south County Food Pantry.  The club meets the 2nd Tues of the months Oct-May.  To inquire about club membership or for lunch ($25) reservations call 309-635-3058. 23RD - NATIVE PLANT SALE AT ROTARY PARK: Shop from a variety of native trees, shrubs, flowers, grasses, butterfly plants and tropical edibles. 9am-1pm. Plant experts will be on hand to answer questions and to help you choose the right plant for the right place. For more information, call Rotary Park, 5505 Rose Garden Road, Cape Coral at 239-549-4606.

23RD - TO DIE FOR – ONE NIGHT ONLY: Features the twists & turns of classic mystery thrillers without sacrificing the comedy, To Die For follows a plucky detective who goes to extreme lengths to crack the case. 7:30PM. Florida Studio Theatre, 1241 N. Palm Ave., Sarasota. Tickets are $12-15 and are now on sale at FloridaStudioTheatre.org or 941.366.9000.

MAY 10TH - THE VENICE AREA WOMEN’S COLLEGE CLUB: invites you to a lunch, 11:30 am at the Plantation Golf & Country Club, 500 Rockley Blvd, Venice, FL, 34293. The May meeting (last of the season) is for the installation of new club officers, members can mix and mingle.  Prospective members can check out the club, answer any questions you have about the club and its purpose.  Please call 309-635-3058 for more information and/or lunch ($25) reservations. MAY 13TH - BONITA SPRINGS: Estero Christian Women’s Connection Invites You and Your Friends to Attend our May Luncheon! 11:30 - 1:30. The Club at Grandezza, 11481 Grande Oak Blvd, Estero, FL 33928. Luncheon cost: $30 inclusive. Reservations & Cancellations must be received by Friday, May 6, 2022. Call Jan with questions at 815-545-5056. cwcflorida.org SUBMIT AROUND TOWN EVENTS AND/OR EVENT FLYERS TO: Lifestyles After 50, P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583; or email to info@lifestylesafter50.com or fax to (813) 331-2634 by the 20th of the month prior to the event. (i.e. submit May events by April 20 2022).

SWFL Businesses Step Up to Funds to Aid Ukraine

Information and image from “WINK News” Millions of Ukrainians are fleeing their homeland, which results in a mounting refugee crisis. Financial help is needed for the war-torn country’s people now more than ever. So, Southwest Florida businesses are stepping up. According to WINK News, Cape Coral is helping these refugees from half a world away. If you’re coming to drop off some clothes, they may be part of a bigger plan to help families in Ukraine. Dan Puleio is the owner of Cape Cleaners, and he wants to make sure that every dollar his customer spend goes a long way. That’s why, for the remainder of March, Puleio is donating part of the revenue he gets to the International Rescue Committee to help Ukrainian families. Puleio doesn’t have any ties to Ukraine, but he still felt called to help. “None, none. I’m just a world citizen. It’s just wrong,” he said. Puleio is used to giving back to his community, and he says this time is no exception. Although, this time, he says he’s giving back to the world community. “Innocent people, innocent people are dying,” Puleio said. Jeremy Bhinji is the owner of The Spot and says he knows what the violence is like. Heis family is from Uganda, and at one point, they had to leave the country. So, when he heard about what Puleio was doing, he wanted to do the same. “I think it’s fantastic the more you can do to give back to the community and the world. There’s more than being a business owner and making money. It’s obviously about making a difference in making an impact,” Bhinji said. “It’s just a humanitarian aspect of it. We’re all watching this unfold on the news every night, and it’s awful, it’s horrible,” said Puleio. Puleio says his goal is to collect $1,000 to donate to Ukraine. He also wants to push other businesses to join him. To check if the charity you’re donating to is reputable, you can go to the Charity Navigator.